Category: Quilting Guild Meeting.

Welcome to Alysn Midgelow-Marsden, Textile artist who joins us on Nov 3rd.

IMPORTANT!

Our next meeting and the afternoon workshop- Saturday 3rd November – will be in St. John’s, Orangefield Parish Church, on the Castlereagh Road in Belfast.  10:00 for 10:30 start.

Sunday workshop will take place in Knock Golf Club   Council Room and we are grateful to them for accomodating us on short notice.

Here’s a  message from our Chair, Paula:

To all members,

I was on holidays last week and got an email to say no power or water at the museum this weekend  

So there are further changes to the venues 

Saturday as I think you all know is at ST JOHN’S on the Castlereagh  road Belfast BT56AB also the 

workshop in the after noon [possibly  a few places left ]

Sunday will be at Knock Golf Club 657 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast,  BT4 3NT

I am a long time member and they  kindly offered me the council room for our workshop. They are not charging us. 

So all going to the workshop where possible bring your own iron, iron mat or board. If possible bring a bag which can be taped to the table to catch threads, and keep the room as clean as possible.

If you have an extension lead can you bring also.  Tea and coffee can be bought from the kitchen, I can also organise sandwiches for lunch or you may choose from  the lunch menu.

Total numbers for this workshop will be twelve, so I think there are a very few places left.

NO GOLF GEAR NEEDED OR CALLS OF FOUR !!!

Alysn Midgelow-Marsden who will be delivering the workshops, is an exciting talent working within fine art textiles. Here’s what she says:

 

My artworks include outdoor sculptural works, wearable art and installation in addition to work for walls in domestic and professional settings.

A scientific background, a continuing interest in the natural environment is often combined with a fascination about the traditions of widely differing cultures, times and connections to or shared human existence are core to my practice.

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Crown Jewels Gone Mad – Alysn Midgelow-Marsden

Lots more to discover about her and what is needed for the workshops in the  Workshops and Requirements  section of this website.

 

More News

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The “In Print” Contemporary Quilt exhibition in the Curve, Bangor Library, finished on Oct 30th.

Here’s a wonderful photo from The Spectator of the Opening Night. The inimitable Mary Peters with our own Irene MacWilliams and Margaret McCrory.

 

 

World of Colour

 

 

 

The Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild has an exhibition is next up in the Curve, Bangor Libry.

A stunning exhibition from the NIPG (even if we say so ourselves!)

A splash of colour to brighten up the dark November days.

You have the whole of November to view it – library hours only.

 

 

Jenny Hayne

delivered the October workshop, and here’s44181443_1890284624369980_7750503540602175488_n a stunning cushion cover made  by Jan, our

Exhibitions organiser, at that workshop.

Report from our photographer Brian: “Jenny Haynes gave a wonderful presentation on her Quilt designs. First she gave us a potted biography to explain how she arrived where she now is career wise then she explained her philosophy of exploration and innovation and introduced her templates with the improvements she has invented and implemented then the highlights of the various quilts she has designed and sewn using them. A most interesting and impressive display. “

 

 

November and December Meetings 

Paula, our Chair says:

Christmas meeting we will have a flower arrangement  demonstration and the ballet will be £2 and three members  shall win one of the arrangements. Also bring a bottle bag that you have made. You will not take your own home,  but will be given one home with you no exchanges unless you are given your own back!

January we will have a 1/2 day workshop stencilling on velvet with the remaining paint from last years workshop 

Our 40th Season begins on Sat 1st Sept

Screen Shot 2015-04-24 at 15.16.37 (1)When a very, very, very young Deborah Baillie decided to start a quilting guild, little did she realise how big it would grow. Nor could she have realised how popular it would be, becoming Northern Ireland’s largest patchwork Guild. That was 40 years ago and on Saturday September 1st 2018, Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild begin their 40th year.

The NIPG are indebited to Deborah and thank her,  not least for all her hard work,  but also the dedication and passion she has brought to patchwork in Northern Ireland.

In honour of this auspicious anniversary, the committee led by our Chair, Paula Ellis, has been planning some exciting events for the forthcoming year.

A few words from our Chair, Paula Ellis 

This is a very exciting Guild year ahead of us, with a very varied program of workshops and speakers, including KAFFE FASSSETS visit with a workshop and lecture.

