1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet

Back in May this year I was asked by the National Quilt Museum in York (to whom I supply my ceramic quilt bowls) if I would be interested in making a series of pieces based on one of their exhibits, the 1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet.  For those who don't know, this is the oldest dated quilt in the country and the Museum are mounting an exhibition around it in September.

The 1718 Coverlet

I took one look at the image of the Coverlet and immediately replied YES!  I mean - just look at it!  How could you not get involved in something as crazy and beautiful as that?

There is a book entitled The 1718 Coverlet, by Susan Briscoe, (foreword by Kaffe Fassett),  which has just been published, which researches the background to the piece and gives full patterns and instructions on how to make the 69  blocks from this. 

I got in touch with Susan, pre-publication,  to see if she could help with close-ups of the blocks I wanted to use so that I could work from them.  She was incredibly generous and helpful and sent me all the images I asked for -  like this one:

image of original panel from 1718 Coverlet courtesy of Susan Briscoe

and this one:

image of original panel from 1718 Coverlet courtesy of Susan Briscoe

Once I had these close-ups, I was able to work in detail on the ceramics and produce in total 20 pieces which will be dispatched to the museum in the next few weeks, in time for their Exhibition.  Below is just one of the series - I will bore you rigid show you more in the next few blogs and go into detail about the making process.

Ceramic Bowl based on the 1718 Coverlet.  www.catherinedanielceramics.com

All the pieces have my trade-mark mixed media threaded bits and attached buttons, and I added my own border to frame the block.  It's very much my own interpretation, rather than an exact replica, but I am pleased with the results.

I had the most fun making these.  It has been both fascinating and fulfilling to interpret images from this historic quilt onto ceramic bowls.  Do go to the Exhibition in York if you can (5 Sept to 13 Dec) and they're doing all sorts of workshops, etc around this for you clever quilters! 

More to come next time!

x Cathy

When Life gets on top of you!

When life gets on top of me, as it is at the moment, I automatically work small.  It isn't a conscious choice, but I've noticed that's the way it always goes.

Tiny ceramic tiles - 5cm square - so cute!!

So I found myself making little ceramic tiles in my favourite colours and patterns and though they're only little and I've no idea what I'll do with them, I felt like I had at least achieved something!

But then even more 'stuff' intervened and the work got even smaller ..... and I used just the central pattern from the flower tiles to make these - don't quite know what they are/will be, but that didn't matter at the time.

Ceramic flowers - pendants?  Something!

Then .....  life and stuff and everything crowded in even more and the pottery got REALLY TINY!  These little buttons are just over a centimetre in diameter.

Itty bitty buttons - to sew onto my BIG patchwork bowls

Sometimes, though, it's enough that you do something, however little, and just carry on in a small way, until things get back to normal, (whatever that is!).

And I hope that happens soon, because if the work gets any smaller than 1cm it will be invisible!
But don't worry - it's nothing serious, just 'life and stuff and everything'.  This too shall pass.

Is this phenomenon familiar to you or is it just me?

x Cathy

Blog Award - part two

So, back from my week away, and ready to tackle part two of the Liebster Blog Award in which I answer the11 questions which Penny has asked me.  To vary it a bit, I shall intersperse with photos I took while we were away.

Tintern Abbey - absolutely enchanting!

Who or what inspired you to start your blog?
A need to keep a log of what I'm making in my pottery and a wish to share my working methods and results with other like-minded people is what first inspired me.  I then created this new blog to include our recently launched quilty homewares news too.

My Ideal Friday Evening?
Cosy on the sofa under my homemade quilt, with glass of wine - one eye on the ipad and the other on the telly.

My favourite room in my house and why?
Easy - the kitchen.  It is large and welcoming, always Aga-warm, with a big table where people drift in and out and sit and chat, and drink tea and eat cake.

The fairytale tower which was our holiday cottage.  'Rapunzel, Rapunzel, .....'

Do I have a signature bake?
My date and walnut cake is very good.  Made from a secret recipe handed down through our family, which I can't divulge, but I can say  .....  it's got dates and walnuts in it.

My favourite fashion era and why?
Not sure really ....  I loved growing up in the sixties and wearing zip-front mini-dresses made by my mum from seriously psychedelic fabric!  Oh, and red hot-pants with a heart shaped bib!

My favourite piece of music?
'My One and Only Love' - John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.  The saxophone interlude sublime.

A good real-ale pub within WALKING distance - happy hubby!

My most loved book as a child?
'The Golden Treasury of Poetry' selected by Louis Untermeyer and with gorgeous pen and ink drawings by Joan Walsh Anglund.  I still have it and still love it.

My least favourite household chore/task?
Cleaning the windows - never get them smear-free.  Too much of a perfectionist maybe.

Where and when do I like to read?
Don't get nearly enough time to read - but have a book by my bed and sometimes read before sleeping.

Cottage complete with it's own drawbridge!

Do I harbour a secret ambition that would surprise my family and friends?
Yes!  But it's a secret!!

