Tuesday 14 June 2016

Kathleen's Mediterranean Spread

Last Friday was our branch summer party!  Thanks to all who brought home made goodies for us to enjoy! 

One item proved to be very popular - Kathleen Cleary Brennan's Mediteranean Cheese Spread and she kindly sent it to me to share you all on the blog.
Thanks you Kathleen!

Mediterranean cheese spread

Ingredients:
2 250g cartons cream cheese
2 cloves finely crushed garlic
Pinch salt
1 drained and chopped artichoke hearts
3-4Tbsp chopped black olives
Bunch of green onions,chopped
4oz  chopped sundried tomatoes
Chopped herbs...parsley, chives, oregano,marjoram. I add what is available in the garden!
Method:
Cream the cheese in a bowl and add the rest of ingredients into the mix.
This can be turned into a sandwich filler by adding drained tuna, chopped chicken or ham.

Enjoy the summer.
Kathleen

Details on coach to Festival of Quilts

As mentioned during last Fridays meeting, there are still places available on Kavanagh's bus trip to Birmingham for the festival of quilts.  If you are interested contact Kavanaghs directly.
Tel: +353 (0) 56 8838833/ 086 2765707
www.kavanaghtravel.com

Details are as follows:



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Festival of Quilts
10-14 AUGUST 2016
BIRMINGHAM NEC
ITINERARY
 

Wednesday 10th August
06.30hrs - we will pick you up from Terminal One Car Park, Dublin Port and proceed to our Irish Ferries 08.05hrs ferry to Holyhead.

After arrival in Holyhead we will make out way to Birmingham stopping off in Abakhan Fabrics in Mostyn, where you will find a vast stock of craft, fabric, knitting, sewing and haberdashery accessories – or an alternative stop if there are any new suggestions. On arrival in Birmingham we will check into the hotel for our 4 nights. (B&B). On this first evening there will be a talk given by Mrs Irene McWilliam who is a very distinguished member of the Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild, Northern Ireland Embroidery Guild and the Irish Patchwork Society amongst other things.


Thursday 11th August
After breakfast depart the hotel and travel to NEC to spend the day at the Festival of Quilts before returning to the hotel in the evening.

Friday 12th August
After breakfast we will again depart the hotel and travel to the NEC for another full day at the Festival of Quilts before returning to the hotel.

Saturday 13th August
Today, after breakfast, the coach will depart for a day trip to Stratford upon Avon for a visit to the birthplace of William Shakespeare – see attached sheet for some interesting things to see and do. We will return to the hotel in Birmingham in time for you to freshen up and spend the evening at leisure.

Sunday 14th August
After breakfast we will depart the hotel in Birmingham and return to Holyhead for the afternoon ferry departing at 14.10hrs to arrive in Dublin at 17.25hrs to be dropped off at your original pick-up point.


Cost
€399 per person sharing
€92 single supplement


Price Includes:-
Luxury coach throughout.
Return ferry Dublin – Holyhead.
4 nights hotel accommodation (B&B) (Jury’s Inn, Birmingham)
2 days entrance to Festival of Quilts in NEC.
One day excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare.



DAY TRIP TO STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

Welcome to Stratford-upon-Avon. A town synonymous with William Shakespeare.
However, it is much more than that, a market town with more than 800 years of history containing not only many buildings that survive to day and would have been familiar to Shakespeare, but also a thriving community offering a wide variety of leisure and shopping experiences.

Stratford-upon-Avon is a shopper’s paradise, with a diverse array of shops from Department Stores offering a wide range of choice under one roof, or the big name clothing, health and beauty, toys ans stationery and homeware stores that all sit alongside a fabulous selection of small independent shops, unique to Stratford-upon-Avon. The town centre is compact and easily walkable.

High Street
The black and white Tudor style frontages in this street and the old shop signs give visitors a feel of what the town might have looked like in Shakespeare's time. Rohde Shoes is a High Street shop that has ensured their presence remains in keeping with the old High Street landscape. There is an array of major retailers in this street.

Harvard House - Stratford’s Hidden Gem
The beautifully preserved Elizabethan home built by the wealthy Rogers family has been known K for centuries as ‘the Ancient House’. Harvard House was built in 1596 by wealthy townsman, Thomas Rogers, whose grandson was the main benefactor of Harvard University. Explore the Grade I listed home for a real sense of how wealthy townsfolk lived and see the elaborately carved façade, one of the few remaining beautifully preserved townhouses in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace
William Shakespeare was born in this house and lived here until he was old enough to marry and spend the first five years of family life here with his new wife, Anne Hathaway. For millions of Shakespeare enthusiasts worldwide, this house is a shrine. Here you will discover the world that shaped the man and find out what other famous writers thought when they visited here. Follow in the footsteps of not only Shakespeare, but other well-known visitors such as Charles Dickens, John Keats, Walter Scott and Thomas Hardy. Shakespeare's Birthplace is a fascinating house that offers a tantalising glimpse into Shakespeare's early world.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage & Gardens
Discover where the young William Shakespeare courted his future bride Anne Hathaway at her picturesque family home. Anne Hathaway's Cottage is a thatched farmhouse containing many original items of family furniture, including the Hathaway Bed. It is nestled within stunning grounds and gardens, overflowing with fragrant blooms and traditional shrubs. The cottage is in the hamlet of Shottery, which is just over one mile from the town centre and can be accessed via a pleasant, well sign-posted footpath. Highlights at Anne Hathaway's Cottage & Gardens are the new Tudor Courtship exhibition where you can explore the realities of trying to find a husband or a wife in Tudor times. Seek out the remarkable giant willow creations around the cottage gardens or you can relax in the Cottage Garden Cafe, offering a range of hot and cold meals and refreshments.

Tuesday 7 June 2016

IPS National AGM

The IPS National AGM will be taking place in Kilkenny this year, on the 1st of October 2016 at the Ormomd hotel, Kilkenny.


The theme for the challenge is witches and castles.


The guest speaker is quilt artist Dorothy Russell from Anglesey. You can visit her site here : http://dotrussell.co.uk/




Saturday 1st October:
AGM


Fees:
Full day inclusive: €27.50
Entry to talk only (IPS members): €12. Non-IPS members: €17


Sunday 2nd October
New York Beauty Workshop with Dorothy Russell.
Fee: €65. Deposit of €50 required.


The booking form to be returned with payment in full before 2nd September.