And here is the story: Sometime in 1996 I saw a black
and while photo of the cover of the Chalice Well in Glastonbury, Englad. It called out "quilt" to me, there were flowers,
vines, leaves and circles within circles all done in exquisite wrought iron work. I began to look for information
on the design of this piece found that it had been designed in 1919 by F. Bligh Bond a scholar & historian doing research
at the Abbey ruins in Glastonbury.
The overlapping circular designs formed a "vesica picis" or mandorla,
the pointed oval shape which became the early Christain fish and has long been a symbol of healing. The mandorla
is in turn encompassed within a lager circle filled with the floral designs that so intrigued me when I first saw
the picture. I used golden batik fabrics with fish for my background design -- when I finally saw the well cover
in person the oak wood showed that same golden color. I used applique and lots of silk ribbon embroidery to create the
floral and vine designs within the circles. I began to make the center of the quilt and took it along on a visit to
England where I wanted to compare it to the original well cover.
The first border was inspired by the stone ruins I saw at Glastonbury Abbey when I visited
there. Repeated zigzags were everywhere and this motif brings life and energy to the quilt. The white flowers
echo the central design and repeat the idea of hearling again through the restorative & purifying power contained in the
color white.
The outer border was an idea some time in finding me. Thumbing through a magazine
I saw a picture of an illunimated manuscript from early monastic writing and immediately knew this was the final idea I needed
to finish the quilt. This hand appliqued border has strips of fabric overlaid with vines and flowers done in the stylized
manner of the middle ages. Again, I used silk ribbon to embellish the vines and flowers that encircle the quilt.
This quilt took me four years to make and I love the theme of peace and healing that it represents.
Dame Julian of Norwich, a 13th Century English Mystic wrote a small prayer which I think
of when I see this quilt. "All shall be well, and all shall be well , and all manner of things shall be well."
This quilt is for sale! I would love to have it go somewhere
associated with healing. I believe that it could be an inspiration to those who want and need encouragement of some
sort. This quilt was definitely created for that purpose.
If you have ideas of a place for it,
please contact me.
Beannacht
Cathy
