Irish Patchwork Society


AN GRIANAN 2010


There are still some places available in classes to be taught by our visiting International Teachers for our weekend 12th/14th Feb. Take this opportunity to learn from Ferret and Ineke Berlyn. (More information on these teachers may be found on www.inekeberlyn.com and www.ferfab.com) There are also spaces available with our Irish teachers.

We are also offering a special price for those of you who might like to work on your own projects. It is wonderful to have time set aside to work undisturbed on something you need to finish.
Accommodation plus lecture by Ferret on Friday evening €195.00

For those of you who wish to come to Workshops and Lecture but who can easily travel to and from home to An Grianan we also have a special offer.
Workshop – all day Saturday 13th and Sunday morning 14th and Lecture – Friday 12th - €100.00
If you are availing of this offer, you can arrange and pay for any meals required with staff at An Grianan.

Non members can also attend An Grianan. Cost is €295.00
which will include membership of the Society until September 2010

An Grianan February 12th- 14th February 2010 International Teachers

It's time to book yourself into a workshop for the 2010 IPS weekend at An Grianan.There's something for everyone from beginner to advanced classes. Choose from two international artists, Ferret and Ineke Berylin, or several Irish tutors. All the information you need is in the latest IPS newsletter, so go on treat yourself.

IPS Success at Bloom in the Park

Bloom is a very large Garden Festival which is held in the Phoenix Park on the June bank holiday weekend.It is run by An Bord Bia and this year attracted 58,000 visitors.Look at www.bloominthepark.ie for more information.this year the IPS was represented in the Crafts Council of Ireland section along with many other crafts.The stand was extremely busy and was manned by volunteers all weekend.There was a great mix of traditional and contemporary quilts on display, sarah Boran's Sun Bonnet Sue being a particular favourite. Maria Bolton's felt shapes were very popular, hundreds of felt shapes and colours which could be made into patterns and designs. Nearly 20 new members joined the Eastern Branch as a result of the Stand.So well done to the many people who made it possible.

Events and Exhibitions over the Summer

Event: National AGM & Conference
Irish Patchwork Society AGM for members will be 3rd October hosted by the South Western Branch followed by workshops on Sunday 4th & Monday 5th given by Yvonne Brown. (www.yvonnebrown.co.uk) Membership of the society will be open at all branches at their September meetings - see what's happening for dates and venues of branch meetings.
Date: 3rd to 5th October
Time: see website
Location: Manor West Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry
Event 2: Purple in the Park - an exhibition of Contemporary Textile Art by '04 Textile Group (This is a group of City and Guild graduates of 2004 mainly from Eastern Branch of the Irish Patchwork Society).
Date: 6th July to 30th July 2009
Time: Monday - Sunday 10am - 5pm.
Location: Visitors' Centre in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

South Western Branch
Event: Exhibition of local Textile Art and Patchwork
Date: Summer 2009 (see south western website for details)
Time: (see south western website for details)
Location: Phoenix, Shanahill, East Keel, Co. Kerry.


Other Events that would be of interest to members of Patchwork Society
Tinahely Show - Family day out on 3rd August where previously an excellent patchwork and quilting competitions have been held – for details see www.tinahelyshow.ie/ or email tinahelyshow@eircom.net Mary Byrne, Show Secretary (0402) 34922

Lakeland Quilt Fair - two weeks of workshops hosted at the Cavan County Musuem in Ballyjamesduff from 4th - 24th September. Further information from them on 049 8544070 - http://www.cavanmuseum.ie/

Hands Across the Border Exhibition 2009

The Irish Patchwork Society and Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild joint exhibition, Hands Across the Border - A Journey is now available in our virtual exhibition space.



Visit 'Hands Across the Border - A Journey' exhibition.

President Mary Mc Aleese opened this Exhibition at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin on Wednesday 25th of February. It was then on display in the Flowerfields Art Centre, Portstewart in June.

For further information on your nearest IPS branch please visit our branch web sites.

Susie Long Hospice Fund Bag Sale/Fun Day

BAG SALE/FUN DAY in aid of the Susie Long Hospice Fund

On Saturday 25th April 2009 the SM IPS branch held a Bag Sale/Fun Day.
Patchwork bags were made by members of the Irish Patchwork Society and were sold in aid of the Susie Long Hospice Fund. There was also a big raffle, tombola, face painting for children and free balloons.The day went perfectly and there was soon a mad rush of customers wanting to buy the bags. After a busy few hours of selling and doing the raffle the day ended with practically everything sold.The branch sends a special thank you to Margaret McEvoy for her hard work in making the day so successful and to all members who attended the day to either help or to buy.
The amount raised to date is €6700 with a bit of extra money due in.