Am I a make-up every day girl or do I prefer bare-faced beauty?
I tend to wear a bit of mascara and blusher every day, just so as not to scare babies and young children who may cross my path.



And that's my 11 questions answered, and well thought out they were too, Penny! I've enjoyed taking part in this award and will nominate my own award winners in due course, once I've had time to put some questions together.

And now I am going to catch up with you all as I have been a bit remiss lately!  Have a great weekend!

x Cathy

All about Me !

The lovely Penny at The Homemade Heart has nominated this little blog for the Liebster Award which I am sure you all know about, if you've been blogging for any length of time.  Thank You Very Much Penny!
It is basically a blog promotion system but also a nice way of getting to know more about the individual blogger.

Norfolk flint wall

I don't really post much information about ME in this blog, only about what I MAKE.  The first thing I have to do as part of this award is to give you 11 random facts about myself - brace yourself .... I said 'random', not 'interesting'!

1.  I love taking photos - always have, since a very young age. I photo everything, as you can see here!

2.  I like flint walls, which is a good thing as we are surrounded by them in Norfolk!

3.  I am a great believer that things look better in groups - even mop-buckets.

A gaggle of mop-buckets

4.  I speak three languages, reasonably fluently - French, German and Yorkshire.

5.  I have been a 'Yorkshire Lass' for 55 years now and have never once uttered the words "Eee bah Gum".

6.  I love watching wildlife.  It can be anything from the birds in the garden, whale-watching off Cape Cod or seals in North Norfolk - it is completely absorbing.

It's the eyes, isn't it?

7.  This is one of the most difficult blog posts I have ever written!!!  It feels like I don't know anything about myself at all.

8.  There are so many other crafts (apart from Pottery) which I NEED to have a go at, that I fear I shall run out of time!  

9.  I hate getting 'dressed up'.  I still look like a student most days.  I was a child of the 'party frock' era, and have been rebelling ever since.

Complete with fluffy little cardie!

10.  It's a cliche, but the best thing I've ever created is not my pottery, or my homewares designs, or my blog, or my home - it is my three brilliant, gorgeous, wonderful children.  They would insist they are no longer children, but they always will be to me!

11.  I am taking a break from everything at the end of this week and have loads to do in preparation, so that is my excuse for pretty much doing this post off the top of my head - yes, I know you can tell!!  

So - I think that's enough about me for now, but if you're still awake and want more, tune into the next post which is part two of the Liebster Award, in which I answer Penny's 11 specific, original and rather quirky questions!  Thanks, Penny, I enjoyed it really ;-)



x Cathy



 
 

Threadkeepers

A while ago my friend Rose at handstitchery.blogspot drew my attention to something called a 'threadkeeper'.  She has been stitching a long time and had only just become aware of them, and needless to say, I had never heard of them before!

If you google images for 'threadkeepers' you will see hundreds of examples.  

Spaghetti junction - this is how I 'keep' my threads!

And if your threads look more like a plate of spaghetti, it may be that a threadkeeper could be the answer!

Ceramic Threadkeepers

So, I had a go at making some.  Basically they can be anything, so long as there are holes to keep your threads tidy.  I decided on little birds, but hearts might be good too.

Baby Bird Ceramic Threadkeeper

You'll have to tell me if I've done this correctly, because I have no way of knowing, but I am assuming it's meant to go something like this above??

Is this an American thing?  Have you heard of them? Do you use one?  Would you use one? If  not, how do you 'keep' your threads?  I personally think I am too lazy to actually bother threading them through one of these, but maybe that's just me!!

At any rate, I am sending one of mine to Rose for suggesting them as something that might fit with my 'brand' quite well.  Thank you Rose!

xCathy

Friendship

The mugs are set up on old bushel boxes - good for carrying and for showing!

So, we're back from the Quilt Show and I can honestly say it was exhausting but also great fun.  The thing that stood out for me over the two days of the show was how friendly and helpful everyone in the world of quilting/sewing/making is!
Obviously I already knew that from blogging with you all, but it was lovely to chat for real and to meet new quilting-mad friends!

Quilt-block wrapping paper in 'Summer Winds' pattern

The lucky draw was drawn - congrats to you, Freda!  Parcel in the post!   It was a good experience and we didn't forget anything, afterall!  So, we will probably do it all again in the Autumn.

'Right Hand of Friendship' ceramic quilt block bowl 

It was also a useful way to get feedback on our new homewares products.  The most popular pattern range amongst customers seems to be the 'Right Hand of Friendship' items, which is also the case for the handmade pottery. That is surely because quilters are such a thoughtful, friendly bunch of people and the sentiment strikes a chord with them.

Friendship gifts.   www.cathydaniel.co.uk

So, lots of these were bought, even for Christmas presents,  (in May!!).

