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!

September: Quilting Bee

After our meeting in September a number of members stayed for a 'quilting bee' to work on the blocks for the Céad Míle Fáilte quilt which will welcome visitors to the International Quilt Festival of Ireland (see www.iqfoi.com) which will take place in June 2012 at the NUI campus, Galway.

September: Show and Tell

As usual there were lots of wonderful projects completed over the summer months and so we had a vibrant show & tell of quilts at the September meeting.

Linda McMulkin had these two quilts to show how to make use of those 'jelly-rolls' (strips of coordinated fabrics).

Jackie O'Toole showed this wonderful bargello quilt.

Lynn showed her completed painted wall-hanging using techniques learned from Design Matters TV.

Sandlin has been busy making baby quilts!