Crafting Live Belfast. Titanic Exhibition Centre. Thurs 26th April to Sat 28th April

On April 13, 2018 By nipatchworkguildIn Ireland, LoveToQuilt, Quilting, Titanic Exhibition, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Crafting Live Belfast

The Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild will be present at the Crafting Live Show in the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Our stand shall be displaying work produced by our members on the theme ‘Dive into your Stash!’

Our Chair, Paula Ellis came up with the theme, which has been enthusiastically embraced by our members. ‘It’s going to be the best small exhibition ever.’

Please come along and introduce yourselves. We would love to chat with you and answer any questions.

Previous Exhibition Stand

The show itself is open from Thursday 26 April until Saturday 28 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 Crafting Live are promoting a vast range of exhibitors stocking stamps, dies, decoupage, fabric, wool, ribbon, beads 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!

If you visit the Crafting Live Website, Crafting Live are promising that every advance ticket purchased is eligible for a FREE GIFT* worth £15 – just collect yours at the show. Plus every guest will get a £5 voucher** to spend with our sponsors Create & Craft.

Visit the Crafting Live website for more information

Christmas 2017 at the NI Patchwork Guild

On December 15, 2017December 18, 2017 By nipatchworkguildIn Christmas Tree Baubles, Quilting Guild Meeting.1 Comment

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- 20170912 A 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.

Open the box and out pops a sewing machine!

On August 20, 2015September 15, 2015 By nipatchworkguildIn Guild Meeting, NIPG Members, Quilting Guild Meeting.2 Comments

NIPG 2015–16 Season Kicks off with …

650x466_church_ladies_panel_sectionjpg — Image from Quilting Treasures. (http://www.quiltingtreasures.com/shop/product/church-ladies-quilt/)

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.

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.

Hand pieced and hand quilted by Helen Heron

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.