Beyond the Quilt

by Celia Eddy
published: 19/05/2001
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‘This exhibition is great, colourful, bright and most of all great patterns.’ That’s the response, carefully written in the Visitors’ Book, of one small girl visiting Barbara’s exhibition – and she signs off with three kisses! Having visited the exhibition, my feeling is that one could hardly improve either on the assessment, or the affectionate ending.

Barbara describes herself as ‘an embroiderer who makes quilts and as a designer-craftsperson.’ She had already embarked on the City and Guilds embroidery course,in which the creation and development of original designs is an integral part, so that when she moved into quilts Barbara naturally incorporated those elements into her quiltmaking. This has led to the development of a refreshingly individual approach to quilts and quiltmaking, quite un-trammelled by any pre-conceived notions about what a quilt should or shouldn’t be. As most of her work is, in any case, intended for walls rather than for beds, she is free to explore and exploit colour and texture to her heart’s content. In the process she has produced some truly memorable works and developed a style which is immediately identifiable as her own.

'Japanese Screen II' (1991) 50" X 73" Machine embroidery and applique.

Barbara’s design sources are eclectic but oriental rugs and carpets have been one of her major sources of ideas and inspiration for several years. These have led to the production of a series of wonderfully richly coloured and embellished textiles, one example of which in the current exhibition is ‘Persian Garden’, based on a traditional theme often seen in Persian carpets. The surface here is a collage of richly-coloured fabrics overlaid by couching and a positive riot of machine-embroidery.'Japanese Screen II' (1991) was made in response to a challenge theme,Inspiration from Japan, and is based on an ancient Japanese Screen.

'Gebbeh' (41ins. X 63.5ins.) 2000
For sale - price on application

‘Gebbeh’, based on a rug from Gebbeh in the Middle East, incorporates hand-dyed velvets and is richly machine-embroidered and appliquéd.

'Hashad', inspired by a Caucasion rug, uses a multitude of techniques to create a memorable quilt which has been widely exhibited and has been illustrated in several boks and magazines. Mosaic floors patterns have also inspired some memorable quilts: ‘Flagler College Mosaic’ is derived from the mosaic floor in Flagler College, St.Augustine, Florida, while ‘Hereford’ is from a tiled floor in Hereford Cathedral.

'Flagler College Mosaic'detail
(80ins.X80ins.) 1992

These textiles positively resonate with Barbara’s passion both for fabric and colour. Not for her the blandness of ‘patchwork’ fabrics: her choices depend entirely on which textures and colours serve her aesthetic purpose in any particular situation and both fabric and colour are often manipulated by the use of embroidery techniques, by tucking, pleating, couching, piping….. She often has to dye fabrics to achieve subtle effects of shading, which in any case she regards as a fun activity for its own sake. Her work is characterised by diversity of technique and by unerring aesthetic judgement of colour and design. Most of all, though, an unmistakable commitment and sincerity shines out from every piece; looking at this work, you realise with absolute certainty that it is, truly, heart-felt. I came away from the exhibition in Buckley Library feeling every bit as up-lifted as the little girl writing in the Visitor’s Book!

Copyright Celia Eddy 2001
Visit What’s On in the UK to see dates and venues of this touring exhibition.

Entered into Quilt Expo Europa">
'Hashad' (1990) 56" X 90
Entered into Quilt Expo Europa

Some of Barbara Howell's work is for sale. For further information and prices, please e-mail her at
barbara@henllan.fsworld.co.uk