William Morris Strawberry thief
Wow today is the birthday of William Morris. I love his designs though they are quite fussy they appeal to me and I know they have inspired some of my favourite textile designers today.
William Morris dedicated his life to creating beautiful and useful designs for textiles which proved that you could mass produce beauty.
He was driven to rise up against the ugliness and injustice of capitalist society. Definitely a Marxist but with a passion for beauty. Capitalism is the word he used, as opposed to “industrial society” or “the modern world”, after he read and embraced the writings of Karl Marx and became a Marxist in the 1880s. Much earlier though, what turned him into a rebel against Victorian Britain was the sheer ugliness and tackiness of the middle class luxuries that filled the Great Exhibition in 1851.
This colossal event, staged in the specially built Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, was full of new-gothic, neo-Renaissance, neo-everything nightmares of bad design and ponderous art. Morris as a young man was horrified at the ugliness he saw & wanted to create beauty. I get that I totally do.
His strawberry thieving bird is just beautiful. He also created a tapestry design that I love 
with forest animals on & these fab animals are just so beautiful. I love the rabbits so much.
As a lover of beautiful fabric designs I applaud this visionary of the industrial age who helped created a textile design industry that let’s face it I spend much of my spare time immersed in. Thank you William Morris.
Hi I am Tonya. I am a mummy that creates & makes. Creator and Imagineer of TOTZ Treasures.. TOTZ (Tonya O’Donnell, Twinkle & Zachary) also works for tots. Because TOTZ Treasures are custom bespoke made memory items like bears or blankets as well as tailored clothes. Soft toys and clothes hand made by me for kids of all ages. We all have a kid in us somewhere so if you are a big kid but love to hug a teddy that’s Ok too. I also create just for me. It makes me happy to be creative. It occupies my mind and hands and I love to stand back & think Oh I made that. Plus when I sew for myself I get hand made clothes in styles I like that fit me or I get delicious baked goods that I know what has gone into that are yummmmmy to eat. The big kid in me loves the fun in life which is why I am also a big Disney fan. So here is my place for all things creative and fun be they edible or not.
“Being creative is not a hobby it is a way of life “
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Some old Info from tonya.me.uk site:
What Wikipedia says about my name – Tonya:
These were the two facts I found about Tonya:
Tonya is a town and a district of Trabzon Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Check this out about Tonya (Τόνγια) or Byzantine Thoania (Θοανία).
Tonya Harding is an American figure skater.
I had no idea there was a place called Tonya! Note to contact Wikipedia and ask to be added? LOL
Where did I get my name ?
Tonya is often referred to as a shortened version of Antonia. Antonia is the female version of Anthony. Anthony happens to be my Dad’s name ! he he. In Slovakian Tonya means fairy. In latin Tonya means worthy of praise or priceless. I was named Tonya after one of the Characters from Doctor Zhivago. It was the only film playing at Bangor Cinema and Mum saw it lots of times. The two lead female roles are Lara and Tonya. Mum and Dad decided if I was born blonde I would be called Lara. I was born with dark hair so they called me Tonya. Tonya is the character played by Geraldine Chaplin. (Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin) and Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) in Doctor Zhivago )
Personal Blogs & Websites.
I have had my site since 1997. Yes indeed it has been on the web that long !!! It has changed lots but then so have I !! I still write it all myself but I should add this disclaimer.
This is my personal site and collective. I am now first & foremost a mum! I am or was a freelance IT Consultant & IT Trainer / Web Site Developer and Learning Material Developer. I teach & create using the Adobe Creative suite including programs like Captivate which create Online learning modules. That’s what I am trained to do, career wise. In my spare time I am studying for an Environmental Science Degree. Phew !! This Site is dedicated to me & my family. Its kind of a fun thing that started as work, then took on a life of its own and evolved into a place to have fun & keep a sort of 20th century diary / blog.
Personal websites are like a form of 21st Century Diary/ Scrapbook. This is Tonya O’Donnell’s! It is personal use. Really I don’t expect anyone to read it or use it other than my family & me. If you do then thanks for visiting & feel free to add a comment (as long as it’s nice). The content of Tonya.me.uk is the personal opinion of Tonya & written without prejudice. MY photos are mine though(those that I have taken & are of me & mine) & therefore are copyrighted to me – if you want to use them then simply email me & ask. Some of the info is gleaned from other sources – I have added some references on my admin page – apologies if I nicked pics or other stuff to use!
with forest animals on & these fab animals are just so beautiful. I love the rabbits so much.
