On Pay Day, I ordered a bundle of the new William Morris Workshop fabric that Barbara Brackman has come out with for Moda. I love William Morris reproduction fabrics and have a fair sized collection of them. William Morris was an Englishman who is known for his skills as an architect, furniture designer, author, poet. and textile designer. Talk about a Renaissance Man. I wonder if he hadn't been so varied in his interests, what he might have done if he had focused completely on just one of the areas in which he was so skilled! Here is a picture of his only surviving easel painting "La Belle Iseult" (Wikipedia).
He was associated with the English Arts and Crafts Movement, and was a friend of the artist/poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Morris ressurected the art of wood block printing for use in making wallpaper and textiles. He also experimented with different sorts of natural vegetable dyes, which is why his textiles have such a soft beautiful quality. If you love indigo, he had that color down pat. His designs in fabric have continued to be loved for over 100 years, a great testimony to his skill and mastery of decorative arts.
This latest fabric design by Barbara Brackman- I don't have enough superlatives in my vocabulary to describe how gorgeous the design and (especially) the color palette are. Here is a quote from Barbara's website describing the designs of William Morris "Inspirations included Celtic manuscript illustration, Arabic architecture, medieval tapestries and at the very heart — a reverence for nature".
There is a soft sagey green, a warm brown, and my favorite-a soft tangerine color that is to die for.
And the blues? They are worthy of a quilt all on their own. To see these fabrics more authentically, check out this site: http://www.unitednotions.com/fcc_the_morris_workshop.pdf
I have the Morris Workshop fabrics mixed in with some of the blues from a previous collection called A Morris Garden, also by Barbara Brackman for Moda. They work so well together.
My only problem is that I don't know exactly what I will do with these beautiful pieces of fabric! Two quilts for sure, but what patterns? On Barbara's website there is a free pattern called Morning Star that would show off these fabrics well. United Notions/Moda has a free pattern called A Morris Garden on their site as well.
If you want to learn more about William Morris and his life I recommend that you Google his name and start exploring!
42 responses to “William Morris Fabric”
oh noooooooooooooo Nicole !!
you’re are doing it to me again . . . do I dare check out these websites . . . hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . .
well . . . you know I will !!
oh noooooooooooooo Nicole !!
you’re are doing it to me again . . . do I dare check out these websites . . . hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . .
well . . . you know I will !!
yummy, yummy, this fabric line is so beautiful!!! Now I’m excited to see what kind of pattern do you want to use ;-))).
yummy, yummy, this fabric line is so beautiful!!! Now I’m excited to see what kind of pattern do you want to use ;-))).
Those fabrics are stunning, but I think they deserve a prettier pattern than the one on the Moda website! There is a beautiful new quilt book out by Michele Hill called “William Morris in Applique”. The patterns in that book would do the fabric more justice. I can’t wait to see what you decide to do with it, Nicole. You always seem to make the perfect selection.
Those fabrics are stunning, but I think they deserve a prettier pattern than the one on the Moda website! There is a beautiful new quilt book out by Michele Hill called “William Morris in Applique”. The patterns in that book would do the fabric more justice. I can’t wait to see what you decide to do with it, Nicole. You always seem to make the perfect selection.
The fabrics are gorgeous…I was hoping you already had a project in mind! Great fabrics like this deserve a spectacular pattern (even though they’d make any pattern look wonderful)!
The fabrics are gorgeous…I was hoping you already had a project in mind! Great fabrics like this deserve a spectacular pattern (even though they’d make any pattern look wonderful)!
The first picture of fabrics looks like they came right out of the painting you show. They are truly breathtaking!
The first picture of fabrics looks like they came right out of the painting you show. They are truly breathtaking!
Are these going to be fabrics you just hate to cut into?
Are these going to be fabrics you just hate to cut into?
These are gorgeous! I love William Morris designs too, so intricate but not loud and never boring. Recently I was shopping for dresses and found at the BCBG Max Azria a lot of dresses with what surely appeared to be William Morris inspired prints. The were probably more Art Nouveau but were sooo pretty! Good luck with finding a quilt pattern you feel worthy of these lovelies!
These are gorgeous! I love William Morris designs too, so intricate but not loud and never boring. Recently I was shopping for dresses and found at the BCBG Max Azria a lot of dresses with what surely appeared to be William Morris inspired prints. The were probably more Art Nouveau but were sooo pretty! Good luck with finding a quilt pattern you feel worthy of these lovelies!
What beautiful, beautiful fabric…can’t wait to see what you decide to make with it!
What beautiful, beautiful fabric…can’t wait to see what you decide to make with it!
beautiful fabrics, wow!
