How to make an entrance - part 1

If you have been following our travels recently you may just have realised that Hazel has a bit of a thing for doors and door furniture.  Some of them have already featured but there are so many now that it's high time they had their own feature.  So here, in no particular order, they are but I will try to say where they were photographed.

Old Delhi - Chandni Chowk market 

Taj Mahal - Agra

The Red Fort - Agra

Not a door I know, but just as fabulous, it's a drawbridge!

Pillars and arches

The ornately carved red sandstone pillars of Fatehpur Sikri are a wonderful design source for appliqué and quilting patterns.

The various styles of arches give wonderful suggestions for frames whether they are arched 

or straight.

Whilst this fretwork design could be adapted to be either hand or machine quilting pattern.

Mornings mists

Whilst everyone went to view the Taj at sunrise we went over to see the 'Baby Taj'.  Given the morning mists I think we made the better choice, even more special by being the only ones there!

Beautiful on the outside

 it was even more stunning on the inside (which was dark as it is a mausoleum)

And the final decoration in red sandstone - Persian perfume bottles - great shapes.

Inspiration from the Taj and Red Fort

The Taj Mahal - perhaps the world's most extravagant monument of love - nearly bankrupted a kingdom in the building of it.  Twentytwo years in construction it brought together the most skilled craftsmen and artisans from around the Mughal Empire.  Here is just a small sample of their work

On the domed ceilings,

inlaid marble wall decoration,

delicately carved fretwork, in this case red sandstone from one of the three gatehouses,

Iron work covering the doors,

and highly intricate inlaid semi-precious gem stone pattering on the Taj itself.

This pillar is a clever optical illusion, appearing to have a star shaped cross-section, when really it has flat hexagonal sides.

Even the floors were not forgotten, becoming almost 3-D in appearance when viewed from a certain angle.

The Red Fort, visible from the Taj was constructed from red sandstone was also richly patterned.

 To enter the Fort you cross a drawbridge - wonderful line and texture.

Whilst this angled turret was richly decorated with highly coloured geometric patterns.

Even a humble stone or brick wall can provide the inspiration for texture and shape.

How about using this carved surface as the inspiration for some traditional English hand piecing?

Or using the interlocking heart motif, on the right, for bias strip appliqué whilst the flower design on the left would also be a lovely appliqué  motif.

More quilting patterns, for hand or machine, from this fretwork grill 

or how about taking the design from this small column?

So much to see in just this one place ...