Tag: Quilt Walk

canada day red and white
Events, Museum, Summer

Canada Day Brief

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

A GREAT SUCCESS!

July 1, 2023 was the CMMM’s first Canada Day Open House in years, and it was great fun. It coincided with the Town of Cut Knife’s Canada Day celebrations, and Tomahawk Park was buzzing with people, bouncy castles, quilts, and a horse-drawn wagon. More than 90 registered visitors wandered through the CMMM heritage buildings with Board members, Staff, and Volunteers onsite to assist.

Guests were treated to an outdoor Quilt Walk along the walking path between the Duvall House and the Friends of Tomahawk Park bricks. Terri Paziuk, a former CMMM Board member and the organizer of the event, brought together more than 30 quilts from owners and creators in the Cut Knife area, and almost 2 dozen smaller pieces of textile art displayed in the Duvall House. Thankfully, the rain held off until early evening after the quilts had been packed up.

Registered visitors to the Canada Day Open House came from as far away as Colorado, USA, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario; in Saskatchewan from Fort Qu’appelle, Grandora, Medstead, Saskatoon, and Yorkton; the neighbouring communities of Little Pine First Nation, Neilburg, Poundmaker Cree Nation, Sweetgrass First Nation, Unity, and Wilkie, and local residents of the Town and R.M. of Cut Knife (plus maybe a few from locations missed in the Visitors’ Book).

Remember: Coffee at the Duvall House Wednesdays from 2-4pm.

Enjoy your summer!

~ Debbie M.

Events, Museum

In Search of Textile Crafts

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL SATURDAY, JUNE 17

WHAT WILL YOU FIND IN YOUR LINEN CLOSET?

The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest for CMMM’s Canada Day Quilt Walk is this Saturday, June 10. Expressions of Interest will let us know if there’ll be enough submissions to go ahead with the exhibit. The magic number is 20 items and, at this point, we’re a little short. So, tonight, I’m looking through my linen closet, drawers, unpacked boxes in the spare room, and every other nook and cranny in this house. All in the hopes of coming up with a couple of crafted items that would be appropriate for the event.

  1. Souvenir handkerchiefs from Switzerland and St. Thomas, a silk head scarf from Las Vegas: ages uncertain and almost certainly with stories to tell, if only I knew them. However, being able to share the story, or the cultural history of the submission is an important part of this exhibit. A short description of your item(s) will be expected when they’re dropped off for display.
  2. Household linens, embroidered and sewn by my paternal grandmother. She had doilies for every conceivable surface, tablecloths for dining tables and card tables, and handcrafted pillowcases for a family of 7. And one flour sack that never received a makeover, which somehow made it all the way to me. Needlecrafts are definitely an art form. Do you have a favourite piece you’ve created or that’s been passed down to you? Would you like to share it with us?
  3. Blankets from my maternal grandmother. Made during WW II from recycled woolens because military uniforms had priority for new wool. Historical context, cultural context and symbolism: it all makes for an interesting read.
  4. 4-H project place mat I made in 1973. The only one left of a set of four. Still looking good except for the big, black marks. Important: All ages and all skill levels are invited to participate.
  5. Child’s summer quilt with butterfly appliques, created by my paternal grandmother. For many years, I used it as a wall hanging. I hope it’ll be hanging in Tomahawk Park on Canada Day along with at least a dozen other items to keep it company.

The CMMM is looking for Expressions of Interest from individuals who would like to participate in the Museum’s Canada Day Quilt Walk. Email cmmmcutknife@gmail.com with your name, contact info, and a brief description of the item(s), whether quilts, embroidery, weavings, etc. The event will only go forward if there will be enough submissions for an exhibit.

UPDATE: DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST: SATURDAY, JUNE 17.

Note: Although all efforts will be made to monitor the artwork at all times, and to protect it from damage due to weather or other sources, artwork will be submitted at the owner’s risk.

Click here to print off a pdf copy of this post for a bulletin board near you!

~ Debbie M.

