Monday 21 October 2013

IPS National AGM

The IPS National AGM took place this year on Saturday 19th October in the Tower Hotel, Waterford. This was the first time that the South-Eastern branch hosted the National AGM, and a lot of members (including Mid-West members) travelled to Waterford to support them. There was a great turnout at the AGM, 83 people in total, which is probably a record for IPS AGM's.

Italian EQA rep Pia Puonti was the guest speaker, so she gave a talk and slide show after lunch.


The AGM challenge this year was to make small quilts for a neo-natal unit for a hospital in Waterford. The Mid-West branch had a number of entries for this challenge.

Nursery Quilt by Phyl Awylward

Made by Valerie Shortt using some of the June Summer Challenge fabric

Made by Valerie Shortt

Kate O'Donoghue



October Meeting

The October meeting was fun evening, with a great turn-out on the night. There was a great array of quilts for show and tell.

Some of the quilts on display at the Oct. meeting

 Caroline Brouder and her friend (sorry have forgotten her name) are sewing together and producing lots of lovely work.

 Caroline with a quilt created from upholstery samples.

Marella Maloney with her quilt created using Edwina Mackinnon's "Cut and Come Again" technique. Looks great framed with the black fabric, it really pops the colours!

Another lovely quilt from Marella.

Liz Scallon with a beautiful butterfly cushion.

Here's a new branch member Breda O'Connor with her sewing machine cover. 

Gillian Sheehan brought in a number of items for show and tell. First she made this lovely lap-top bag using batik fabrics.

Here's a cushion created by Gillian.
 
 
Quilt by Gillian Sheehan


Meg Kenny showed this art work she created as a commission for a client. 



Chris and Rebecca Palmer are teaching a sampler quilt class, they're both making a quilt in a different colour-way. Here's Chris's version.
Chris Pamer



The guest speaker at our October meeting was Madeline Jordan from the Western Branch.

Madeline gave a fantastic talk, in fact she was one of the most entertaning speakers we've ever had! She spoke about how she got started in quilting, her projects throughout the years etc. Madeline is a like a human dynamo,and has produced loads of quilting projects throughout the years. Everyone was amazed with her productivity!
Madeline with her Cu na Mara quilt
 Madeline showed this lovely quilt which is based on the Cross of Cong and explained about the research that had gone into creating it.
Madeline's quilt based on the Cong Cross

Here's Madeline and her daughter-in-law showing a wall-hanging.




Rags for Linda was the guest shop on the night.

September Meeting

Nikki Foley from the Sewing Shed gave a talk on how she got started in quilting.

Nikki showed her fabric design boards
Quilt by Nikki Foley

There was lots of show and tell on the night. There's always lots of great projects finished over the summer months.

Here's some of the work that Mid-West Branch members have been working on. The tea cosys and cushions at the back of the photo were made at the Wednesday nights sewing group.




A few years ago, one of our long-term members Nancy Doyle passed away. Nancy left a number of unfinished quilts behind, so her sister Kathleen Sheehy has been completing some of these projects.

 Here's Kathleen and Valerie Shortt (Nancy's daughter) with Nancy's finished quilt.
Valerie Shortt and Kathleen Sheehy with Nancy Doyle's finished quilt
Kathleen also finished off this pineapple block table runner.

 


Kathleen Cleary Brennan also completed this lovely sampler-style quilt with Autumnal type colours
Quilt by Kathleen Cleary Brennan

Wall-hanging by Katherine.

 Phyl O'Dwyer (one of our Tipperary ladies) made this lovely vibrant quilt.

Claire Lynch showed her quilt. This quilt was a Mystery Quilt project done by the Mid-West branch a few years ago. 
Mystery Quilt by Claire Lynch
Back of the mystery quilt
 Maker to be identified.

One of our younger members Isobel Bingham brought in a hexagon quilt that she has started. Isobel intends to make a hexagon quilt for her junior certificate project.
Isobel with the start of her hexagon quilt

Rebecca Palmer has been running quilt classes for children in Caherconlish. Her students have been producing great work and some of them have won prizes in local fairs/exhibitions. Here's one of her students with some of her completed projects.
Rebecca Palmer student with her bird wall-hanging

Bird wall-hanging

Chinese Dragon wall-hanging created by a Rebecca Palmer student