MILLYPENNY

The European Quilt Association (EQA) had a picture exchange this summer where people selected a photograph as inspiration which was then divided into a right and left half. The quilters then had to make 2 small quilters 20 x 40cm (approx. 8" x 16"). the right half of their own picture and the left half of a randomly assigned partner.  I received this photo from my Dutch partner Jopie which was of a tree.  Jopie's inspiration photo. I spent a lot of time mulling over how to make this piece and eventually ended up making this piece using hand-dyed and rust-dyed fabrics. I then used gold and copper metallic paints with my own thermofax screen prints of bark and tree branches to capture the impression of the tree bark and stark branches from the photograph.  The Dutch quilters had an exhibition of their EQA quilts over the weekend, and my EQA partner Jopie sent me on a photo of the two quilts hanging together. 

 The biennial Hands Across the Border exhibition took place at the An Tain Arts Centre, Dundalk from the exhibition from the 31st August to the 4th September.  The Hands Across the Border exhibition is run jointly by the Irish Patchwork Society and the Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild.  I managed to get a piece done for this exhibit (was working up to the wire to get this quilt finished in time!).  The theme of this years exhibit was "Hanging Together Again" so I used men's shirts (three of my Dad's old shirts actually) to make most of my piece. It's based on a small laneway in Ennis called Friary Bow. Ennis is full of these old laneways, a lot of these laneways and bow-ways were temporarily closed this year to get a makeover (tiling, better signage of the laneways etc.). This laneway is full of interesting colours and shapes, great contrast with the turquoise storefront than can be seen from the arch.  I used acrylic paints and markers to alter the fabrics in m...

 I'm currently doing a 6-week Fabric Portrait Class with Luke Haynes.  For the 2nd class, we were sent a template of Elvis Presley to make. We were advised to use solid fabrics for his portraits (I'd already done a Dolly Parton portrait using patterned fabric) so thought I'd follow the rules a little bit this time and use some solid fabrics.  After completing it, I think I still prefer using patterned fabric, I think it adds a bit more interest and texture to the piece (But it does depend on what scale of fabrics are used - need to use small scale prints here)  Have had the portrait applique ready for a few weeks while deciding on what background to use. Finally decided the other night to go for high contrast - had a look through all my yellow fat quarters and cut out 5 1/2 inch squares to use for the background.  Now to finish off quilting the background and then adding the applique section. 

Oops, I knew I had neglected my blog but didn't realise that it was so long since I last posted (July 2020).  Anyways 2020 and 2021 have not been normal years for anyone, so I'm going to try and post a bit more regularly. Thanks to Covid, there has been no sewing meet-ups or workshops apart from online ones. I saw that Luke Haynes was running an online Portrait class last month and signed up. A few days before the workshop, all the participants were emailed the pattern (which was a portrait of Dolly Parton!) I really enjoyed this workshop, with lots of information provided. Luke Haynes uses glue to affix his fabric pieces but I used the old reliable bondaweb! The technique itself is fairly labour intensive, each section has to be cut out of the paper pattern and then cut out of the fabric - so not a fast process but the results are great. You had to use four fabrics for this portrait - dark going to light. I used a dark green solid and the rest of the fabrics were 1980 flower p...

Thought I would have loads of time to be posting during lock-down but it hasn't worked out like that. Have been going into work since this whole crisis started (but just 2 or 3 days a week since May as the aviation industry has been badly affected by Covid-19). I have been working away on lots of different projects, but they're all mostly long-term projects so nothing has been finished yet. Like the quilt below, I have it all basted but no time yet to quilt it.  One project that I have been making progress on is a string quilt (to use up some of my fabric scraps), have this one nearly done just a few more blocks to make! As well as working on all different projects, I have also been spending lots of time working in my sketchbooks and journals - a great way to pass the time and work on new ideas for future projects.

I'm a member of the Quilters Guild of the British Isles - previously an International member as Region 17 used to just cover Northern Ireland. At the last AGM, this was changed so Region 17 now covers all of Ireland. The Quilters Guild are celebrating 40 years in existence this year, and wanted all branches etc. to host a party. So, Region 17 had their own party last week in Margaret McCrory's house in Co. Down. There was lots of cake and numerous rounds of tea and coffee.     There was a good turnout for the meeting, 6 of us came from the South, and the rest from all over Northern Ireland. We had all agreed to bring two quilts for show and tell, some members brought their first quilt, so it was lovely hearing the stories related to the quilts. As well as the food, we also got through some guild/business related matters and I'm now on the committee of Region 17.

