HAND-PRINTED LINENS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 6

HAND-PRINTED LINENS

MELBOURNE ARTIST'S WORK An interesting avenue for the expression of her art has been developed by Miss Frances Burke, a young Melbourne artist of the modern school of painting, in tho form of hand-printed linens. Beaches this year are gayer than ever with coats, swim suits, and frocks, made of linen patterned with all kinds of marine and floral designs,' and a traveller who recently left for India included in her wardrobe a beach coat of linen patterned with tigers and jungles, in tawny reds. Other beach designs show blue dolphins, star fish, and waves. Linens are patterned with a jungle design of monkeys and coconut palms, and poinsettias in a rich red on a light ground. Designs for "mammy" scarves 011 linen mesh aro based on fish, shells and sea-horses. Now that the season for beach linens is ending, Miss Burke is concentrating on furnishing linens, and these will include a new presentation of Australian motifs and nursery linens for children's rooms. Miss Burke has spent some months experimenting with dyes and block-printing to obtain the most effective results. The studio-living quarters of this artist aro in a .loft converted into a fascinating flat, consisting of bedroom, living room, and kitchen, approached by a door and gateway ornamented with tubs of Van Gogh yellow. The living room is very large, with a ceiling complete with beams and rafters. With its old street lamp on tho writing desk, mahogany table, books and pictures, this room is an oasis—calm, quiet and removed, in a busy neighbourhood. An Australian by birth, Miss Burke learnt design at the Melbourne Technical School, and later painted with George Bell She was presented with a scholarship at the former school.