Irene Dewar grew up learning to knit, sew, crochet and embroider from her mother, but once she discovered the exciting and diverse techniques adherent to quilting, those other needlework pastimes were soon set aside as quilting became her passion. With a background in education and as her experience and stash grew, it was a natural progression to begin teaching quilting. Little did she know that those first few classes held around her dining room table would lead to a ten year stint teaching quilting for the Continuous Learning Department of Durham College and an assortment of workshops and lecture with many Guilds, local quilt shops, plus a Studio 2 production on TVO in 2005.
For several years Irene was an avid participant in the now disbanded Quilt Project for Breast Cancer Support, donating quilts each year. It was while designing the 2004 donation quilt that Irene developed what would become her first commercial quilt pattern. With the encouragement of friends and co-workers, she began to self publish a line of quilt patterns in 2004 under the name Brambleberry Cottage Quilts. Her collection of published patterns has grown and expanded and Irene now also designs patterns for fabric collections in conjunction Northcott Silk, Inc. and Contemporary Sewing Materials.
She is currently a member of the Rouge Valley Quilters’ Guild, the York Heritage Quilt Guild and Canadian Quilters’ Association. www.brambleberry-cottage.com
Stay tuned for details on Irene’s fall 2013 classes tomorrow…