This Liberty Tana Lawn design, Midnight Floral Eve*, caught my eye when used to make humble potholders over at the Purl Bee a couple of months ago. I can't seem to find it on Liberty's own site, but what they do list is what inspired it. Click here and scroll right down to the bottom and you'll see it mentioned in the Botanical Garden collection. It comes from a large botanical painting, The Herbarium Specimen, by Rachel Pedder-Smith which "brought together art and science, depicting one specimen to represent each flowering plant family painted in the order of a contemporary DNA-based classification system". You can see details of Rachel's exquisite work here (and buy postcards!).
*It also comes in an equally pretty more summery version.
Thanks for pointing us in the direction of this wonderful artist.
Posted by: B R Wombat | 20 April 2013 at 08:56 PM
I am pleased to report in to Cornflower that I saw the complete piece when it was on show in Kew Gardens last year and 'have postcards'. Magnificent and I do believe it will be returning to Kew at some point.
Posted by: Rose | 21 April 2013 at 07:58 AM
You're welcome. It was a happy (chance) discovery for me too.
Posted by: Cornflower | 21 April 2013 at 09:46 AM
Wonderful!
Posted by: Cornflower | 21 April 2013 at 09:47 AM
A new artist for me--thank you so much.
I returned to Tana lawns a couple of years ago and now have made myself 3 dresses and will sew two more this Summer.
Posted by: Erika | 22 April 2013 at 02:08 PM
I have just bought two pieces of Tana Lawn with 'vague' projects in mind; it is lovely fabric.
Posted by: Cornflower | 23 April 2013 at 09:24 PM