Category: Letter from the Chair

April Letter from the Chair

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Greetings members!

With our AGM happening this month, this is going to be one of my last opportunities to write to you on behalf of the committee.  It’s been an honor to serve as the chair, and I’ve learned and grown so much though my experience here at the Southern Branch.

On April 8th, 2017 we’ll be meeting at the Sacred Heart Church on Western Road at 10:00 am.

Patchwork Plus will be our shop.

The agenda of the meeting includes:

  • Social Time
  • Welcome and Announcements
  • Annual General Meeting (AGM)
  • Block of the Month
  • Needle Book Swap
  • Show and Tell
  • And our Raffle

Tea and coffee is provided, other refreshments depend on your generosity.

A few notes for you about the AGM.  This is the yearly meeting where the formal business of the organization is performed.  During the meeting, we’ll have the Chair’s Report, Minutes of the last AGM, Treasurer’s Report, Executive Representative’s report, Motions, election of new committee, and any new business.  Please see the attached file for the Agenda.   I’d recommend printing your own for taking any notes as we’ll only have a limited amount of copies.

The committee has decided that visitors are welcome to sit in the meeting, however only paid up members are allowed to vote on any business presented.

A note about any motions that you’d like to put forward—motions presented at the Southern Branch’s AGM should only be actionable for the Southern Branch.  If you’re interested in putting forth a motion for Executive level business, that should be done at the National AGM that is happening October 7th at the Kingsley here in Cork.  Remember that any motions presented at the local or national level need to be specific and actionable to be accepted.

I’d also like to invite all members of the branch to join the committee!  It’s essential for the branch to run smoothly to have 5-6 members on the committee.  With three members stepping down, the branch will need three more to take their place.  The current committee has focused on making the transition as easy as possible by having plans in place for all of the meetings up to June.

Did you get a chance to see the Community Exhibition at the Sirius Arts Centre?  Wasn’t it a fantastic exhibition?  If you submitted a quilt, you can pick it up at our meeting on Saturday.  If you aren’t able to attend our meeting on Saturday, you can arrange a time to get your quilt from Assumpta.  You can email her at skipper.assumpta@gmail.com or phone her at (087) 224 1540.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

–Erin

March Letter from the Chair

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Exhibition Opening with Cork County Mayor Seamus McGrath

Greetings members!

Have you had a chance to check out the Community Exhibition going on at the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh?  The exhibition continues until the 26th of March.  The hours at the Sirius are Tuesday through Friday 11:00 – 17:00 and Saturday and Sunday 13:00 – 17:00.  Closed on Mondays.

The Sirius Arts Centre is holding a five week event, This Must Be the Place | The Great Island from the 22nd of February to the 26th of March.  This includes daily activities.  On the 8th of March, Ailbhe O’Callaghan is presenting a talk, “30,000 Years of Quilting, Where is it Going in Ireland.”  This talk begins at 13:oo on a first come, first served basis.  To see the full schedule of events, click on this link.

Don’t forget:

On Saturday, March 11 at 10:00am we’ll be meeting at the Sacred Heart Church on Western Road for our monthly meeting.

Limerick Quilt Centre will be our shop.

The Agenda for the meeting will include:

  • Welcome and announcements
  • Information about April’s AGM
  • Block of the Month
  • April Swap announcement
  • Guest Speaker: Ruth Bourke
  • Show and Tell
  • Social Time
  • Raffle
  • Demonstration

 

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Directly after the meeting, we’ll be running the Ticker Tape Class with Ruth Bourke.  Ticker Tape is a technique using fabric scraps to make a larger picture.  We have open spots for the class, so if you’re interested, be sure to message corkips@gmail.com

Remember if you are planning on staying over for the class, bring a lunch as one will not be provided. 

Tea and coffee is provided, other refreshments depend on your generosity.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

See you on Saturday!

–Erin

 

February Letter from the Chair

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Greetings Members!

I’ve finally pulled out my Community Exhibition quilt to hand sew the binding on so it will be ready for our deadline for submission on the 20th of February.  (The binding has been on since before the holidays!)  If you’re planning to submit, don’t forget to sew a hanging sleeve and quilt label on!

