First of all the Quilt Along: I’m signed up to do the Jelly Roll Waves QAL with Myra at Busy Hands Quilts. This week we have the opportunity to share our fabric choices in the link up. I’m hoping to achieve an ombre´ effect across my version of the quilt. I bought these Moda solid fat quarters at the Sandown quilt show hoping the range of colour value is broad enough to create the effect I have in mind. I’m having doubts about the coral contrast fabric though…
Now, stepping back a few weeks: During our holiday in Yorkshire we visited the Minster town of Beverley. Inside Beverley Minister itself and the parish Church, St Mary’s, there was plenty to grab the attention of a patchwork quilter both in the patterns of the floor tiles and in the needlework on display. The skies were very grey that day so I struggled to take many photos worthy of posting but I hope you will bear with the rather grainy images and maybe find some patchwork inspiration 🙂
(Followers of the TV series ‘Victoria’ might recognise this view as filming of the coronation scene took place here rather than in Westminster Abbey).
An interesting patchwork pattern 😉
The founder of the original church on the site of the present day Minster was Bishop John. He died in the year 721 (that really is the year seven hundred and twenty one AD) and his remains are buried beneath the Minster. Miracles were attributed to him and gained him the status of a Saint. Recently embroiderers at a local College set about recording episodes from St John’s life in a 90ft long series of hand stitched pictures.
After an enjoyable walk around Beverley Minister we moved on through the town to the large and ancient parish church of St Mary’s Beverley… Floor tiles much in evidence here too…
Nearby was a modern felt applique wall hanging that had obviously used the floor tiles as inspiration.
The Church has many Medieval stone and wooden carvings. I was particularly struck by this carving of an elephant in the choir stalls. To most people of those times an elephant must have been a fantastical, mythical beast.
And finally a Medieval stone carving of a rabbit.
Lewis Carroll (author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) visited St Mary’s, saw the carving and Bob’s-Your-Uncle the White Rabbit began running around in his imagination!
I wonder what has inspired your creativity recently?
Linking with Myra at Busy Hands Quilts for Week 1 of the Jelly Roll Waves QAL. It will be very interesting to see the fabric choices made by the other patchwork quilters taking part (and it’s not too late to join in with the QAL).
Allison