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A collection of quilts by Magie Relph
Africa has a great influence on my creative work as a textile artist and quilter.
As you can see, I make great use of African fabrics. But just as important, I think, are the less tangible ways that Africa creeps into my quilts, from African design to Africa's fascinating textile heritage.
Enjoy. And thanks for visiting my website.
Magie Relph
Around The Corner
A challenge involving a victorian bolster cover, four friends and an Indigo dye vat. With a combination like that, who knows what's around the corner? Would you?!
Wall hanging. Machine pieced and quilted. 2008.
66 x 76 cm
The Namib - After The Rains
When the rains come to The Namib, the dormant desert blooms with flowers, grasses and wildlife – a truly magical transformation.
Wall hanging. Machine pieced and quilted. 2008.
117 x 117 cm
Under African Skies - Musa's Quilt
Reflecting the colour of a dark, moody African sky rumbling away, ready to release the rains and feed the parched earth. In Africa many people dream of rain. It brings with it the excitement of new life.
I've nicknamed this piece "Musa's Quilt" because all the fabrics in it were hand-dyed by my friend Musa in The Gambia.
Wall hanging. Machine pieced and quilted. 2006.
140 x 95 cm
Adwinasa - All The Motifs Are Used Up
Ghanaian Kente cloth is traditionally woven by the Ashanti and Ewe tribes. Kente cloth is now increasingly rare and the craft has almost died out, though a few weavers are maintaining the tradition. I have always been fascinated and inspired by this cloth and decided to create my own patchwork version.
According to legend, a weaver attempted to weave a unique Kente cloth to please the Asantehene, the Ashanti king. In his effort, he used all the motifs then known to weavers in weaving one cloth.
In creating this piece, my second patchwork version of Kente cloth, I felt that by the time I’d finished, like the weaver, I’d used up "all the motifs'!"
Wall hanging. Machine pieced and quilted. 2003.
193 x 97 cm
Ashanti Tales - The Serpent
The serpent image was my inspiration and starting point. Often referred to in folk tales, serpents are an important part of Ashanti life. They are both respected and avoided!
Wall hanging. Machine pieced and quilted. 2007.
105 x 82 cm
The Frog, The Lizard and The Turtle
Log Cabin was a favourite of the slave quilters and often referred to as "house tops". I wanted to create a piece that reflected the naïve and improvisational style of these quilters using whatever fabrics came to hand, mostly African wax prints from my stash, "old fashioned" techniques.
The Frog, The Lizard and The Turtle just made themselves at home!
Wall hanging. Machine pieced and quilted. 2007.
140 x 95 cm
Flower Stems
During my shopping sprees for African wax prints I found these four colourways of the same fabric. This inspired me to cut up the fabric, mix them up, and put them back together again in true patchwork style!
Wall hanging. Machine pieced and quilted. 2005.
110 x 125 cm