For more information on what the South Midlands Ladies are up to, check out their blog at
southmidlandsips.blogspot.com

Extract from a letter circulated by Katie Doyle Elliot to all Branches:

Hello Fellow Patchworkers,

During my recent visit to Ontario, I met up with Suzanne and Garnet in Alsia Craig. They are very excited to host the Quilts from Ireland Show in October. I brought home a few posters to share with all of you, so you could see how the show is being advertised in Ontario......It was weird to see all of your quilts in their shop ..... They are doing trunk shows to the different guilds to get the word out about the show.

Results are in for the Viewers choice of the "Hands Across the Border" exhibition. Over 2,000 viewers' choice slips were counted and the winner was Paula Rafferty with her Elementals Quilt series.

The Executive would like to send a heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who make all these exhibitions possible. A lot of people very generously give up precious time to organise, hang and man all these wonderful exhibitions and we are all grateful.

Hands Across the Border Exhibition Opening

Hands Across the Border Exhibition Opening
Wednesday 25th February 2009
President Mary Mc Aleese opened this Exhibition at the National Botanic Gardens on Wednesday 25th of February. Earlier the President had studied the quilts closely as Maria Bolton, IPS Vice Chair, explained the inspiration behind some of them. As a quilter herself, President Mc Aleese appreciated all the work and dedication that had gone into the quilts on show. IPS Chair Breege Watson, NIPG Chair Margaret Mehaffey and Peter Wyse Jackson, Botanic Gardens Director accompanied the President.
After her private tour of the exhibition, the President addressed a full auditorium and congratulated the exhibitors and stressed how much in awe she was at their creativity and talent.
Margaret Mc Evoy presented a bag to the President as a reminder of the event.
If you were not fortunate enough to see the Exhibition in the Botanic Gardens, their will be a second opportunity to visit it in the Flowerfields Art Centre, Portstewart from June the 1st to the 19th when the Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild will host the Exhibition, visit http://www.nipg.org.uk/ for more information

Hands Across the Border Exhibition

Title: President Mary McAleese Launches “Hands Across the Border” Patchwork Exhibition

President McAleese is set to launch the “Hands Across the Border” exhibition in the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin on Wednesday February 25th. The exhibition which is held every two years, is named in honour of the co-operation between the Irish Patchwork Society and Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild, and will display the work of its members to the public Thursday 26th February until Sunday 15th March from 10am until 4pm each day.

The view of the Botanic Gardens from the Visitor Centre will be the perfect environment for the variety of work ranging from traditional to contemporary that will be on display. The theme for this exhibition is “A Journey”, which was inspired by President McAleese’s journey in her role as President of Ireland. Those exhibiting will be using their own personal journeys through life, for inspiration in designing their quilts. As the quilts are made from those expressing their individual memories, each quilt will be different and tell its own story.

Among the exhibitors this year, Ann Fleeton, an Irish Patchwork Society member will be displaying a piece of her work. Ann is a textile artist from Dublin, with training as a geologist and has had her work exhibited worldwide. A strong passion for the study of art history influences her work in both colour and texture. A huge achievement for her was winning the Overall Award of Excellence and California Gold Medal in the Royal Dublin Society Annual Crafts Competition. A well known Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild member, Irene McWilliams will also be displaying her work. As a freelance lecturer, her style consists of free machines and experimenting with new decorative techniques. Many of her pieces incorporate text, often almost hidden, so will no doubt be fascinating to view.

This is a special exhibition and will allow its visitors to celebrate and bask in the creativity by all those involved. It will not disappoint those who come with high hopes to see the talent that will be shown through the quilts.

We hope to see you there!

For further information on the exhibition, please email the Irish Patchwork Society at admin@irishpatchwork.ie

Celebrating 20 Years of the EQA

The Irish Patchwork Society is a member of the European Quilting Association along with other patchwork and quilting groups from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden United Kingdom. Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, Hungary and Iceland.

Today the member countries of the European Quilt Association work closely together to promote patchwork and quilting in Europe. The EQA aims to bring quilters from different countries together to get to know each other and to exchange knowledge and skills. At present there are about 62,000 members.

2009 is the 20th anniversary of the EQA and the IPS will be submitting 10 quilts with the theme 'Celebrations', to a European exhibition. These 170 banner quilts will be launched at the Festival of Quilts in August 2009. IPS members can get more details in their Winter 2008 newsletter.

For information on how to join the IPS, visit our website.

Exhibition of Quilts from Ireland in Canada 2009

The third annual quilt exhibition in Ailsa Craig, Ontario, Canada will feature quilts from Ireland. The exhibition organisers will be attending the eastern branch meeting at St. Anthony’s Hall, Clontarf on Saturday 24th January at 10.00 a.m. Members of all branches are invited to attend this meeting to hear more their plans for the exhibition, the venues and format.
If you are interested in travelling to Canada in October to help with the exhibition, then this is your opportunity to find out more.

In 2008, the exhibition featured Quilts from East Africa.

Please visit the eastern branch site for more details on this and on a workshop on the 25th of January.