Local quilter Bev Crouse is spearheading the project to create another quilt, and one that will involve the community at large in it’s stitching.
Donna Hatt, marketing director for White Point Beach Resort, approached Crouse to see if she would be interested in creating another quilt. Crouse says there wasn’t much hesitation on her part.
“I’ve had a good relation with White Point over the years. Quiltnet was launched out there and I’ve been involved with some quilting workshops,” she says.
The centre block of the quilt will show the former fireplace of the lodge, which was the last thing standing after the fire. Both Crouse and the staff at White Point felt that was appropriate. The quilt will have 12 other blocks surrounding the centre piece, with the ideas coming from people’s memories of the resort.
Up until Jan. 26, people could submit their ideas on White Point’s blog, and the themes will be announced on Feb. 2. Once those are decided, Crouse will take those themes and design the patterns to fit them.
The quilt won’t just be Crouse’s work however. As it is coming together, there will be opportunities for anyone with an interest to put a stitch or two in through Quilting Parties, and skill level isn’t important. Quilters will be there to show people what to do to.
“It gives a completely different value to the quilting process. People will have bragging rights,” says Crouse
The first opportunity came this past Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Fireman’s breakfast, where the stones from the chimney were also handed out. Many people gave quilting a try that day, from the curious onlookers to members of the Liverpool Fire Department.
Crouse says the plan is to have it ready for the reopening of the lodge in November.
“The fact that a huge corporation like White Point valued the quilt they lost, and that they’re creating this whole event around the creation of a new one is just fantastic.”
The original stitch
The original quilt was also created in a similar way, back in 1990. Lynn Hupman was one of the quilters involved in the project, which was put together by the Anglican Church Guild in Mill Village.
Doug Fawthrop, long time manager of the resort, knew some of their work through his mother in law Marilyn McKinnon, who was also a member of the guild. He asked the group if they would be interested in creating a quilt centred on White Point.
The quilt took several months to complete, and it was created with many hands as well.
“It wasn’t just quilters involved. Some people couldn’t quilt, so they did hand sewing and other things,” says Hupman.
The images were designed by the group, drawing inspiration from colouring books, photos and the quilter’s own imagination.
Hupman says it was a small group, but they were very interested in showing others how to do quilting.
“When we went to meetings, we took our handwork. There were some people that didn’t do any. Over the years we taught people to crochet, quilt and other things. ”
“The fact that a huge corporation like White Point valued the quilt they lost, and that they’re creating this whole event around the creation of a new one is just fantastic.” - Bev Crouse
As for the project itself, there may have been a little coercion on the guild’s part, though all in good fun. .
“We made them sew and help,” she says with a laugh. “So that they could be part of it. Even those that didn’t quilt (on their own) always quilted on the quilts just so they could be involved”
Hupman isn’t sure if anyone from the original quilting project will get involved, but they are all very interested in seeing the completed project.
Well appreciated
The original quilt certainly played an important part of the lodge.
“Our quilt put on a lot of miles, in addition to being hung on our walls, we took it to trade shows as it encapsulated everything that a White Point experience is,” says Hatt.
“It was adored by all that saw it – it represented tradition, warmth, love and care – it was hand stitched and an invaluable piece of art.”
She says the feedback since announcing the project has been very enthusiastic, and everyone is looking forward to its unveiling at the lodge’s reopening in the fall of this year.
