Before my son was born my Mother bought a set of Beatrix Potter's little books, all in a slip case. Since 1902 these books have been nursery staples. A self-taught artist, amateur scientist and farmer, Beatrix Potter's legacy has enriched generations of readers.
Beatrix Potter's illustrations have also inspired generations of crafters who adopted her art for needlework, stuffed animals, embroidery, quilts, knitting patterns, fabric lines, and coloring books. To celebrate 150 years sine the birth of Beatrix Potter, The 2016 Tokyo Quilt Festival included
The World of Beatrix Potter, amazing quilts from Yoko Saito and ten other quilters.
William Morris aficionado Michele Hill already loved Beatrix Potter when she learned that Beatrix and Morris shared connections. Beatrix sent her early stories to Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris's business partner and friend, and her photographer father was hired by Pre-Raphaelite artist Sir John Everett Millais.
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| Beatrix Potter applique baby quilt by Michele Hill |
Hill's new book
Stitching with Beatrix Potter offers ten projects inspired by Beatrix's life and art. Her wonderful characters appear in embroidered and appliqued projects, floral applique with a Morris flair, pieced quilts in various sizes, a Hexie quilt pattern, and a pattern to reproduce Beatrix's heirloom quilt from 1863.
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| Iron cover by Michele Hill |
A brief biography of Beatrix Potter is illustrated with photographs from her Hill Top farm.
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| Embroidered Hexie table topper by Michele Hill |
Hill was amazed to see the rarely displayed Potter heirloom quilt dated 1863, bearing her parent's initials. Her version is appliqued, as seen below.
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| Appliqued 1863 reproduction quilt by Michele Hill |
Patterns include
- P is for Pinwheels, appliqued and embroidered coasters
- Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle iron cover, just adorable
- Bubbles and Bunting baby quilt featuring popular Potter characters in applique
- Let's Play wool felt ball
- Handmade Hexies lap quilt icluding embroidered character hexies
- Floral Frieze wall appliqued hanging with a William Morris flare
- Cherry Twist Cushion featuring an appliqued bouquet
- Hill Top wool felt box with handles
- 1863- A Wedding Quilt, 78" x 95"
- Serendipity quilt, 55 1/2" x 55 1/2", with embroidered characters
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| Floral Frieze by Michele Hill |
General instructions includes machine applique tips, binding, hand embroidery, all well illustrated with photographs.
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| Hill Top box by Michele Hill |
My quilt group friends are all excited about this book! I am too.
Read my book review of Over the Hill and Far Away:The Life of Beatrix Potter by Matthew Dennison
here.
Read an excerpt from the book at http://www.ctpub.com/blog/excerpt-from-stitching-with-beatrix-potter/
Learn about Hill's William Morris Applique book at http://www.ctpub.com/more-william-morris-applique/
I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Stitching with Beatrix Potter
Michele Hill
C&T Publishing
64 pages + pattern pull out
$22.95 paperback, $15.99 ebook
ISBN: 978-1-61745-610-7
