Annual Quilt Show at Upper Canada Village
Candy Pollard

Quilting enthusiasts will want to head out to Upper Canada Village this Saturday and Sunday, September 27th and 28th, as the historic site hosts its annual Quilt Show. In addition to a colourful exhibition of quilts from area guilds and displays of the Village’s own collection, the weekend’s activities will also include a Merchants’ Mall, quilting bee, special guest speakers and quilt appraisals.

There will be a variety of things to see and do throughout the site over the course of the weekend. The Village’s Family Activity Centre will be transformed into an exhibit area showcasing over 50 different quilts made by members of five eastern Ontario Quilting Guilds:
Common Threads Quilters Guild
Cornwall Quilters Guild
H ighland Quilt Guild
Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild
Thousand Islands Quilters Guild

Visitors will find a Merchants’ Mall selling and displaying related quilting merchandise, including such vendors as L’Atelier d’Edith, Julee’s Homecrafts, Kelly’s Kreations, Quilte Classique and the Quilter’s Rack. The Merchants’ Mall will be located inside the Harvest Barn Restaurant.

Visitors will also be able to view antique and reproduction quilts from Upper Canada Village’s own collection, which will be on display at other locations throughout the Village. In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project, this year’s selection of quilts is entitled: “Quilts from the Lost Villages”.

Crysler Hall will set the stage for two guest speakers at this year’s event. Judy Lyons will make her presentation on quilt history at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Her presentation, “A Quilt Journey”, will include a ”Travel through Time” trunk show. Judy has a strong interest in researching historical quilts. She is a certified quilt appraiser (accredited by the International Society of Appraisers), has served on the Canadian Quilters’ Association Board of Directors, and has given lectures and quilt shows locally and across Canada. Judy Lyons will be offering her appraisal services on both days between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. For a fee of $25, visitors can find out more about their own family heirlooms; a written appraisal will cost $50.00.

On Sunday, fibre artist Liane Thiry-Smith will be speaking in Crysler Hall at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Liane has a passion for creating in fabric, and uses a variety of fibres and techniques to obtain rich textures in her quilts. Her presentation and trunk show, “Creativity Meets History”, will focus on the connections between her contemporary work, traditional quilting and felt-making. Liane has taught and exhibited both locally and abroad.

What would a Quilt Show at a 19th century village be, without a Quilting Bee taking place? Several ladies from the Village will gather at the Ross Farmhouse to take part in a traditional 1860s quilting bee. As they visit and share news, they will be working on a reproduction quilt based on an original 19th century pattern. Raffle tickets will be available for both the Upper Canada Village Quilt and a Victoria’s Quilt Canada quilt as part of this years Show.

All Quilt Show-related activities, other than appraisals, are included in the regular admission to Upper Canada Village, which also includes free horse-drawn boat and wagon rides around the historic site.

www.uppercanadavillage.com

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