QUILT INDEX RECORD

40-38-571

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.10

Documentation Site:

Laurel Park

Date data collected:

06-08-2016

Quilt's title:

Through the Garden Gate

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

Owner's relationship to quiltmaker (if any):

Quiltmaker

How was quilt acquired by owner?

Made by owner

Place made:
City

Sunnyvale

State

California (CA)

Country:

United States

Top made by:

Durcan, Philomena

Quilted by:

Durcan, Philomena

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:

I gave a class in Scotland and the host invited me to visit the gardens. The flowers were in full bloom and my heart raced in seeing all the brilliant colors. Excerpts from the Introduction of "A Celtic Garden" by Philomena Durcan The colors and shapes of flowers are infinite and yet they are common and familiar to almost everyone. In that respect they are much like quilts. Flowers are the consummate token of love and friendship and suggest gentility and elegance with their fragrance and simplicity. Who has not marveled at their variety and beauty and enjoyed their universal appeal! And who does not spot where flowers blanketed the ground with brilliant color. What a challenge to capture and hold even a tiny nuance of these impressions in applique! In preparing for this book, I researched a number of flower art forms from the past, particularly those derived from Celtic Art. Flowers have, of course, been a source of inspiration for all kinds of artists and crafts people for centuries. The flower can be found in every art form from ancient times to the present. Today we are experiencing yet another romance with the flower in art & design, and people are again taking delight in using them to add comfort and warmth to their homes. Indeed, what can be more welcoming as a message of love and friendship in your home than a display of flowers. Flowers have always been offered with feeling and received with pleasure among friends and loved ones. I myself explored many possible ways to develop flower designs that captured the essence of the Celtic gardens of Ireland and Scotland. Finally I decided to keep the flower patterns themselves simple, and let bias layering and use of color and fabric add depth, texture, and richness to the finished designs. In my mind's eye I imagined seeing the flowers through rusty iron gates or through old Irish garden walls, so I combined the Celtic interlace patterns from my first book, Celtic Quilt Designs, with the floral designs included here to achieve this effect. The bequest: God has sent an angel to me in a confusing time, Kathy Yee. She has been a friend from our St. Juan Diego Church, where she was our Pastoral Associate. She had retired and was visiting me when I asked her for help working through my physical and emotional pain. She has been a tremendous support in helping me sort out the many questions I had. After I sold my house, she helped me move into my new apartment at Laurel Parc in Bethany Retirement Center. 2016

This is a:

Finished quilt

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

41 1/2"

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

70"

Quilt Layout Format:

Medallion or framed center

Shape of edge:

Straight

Predominate Colors:

Cream; Green; Pink; Purple

Overall Color Value:

Light or pastel colors

Damage to Quilt:

Fold marks or creases; Stains

Describe the damage:

Slight fold marks, minor stains

Overall Condition:

Excellent/like new

Family/owner's date for quilt:

c.1994

Date Time Frame:

1976-1999

Types of Inscriptions:

Message

Content of Inscription (enter verbatim):

To Kathy - Thank you for your friendship and kindness. Philomena June 24, 2041

Quilt Top Materials and Construction
Fibers types in Top:

Cotton

Fabric types in Top:

Sateen; Other

Fabric patterns, styles or prints used:

Solid/plain; Other

Describe any unique characteristics of fiber, fabric, or fabric prints used:

Cotton Brocade was used in the construction of this quilt along with hand-dyed cottons.

Applique techniques:

Hand Applique

Quilting Description:
Techniques Used:

Hand quilting

Number of stitches per inch:

7 per inch

Thread Type:

Cotton

Thread Color:

White

Width between quilting lines:

1/4" to 2", medium quilting

Knots visible?

no

Overall Pattern Design:

In-the-ditch

Decorative Patterns:

Floral; Other

Background Fill Patterns:

Grid/crosshatch; Parallel lines

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

Celtic cables are also used in the quilting. Quilt has pencil lines.

Binding:

Bias grain; Hand sewn

Width of Binding:

less than a half inch

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

3/8"

Quilt Batting
Materials Used:

Cotton

Batting Loft:

Thin

Describe the quilt filling:

Batting loft is Thin.

Quilt Back Materials:

Other

Description of the back:

Cotton Sateen

Predominate Color of Backing:

Cream

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

1

Width of pieces (nearest 1/2"):

41" by 70"

Source of Quilt's Materials:

Purchased new

Quilt Top Pattern Source:

Commercial/Published source: Book; Original to maker

Describe the source of the pattern:

"A Celtic Garden " by Philomena Durcan.

Quilt Design Pattern Source:

Original to maker; Public domain

Details

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