2019 is the Guilds 40th Anniversary so I hope you will all enjoy and celebrate together our special year.

There will be a table for membership, a table for workshops, and a table for booking Kaffe Fassett.

The charity this year is Parkinsons  –  a very worthy charity .

Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday bright eyed.

Paula 

Here’s what’s happening on Saturday 1st September:

  •  Judith Hollies will have her  pop-up shop Just Jude Designs 

    Judith Hollies

     & will be giving a talk to the Guild on scrap-busting.

Judith is a regular contributor to several UK quilting magazines (Love Patchwork & Quilting, Quilt Now, Sewing World, Popular Patchwork, British Patchwork & Quilting & Pretty Patches).

A designer who writes and sells her own patterns. Judith’s philosophy is  to inspire & nurture creativity in others,  for which in turn she feels blessed and inspired.  She believes that within our increasingly stressful and busy culture, unleashing your creativity is mindfulness.

Though Judith is no stranger to the NIPG, you will have a chance once again to see her on Saturday and perhaps purchase one of her excellent patterns. It is also possible to purchase them online at her shop, or through Etsy and Craftsy.

  • Members will be able to renew their membership. £ 30.00.  New members welcome too. 

Not everyone has online access, but if you do and if you have print facilities, it would be much appreciated, if you could print the form and bring it with you. Form available here. 

  • Members will be able to book workshops.

Please note: A £ 10.00 deposit is required for workshops.  Payment in full at the next meeting (non-refundable, except in exceptional micircumstances).

See also: Workshop Requirements.

This is an extra special event organised to celebrate our 40th Anniversary.

Kaffe Fassett needs no introduction to quilters (or indeed to knitters). 

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Typical Kaffe Fassett Quilt

 

  • Tickets for the lecture and/or workshop will be offered initially to Members Only. 

 

  • Lecture in the Ulster Museum costs £ 15.00 for Members & £20 for non-Members, non-refundable.

 

 

  • Collection of quilts for our first exhibition of the year

Those who have completed their quilts for our first exhibition of the year, will be able bring them along to the September Meeting.  The exhibition is entitled: “Wonderful World of Colour” and is to be exhibited in November at the Curve Gallery, Bangor library

Quilt size – no more than 36″ square. Not forgetting the usual things – hanging sleeve, pole and labelled bag.  Here’s link to the entry form which should be printed and completed to accompany each entry: Entry Form for the Curve Exhibition

Delighted to have any finished quilts at the September meeting, otherwise bring them in October. Quilts do need to be collected as early as possible to facilitate cataloguing. 

Visitors Welcome

The first Saturday is always busy. It’s great to catch up with everyone after the long summer, and as individuals, we will do our best to look out for new people, and give them the welcome we would expect to receive ourselves.

It is daunting coming to a place for the first time, but you may not be the only new person.  So, don’t be shy.  Be brave, go up and talk to people. Tell them who you are, where you’re from and why you’re there.

In particular our first day, on September 1st will be exceptionally busy day and  it really won’t be possible for a  committee member to take you under their wing,  but please know that you are welcome and that we do look forward to getting to know you.

AGM Sat 2nd June

Hello Everyone

Since we last posted, we have all in every sphere of our online existence, been grappling with GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation 2018. We’ve known for a while that it was imminent, yet suddenly the date of implementation arrived! Then the bombardment of emails to confirm that you still want to be part of be contactable by email. We don’t contact you by email through our website, but this is the opportunity to unsubscribe/unfollow us. Our Privacy Policy, fairly standard has been put up on the website.  

Members voluntarily gave us their contact details when they signed up at the beginning of the 2017 – 18 season. At the beginning of the 2018 – 19 season, we shall be issuing new membership forms which will comply fully with the GDPR. At that time, if you don’t re-register we shall remove all your details  from our databases and shall destroy any memberships listings which may contain your data.

Someone sent this to us and it’s so good at describing what has been happening.

Last 2017 – 18 Meeting Saturday June 2nd

Here is a small message from our Chair, Paula, with some additional words about our AGM.

Hello ALL

Summer is here and so is our last meeting of the Guild year, looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday.

