Our Christmas Meetings are invariably a joy, with Christmas jumpers, earrings and other decorative jewellery on view.  This year was no different and enhanced with our invariably ice-cold hall being so warm that the doors had to be opened.

Jean and Ruth, our wonderful caterers, provided hot drinks and delicious cakes, for which we offer them our deepest thanks.

The ‘make and take’ bottle bag Christmas Challenge produced a  variety of shapes and colours of bottle bags.  Click here to view them for yourself.

Then came an exceptionally entertaining and witty floral art demonstration from Roberta Orr of Flora Desingz, click on her name to access her website. 

‘Don’t forget the Pound Shop’…. you had to be there to know what this means!

Good enough to eat!

Roberta had promised to make three Christmas flower arrangements, but she actually made five. These were given away as ballot prizes.

Anne Jame’s prize, including ballot tickets.

How unusual is this with a Xmas scene in the bowl, lit by lights?

Everyone left with huge smiles, especially those who had won the right to take home the finished items.

Roberta with the lucky winners. Photographer Brian, had to photoshop the sea holly out of Jean’s winning arrangement, so that it was possible to see her. 

Some comments on our 2018 Christmas celebrations included 

• Such a great atmosphere at yesterday’s meeting.  Thanks to all involved for making it a good one!
   
• All went well hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as I did thanks to all. 
   
• It was a lovely day thank you.
   
• This was my favourite.

Before you go – here’s a must-see exhibition from two of our talented members, both of international reputations. Loving Margaret McCrory’s self-portrait and Irene MacWilliam’s work is always inspiring and exciting.

Roll on to January 5th when we’ll take part in ‘Demonstrations by Members’. This is a popular event, where several members bravely take up a table each to make a 10 minute demonstration of a technique, tip, pattern or something interesting. We divide into however many groups that there are demonstrations. It’s a perfect way to start the New Year – Our Ruby Year. 

Until then have a happy and healthy Christmas with lots of best wishes for 2019.

This was the weekend which had to be cancelled.

Unfortunately, after much effort, Janet McCallum was  unable to make the journey across. Janet was determined to be here, and really did her very best, but between changing airports and examining all the options, she was  forced to submit to the inclement weather from Siberia which has disrupted British and Irish travel so badly.  [The Beast from the East].

Though many parts of the North have little or no snow, other parts are snowbound.  Therefore, the decision was made to cancel the entire weekend.

It was a weekend to stay indoors, keep warm and providing your electric hadn’t given up, you could sew, sew, sew.

Belated Happy St David’s Day to all our Welsh friends. Photo taken on the 1st March 2018.

Leaving you with this text message received yesterday from a quilter who lives just outside Dublin. In case anyone doesn’t know – all Dublin flights have been cancelled until tomorrow. She says:

Good morning, sitting here snug and warm indoors. More snow last night on top of a foot from Tuesday night. So, I’m forced to sew, sew, sew. We have a full tank of oil, plenty of fuel for the fire and lots of food. Plus candles should the power go and wool applique projects if candle light permits.

Ladies, we’ll be in touch about rescheduling Janet etc. Meanwhile take the Kildare Quilter’s advice – and snuggle down with your favourite project.

Happy Quilting.

This post applies only to Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild Members  

We have been invited to take part in this year’s Crafting Live exhibition in the Titanic Exhibition Hall.

Paula, our Chair invites you to submit a small piece which will be used to decorate the NIPG space and wonders if you have a stash of fabric? If so, please ‘Dive Into Your Stash’.

There may be quilters  unaware of  the occupational hazard, which afflicts many quilters – a compulsion to accumulate fabric, referred to as a ‘stash’.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary the definition of stash is:

1. A store or supply of something, typically one that is kept hidden or secret.

2. Store (something) safely and secretly in a specified place.

A quilter’s stash begins with the purchase of fabric for the first project and quickly grows.  There are many substantiated reports of a quilter’s stash multiplying overnight.

The acquisition of fabric is justified as being essentially a  quilter’s palette or a ‘creative resource centre’  A quilter’s stash is actually a place to go for inspiration and ideas when planning the quilting for a project.  A highly organised stash may look like this:

Whichever way you’ve organised it or indeed not organised it, Paula invites you to:

“DIVE INTO YOUR STASH.”

Completed pieces should be brought to the April Meeting on Saturday 7th April.

Please complete the following form.  (Unless advised otherwise, poles are not required.) Download the form from here craftinglive2018

[Banner is ‘Overcrowded World by Irene MacWilliam]

New Year 2018 was heralded by  cold, wet weather, which unfortunately was reflected in the heat (or lack of) in our Hall.  The heating is out of our control, but the talk by Pat Archibald was hot and steamy bringing us in a journey around Ghana and illustrating how items which we casually discard can be made into objects of beauty.

Pat Archibald, a quilter of international repute, was co-owner of Scotland’s first dedicated patchwork and quilting shop, which she subsequently sold, has taught specialist textile classes to students from far and wide. She has had her wonderful work widely exhibited in the UK, Europe and in the USA, in addition to which she has travelled far and wide,  garnering ideas and discovering craft makers. Recently she led a textile holiday to Vietnam.  Her history into quilting is documented on her website. 

We were fascinated with Pat’s  travels in Ghana, she brought to life the craftspeople in different parts of the country, with a variety of skills. Weavers, dyers-of-fabric,  people who stamped blocks on fabric to make intricate patterns, glass bead makers, brass beads makers, and potters amongst others.

