This old and worn French quilt makes my heart flutter. It’s life has weathered through the years of much joy and probably a few tears, but it is the mark of age and wear that makes it distinctive and remarkable. This is one of many treasures I saw on a textile study trip to France over five years ago with a group of women primarily from the US. It was one of those trips that you know you will never duplicate in a lifetime in the same way. If you love old things and you hold a passion for old textiles, it held a certain incomparable magic.
This was a preserved drawing for a textile. I still marvel at the colors and the details. The pomegranate has always been a favorite image, and I never tire of the many translations.
This was an actual sample from a book, probably mid 19th c.
These are from an old French textile sample book. There were pages and pages of these, every piece a unique and finely detailed work of art. I think many of us look back to history, art, design, and architecture for inspiration primarily because we borrow on a daily basis the designs of this vast library. It may show up in an applique or a line drawing or a painting, and we may think it is original, but I think we carry in our memory bank all this wealth of art and imagery. Copyrighted or not, it will eventually surface in our designs with our own refreshing adaptation, renewing the memory or translating a newer, updated take on the original.
Old textiles were printed so beautifully, and the designs inspire me constantly.
Judy B
Judy,
I would rather use these than anything new, but of course the cost, scarcity as well as condition all play into the choices.
Those are so beautiful.
They certanly are beautiful. The one with the pomegranites is wonderful. I can see it framed and on the wall opposite the bed. Something to contemplate upon awakening!
Pat,
Yes, this would be the botanical piece I would want to look at every day too.
Was your trip a one time thing? Or is the company/person still leading similar tours? Sounds wonderful!
Karen,
The woman who leads these trips is Deb Roberts and she is a member of the American Quilt Study Group as well. She does these tours on a regular basis, at least every year. I know she also goes to Great Britain too. If you are interested I can send you more information.
I look forward to your posts and Jude Hill’s posts every morning and you always amaze and delight me. I wish though that I was able to click and enlarge your photos. I can on Jude’s site and am able to see so much more detail.
What a wonderful compliment. I hold Jude’s blog as the very best out there. Obviously, I have much to learn. I sometimes find it difficult to navigate the features of a blog and learn how to adjust and improve them. I will see what I can do to improve my photo enlargement capability or at least take pictures that are more detailed.
It is the birds that captivate me. Stealing the fruity treasures.
Birds are always my favorite too…on dishes, textiles, clothing, and in paintings.
i have a few old sample books but mostly from the states. they are wonderful and the old paintings done for textile design, works of art. funny that most of this is done by computer now, but there are a few artists here in new york that paint fabulous print designs for the home furnishing trade. the computer generated ones are just never as intricately colored .
i love the lining contrast on that old quilt.
I think computers are great for all the reasons we use them, but computer art in terms of textiles tends to seem lifeless. I can’t think of a better way to describe it. I love things that are authentic, hand rendered or stitched or painted. I am returning even more now to my original love of hand stitched quilts, primarily because of you. There simply is no substitute for this look and touch.
Everything here is absolutely breathtaking…. especially the quilt! xx