The Guild Committee has, behind the scenes been working very hard on your behalf and there are exciting announcements to be made about our forthcoming season. You’ll only hear about them if you attend.

Let’s face it, there would be no Guild without those who volunteer to get everything in place, from the tea and coffee (important things first) to the venue, the speakers and so it goes on.

WE need three new members to complete our committee . I do hope we will get some volunteers as we have a very exciting years which you will all find out at the AGM on Saturday 3rd

Yes, the plea for you to seriously consider giving up some of your precious time to help. This is going to be an exceptional year and your help, no matter how small would be very welcome indeed.

What do you get out of it?  The satisfaction that you have given a little bit back. Without volunteers there would be no Guild. Enough said.

Please remember to bring cup to enjoy your tea at the end of the meetng. See you all then  Paula

 

Quick note from our Chair, Paula

Ladies and Gentlemen ,

At our February meeting (Sat 3rd Feb), Judith Hollies will have a one day pop-up shop where you will have a little time to browse and shop.

Then six of our members will be stationed at six tables, and  each will deliver  a fifteen-minute demonstration.  Members will be divided into groups of ten or twelve,  with each group spending the allotted time at each table, until everyone has had the opportunity to visit  all  six  tables.

Enjoy each visit.

Hopefully you will leave with new tips and ideas.

                                                    Workshops

WE have at least two spaces at Gillian Barr’s workshop on Sunday 4th February 10 o’clock in the Lagan room.

Please get in touch with either Adrienne or myself [ phone numbers on your membership card ]as soon as possible these will be allocated first come first in.

Requirements list for these on NIPG website.

We also have some places on Janet McCallum’s workshop,  where you will be able to use a lot of your scraps  to make a baby quilt/summer table cloth for outdoors bed quilt/a small piece for an exhibition. Lots of possibilities.

                                    Titanic exhibition in April

DIVE INTO YOUR STASH of quilts for our Titanic exhibition. You will not need a hanging sleeve or pole for these. Just have them ready for the April meeting

Mary will have forms for you to fill in, which will be pinned to back of your piece when you hand it in  Cant wait to see all your exciting ideas

Looking forward to February meeting

Paula

 

Christmas 2017 at the NI Patchwork Guild

Santa Claus honoured our Guild with a visit on Saturday 2nd December, which made a good day great.

It’s the child within us who greets Santa with enthusiasm and smiles.

It was our own esteemed Man Friday and Quilter, Brian McKenna who fulfilled the role.

Photos of the Christmas Baubles may be found here.

 

Members crafted tree decorations from felt, beads and fabric to create a stunning display. Santa Brian patiently wrapped them all and then redistributed them to the NIPG members.

Jingle Bells Quilting all the way

 

Mince pies were consumed and everyone was encouraged to sing  a particular  version of Jingle Bells. The one depicted here is similar to that which we sang, but if anyone would like to send in the actual words we could put them up here.

 

 

 

Dec2-Dec- 20170912A delightful display of glass ornaments was the first thing you saw when entering the hall.

 

This was accompanied by an intriguing talk from Anne Marie Nelson and her partner about glass making. A great variety of questions were put to them.  All in all, very interesting indeed.

Dec2-Dec- 20170910

 

 

 

A link  to their website will follow.

 

Galloping towards Saturday Sept 2nd

We’ve had a  somewhat wet summer here in Northern Ireland, fortunately we can always find  plenty to do as we are gallop towards our first 2017 – 18 Guild meeting on Saturday 2nd September.

August is Craft Month and  we have been enjoying many exhibitions, workshops and talks all over Northern Ireland – too many wonderful projects to mention and there’s still a wee bit of time in the month to catch something else.

alkisti_hou

Days of blue skies and fluffy clouds and sunshine. as evidenced thanks to an Instagram photo from @alkisti_hou, have been punctuated with rain, as of  just  now,  at the time of writing, the rain is pouring down, or ‘bucketing’ as we call it.

Luckily there is no shortage of things to do, including   the odd excursion to one of the many establishments serving  refreshments. Such as   “The Dark Horse” near the Cathedral Quarter and the tenth establishment to receive one of the special Game of Throne’s doors.

