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.