time out

Just about the most comfortable spot in the house is the huge, squishy beanbag we bought a little while ago. While the children prefer to launch themselves onto it and burrow down to create a little nesting spot, I prefer to use it as a huge, soft footrest. If you put a cushion (with an Ehrman tapestry cover - done in the days before I started quilting) on top and wear Alice's socks, it's just about perfect.

This is where I have been enjoying time out with books and films and family recently. I've been looking at this utterly amazing book (there are reviews and photos here and here). I love the spontaneity of this form of body art and decoration, the way it's done quickly and without mirrors and, above all, I can't stop looking at the ways in which these people adorn themselves with fruit and vegetables and flowers and leaves. Quite stunning.

I've also read Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt - you really do need plenty of space on the settee and beanbag when holding it as it's a huge book. It's wonderful to have such large photos of the quilts sitting on your knee and I spent ages looking at the pages with details of the local architecture which has influenced the quilters of Gee's Bend. And I am determined to make my own version of a half log cabin quilt now that I've seen how brilliantly this design can work.

I claimed the beanbag when we finally watched Nanny McPhee the other night. Although the plot's a little thin, it didn't worry me as the more I watched, the more I thought the whole thing was a cleverly constructed, classic pantomime complete with melodrama, farce, magic, fairy tale characters and plots, and wonderfully over-the-top costumes and scenery. The extravagant make-up and costumes and characters were straight out of the theatre but I have to say I have never seen such wonderful bedding on the stage; those quilts and the crochet blanket on the children's beds were just wonderful. Someone clearly had a great time with the props and paint colours.

But I haven't just been sitting with my feet up all the time. Three of us drove to Manchester at the weekend (yes, it rained) and I saw a lovely exhibition at the Whitworth Gallery with a friend from primary school - in between imagining how it would be to live in a room with tall hollyhocks and delphiniums on the walls (and laughing at the idea that children would undoubtedly be tempted to draw little bugs and worms and slugs on the wallpaper panels), we managed a several good hours of 'all our yesterdays'.

And now it's time to be a little more active. So I must go and get the guide books and passports ready, and pack for a trip with Alice and Phoebe.

Back soon.

Comments

[Mary]

The photos from the African body art are just stunning!

[Hazel]

ooh, I didn't know that exhibition was on - thanks. I am sad to see I have missed another one I would have liked. Ah well.

[CRAZYJANE]

ooooooo!!! I love Nanny Mcphee. just the colours and the look of the house has me Mesmerized. My idea house and that wonderful red and blue interior combination.Yum!

The bedding is PARTICULRLY stunning and I love to imagine the childrens bedroom as my workroom. I love living in my imagination!!!

[Jane]

I saw an exhibit of Gee's Bend quilts when I first visited NYC and was immediately struck by the abstract expressionist forms that sprung from the quirky fabric choices, combinations and disregard for perfect right angles.

I love how it transformed what I would consider sewing 'mistakes' in my own work into something much more intriguing and inspiring.

[Nicole]

Oh, those books are truly wonderful. I must get my hands on them.

And I too am in love with the art direction in Nanny McPhee. I especially covet the granny squares blanket, and took several photos of my tv screen to try and capture the colours so I may one day make my own. A good way to use up left-over yarn! I just have to learn how to crochet.

[lucette]

The quilts in Gee's Bend are amoung my favourites. I find the inventiveness and imagination the quilters used very inspiring. Enjoy your journey.

[Kay]

Ah, join me in the Gee's Bend club. (Not that I'm lonely.) I would love to see one of their layouts married to your riotous Kaffe florals. My head will explode (in a good way).

Your house is a propmaster's dream. You can just plop an Ehrman needlepoint cushion on the shag bean bag like that? With the Hello Kitty socks at the ready?

Have fun wherever.

xo Kay

[Camilla]

Emma Thompson and Colin Firth were what dragged me to take my five children to see it at the cimema; the bed clothes were what had me plunking down my cash for the DVD when it became available.

The Gee's Bend quilts look much better in the book than in person. In the tradition of American "make-dos" they are okay, but hardly art. More like finger painting with fabric. Even considering the poverty and geographic isolation of that area in Alabama, the quilts are just avarage. If they'd been sewn by a bunch of poor, white women living in 'shot-gun' houses and trailers, there'd never have been a book about those quilts, though the stories about the families are interesting enough. I'm just not willing to go so far as calling them art. Luckily, quilting has many levels to participate at, and there are truly talented people out there making beautiful quilts, even some with 'reclaimed/recycled' materials. In an era when elephant dung body painting and rotting cows heads warrant their own gallery shows, it pays to be picky. Camilla

[Lee in Iowa]

Miz Jane!

Thought of you last night as I watched a repeat of the Eleanor Roosevelt bio on PBS. Were you able to track down the DVD I told you about a couple of years ago? What an amazing woman.

