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.

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/)

here-come-the-girls-25th-birthday-bonanza-lst160266

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.