William Morris notebook - Photo of the Day


fruit and daisy by William Morris in one of his amazing notebooks

"All artists love and honor William Morris" --- Frank Lloyd Wright 

One of the most influential British designers, William Morris (1834-1896) was an English writer, artist, craftsman, and designer who is considered the father of the Arts and Crafts Movement. He blurred the line between art and craft and eschewed mass-produced items. His aim was to "bring art back into people's lives" and therefore sought out craftsmen from whom he could learn dying arts, such as weaving, stained glass, dyeing or printing.  His philosophical approach of combining use with beauty, profit with pleasure and work with contemplation is still alive in the 21st century.

 Morris enjoyed gardening and he called his home, Kelmscott Manor, 'Heaven on earth'.  
He wrote this note about gardening at Kelmscott to Mrs Burne-Jones:  
"I am just going to finish my day with a couple of hours work on my lecture 
but will first write you a line...... one thing I long for which will certainly come, 
the sunshine and spring. 
Meantime we are hard at work gardening here: making dry paths, and a 
sublimely tidy box edging."




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