Sandra Johnstone and Timberlane Quilters’ Guild are busy organizing the guild’s biennial quilt show at Dwight Hall. This year they are calling it A Celebration of Quilts.
“It’s the fabric that draws people in,” said Johnstone, guild president, explaining the reaction many have had to the group’s quilting display at supermarkets around town over the last few weeks as a raffle fundraiser for the group.
The designs are visually striking with intricate patchwork patterns and different coloured fabrics. Quilts at this level are not simply a protection against winter’s chill, they are art, and the guild is a member of Malaspina Art Society.
Every Tuesday, even during the hottest summer weather, the guild sets up at Cranberry Seniors’ Centre and 20 to 25 quilters come out to spend the day creating and sewing. The designs come in all shapes, all sizes and range in use from tea cozies and table runners to bedding. Johnstone said the 75 guild members are continually looking for new combinations of colours, materials and approaches for fresh ideas. One perk of being a member is the classes that are provided.
Johnstone said that when approaching people to join the guild, often she finds people are reluctant saying they do not think they are good enough. “But you don’t have to be a super sewer to join.” The group does recommend that members take a basic quilting class to have the foundational skills necessary. Anyone can join and “you learn as you go,” she said.
Each year the guild invites an out-of-town instructor for a weekend workshop to teach new techniques, Johnstone said.
By definition, a quilt is three layers put together—a front, a back and batting in the middle. Years ago, quilts were made to be thicker and tufting was used because they did not have the sewing machines they have now to keep the layers together.
Many of the guild members are dedicated quilters who spend a good part of each day working on their designs, others do it on a more part-time basis, but each year they work together to produce hundreds of community quilts with donated fabric which are given to families who are in need or in crisis and to patients receiving cancer treatment in the oncology ward at Powell River General Hospital. They also provide place-mats for Meals on Wheels. The guild awards a $500-scholarship to a graduating student at Brooks Secondary School who is majoring in fibre arts.
Over 200 different quilts, including many of the community quilts, will be on display at the guild’s show. In addition, there will be a boutique for the quilters to sell items with partial proceeds going back to the guild and vendors will also be on site selling various kinds of beads, buttons and fabrics.
A Celebration of Quilts runs from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, March 14 and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, March 15, at Dwight Hall. Tickets are available at the door for $5 each. Lunches will be available for purchase.
For more information about the guild, readers can visit the organization online.
