It was all go at the March Meeting of the Southern Branch of the IPS. We were delighted to welcome the wonderfully talented Tomomi McElwee of Slaney Quilting Studio, who brought her shop and gave us a spectacular Trunk Show of her quilts.

There was also a huge response to Show and Tell this month and we were treated to an inspiring display of quilts, bags and wall-hangings from our extremely talented members.

Our lovely contributors were: Louise O’Hanlon, Hilary O’Kelly, Mary O’Regan, Jane Horner, Marie Sprott, Anne Dykes, Ann Pasley, Lesley Bell, Assumpta Lydon, Simona Damerell, Cora Quinlan, Mairead Christie, Michelle McGinley, Louise Harrington, Lesley Rowan.

After a wonderful morning of shared excitement over quilts and fabric, a lucky few were privileged to attend an afternoon workshop given by Tomomi on Pieced Circles. They look very happy with their work don’t they?

Our next meeting will be on Saturday 15th April – note this is the THIRD and not our usual second Saturday of the month! This will be our Branch AGM. Please come along and support your hard working committee.

Our March meeting is coming up next weekend…don’t miss it!

*Please note we will finish up a little earlier (around 12.30pm) to give us time to set up for Tomomi’s workshop.

Date: Saturday 11th March

Venue: Sacred Heart Church Hall

Door opens: 10am

Door fee for members: €4

Door fee for non-members: €8 (you are welcome to attend two meetings as a non-member)

Shop: Tomomi McElwee of Slaney Quilts

Speaker: Tomomi McElwee – Trunk Show

Show and Tell: Please bring your creations to inspire us

Raffle: Only €5 a strip

Coffee and Tea: Provided. Please bring along some sweet treats to share

Library: The library will return NEXT month, so be prepared to bring back your books in April.

Come along and get involved!

It was a fantastic meeting this month, as always. Moya Geraghty of Patchwork Plus brought her always-excellent shop and we were all tempted to buy some goodies.

We were all particularly inspired by the talk, given by Sandra Jansen on ‘Luscious Log Cabin and its Variations’. Despite issues with the technology, she won through and enthused us all anew about the Log Cabin block and all of the amazing effects you can achieve. We hope to persuade her to give us a workshop in the not too distant future.

Here’s a taste of the quilts Sandra showed off…

And when it came to our members’ turn to impress, they didn’t let us down…

First we have Siobhán’s plaid quilt, then Clare’s spool bunting and stars quilt, Heidi brought along her mini landscape from the previous month’s workshop and the second row of her delicate appliqué quilt. Then we have Lesley’s award winning mini quilt and the ‘trophy’ she won, which was made by none other than Lynne Edwards!

Next we have Assumpta with another of the pieces from last month’s workshop and Anne’s adorable baby quilt, followed by two quilts from Veronica – one inspired by Frances’ blue and cream quilt last month and a calendar quilt. Mary Palmer brought in three quilts – a beautiful batik grid, a cute modern baby quilt and a One Block Wonder made with an unusual print – see the back. Ann brought in her completed Jolly Holly Table Runner from a workshop by Tracy Wardle, and a pretty in pink baby quilt.

It was a great meeting and we’re looking forward to our next, which will be on Saturday 11th March. See you then!

It was a huge meeting last month and it was fantastic to see so many old and new friends in the Sacred Heart hall. Siobhán’s workshop on mini landscapes was very well received and we anticipate seeing some little masterpieces in Show and Tell at our next meeting, which is coming up this weekend….

Date: Saturday 11th February

Venue: Sacred Heart Church Hall

Door opens: 10am

Door fee for members: €4

Door fee for non-members: €8 (you are welcome to attend two meetings as a non-member)

Shop: Patchwork Plus

Speaker: Sandra Jansen – Luscious Log Cabin and Its Variations

Show and Tell: Please bring your creations to inspire us

Raffle: Only €5 a strip

Coffee and Tea: Provided. Please bring along some sweet treats to share

Library: A small selection from the library will be available for your perusal. Don’t forget to return previous borrowings!

Advance notice

1. After the March meeting there will be a workshop given by Tomomi McElwee on pieced circles. A sign up list will be available on saturday, and a non-refundable deposit of €5 will reserve your place.

2.Our April meeting will be our AGM. Please start thinking about serving on the committee, it’s a lovely group and it’s great to get involved. Speak to one of us about it if you have any questions.

3. May : our final workshop of the year will be given by Nikki Foley after the May meeting. You can register your interest on saturday and more details will be available at the March meeting.

See you there!

PS We ask all our members and visitors to be mindful of others as we get back together after Covid. Hand sanitiser is available at the door, wear a mask if you wish and give people the space they require. Thank you.

There was a fabulous buzz at the meeting on Saturday. We were delighted to welcome a number of new members and some visitors – great to meet you all! We welcomed the lovely Sinéad from Appletree Crafts with their wonderful shop and we were all like bees around a honey pot! It was wonderful to see her again – first time since BC (Before Covid!)

We had a fantastic Show and Tell, as always…

1. Ann Pasley showed off her first ever quilt, a lovely brick style design in soft blues and greens. She also brought in her Wonky Christmas Tree quilt, inspired by Áine Foley’s demonstration back in our December meeting.
2. Assumpta Lydon showed an incredible plaid quilt top and a 7’s and L’s top
3. Hilary O’Kelly’s baby quilt was a real charmer
4. Cora Quinlan brought along an array of bags, a fabulous Christmas scrap quilt and a quilt made using a Twelve Days of Christmas panel (inspired by our Christmas sing song, perhaps?)
5. Cathy Davies showed us her amazing stars quilt for which she made all her own templates before hand piecing it! Take a look at the pieced backing too.
6. Frances McCarthy brought in her completed quilt made using a Massachusetts Cross and Crown design. She used up some indigo dyed fabrics made at a workshop many moons ago.
7. Anne also brought in a charming baby quilt to show us.
8. Finally, Heidi Wischniewski showed us her current work in progreess, an incredibly detailed, asian-inspired appliqué quilt.

