KAGAWONG—It won’t be long now until the lovely yellow daffodils will be in full bloom along the roadside and boardwalk leading into Ontario’s Prettiest Village of Kagawong.
Members of the Economic Development Committee and other volunteers in the community planted hundreds of bulbs three years ago. When Sharon Alkenbrack, chair of EDC, approached the Happy Quilters to see if they would be interested in having a show, a partnership was born.
Dozens of lovely quilts were on display at the Park Centre this past weekend, the oldest made by Nellie Hilliard back in 1950 as a gift for Candy Tracy.
Throughout the weekend visitors were able to see a lap quilt in progress as several ladies put stitches into the fabric. The lucky recipient of the creation is Barb Bright’s son who makes his home in England.
Ms. Bright, Jan Bainbridge and Charlene Chambers’ daffodil wall quilt, designed for this event, hung on the doors for all to see as they entered the room. Quilts adorned the walls and tables during the two-day event.
Many varieties were on display: some embroidered, tied, appliqued or hand stitched while others were done by machine. Ms. Chambers, who has been quilting for 35 years, greeted visitors and showed them the many quilts created by talented seamstresses on the Island.
As members of the Happy Quilters, shared Jacquie Gordon, “we work on our own quilts and also make them for charity or to be given to cancer patients in the community.”
Pat Pepper, whose quilt was raffled off at Christmas in Kagawong last November (among other items generously donated by members of the Happy Quilters), creates her keepsakes on a hoop and has made among others a ‘Story of the Underground Railroad,’ which was one of the many quilts on display.
Attendance at the show was very good with viewers coming by right up until 4 pm on Saturday and more on Sunday. “Proceeds from the show will go towards the purchase of daffodils to plant in the fall,” shared Ms. Alkenbrack.
Ms. Chambers said she was “very pleased” with the number of people who came to admire the handiwork of the many talented quilters on the Island.
Members of EDC include Anna Aelick, Sharon Alkenbrack, Jenna Carter, Austin Hunt, Anita Lalonde, Roger Lloyd, Brian Parker (Council representative), Rick Rusk and Steve Suite. Their next event is a Mother’s Day breakfast to be held at the Park Centre on Sunday May 11 from 8 to 11 am.
Members of the public are asked to enjoy the daffodils in the village and not pick, walk on or ride their bicycles over them.
