Quilts of Provence, The Art and Craft of French Quiltmaking

Vistas of olive trees and grapevines, fields of lavender, a profusion of pomegranates and sunflowers, all washed in strong, golden sunlight - the charms of Provence are fabled throughout the world. Less well known is the exquisite quilted needlework that flourished for hundreds of years in this part of southern France. Long ago skilled needlewomen in Marseilles and other towns took common needles and thread and created quilted objects that were extraordinarily beautiful as well as warm. Provencal women brought their gardens into their homes and wardrobes by stitching bedcovers, clothing, and decorative accessories in intricate floral patterns - garlands, swags, flowers, herbs, and fruit. Quilts of Provence reveals the intimate relationship of women to these decorative textiles, from the patient needlewomen who created them to the queens and duchesses who regarded these luxurious articles as necessities. Exported to French and British colonies in the Americas, these wonderful works have almost certainly influenced the quilted needlework traditions in other parts of Europe and North America. A detailed resource section includes instructions for making three traditional French quilted articles, directions for caring for and displaying quilts