Summer has begun!

The International Quilt Festival Of Ireland is just around the corner!  In support of the festival, Octagon Quilters of Westport have been busy stitching.  And look at what they have created!  A lovely window box of quilted flowers for the quilted garden.  Be sure you stop by the garden when you're in Galway this June and give their handiwork a closer look!

Cuilteálaithe Cois Fharraige Quilt Exhibition

Seanscoil Sailearna Indreabhán

(3miles west of Spiddal, Co Galway)

Official Opening Friday May 11^th 8pm

Open on Saturday and Sunday 11am-4pm

Fáilte Romhat Isteach

Cuilteálaithe Chois Fharraige began in February 2006 after some patchwork classes in Scoil Sailearna for parents. This is our fifth exhibition and this year we are delighted to include two  quilts, from Brid and Teresa who are part of The Bruach na Mara Craft Group. We also have “Crossing the Divide” a wallhanging completed by participants in the Living Scenes Programme in the Presentation Convent in Galway. This is a programme that involves retired people and transition year students in an educational project together. Of course there are many and varied items made by members of our group as well. We hope you enjoy our work. We meet in Coláiste Colmcille on Thursdays and hold beginners classes each autumn.

If you are in Galway over the weekend why not call out to see us. The Seanscoil is the Old Schoolhouse in Inveran, three miles west of Spiddal on the right hand side of the road.

Hand Applique Workshop

Last meeting's workshop was "hand appliqué" lead by our own very skilled member Marylin Farrell.

After light confusion about freezer paper, what it is and how to use for hand appliqué we flew along, creating our tulips in a vase.

First we stitched down our flower stems (everybody! had them already cut and ironed to size for the class) and we could practise our tiny stitching.

Then we went on and stitched down the flower part of our tulip, learning how to needle turn the seam allowance under as we went along. We learned how to work inside and outside curves and had great fun comparing our stitch size. Not everybody found it easy to aim for 14 to 16 stitches per inch, but, of course, your work looks so much nicer if you do!

And we were very proud when Marilyn complimented us for our invisible stitches.

Before we went home we promised to bring back our finished pieces (or work in progress) back to the May meeting.

I really enjoyed this workshop and will take my tulips as a start to do more hand appliqué.

Many thanks Marilyn!   

Written by Veronika Feldmann

April Workshop: Needle turn applique

At the April meeting of the Western Branch of the IPS, we will be hosting a workshop on needle turn applique.  If you are planning to attend the workshop, please review the supplies list below and bring everything you will need with you:

Fabric (100% cotton, avoid stiff or loosely woven cotton)

• Background fabric - 21 inches by 22 inches, lightly colored solid or tone on tone.  If choosing a print fabric, make sure the background fabric does not overwhelm the applique fabric.
• Stems - green fabric, 3 strips cut on the bias at 1.25 inches wide and 8 inches long.
• Flowers - prints of your choice

Notions

• Embroidery or small fabric scissors.  Tips must be pointed and not round.
• Needles - size 10 or 11 mm or straw needles are best, but sharps will work as well.
• Thread - 100% cotton is best, matching the thread as closely to the color of the stems and flowers and not the background.
• Paper scissors
• Basting thread
• Light and dark marking pencils for the fabric (or lead pencil for light fabric)
• Pencil sharpener
• Needle threader
• Several wooden toothpicks
• Small fabric pins
• Small cutting mat
• Iron and ironing cloth
• 12 inch ruler

Pre-class preparations

• Background should be pre-cut
• Stems: fold bias strip, right sides out (wrong sides of fabric together on the inside) in equal thirds.  Strips should be approximately 1/2 inch wide.  Baste along the middle of the strip (not the edges) and press.

March 2012: Foundation Piecing Workshop with Berni Falvey

Busy hands at work as Berni Falvey took us through the steps of how to foundation piece a 'Snail's Trail' block.

We found it took a bit of concentration to get the pieces in place in the correct order, despite Berni making it look easy!

Now pay attention...Berni shows some additional patterns that are easily achieved with foundation piecing such as 'Flying Geese'.

 By the end of the class we had all produced a block, started another and learned a lot in the process.

Some foundation-pieced samples Berni brought to inspire us.

Thanks Berni for an enjoyable afternoon workshop!

March 2012: Show & Tell

Linda showed this lovely red & white quilt.

 A colourful quilt made on Tuesday mornings at Linda's workshops.

Madeleine completed this wall-hanging with lots of stitching in the foreground and a lovely hand-dyed patchwork background.

Joan and Colette showed us a number of techniques for making 3d fabric flowers for the IQFOI 'my quilted garden' exhibition to be held at the International Quilt Festival of Ireland at NUI Galway this June. For further details on the requirements for this open-call exhibition see www.iqfoi.com.

Another flower idea.

