Lampeter Quilt Show
I don’t get out much these days so I was very excited to be heading off to the bright lights of Lampeter, endearingly known as La Peter to some of the locals
It was a long and windy journey as are most trips anywhere in Wales, requiring my full attention at the driving wheel. The journey does not look far on a map and isn’t big in mileage but it always takes time and last week was no exception. Lampeter is nestled in the middle of Wales, situated between Llandovery and Aberaeron on the Coast. It is an old University and Drovers’ town, and today the Town Hall is home to Jen Jones’ Quilt Museum and Centre, which is well worth a visit
On the night that I went to Lampeter, for the preview of the latest Exhibition at the Quilt Centre, my journey was even more arduous, as a strange thick blanket of fog covered the low lying hills, until the soft orange fluorescent glow of Lampeter’s street lights came into view, a welcome sight!
On arrival in Lampeter I began to wonder if I had come on the wrong night and reached into my bag to check my invitation as the streets were eerily deserted. However on entering the Quilt Centre I realised where everyone was, inside the Hall was a fevered gathering of passionate quilt collectors from all corners of the country
I received a warm welcome and was greeted by lots of people who I recognised from visits to my shop in Hay on Wye. I managed to have a brief conversation with Jen Jones the owner of the Centre, who was very busy explaining the finer points of quilting etc..and much in demand all evening. It was good to see Gwenllian Ashley who was responsible for designing and hanging this Exhibitition. Gwenllian was the curator of Aberystwyth Museum and has always been very supportive, especially when I was organising a series of exhibitions about Welsh Woollen Blankets and their History. In fact she helped me put on my second Exhibition at Aberystwyth. It was good to catch up with Margaret Bide, who is an authority on all things relating to Weaving and Textiles in Wales. This Show is entitled A Quilted Bridge The Amish Welsh Connection. This is a chance to compare these two historic quilting communities. The old Town Hall is a great exhibition space to view these large quilts hanging side by side: the stunning antique American Amish quilts contrasting with the early Welsh geometric flannel patchwork quilts. It is well worth a visit