Category: Museum

On Sunday, July 17 the museum hosted “Quilt Walk”, an indoor / outdoor exhibit that included heritage quilts from the CMMM collections and more recent items created by local crafters. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, we’d like to show you, over the next week or so, the beautiful handiwork we had on display.

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From Lucille Bullerwell:

This was the first quilt that I made. I was ‘into’ houses for decorating my home and ordered the pattern from an American magazine. Crafted by Lucille Bullerwell in 1982.

NOTES ON QUILTING

Excerpt from “Timeline of Quilting History” compiled and written by the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum:

In modern times, art quilts have started to become popular for their aesthetic and artistic qualities, rather than for functionality (i.e. they may hang on a wall instead of lying on a bed).

CLAYTON MCLAIN MEMORIAL MUSEUM (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

On Sunday, July 17 the museum hosted “Quilt Walk”, an indoor / outdoor exhibit that included heritage quilts from the CMMM collections and more recent items created by local crafters. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, we’d like to show you, over the next week or so, the beautiful handiwork we had on display.

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From CMMM, 1984.H.104:

Made by Cecilia Raymond for her trousseau in 1885. Mrs. Raymond was Noreen How’s grandmother.

WHAT WAS A TROUSSEAU?

Traditionally, a trousseau was defined as the collection of personal items that a young woman accumulated in anticipation of her future marriage. A trousseau was generally stored in a hope chest and included bridal accessories, jewelry, lingerie, clothing for the honeymoon, linens, and toiletries. Some trousseaus included family heirlooms and handmade items crafted by the bride-to-be or her female relatives. 

Bridal Trousseau

On Sunday, July 17 the museum hosted “Quilt Walk”, an indoor / outdoor exhibit that included heritage quilts from the CMMM collections and more recent items created by local crafters. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, we’d like to show you, over the next week or so, the beautiful handiwork we had on display.

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From CMMM, 1998.P.102:

Ray and Florence Grant farmed in the Wilbert District before they moved to Cut Knife where they lived until they both passed away. Crafter – unknown.

AFTER THE JOURNEY

Excerpt from “Timeline of Quilting History” compiled and written by the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum:

Once a pioneer family reached their destination, quilts and blankets were still needed for uses beyond bed coverings. Instead of keeping rain and wind out of the wagon, they covered windows and doors of log cabins and dugouts. There was a need for emotional sustenance as well. Putting a favourite quilt on the bed gave a woman a sense of connection with her former way of life. Something of beauty was very much needed in her barren home.

CLAYTON MCLAIN MEMORIAL MUSEUM (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

On Sunday, July 17 the museum hosted “Quilt Walk”, an indoor / outdoor exhibit that included heritage quilts from the CMMM collections and more recent items created by local crafters. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, we’d like to show you, over the next week or so, the beautiful handiwork we had on display.

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From Terri Paziuk:

My Graduation Butterfly Quilt. Maker: Gladys Hewson in an Appliquéd Butterfly pattern. Grandma Hewson was an avid quilter and sewist often receiving boxes of used clothing which were cut up and placed into her quilts. Everything – fortrel, cotton, silk, polyester, wool – was used in squares!

This quilt was my request for blue and white. It is made with a polyester cotton blend blue and white fabric, and is machine appliquéd and hand quilted. Circa 1983. Owner Terri (Coe) Paziuk.

NOTES ON QUILTING

Excerpt from “Timeline of Quilting History” compiled and written by the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum:

The process of making a quilt involves three steps: piecing, layering, and binding. Piecing is the sewing of the quilt top. Layering places the quilt’s backing, batting, and top in place. The main function of quilting is to hold the three layers together. Binding completes the quilt by finishing the edges with a trim of fabric.

Appliqué is a very popular style of quilting, which is basically sewing fabric onto fabric. On the quilt top, pieces of fabric are added, so it is almost like a fourth layer of quilting.

Motif is a style of quilting in which the blocks have a certain theme. For example, the quilt created by Gladys Hewson (above) has a butterfly motif.

CLAYTON MCLAIN MEMORIAL MUSEUM (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

On Sunday, July 17 the museum hosted “Quilt Walk”, an indoor / outdoor exhibit that included heritage quilts from the CMMM collections and more recent items created by local crafters. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, we’d like to show you, over the next week or so, the beautiful handiwork we had on display.

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From CMMM, 1998.P.115:

Quilt was made by Minnie Rorke (Scoular), Bertha Ann Brown (Scoular), and their mother, Elizabeth Bell Scoular (Foster) at their home in Galbraith, Ontario in 1911. It was brought to the Cut Knife area when Elizabeth came west to the Baldwinton district in 1912. After her death it was left at the home of her son, Robert John Scoular (1883 – 1969) and mother, Libbie Scoular (Wood) (? – 1977) in the Gallivan district. Robert’s daughter, Beth Piche (Scoular) donated it to the museum.

LEAVING DEAR FRIENDS & LOVED ONES

Excerpt from “Timeline of Quilting History” compiled and written by the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum:

While the men talked eagerly of overcoming challenges and settling on the abundant rich farmland awaiting them, the womenfolk were all too aware of the dangers and hardships that lay ahead. Another factor that made pioneer women more reluctant about migrating west was their close ties with women friends and family. Most likely these dear friends would never see each other again. To ease this separation, friendship quilts were sometimes made for the woman leaving for westward lands. A friendship quilt served as a remembrance of dear ones let behind.

– CLAYTON MCLAIN MEMORIAL MUSEUM (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)