I am digressing from my Gaudi series this time for the prompt of Heritage.
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Water-for-Life-Meroogal.jpg?resize=640%2C1019&ssl=1)
I visited a living museum a little while ago called Meroogal and was taken with the simplicity of a home which had been the home of a relatively wealthy family, the Thorburns. This is an image of them in 1891.
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/merrrrogal-family.jpg?resize=640%2C519&ssl=1)
They were the first in the Nowra region of NSW to have their own water pump which even though it was outside made life so much easier for them.
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MEROOGAL.jpg?resize=640%2C905&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_5521.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
Inside the home there were original recipe books so I created some thermofax/silk screens of them and printed it onto hand painted fabrics. I used this fabric to create the timber boards of the house.
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_5551.jpeg?resize=640%2C488&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/apple-pudding-2.jpg?resize=640%2C479&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_5820-1.jpg?resize=640%2C853&ssl=1)
Using techniques from my Photo To Quilt class, I converted the image into a vector image using Photoshop Elements and Vector Q as well as a plotter version.
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/meroogal-pump-vector-lines.jpg?resize=640%2C1007&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/meroogal-pump-plotter.jpg?resize=640%2C1008&ssl=1)
Hand painted fabrics were then layered to create the coloured background image and the plotter files were cut using fused painted Pellon 830 non woven material on a Silhouette Cameo 4 digital cutter. These were then layered over the background layer and quilted with my Bernina Q20
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/water-bucket-detail-1.jpg?resize=640%2C853&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/clothincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/recipe-screenprint-detail-1.jpg?resize=640%2C853&ssl=1)
Water for Life
26″ x 41″
Hand painted fabrics & Non woven material
Thermofax printed and layered fabrics
Free motion quilted
What an amazing story and the wonderful planning, focused time and your screens that were created for the project – truly a fantastic, creative take on Heritage. Thanks, Lisa! I love the artwork – treasure.
Thanks – I always enjoy the journey
I look at the image of the family, I recognize they were all dressed up in good clothes for the most likely rare occasion of getting a photograph taken. Their faces speak of a life of many challenges, so having a water pump at the house must have been a great relieve.
The color palette you used and the abstraction you applied is lovely.
Yes the formal photo is interesting but I expect that was a special occasion
What a great composition, and combination of warm and cool colors. It really pops. AND I love your story of being struck by inspiration in a museum. I’ve had that happen, and it’s a powerful pull to people in the past.
Thanks. There was so much inspiration in the house. Could be a whole series
What a beautiful diversion. I think I need to live in a house that color.
Yes it was quite a tricky colour to match
Beautiful. It’s funny how appealing we find hand written cards. It seems as if a person spoke the words.
I loved the personal memories throughout the house