The Andorra Patchwork Group
OF THE INTERNATIONAL CLUB OF 
Inauguration - and some impressions of the exhibition
held in July 2009, at the Gallery de les Fontetes,
Patchwork at the 20st Mostra d’Art
in
To receive an invitation is a
pleasure, but to receive an invitation in acknowledgement of one’s creative
skills is delightfully flattering! In mid-April, I was contacted by my former
patchwork teacher, Inmaculada Farreró,
who is also Editor of the magazine Asociación
Española de Patchwork [Spanish Patchwork Association].
Sra. Farreró knew of the Andorran Patchwork Group,
and she wanted two things: an article about the group for her magazine, and to
ask the group to participate in a two-week long exhibition of patchwork.
Gill Furmston,
the founder and leader of our patchwork group, said yes to both these
challenges. The easy part was producing an article which was then published in
the June 2004 issue of the Spanish magazine. Preparing for the exhibition was
much more demanding because we had very short notice: the opening date had
already been set as 15th. July, 2004.
The title was Primera exposición de Patchworki del Pirineo
[First Exhibition of Patchwork of the
Ana Maria showed us the
setting - the
Given this history, it seemed
particularly appropriate that the first exhibition to be held in the new museum
should be one of patchwork quilting – a branch of handicraft and sewing skill
which is most often (though not exclusively) the work of women. Where the nuns’
small cells had once been was now a single, long room, lined with windows and
with a ceiling of wooden beams: a perfect space, full of light, and ideal for
displaying patchworks.
We reported back to Gill’s
group, and the various members who were not out of the country set about
deciding what work they had ready to show. One of the joys of patchwork is that
it is often made to be given away: to daughters and nieces getting married: to
new grandchildren: to family and friends far away. As soon as a patchwork
quilt, or cushion cover, or cot quilt, or Christmas wall hanging is made, it is
usually carried or posted overseas. This means that although we produce a lot
of work, we rarely have much to hand. Some glorious pieces which deserved to be
exhibited in Puigcerdà were unavailably
covering beds in
Sandra Reid and I delivered
the chosen works; and our patchworks, plus those of Gill Furmston,
Puk Nikolajsen and Sylvia
Morgan, formed part of a total of 74 exhibits by 22 contributors. I went with
Gill, Puk and Alexa
Travers-Dade to the opening ceremony at 5pm on 15th. July which was
not only wonderfully crowded, but also provided with the most copious food and
drink I have ever seen at any ‘first night’.
As foreigners living in
The mayor, the museum director
and the cultural secretary were all so pleased with the event that they have
asked for another patchwork exhibition next year, as well as our participation
in the Puigcerdà Week of Culture in July 2005. We
shall have to start sewing at once – and not give away our creations – if we
are to have enough work to satisfy these official invitations!
What else are we up to? Gill
is keen for the group to have a patchwork exhibition in
Not all husbands understand or
appreciate their wives’ dedication to patchwork – in fact it drives some men
mad! Fortunately, Chris, Sylvia’s husband, is rightly very proud of his wife’s
patchwork skills, so he has gone along to Dilys Fronks’ course as well. Chris has even got so involved that
he has decided on the view that Sylvia should create in fabric - Casamanya seen behind wrought iron. That is togetherness.
I have managed to infect my
husband, Bohdan, with my fascination for fabric (as
important for patchworkers as paint is for artists). Bohdan discovered a Japanese fabric shop in
So, if anyone out there thinks
the patchwork group is just an opportunity for idle women to eat cakes, gossip
and, occasionally, sew a bit – think again. We – egged on by some of our
husbands – are out in the world making quite a stir!
Yours Valerie C. Rymarenko 2007
Sewing is such
a peaceful pastime but the amount of work that seems to evolve from the ladies
of the Patchwork Group is amazing, nothing is too much of a challenge, from
double-bed size quilts, lap and crib quilts, wall hangings, cushions, bags,
waistcoats, faux-chenille, dolls, bears, chickens, the list is endless, not to
mention the quillows, made for friends, children and grandchildren and posted
or carried to all corners of the globe. A quillow is a cushion that opens out
to become a lap-quilt, the patternon the outside is chosen with care, to please
the recipient.
Gracias Miró II Loco
Quilts as exhibited
in
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK AND OTHER RELEVANT PICTURES
Patchwork daytrip to Sitges 12 March 2009
NEWS NEWS! The pictures from the Puigcerda Patchwork exhibition 2005
Click on picture poster to enter 
report by Sylvia
Morgan (click to enter)
The
Blackpool Quilters exhibition September 2006
For further information please
contact:
Gill Furmston Tel: 836060
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