New Contemporary Quilting Group

Contemporary Quilting Group:

Contemporary Quilters of Ireland is a new branch of the Irish Patchwork Society for people interested in the contemporary side of quilting.

It is for those interested in stretching themselves and moving forward in making art through the medium of the quilt and also for those who want to be involved and offer support to the group.

 

The group is still in the early day of being set-up, so we're looking for interested members. If you're interested in joining the group, please click on the link to join the yahoo group (See below or click on the link to the right of the page). Alternatively, you can email Claire Lynch for further details (email address is listed in the Newsletter).

 

Once we get a few more members, we're going to call a meeting and set up a committee, start organising challenges etc.

  
  Click to join cqireland

EQA Exhibition at Festival of Quilts 2012 - Crossroads

  European Quilt Association

EQA Exhibition at FoQ in 2012

The theme of next year's exhibition is: Crossroads
Each country's quilts will be hung together in next year's gallery at FoQ

Some ideas about the "Crossroads" theme:
The roads are crossing our lives- people, events or things crossing your life unexpectedly, and make us enjoy life - meeting people in crossroads, some people stay in your life, some not, but all touch your life in some way. Life is not straightforward: you get sometimes lost or take sideways steps.
Crossroads can be a meeting place where people gather to exchange news about one and others lives. A place where we want to make a decision as to what direction we will follow. 

Rules:
1. Size: 20 x 50cm (7 7/8 x 19 5/8). To be hung horizontally.
2. Edges: free choice of edging treatment (i.e. raw or bound).
3. Any technique may be used but the quilt may consist of three layers. No glass fronted or mounted exhibits will be accepted. Be warned that quilts which are delicate or stiff are difficult to transport safely.
4. The entire collection of "Crossroads" will be launched at the Festival of Quilts in 2012. Some countries may decide to display their quilts from neighbouring countries at their annual general meetings. In this case, these quilts will be returned later than September 2012.
5. All guild members may enter and there is no entry fee. The quilts are not for sale.
6. All quilts must have a 10cm (4 inch) hanging sleeve (with extra fullness to accomodate the rod) sewn 1cm below the top of the quilt and stopping 2cm from each side.
7. The quilts are insured for a nominal sum during the exhibition including transport to and from the FoQ 2012. (Information on transport and insurance for other exhibitions is available from the guild organising the event. Should a quilt be damaged or lost, the EQA member guilds is responsible for compensating the maker).
8. The entry form and photo should reach the International Representative by 31st May 2012.
9. 10 quilts will be selected by each country by 30th June 2012. Any quilts which do not comply with the rules, particularly in terms of size or hanging sleeve, can be rejected on submission.
10. Photos of the quilts may be used for publicity purposes.
11. Every member country of the EQA must provide TEN quilts for this exhibition. If too many quilts are submitted, 10 must be selected in whatever way the guild decides. If too few quilts are submitted, the IR/executive committee of the guild MUST organise the making of the missing quilts.

The EQA entry form and rules are listed on the Forms and Documents section of this blog.

You can find a copy of EQA Crossroads Entry Form and Rules here

International Block Swap

 International Block Swap

Deadline: 31st March 2012

The online magazine Quilt around the World (www.quilt-around-the-world.com) has started a truly ambitious patchwork project – a global quilt block swap.


Invited are patchwork and quilt enthusiasts worldwide, no matter whether novices, occasional quilters or professionals. “We are not organising the patchwork and quilting world championships,” states Jutta Hufnagel, Managing Director of Quilt around the World GmbH. “For us, the main focus lies in the fun of working together with as many quilters from around the world as possible in this multi-national and cross-cultural quilt project.”