Two weeks ago I went to the Loughrea Medieval Festival, the festival has been running for a good few years but it was the 1st time I'd gone to it. Have to say, I really enjoyed the day, the weather was glorious and picked up loads of interesting facts and tid-bits at the fair. One woman was demonstrating bobbin lace and had folders full of samples and notes showing how it was constructed. There was lots of people (mostly men) dressed in Medieval armour, having sword-fights etc. but there was also stands with straw-weaving, wood-carving etc. straw weaving    There was a blacksmith from Mountshannon I think who was making copper keychains with children (who had a steam-punk bicycle and other interesting objects).  steam punk milk  churn steam-punk bicycle One stand had a woman showing natural dyed yarns, so she had used lichens, onions and nettles to create some lovely subtle shades.

A few weeks ago I went up to see the 12th Annual Patchwork and Quilting Exhibition run by Quilt Yarn Stitch (quilt shop in Tuam, Co. Galway). I've gone up for the last few years to see this exhibit as it's always interesting. Thanks to the new motorway between Gort and Tuam, going up to Tuam is now even faster. I really liked seeing the quilts made by children, they had great ideas and their quilts were really well made. One girl made a quilt for her grandmother which was really lovely. This quilt was made by a 12 year old boy. Quilt by Naomi Wynne-Collins      This was a fun bear quilt (didn't get the makers name unfortunately).  

Last weekend I went to Nottingham for the Quilters Guild of the British Isles AGM. Being in Ireland, means that I've never attended any of the Quilter's Guild AGM's - too far and expensive to travel. However, I had a very good reason to attend this particular AGM - as I received my certificate for completing the Quilters Guild Judging Course. It was nice to get a certificate after all the work and study involved in the course. And, very conveniently there was direct flights from Shannon Airport to East Midlands Airport, meaning that I could get there easily. The AGM itself was very well organised and quick with computer presentations for each speaker. All the new Quilt Judges received their judging certificates during the AGM.   After lunch I'd signed for a Concourse (which to be honest I wasn't sure what was involved). As it turned out this concourse, was a variety of different demo's and talks. The demos which were run on a strict timetable of 25mi...

Yet again, I've neglected to update my blog. Didn't realise I last updated it in September 2018, so I will definitely have to try and update it more often. I have a load of quilting projects on the go, very few of them finished at the moment though.... I finished this Carolyn Friedlander Catenary pattern wall-hanging back in November. I did a big clear out of photos on my phone recently and seem to have deleted the finished photo of the quilt, so here's on of the quilt being blocked. I really enjoyed this project, got carried away with the hand applique and had them done in a few days.     I finished another Carolyn Friedlander pattern Aerial Grove last month, so must get a few decent photographs of it.   I'm off to the Nottingham in the UK this evening, going to attend the Quilters Guild of the British Isles AGM tomorrow, which should be interesting.      

Had a very busy time at this year's Festival of Quilts. It all went by in flash, which was funny seeing as I was there for 5 days! There was lots of exhibitions and quilts to see, more than last year I though. And the standard of the entered quilts was extremely high this year. I finally get my act together to post some of my favourites from the show. I still have lots more photographs to upload, but thought I'd make a start on getting back to regular blogging. The Modern Quilt Category was interesting this year, with some really intriguing quilts. Like last year, there were a large number of quilts wrongly entered in this category, but I did enjoy these entrants much more than last year. Mini to Maxi Churn Dash by Abigail Sheridan De Graff Curled by Charlie Mankin

About two weeks ago, I stopped off in Mountmellick on the way home from Dublin Airport. The Laois Quilters were having an exhibition "A Medley of Quilts" in Mountmellick Library from the 3-28th July 2018. I have to say I was impressed with the quilting standard on display at this exhibition. Every piece of work was beautifully finished, hanging correctly etc. There were some fun quilts like this one - Quilt Diva by Mary McLoughlin. And there were a number of bags on display including this really detailed embroidered and appliqued bag. There was a beautiful string quilt as a raffle prize. Some of the pieces that caught my eye were "Dad's Land Rover" by Lizl Grobler, which was raw-edge appliqued and free-motion quilted.   I also loved Ethelda Ellis's piece "Vidi" about her beloved Labrador Vidi. For this piece, Ethelda used her realistic applique technique wit raw-edges enhanced with free-motion quilting and embroidery. ...

