Miniature Quilt

The Brief :

1. Design a miniature Quilt 30cm x 30cm

2. Use App.Ollogy to create an organic/floral design.

3. Use Jane Sassemans Appliqué Technique.

Bernina Machines have the best decorative stitches

Digital Designs

Miniature Painting

When I first came to Iran I went to a miniature painting class with Ostad(Master) Ahmari in Manuchehri Street ,Tehran . It was not an easy skill to learn . It took me a long time and a lot of concentration to focus on being small.

Everything about this way of working is small, gentle and slow movements with a one haired paint brush , making minimum marks and being precise ,the steadfastness and dedication to the process, and of course the silence….

I am a Westerner and our mark making is different .For starters we write from left to right , they from right to left ! So getting the lines to look ‘Eastern’ or Persian was an accomplishment on its own ! I remember the Old Master chastising my work because it looked too ‘graphic’ and I must say I did love replicating the ‘eslimi’ lines in a more graphic way which reminded me so much of William Morris’ work. Of course that is where he got so much of his inspiration . I also enjoyed experimenting with the colours which did not go down well with the traditionalists !

Miniature Quilts create the same emotions in me …. the fear of not achieving perfection ! But what I have understood from this is that it is a learning process…I just have to keep making them till I get it right !

Of course the design and techniques have a big say in how well it comes out . Designers cannot always choose the brief and need to comply to the needs of the project .Maybe I did not make the right choices for this one ,the Mini Quilt I mean, and I should rethink the brief …. but it has led me onto new ideas …and most definitely helped me deal with my perfectionism ….