A warm day with warm friends was had on Saturday when we meet for our monthly meeting.

Lismore quilts brought a wonderful selection of fabric for the pop-up shop. There was a new range of very pretty fat quarters and lots of jellyrolls and layer cakes. There was also some discount fabrics amongst the bolts so something for everyone.

Our own Tracy Wardle of Trace Designs gave a fascinating talk on the origins and history of pockets. How they developed as a separate part of woman’s apparel which were a treasured way of self-expression, not just a utilitarian item. Through to the pocket being incorporated into garments. We also learnt about the different methods of construction and embellishment, The different fabrics used and the variety of shapes and sizes. It made us consider the importance of an often-overlooked part of clothing.

There were also a vivid array of members works displayed during show and tell showing a glimpse of the talent of our members.

Our last meeting before the summer will be on Saturday 8^th June where we will be joined by Nikki Foley from The Sewing Shed. The following week (14-16 June),  will see Cork hosting the National AGM at Cork International Airport.

4 May 2024 – Southern Branch Meeting. Sacred Heart Church Hall, Western Road, Cork. Guest Speaker: Tracy Wardle. Shop: Lismore Quilts

8 June 2024 – Southern Branch Meeting. Sacred Heart Church Hall, Western Road, Cork. Guest Speaker: Nikki Foley. Shop: The Sewing Shed

14-16 June 2024 National AGM hosted by Southern Branch. Cork International Hotel, Cork Airport Business Park, Cork Airport.

There was a real buzz at this month’s meeting as a good crowd gathered to look back at some of the highlights of the past year and begin to plan for the year ahead.

Patchwork Plus were the pop-up shop and were, as always on hand with a great range of fabric and notions.

There was an animated slideshow of a selection of quilts that members have displayed over the last 12 months, both in Show and Tell and at our exhibition. There was no guest speaker this month as time was taken for the AGM.

The Show and Tell this month included not just quilts but wall hangings, cushions, fabric baskets, an Ipad pouch, and an ingenious fabric card stand. A great reminder that it’s not all about bedcovers!

It’s full steam ahead now for a sewing summer including the southern branch welcoming members from across the country as Cork hosts the National AGM in June.  

NOTE: Next months meeting on the earlier date of Saturday 4 May.

Another busy month for the Southern IPS quilters with the monthly meeting taking place on 9th March.

The guest speaker this month was Christine from The Irish Quilter. She showed some of her collection of work and gave a workshop on quilting with freezer paper following the meeting. The Irish Quilter was also the guest shop with a lovely array of fabric and notions.

As always a fantastic display was given by members for the show and tell.

Our next meeting will take place on Saturday 13 April 2024. This meeting will be followed by the AGM.

Another wonderful meeting took place on 10th February, with an enthusiastic crowd in attendance. Patchwork Plus provided the pop-up shop, which is always well stocked with irresistible sewing treats. The talk was provided by one of the Southern Branches members, Cathy Davis. Cathy shared a taste of her talent and showed us the variety of her skill with a selection of wonderful quilts. Show and Tell is always a treat with an array of work on display.

Our next meeting will take place on 9^th March 2024.

What a great meeting we had last Saturday despite a few hiccups ! We had to cancel our
afternoon workshop with Sandra Noonan of the Sewing Shed due to Covid. I hope that you are
making a good recovery Sandra. Nikki sent her shop under the care of her twin sons James and
John. They were run off their feet because the shop was so busy. They gave us a really
interesting talk about their mother’s quilting journey and what it was like to grow up surrounded by
all things patchwork and quilting! They had wonderful stories to tell which kept us enthralled and
especially during the lockdown when she launched the Sewing Project Sewcial Distancing By
Nikki.
Then we had our Show and Tell . Lesley showed us two colour ways of her hand dyed fabric. Heidi
had her blocks for the River of Dreams quilt . Mary Palmer had a very striking New York Beauty.
Noreen Brazier had some Appliqué. Hillary had beautiful baby quilts. Simona had her amazing
South African quilts. Next we had the raffle with the lads generously donating additional prizes so everyone won something and went home fired up with ideas for even more sewing!

