Given that yesterday we were talking about a book which has a strong thread of patchwork and quilting running through it, it's appropriate today to have some pictures of a 'patchwork meadow', a "Bayeux Tapestry of Britain's plants", as it's been described.
Currently on display in the Gateway Gallery at Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden, the tapestry has been created under the auspices of the charity Plantlife and is part of the Wildflower Europe project which is aimed at "conserving plant-rich landscapes by bringing economic benefit to rural areas through wildflower festivals".
All the patches were made by members of the public who chose a favourite plant or perhaps one with which they had an association and interpreted it by way of a fabric-based technique such as embroidery, lace-making, felting, etc.; click here to see more of them.
That is so beautiful!!Thanks for posting it! Lovely...
Posted by: adele geras | 16 August 2013 at 02:34 PM
Such a brilliant idea. I love the different interpretations of how the plants look. It is beautiful.
Posted by: Cassandra | 16 August 2013 at 03:41 PM
You're welcome, and I learned something new in the process: although I don't have a picture of it, one patch depicts three trees (birch, rowan and ash) and represents the Ogham alphabet (4th-10th century Ireland and western Britain), each rune of which was associated with a particular tree.
Posted by: Cornflower | 16 August 2013 at 05:39 PM
There's such a variety, and the website gives information about the plants on their featured species page; for example, I didn't know that the cornflower's botanical name, centaurea cyanus, "comes from the Sicilian nymph Cyane who melted into a pool after failing to stop Hades abducting Persephone".
Posted by: Cornflower | 16 August 2013 at 05:47 PM
I love this! Quite a simple idea but so successful! It would be a pleasure to see it in the flesh, so much in it to enjoy!
Posted by: Elizabeth Guster | 17 August 2013 at 02:14 AM
It is a simple idea, and with the squares just 15cm x 15cm, not too big a commitment for each maker to take on.
Posted by: Cornflower | 17 August 2013 at 09:09 AM
Lovely idea - if I get the opportunity I will go in and have a look.
Posted by: Claire | 17 August 2013 at 02:08 PM
Really beautiful.
I am assembling stuff for my very first patchwork/quilting ever: two tumbling blocks cushions. I am already twitching nervously as I contemplate it. It will be my Winter occupation. the good thing is that I am sewing on every other waiting project in order to postpone it! I will soon have 3 new Summer dresses, 1 new winter dress and tunic and a Tana lawn shirt.
Posted by: Erika | 17 August 2013 at 02:09 PM