Joan Brailsford – P
Pots, Plates and Patterns
Inspiration: Images from Middleport pottery that show the ware for sale in the factory shop and the factory environment that hints at how it is produded.
I love to visit the Victorian factory buildings of Middleport pottery and this month I continue my pottery series inspired by the plates and teapots produced ther and in particular their distinctive patterns. I have used images of teapots and plates in the factory to base my design upon, and I have included an image of an old plate-making machine that once was used in their production, but now is displayed in the cobbled yard within the buildings.
The images are photo-transferred and bonded to hand-dyed fabric. Some of the plates are created from paper napkins sold at the factory which show the actual patterns. These are bonded to the background, along with other fabric plates created from commercial fabrics which resemble the pottery patterns. I have further bonded a chiffon shape that represents a bottle-oven (in which pottery was once fired), on the left hand side. I have used hand-stitching for the cobble-stone shapes and around the pots and plates, to act as quilting, and have added a hand-stitched representation of the flower pattern. Part of the ‘Middleport Pottery’ company sign built in to the factory has been used to include the letter ‘P’
Detail views:
Original photos:
FIFTEEN BY FIFTEEN 
I really like this Joan, well done! Your use of photos and paper napkins with the designs is brilliant. It is also clever the way you have infilled with the odd bit of brick work, you have produced a very harmonious piece.
You are building an interesting series ! I like the use of paper napkins with the pottery patterns and the composition with your own photos.
Wonderful interpretation of the pots, loving your technique it is going to be a great series.
What a beautiful piece again in your series . I love how you made up your design with the photo-transferred images and the paper napkins. Very nice composition and the hand-stitching of the pots and bricks is awesome. The colour and chiffon-shape gives the piece the old fashioned feeling.
I love the colours in this piece. The images are subtle, the little paper plates are brilliant and the hand stitching adds lovely detailed highlights. Great.
I love this series and the deep studies done on this factory. Great mix of techniques truly depicts the complexity and diversity of their production process and results. Well done!
I also love blue pottery. The way you build this quilt is just lovely, lovely, lovely.
Your piece gives me a feeling of traveling back in time. I love the patina on printed images. Your hand stitching is awesome.
The mix of elements works well. The pottery designs are quite nostalgic, and the lettering is very clear and simple, in contrast to the patterns on the pottery. The piece is visually stimulating with all the different elements from the factory and the shop, yet it tells a story.
Your work always intrigues me Joan.Your colors and the way you stitch are so effective. Love the old look you gave the piece, I really have the feeling to go back many years in time, looking at it. This becomes a beautiful series…
I love your series and the interesting ways you have of demonstrating the pottery.
I love this series. The way you integrate the photographs, the sepia antique colors that gives time to your piece and the beautifully chosen white and blue fabric that reminds us of the pottery. Beautiful stitching. Incredible!
Your choice and combination of colors, techniques and the layering of hand and machine stitches are just perfect! So beautiful Joan!