Monday, June 11, 2012

International Quilt Festival Of Ireland

If the Fat Quarterly Retreat wasn't enough, I now have quilt OVERLOAD with the International Quilt Festival of Ireland being held in Galway this past weekend. Were you there?  Did you have fun?  See anything that made your heart flutter?

Spirits in general were high.  We had a gorgeous sunny weekend, so folks could stroll around with an ice cream and soak in the rays.  There were a gazillion different things to do ranging from chocolate tasting to lace making to long arm quilting demonstrations and antique quilt exhibits.  Anything your little heart desired.

I did have a good look around on Friday and found my favorite quilt of the exhibit....


The entire festival was very traditional in nature.  I wish they had a modern quilting exhibit, but no luck.  I also wish they had a exhibit that wasn't themed but instead featured the gorgeous quilts Irish quilters could make.  Again, no luck.  Still, there were quilts there that (if you searched hard enough) would make you stop and gasp.  You know I love color and this is the most colorful one I could find.  It was a mix of piecing and applique with fabulous quilting (that I wish I took a photo of!).  What really stole the show, though, is the Celtic knot that runs its way around the second outer most border.


It even stopped my other half in his tracks to inspect further.  Absolutely beautiful.

So, I spent a small bit of time walking around the exhibits and shopping.  I didn't take any classes as I was kind of classed-out after London.  But, I did spend a good bit of time hanging out at the Irish Patchwork Society booth with these lovely ladies.  We had a great laugh together.


And, of course, there was the Cu Na Mara exhibit (Irish for Sea Hound) hanging in the reception hall.  It was insanely difficult to get a photo of all 20 quilts together.  It was a shame, really, as they all intertwined in/out of one another.  I tried.  Now when I saw the design by the Irish Patchwork Society for this quilt I could easily imagine how spectacular they would be mixing with the panels on either side.  I imagined seeing the exhibit when walking to the building from the outside as the entire opposite wall is glass.  However, the festival put a false front onto the building covering up the glass with a plywood castle front.  There goes our fabulous exhibit.  So, you could kind of see it, but not take it in its full glory.  What to do.



When I was there, the sun was shining in from the roof, so there were shadows of the beams.  I, therefore, shamelessly steal this photo from Anneliese to show off my little part of the exhibit.  She got a much nicer photo!  There's little Cuchulainn getting his day out in the sun.


That's the news from Galway.  I'm heading off to make a few Granny Squares tonight.  Hope you're stitching too!


22 comments:

cheeky monkey said...

It was an amazing day and the Cu Na Mara looks great. I was sad that I did not step up the stairs and made a picture of all of them. Some had such a brilliant quilting on them ... absolutely amazing! the colors was so bright in the sunshine :) Lovely!

Katy Cameron said...

Phew, total quilty overload! Glad you got great weather though, over here you'd have been strolling in your wellies and full fisherman's sou'westers ;o)

Ester Kiely said...

Ah..we're exhausted but happy quilters!

Ester Kiely said...

Ah..we're exhausted but happy quilters!

Ester Kiely said...

Ah..we're exhausted but happy quilters!

Ester Kiely said...

Ah..we're exhausted but happy quilters!

Ester Kiely said...

Ah..we're exhausted but happy quilters!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

I think Ester was very happy!!
So glad you had a glorious weekend - I can imagine how wonderful your quilts looked together from your picture - well done you xxx

Sarah said...

Sounds like a great day out :-) How did it feel to see a quilt you'd done in a display like that? Looks like it must have been stunning.

Canadian Abroad said...

The quilts look fab all hanging I a row. You should be very proud.

Susan said...

Your panel of quilts looked fabulous! I'm sure all the visitors were impressed! And you must be proud too!

Rosemary Dickinson said...

I've been hearing about this quilt exhibit and didn't know anyone actually going. Your pictures make the show look like it was wonderful. Love the quilts all hanging along the top. Just beautiful!!

Cherie said...

Wow what an eye catching quilt! =D

Leanne said...

The quilts look stunning all hung together. And the event looks like it was great fun.

Lynne said...

What a wonderful couple of weeks you've had! I agree that colourful quilt is stunning and the Celtic knot is wonderful. What a shame your exhibition quilts couldn't be seen properly. What happens to your "part" after the exhibition is over?

Quilting In The Cold said...

Your quilts look fabulous all hanging together. They are stunning.

my4lilgirls said...

looks so great, am sorry I didn't go But I certainly won't miss it next year
Karen x

Nicky said...

That looks amazing - how exciting to be part of that! What happens to it now? I hope it gets hung somewhere it can be really appreciated!

Would you join in again??

GlescaGal said...

I just got back from the Festival last night.
The quilts were great. The Cu Na Mara looked great. It was just a pity that you couldn't see it the way that it was supposed to be seen.
I enjoyed the Festival too - the people, the volunteer helpers, the quilts, the vendors, the teachers - my two classes were great but the organisation left a lot to be desired and I do mean A LOT.

Judith, Belfast said...

Your cute dragon looks stunning there C! Sounds like it was a great festival. I'm sure your head is spinning! Jxo

Jennifer said...

cindy thats amazing! what an accomplishment! gorgeous work and thank you for sharing with all of us across the pond that couldn't be there to see!

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

The panel of quilts look fabulous but it's such a shame that they couldn't be seen to their best advantage...where are they going when the festival is taken down?

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