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







Monday, August 30, 2010

coming home....

Well it feels like I've come home. I always feel that way when I'm working with white I love it. This isn't finished yet but I really had to show you. There are plain white hankies with a lace edge in here. The white space of the handkerchief body is being embellished with cross stitch whilst the lace edging is forming a seam, a delicate finish. I am also using some aged, thicker lace which is actually quite difficult to stitch on and some broderie anglaise remnants that I am adding embellishment to.I haven't decided for certain what this will be yet, it's the same size as the body of my pouches before they are made up. It was my intention to turn this into a pouch too but now I'm not so sure. I may just leave it as it is, a piece of white on white embroidery and I may well just keep it for myself too. I am going to tack another piece of white on white together later today so I am prepared for when this is finished. Get me getting organised!!
I have also been good on the domestic goddess front today! So far I have been shopping (food, nothing exciting) I have put clean linen on my little boys bed so that it's all nice and snuggly when he comes home from America on wednedsday, I have washed clothes and put them outside to blow in the fresh air and I now have a pile of ironing ahead of me. Yes I am being a proper good girl today!! I will warn you though, it may not last!!

13 comments:

Helena said...

The must! White on white! A fine work!

Jane said...

Good thing there are no bank holidays for a while if they get you doing housework, (I've had three loads of washing blown dry today, lol)! The embroidery is delightful, I love your white on white

sylviesgarden said...

So many textures, it's gorgeous!
x

Elizabeth said...

Stunning piece Karen.

'Little boys bed' and 'when he comes back from America' that does sound like a sweet, loving mummy!!!!

Have a great evening with your whites.

Diane Kelsey said...

Glad to see the white work again!

Storycloth said...

Hi Karen - I get so much pleasure from coming by your blog and seeing your beautiful pristine designs. Good girl or not your work is consistently beautiful. Gilly

Dolores said...

Your frame of mind is much better. Must be the white...

Suztats said...

Yummy!

Anonymous said...

I have to say I prefer the white work, so am pleased to see it back!
What a coincidence - I have just put fresh sheets on too - to welcome my son and his wife home from America on Friday!! He lives in LA and hasn't been home for almost three years. Great excitement and cooking going on here! Dianne in Oz.

Tammie Lee said...

magically delicious, I can see why you would consider keeping this!

Shane Pollard said...

Hello Karen
This is my first time to your blog.
What an amazing seamstress you are!
I read a few posts as I couldn't just stop at one - your work is so beautiful.
However, I gather from the gist of some of your posts, someone is copying your work and claiming it as their own - is that right?
And I thought bloggers were nice people.. as with everything I suppose even "bloggers" are made up of a cross-section of society per se.
Your prices are more than great value for money - remember Karen the same thing happened to many artists thru time, whose work now sells for millions.
Take care
love from New Zealand xox

Rachel said...

You certainly have an especial gift for white-on-white, Karen - Lovely to see it again.
And you sound happier too.

Jackie said...

Oh yes its lovely to see you back with the white stuff. You know I'm a colour fanatic but the way you do white leaves me questioning my gaudiness.