As I’ve been talking about the Exhibition, some members have had questions about what type of quilts they can submit.  You are free to exhibit any quilt you’ve ever made!  In your artist’s statement, just be sure to tie it into our theme of “Community.”  Our deadline for submittal is the 20th of February.  You have the following options to submit quilts:

  • Connect with me via the Branch email or by my phone number, 0871438506. I live in Ballincollig, and can take your quilts.
  • Submit your quilt at our February meeting on the 11th
  • Submit your quilt at the next committee meeting, February 18th at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs, from 11:00-13:00.

Be sure to include the entry form and €5 entry fee.  You can download the entry form on our website under the “downloads” folder or fill it out at our next meeting.  Or download the form here.  We will do our best to hang all quilts received.

The opening reception will occur on the 2nd of March, at 18:30 at the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh.

The 11th of February meeting is also your last opportunity to submit a 6.5 inch nine patch with blue centre for the group Community Quilt Joanna is sewing together!  The video tutorial for a nine patch can be found on our website.

Don’t forget, next week, the 11th of February, we’ll be meeting at the Sacred Heart Church on Western Road in Cork for our February meeting.

Patchwork Plus will be our shop.

The Agenda of the meeting will include:

  • Welcome and announcements
  • Block of the Month
  • Emer Fahy will be our guest speaker
  • Pincushion swap
  • Show and Tell
  • And social time!

If you’re bringing a pincushion to swap, please bring it in an opaque/brown paper bag, so we can have a blind swap.

You’ll  also have the opportunity to sign up for our March workshop with Ruth Bourke, the Ticker Tape quilt.

Tea and coffee is provided, other refreshments depend on your generosity.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

See you on Saturday!

–Erin

 

 

 

January Letter from the Chair

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Greetings members!

I hope you’re recovering as well as I am from the holidays.  Now that my family has returned to the United States, I’ve got access to my sewing machine—a month was too long to be away from it!

Starting with a few announcements:

On a sad note, Southern Branch Member Kitty Whelan has passed away over the weekend.  My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends in this difficult time.

A call for blocks:

Joanna is heading the effort to create a quilt made of nine patches for the Community Exhibition.  Members are requested to create a 6.5 inch nine patch block with a blue centre square.  A video tutorial for a simple nine patch block is posted on the blog.

December’s block of the month instructions had an error.  For the Double Friendship Star’s cutting instructions, under background fabric, it should read “Five 4 ½ inch squares”

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On January 14th, we’re meeting at the Sacred Heart Church on Western Road at 10:00 am for a day of patchwork fun!

The agenda of the meeting includes:

  • Block of the Month
  • Quilt label demonstration
  • AGM 2017 Update
  • February Swap Announcement
  • A talk by Tomomi McElwee about her quilting journey.  She’s bringing some of her amazing work for us to see!
  • “Community” Exhibition Information
  • March Workshop Announcement
  • Show and Tell
  • Raffle
  • Apple Tree Crafts will be the shop

Tea and Coffee will be provided at our meeting, however cakes and other goodies are dependent on members.

And in the afternoon, Tomomi will be showing us how to make her gorgeous Patchwork Drawstring Bags!  There’s only one space left if you’re interested in joining in!  Be sure to let me know, so I can send you the supply list and you can get your fabric precut.  If any member who has already signed up hasn’t received their supply list, please let me know!  NOTE:  If you’re staying over for the class, lunch is not provided, you’ll need to plan ahead.

See you on Saturday!  Please let me know if you have any concerns or questions!

 

December Letter from the Chair

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Greetings members!

The Christmas season has always been my favourite time of the year, even before my boys were born.  We’ve put up our tree, and I’ve even hung the patchwork stockings I made last year on the mantle.

The committee met today to start to plan the rest of the meetings prior to the summer break.

On December 10, 2016, at 10:00,

we’ll be meeting at the Sacred Heart Church on Western Road for our annual Christmas meeting!

Patchwork Plus will be the shop for the meeting, and Moya will also be giving us a talk on Christmas Patchwork Projects!

Our next two blocks of the Block of the Month project will be debuted.

Ann is putting the finishing touches on the annual Christmas Table Quiz.  Be ready with your quilting knowledge!

We’ll see the results of the Christmas Challenge, Mug Rugs!

