Stars: tiles and quilts

I am lucky enough to have an original tiled floor in the hallway of my Victorian English house. I can spend so much time admiring it that even mopping is a pleasure. Most geometric designs like this were of natural clay colours ranging from red and brown to buff. Hall floors like this were popular in middle class housing of the 1870s - 1890s - and mine has the more affluent people's colours of white and the costly blue. I think our tiles could have been made by Craven Dunnill of Jackfield near Ironbridge, Shropshire. These tiles were only laid where visitors were likely to see them - porches, entrance halls and conservatories. The English were such snobs!!!
I love the star pattern more and more and of course there are no shortage of star quilt patterns. I have just finished piecing this which has helped me to become neater and more accurate...practise, practise, practise. I am enjoying accuracy and attention to detail at the moment, perhaps to the detriment of artistry but technique can give freedom I think. It can only help to get better at piecing!

I look forward to a bad weather day to layer and quilt this one. Bring on the rain!

Tile Inspired Quilt

At a workshop this weekend with Bobby Britnell we were taking inspiration from tiles to make a textile piece. I used the Minton tiles in my hallway for my source as I love the colours and am honoured to have this original Victorian flooring.
I used the colours rather than the shapes. The blue colouring is the most rare of the Minton shades and were bought by wealthier people. It was very much a matter of showing off with one's flooring in a hallway. The backs of houses were always plain. It was what was on view that counted!
In the slideshow you can see the original tiles, the working ideas on paper and the finished piece which is about 10" square.

Moon Series, Tulles and Sheers

I went on a fabulous workshop with Ineke Berlyn yesterday and made this scene with some of my hand-dyed fabrics, some shared fabrics and some sheers. It is on a base of white organza with some pink very fine grade tulle over the top machine-stitched in purple and gold threads. I am very pleased with the result and want to do more utilising this technique.

Here is a picture which shows the layers better, but I am waiting for some sun to come out. The picture is in an acrylic frame and can stand on the window sill to get the full effect of the sun shining through (some day soon please!). Here is the class in action - we are the Embroiderers' Guild.

...and here is my new Bernina (pride and joy) in action at 6.30 this morning because I couldn't wait to finish it!

I have also been working at the Moon Series and have posted a picture of the first patch of 12 monthly Lunar influenced pictures for the following year's slow cloth. The moon is shining above the Pitons which are two very magnificent mountains which rise abruptly out of the sea in Lucia where we were in January (see last posts). I have put the Pitons in cotton velvet which feels lovely and the moon is discharged with bleach on a cotton woven fabric background.

This year I am collecting various patterns in photo and sketch for future use. This is a photo of our Victorian hall tiles which would be a patchworker's dream!

Here is the window of our front door. You don't need to go far for inspiration!

Then if you've got a moment click on this link to watch a heart warming video set to music by Tonya Davis with art by Andrea Dorfman :)