**PLEASE NOTE** our next meeting has been moved forward to Saturday 3rd June. Moya is confirmed as the shop and Mary Palmer will be our speaker on “The good, bad and sometimes ugly; a retrospective”

Please remember to bring any items which you are contributing for the exhibition in Skibbereen. These should be labelled with your name and telephone number and should have a hanging sleeve.

Has it really been almost a month since we saw each other last? Only two more meetings till the summer and our May meeting is almost upon us.

Here are the meeting details :

Date: Saturday 13^th May

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: The Sewing Shed

Speaker: Sarah Noonan, of The Sewing Shed

Show and Tell: Please bring your creations to inspire us

Raffle: Only €1 euro per ticket

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

Library: Please return your books at this meeting or the June meeting as we will be doing a ‘stock check’ over the summer. Thank you.

Afternoon Workshop: After the meeting, Sarah from The Sewing Shed will give a workshop on how to “Design and Make your own basic Foundation Paper Pieced Block” – many of us will know Sarah, an experienced and helpful teacher, who puts the emphasis on fun! Cost: €20  NB due to insurance restrictions, only members of the IPS can attend workshops.

Contact us at this email address to book one of the few remaining places. The Bring list is attached.

Southern Branch Exhibition, July 2023: If you have quilt(s) for our upcoming exhibition, you can bring them to the May or June meetings for collection by Heidi.

Please make sure that each quilt has a standard hanging sleeve, a label with the name and contact details of the maker and a protective bag labelled with the same details. More information will be available at the meeting.

See you there!

Useful links;

Website https://ipscork.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/southernbranchips

On Instagram southernbranch_ips

National website https://irishpatchworksociety.wildapricot.org/PS Please remember 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.

We had great craic at our AGM this Saturday, as we celebrated the Branch’s achievements over the past few months and welcomed some new blood onto the committee to help plan for the coming months.

After the business of the AGM, our own Sheila Devereux gave us a real treat as she talked us through some of her work. The vast majority of Sheila’s work is hand pieced and hand quilted, and we marvelled at the breadth of styles and techniques used. Here is a taste of her beautiful work…

If that wasn’t enough inspiration, we also had a fabulous Show and Tell from some of our very talented members…

1 to 4 Clare Newell first showed us a wonderful hand pieced quilt with fussy cut details, then a fresh 4-Patch number and finally a trio of pieces, which started with a Variable Star Quilt and ended in a very snazzily patchwork-embellished denim jacket.

5 Dorann Loehr showed off some small pieces, showing her quilting journey.

6 and 7 Tracy Wardle brought in her bed-quilt-in-progress based on the Broken Dishes block and a completed Christmas table runner….stealing a march on the festive season!

8 and 9 Brand new member Simona Damerell dazzled us with a fabulous appliqué quilt and a little floral (stained glass window?) wall-hanging as well as a Gypsy Wife quilt top (not pictured), which I definitely need find out more about.

10 Michelle McGinley brought in a number of cheerful quilts made for charity, using fabrics provided by Hilary O’Kelly. Hilary will be getting these quilts to their new homes soon – well done Michelle and Hilary!

11 Next we saw Mary Barry’s Variable Star and Pinwheel quilt – some really cute fabrics here, including one with colourful tins of tuna!

12 Eilís Watson showed us a fabulously colourful quilt featuring a foundation paper pieced John Deer tractor – pattern available on Etsy!

13 Finally, Heidi Wischniewski brought in a beautiful Snail Trail quilt, replendent in mauve and pink – what a way to finish!

It really was a great meeting, many thanks to all who attended. Thanks to Moya Geraghty of Patchwork Plus, who brought the shop with lots of goodies for us to treat ourselves to – because we’re worth it!

Our next meeting is on Saturday 13th of May, usual time, usual place. Our shop will be The Sewing Shed and our Speaker will be Sarah Noonan. Sarah will also be giving an afternoon workshop on designing FPP blocks – contact us to book a place.

Happy Easter to one and all!
Here are the details of our April meeting, which will also be our AGM:

Date: Saturday 15th April
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)
N.B. non-members will not be able to be in attendance for the AGM itself, which will take place at the beginning of the meeting.
Shop: Patchwork Plus
Speaker: Sheila Devereux: A Quilter’s Journey
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!

Looking forward to seeing you there!