Saturday 27 February 2010

Four more quilters!

Well thankyou, thankyou, thankyou to those of you who have left messages - it is a joy to visit your blogs too and see where you live! I was so thrilled that I have decided you ARE ALL WINNERS!! Today I printed off 20 photos of the quilt so 24 more hours and then I will close it to the first 20 of you who requested the pattern. It is only a few pages which I can squeeze into a normal envelope - so please send me your name and postal address via my website (Which you can get to by clicking on my book to the left of your screen)
I will leave you with a picture of one of my very favourite Morris & Co tapestries - Pomona. The nearsest I have to it is a cushion (Yes another cushion!!) This info and photo are from the V&A collection. http://www.vam.ac.uk/index.html

'Pomona' Tapestry
Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) and John Henry Dearle (1860-1932)
Made by Morris & Co. England about 1900. Tapestry-woven wool and silk on a cotton warp. Museum no. T.33-1981
In Roman mythology, Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees and orchards. Her name comes from the Latin word pomum, meaning fruit. Her story was told by the Latin poet Ovid in the Metamorphoses, in which she was pursued by the god Vertumnus, and the two lovers were popular subjects in painting and the decorative arts, including tapestry, in the 16th century and later.
William Morris considered tapestry 'the noblest of the weaving arts', and his firm of Morris & Co produced exceptional examples, with scenes of Arthurian legend, medieval romance, and mythology, like this piece. The account book of the artist Edward Burne-Jones shows that he was paid £25 by Morris & Co in 1882 for the figure of Pomona, his first design specifically for tapestry. The design was woven in several versions, with alternative backgrounds to the figure, and to different scale. In this version the flowers and fruit, including the branch of apples Pomona is holding, were designed by John Henry Dearle.

Thursday 25 February 2010

Give away time

I was clearing out my pattern box and came across this pattern which I find is dated 2002! I think I designed it for the Loxton quilters as they had requested a 'Christmas' theme for an applique class. I'ts a sort of 'Folk Style' come 'Partridge in a Xmas tree' wall quilt and measures 40 1/2" x 48 1/2" (103cm x 124cm) and is very simple. I happen to have three spare copies of the class notes and pattern, so if you happen to be dropping by let me know if you would like a copy. I will put all the names in the hat and draw out three - good luck!

And my next four William Morris cushion covers arrived today....they even smell divine! So officially - between the miners couch and this couch there is no more room for any more Morris cushions!! Thanks Marie; http://www.williammorriscushioncovers.com/
........well maybe the beds will be next.........

Sunday 21 February 2010

New look website

Thankyou to each and everyone of you that visit my blog - I am humbled by your attention! If you haven't already seen it I have a new look website; http://www.michelehill.com.au/

My publisher Country Bumpkin have been so supportive of my quilting endeavours and Lynton the graphic designer has designed this logo as my 'badge'. You will also see this on patterns in the future - thankyou to the team at CB especially Anna, Lauren, Helen and Lynton.
My thanks also to Christine; http://www.geckogully.com/websites/ who has helped me set up just what I wanted. Her patience and help were wonderful and the best bit is that she is a quilter - not sure if she gets much time to do that though! I will be able to manage the website myself which is a huge bonus. I am on a steep learning curve and so some of the pages will need 'tweeking' over the months - especially the photos in the gallery page - room for improvement there! So if you are looking to upgrade or get a new website I encourage you to contact Christine via the link above.
Do visit me at the website from time to time - I enjoy tracking where visitors come from and today I even had visitors from Belgium and Alaska!!

And I will leave you with a sneak peek at one of the projects in my new book (due for release later in the year). This is an appliqued tablecloth completed by a dear friend who is fighting the 'Big C" with chemo and radiotherapy - one gutsy lady! (Luv ya JG!)

Tuesday 16 February 2010

Charles Voysey and Morris

Australian Finch Charles Voysey (1857-1941)

I came across this interesting image at the Royal Institute of British Architects; http://www.designconnection.demon.co.uk/New_Folder/aboutRIBA.htm
I wonder what led him to an Australian finch? I might have to do some more research on that one! I have been inspired by Voysey for several blocks in my William Morris & Friends quilt having first admired him through some of the Liberty fabrics I collected many years ago. Voysey was an English architect but perhaps in my world better known for his wallpaper and textile designs. He was definitely influenced by Morris as you can see here;


                               
There is some similarity to Morris' Trellis wallpaper pattern

Saturday 13 February 2010

Festival of Quilts, Birmingham 2010


The class list for Quilt Academy has just been posted for the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham. What a great thrill that I am teaching there this year! I still can't believe it and it is all thanks to our wonderful Gloria Loughman who suggested it to me!!




Thanks Gloria XX
http://www.glorialoughman.com/




And I have put some wonderful photos on the Bedford Mystery Quilt blog....all is explained there;   http://mysteryquiltbedford.blogspot.com/

Thursday 11 February 2010

Strange but true (and my cushions arrived)

Last post I told you I would share a story that is strange but true! In August of 2000 my father was in a hospice in the final stages of terminal cancer. I was working full-time in quality management at that time, so along with losing Dad I was a little stressed! During my lunch break I decided to go for a walk. It was a cool Winter's day but the sun was shining and I had an urge to sit on a seat in a park (it was actually near the Adelaide University footbridge for those of you who know where I mean and I had walked from the office in Melbourne St). As I sat in deep contemplation I had thoughts of where I would rather be. Three years earlier we had gone to visit the UK (first time for me), where we discovered what is now one of our favourite places - the beautiful Lakes District. There is a small shop there called Reekies;
 which is in the beautiful village of Grasmere. http://www.reekiesgrasmere.co.uk/

So there I was sitting with my eyes closed and the sun on my back having deep thoughts of this wonderful place . Time ticked by and I thought I had better head back to work. As I stood up something caught my eye...........lying on the ground was a brand new packet from Reekies of this Lakes District embroidered emblem!!! I immediately went into shock looking around me thinking where the heck did this come from!! Then I started trying to rationalise it.........Maybe a University student dropped it having just come back from overseas.....or a backpacker???? To this day I have no idea where it came from but I have to tell you that is a stange but very true occurence in my life. The packet has now persished as I carry it with me all the time. But you can still see part of the packaging!! Amazing hey??!!
And my beautiful William Morris cushion covers arrived yesterday from Marie in the UK; http://www.williammorriscushioncovers.com/
They are just perfect on the Miner's Couch - thanks Marie!

Sunday 7 February 2010

Life's strange coincidences

Life can be full of mystery and strange coincidences. I even wonder about 'past lives' and why we have such a strong connection to particular subjects. Some years back I was pondering what my husband could get me to celebrate my 50th birthday. I decided I would like a framed print (X-Lotto hasn't permitted me to purchase originals yet!!). Anyway I came across this wonderful print and I knew straight away this was it............
It is titled "Corner of the Villa" and was painted in 1890 by Sir Edward Poynter.
Picture courtesy of this site; http://www.art.com/


Sir Edward Poynter (1836-1919)

My art ignorance led me to finding out more about this artist and here is one of life's coincidences ...........this talented painter married an Agnes MacDonald who turns out to be the sister of Georgiana who married Edward Burne-Jones - William Morris's lifelong friend and business partner!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Burne-Jones


On the left is Edward Burne-Jones & the right William Morris

And one of the MacDonald sisters, Alice fathered Rudyard Kipling; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudyard_Kipling


Next blog I have an even more bizarre coincidence
that you will not believe is true - stay tuned!