The quilters are asked to sew 12 quilt blocks according to their individual taste and quilt mastery. The blocks will then be swapped within internationally mixed teams. In order to achieve a great a diversity as possible there are next to no technique, colour or design restrictions. In the end, every participant will have the makings of a unique sampler quilt containing 12 different blocks from 12 different people around the world.
Participation in the International Block Swap is free. To cover the postage for the return of the individual sets of 12 different quilt blocks 10 € or 15 US$ will be charged. All monies left over will be donated to the humanitarian organisation Médecins sans Frontières (www.msf.org).
The deadline for submitting the 12 blocks is 31 March 2012.





To make this swap work, they need YOUR HELP!
The more blocks from as many different countries as possible, the more interesting this will be for everybody. Participants will be grouped into teams of 12 and the blocks will be swapped within the team. In the end, every participant will have the makings of a unique quilt containing 12 different blocks from 12 different people around the world.

They are hoping that, through this, lots of friendships will be forged around the world. 

How the International Block Swap will be organized:

• Download the PDF flyer and fill in the registration form.
• Send them the form together with your 12 identical blocks measuring 12 1/2“ or 31.5 cm (UNFINISHED size).
• There are no restrictions regarding technique, colour or design. Please use high-quality cotton fabrics, an off-white background and include the colour red.
• The deadline is 31 March 2012.
• In addition, please transfer 10 EUR or 15 USD to cover international postagefor the return of your set of 12 different blocks. The instructions for payment can be found on the back of the enclosed PDF flyer.
• They would also like entrants to enclose 12 picture postcards of your town, area or country with a bit about yourself on the back when you send your blocks. If you want to include your address and or email that’s up to you.
• Beginning on 1 April 2012, teams will be formed to start sending out the block sets and the postcards.
• As soon as the last package has been sent, all monies left over will be donated to Médecins sans frontières (www.msf.org).

Of course everyone will be curious to see your individual results! You can share a picture of your finished swap block quilt (top) by sending it to info@quilt-around-the-world.com where they promise to publish as many masterpieces as we can.
As the first International Block Swap evolves, they will publish pictures of blocks already sent to them, provide inspiration to help you get started, answer questions on any aspect of the swap and whatever else may crop up.
If you haven’t quilted for a very long time, don’t feel intimidated by the rules. You can do this!

National AGM 2012

The Annual AGM of the Irish Patchwork Society took place on Saturday 15th October in the Ambassador Hotel, Co. Cork.

Many thanks to the Cork Branch for organising this year's AGM!

Two nominations for the executive committee were received: from Ritamary Bolton (our new Editor), Bernadette Falvey and Sherry Nugent. Unfortunately, other nominations for the executive committee were thin on the ground on the day, so there are still a number of vacancies on the executive committee.

Internationally renowned quilter Philippa Naylor gave the guest lecture after the AGM. Philippa gave a talk on how she got started in quilting, her years living in Saudi Arabia and how she constructs her award-winning quilts.

The challenge for this year's AGM was to make a miniature quilt. The winner (as chosen by Philippa Naylor) was Mary Palmer. See below for a selection of some of the fantastic entries for this challenge.

Also at this year's AGM, the winners of the Branching Out Exhibtion "Judges Choice" and "Viewers Choice" were announced. Dearbhla O'Reilly (Eastern Branch) was voted the winner of the judges choice for her quilt "Nana's Garden". This quilt also proved extremely popular with visitors to the exhibit at the Festival of Quilts.

Maria Bolton (Eastern Branch) was announced as the winner of the Viewers Choice prize for her quilt "Memories of Glacier".


The AGM 2012 will take place on Saturday 6th October 2012 in the Strand Hotel, Limerick City.

Sew Irish Flickr Group

The Sew Irish Flickr group is a group for Irish based sewers and quilters to join. Whether you're a beginner or  super-experienced, you can join in the fun, share your work and get chatting in the discussions.

Sew Irish Flickr Group

Reminder: IPS National AGM takes place this Saturday 15th October

Just a reminder that the IPS National AGM will be taking place this Saturday (15th October) at the Ambassador Hotel, Military Road, Cork.

Also, international quilting teacher Philippa Naylor will be giving a talk after lunch on her work.