CELEBRATION
Quilters will have wide variety of items on display
Material Girls mark anniversary.
Anyone looking for something to do Sunday might want to consider visiting the Material Girls.
The Material Girls quilting class will be celebrating its 15th anniversary at the Reserve Mines Seniors and Pensioners Hall from 2-4 p.m. Admission is free.
“We’ll have a display of our work from the quilting class at the hall,” said Mariette Pond, instructor. “We’ll be hanging as many (quilts) as there is room for. There will also be … table runners, placemats and bags. We have all different things.”
Pond said there will also be a special display to honour five former members who have died over the years — Linda Barrett, Shirley Hall, Mary MacCormick, Eileen Cameron and Helen MacKenzie.
“We’ll have some of their work on a table with flowers and candles.”
Pond has been quilting for 20 years. She began with a class at the Good Shepherd Church in Dominion and was hooked from there.
“It’s relaxing and about getting together for an afternoon with the girls.”
Lorraine Abbott started a quilting class in Reserve Mines 17 years ago and passed it over to Pond two years later.
“It started with 10 members and those girls are still there except for a couple who are now deceased.”
The class begins the first Wednesday in September and runs until the end of May every Wednesday from 12:30-3 p.m.
Pond doesn’t charge for the class and she volunteers her time.
Members pay a $15 monthly fee that goes towards expenses such as hall rental and refreshments. When there is extra money they make a donation and last year they gave two bursaries to Glace Bay High School students.
She said the class currently has 21 members and a waiting list of six or seven.
“No one seems to be leaving so I don’t have any openings.”
Pat MacIntyre has been with the Material Girls for about 14 years and she says it’s a social outing.
“I sew, we talk, I have lunch. It’s good for seniors.”
MacIntyre will have two quilts on display on Sunday as well as a wall hanging and a pillow.
She said although some quilters might sell their quilts, hers are not be for sale.
“By the time I get finished something one of my children says, ‘Mom I want that.’”