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Inishowen becomes quilt mecca
22.06.09
QUILT makers and
quilting fans gathered yesterday for the launch of
Inishowen's very own glossy magazine devoted to the
skilful, colourful and beautiful subject.
What started as a two page newsletter by Buncrana
quilter, Gaye Grant, has now turned into 'Irish
Quilt and Craft' a full colour periodical dedicated
to the world of patchwork quilting, crafts and much
more. The homegrown magazine was officially launched
at the 1st Annual Patchwork Party and Quilt Jamboree
at Restex Bedding Showroom in Lisfannon, near
Buncrana.
'Irish Quilt and Craft' is currently published
bi-monthly, with nearly 700 direct subscribers. The
magazine's owner-editor Gaye Grant said: ‘The North
West has a thriving quilt community I'm delighted
that it is now also home to Ireland’s first
specialist quilting magazine." |
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With three specialist
shops including Gaye’s own Fennel Shed in Buncrana,
Mission Hall in Derry and Pauline’s Country Quilts
in Dunfanaghy, numerous classes, workshops and
quilting groups, the North West is a real quilting
mecca. And it's even boosting local tourism. Rena
Doherty of the Inishowen Gateway Hotel explains: "We
regularly have customers staying from all over the
country who are in town to visit The Fennel Shed and
have had several group bookings from people
attending classes and workshops here. It is an
incredible phenomenon which seems to go largely
unnoticed in the town." |
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The Quilt Jamboree
itself attracted hundreds of visitors to Buncrana -
many of whom stayed for additional classes and
workshops and to enjoy the Inishowen peninsula.
Pauline Openneer runs Pauline’s Country Quilts in
Dunfanaghy and loves Gaye's magazine. "It is not
only a fantastic publication for quilters everywhere
with unique patterns and articles, but a real boost
for quilting businesses like my own particularly as
it is published here but read all over Ireland,
Britain and even the US now." |
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