Tourism Ireland Unveils the Last Door. The Dark Horse, Belfast

Not that everyone in Northern Ireland is  “Game of Thrones” mad, though it may appear that way and if you follow on, you will see why it is being mentioned in connection with the first Guild meeting of our season.

It is impossible to live in Northern Ireland and not be aware of  GoT and it is so exciting to see the many visitors coming to here to visit  GoT film locations  and we hope  enjoy our hospitality.

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The Dark Hedges, Ballymoney.  18th Century Avenue of Beech Trees. Aka Kingsway in Game of Thrones.

What are the Game of Throne doors?

One of the most iconic scenes and most visited site is the Dark Hedges, aka Kingsway to GoT fans. Locals have always known and loved this avenue. The beech trees are 300 years old,  so  no surprise to hear that some were felled during fierce storms.  A sad demise for such proud trees, and a dilemma of what to do with them. Someone came up with the idea of using the fallen trees to carve out scenes from each of the GoT series.   Ten in total.  

The intricately carved door depicting scenes from the final dramatic moments of Series 6. Location : The Dark Horse.

These, such as the one above, have been placed in different locations throughout Northern Ireland. In April 2017 Tourism NI launched a “Journey of Doors passport” –  visit the 10 Game of Thrones Doors across Northern Ireland and collect a unique stamp at each of the locations.

Why all this talk of GoT? During the summer  some of our members have been  engaged, under Valerie Wilson’s direction, in embroidering the Game of Thrones tapestry now hanging in the Ulster Museum.

Jayne McClenaghan is the link between GoT  and our forthcoming programme, about which, we are very excited; a varied and interesting series of talks and workshops.

Indeed our 2017 – 18 season kicks off on Saturday 2nd September, with the aforementioned, Jayne  who with others,  has spent some of her summer embroidering the GoT tapestries.    [Seamless, if long winded link?]

Jayne’s talk is entitled ‘Improving lives through craft’, intriguing? Find out more about her at her blog  One Day At a Time.  This gives you a glimpse into her life: in addition to working part time as a nurse, embroidering GoT, and teaching patchwork and quilting, she volunteers at the National Trust property Mount Stewart .  Where she finds the time for all her activities is a puzzle. Jayne certainly proves the truth of the old adage: “if you want something done give it to a busy person”. Lucille-Ball-Quote

The committee has been working hard to make the programme current, varied and related to NIPG interests and activities. There will be a mixture of talks, short afternoon workshops, and all day workshops. Also a few Friday workshops which proved so popular last year.

We apologise for the delay in posting our forthcoming programme. In addition to confirming speakers, venues have to be confirmed. Though we are indeed fortunate to have our base in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, at times they need the space we use for events they are organising.  We will be posting our programme very soon so keep your eyes peeled and enjoy the last few weeks of summer.

Happy Sewing

NB Header photo shows a few of the quilts seen in situ on the beds in various cottages in the Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra. 

 

Link to Jayne Mcclenaghan’s Blog: “Busy times for the NI Patchwork Guild”

Jayne has posted a great summary of what’s been happening with NIPG, so here’s a link to her blog. You might want to see what she’s up to in Mount Stewart. Would love to know how she finds the time  to do all that she does?

The Guild had a demonstration and display at the Create a thon in the Ulster Museum in April. Yet again we discovered how many ladies can’t/ won’t sew, majority being under 40 years old.The display demonstrated the variations in patchwork as well as the process. Examples from the past up to modern day. There were many…

via Busy time for Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild — one day at a time

Important words from Brenda. May Meeting is at St Dorothea’s.

Members and friends

Brenda Richardson at the Creative Crafting Exhibition in Titanic Quarter

Spring is well and truly here with lots of blossom and buds on the trees.
The May meeting is on Saturday 6 May in St Dorotheas, Gortland Park Belfast 
[Postcode is BT5 7NQ, for your SatNav
Situated at the junction of the Gilnahirk Road and the Lower Braniel Road.]
As usual doors open at 10.00 a.m. with tea & coffee.
The speaker is Pauline Openneer from Donegal whose talk is entitled “Tweeds and More”.

