December Meeting - Christmas Party

The Mid-West branch held their Christmas Party last week, and great fun was had by all who attended. We had the usual great spread of party food.

Party Food

 Lots of the members brought in Christmas themed items for show and tell, which when hung around the room really added to the Christmas spirit.

Mid-West Secretary Valerie Shortt looking at the display

Phyl Awylward gave a demo on making a wall-hanging to hold Christmas cards which was made using large folded prairie point units. 

Phyl giving her demo to members

 In November, Mogs McDonnell from the Galway branch gave a Christmas Nativity workshop. Some of the workshop attendees brought in their wall-hangings from the workshop which looked fabulous.

Completed Nativity wall-hangings from the Mogs McDonnell workshop

The finale of the paper bag swap took place on the night as well. Back in September/October members put three fat quarters in a brown bag along with their name, these bags were swapped around and you had to make something using the fabric in the bag. The presents were opened on the night, so it was a lovely surprise for people to see what had been made using their fabrics.

Paper bag are all displayed on the table before the grand reveal

This was one of the paper bag swap, a table runner made by Phyl Awylward.

Phyl Awylward received a Christmas wreath and embellished book-cover from Kate O'Donoghue.

Deirdre Tracy received a sewing kit (made up of a pincushion, needle book etc).

Liz Stanley got this lovely star unit which was made by Meg Kenny.

Here's Theresa Riordan modelling her bag.

Breda O'Connor received a bag to hold scissors in.

Cecilia O'Doherty got this lovely wall-hanging and sewing thread-catcher/pin-cushion which was made by Deirdre Tracy.

One of our newest members, Breda O'Connor made this fabulous Christmas table runner.

Cecilia also showed two of the tea cosies she had made at the Wednesday night sewing group. 

 Here's some Christmas decorations made by members.

Phyl Awylward made this very funky (pink and leopard-print fabric) cushion for one her nieces. 

Breda O'Connor also showed this Christmas themed chair cover that she made from a tablecloth.

One of the Mid-West members Liz Stanley also finished this lovely quilt and matching cushion. 

Christmas Party Tonight 13th December.

Seasons Greetings to all IPS members. 

The Mid-West Christmas party is taking place this Friday 13th. Door opens at 7.30pm.

Don't forget to bring your completed "paper bag" challenge.

Also, anyone coming tonight should bring a mini-sewing kit (i.e. needle, thread, scissors).

Don't forget to bring some food for the party, and show and tell.

See U there

November Meeting

 Mogs McDonnell from the Galway branch was the guest speaker at our November meeting. Mogs brought a great display of show and tell with her, some of the work was made by her students.

Mogs with one of her wall-hangings

 Here's another quilt by Mogs.

Hexagon quilt

 This quilt was a community project organised by Mogs in Headford, Co. Galway. All the participants appliqued their hand-prints to the quilt. Quilt is on display in a local hall, and is very eye-catching.

Here's Mogs and Cecilia showing some Christmas Nativity Wall-hangings. Mogs gave a workshop on making these wall-hangings on November 9th. 

Some of the show and tell on display at the November meeting

One of Mog's students (Niamh Langan) created this fabulous Doc-Marten quilt which incorporates family photo's.

The Quilt Shop Tuam was our shop on the night. It was the first time that we've had this shop at our meetings, everyone loved the fabric available, so I'm sure we'll be getting Roisin's shop back again soon.
 
At the June meeting, members were given some dolphin themed fabric to create a block with. Here are some of the completed blocks displayed at the November meeting. There was some great creative thinking used to make these blocks, all of them are really original.

Blocks created from summer challenge fabric

Villiers Sewing Night

The Villiers Sewing Night will be taking place on Wednesday night (11th December) as per usual.

After this, the group will be taking a Christmas break so it will be the last sewing night of 2013!

Reminder to pay membership fees

To all IPS members, for insurance and constitutional purposes, those who have attended two meetings since Sept. will need to pay their annual subscription at the next meeting. 

Membership
Individual €40 
family €60 (all children must be from the same household)
student €20