Madeira’s Embroidery Workers Honoured

In Search of Hope – by Sam Gannon

Seconded to the parish of Tililngdon, the Reverend Dolores has been presented with a challenge.

She’s living in an antiquated house and she’s cold. Furthermore, her new Bishop, Bishop Alice does not approve of ‘showgirls in dog collars.’

Determined to prove the Bishop wrong, she sets about warming her house – who cares if it smells of horse! There is the crochet club, jumble sale, and soup run to organise. And this year, the church bells will ring, no matter what threats are made. Even more so, the newly formed choir will spread a little joy this Christmas, even though they can’t sing – yet! And with a little help from Phil, her bassist, this year could be full of magic.

However, she has a fight on her hands as the townies out in Knob Hill – she must stop calling it that, are trying to stop her from ringing her bells. When Krystal with a K decides to do some volunteer work, Dolores sets out to see just how committed she really is.

Up to her ears in granny squares and squawking choristers, Dolores is revving up for Christmas, yet a deeper darker secret is beginning to emerge!

A secret that could blow the whole parish apart and put Dolores in danger.

(available from Amazon)

The Madeira Institute of Wine, Embroidery and Handicrafts (IVBAM), in partnership with the Barceló Funchal OldTown Hotel and the Adoro.Ser.Mulher Association, which promotes and boosts female entrepreneurship, pays tribute to the island’s Embroiderers in an event that will take place on the 8th of March as part of Women’s Day. The event will start at 5:00 p.m. at the Barceló Funchal OldTown Hotel.

According to the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Environment:

“At 17:00, at the hotel reception, there will be the opening of an exhibition on ‘Madeira Embroidery’ and the intrinsic connection that exists between this art and the flower, since the flower is the main source of inspiration for Madeira Embroidery. It is the Madeira Embroidery that makes the flower eternal, in the design, in the fabric, in the guarantee of the passage from generation to generation, and in the memories that last in time.” This exhibition is composed of a set of triptychs, where Madeira Embroidery applied to table and beach linen stands out, being authored by IVBAM.

The opening of this exhibition will be attended by the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Agriculture, Rafaela Fernandes.

This will be followed, at the Atelier Coffee Bar, by the Extraordinary Women Conference, which highlights the IVBAM Embroiderers and the invaluable work of these women in the pursuit of this centenary art. The panel of speakers includes the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Agriculture, Rafaela Fernandes, Firmina Abreu, home embroiderer, Maria Bernardete Gonçalves, from Gês Bordados, and Karla Vieira, fashion designer. This conversation will be moderated by Marisa Santos, Member of the Board of Directors of IVBAM.

From 18:00 – 23:00, there will be a Market with regional brands that have promoted and used Madeira Embroidery in their creations, such as As Marias, Bordadeira, Bailha, and Misa.Handmade and other brands that have reinvented wicker and tapestry such as Bica Larica, Wicker_it, and Maui&Sucri.

Samantha Gannon

info at madeira-weekly.com

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