Miniature Patchwork by Nina Billington of Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Jackie

Thanks for the templates - they arrived yesterday 30/12/08!  I'm glad you liked the miniature patchwork photos.  I would be happy for you to show them on your website and you can use my maiden name - Nina Billington - if you like.  Just a little background info for you - I have been doing hand-pieced patchwork for decades.  I grew up in England and went through my whole schooling there - to English parents.  My mother was incredibly talented at all things creative including drawing, painting, embroidery, enamelling, and patchwork, although she did not do hand patchwork as I did..  I remember clearly my first experience with patchwork of any kind.  There was an article in the Sunday Times colour magazine - it would have been about 1975 (when I was 13ish) - it had a large patchwork wallhanging made of triangles, although it was machine stitched.  I raided my mothers scrap bag and created my own version of the same design.  It was true patchwork in that it used left overs and old clothes.  I still have that patchwork and I will photograph it and email it to you one day.  That was my first taste of patchwork.  I then read about hand-pieced English patchwork in one of my mother's many books on sewing.  I laboriously drew a hexagon using a pair of compasses onto a piece of cardboard and then cut out many templates from an old magazine.  Again, I raided mum's fabrics and made an evening purse - I will photograph it and email that too.

Back to the ones you have seen - I have never attempted something so little before, but I have the ability to sewing tiny stitches and have incredible patience for such things.  If a stitch is not quite right, I will undo it and do it again.  The star shaped picture was for a good friend of mine who turned 50 and I wanted to make something that she would always treasure and that she could have on her wall.  The other one is, of course, the "Grandmother's Garden" design.  It just evolved from me sewing together a collection of flowers - the centre with six petals around the outside.  I wanted each flower shape to stand out so I created the border to join them altogether.  The green background fabric was a piece of hand-dyed fabric that I bought a long time ago and that I have been unable to find more of.  I am very pleased with both of them. 

My step-mother sent me a book about Lucy Boston - she visited the house where Lucy Boston lived in Hemingford Grey, a few years ago.  I'm afraid I had never heard of her but her sending the book reignited my interest in hand patchwork.

Thanks for all your wonderful help and encouragement - it is nice to be able to correspond with one who is so passionate about patchwork.

Hope you have a happy new year.

Kind regards,     Nina  -  ninabillington@y7mail.com

If you would like to contact Nina - her email address is above.

**************** 

The Beautiful Cot Quilt below was made by Sue Lloyd - who sent me the following message and images  - the hexagons are 8cm "REMEMBER ME - SUSAN LLOYD WAY BACK IN APRIL BOUGHT TEMPLATES FROM YOU - I SAID AT THE TIME I WAS GOING AWAY TO DO THEM AND YOU GAVE ME ADVICE WHAT TO DO - WHEN HOPEFULLY YOU WILL GET THE PHOTOS I AM SENDING TO YOU - YOU CAN SEE I FINISHED IT ON SUNDAY
 
I GOT THE BUG NOW THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
 
FROM SUE LLOYD"

*****************************

The lady who created this beautiful quilt below allowed me to photograph her quilt when she came to my studio for more hexagons - I am shamed to say that I wrote her name down on a peice of paper which was mislaid.  So please do get in touch.  This quilt was made using 6cm hexagons - I beleive all Liberty Fabrics - fantastic work and design.

*************************

I cannot say too much about the identity of the beautifully crafted traditional English Hexagon Quilt photographed below.

It can be dated back to around 1828 and that the Royal School of Needlework replaced some of the templates.  The prints are typical of 1830's.   

I personally took these images and I was totally overwhelmed by the condition of this amazing piece of work - I was stunned because many of the glazed cotton prints had not faded - the colours are rich and strong.

Its a complete inspiration!!!

*********************************************************

Rita sent the image below:

It is her interpretation of "The Happiness Quilt"  - hopefully she will send more photos as the design progresses.    I really love the way she has found her colours and used them.   Please do send images of your work - thankyou Rita.

***********************************************************************************************************************

Lynz has purchased thousands of hexagons from me over the years - she has used 8cm hexagons to create this beautiful pink cot quilt.