An exhibition of hardanger is currently taking place upstairs of Cheddie’s Carving Studio at Driftwood Haven. The beautiful and talented pieces are the work of Irenee Edwards and Stephanie Carty and include table runners, place mats, napkins, blouses, table cloths, doll’s clothes and centre pieces.

Hardanger is intricate work requiring a great deal of time and patience. The name comes from a place in Norway where it was started when the people made lace collars and trimmings for their national dress. It is a form of openwork and the style involves interesting and unique combinations of flat openwork with dense, raised satin-stitch ornamentation and decorative cross-stitch motifs. It is done on high quality even-weave fabric that shows up the lace-like square openwork to its full advantage.
At the opening there were many local residents and visitors to admire the forty pieces of work. Executive Director of the Anguilla National Trust introduced the two artists. She recalled that Irenee had learnt the basic hardanger in the mid 1970s from the late Miriam Gumbs and has been perfecting her work ever since. She said the exhibition marks Irenee’s 25th anniversary of hardanger production that began as a hobby but which has become a business that receives rave reviews by Anguillians and visitors. She noted that Irenee’s work is known in the USA and Europe and suggested that owning a piece of her work is a secure investment, for the pieces will become family heirlooms.
“Since this is also the 25th anniversary of organized tourism in Anguilla and since it is the tenth anniversary of the Anguilla National Trust, which exists to protect and promote Anguilla’s cultural heritage, I am very, very pleased to introduce Irenee Edwards, the artist,” Christian said.
She then introduced Stephanie who she said was interested in handcraft as a young girl, and in the 1980s her good friend Irenee introduced her to the craft of hardanger and taught her the basic stitches. Both artists have exhibited their work at the Devonish Art Gallery and taken part in the Agricultural Exhibition and other exhibitions mounted by the Anguilla National Creative Arts Association.
The exhibition of exquisite work is certainly worth a visit and most of the pieces are being offered for sale. It is open from 10.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. every week day until March 20.

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