What We Are Working On: Morris Modernized

Bird & Tulip

Reproduction print

C.F.A. Voysey is one extremely influential pattern designer you may not know.

Voysey (1857-1941) 

"Never look at an ugly thing twice. 

It is fatally easy to get accustomed to corrupting influences."

C.F.A. Voysey

I agree, but what about that hat?

Voysey was very clever and very opinionated. I love his work and his writing about design.

He was an informal successor to William Morris, a next generation designer who took Morris tradition well into the twentieth century. My next Arts & Crafts reproduction line, in shops in October, features seven Voysey prints.

The Poppy Garden

by CFA Voysey

Like Morris, Voysey found inspiration in his English garden.

His Bookplate

He also had special affection for birds.

Metalwork by Voysey

Because he was "modern" he often pared down the bird image to its basics and used the same abstracted bird in many different ways.

Pyracantha

Reproduction Print

Saladin

Reproduction Print

There's a pair of birds (doves?) hiding in the greenery.

He loved to play nature against a flat surface in wallpapers, rugs and textile design. While modernism dictated simple geometries, Voysey balanced likeness and abstraction. 

Birds & Berries

Reproduction Print

He often paired his birds.

Hearts are another recurring motif. 

See my virtual booth for last month's Quilt Market where Mr. Voysey looks a lot like the above bird:

http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/2013/05/quilt-market-virtual-booth.html

This collection won't be in shops until the fall but you can see a preview at Moda>Fabrics>Future Groups>October: 

http://www.unitednotions.com/fcc_morris-modernized.pdf

London's Victoria & Albert Museum has an extensive collection of Voysey design. Click here and type Voysey into the search box.

http://collections.vam.ac.uk/

I'll show you more and tell you more about Voysey as the yardage is ready to ship in the fall. I've been working on quilts large and small, pieced and applique.