What a lovely day I had yesterday…
Some weeks ago Sue (Going Batty in Wales) mentioned to me that she wanted to go and see the summer exhibition at the Welsh Quilt Centre in Lampeter, and suggested that we go together. So, we met for coffee and then visited Red Apple Yarn before having an unexpectedly large lunch (the café we went to had run out of the soup I wanted) and then going to the exhibition.
The quilts on display represented the past ten years of summer exhibitions at the Quilt Centre and so we had the opportunity to see a wide variety – from Kaffe Fassett creations to Victorian quilts made from tiny scraps of reclaimed fabrics. There were examples made with flannel, beautiful cream coloured quilts made for Claridge’s in the 1940s and marketed through the Rural Industries Bureau, a single printed tree of life panel made in 1810 and paisley scarf quilts.
Whilst it’s hard to single out any one quilt, I did love the creations where the quilting itself was the star, and the cream Rural Industries Bureau quilts were perhaps the epitome of this, but I particularly liked the yellow quilt that I have featured some corner detail of above. The pattern in this demonstrates the traditional Welsh characteristic of a central design surrounded by borders comprising smaller motifs… or at least, so Sue tells me. The other quilt that really caught my attention was the Victorian patchwork one displayed on the bed… mainly because it featured a large mend (that I completely failed to photograph) where it had either been torn or worn along a fold. Several of the quilts had been repaired or had small unfinished sections and I was particularly drawn to these features that reminded me of the women who worked so hard to make and maintain these works of art.
Altogether it is an inspirational exhibition and we had a lovely day out. If you are visiting mid-Wales I highly recommend a trip to the Quilt Centre where the exhibition runs until November.
The Snail of Happiness 
Espirational
/ May 4, 2018Beautiful quilts! Sounds like a lovely outing.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 4, 2018It was… I’m almost tempted to have a go myself… but only almost!
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textiledreamer
/ May 4, 2018Lovely! I went there some years ago right after the Festival of Quilts where they had a special about Welsh quilts, and I had a really nice day taking buses and trains through Wales as well as seeing the museum 😀
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 4, 2018It’s just 12 miles from home for me… I can’t believe I have never been to one of the summer exhibitions before.
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coppicelearner
/ May 4, 2018It was a lovely day out. And I am so glad we went together – much nocer than going alone! And thank you for introducing me to Jude and Red Apple Yarns. I am feeling all inspired – but will it last until I have done a bit more gardening and have time?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 4, 2018We can have a return trip when the inspiration wanes! Any excuse.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 4, 2018We’ll be inspired at the National Wool Museum next time…
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nanacathy2
/ May 4, 2018Aren’t they glorious and I liked the cream one with the yellow borders. I wonder how far it is from my brothers house.
But what did you have for lunch? Was there cake?
And did you buy wool?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 4, 2018I had broccoli bake for lunch and I was too full for cake… I must be better organised next time. I didn’t buy wool, but Sue did.
It’s really worth the trip… and you could visit the National Wool Museum which is not too far away too. And we could meet up and eat cake together!
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wordsfromanneli
/ May 4, 2018Beautiful work!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 4, 2018They are true works of art.
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@atbeingme
/ May 4, 2018Reblogged this on AT being me.
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thecontentedcrafter
/ May 4, 2018I’m like you, I love quilts and all kinds catch my fancy. I admire quilters of all types too. I have tried my hand at quilting and felt I made a terrible botch of it and now I leave it to others to do. Sounds like a fabulous outing and so nice you had like-minded company too!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 4, 2018It was lovely to spend time with Sue. We are planning a visit to the National Wool Museum next.
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yarnandpencil
/ May 4, 2018A wonderful day made even lovelier (!) by quilts ❤
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katechiconi
/ May 4, 2018What I love about exhibitions like that is the lack of ‘unnatural perfection’. These quilts were all made by real women, with hands and hearts and what they had, and they weren’t bothered about the quilt police, or did they have the latest fabrics or pattern. If a quilt needed mending, they mended it and the quilt lived on. Historical quilts have something to teach all of us about what a quilt is for, and about creating beauty out of nothing very much.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 5, 2018Yes, I don’t think many of them could be described as perfect and, in fact, the modern Kaffe Fassett quilts with their very straight seams and machine stitching were much less appealing (although beautiful) perhaps because they didn’t have the feeling of being personal.
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anne54
/ May 4, 2018It was lovely to see these quilts, but what really stuck me was the way they were exhibited. Those little rooms, and the quilts on beds and hanging on the walls…..it must have emphasised the sense of these as items made for use at home, and helped you see the hands that made them.
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tialys
/ May 5, 2018Almost exactly what I was going to say – thanks Anne 😉
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Helen
/ May 5, 2018Yes, I was very taken with the way the quilts were displayed as well.
Does the exhibition explain how the quilts were made?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 5, 2018There was written information including the catalogues from each previous exhibition plus the staff were happy to answer any questions.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 5, 2018Yes, it was laid out beautifully and Although we were told not to touch, there were no barriers, so in most cases we could get right up close to inspect the quilts.
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Born To Organize
/ May 6, 2018Yes! So amazing to see them displayed this way. It really makes them feel “at home” so to speak. Lovely, lovely exhibit!
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insearchofitall
/ May 5, 2018What a fun outing! Seeing all that wonderful work can jog our creativity as well. The amount of work in those quilts is incredible. Thanks for sharing them.
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davidprosser
/ May 5, 2018The Tree of Life is amazing, I’d really love to have that one. I’d dig out my burglar clothes but it would deprive a lot of people of the pleasure. What a lovely trip out.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 5, 2018The fabric came from India, but it wasn’t clear whether the printing was done there or in England… either way it was a beautiful single panel and in the most wonderful condition considering it was over 200 years old.
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KerryCan
/ May 6, 2018What a treat to see these! There’s one–a large red square, on its point, in a deep-colored background–that I would swear was Amish, from the US! I like the one you featured a lot–was that one quilted by hand? Wow . . .
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 7, 2018It may be Amish, but it may be a similar Welsh quilt (I can’t remember): the theme of the exhibition in 2012 was inspired by Dorothy Osler’s book; “Amish Quilts and the Welsh Connection” and that was one of the quilts that appeared in that exhibition.
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wybrow1966
/ May 6, 2018Looks like a lovely day out – and plenty of places to rest if you get tired!
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sewchet
/ May 8, 2018I have made many quilts in my time but never one even a fraction as gorgeous as any of these, all of which leave me in awe of both the skill and patience of the quilters.
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Kim
/ May 9, 2018Beautiful! Is this a permanent exhibition? I may have to persuade The Management that we need to visit.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 22, 2018It’s on until September, I think.
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