QUILT INDEX RECORD

40-38-565

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

International Quilt Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Oregon Quilt Project; Philomena Durcan Collection

Oregon Quilt Project ID#:

2016.WA.LP.04

Documentation Site:

Laurel Park

Date data collected:

06-08-2016

Quilt's title:

Celtic Sampler 2

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Owner's Name:

Durcan, Philomena Theresa

Quilt owner's city:

Portland

State

Oregon (OR)

Quilt owner's county:

Multnomah

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quilt name or pattern used by family/owner:

Celtic Sampler 2

Owner's relationship to quiltmaker (if any):

Quiltmaker

How was quilt acquired by owner?

Made by owner

Any additional stories or notes about the quilt's history or ownership?
Who will inherit this quilt?

Stefan Rosquist, a dear friend who has assisted me with order fulfillment will inherit this quilt.

Date finished:

c.1999

Place made:
City

Sunnyvale

State

California (CA)

Country:

United States

Top made by:

Durcan, Philomena

Quilted by:

Partridge, Nancy

Reason(s) quilt was made:

Other

Details about why the quilt was made:

To create Celtic designs

Has this quilt been exhibited, displayed, or entered in competitions?

This quilt has been exhibited at museums and shows.

Quiltmaker's Occupation, at the time the quilt was made:

Homemaker, Quilter, Author. Teacher. Owner of "Celtic Design Company".

Quiltmaker's birth date:

10-15-1934

Name of the city where the quiltmaker was born:

County Sligo

Name of the country where the quiltmaker was born:

Ireland

Highest education level completed:

High School

Quiltmaker's spouse's name:

Wiechec, Walter

Spouse's Occupation:

Physicist

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Durcan

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Irish

Religious Affiliation:

Roman Catholic

Number of children:

None

Did the quiltmaker make other quilt? approximately how many?

20-50 quilts

Major influences on quilt making?
Other interesting information about the quiltmaker:

My mother was a lacemaker and taught her craft. She also made lace for the church's altar cloths. She did not require that I learn sewing. I learned to sew and quilt after I married and moved to California.

Did the quiltmaker participate in group quilting activities?

Yes, Studio 12 and Sew N Sew Clubs in Sunnyvale, CA, USA. It was great fun and we all learned together. Marmie Schraub and Pat Gardner help me develop the bias tape applique technique. A wonderful friendship group.

Favorite pattern:
Piecing preferences:
Quilting is done with:

Favorites: Piecing: by hand Quilting: hoop

Reason(s) for quiltmaking:

Gifts; Pleasure; Other

Notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

My four books were published after the quilts were designed and made. More than one quilt design is included in the second, third and fourth books.

Do you know if any of the following exist?

patterns for quilting photos of quiltmaker Photo of quilt Quiltmaker's patterns Publications

Please give other stories, customs, or interesting information about this quilt:

From the Forward of "Celtic Quilt Designs II, Children of Lir" "...I have come full circle, returning to the traditional interlace and presenting 24 new Celtic Interlace designs. In the course of making the quilt, more Celtic interlace designs emerged. Working once again with my nephew Colm Sweetman, a graphic designer, more designs evolved and soon we were off again on another publishing trip. Many of the designs are new ones of our own, others were inspired by the historic "Book of Kells", the Ardagh chalice and the Tara brooch. Celtic sampler includes 8 of the above mentioned new interlace designs. The Celtic Quilt Designs II, The Children of Lir, also includes a section on Color and Design, and instructions on making the bias tapes and tracing the designs. It also includes the story of 'The Children of Lir'.

This is a:

Finished quilt

Overall width (in inches, to the nearest 1/2"):

54"

Overall length (in inches, to the nearest 1/2"):

76 1/2"

Block Size: width x length

13 3/4"

Sashing width:

2" width, with pieced cornerstones.

Borders: _1 _2 _3 _more than 3

2

Width: (in inches, to the nearest 1/2") _1 _2 _3 _____other

1st border: 1/4" 2nd border: 3"

Quilt Layout Format:

Block pattern

For quilts with a block format, describe how the quilt blocks are set together:

Separated by sashing with cornerstones or connecting blocks

Describe the quilt setting:

Block Pattern, On Point

Shape of edge:

Straight

Predominate Colors:

Green; Purple; Yellow

Overall Color Value:

Light or pastel colors

Damage to Quilt:

Fold marks or creases

Overall Condition:

Excellent/like new

Family/owner's date for quilt:

c.1999

Date Time Frame:

1976-1999

Content of Inscription (enter verbatim):

Philomena Durcan (her address) Sunnyvale, CA (her phone number)

Quilt Top Materials and Construction
Fibers types in Top:

Cotton

Fabric types in Top:

Muslin

Fabric patterns, styles or prints used:

Hand-dyed; Solid/plain

Quilt Top Construction
Piecing techniques:

Hand Piecing

Applique techniques:

Hand Applique

Quilting Description:
Techniques Used:

Hand quilting

Number of stitches per inch:

8 stitches per inch.

Thread Type:

Cotton

Thread Color:

White, Green on border.

Width between quilting lines:

1/4" to 3", density is sparse

Knots visible?

no

Overall Pattern Design:

In-the-ditch; Outline

Decorative Patterns:

Cables; Other

Background Fill Patterns:

None

Describe any quilting designs that appear on the quilt, but were not listed in a previous field.
Marking Lines:

Celtic patterns were also used in the quilting. Pencil marking lines are visible.

Binding:

Bias grain; Hand sewn; Machine sewn

Width of Binding:

half inch - one inch

Specific Width of Binding (measurement to nearest 1/16"):

1/2"

Quilt Batting
Materials Used:

Polyester

Batting Loft:

Thin

Describe the quilt filling:

Batting is thin loft.

Quilt Back Materials:

Cotton

Predominate Color of Backing:

Yellow

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

3

Width of pieces (nearest 1/2"):

6 3/4", 41", 6 1/2".

Describe the back:

Machine sewn

Source of Quilt's Materials:

Purchased new

Quilt Top Pattern Source:

Commercial/Published source: Book; Original to maker

Describe the source of the pattern:

"Celtic Quilt Designs II", Children of Lir by Philomena Durcan.

Quilt Design Pattern Source:

Original to maker

Details

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