Future Planning of the Irish Patchwork Society

Future Planning:


After a very successful year, the increased awareness of the Irish Patchwork Society and growing membership let us now continue to build on the success of the past 30 years.

We the members, now as a group, need to plan for our future and decide what each one of us would like from this society.

There will be an informal meeting at the AGM and to start the process we would like each branch to appoint two interested members, if possible one long term member and one newer member. This group will then meet around the time of Knitting and Stitching to further develop ideas.

Please discuss your ideas for our future at your branch. All members are welcome to submit their ideas or attend any of the meetings arranged.

Miriam Gogarty

Villers workday

A good group people arrived at Villiers school today for a sewing day. Cecilia was working on a kit quilt in glorious bright colours, Loretta did her hand block for the IFOQI next year. Gillian Killick was continuing her work on a fine hexagon quilt and Gillian Sheehan was working on a paper pieced clock face. Nora brought her fabulous fabric flowers to show. I started cutting my fabrics for this years mystery quilt and started on the half square triangles.
The banter was great, with everyone being very willing to share information and help with advice on design or techniques. Villiers sewing days are open to all our members and I would love to see more people come along to share the camaraderie of the day.
I have got photos, but haven't been able to upload them, apologies.

September 2011 Meeting

Tracy Watson's badge

The challenge for our September meeting was for people to make (and wear) their own ATC-sized name badges on the night. There were some fabulous badges on the night, all made using different techniques and showing everyone's each unique style. A few people forgot to bring their's but have promised to bring them next month.



Kate O'Donoghue's name badge



A number of people also brought in the 10 inch yellow blocks which Paula is going to make up into quilts for the Henry Bear Charity. This is an on-going project, so you can also give the blocks to Paula throughout the year.



Paula Rafferty was our guest speaker on the night. Paula brought a fabulous array of quilts and showed her progression as a quilter - from her first quilts and workshop pieces to series that she is now working on "Elementals". And Paula also brought in her outfits from the Fashion Sans Frontier show that took place in the Festival of Quilts. Paula explained how she came up with the concept of the Winter theme for her outfits and showed her design books with the initial designs. Paula also went through each outfit and explained how they were made e.g. digital printing of the lining of the day-wear coat, fabric painting of the velvet cape, using antlers and a bowler hat to make a feature headpiece etc. I think everyone at the meeting last night really enjoyed this talk.

 September also saw the launch of the mystery quilt challenge for this year. Tracy Watson has designed the mystery quilt for this year. After the success of last year's mystery quilt, it was decided to try another one. This year's quilt is going to work out smaller than last year's one.

Many thanks also to Kilborra Quilt Shop, who came all the way up from Ferns, Co. Wexford to bring their shop. It was lovely to get a new shop at the meeting, and I think everyone enjoyed their choice of fabrics etc. The Kilbora Quilt Shop is located in Kilbora, Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Tel. 087-6512109. The shop is open Wednesday through Saturday 10am to 3pm or ring ahead for other times.  http://kilboraquiltshop.blogspot.com/



Meeting on Friday 9th September

The 1st meeting of the year is on tomorrow night (Friday September 8th).

The meeting kicks off at 8pm so it would be great it people could arrive a bit early to get membership renewals etc. paid. The September meeting is always a busy night with people catching up with all the news from the summer, paying memberships etc.

Our own Mid-West Branch member Paula Rafferty is our guest speaker - she will have her fabulous outfits from the recent Fashion Sans Frontier fashion show at the meeting.

Our shop on the night is the Kilborra Quilt Shop from Ferns, in Co. Wexford.

Challenge on the night is the ATC-sized name badges. Don't forget to bring yours for the meeting!!