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







Thursday, March 22, 2012

colour, knots, embroidery and lace



and still they keep coming..are you sick of samples yet? I truly hope not because this is all I have for the foreseeable future..oops! Remember too that these will never progress to a finished piece. These are for the amazing sample book I dream of creating, yes merely a dream at present. I am going to make a start this weekend (fingers crossed)....... housework and domesticity permitting.
In other news...don't forget the new class starting May 1. I am taking registration now so we can all be prepared and to give me a better idea of the numbers. So if you want to make a 'wrapping cloth', practice traditional hand embroidery stitches and techniques, create your very own heirloom or produce a gorgeous 'useable' hand embellished cloth for your home then pop over here to read more, see work from previous classes and register. 
(allow 24 hours from registration for receipt of further information and link to preparatory video)
video is now user friendly for mac!!! Yay!!
Finally...yes I really am going don't worry...my inbox is rammed. I will get back to you soon, tomorrow in fact. So get the kettle on and make a cake I am coming to visit!

11 comments:

deanna7trees said...

like a dream. they are all so lovely.

Jane said...

Juat keep them coming, I love seeing them

Joanna said...

You're really coming? Whenever will you find the time? :) Love the samples, so I don't mind if they keep on coming.

Rachel said...

The fragments of colour point up the clarity of the white - lovely work again, Karen.

sharon young said...

Really a wonderful feast for the eye.
I absolutely love the addition of the colour, and using it so sparingly makes it appear like little jewels.
Brilliant.

Jensters said...

I will never be sick of them Karen...love your work.

Elizabeth said...

Your dream will come true since you already made so many samples!

enjoy yourself.

Sandi said...

each one a fabric jewel

Peggy Holt said...

And a beautiful book it is going to be! I'll get out my finest tea cups and await your arrival.

Carol Q said...

definitely not sick of them. gorgeous delicate clean pieces.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I still think....you know what I'm going to say, so I won't go any further!!