Open the box and out pops a sewing machine!

            NIPG 2015–16 Season Kicks off with …

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Image from Quilting Treasures. (http://www.quiltingtreasures.com/shop/product/church-ladies-quilt/)

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Last year we opened our 2014-15 season with our very own members. Our Guild is packed with industrious and talented people  and we wanted an opportunity to highlight some of our members’ pieces. We left it entirely up to each speaker as to what they want to ‘share’  within a ten to fifteen minute slot.

‘Here come the girls’, this year’s theme…. intriguing!

Last year it was “Favourite Things”.  The four people who stepped up were Esme Edwards, Anne James, Paula Ellis and Helen Heron. It was absolutely fantastic, one of our  best meetings!

Esme Edward's Treasured Machine with Box
Esme Edward’s Treasured Machine with the Magical Box in the background.

Esme Edwards, began by placing  a funny wee black box on the table, puzzling us all at what it contained. What was her favourite thing? Having started her talk by revealing some of her history with sewing and in particular patchwork, we were wondering what could be in this little box. To our delight, she opened the box to reveal the most gorgeous sewing machine. One which she has until recently, used regularly.

How to follow Esme’s opening? Anne James, our present Chairperson, bravely stood forth and enchanted everyone with her manipulated fabric piece, which she had constructed for her City and Guilds.

Manipulated Fabric Piece by Anne James
Detail of Manipulated Fabric by Anne James

We were on a roll – how could our meeting get any better?

Paula Ellis Commissioned Piece
Paula Ellis’s Cushion, depicting Lucky, a special commission.

However, Paula Ellis captivated everyone before she even spoke with her gorgeous cushions.  The variety and skill which she used to create them, had everyone listening to every word and trying to take it all in to replicate at home. The cushion which had been commissioned by proud pet owners, was beautiful.

[After the meeting there were demands that Paula give us a workshop on creating these adorable cushions.

You asked, we answered!

Paula is taking an all day workshop on Sunday 8th November.

Launch of exhibition in Linen Hall
Helen Heron and Michael Longley at the Linen Hall Library for the launch of Helen’s exhibition.

Lastly, and by no means least, Helen Heron treated everyone to a riveting talk, on how she came to create her  piece which celebrating renowned poet, Michael Longley’s poem ‘The Leveret’ written for his grandson.

Helen Heron
Helen Heron’s piece based on Michael Longley’s ‘The Leveret’. With Brenda Powers, Anne James and Angela McCormick
Helen Heron
Helen Heron’s piece based on Michael Longley’s ‘The Leveret’. With Angela McCormick, Helen Heron and Adrienne
Helen Heron
Helen Heron’s piece based on Michael Longley’s ‘The Leveret’.
Hand pieced and hand quilted by Helen Heron

Helen Heron's handpieced appliqued cushion

Helen Heron’s handpieced appliqued cushion

That was a glimpse into last year….

This year is a mystery, so you’ve got to be there to experience it.

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nipatchworkguild

The NIPG, as we are affectionately known, welcomes anyone interested in any aspect of patchwork and/or quilting, in whatever form. Beginner, advanced or in between. The Guild usually meets on the first Saturday of the month in the Parochial Hall of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Co Down, Northern Ireland. Contact us for more information. Meetings open around 10.30 am with tea/coffee for which we charge a small visitor's fee. This is quite informal. The meeting proper begins with 'housekeeping' - various announcements relevant to our members. Often we will have engaged a speaker of note, which is sometimes followed by a workshop/ sew-in. Full day workshops are held on Sundays. We have had speakers and teachers from USA, Germany, Holland, England, not forgetting the excellent people who are locally based. Contact us or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nipatchworkguild for further information.

2 thoughts on “Open the box and out pops a sewing machine!”

    1. Thanks Deb for your kind words. Indeed they did produce some wonderful pieces. Truly the talent that lies within the group is breathtaking and they are so modest too. Shame it’s a bit far away for you to take Paula’s workshop, and she’s such an ethusiastic teacher it will be a great fun. Next month, is a weekend with Irene MacWilliam which should prove really interesting.

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