In 2023, I participated in a class on pattern design and became fascinated with the art form. My mother was an avid quilter, so I grew up surrounded by fabric and textile patterns. As I was trying to learn the craft, one of my goals was to create my own Toile de Jouy pattern depicting the story of our cabin in Wyoming. This pattern will be used on custom wallpaper that will adorn the kitchen.  

The project began a year ago, and I have tried to carve out pockets of time to progress it. I am focusing on progress over perfection, so this post shares the current status of the project. I have completed four panels and designed the preliminary print; however, I will continue to add two more scenes and refine the colorways of the design. But for now, I would like to celebrate how far the project has progressed while acknowledging that it was difficult to find extra time while experiencing significant changes to my personal and professional life over the last year.

Toile de Jouy

“Toile de Jouy” is a type of decorating pattern consisting of a white or off-white background on which is a repeated pattern depicting a fairly complex scene, generally of a pastoral theme, such as a couple having a picnic by a lake or an arrangement of flowers. The pattern consists of a single color, mostly black, dark red, or blue. The pattern is constructed from 4 – 6 scenes that repeat in a half drop.  Here are some examples.

The following image shows an example of a half-drop pattern.

The Scenes

1. Original Cabin

Our cabin is located in Wyoming, in a small town that feels like a step back in time. It has a population of 345 (as of 2022) and is situated at the foot of the Snowy Range Mountains. Located on an elevated glacial plain with an alpine desert climate, you will find more stones than soil when you dig into the ground. The front yard is dotted with mountain ball cactus, grasses, and a thousand rocks. However, a river runs through the back of the property, and this moisture supports a magical aspen grove teeming with wildlife. A work camp was first established in what is now the town in 1868, when railroad ties were needed for the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Over time, the town was slowly populated by homesteaders, ranchers, loggers, and miners. Next to our house are the remnants of a wooden structure that served as a stagecoach stop for those who lived in the valley during the 1900s. Here is a photo taken by local photographer Lora Web Nichols during this time period. Throughout our neighborhood, there are no fewer than 7 stagecoaches/wagons adorning various properties that have mostly been passed down through families for generations. 

Photo by Homsteader Lora Web Nichols, circa 1900 with stagecoaches and Snowy Range Mountains in the back.

This scene is intended as a homage to the past, both to the original cabin and to the inhabitants who traversed the rocky plains and mountains by stagecoach and wagon. A mule deer buck rests in the shadows, with a coyote lurking behind the cabin. Smoke is blown from the chimney due to the relentless wind Wyoming is known for. We have game cameras on the trails in the aspen forest, and all the animals depicted are inspired by animals who have traversed our property. 

The original cabin was built in 1960 with one bedroom, a bathroom, and a woodfire stove. When we purchased the property, we were given a photo of the original cabin, which was used for this illustration.

2. Canoeing at Bear Lake

This scene is based on a day spent at a nearby lake. We strapped the canoe to the top of our car and traveled through rough backroads to arrive at beautiful Bear Lake. My older son and my husband went out fishing in the canoe, while my younger son and I relaxed by the lake, enjoying some watercolor painting and digging in the dirt. I intended to convey the quiet and remote surroundings while honoring my husband and son’s love of fishing in alpine lakes and streams.

3. River and Footbridge

Being close to the river is a powerful part of the property’s story. There is a dramatic cycle to the river’s flow. As the snow melts in the spring, the runoff creates a terrifying and powerful rush, and the paths flood with water. I captured a video of the flood, featuring a beaver floating by, in the video below. You can also hear giant boulders tumbling down the river. It is a deep booming and knocking sound that melds with the deafening roar of the water. I am in awe every time I hear it.

In the summer, the water calms, and we spend most of our time looking for fish, digging at the beach, and throwing rocks. Our youngest son is exceptionally interested in rock throwing and has never found a body of water that he did not desire to catapult a rock into. The river slows to a crawl in the fall as the level drops. In the winter, it is covered by a blanket of snow with small windows revealing movement and life below the surface. 

This scene captures the foxes we have seen sneaking along the banks of the river and the giant pile of sticks that incessantly collects, which doubles as a beaver dam. A trout swims quickly away from the small boy throwing rocks, and you can find discarded shoes and a shovel by the beach. 

You can see the neighbor’s bridge across the river, and I tried to depict the thousands of rocks, sticks, and aspen trees in the backyard. This place is wild, and we love it.

4. Aspen Forest

There is magic in an aspen forest. I don’t know if it is the stained glass window effect of the leaves, the way they shimmer and whisper in the wind, or the thousands of eyes on the trees. Whatever it is, spending time in an aspen forest is good for the soul. 

The forest also has its own cycle, and in the spring, once the snow has melted, there is a brief moment when the ground, which is usually obscured by grass or snow, becomes visible. It is when you can find treasures. We discovered pacifiers, trucks, and shovels that had been lost in snowbanks. But one time, while walking the paths, we spotted a piece of metal sticking out of the ground. We all grabbed a shovel to unearth whatever treasure it might be. After a fair amount of digging and rock moving, we unearthed a cowboy coffee pot. It was missing a spout and a lid. Based on the amount of rust, I think it must have been over 50 years old. I love thinking that a cowboy was camping in the woods near the stagecoach stop and cooked up a cup of coffee with this pot. This vision is depicted by an abandoned fire ring and the handle of the coffee pot protruding from the ground.

In the summer, our boys enjoy running through the woods, and they recently built an exceptional fort out of sticks. I like to imagine the wildlife enjoying the boys’ fort when we are at work and school in Denver.

I also hid a mountain lion in the background since we had spotted this elusive beast on our game camera. There is also a mama deer with her two babies in the woods, and they remind me of our boys.

Progress over Perfection

The last two planned scenes are the front of the property, which has a laboriously built buck rail fence, a ranch gate, and a view of Sheep Mountain. I envision this panel with a flock of blackbirds rising from the grass and perhaps an abandoned toy dump truck in the driveway. 

The last panel would be of a Moose at our favorite picnic spot, Sugar Loaf. There are so many moose in these mountains that they deserve a spot of honor. 

Fillers & Connectors

To help the pattern flow, several smaller images are interspersed, which helps to connect the imagery. Here are a few of the connector designs and concepts.

Putting the Pattern Together

The final step is to connect all the illustrations. Thank you for viewing the progress of my project!

I’m hoping to be able to get back to this project and have a final pattern by the end of August. Stay tuned!