On Saturday we visited the Dovecote Studios in Edinburgh, which is “A landmark centre for contemporary art, craft and design built around a leading international tapestry studio”. At the moment they have a William Morris exhibition on. I really like his designs although I don’t think that I would want an entire room done out in one. Years ago I had a friend (now deceased) who had one of his very dark designs in her back living room which was dark at the best of times. It was like sitting in a coal hole! I do have ‘The Strawberry Thief’ curtains in our bedroom though, with a nice duck egg blue background.
I think this might be the third coming of William Morris in my adult lifetime, he was all the rage in the 1970s and every 20 or 25 years or so he seems to be taken out and dusted down. It’s quite a large exhibition which features mainly framed samples of his designs and designs by some other people around at the time.
Some of the woodblocks used in the printing process were on display.
They had little room ‘sets’ which featured some of the contemporary fabric which can be bought today. That Willow leaf design which is covering the long stool always makes me think of Mary in Gogglebox!
It’s definitely worth seeing, although unfortunately you have to pay to see the exhibition. it was my first visit to the Dovecote Studios and our 14 month old granddaughter Isobel enjoyed getting out of her buggy and stretching her legs. Her favourites were the more colourful designs. Sadly the cafe was full up – well it was a Saturday. It seemed quite weird being back in a busy city location again after avoiding such places. I think it will be a long time before I think of removing my mask in such locations – if ever.
Lovely!
Molly,
It took me right back to the lovely 1970s, which I don’t think it was supposed to!
I enjoyed seeing your photos of the William Morris design exhibition, As you said, we’re seeing such a resurgence of his designs in fabrics and wallpaper, etc. They are beautiful and deserve appreciation by a younger generation.
Not sure I’d be up for his patterns on all the walls of a room, but curtains, like you have, or a piece of furniture. Sounds like a nice day and how fun you got to take your granddaughter. I’m not sure I will be comfortable not wearing a mask ever again in crowded public places either.
Stefanie,
I don’t intend to go without a mask anywhere. Actually in Scotland we have to wear a mask when in a shop or enclosed space, something that I’m very thankful for.
I’d love to see that exhibit. I am a huge William Morris fan and suspect I would like to have a whole room decorated in that theme (it is possible I would get tired of it but I think if done well it would be delightful) (maybe not too small a room!). I had a WM calendar about ten years ago and framed my four favorite months and hung them in my kitchen.
Constance,
I have a calendar stashed away which I intended to have framed for the Victorian house we used to have, but now my wall space is more limited and I’m almost at capacity! I have made some cushion covers too in his acanthus design, and the one thing I took from my mum’s house after she died was her WM lily cushion covers. I like the idea of just framing a piece of fabric or using a bigger piece as a wall-hanging. I’ve done that with some Rennie Mackintosh fabric, it looks good hanging above a bedhead, like a tapestry. I wouldn’t mind a light coloured WM wallpaper in a whole room, but it is so expensive per roll I wouldn’t want to hang any art work on it at all.