Hello everyone, and welcome to all!

Last month we had a very successful “meeting” right here on the blog, and I have had feedback from a few of you saying how much you have appreciated the post. So today we are doing it again.

Before I start the Show and Tell, however, I’d quickly like to mention our shops. We always have a shop attending our meetings, and of course they are now missing out on an opportunity to show you their latest wares. As far as I know ALL of our regular shops are open, sending out fabric, elastic (masks anyone?), notions, etc. depending on their collection. So please keep them in mind when you are looking for any supplies. At the moment it may be best to ring them up and discuss your needs. Find links with details of our regular shops on our “Helpful Links” page, they all have a phone number to find on their page.

Also, even while we are not meeting, the committee is still in place as before. If you have any request or idea or question, or just want to say hello, feel free to contact us. Email works well, or find us on Facebook: Southern Branch of the Irish Patchwork Society, or leave a comment here on the blog. Also, if you know of a member who doesn’t get our emails, but now does want to stay in touch that way, please let us know!

Lastly, with the latest advice to wear a face covering while shopping, I will be sewing a couple this weekend. Frances gave me a link to a pattern from Emily Lakdawalla that looks at least as if I won’t need to readjust it while wearing… There are other links in our “Sew at Home” page, too.

So now for our Show & Tell, sit back, relax, and be inspired!

Marie Sprott (she was the first to send in this photo, even before I asked for any) – Below is a picture of a cot quilt I made for my cousin in Waterford whose daughter had a lovely baby boy called Cian on 10th March. It is made up of squares of Beatrix Potter fabric plus some with teddy bears and rabbits. The darker border around it has dragonflies.

Assumpta Lydon – The Christmas Tree was quilted and the binding stitched on. Pattern by Tina Curran. I loved doing this!

Siobhan Miller-Stone – This is a finished top. If you look carefully you’ll see this is a “Jack’s Chain” pattern:

Louise O’Hanlon – Hi everyone. This started out as a jelly roll I purchased. Put it all together and it looked awful. Nothing matched. Unusual for jelly rolls. I decided to buy some plain fabric and cut it all into HST’s. Not too bad now. A present for my niece’s 50th birthday.

Hilary O’Kelly – Since last meeting I have no completed project as I have made fabric masks for my family, friends and community here. Sorry, no photos, because as soon as they are finished they are handed out or posted. I want to thank Maeve in Limerick for having her stock of elastic!

Carol O’Brien – This is the project we were given by Moya and Mary last September. It is a William Morris design.

Noreen Brazier – The Ballincollig Monday night patchwork girls answered the call to make face masks/covers, so we were kept busy since last month’s virtual meeting.

Anne Kelleher – my first grandchild arrived at the end of February just before Covid so I have a couple of baby quilts.

Honor Mangan – I started this quilt at class with Moya from some batik fabric I had… We found this zigzag pattern in an old magazine… It now awaits batting, etc. whenever we get back to class.
I’ve been busy making masks for family, friends and a batch went to my son in Ethiopia..

Heidi Krug-Wischniewski – I’ve been working on Grandmas Garden for the last 2 years and finally finished the middle bit with over 500 little hexagons, all hand sewing:

Heidi Krug-Wischniewski – My second one: Long ago I had cut out 10.5 inch batik squares for the backing of my Batikquilt, but I never used them. .Now I have and this is the result:

Heidi’s third one: This is an Appliqué which I finished last week, cutting out nearly 200 little tiny leaves and sewing them on:

Carol Cave – Here is photo of my Corona quilt. I have chosen the colours of the coronavirus that pop up on TV behind the news readers. It was a sew along project with Nikki Foley called #sewcialdistancing project.

Marie Sprott – Double bed size. Quilt made from two Moda Jelly rolls. One is an autumn selection and the other an off-white one. The sashing I already had, of course….. Pattern came from Missouri Star Quilts called Summer in the Park.

Marie Sprott – Below left is my appliqué from Sandra’s class earlier in the year. Finished at last but not sure what to do with it, either a small wall hanging or cushion cover. I also made this Greek Cross block for a cushion out of scraps last Monday. Just for something to do. I have also knitted two tea cosies and finished a jumper I started last year. I have found eborrow books great as well, especially the eaudio ones. I just plug into my book and am read to while sewing, knitting, ironing etc… Great!!

Tracy Wardle – This month I’ve been concentrating on making masks for front line workers and the vulnerable with the group Masks 4 All Ireland but in between I’ve been amusing myself by making little baby quilts for charity – these two tops are ready for quilting. I also completed 2 more postcards – this time I went with Appliqué- one for my mum-in-law, who always loved violas and one for the team in the care home where she’s looked after:

Rosemary Murphy – This is a wall hanging that I have recently completed, started about two years ago after a class with Nikki from The Sewing Shed.

Sandra Jansen – Some of you may remember I bought these (quilt) fabrics to make a top. Well, at least I started it. It still needs hemming though. In the mean time I am enjoying the Great British Sewing Bee (Wednesdays on BBC1) while knitting a “hitchhiker” shawl. Am I glad I don’t have to sew against the clock though!

Sandra Jansen – I have also finished this small “bug” drawstring bag from a pattern in a Japanese book that I had on the shelf for ages. A bit of a puzzle especially since I wanted to add a lining, but the measurements and templates at least were not in Japanese…

Moya – This is a quilt made with Solaire fabrics (the greys) and I substituted the oranges for pinks and reds:

Moya Geraghty – I have been happy experimenting with ombré fabrics. I have made 5 blocks using a quarter metre of the yellows into reds and purples, and of the yellows into blues and purples. I have also been laying out my winding way blocks made from ombré fabrics.

• 

• 

Aine Foley – I’m trying to work my way through a sizeable pile of UFOs – some of which have lain dormant for so long they’re antique!!
It’s funny how, for me, it’s something small but tricky that holds me up, like a zip in a bag, buttons for a cushion or a more detailed border for a quilt!!
Am making progress… now how about that pile if wool that’s lurking at the back of my press…!

Anne Walsh – Just finished

Sheila O’Sullivan – My project for May is a small wall hanging.
I’m looking forward to trying some free motion quilting here. Best wishes to all.

Eilís Watson – I’ve been primarily working on Bonnie Hunter’s mystery quilt ‘Unity’ #unityquiltalong. We’re currently on Round 7. This border will feature 34 of the 8.5” block (pictured). I’ve also included a picture of my progress to date.

Eilís Watson – ‘Stained-glass affect’: I finished this quilt last weekend. Stacked nine fat-quarters on top of each other, made 2 horizontal cuts and 2 vertical cuts. I then moved the fabrics around so that each ‘block’ had 9 different colours and added black sashing between all the pieces.

Well, ladies, that was today’s show and tell, I hope you enjoyed it. Wishing you a lovely weekend, and some creativity to relax with in the weeks to come. And if you have any new projects to show for next month’s “meeting” on the 20th of June, send it any time before then and we’ll create another post.

Take care, stay safe, and stay in touch!

Sandra