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







Saturday, February 26, 2011

embellish....

What to do with this cotton lawn??? It was actually quite tricky. A busy all over pattern sometimes is enough on it's own but as this is for toe wrap two I thought it deserved a little titivating...
It may seem a little too much? A little over fussy? My thoughts are that once it's joined with the other sections and part of the ''whole'' it will hardly be noticeable.
I took some small scraps of lace and created a ''half'' edge along one seam, other bits were pleated around applique circles to create these very opulent little motifs, finish it all with french knots and hey presto! A little like a recipe for cooking don't you think......
on the computer front I have started composing my guest post for next saturday, the pictures are done and saved in draft so the hardest part is over, the rest just requires babble from me which as you know I am very good at, inane rambling....the secret project, well almost done...one more tiny thing to do that I am getting on to right after this so wish me luck!

15 comments:

deanna7trees said...

your embellishments look like beautiful little sunbonnets all in a row. you sure are busy.

Jane said...

Love the lace, perfect

Elizabeth said...

You are on a roll. Secret project almost done, quest post nearly there, the second toe wrap well on the way and a blogspost to keep us informed.

You are on a roll!!!!

Have a great weekend.

Heather Woollove said...

Karen--These look like flirty, long, lacy eyelashes to me!!
I love the dotted loops with the floral lawn, too!!

Suztats said...

Well, I hadn't thought sunbonnets...but close. I saw little angel faces with lace hair. tee hee Something a little unexpected, but delightful. The laces and french knots will bring the different fabrics together.

Anonymous said...

I love the applique circles with lace frills!

Lois Evensen said...

You always come up with something different and gorgeous. So very pretty!

Amelia said...

absolutely beautiful and ps. I'm waiting to hear about Battersea Art Fair ;)

A.x

connie said...

This is so feminine and frilly. Back in the 70's I was such a girly girl and this makes me think of the Gunny Sack Dresses I loved so. Thanks for the smile this morning.

Gina said...

I think the addition of the white embellishments helps break up the expanse of lawn "sameness". I think it's just the right touch.

Jan said...

I think the lace and little bits of white balance it up beuatifully ,you certainly have the eye for this ...love Jan xx

StitchinByTheLake said...

Karen since I've only recently been following your blog I'm at a loss..what is a toe wrap? I went through back posts and see you've made others, all beautiful by the way, but I'm not sure I understand what they are exactly. This one is simply stunning. blessings, marlene

Gayle said...

I always love taking time and looking at your beautiful work. :-)

DIAN said...

Sometimes fussy and pretty are just what is needed.

I love the way you have used the lace.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I am constantly in awe of your ability to put things together and have them look utterly stunning. At first I thought the lawn was a touch overpowering, but then....you added the white touches and the loops and it is perfect. You are GOOD!!!