But now, I have to put my pottery hat on for a few weeks, (do potters wear hats??), to catch up with a backlog of orders from some very patient people!  Some of my bowls were seen at the recent Loch Lomond Quilt Show, and as a result, a flurry of orders has come in from north of the border!  And I have also been asked to work on a very special project, which I am seriously excited about, but which will have to wait til another blog post!

x Cathy

Can you remember Colours?

You will know that I use thread to attach my handmade buttons to the ceramic quilt bowls and also to sew up the threadbare patches?  Well, I needed more thread and thought I'd just pop in as I was in the town. But which green is mine, and which is the blue that matches the blue glaze I use?  

Sewn-up threadbare patch on ceramic quilt bowl

You'd think it would be easy enough to choose, since I use these threads all the time.  No .... not worth the risk.  Come back another time - a little more prepared!

Handmade ceramic buttons with their matching thread

So I did.  I took my buttons in and matched them up.  Yes ...  I can hear you ... of course, I could just keep the little labels or make a note of the numbers, but that would be way too organised for me!

Quilty homewares products available from us at Spalding Quilt Show 30th & 31st May

So, I am starting to worry that we are not organised enough for the Quilt Show at the weekend - I do have lists of lists - that's a good start!  Come and see us if you're going - we're on Stand 52.  We'll be the ones looking like we've forgotton something!

x Cathy

Facebook versus Blogging

When we launched the new patchwork patterned homewares, I had to finally give in and do the Facebook thing.  I've always loved blogging, but up til that point, the joys of other social media had been avoided like the plague escaped me.

www.cathydaniel.co.uk

But in the few short weeks that we've had a Facebook Page, I can honestly say that it has been a revelation.  Yes, it's a necessary 'marketing tool' (hate that phrase!) for any business, but it's more than that - I love the sound-bite quality of Facebook, the quickness and the quirkiness, the ability just to let someone know you've seen and liked something even if you haven't got time to write a comment.

Online interview on Homemaker's blog

So, I post newsy bits on FB every few days, which don't ever find their way into blogland, like the above interview for Homemaker Magazine's blog, and the nice piece in Popular Patchwork, and the news that my pottery is now in the wonderful Quilt Museum shop in York, and lots of other random little updates.

But, conversely, I love being able to write thoughtfully and in depth about something, which is, for me, what a blog is all about. 
Except, sometimes, well, I just think I want to share the little bits with all of you too, so hence this random round-up of recent news!

Come see us at the Springfields Quilt Show 30-31st May

So, our latest Facebook post is that we will be at the Springfields Quilt Show in Spalding, Lincolnshire, on 30th and 31st May with the quilty homewares and lots of tiny ceramic giveaways, so if you're going, please stop by and say hello.  As you can see, I made our sign myself in the same patterns as our homewares products.  We thought about getting one done professionally, but I quite like my version!

Made from the artwork for our 'Summer Winds' design - resourceful or what?

Hope you've enjoyed the sunshine today - it's been glorious, hasn't it!  Now, for a good old catch-up with you all - sorry not to have visited lately!!

x Cathy

What to do when your heart breaks

Any kind of heart-break is painful. 

When it's a clay heart that breaks .... well, I don't exactly shed a tear, it's more of a murmured expletive!

Broken Hearted again!

When the piece is made and the wet clay completely dried out, it is extremely brittle - a bit like the texture of chalk. And it is at this stage that I get around to 'fettling' it. 

In Yorkshire, where I'm from,  'to fettle' something means to sort it, or manage it.

Fettling clay means cleaning it up and scraping off any rough edges, etc. 
And once in a while, something snaps!    "Oh bother!",  I am heard to say cheerfully.

Recycling clay to be used once more - waste not, want not!

But a broken heart is easily fixed.
Just break it into tiny pieces, immerse the bits in water and make new clay with which to make a new heart! 
Let that one dry out, don't break it again and pop into the kiln with the rest of the pieces.

Dried clay pieces ready to be bisque fired

A broken heart is one thing, but if I happen to break one of those large bowls whilst fettling the edges, best keep your distance!

As with all broken hearts, they always come good in the end, even if they're a bit patched together like these.

Patchwork Hearts from www.cathydaniel.co.uk

Did you ever get your heart broken?  How did you mend yours?

x Cathy

Life's Big Questions ...

Why do I notice signage and lettering everywhere and wonder about the chosen font?  

Signs in North Norfolk and Italy

Why do I love poking around salvage yards so much - is it because I can buy an old radiator, a bread bin and a boat in one handy purchase?

North Norfolk

And, as I asked on my Facebook page last week, why do I never actually finish a cup of tea?  Do you?  This can be annoying for the person who kindly makes it for you, you know!

Mug and Coaster from www.cathydaniel.co.uk

And what is it about windmills that makes them so fascinating, so pretty and so completely silly all at the same time?

Cley, Norfolk - on a grey day!

And why, when given the choice of going through a nice, neat, easy-to-enter door, would I prefer to try the overgrown, shabby, is-it-even-a-door door?  

The Doors

Which door would you choose?

Some of life's imponderables for you to ponder this weekend.

  Hope the sun shines for you!

x Cathy