For centuries women have used cloth as a tool of comfort and as an expression of beauty within their homes. Creating cloth for warmth, cloth for shelter, our female predecessors embellished these linens with hand stitch using laborious and time consuming techniques thereby enhancing the functional beauty of objects which enveloped and protected their families. Inspired by these women I hope my creations pay tribute to and recognise the devotion expressed in cloth by our female ancestors .
''the use of traditional often time consuming process alludes to the devotion of a mother''. c K. A. Ruane 2007
I have used a thicker thread on the cutwork part of this piece. It makes the knots almost jewel like and is a contrast to the fine thread of the first section. Plans for this are changing as it is evolving though. The pieces of lace behind the petals are very fragile and in some places are actually coming away. That isn't necessarily a disaster it just means that those areas will need strengthening so I am going to back this with some fine white muslin and then do a little hand quilting on top.
First though I need to finish the surface embroidery. There is a large section of un embellished cloth along the bottom of this that I want to stitch before adding the muslin. Then I have plans for the colourful piece I showed you last time. The next stage for that requires embroidering a large piece of text and I can't decide what to do first. It is looking increasingly likely that life will return to normal from monday meaning back to work. Inevitably things will slow down on the embroidery front just at the point where construction, backing and finishing needs to be done. It looks like I am in for a busy weekend, busy in the best sense of the word.
15 comments:
I've said it before and I will say it again - simply beautiful.
This is getting better and better. I like the sound of hand quilting. Hope you manage to get plenty done before you have to go back to work. You never know, a fresh batch of snow might extend the holiday
I am thinking Elizabethan wedding dress. Wish I had been married in the sixteenth century if I could have had this to wear. Just beautiful.
I love that large cutwork flower next to the rows of little ones.
Its b*******l
I love French knots, and worked in that thread they look fabulous and crunchy. (Maybe you are being inspired by the weather!)
I'm definitely going to try and come to the Landmark fair in March.
I agree,so beautiful!
When I look at your work it makes me feel all tingly inside. It is just so clean and pure and I find i respond to it in a way that is surprising.
I hope that doesn't sound too weird. Keep up the emotionally effective work!!
Each time you know to amaze me with what you can do with white.
Have fun during your nice, busy weekend. (Is Bruce keeping you company?)
This piece is really lovely. I'm working with white myself at the moment, for possibly the first time ever. I agree that it's totally the right colour for 'now'.
This is beautiful!
Have a good and warm weekend
Glad to see you happy.
Very winter wonderlandish! Looks so crisp and clean :) I also am staying house bound...but seriously wishing my grocery man can make his delivery soon...I am having to get quite inventive wtih the cooking!
your work is so reflecting the current weather! - it is very beautiful
What a wonderfull work! Congratulations!
It is amazing, I love your french knots...
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