William Morris Quilt Two

My record keeping for my quilt making has left a lot to be desired and thinking back to the late 1990's is challenging! But I think this was the second Morris inspired quilt that I designed and sadly the first quilt to go missing in the mail back in 2002. I think I designed 'Woven Verdure' in 1999 and completed it in 2000. I chose the word Woven to represent the weaving of a rug and Verdure meaning 'lush green vegetation'….

This was the very last photo that I had of the quilt before it went missing so I cannot even show you close ups of the quilted insects in the border. When it went missing it was on its way back home to me after appearing in a magazine and I was thrilled when it made the cover ……..

I completed a second version in 2008 with a different border and added embroidered trims and braids….

 In my usual 'slap dash' haste some elements were not as accurate as I would have liked and this little mouse compensated for it by lifting a wonky leaf!……..

 My original label and notes say that my inspiration came from an 1880 carpet by Morris called Bellflowers. I have no idea where I found this as to date I haven't found it since! (and I have many shelves of books I can search!). Morris began carpet production in the 1870's following on from his successful fabric and wallpaper production. They were either hand-knotted or machine woven and today you can still purchase them. My favourite site full of luscious modern rug versions is of course Morris and Co. where you will see many on a slide show. The original hand knotted carpets became known as the Hammersmith carpets and one sold at Sotheby's for a whopping 185,000 British pounds last year. This carpet in fact belonged to the Barr Smith family here at home and you can see the story of the Adelaide family and a photo of Joanna Barr Smith on that Sotheby's link. Linda Parry in her updated 'William Morris Textiles' book states that the Barr Smiths owned "the greatest number of Hammersmith carpets yet recorded for any single customer"  I love the symmetry and pattern of these carpets and my favourites are often John Henry Dearle designs - Dearle being one of Morris's business partners.  He had a fascination with Middle eastern designs like Morris and after Morris died he continued to manage Morris and Co until his own death in 1932. You can view several of these carpets at the Art Gallery of South Australia's website…

and I am sure this is where my inspiration for the border on my first 'Woven Verdure' quilt came from…

So back to the pattern giveaway…..just leave me a message or send me an email if you would like a copy of the first Woven Verdure quilt pattern. The finished quilt measures 62" x 70" (158cm x 178cm).  I will send it to you as a PDF so you get it instantly and it will save on postage (which has just jumped suddenly in Australia from 70 cents to $1 a letter and the May Morris book postage has jumped from $3.50 - $5!). Speaking of May Morris I read only today of a May Morris conference to be held at the William Morris Gallery in London in May this year. If only I could be there with my May Morris books! Now to a beautiful gift I received in the post this week….

Another absolute gorgeous pinwheel from my precious friend Dot! Once again I am totally overwhelmed with her generosity and it is always so special to get something hand stitched so lovingly from her. Dot always includes history and documents with her gifts so I have now become fascinated with the source of the original. The Ackworth Quaker school in the early 1800's seems to be the unlikely link where girls worked embroidered samplers. This example was originally a knitted quaker pinball and they were often made using designs from the early samplers and given as love tokens. You can view more at this lovely blog - Needleprint. Dot's tiny petit point is simply gorgeous - lucky me! So I had better get back to the machine where the binding has been sitting all day waiting to be put on the Beatrix Potter quilt! I will share another Morris quilt pattern in a few days. Hope all is well in your part of the world x