The photos which she generously shared showed a great many very happy smiling people, justifiable proud of their inspiring work in creating high quality items from virtually nothing.

Pat fullfilled her promise to transport us to “far flung places”.

She demonstrated how artists and craftworkers in underprivileged parts of the world combine their resourcefulness with what is available to them locally to produce fabulous textiles and artworks.

A word from Paula, our Chair about our next meeting on October 7th

Hi to all,

October meeting is fast approaching and I hope you all are looking forward to it.   I will be on holidays and will not be with you, but I have left you in the capable hand of Adrienne ,who will collect any of the syringe bags you have made for Judith Hollies charity

This should be a very interesting talk and half day workshop, not forgetting the half day workshop on the Sunday

Some of the workshops filled up very quickly so we will start a waiting list on a first come basis in case of cancellations

Please check out November workshops as I believe there are some spaces .

I’m  hoping you are all working on your Christmas tree ornaments as we will have a great display.

I will see you all again in November so enjoy next weekend    Paula

New section on workshop requirements has been added, especially for those who are fortunate to get on one of the workshops.

Quilters can cope with weather warnings of snow and ice, we’d just stay home and quilt. Sun is still shining at the moment and happy days – only one day to go for the Crafting Live exhibition at the Titanic Quarter, Belfast.  STAND E20

NIPG will be there, Stand E20,  so proud and thankful to our members  who have worked really hard behind the scenes, liaising with the exhibition and  a hundred and one things required to participate in an exhibition like this.  Best bit is that they have quilts to decorate the stand, Stand E20. Visit to see what they have found, or keep an eye on the Facebook postings. 

Anne James posted in today’s FB:   Exciting times for us! We’re gearing up for this, and hope to see you all there. We’re on Stand E20 and will be delighted to chat to you all about all things patchwork. Do come and see us!  Stand E20

Brenda’s letter to us:

Hi Members                          24 April 2017 22:09

There are 2 workshops left for this quilting year, the usual Sunday workshop on 7 May and one on Friday 12 May. As the meetings are always so busy I thought you might like to see more details.

Sunday 7 May Folk Museum.

This is a bag workshop with Pauline Openneer from Donegal. Pauline is Dutch, who came to live in Ireland some time ago and used had a shop in Dunfanaghy for some years.

She will be making a large bag, photo below. The photo shows the bag in tweed however Pauline has told us that you can make the bag in what ever material you like cotton, linen or tweed.

If you are interested in either of these workshops please get in touch with Paula.

Do not wait until the next meeting email her  through the NIPG email patchworkguild@yahoo.com

She will be able to give you all the details and requirements list.

Friday 12 May Orangefield Presbyterian Church

“Hello Members and Friends

Spring has really started over the last few days of lovely weather, lets hope it continues.

The April meeting is on the 1st April, All Fools Day, though we will not be celebrating the fools bit!

We meet as usual in the Parochial Hall at the Folk Museum, doors open 10.00 a.m. and meeting starts at 10.45 a.m.” 

Speaker at next meeting.

Our speaker, Gabrielle Grant whom we are very much looking forward to is from the Fennell Shed, Buncrana.

Not only is she going to be with us on Saturday, but all day Sunday 2nd when she will be taking an all day workshop  on  Magic Tricks which sounds interesting. 

Not sure what the ‘Magic Tricks’ will consist of, but I know that this is one of Gabrielle’s latest quilts. 

There may still be a couple of spaces, members contact Paula Ellis for information.

Create a Thon Organised by the BBC & Voluntary Arts

The next Friday Workshop  will be on  12 May 2017.

This will be held in Orangefield Presbyterian Church, Castlereagh Road.

The tutor is our own Valerie McKeown and she will show us how to make a Dragonfly cushion. 

This workshop is for those who already have basic machine quilting experience and who want to expand their skills to create colour and texture with thread. Using a line drawing of a dragonfly, you learn to create fusible pieces for the body, stabilise the fabric surface and choose the right threads for thread stitching. 

See Paula Ellis for more information and to book a place.

Crafting Live 

Many moons ago, we informed our members  about being offered a stall at the forthcoming  Crafting Live exhibition in the Titanic Exhibition Centre. That is now just around the corner.

The show itself is open from Thursday 27 April until Saturday 29 April, and is open 10am-5pm on Thursday and Friday, and 10am-4pm on Saturday. Your entrance ticket gets you in all 3 days of the show if you feel like making a weekend of it.

Over the duration of the show you can visit a vast range of exhibitors stocking stamps, dies, decoupage, fabric, ribbon and much more. You can stock up on all of your craft essentials, as well as finding inspiration from brand new products, whilst meeting your favourite TV crafters. There are also refreshment options and areas to have a much needed sit down after all that shopping!

We  want to decorate our stall with pieces made by our members,  to give visitors an idea of what the  Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild  is all about.

No theme, but obviously with our stall being  relatively small, ( 2 metres x 1 metre, and about 2 metres high, the item you submit should also be fairly small. Cushions, bags, small wall-hangings, quilts, bags, cushions, etc. it doesn’t have to be new, and may indeed have been exhibited before.

IMPORTANT    IMPORTANT   IMPORTANT

Please bring your chosen item  to the April Meeting, with the completed form, which you will find below.

For  information only, we’ve been allocated E20.