Events, Museum

Request for Expressions of Interest

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL SATURDAY, JUNE 17

QUILT WALK 2023

On Canada Day 2023, the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum will participate in Cut Knife’s town-wide July 1 celebrations. At Tomahawk Park, the CMMM will host a Heritage Village Open House along with additional activities, one of which will be a Quilt Walk.

ABOUT: The Quilt Walk will take place along the shaded walking path that connects the Duvall House to the World’s Largest Tomahawk. Quilts will be arranged on clotheslines between the mature trees that line the path. In addition to the outdoor display area, some interior space will be available for smaller items.

When: Saturday, July 1 from 1 – 5pm.
Where: Clayton McLain Memorial Museum, Tomahawk Park, Cut Knife.
Additional: Advance drop-off and post-event pick-up protocols will be in place. 

VISION: To have a wide variety of textile crafts on display from a diversity of sources, of cultural traditions, and historical roots.

SUBMISSIONS: Quilters, textile artists of all ages and skill levels, and owners of crafts that fall within these categories, are invited to submit their pieces. The exact number of submissions per individual will depend upon the number of submitting parties. Each piece will need to be accompanied by its story i.e. name of creator, date of item, etc. Of particular interest will be the reason for the item’s creation, and/or any symbolism, historical details, or cultural meanings related to the item.

The CMMM is looking for Expressions of Interest from individuals who would like to participate in the Museum’s Canada Day Quilt Walk. Email cmmmcutknife@gmail.com with your name, contact info, and a brief description of the item(s), whether quilts, embroidery, weavings, etc. The event will only go forward if there will be enough submissions for an exhibit.

UPDATE: DEADLINE FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST IS SATURDAY, JUNE 17.

Note: Although all efforts will be made to monitor the artwork at all times, and to protect it from damage due to weather or other sources, artwork will be submitted at the owner’s risk.

~ Debbie M.

Events, Museum

11. The Town of Cut Knife Centennial

Clayton McLain Memorial 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.

The Town of Cut Knife celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2012 with the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum being central to many of the festivities. Dozens of volunteers worked for many months researching (see Cut Knife Town Centre), creating exhibits and displays, and then hosting visitors on that Canada Day weekend.

The Centennial Quilt was on display in the foyer of the Duvall House during the July 17th Quilt Walk but its information tag had not been attached at the time this picture was taken.

Submitted by the Clayton McLain Memorial Museum

A WOMAN’S LIFE WHILE TRAVELING WEST

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

Despite misgivings, most pioneer women proved to be hardy and determined. It would be a long wearisome trip, going 9 – 12 miles each day, and taking several months for those going to the west coast regions. If a woman had not yet cast away her ideas of what a proper nineteenth-century woman should do, she would quickly find she had no choice. Although her womanly skills of cooking, sewing, mending, and child care were as important as ever, she was soon pressed into such tasks as gathering wood or buffalo chips for evening fires, pitching tents and driving stock.

The wagon ride was uncomfortable and jolting, and more often women and children walked alongside the wagons. Needless to say, little quilting was done on the trail. A few women managed to piece some quilt blocks or perhaps a whole quilt top, but more often women knitted or mended clothing during the short breaks and occasional layovers. Any fine sewing would have been impossible while traveling and difficult in the poor light of a camp fire….

Arriving in the new land did not immediately change life much especially for the early settlers in a region. The family still had to live in tents, the wagon or a crude lean to until a log cabin or sod house could be built. It took a few years to establish first a farm, and then a home. These years were often difficult and lonely.

CLAYTON MCLAIN MEMORIAL MUSEUM (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
Events, McLain Family, Museum

10. The McLain Family Heirloom

Clayton McLain Memorial 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.

From CMMM, 1979.H.141:

This hand-made quilt was a wedding gift from William Thomas Transou and Mary Jane Transou (Ellis) to Robert and Luna McLain in 1917. The quilt was made by Luna’s mother, Mary Jane.

mclain family heirloom quilt
Created by Mary Jane Transou

NOTES ON QUILTING

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

Quilts are often made to commemorate events (i.e. weddings and births) and can incorporate pieces of fabric from used or worn-out clothing. Such quilts become historical documents for the quilt-maker and his or her loved ones.

CLAYTON MCLAIN MEMORIAL MUSEUM (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)