National Exhibition of Quilts: Buildings, Bricks & Blocks

A reminder to all quilters that the National Exhibition of Quilts, an exhibition hosted by the Irish Patchwork Society, is now open for viewing.  The exhibition runs from 2-12 October from 10AM to 5PM at:

Istabraq Hall
Limerick City Council
City Hall
Merchants Quay
Limerick

The official opening of the exhibition is tonight, the 5th of October, beginning at 7:30PM.  There is no admission fee and all are welcome to attend.

For more information, please visit www.irishpatchwork.ie or midwestpatchwork.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

Don't Miss Out On The AGM!

It's that time of year again!  Don't miss out on your chance to attend the IPS Annual General Meeting.

The IPS AGM will take place on Saturday 6 October 2012 in the Strand Hotel in limerick.  This year's speaker is Annette Morgan, a UK based quilt book author and instructor.

There will be two one-day workshops on offer following the meeting: 

Sunday 7th October: Textured Dimensions

A day's adventure into the world of texture.  Using soldering irons, hot air guns and free motion embroidery, you will combine plastics and paints to make a stunning panel for framing or mounting. 

Monday 8th October: 3D Freestyle Applique

Learn how to make a quick quilt background and then add the free-shape applique pieces to make an individual hanging. 

Additionally, the Strand Hotel will offer sewing space on Sunday, so bring your current projects to work on!

The fee to attend the AGM is 25 euros including attendance at the lecture and your lunch.  To attend the day long work shops as well s the AGM, there is a 65 euro fee.  

Do not forget that the National Exhibition 2012 is held from 1st - 12th October, so it it worth arriving in Limerick a bit early.  The exhibition, called Buildings, Bricks and Blocks, is at the Istrabraq Hall within the City Hall of Limerick City Council on Merchant's Quay in Limerick city.  The exhibit is open from 10AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday with the official opening on Friday 5th of October.  

Contact the Strand Hotel directly to secure the IPS special rate for the AGM.  The hotel is offering 2 nights B&B and 1 evening meal in the River Restaurant at 199 euro per person sharing (or a single supplement of 40 euro).  Or, if you want to come for only one night, you can opt for a B&B room at 50 euros per person sharing, or 90 euro for a single person. 

For more information, consult your summer newsletter or visit the IPS website.

"Branching Out" National Exhibition photos in Irish Times Healthplus

Photos above show IPS member Maria Bolton demonstrating patchwork techniques to children visiting the National Exhibition at the Botanic Gardens. The photos appeared in an article about activities for children during the summer in the Irish Times Healthplus supplement on 12th July.

Western Branch visits 'Branching Out' at the Botanic Gardens

Our bus left Galway at 8.15am on Saturday 9th July to travel to the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin for the National Exhibition.
Tea, coffee and buns were very much welcomed on arrival! Then we had plenty of time to see the exhibition which included a great variety of techniques, sizes, colours, styles, themes, fabric choices. There's something to appeal to everyone here.
Lunch in the restaurant was delicious. And to finish off we stopped at Liffey Valley for some shopping before returning to Galway. A great day out!

These are just some of the pieces made by Western Branch members which were included in the show.

A catalog of the exhibition was for sale (5Euro) and includes photos of all the quilts.

Fabric postcards were sent to the exhibition from all over the world and these are also displayed.

The exhibition runs until 2nd August. If you cannot get there some of the work will be shown again at the IPS stand at the Knitting and Stitching Show at the RDS in Oct/Nov 2011.

Bus-trip to 'Branching Out' the National Exhibition at the Botanic Gardens, Dublin

Western Branch quilters are off on a road trip!
On 9th July we will meet at the Galway Cathedral carparkat 8.15am. The bus will make a second stop to pick up Roscommon quilters in Athlone on the way. It will then take us directly to the Botanic Gardens to view the National Exhibition 'Branching Out', followed by lunch at the cafe in the Gardens. The bus will stop at Liffey Valley for a short break and leave Dublin at approx 6pm to return to Galway.
Cost of the trip, including lunch, is 25Euro. Contact Joan Colleran for further information.

Jackie O'Toole posts her postcard for the National Exhibition at the Botanic Gardens

Jackie O'Toole has just posted this fabric postcard for the National Exhibition "Branching Out". We hope you are working on a postcard too! See the IPS Magazine for instructions on how to construct a fabric postcard.