There is one particular line in the tale that I love 'So the prince took her to be his wife, for now he was sure that he had found a real princess' which I embroidered up the side of of the bed.
I had lots of fun making it - and I thought the perfect accompaniment would be the actual story book of The Princess and the Pea. And this is when I discovered that I'm a bit of a traditionalist at heart. I could not find a traditional copy of The Princess and the Pea anywhere - the picture books have all been 'modernized' - the text is not the same ... it makes me sad that we have to modernize everything. But as I reread the original text - I realized I too had taken lots of naughty liberties with the interpretation of the tale for my quilt!I only made 12 mattresses and not the full 20 ...
... my Princess looks rather neat and tidy and is not in 'a terrible state' ... 
... and I assumed the Princess would have had a ladder to get up to the top of the mattress pile ...
... my Princess also has a very friendly orange cat ... 
... and every Princess knows she should take off her crown before going to sleep!
Perhaps we don't have to be 100% accurate all of the time?
that is so beautiful
ReplyDeleteApril xx
This is really wonderful!
ReplyDeleteFab quilt!
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that she is balancing a cupcake on her head (tee hee!)
Hi! Thanks for taking the time to HOP over to visit The Stone Rabbit! We were on the patio taking photos for Pink Saturday! He says to tell you Hi!
ReplyDeleteI am a rabbit lover, too! I create lots of them for Spring shows from "aged" cotton batting. I also have several concrete ones around the outside and inside of my home!
I love all things handmade, too, and I hope when folks buy mine,I hope they know how much love did go into the designing and creating of them!
Have a Hoppy Day! Dana
omg this is absolutely LOVELY!! how do you do it? be so perfect? wow. wow wow!!
ReplyDeleteThat's fabulous - I'm sure the recipient will be thrilled. x
ReplyDeleteFab quilt. Great minds think alike JB*JB - I'd spotted the balancing cupcake too.
ReplyDeleteI agree about traditional books. Thise Ladybird ones from my childhood are soooo expensive now. Grrr eBay...
This is flat out fantastic! I enjoyed hearing about your creative decision-making along the way.
ReplyDeleteI think "modernizing" familar tales is a natural desire for many creative people. Your quilt is an interpretation of that story as well. :)
I do know how frustrating it can be to find the books we knew and loved when we were younger. I spent many frustrating months trying to track down one of my childhood favorites for my kids. I finally found it in a used book store just by chance.
Adorable! I'm such a fan of the princess and the pea theme...
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is gorgeous!! It's so cute! Well done! And yes, everything is modernised.... which in some cases... I think is okay! My husband was reading an OLD book of nursery rhymes to the kids the other day and one of them talked about a naughty child who was going to get whipped by his/her mother!!!!
ReplyDeleteI too love the Princess and the Pea - maybe it's our love of textiles and fabric! - and pieced a similar quilt earlier this year - but I didn't include such a lovely princess and crown! Lovely present and the book will the perfect touch. Have you checked Amazon? They have a lovely selection including the gorgeous version by Lauren Child - another great love of textiles!
ReplyDeleteAdorable!! The Princess and the Pea is one of my favourite fairy tales.
ReplyDeleteI love that cat! This turned out really wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThis is so fantastic bunny girl! You just put so much thought, effort and attention to detail into the things that you create! My hat is off to you. I luuuuuuurve it! Jen
ReplyDeletebeautiful quilt! i'm all for creative freedom!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so fantastic. What a great creative take on the tale. I love your fine stitching work as always too.
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic! I love it! This is one of my favorite fairy tales :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful job Rachael!! I love it, you did such a great job!
ReplyDeleteSherry
This is gorgeous, well done.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my all time favorite stories!!!!! It is beautiful Rachael!
ReplyDeleteFABULOUS Rachael, love the little cup cake backing fabric too - you have done an incredible job of this. I too love all the traditional stories, sometimes I think I should have been born in another era :) I'm just this moment trying to think of a lovely old name for a new Bear I have just finished. HUGS, Catherine x
ReplyDeleteIt's just beautiful Rachael!
ReplyDeleteThis is just gorgeous - I don't like modernisations either but slight adjustments are fine :-)
ReplyDeleteLisa x
Wow, this looks great!
ReplyDeletei love the story of the princess and the pea. and it's very pretty! love the matresses. great little additions! ;)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, that is just so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIts a lovely story.
Once again Rachael you have out done yourself, this quilt is so lovely.
ReplyDeleteoh i love this, both the quilt and the tale!
ReplyDeletesometimes i call my cat the princess on the pea, when he is laying on top of the blankets that lay on an old chest...
however, i am wondering how you over there remember our old german tales... nice to see, they are part of my childhood memories!
Belinda Downes does a lovely version in the book that she illustrated. Its one of my favourite books.
ReplyDeleteIt's utterly adorable! And I recognise the cute cupcake fabric too!
ReplyDelete:-)
Jayne
When's it's as beautiful as your wall hanging it doesn't matter whether it is modern or traditional. It is a stunning piece of art.
ReplyDeleteGenius! That is a stunnning quilt. I reckon it's time for a Rachael Rabbit pattern book :)
ReplyDeleteOh Rachel this is adorable. You are just so clever.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this quilt. I love the story of the princess and the pea too -- it always conjures a lovely plush bed that she just can't get comfy in. You have done a wonderful job with it. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantabulous quilt.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading fairy tales to my 4yr old daughter and have just realised how much theft as well as attempted and actual murder there is in a lot of them!!
wow! your quilt is amazing. i love it.
ReplyDelete