Behind the Meadow Gate Toile print
Join our textile designer as she explores a fleeting vivid dream she once had, along with honing inspiration from 17th century French wallpaper and fabric pattern style 'Toile De Jouy' to create the Meadow Gate Toile print.
Process of art
A deep indigo ink is used on watercolour paper to sketch the individual motifs of the meadow scene with a calligraphy fountain pen.
"I dreamt of an ornate gate, its ironwork twisting like vines. Pushing it open, I stepped into a vast, sunlit meadow where warmth touched my skin and birdsong wove through the breeze like ribbon. A dragonfly skimmed from clover to clover, its wings glinting like stained glass, while two butterflies spiraled in the air in a delicate dance.
As I walked, flowers bloomed beneath my feet. Lilies, dogwood and roses, each whispering forgotten stories. The air shimmered and for a fleeting moment, I felt weightless, as if I too could drift among the butterflies. Then, just as suddenly, the meadow faded and I awoke with the scent of wildflowers still lingering in my mind."
"Drawing from the memory of that dream, I merged it with inspiration from the 17thcentury French wallpaper and fabric pattern style, Toile de Jouy."
History of Toile De Joey
Toile de Jouy, meaning "cloth from Jouy," originated in 18th-century France in Jouy-en-Josas, near Versailles and became popular during the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette who adored its romantic elegance.
It was pioneered by Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf in 1760, using woodblocks and copperplate engraving to create intricate designs. Featuring pastoral, mythological, and romantic scenes, typically in blue, red, or black on a white background, its motifs were influenced by artist Jean-Baptiste Huet.
"I want the Meadow Gate Toile print to have my own modern twist, it's playful yet still reminiscent of antique elegance. Up close upon the intricate details, I want to tell the story of the gate to the meadow. You can see what I saw in my dream. From a distance, I want the blue motifs to merge seamlessly with the white background, forming a beautiful blended pattern of its own."
