If you have not visited Quiltfest before, this is actually the 9th time we have held the event in Llangollen. We have had eight very happy years at the Gallery in the Royal International Pavilion but we had to leave there because of repairs and alterations presently being carried out.
Quiltfest is organised by a group of volunteers, all quilting enthusiasts. Our aim is to bring to North Wales, modern textile works which would otherwise not be seen in this part of the UK.
It is a co-incidence that all the exhibitors this year are members of a group called Contemporary Quilt (CQ), which is part of the larger organisation The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles. Most quilters begin as traditional quilt-makers but members of Contemporary Quilt are now more interested in making quilts as art objects to hang on walls rather than quilts as functional items to be used as bed-coverings.
Effie Galletly, whose work was on show in the Museum, was a founder member of CQ in 2000.
Liesbeth Williams, also exhibiting in the museum, last year won the highest award presented by the City & Guilds to a student of Patchwork and Quilting and other accolades.
The work on show in Y Caban at Plas Newydd is the result of the latest challenge given to the members of CQ, with the title of ‘Breakthrough.’ There are 23 pieces on show in Llangollen and another 16 will later in the year be shown in the QuiltMuseumin York. Later still, all of the pieces will be displayed at the Festival of Quilts in August at the NEC in Birmingham.
On Sunday 14th February, we had a Fringe Event at the Town Hall where everyone had the opportunity to see a small display of work by local quilters at the same time as replenishing their stocks of fabrics and other necessities.
The following weekend, there was a larger, two day exhibition of work by local quilters, also in the Town Hall and again there were shopping opportunities.
We hope you enjoyed this year’s events and that you will return again in 2011. Val Shields.