Caroline Bag

Sundays workshop is in the Museum as usual, where we shall be making a Caroline Bag. You can make the bag in any fabric you like.
The last workshop of this quilting year is on Friday 12 May in Orangefield  Presbyterian Church, Castlereagh Road from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Valerie McKeown

The tutor is our own Valerie McKeown, and she will be teaching us to make a Dragonfly Cushion. I think there are still a couple of places left.
The June meeting is our AGM and I am hoping that we will get some names for committee as there are 4 vacancies.
If you are willing to serve please speak to me or a committee member at next Saturdays meeting.

Cuddlies;

Well done everyone.
We have to date 154 Cuddlies, well over the target of 100 for the Neonatal Unit at the Royal Maternity Hospital.
If any one has any more please bring them on Saturday as I would like to hand them over at the A.G.M.
Hope to see you all on Saturday.
 
Brenda

Letter from Brenda & link to Jayne McClenagh’s report on the Jennie Rayment Visit

First the letter from Brenda…

Hello Members and Friendscapture
It was lovely to see so many of you at the November meeting we had over 60 people to here Jennie Rayment.
Jennie is full of life and gave us a very informative and entertaining talk. I was particularly interested in her microwave dying and am definitely going to try it. I was able to attend both her workshops on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. On Saturday everyone went home with 2 cushion panels of different designs all we had to do at home was add the bindings and backs. On Sunday we were all were all able to complete a ‘Scrappy Zappy Do’ wall hanging perhaps you have already scene the photographs on facebook.
The competition for a new Guild Banner is still open. The idea of a new banner is to bring the Guild a bit more into the 21 century and have something to display at exhibitions etc. Please keep your entries coming and it would be helpful if you coloured them in. Lets have some more for the December meeting.
Just a couple of reminders;
The Christmas challenge is any article depicting ‘A Winters Tale’
We are still looking for contributions for the Christmas Hamper please bring them to the December meeting.
Secret Santa this has been a long tradition in the Guild when everyone brings a wrapped present to the value of about £7 these are then put in Santa’s Sack and you get to pick something. It should ideally be connected to sewing and something you would like to receive yourself.
That’s all for now see you in December.
Brenda

 

Now here’s a  link to an excellent report on Jennie Rayment’s visit to the NIPG by Jayne McClenaghan from her blog  “One day at a time” Jennie Rayment- Fabulous Folding Fanatic — one day at a time.  Lots of photos demonstrating how its done.

We were very fortunate to have Jennie at the NIPG such a treat to have he entertain us as she showed off her quilts which you can see to the let and below. I thoroughly enjoyed her afternoon workshop which was a change to machine sewing and piecing large pieces of fabric.It felt very therapeutic to…

Thank you Jayne, your post really gives a flavour of the day and Jennie’s infectious and fun personality. Gorgeous photos too.

 

Almost time to meet up again for our 2016 – 17 season.

Here’s a message from our Chair, Brenda Richardson.

Hi Everyone

Well the summer is almost over and I noticed the other day that the nights are also drawing in. 

I hope you have all had a good summer and got lots of sewing done.

The new Guild year starts on Saturday 3rd September in the Parochial Hall at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

 

UFTM-map-web

 

Following some of last year’s comments, the committee have decided to have an earlier start to our meetings.  Doors open 10.00 a.m. and the meeting will start at 10.45a.m. with the speaker being introduced at 11.00 a.m.

The theme for our first meeting is Reaching Out. We will hear from:-

  1. Lydia Black about reaching out in Uganda
  2. Angela McCormick and Patricia Pauley will talk about helping with the Belfast WAVE quilt.
  3. There will be the ever popular Show and Tell, so please bring along your new work to show.  Quaker Cottage
  4. We will be presenting a cheque to Quaker Cottage in respect of last year’s charity collection.
  5. You will hear about the workshops up until Christmas.

 

So come along early to catch up, pay your fees (still only £30) and see what’s new about the 2016 / 2017 year.  The membership form is attached

 

Don’t forget to bring your cup and wear your name badge. If you haven’t already made one you have a few days before the meeting!

Looking forward to seeing everyone,

Brenda

 

NIPG Form for website

NB This form is an image, so you can’t complete it online. However, you can print it. Using the right click on your mouse select,  “Save Image as”…. whatever you like. Current members will have received the form in the email which Brenda has sent everyone. If you haven’t got that email, or if you have a question, please get in touch.