After the meeting Sinéad led a group of us in a tremendously enjoyable workshop on layered mini landscapes. Everyone left with a piece to finish at home. Here are the works in progress.

Hope to see you at our next meeting on Saturday 11th February when our shop will be Patchwork Plus. Usual time, usual place. See you there.

Happy New Year, all and welcome to 2023! Our next Branch meeting is coming up this weekend…

Date: Saturday 14th January

Venue: Sacred Heart Church Hall

Door opens: 10am

Door fee for members: €4

Door fee for non-members: €8 (you are welcome to attend two meetings as a non-member)

Shop: Apple Tree Crafts

Speaker: The girls from Apple Tree Crafts will be giving us a talk

Show and Tell: Please bring your creations to inspire us

Raffle: Only €5 a strip

Coffee and Tea: Provided. Please bring along some sweet treats to share

Library: A small selection from the library will be available for your perusal. Don’t forget to return previous borrowings!

Afternoon Workshop: After the meeting, Appletree Crafts will lead a workshop on Mini Landscapes. There are still a few spots left if you would like to join in, contact us via the email for details. Full payment (or the balance if you paid your deposit at the last meeting) should be paid on the day. 

Please note Participants MUST be full members of the IPS due to insurance requirements.

See you on Saturday!

We had a fabulous meeting on Saturday – a great turn out, despite the wintry weather – and we had great fun with a quiz, a Christmas Tree Decoration Challenge, treats and even a sing song.

Áine Foley of Lismore Quilt Co. braved the weather to bring her shop and she also gave us some great quick Christmas project ideas in her demonstration. These included wonky Christmas trees, Miriam Gogarty’s beautiful pattern – Emma’s Tree and some free patterns from www.makower.co.uk and Studio Sew of Course (Sandra Jansen)

As always, our members blew us away with their beautiful work in our Show and Tell, with some stunning quilts, wall-hangings and other projects both festive and otherwise

And there was more, as we had fourteen entries for the Christmas Challenge!

Congratulations to the winner, Clare Newell, whose tiny, classic Singer sewing machine decoration won her a voucher to spend in Áine’s shop.

Many thanks to Ann Prendergast, our resident Quiz Master, for preparing the quiz, and congratulations also to the winning team – choccies all round!

We finished the meeting with a hilarious and exhausting rendition of The Twelves of Christmas – well done ladies, it’s a memory I’ll always treasure.

Our next meeting will be in the Sacred Heart Church Hall, Western Road, Cork City on Saturday 14th January, doors open at 10am. Our shop will be Appletree Crafts.

***** Please note that after the meeting Appletree Crafts will be running an afternoon workshop on mini landscapes. Contact a committee member to book a place *****

A Merry Christmas to one and all and may we all have a peaceful and blessed 2023 xxx

December is here again and our Christmas meeting is this coming weekend Saturday 10th December.
We’re looking forward to seeing you all and please feel free to come wearing your favourite Christmas jumper and/or head gear.

Venue: Sacred Heart Church Hall, Cork City
Door opens: 10am
Door fee for members: €4
Door fee for non-members: €8 (you are welcome to attend two meetings as a non-member)
Shop: Lismore Quilt Co.
Demo: fun festive gifts
Christmas Challenge: Don’t forget your Christmas Tree Decoration – prize for the winner
Quiz: tables of 4 and a prize for the winning table
Show and Tell: Please bring your creations to inspire us
Raffle: Lots of lovely prizes, only €5 a strip
Coffee and Tea: Provided. Please bring along some sweet treats to share
Library: A small selection from the library will be available. Don’t forget to return previous borrowings!

See you there!

What a FAB-ulous Open Meeting we had on Saturday last, thanks to everyone who helped to make it such a success, from the committee members, who did such great work, to the wonderful demonstrators – Heidi, Tina, Sandra, Eilís, Ailbhe and Assumpta, to the shop, Moya of Patchwork Plus and to you all for coming.

There was a huge and hugely inspiring Show and Tell. Here is a just taste of what was on show…

Our next meeting is on Saturday 10th December, Sacred Heart Church Hall at 10am. Please note that we will have a Christmas Challenge – bring along any Christmas tree decoration that you have made – if you don’t have one already you have plenty of time to make one before the next meeting. We will display them all, everyone gets to vote for their favourite and there will be a festive prize for the winner.

Ukraine Quilts Day – please note that there will be a sewing day to make quilts for Ukraine this coming Sunday 20th November, hosted by Mary Palmer. Mary will also host a Sit and Sew day on Sunday 27th November. Please contact Mary Palmer on Facebook or at http://www.marimudesigns.com for details.

As the Autumn starts to bite, we are looking forward to our November Open Meeting on this coming 

Saturday 12th November 2022.

An Open Meeting means that it’s free to all, so do bring along your friends. Details of the meeting are as follows :

Venue: Sacred Heart Church Hall

Door opens: 10am

Door fee for members: FREE

Door fee for non-members: FREE

Shop: Patchwork Plus

Demonstrations: there will be a number of demonstrations on a variety of techniques to tickle your creative buds

Show and Tell: Please bring your creations to inspire us

Raffle: Lots of lovely prizes, only €5 a strip

Coffee and Tea: Provided. Please bring along some sweet treats to share!

Library: No library this month, so return your books at the December meeting

See you on Saturday!

Note We ask all our members and visitors to be mindful of others as we get back together after Covid. Hand sanitiser is available at the door, wear a mask if you wish and give people the space they require. Thank you x