Some more highlights from "Branching Out" at the Botanic Gardens

"Roses for Rosemary" by Christine McComish. I really liked the mixture of pieced patchwork and applique on this quilt. And the flowers seemed to have a 3d quality to them.

"Family Album" by Mary Ann Fitzpatrick-Browne. This traditional woollen quilt had lovely bainin wools, tweeds, felted sweaters and the backing was a recycled family blanket. I took photos of the details: cats, dogs, sewing machine, thread & scissors and this quirky chicken.

"Poppy Love" by Lynn Naughton. Although I had seen Lynn's quilt at our own exhibition I somehow missed the details! Lynn painted the poppies using a technique learned from the Kemshall's 'Design Matters TV'. But I enjoyed looking at all the little details I missed the first time: little stamped flowers on the trellis design and all the feathered quilting stitches.

"Birchfield" by Elaine Doyle. This subltle quilt was really beautiful. Neutral coloured silks with machine and hand embroidery and lovely machine quilting.

"Parachutes" by Ann Fleeton. I've been a fan of Ann's work since I first met her at an Eastern Branch IPS meeting and I've been lucky enough to participate in a number of her classes. Here she has pieced together cotton organdie, silk organza and silk paper. I love the delicacy of her hand-painted fabrics and machine-stitched drawing.

Branching Out: National IPS exhibition at the Botanic Gardens

The National Exhibition of the Irish Patchwork Society is currently running in the Botanic Gardens, Dublin until 2nd August, 2011. Together with other members of the Western Branch I made a trip by bus to see it at the weekend. The exhibition is well worth a visit if you get the chance, the Botanic Gardens are beautiful and the restaurant has lovely teatime treats or lunch.

The following photos are just some of the highlights that particularly caught my eye (I will credit each artist name below soon but I just don't have the details to hand as I upload these photos). Trust me there's loads more to see, with a huge variety of skill levels, techniques, colours and fabric choices in traditional and contemporary styles....so there's something to appeal to everyone's taste. The IPS members at the information desk are helpful, there's a catalog on sale for 5 Euro and there's a sticky felt design-board for children to play at designing their own patchwork patterns.

"Breathe In, Breathe Out, Interior, Exterior Spaces"by Meg Kenny. I liked the mix of techniques in this piece (Photo printing and applique).

"Growth Patterns" by Ailbhe O'Callaghan I loved the colour choices in this quilt and also the precision of the composition.

"Branching Out/New Beginnings" by Brenda Hogan. I almost missed seeing this piece as it was hung on the side of a pillar. My photo doesn't really do justice to the autumn colours of the batik fabrics used.

"Poppies and Daisies" by Moira Byrne. I loved the colour-wash pieced background and the applique on top in this quilt.

"The Chameleon" by Joke Bursma. The colours and the detailed stitching were worthy of close inspection. But stand back and the piece has immediate visual impact also. This piece was chosen for the cover of the catalogue.

Branching Out: National Exhibition of the Irish Patchwork Society at the Botanic Gardens

I was delighted an image of my work (top right) was chosen along with 7 other pieces (4 from Galway in total!) for the invitation to 'Branching Out' the National Exhibition at the Botanic Gardens, Dublin. The exhibition runs until 2nd August and the official opening is at 11.30am on Tuesday 5th July. The Western Branch will travel to the exhibition by bus on Saturday 9th July (members can contact Joan Colleran for details or see http://www.westernips.blogspot.com/). More information about the exhibition celebrating 30 years of the society can be seen at

http://irishpatchwork.blogspot.com/ and also on the Crafts Council's Year of Craft website
http://www.craftinireland.com.

"Branching Out" an exhibition by the Western Branch of Irish Patchwork Society at the Galway City Museum

PLEASE NOTE THIS EXHIBITION HAS CLOSED EARLY DUE TO RENOVATIONS AT THE GALWAY CITY MUSUEM. APOLOGIES TO ANYONE WHO MISSED THE EXHIBITION DUE TO THE SHORT NOTICE OF THE CLOSURE

"Branching Out" an exhibition of quilts by the Western Branch of the Irish Patchwork Society will open at 3pm on Saturday April 16th at the Galway City Museum, all are welcome! It promises to be a great exhibition, so don't miss it!

On 7th April, 2011 the Western Branch of the Irish Patchwork Society presented the museum with this beautiful quilt "Western Reflections" showing some scenes of life in the West of Ireland. The quilt will remain part of the Museum's permanent collection.

For more information about the Western Branch of the IPS see http://www.westernips.blogspot.com/