The Quilt Academy has settled nicely into Bell House. The free Thursday drop-in sessions are a hive of activity where experienced and welcoming tutors share their skills in hand and machine sewing with less experienced sewers, or even complete beginners.
The Quilters have now joined forces with Sharon O’Connor, our house historian, and are hatching a plan to reproduce two images from Bell House’s history in textile form. A 1746 map of Dulwich and an 1811 lease plan of Bell House will be reproduced using a combination of quilting, patchwork and embroidery. This will produce two beautiful works of art and also add to our understanding of the geographical and historical context of Bell House. For example: fields which used to belong to Bell House are now part of Dulwich Park. The quilters are about to put their creative heads together to decide the best way of tackling this technically challenging project.
We will keep you updated with the project as it unfolds (but not unravels!). In the meantime, if you would like to join the Quilt Academy, either to acquire a practical skill, socialise with others or to make something beautiful to cherish, please pop in on a Thursday for a cup of tea and a chat, or contact us: [email protected]. Carers, translators, therapists or family support are also most welcome attend the sessions.
‘Over the years, we have derived much joy - and inner peace - through making quilts, bags, clothes, pillows, table linens and more. We know others can do likewise with the right mentoring within a safe and welcoming space that Bell House is keen to provide.’ The Quilt Academy