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, January 10, 2011

in love with my needle...

Yesterday evening was lovely. Sitting with my son watching a very far fetched yet entertaining film, punctuated by cries of  ''as if!!'' ''never, just wouldn't happen!!'' and sitting, feet up getting reacquainted with my needle. Have I told you how much I love this fine cotton lawn which I bought at the Knitting and Stitching show? Oh, I have? Sorry about that but I'm telling you again. As I made tiny puffs with it for the throw I decided to use it on another section. I am getting to the stage now where pieces for my throw need to be properly measured, using a ruler and everything!! No more randon bits thrown together on a whim, very precise and accurate is going on here now. Are you impressed? Well this lovely little piece, approximately 6 x 7 inches to be....yes precise!! is made up of a little printed cotton, some hankerchief corners and the beautiful fine cotton lawn you may have heard me mention....

There is still work to be done on it, lots and lots of french knots for one thing, as for the rest, I haven't decided yet.
Now you won't be suprised to hear that I can't put a page on here for my sketchbook. Being a dimwit and everything I really don't know how to do it. I have looked, perused, read, investigated, not a chance. So I think I will have to link to a section, a collection, on flickr. The gobbledegook at the top of the page remains too, like you hadn't noticed. Someone offered to remove that for me, said it was a piece of cake. Guess what? I came out in a cold sweat and was terrified of losing my blog again so I declined. Call me a wuss, I don't care, sticks and stones and all that. Perhaps I can start a trend....you too can have a blog like mine, just give me the nod and I will mess yours up too. Call me anything you like but I'm definitely not selfish...
I have been out this morning, yes, out! I got vouchers for christmas (off the afformentioned son) so I went to spend them. I had seen a lovely jacket that I wanted last week but didn't buy it immediately and when I got home I saw that my nieghbour had beaten me to it, strolling down the road she was in my jacket!! It kind of put me off so I decided aginst getting it, I mean what if we both went to the shop at the same time?? Anyhow, I'm afraid I couldn't resist. I tried avoiding it, looking the other way and everything but it kept calling, so now my little street has the same jacket twice! Never fear, I have a plan..... my neighbour works 9-5, so I wear mine in the day, she can have the night shift! and don't forget, I hardly ever go out so mine will last a lot longer than hers....

13 comments:

Jane said...

The handkerchief corner is really pretty, fits in very nicely indeed. Have fun with the french knots

Angela said...

Hi Karen, looks great, love the eyelets they always look so perfect and round mine never do. My little girl has a jacket pink with pale pink spots she has just started nursery and there are five other children with the same jacket, the shame!!!

Elizabeth said...

You are hilarious, you by day and she by night. Maybe you haven't noticed but having a unique piece of clothing is only possible when you make it yourself. (Just in case you don't know that)

Suztats said...

I love looking through the windows onto the lawn!
Those tiny, round, white windows you've stitched. Laces, lawn, and luscious stitches! So pretty.

Gina said...

I love your needle too! I love those little peek-a-boo windows you make.

A copy of your blog can be made before making changes. In fact, Blogger recommends it. So you can have a copy, mixed up stuff above the header included!

**EYE-SNACKS** said...

Karen,i love this piece of work!!
The combination with this flower fabric..

jennyflowerblue said...

That floral is so pretty peeking through. But what I really want a peek at is that jacket-so good it's worth having twice in one street- come on spill the beans....I bet it's black!! x

vintagerockchick said...

I love that with the little flowers and the hanky corners! I want to see how you work - are you going to write that book or what? x

Heartwideopen said...

You are so funny! Whenever I feel down I can come here and smile ;~) I'm loving that gorgeous throw of yours. Priceless it will be.

Debi xo

Sheeprustler said...

That is just the prettiest thing! I absolutely love it!

Rachel said...

Oh, that is so pretty! I love the little glimpses of the printed fabric showing through!
Rachel

meandering pearl said...

oh i love this!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure I could watch a film and embroider so well at the same time - multi-talented, that's what you are!