Jenni in London: 5. Alsace Loves Quilts Too

The wonders of Alsace never cease to amaze. First we find it to be the birthplace of Gregorian Chant, and now we discover they are taking the credit as the birthplace of quilting. Only the Michelin guidebook goes that far in its claims, but the birthplace of Amish quilting is certainly in Alsace. The Zwingli branch of the Protestant Reformation created the Anabaptist movement which rejected infant baptism in favour of adult baptism after a confession of faith, and they also embraced the principles of non-violence. Controversial beliefs always led to persecution during this chaotic period, and many Anabaptists moved into the Val d'Argent of the central Vosges where they were welcomed by the local land owner. In 1693, in the town of Ste-Marie-aux-Mines, Swiss preacher Jacob Amman gathered believers into a new sect who wished to live by their own interpretation of Biblical principles, and they were referred to as the Amish. A century later, the Amish began moving to Pennsylvania when the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars which followed threatened their non-violence principles with forced conscription.

For nearly twenty years the town of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines has held a quilt show — billed in some places as Europe's largest quilt show — with exhibitions spread across venues in public and private spaces across the town and in two neighbouring villages in the valley. Each venue featured quilts from different countries, different teachers, different competitions, or different collections. This is a small selection of interesting quilts.

An Exhibition from the States was the collection from Ohio's Quilt National 2011

Solveig
Mary Beth Frezon
U.S.A.

Cross My Heart
Judy Martin
Canada

Werekata moon
Pamela Fitzsimmons
Australia

Compatability
Pat Budge
U.S.A.

The wonderful French quilting magazine Quiltmania sponsored a collection of antique chintz quilts from the States (POOS Collection belonging to Kay Triplett). They are mostly dated from the first half of the 19th century and are in superb condition.

The highlight of the day was an extraordinary collection of Amish quilts from the collection of Frenchman Jacques Légeret who lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana Amish communities, wrote down their stories for several books, and bought the quilts he was offered.

The local quilters of Val d'Argent filled a whole church with beautiful work. Much of it was on the theme A Journey to the Heart of the Forest, most appropriate to their forested valley. I could not catch the names of all the quilters who contributed to the display.

Feuilles Mortes
Huguette Buecher
France

Jolie Découverte
Evelyne Latrouche
France

Fougeres
Andrée Louzy
France

Mélange et Déclinaison
Les Amies du Mardi
France

Au Coeur de la Foret
Marie Claire Meyer
France

Bernina sponsored quilts from the members of the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)

If Leaves Were Blue
Priscilla Kibbee
U.S.A.

Aurifil Threads sponsored an exhibition of work featuring architecture

NYC la Nuit
DAMSS
Italy

Monique Gilbert, a Belgian quilt teacher, exhibited the works of her students who were asked to interpret the work of artist Paul Van Hoeydonck in a project for her Crossroads Group