 Monica's tesellation quilt.

Mari showed us some of the Sashiko work she completed at the recent IPS weekend in An Grianan.

Linda showed some Celtic panel fabrics available in 3 colourways at Rags For Linda (see www.ragsforlinda.com). The panels can be used to make quilts, cushions, bags.....or whatever other ideas you can think up. Just in time for all the visitors expected for the International Quilt Festival of Ireland in June!

Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery, Claregalway, Co. Galway

Following an invitation by Galway County Council to Galway craft-makers to organise craft activites in October 2011 for Galway Craft Month, I approached a local landlord of empty retail spaces in Claregalway with a business proposal to create 'Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery' to showcase the work of Galway craft-makers, designers and artists. My idea was to create a space with 4 main activities

·  a gallery selling craft made locally

·  a class-room where local craft-makers could share their skills through offering workshops to the public

·  a studio space where I could work on items for upcoming exhibitions while also giving the public the opportunity to ask questions about the process of creating quilts, wall-hangings and other textile art pieces. 

·  an opportunity for the community to use the space to share their own craft skills in weekly 'drop-in' crafty mornings.

With the support of family and friends I hope I have created a bright welcoming space in the heart of Claregalway where previously there was a dark empty retail space (and sadly there are still a lot of these empty retail spaces all over Ireland). Although initially intended as a 'pop-up' shop for Galway Craft Month, Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery is still operating as I write this article in February 2012.

The project has provided me with 6 months of work in my local community, the opportunity to sell the work of over 40 talented makers in the gallery and invite them to teach in the classroom. During this time it has been a pleasure to be surrounded by beautiful knitwear, felt brooches, children's books, silver and beaded jewellery, stoneware and earthenware pottery, ceramic giftware, fine prints, oil-paintings, hand-made soaps, soft toys and of course patchwork quilts, cushions and wall-hangings and so much more. Over 75% of the work is made in Galway and the local community has responded positively to the selection, quality and value on offer. It has been a real pleasure to see the happy faces of those who attended workshops leave with their own creations.

For more information on the project see www.legracraftstudioandgallery.blogspot.com.

Thanks Giving

On Thursday 24th Nov 2011 Margaret ,Ester and Sally headed to Campbells Tavern, Cloughanover, Headford to celebrate “Thanks Giving”.

There wasn’t a turkey in sight as Willie had given Mogs Mc Donnell free rein of the lounge for the night. We came in on a cold and very windy night to a pub that was full of beautiful quilts and we had one mighty show and tell. All the ladies groups that Mogs works with, showed one beautiful quilt after another. Niamh Langan’s quilt “The Ties That Bind”which was featured on the front of the catalogue (remember the pink doc martins) for the Links exhibition looked great hanging on the wall.Mogs showed us her own lovely work “The Children of Lir” that she made for the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.

Everyone had tea and lovely homemade apple pie and cream to mark the day even the men playing cards were treated to some also.

 Thanks to Mogs for a lovely  “Thanks Giving”.

Written and Photographed by Margaret Cunnane.

January Meeting and IQFOI Sewing Bee

The Western Branch of the IPS met most recently on the 14 January 2012.

We had a very educational meeting that all members enjoyed. Our guest speaker was Elaine Dobell, a physical therapist, who discussed several helpful points to keep our back and joints healthy while quilting. Thank you, Elaine!

Our shop this month was Seams Sew Simple by Lynn Naughton. As it is a new shop, we were all very excited to see what fabrics she would bring with her. We were not disappointed!

The Western Branch IPS members brought with them their completed quilts for show and tell. They were all beautiful!

Following Elaine’s presentation, the members creating IQFOI panels gathered for a sewing bee to work together on their panels. Members interested in sewing for the afternoon, but without panels, began making quilted flowers for the IQFOI garden.

Our next meeting is 11 Feb when our guest speakers will be the Athone group who will give us a show and tell. Again, the afternoon will hold a chance for IQFOI panel sewing, so bring your supplies!

Next month we will hold a New York Beauty Workshop hosted by Tracy Wilson on 12 Feb 2012. For the workshop, you will need to bring the following materials and supplies:

Fabric: bring a couple of fat quarters of your background fabric, plus a variety of scraps at least 3.5 inches wide. Include complimentary and contrast colors.

Thread

Sewing machine (and knee lift if you have one)

Scissors (fabric and paper)

Pins

Rotary cutter

Ruler

Cutting mat

Iron and ironing board

Thin paper or tissue paper for piecing foundation

Sticky paper tape

Pencil

Extension lead

The instructor will also have handouts, block designs and extras. Each pack will cost 5 euro in addition to the cost of the workshop (25 euro).

Welcome to 2012!

Welcome back everyone after the Christmas holidays. Our January meeting takes place on Saturday 14th.

