28 October, 2010

Cois Farraige Quilters Exhibition in Inverin


















These photos show just some of the wonderful quilts created by the Cois Farraige Quilters for their October exhibition in Inverin.

Over the October Weekend the members of Cuilteálaithe Chois Fharraige held their 4th exhibition in the Seanscoil in Indreabhán. Over thirty items were shown: from a lovely first exhibit Easter wallhanging by Jennifer Deibel to two older quilts one from 1930 and the other from 1940. IPS member Deirdre Stephens showed a quilt for her son based on a painting by Mondrian and an embellished oak tree piece for her nephew Dara. Deirdre works in the craft workshop of the Brothers of Charity centre in Casla and under her direction, Oliver, Padraig, Brid and Padraig completed a beautiful butterfly wall hanging for the centre .
Butterflies were a bit of a theme as four quilts were shown using the 'Butterfly Fling' range of Fabrics. One of them a first quilt for Tony Murphy..no longer a quilting widower!
Another interesting exhibit from a male sewer was a quilt made in Dublin by Michael Madigan in the 1930's from a tailors' sample book of tweeds and suitings. The cover, not strictly a quilt as it had only two layers, was very heavy and the samples were sewn together in irregular squares and rectangles. It looked great on the bed and was a live example of the Sean-nós song 'Déanfaidh mé Cuilt as mo Bhríste' (I'll make a quilt of my trousers!). Bríd Uí Bhriain borrowed the quilt from family in Dublin but she also brought a quilt her family have used since the 1940's. It was made in Wexford by a neighbour, Ciss Carty, and comprised a courthouse steps pattern in velvets. At this stage it is well worn and weathered: testament to its years of use as a winter warmer. Both quilts endure and would have done great service in last winter's snow and ice.
As a group we had four quilts: a Noah's Ark foundation pieced from the P&Q magazine which we have donated to the local Family Support Centre; a baby panel and a lovely pinwheel child's quilt (hand-quilted by new members Máire Ní Dhomhnaill and Kate Conroy); finally we all worked on a blue sampler quilt. The last three have been donated to Colaiste Colmcille, where we meet each Thursday night, to raffle for school funds.
Mary Ann Curran's foundation pieced 'Snowflakes' was stunning in it's detail and colour; Mary Ann also showed a variation of the Flying Geese, multi-coloured against a honey background.
Anne Marie Horan had a large sampler quilt in red and white: a gift for a Cork-born friend. Jackie O'Toole's 'Jacob's Ladder' in orange and purple lit up the room.
Treasa Uí Fhátharta gave herself the challenge of Sudoku quilt in pinks and purples and Máirín Cadhain completed a monster Braided Log cabin. Two of the quilts were long arm quilted by Frances Conroy in Maam and another was quilted by the women on Inis Oirr, Mná le Chéile, another group who quilt as Gaeilge.
It was a lovely exhibition and gave the members of the group an opportunity to show their work. Once again the Seanscoil was a good venue and this year we had the use of the stands from the Southern Branch IPS which made hanging the exhibition much easier. Next year will be our 5th show: come and visit!
by Anne Marie Horan

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