Things we do in bed

We recently went to a great little exhibition in Danson House, Bexleyheath. Things we do in bed celebrates quilt making. Focusing on 5 themes – birth, sleep sex, illness and death – it showcases traditional 18th and 19th century quilts, as well as contemporary designs by artists Grayson Perry, Sara Impey, Karina Thompson and Michele Walker. The exhibition was curated by Tracey Chevalier, author of Girl with a Pearl Earring, and we went along to a talk she gave about the show.

Tracy explained that she took up quilting when doing the research for her book, The Last Runaway, about a young Quaker woman from Dorset who finds herself in 1850s Ohio. The heroine is a proficient quilter and, true to her reputation for meticulous research, Tracy started quilting to make sure she got it right.

The talk was primarily about her relationship with Fine Cell Work, the charity that trains prisoners in embroidery providing them with new skills and a means to make a living. A volunteer from Fine Cell Work and one of the prisoners spoke eloquently about the difference the charity can make. It’s a great charity and they sell a selection of pieces embroidered by prisoners. Check them out here. I’ve used FCW cushions in my interior designs. See them here and here. Ivana is a fan!

For this exhibition, Tracy commissioned FCW to produce a quilt made up of squares created by prisoners on the theme of Sleep. It’s truly impressive and it’s really quite moving to see the personal stories contained in those segments.

This is one of the historical quilts in the exhibition but it looks quite contemporary in its simplicity and monochrome palette.

You’d never guess this was by Grayson Perry, would you?

Danson House itself is well worth a visit.

It’s a lovely Georgian villa with sumptuous interiors.

Further information on Danson House and the exhibition here 

Things we do in bed is on until 31st October 2014.