Talent beyond measure ❤️

A couple of days ago a new Edward Burne-Jones exhibition opened at the Tate Museum London. I've been following news of this event for some time now and was aware that for the first time Lord Farringdon of Buscot Park had given permission for the Legend of the Briar Rose series to be on loan to the Tate for the exhibition. I feel so blessed that I have been up close and personal to these magnificent works of art (several times), and even on one occasion escorted by Lord Farringdon himself who gave permission to take photos. I cannot imagine how bare the walls must look now without the paintings in situ.....

I will never forget how gracious, personable and so very welcoming Lord Farringdon and his wife were and and here you are too Elaine with him!!.......

One of the other many highlights of the current Tate exhibition is some of the Burne-Jones' unfinished series of Perseus and Andromeda that he worked on for ten years and never finished. You can read an informative article on the paintings on this site HERE. Our very own Art Gallery of South Australia has one magnificent piece pictured below that is a whopping 152cm x 229cm and will soon be on loan to the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra for the Love & Desire: Pre-Raphaelite Masterpieces exhibition that opens on December 14th. Coincidentally this exhibition will have 40 Pre-Raphaelite works of art also from the Tate! 

Jimmy Page (guitarist and founder of Led Zeppelin), has also loaned his tapestries to the Tate for the exhibition and you can read about that HERE

Photo credit

While reading online yesterday I also came across a contemporary artist who has made the most exquisite pieces of jewellery especially for the Burne-Jones exhibition currently on at the Tate.......

I have swooned for hours over her website and dreamed of owning a piece myself so I emailed Jen of Parrish Relics to tell her how besotted I was with her work! And how absolutely wonderful that she actually answered my email! (I now know how people are excited when I do that too!!). And to top it off Jen so very kindly gave me permission to share her unbelievable work here on the blog. I felt like a kindred spirit with images of William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and even some of the Lady and the Unicorn series in her stunning jewellery........

 Even pieces from the Adoration of the Magi tapestry which again our Art Gallery of South Australia has in its collection and is one of only ten made in the world (and that will also be on loan for the Canberra Pre-Raphaelite exhibition)......

 I adore these Morris Bird and Woodpecker pieces.......

 Sometimes Jen uses relics of stained glass and even miniature glass vessels.......

 And how beautifully presented are one's purchases when delivered........

Jen is also so very generous by giving back to others. From time to time a percentage of her sales goes towards a chosen worthy cause.........

 So do visit her website so you too can drool over her studio and collections. I did try and see if I could purchase a piece from the Tate shop (all other collections of Jen's are sold out on her site), but sadly they have not listed them - guess you need to be there in person - but never fear.....I've signed up for the newsletter so I will receive notification of her next release! So kindred spirits I think we are.....even when it comes to giving back. I've donated several of my quilts over the years.......usually for an auction or a raffle......
My 'Arts & Crafts' quilt was one with funds for the Anglican Church of the Epiphany.....

'Morris Meadows' with funds going to the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria.........

'Kelmscott' for the SA Quilters Guild and chosen charities.....

'Floral Fantasy' also for SA Quilters Guild......

'Morris & Friends' for the Society of Antiquaries who only this week received notification of the success of securing 5 million pounds in a lottery grant to restore Kelmscott Manor. You can read more of that in this article HERE. My quilt contributed to this worthy cause via an auction in 2014.........

And only this past week I also received some very exciting news of another cause that I have been able to contribute to via one of my quilts! I made this quilt back in 2013 and it was based on a design by Nicola Jarvis for a special May Morris exhibition that was to be held at the William Morris Gallery in London. I was thrilled that we could be there and recorded that on September 15th five years ago. I worked on the quilt over many weeks.......

So recently Nicola contacted me from the UK to say she was coming to South Australia as a tutor at the Beating around the Bush International needlework Convention and would I like my quilt back? She also mentioned the possibility of a fund raising auction to be held at the gala dinner which I immediately said yes to as long as funds could go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where little Wade spent the first 10 weeks of his life. So you can imagine my overwhelming delight when I was informed that the bid reached AU$1,600! So on Monday next week - the day that Wade turns one we will be presenting the cheque to the neonatal unit. This photo comes from the BATB website of the lady who won the bid - in the red dress on the left and Nicola is on the right......sorry I couldn't be there to share in the excitement of it all! Thankyou so very much Christine for purchasing my quilt and for being so generous to such a worthy cause.....

Photo Credit

 I am so very grateful to the Inspirations Studio team for making this all possible and to Nicola for looking after my quilt for so long and for sharing it all in my absence. So with all this excitement I will leave you with the front garden as it looks this afternoon! Time to stop and smell the roses! Thanks again for dropping by x

UK William Morris Tour News

Hello again from a very excited Hill household....excited because the 'William Morris and Arts & Crafts Movement' tour based in Oxford is now 'for sale' with the dates confirmed and Helen tells me there are only a few places left! So you had better contact her fast if you have been thinking about it at enquiries@whitecrofttours.co.uk. I know it is two years away but it would seem the Whitecroft/Hill partnership is popular!  The dates are September 24th - October 4th with 11 nights based in this amazing hotel right in the heart of Oxford for the entire tour  - The Randolph famous for the TV series Inspector Morse and Lewis! It even looks like Morse is parked out the front except Larry tells me his Jag was red........

Helen sent me this wonderful photo when she went to book the hotel of the refurbished Morse bar and I know of several chaps who can't wait to join Larry in a pint!......

The appeal of these tours is that we stay in the one hotel the entire tour and all costs are included. (apart from your airfare, transfers and spending money). And what a fabulous place to be based for the entire tour.......we LOVE Oxford and have so many wonderful memories from our previous visits including lunch at the Eagle and Child - Tolkein for Larry and CS Lewis for me!..............

The hotel is right opposite the Ashmolean Museum so it is very handy for us to explore........

And who doesn't love wandering around Oxford anyway? We visit Exeter College where Morris studied, view some amazing Burne-Jones stained glass in the Harris Manchester College and top it off with dinner in the Oxford Union after viewing the library ceiling.........and so much more......

On our day trips the many gardens we visit inspire us........

 

The historic villages create lasting emotions especially Bibury..........

 And I never tire of Kelmscott Manor even after eight visits.....and the bonus is that we can now take photos inside.......

my favourite seat where I contemplate what Morris would think of us all.........

 Beautiful Buscot Park where we might even be escorted by the Lord of the Manor..........

 Red House where more and more wall paintings are being revealed.......

and I have a lasting happy memory of this rustic lunch from the Red House cafe.....

Stunning Standen...........

 and even a Needle Museum............

 Evensong under Burne-Jones awe inspiring stained glass at the Birmingham Cathedral.........

 The award Winning William Morris Gallery........

 Wonderful Wightwick Manor........

 Shopping in tempting Tetbury.......

 

and there are surprises and exciting treats including these new places of interest that we haven't visited before........

We hope to see you there in 2020! The dates and itinerary for the 'William Morris meets Beatrix Potter' tour based in the Yorkshire Dales will be revealed very soon x