Lee in Iowa

[Kristina]

Thank you for sharing the African costume book--the pictures made my day! The people and their decorations are so fantastically beautiful. The white stars painted on one of the women's dark arms were mesmerizing. (If only I could wear grapes on my head!) I'll have to run out and buy the book now.

Oh, and have a wonderful trip!

[Sarah]

Isn't it a lovely exhibition? I went to the William Blake exhibition (which was fantastic, it's a great gallery space), and wandered into this afterwards. I'm so glad someone else has seen it - well a lot of people will have, but you know what I mean.

[Rebecca]

Nanny McPhee is the family film that I request more than any other(well apart from Bedknobs and Broomsticks, really good knitwear in Bedknobs and Broomsticks). I love the colours, the lighting, the knitwear and most of all, the bedding. In fact I am in the middle of making a Nanny McPhee inspired quilt.

[Teresa]

Have fun!

[mathea]

I did a double take when I saw that first picture. There was something rather familiar about it: http://craftymathea.blogspot.com/2007/11/kaffe-knits-again.html ...

Have a lovely trip. I'm also packing suitcases and checking tickets tonight :-)

[Alicia P.]

Hello Mrs. Beautiful. Sorry I've been so out of touch -- thinking of you -- will catch up soon. xoxo a

[Alicia P.]

Oh fart, I forgot to say that I love Nanny McP too, and their room is the stuff of my dreams.

[catherine]

That looks like a VERY comfy spot! Isn't Nanny McPhee gorgeous - the house is amazing, stuff of dreams, but the bed coverings are my favourite part.

[Alison]

cute socks

[wren]

Good to see that you've had chance to put your feet up. Nice cushions, I've fallen in love with Elizabeth Bradley's Antique Flowers. I've made three, but I feel too precious about them to leave them anywhere near the dog, so no feet on them yet. Looking forward to a virtual treat, little glimpses of your travels with the girls. I wonder where you are going.

[Kutri]

I couldn't help noticing that you're reading a book called "Living in Finland". I wonder what kind of book it is... accurate information or typical nonsense like we're living in the middle of reindeers and polar bears?

[Sharon]

I reckon Emma Thompson based "Nanny McPhee" on "Nurse Matilda" by Edward Ardizone.

Cos she said she'd based the film on a children's book she had. & I remember that particular book from my childhood - both from "Jackanory" & the local library.

Mind you, more or less anything with Colin Firth in is OK by me!

[irene]

ooh, nanny mcphee is delightful!
safe travels.
xoxo

[Jayne H.]

Your mention of Ehrman tapestry had me digging deep into my needlework books to find "Fruits of the Earth, Flowers and Fruit in Needlepoint" by Hugh Ehrman. One of my early needlepoint book acquisitions, I'd forgotten how delightful the book is, a nice refresher for this time of year. Happy travelling.

[Tricia Garrett]

Coincidence, I was up north last weekend and went into the Whitworth. The wallpaper exhibit was full of children crafting something or other. I haven't been there for a year or so. I used to live in Manchester and would drop in all the time, just to wander or sit. The place amazes me. Apart from wallpapers and textiles (my subject) there are always knock out pieces. There was Picasso, Degas, Giacometti and the wonderful Henry Moore. Lots of interesting talks and events too. It's just a great gallery!

[mereldevil]

A few months ago I discovered your blog and I got addicted. I always thought I was the only one being fascinated by beautiful yarn & fabric, by nature, art and food and stuff... Thanks to your blog I understood that I'm not alone & I came across other blogs of creative women with the same "art & joie de vivre". It inspires me & makes me very happy.
PS: yesterday-evening I watched Nanny McPhee for the 3th time and it's getting better all the time... I mean, now I can fully concentrate on the art-work...

[Deb, Dorset]

I am now going to drag out my unfinished Tapestries. This site is my daily inspiration.
And.......I have bought your book. It is lovely and make me feel like I am not alone in liking what I do

[Rachel]

Sounds perfectly comfortable! I really like your blog!

[willow]

Enjoy your little trip with the girls!

[Claudia Dunitz]

I SAW the quilts and what an amazing exhibit it is. They're on display at the Folk Art Museum here in Santa Fe, and there was a movie about them and everything. It was awesome.

[tobynkate]

I'm looking forward to seeing your interpretation of a Gee's Bend quilt. I love how the shapes of the pieces create movement in those quilts and would love to see that combined with your wonderful sense of color.

[iris]

hi,
in june 2007 you posted something about those lovely floral granny squares. i searched the web for hours to find a patterns or an instruction how to crochet them, but i couldn´t find any...
could you send me the instructions or a pattern or something !?!?
siris@web.de
they are so beautiful and i would like to crochet them, too, and make a bag or a blanket.
thanks and all the best,
iris