About my quilts
Kelmscott (page 50)
This is my interpretation of Morris’s bedcover at
Kelmscott Manor (one of his homes). The original
bed cover was embroidered by Morris’s daughter and
wife and is still on display on his 17th century four-poster bed. When I was designing the quilt I only had
a small photo of the original cover so used wallpaper
floral designs to enhance it.
Footsteps from the Past (page 52)
The same visit to England and Ireland resulted in
numerous photos from cathedral floors. My appliqué
was a little too close to the seam so a cockroach
discreetly covers a flaw! So another couple of
cockroaches hand embroidered with kid leather made
it all the more respectable … after all, cockroaches
have been around longer than those medieval tiles!
Best of Show Quilters Guild of SA in 2007
My Renaissance (page 48)
All these blocks have come from old patterns.
The centre is from an ancient Italian brocade and
the remaining blocks from old publication images.
This quilt received one of the most humbling
awards I have received – that of Viewer’s Choice at
the Quilters Guild of SA in 2006. I also hand
stitched hundreds of glass bugle beads to add a bit
of bling!
WM Cushions (page 52)
These three cushions are based on William Morris
patterns – Brer Rabbit, The Strawberry Thief and
the Dove and Rose.
My Walk in Melbourne (page 48)
This quilt came about after a visit to the Block
Arcade floor in Melbourne. The mosaic floor
reminded me of Morris, so it just had to be a quilt!
It won Best of Show Quilters Guild of SA in 2005.
What is Colour (page 49)
This quilt was inspired by a pattern from a Dover
publication; 2,286 Traditional Stencil Designs
originally published in 1918 and 1920 by H. Roessing.
These timeless patterns crop up everywhere and I
have even found the image on a small glass plate and a
decorative lidded urn. I enjoyed the process of using
just black and white and found the different contrasts
interesting.
Dublin (page 52)
The inspiration for the centre of this small wall
hanging came from a rubbing I took of pressed metal
in the hotel lobby of a Dublin hotel. The receptionist
was quite bemused with my request but kindly
provide paper and pencil! The remaining blocks are
adaptations of the Victorian era style.
Morris for Afternoon Tea (page 51)
The tea and coffee cosy are adapted from William
Morris’s Artichoke design. It was created for a
workshop where students could go home with
something completed!
The instructions to make the Kelmscott quilt, and five other stunning projects,
appear in Michele’s book - William Morrisin Appliqué. Ask for your copy at your local
patchwork store or contact the publisher for stockists – www.countrybumpkin.com.au