In response to members requesting a Kris Kringle, the committee is going to be running a Mug Rug Swap from the Challenge Mug Rugs!  For members who don’t want to swap your challenge, don’t worry, you’ll be able to opt out of the swap if you want.  Bring a Mug Rug, take a mug rug!

Bring your projects for Show and Tell!  Our last few Show and Tells have been amazing, and full of inspiration!

We’ll have our usual Raffle!

Tea and Coffee will be provided, however cakes and other goodies will be dependent on members.

We’re looking forward to seeing you on the 10th!  If you’re unable to come, we wish you a healthy and safe holiday season!

November Letter from the Chair

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Hello Members!

It’s time for our November meeting, happening at

 10:00 am
November 19, 2017 at the Sacred Heart Church on Western Road. 

The committee has been working hard since the last meeting and we have a LOT to share with you!

First, we’ve hosting two shops at our meeting, Lismore Quilts and Sew Crafty Fabrics!  It’s a great opportunity for you to get supplies to finish the projects you’re working on to gift over the holidays.

We’ll also be hosting the members of the Midwestern Branch of the Irish Patchwork Society!  It’s a great opportunity to meet and network with the members from Limerick.  We’ve asked them to bring some projects to show and tell to inspire us!

Our November Block of the Month will be debuted.

Our December challenge will be announced.  We’re looking forward to seeing what you make!

During our social time before the meeting, we’ll also have a slow stitching demonstration.  Be sure to check it out!

The sign-up sheet for Tomomi McElwee’s class, the Drawstring Patchwork Bag, will be available.  This workshop will be happening after our January meeting, from approximately 1 pm to 5 pm.  The cost of the workshop is €30.  Remember that sign-ups are first come first served!

There are a few books left from the Library book sale.  These will be available for €2.

We will have our usual raffle.

Be sure to bring your projects to show off during Show and Tell!  We’d love to be able to inspire the Midwestern Branch as well with our makes!

Tea and coffee will be supplied, we look forward to seeing what cakes and other refreshments you can provide.

After the meeting, we’ll host the Midwest Branch for an Open Sew Afternoon!  For Southern Branch members interested in staying, we’ll have lunch available for a small fee.  **Note, depending on demand for the open sew afternoon, be prepared with a hand sewing project just in case there isn’t enough room for your sewing machine!    I’ll be bringing a quilt to sew the binding on just in case I won’t be able to work on my sons’ quilts!

See you all on Saturday, please feel free to email me if you have any questions!  corkips@gmail.com

 

October Letter from the Chair

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Greetings members!  October is here, and that means it is time for our annual open meeting!

On October 8th, 2016 we’ll be at the Sacred Heart Church on Western Road for our Annual

Open Meeting at 10:00 am.

We’ve got a lot of activities planned for the meeting for your enjoyment.

  • John O’Donnell will again be joining us at this meeting, giving a talk and servicing your machines.  If you’d like your machine to be serviced, please send a note to corkips@gmail.com to be put on the list.  Price is €45.
  • Patchwork Plus will be our shop, and will bring lots of lovely fabrics and supplies to choose from.
  • We’ll have ongoing demos including the Block of the Month, Patchwork Shoulder Bag, and Accu Cutter.
  • Bring your latest quilts to show off in the Show and Tell.  We love being inspired by all of your work.
  • Our usual Raffle.
  • Some special events going on at the meeting also include the sale of the library books that have been culled from the Library.  All books will be €2.  Come early for the best selection!

Also happening after the meeting is an Open Sew Afternoon!  This is a great opportunity to bring your latest work in project, or begin working on your entry for the Southern Branch Exhibition, “Community,” happening in March!  Be sure to bring all the supplies you need to sew, including extension leads.

Tea and coffee will be supplied, we look forward to seeing what cakes and other refreshments you can provide.

Note:  If you’re planning on staying for the open sew afternoon, I’d also recommend bringing a lunch along as well.

I’m looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!

September Letter from the Chair

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Greetings members!

I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer!  I’ve participated in many activities from taking the boys to the seaside, viewing a few exhibitions, and sewing, sewing sewing!

On September 10th, we’ll be returning to the Sacred Heart Church on Western Road for our first meeting of the year!  We’ll begin at 10 am with some social time, and begin our programming at 10:30.