The IPS National AGM was on in Cork on Saturday 7th October. UK textile artist Janice Gunner was the guest speaker after the talk.

Thread Song - An Exhibition of Textiles by members of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland   Glor Theatre in Ennis is currently showing a textile exhibition which commemorates the life and work of Nobel Prize-winning poet, William Butler Yeats, one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. The artists were asked to respond to The Song of Wandering Aengus. Work in this exhibition is a celebration of Ireland, through the prism of one of its most renowned literary icons. Featured artists include Frances Crowe, Patricia Cox, Frances Leach and Lesley Stothers.   The exhibition is free of charge to visit and runs until 29th July. There's lot of interesting pieces to see in this exhibit, including textile pieces by Mary Palmer and Ann Kiely.  Glor is also running a few workshops in conjunction with this exhibition. I've signed up for a half-day weaving workshop run by Frances Crowe later on in July. I've never tried weaving, so t...

I've recently started making a quilt using "Bright Lights, Big City" pattern from Double Wedding Ring Quilts book by Victoria Findlay Wolfe. I've only 1 block made so far (8 more to go) so it's probably going to be a long-term project. On the plus side, each block is really large (about 30") and it does look good so far. I need to cut 72 foundation pieced arcs for the quilt, but got very sick of tracing the pattern pieces after making 8 units and thought I'd give foundation piecing using freezer paper a try. I did a bit of googling to find different ways to use freezer paper when foundation piecing. I was a bit dubious and thought this method wouldn't work or be as precise, but it does work and I haven't found any difference between the traditional foundation piecing method (which means sewing through the papers) and the foundation-piecing using the freezer paper method. Best thing about this method is you don't sew through the ...

One of my quilts "In the Shadows" will be on display in Spike Island later on this week as part of "Freedom" the 2nd Irish Quilters Showcase exhibition. The opening of the exhibition is in The Mitchel Hall on Spike Island on Thursday the 26th of May 2016. There will be two exhibitions opening on that date. “Devil in a Dress” is by Kevin Dinan and “Freedom “ the 2nd Irish Quilters’ Showcase exhibition features quilters from all over Ireland. A boat will leave from Kennedy Pier, Cobh at 1pm and return at 3pm. ... Spike Island will be closed the week starting the 30th of May and will reopen on the 6th of June. The exhibitions will run until the 13th of June  

The Modern Quilters of Ireland group (MQI) regularly hold swaps. The swap this summer was to make a tote bag for each other and add a gift. Bags had to be posted last week so should be arriving to everyone involved this week. Everyone involved in the swap had to make a mosiac of what of bags they liked, list of likes and dislikes etc.  This is the bag recently finished for the modern quilters of Ireland tote swap. Just put it in the post today, so hopefully my swap partner will have it tomorrow. Hope she likes it! When I got home from work this evening, a parcel was waiting for me - which contained my tote bag from the swap. Thanks a million to Irena for making me such a fabulous bag and the very generous gifts. I have to try to get a photo of the bag in daylight tomorrow Wonder what the next MQI swap will be??

I've almost finished a new Christmas quilt. It feels a bit weird working on a Christmas quilt so early,but at least this way the quilt will be finished in time. The pattern was adapted from a Christmas quilt in Quilt Now magazine. Om 

The 1st ever National Quilting Week of Ireland takes place from 1st-7th June. There will be various quilting exhibitions taking place throughout Ireland for this event, including the Irish Quilters Showcase. This exhibition will be opening on 22nd May in the Blasket Centre, Dingle, Co. Kerry. I have an quilt in this exhibit titled "Stone Walls of the West".

Last week I received my quilt "In the Street I was Lost" back from Contemporary Quilters UK. The theme for this quilt was Dislocation and it started out on display at the Festival of Quilt 2014. This exhibit travelled to a number of different venues and exhibits throughout the year. In the Street I was Lost This year's Contemporary Group Challenge is "Elemental". I haven't started making my piece yet, but do have an idea in mind for it.