Custom House Studios will continue to host Silver Threads, an exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Octagon Quilters Group in Westport, every day until July 24.
Octagon Quilters began in 1996 when Patricia O’Dowda came to Westport from Wales. She held her first exhibition in Westport Town Hall where she met Madeleine Jordan and from there Octagon Quilters began with eight members, some of whom are still members today. Initially meeting in the Town Hall, the group has grown to 25 members and now meets in the Quay Community Centre every Tuesday from 10am to 1pm from September to June.
Workshops also take place, some given by members of the group and some by outside teachers. The summer outing this year is to the River of Dreams Exhibition in Limerick. Every year, the Quilters make quilts for charity. In 2014, the group won Mayo People of the Year Award for its contributions to the following charites: Goal, Sacred Heart Home, Women’s Refuge, and many more.
Last year, the charity was making fidget quilts for several nursing homes in Mayo. These are quilts with textured embellishments like zips, pockets, buttons, and ribbons; they are helpful for the comforting of Alzheimer patients. They also made quilted covers for the incubators in special care baby units in conjunction with The Quilters Guild of Ireland. The exhibition runs every day at Custom House Studios until July 24. All are welcome.
