Patterns Aplenty

Last September, we visited the Alhambra, a 12th century Moorish fortress and palace in Granada, Spain.  The Alhambra is famous for the beautiful intricate patterns in tiles and molded plaster, and is a treasure of ideas that would translate into fabric.  The variety is dizzying:  I gave up trying to photograph each one.  Here are just a few:

These  examples show the richness of the effect.  There is often a layering of more than one tile pattern and plaster designs on the same surface.

A detail of the plaster:  the plaster designs are usually trees and flowers, mixed with calligraphy.

Here's one of the tile patterns.  This supposedly has no repeat.

There are many variations on six sided stars like this, both in plaster and in tile.

Even something as simple as the grill on a door makes a wonderful design.  Wouldn't this be an unusual setting for simple fabric squares?

Another simple one, but isn't it a great interlocking pattern?

This pattern is unusual for the Alhambra, both because it is painted, and because the four sided pattern doesn't seem to have been as popular.

And finally, this photo has it all, tile, plaster and those wonderful grill patterns too.

 My husband and I spent two afternoons there.  I hope you can see why.

Next time, back to some fabric work in progress, I hope.