Limerick Quilt Centre will be our shop for the meeting.  They’re asking our members that if they have any suggestions for items to bring.  Please message them if you’d like to request something specific.  

Our programming includes:

  • Announcements
  • Summer Challenge, “Revolutionary” results
  • September Block of the Month
  • Show and Tell – Be sure to bing the projects you’ve been working on over the summer!
  • Photography for submitting to the Knitting and Stitching show gallery
  • Raffle

As September is the beginning of our ‘year,’ be sure to bring a completed membership form and dues of €40 to this meeting.  Downloading the form and filling it out beforehand will streamline the process. DOWNLOAD THE MEMBERSHIP FORM HERE.

Tea and coffee will be supplied, we look forward to seeing what cakes and other refreshments you can provide.

The committee has been working hard over the summer planning for the upcoming year.  We’re looking forward to announcing it all at the meeting!

—Erin

corkips@gmail.com

June Letter from the Chair

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Greetings everyone!  I hope you’ve enjoyed the beautiful weather we’ve been having!  The boys and I have made multiple trips to the park, played in the backyard pool and while they nap to recover from the day, I’ve been busy working on sewing projects!  I should have a completed quilt to show at our Show and Tell this meeting.

I hope you’re ready for a jam packed meeting!  We’ve got a lot planned for the last meeting before the summer break.

On June 11, 2016 we’ll be meeting at the Sacred Heart Church on Western Road, starting at 10 am.  

Patchwork Plus is the shop for the meeting.

— At the meeting, we’ll be announcing the Summer Challenge!  We’ve decided on a prize and hope you find it as valuable as we do!

— We’ll also be holding a brainstorming session.  The committee is hoping you’ll be coming armed with ideas for the programming you’d like to see in the upcoming year.  We’ll be taking these ideas and incorporating them in our planning for the year over the summer.

— The first block of the Block of the Month will debut.  Photocopies of the instructions will be made available at the meeting, with the directions posted to the website 3 months later.

— Ruth Bourke will be our speaker for the meeting.  She’s planning on talking about the Modern Quilting movement.

— We will have our usual raffle.

— Don’t forget to bring something to Show and Tell!  We love seeing your work!

— There will also be Tea and Coffee, and any refreshments you are kind enough to bring.

— For the members who’ve signed up, don’t forget about our workshop, “Traditional Blocks Made Modern” after the meeting.  You should have received a supply list on what you need to bring and some cutting instructions if you wish to pre cut your fabrics.

— For any members who have outstanding library books, please be sure to bring them in!  We’re planning on going through the library this summer!

Hope to see you on Saturday!  Please email us if you have any comments or concerns!

Erin Case
corkips@gmail.com

May Letter from the Chair

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Greetings everyone!  I hope May is finding you well.  On behalf of the new committee, I’d love to say we’re very excited about the upcoming year!  As I’m currently on holidays, Joanna will be taking over the duties of running our next meeting.

On May 14, 2016 we’ll be meeting at the Sacred Heart Church on Western Road, starting at 10 am.  

Kilbora Quilt Shoppe will be the shop for the meeting.  Anne Marie is planning on bringing a ton of deals for you to take advantage of as the shop has closed.

Anne Marie Hobbs will also be giving a talk.

Mary Palmer will be demonstrating binding, and there will be a hands on opportunity for members to try their hand at binding!

We will have our usual raffle.

Don’t forget to bring something to Show and Tell!  We love seeing your work!

Be sure to bring a quilt for consideration for the EQA Diversity exhibition at the Festival of Quilts.  Check out our blog for more information.  The committee will be deciding on the quilt to represent our branch on May 28th.  If you’re unable to attend the meeting, but would still like to put forth a quilt, please submit a good photograph to corkips@gmail.com

There will also be Tea and Coffee, and any refreshments you are kind enough to bring.

The sign up sheet for our June workshop will be available as well.  There’s only 6 spots available for Ruth Bourke’s “Traditional Blocks Made Modern.”  Be sure to sign up before you miss out on this awesome class!  We’re running a blog series on Ruth, and her class.  Be sure to follow it!

Don’t forget about the deadline for the National Exhibition, May 31st!  Find the rules and entry form on our website.  Let’s make sure the Southern Branch is well represented!

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email me at the branch’s email or via Facebook.  I’m always accessible!

–Erin