Guest speaker: Elaine will talk about exercises for quilters!
Shop: Lynn Naughton will bring her shop 'Seams Sew Simple'
Workshop: Stay for an afternoon sewing our panels for the Western Branch display at the IQFOI and/or 3D flowers for the Quilted Garden display at the IQFOI.

Requirements List for February Workshop "New York Beauty" with Tracy Watson

Photo shows Tracy with a bag made from "New York Beauty blocks".

Here is the materials list for the New York Beauty Workshop in February (Sunday workshop).

For the workshop you will need to bring the following:
Fabrics - a couple of fat quarters in the colour you want as background, plus a variety of scraps from which you can get long strips of at least 3.5 inches wide. Include complimentary and contrast colours.
Piecing thread
Sewing machine - if you have a knee lift please bring it as it can be quite useful, don't worry if you don't have one.
Normal sewing kit, including fabric scissors, pins, rotary cutter, small rotary ruler and cutting mat
Iron and ironing pad.
Thin paper or tissue paper for piecing foundation.
Sticky paper tape / drafting tape.
Fabric and paper scissors.
Soft pencil

Extension lead

I am not sure what time you run your workshops over, but I would normally expect to run this over 10am to 4pm.I also prepare a pack of handouts, block designs and extras, but the extra printing and copying does mean I have to charge and extra €5 per pack.

Quilting Bee at Campbell's Tavern, Cloughanover, Headford on Thursday 24th November

Photo shows Mogs McDonnell at the Western Branch exhibition 'Branching Out' in the Galway City Museum in April 2011, with her quilt 'Up the Garden Path' which was voted 'viewers choice'.

Our own Mogs McDonnell will host a 'Quilting Bee' at Campbell's Tavern, Cloughanover, Headford this Thursday 24th November at 8.30pm. All quilters, quilt-lovers and those interested to learn more about the craft are welcome.
There will be a 'show and tell' so bring along your quilts, old, new and in-progress.
It promises to be a lovely evening of quilting, chat and good company!

News about upcoming meeting on November 12th

Our monthly meeting in November takes place on Saturday 12th at 10.00.

Guest Speaker: Agnes Warren will talk about technology for quilters. Agnes will look at the various resources online to help quilters (where to buy supplies, where to download free patterns, where to find forums and blogs of special interest to quilters). For those who are a bit technology-shy....this will be an easy to understand tour of the internet and a chance to ask all those questions you've been meaning to ask.

Shop: Theresa will visit from Limerick with her selection of fabrics, threads and other supplies.

Workshop: Our original planned workshop with Marilyn (appliqué) has been postponed as our meeting date is the same time as the Knitting and Stitching Show at the RDS in Dublin and so a large number of members will miss the opportunity to participate in the workshop. Instead we will have a quilting bee for all those working on panels for the International Quilt Festival of Ireland. Bring along the panels and we will all help each other with the zigzag stitching.

Notice: Jim West has been in touch to remind us that he is eager for individuals and groups to create 3D flowers for 'My Quilted Garden' at next year's International Quilt Festival of Ireland. See http://www.iqfoi.com/exhibits.html for more information.

October: Quilting Bee to create 20 quilts for the International Quilt Festival of Ireland in June 2012

In the afternoon a number of members stayed to participate in the 'quilting bee' where we work together as a group on a project. Our current group project is to make 20 panels for a display of our work at next year's International Quilt Festival of Ireland. It was a busy afternoon, tracing around templates, cutting out appliqué pieces. ironing bondaweb in place, cutting wadding and background fabric. But it was worth it....we're on our way to making a special display for next June's festival!

October: Show and Tell

Every month brings a selection of quilts completed by members and October was no exception.

Mari proves that the back of a quilt can also be exciting in design. This is the back of a quilt made for her daughter.

Margaret shows a knot-work quilt she completed.

Sandlin shows a a stunning 'trip around the world' quilt.

A beautiful nine-block quilt by Marie McPhilips.

The front of Mari's quilt for her daughter.

Welcome back to Jackie Mackey with this beautiful quilt.

And a second intricately stitched piece.

Margaret shows the completed quilt made by the beginner's class last year which was raffled amongst the participants.

October Guest Speaker: Ann Fahy

Ann Fahy is a Western Branch member who has had many years of experience and has developed her own style over the years.

Lynn and Mari help to show some of Ann's more recent work.

Ann (centre) shows a series of innovative, colourful quilts with holes.

Ann's quilts are often displayed overlapping eachother which allows the layers and colours to interact.

Ann's earlier quilts, although more traditional in techniqe still showed Ann's interest in creating her own designs from an early stage.

A big thank you to Ann for a very interesting talk with a fantastic display of beautiful work spanning 30 years of innovative quilt-making. It was an inspiring morning at our October meeting!