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







Wednesday, February 8, 2012

cross stitch hearts and a pocket.....



A row of running stitch and a row of cross stitch hearts have been placed alongside my mums pocket...My pieces are slowly coming together. One or two sections on one or two panels are waiting to be embellished and I am working my way through them steadily. The girls are doing great things...really great things. The proof is here so please take a look.
I wanted to clarify a couple of things regarding the new class, Extending Embellishment. This class is NOT a continuation of the Wrapping Cloth class. I will not be making a wrapping cloth. That's not to say that you can't if you want to, I will guide you whichever way your work develops.
I will be making two 'art' pieces. The 'extending' will be in the form of creating surface for hand embroidery using fine cloth and delicate paper. It will be in the form of adding tiny mirrors to cloth, of manipulation methods involving ruching and withdrawing threads. It will be in the application of embellishment in unexpected ways....
If you sign up you will receive a suggested equipment list within 24 hours along with more detail on the class format. The class forum will go ''live'' one week before the start date giving you access to a video in which I discuss and consider options for finished pieces.
To get a sense of the things we are likely to cover you can look here , here and here. To sign up and read more go here. To view feedback from precious courses then go here....
phew! that should keep you busy!!

12 comments:

Flaming Nora said...

Ah if only I had more time...
really enjoyed the buttons and would love to do more. May be at some point in the future.
Oh and am loving the juxtaposition of the new modern typeface you have used of the lettering with the old fashioned embroidery, so steeped in history etc etc etc. Sorry not very eloquent today!

Tatkis said...

Extra sweet!

Hugs,
Tatyana

deanna7trees said...

chittered...had to look that one up.
i love the opening where the pocket stands away from its anchor.

Karen said...

chitter definition: intransitive verb 1. to twitter 2. Brit., Dialectal to shiver with cold..

Iceni UK said...

A beautiful pocket and those darling little web stitches are a delight to see.
As for the class. I can hardly wait, so much I want to learn.

Karen, thank you for being so generous with your knowledge and time.
Hugs.

barbara l. hale said...

So beautiful! I love that fabric under the pocket.

Jane said...

love the pocket, the colour from underneath is a wonderful surprise

Anonymous said...

It looks gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Karen, this is fantastic!!!
Masha

Pamela Kellogg said...

Karen, your work is always incredible and gorgeous! Pam

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Such a lovely pocket - I am certain your mum is going to love it.

Jackie said...

Oh my goodness..I adore that little patterned edge. Just enough to intrigue...gorgeous.