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Willow Pattern Revisited

This is the Willow Pattern we are most familiar with - a traditional  chinaware design  by Thomas Minton in 1790, popularised for at least the next 200 years. Thinking back to the old poem about the Willow Pattern,  Two birds flying high, A Chinese vessel, sailing by. A bridge with three men, sometimes four, A willow tree, hanging o'er. A Chinese temple, there it stands, Built upon the river sands. An apple tree, with apples on, A crooked fence to end my song I discovered that some of my photos taken recently in China reminded me of  a contemporary Willow Pattern scene. As I am not a skilled photographer by any stretch of the imagination, I have tried to turn two very rather ordinary photos into modern versions of the Willow Pattern - well at least, elements of the Willow Pattern.  1. Original Image - Wild Goose Pagoda , Xian , China   2. Sepia tint   3. Blue tint   4. Blue tint  w...

Blue Textiles

 I love working with blue .... much of my recent work is blue. In the latter part of last year I saw blue everywhere - I stitched a series of blue temari (embroidered thread balls) and felted dolls in shades of blue.  - Blue Temari  - "Layered" exhibition ,January 2014.  Blue felt doll - Bonnie  Blue felt doll - Maribel  I love the colours of the traditional Willow Pattern… these blues induce a sense of calm and peace and the sight of a blue bird is often seen as a symbol of happiness and contentment…. One of the works in the current "Layered" exhibition by the Newcastle Creative Embroiderers and Textile Artists is  Blue Bird which was completed in December. I  covered a  wire frame  with different fabrics, which have been felted, stitched by hand and/or machine, painted and stamped, dyed. This textile art is a derivative of an earlier collaborative work created for International Women’s Day 2013. Bl...

Blue & White Birthday

Today is my mother’s birthday  - Happy Birthday, Mum. Going strong and creative at 88!  This morning, I uncovered my embroidery which I have been “working on” for a few birthdays now. In the absence of the finished Willow Pattern tablecloth, I created a treasury of beautiful Willow Pattern inspired items I found on Etsy . Hope you and all those who love "blue and white" enjoy it.     Link : http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTcyNDAwNHwyNzIxNTA0NDg5/willow