SHEGUIANDAH—The Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah has delved into its collection of local treasures to reveal a stunning collection of heritage quilts that normally lie hidden due to space constraints.
“The majority of the quilts are from around the 1900s to mid-1930s,” said museum curator Heidi Ferguson. “Most are from the museum collection, but we also have a few on loan from local families.”
The oldest quilt was created around 1900, she noted.
Ms. Ferguson doesn’t like to play favourites, but she admitted that the yo-yo quilt had captured her heart.
“It is made of thousands of small disks of fabric,” she said. The quilt resembles a traditional crocheted afghan, but is made up of literally thousands of small worked fabric disks that were then sewn together in a block pattern.
Another favourite is the Grandmother’s Flowerbasket, made from flour sacks and fabric from old dresses. The quilt shows the careful husbanding of resources in rural communities, particularly through the dark days of the ‘Dirty Thirties.’ “If you look closely, you can make out the faint imprint of the faded blue labels on the bleached flour sacks,” noted Ms. Ferguson.
The Heritage Quilt exhibit will remain on display until May 31, when it will be taken down to make room for the Annual Northern Ontario Art Association Exhibition. “The opening of the NOAA exhibit will be on June 7 at 2 pm to 4 pm,” said Ms. Ferguson.