I have always be interested in William Morris designs.
Love that era
thanks for showing the fabrics…will look forward to see what you do with them
Kathie
beautiful fabrics, wow!
I have always be interested in William Morris designs.
Love that era
thanks for showing the fabrics…will look forward to see what you do with them
Kathie
*sigh* I am just looking at your pictures. (hours passing)
For the few I have, it is a difficult decision to cut the fabric.
Can’t wait to see what you make-and please don’t show the cutting, it is just a painful thought not to be visually experienced! 🙂
*sigh* I am just looking at your pictures. (hours passing)
For the few I have, it is a difficult decision to cut the fabric.
Can’t wait to see what you make-and please don’t show the cutting, it is just a painful thought not to be visually experienced! 🙂
I am so jealous!!!
I have been on the Moda website to see what is up and coming and had decided I wanted a jelly roll or layer cake but I will have to wait for a couple of months until we get them here in the UK
I am so jealous!!!
I have been on the Moda website to see what is up and coming and had decided I wanted a jelly roll or layer cake but I will have to wait for a couple of months until we get them here in the UK
Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my chin – these fabrics are to die for, Nicole! I, too, am a William Morris fan – I really love the wallpapers next to a gorgeous quarter-sawn piece of oak furniture!
Cheers!
Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my chin – these fabrics are to die for, Nicole! I, too, am a William Morris fan – I really love the wallpapers next to a gorgeous quarter-sawn piece of oak furniture!
Cheers!
Cant wait to see what you make with those materials It will be something good thats for sure.
Hugs Mary.
Cant wait to see what you make with those materials It will be something good thats for sure.
Hugs Mary.
The fabric is just beautiful! The quilt on Barbara Brackman’s website is lovely – the one for Moda University is an awful design for this fabric! (Personal opinion of course!!!!) I still have a couple of pieces of the previous group and can’t seem to cut into them. I’m looking forward to adding to my collection!
The fabric is just beautiful! The quilt on Barbara Brackman’s website is lovely – the one for Moda University is an awful design for this fabric! (Personal opinion of course!!!!) I still have a couple of pieces of the previous group and can’t seem to cut into them. I’m looking forward to adding to my collection!
Nicole, you make me want to quit my job and stay home and quilt! 🙂
Nicole, you make me want to quit my job and stay home and quilt! 🙂
It’s so funny! I was looking at Wm. Morris fabrics, new collections, old collections, etc., just last night! I also have some from back when Rose & Hubble were producing his designs. I’m not sure what I’ll make from it, but at least I have it to admire and think about in the meantime!
It’s so funny! I was looking at Wm. Morris fabrics, new collections, old collections, etc., just last night! I also have some from back when Rose & Hubble were producing his designs. I’m not sure what I’ll make from it, but at least I have it to admire and think about in the meantime!
While at a quilt show in NJ yesterday, I saw the Morris Workshop fabrics made in a pattern called Secondhand Clothes by Bonnie Blue Quilts (www.BonnieBlueQuilts.com). It was stunning!
While at a quilt show in NJ yesterday, I saw the Morris Workshop fabrics made in a pattern called Secondhand Clothes by Bonnie Blue Quilts (www.BonnieBlueQuilts.com). It was stunning!
These fabrics are beautiful. I have been looking for inspiration for a quilt for our mission bed. Traditional prints just didn’t seemed right. I would love to know what pattern you plan to use.
Visit your blog often, always inspiring and love the stories about the your welsh terriors……having had many terriers and currently have a soft coated wheaten, I know their quirks
Thanks again.
These fabrics are beautiful. I have been looking for inspiration for a quilt for our mission bed. Traditional prints just didn’t seemed right. I would love to know what pattern you plan to use.
Visit your blog often, always inspiring and love the stories about the your welsh terriors……having had many terriers and currently have a soft coated wheaten, I know their quirks
Thanks again.
You should have been in advertising. The way you have pictured them is so pretty- makes me want them too. Betty
You should have been in advertising. The way you have pictured them is so pretty- makes me want them too. Betty
Love these prints, and love the little history lesson about Morris. Can’t help it, I just love learning stuff and this was such fun to read!
Love these prints, and love the little history lesson about Morris. Can’t help it, I just love learning stuff and this was such fun to read!
I do the lurking thing too. I just want to tell you that I LOVE the quilt you dedicated an hour a day to working through……I’ll need to add it to my collection. Oh and you are right about shopping at home. I NEED to do that more often!
I do the lurking thing too. I just want to tell you that I LOVE the quilt you dedicated an hour a day to working through……I’ll need to add it to my collection. Oh and you are right about shopping at home. I NEED to do that more often!