WATSON 鈥� Every quilt at the Watson Quilt Show had a story.
Some were as simple as a Mickey Mouse quilt for a grandson who loved the character, while others were responses to seasonal challenges imposed by the Watson Quilters鈥� Guild.
The show was held April 28 and 29 at the Watson Civic Centre. It is held every two years.
鈥淲e hold the quilt show to be able to display all of our work and share it with all kinds of people that come,鈥� said Rona Painter, the convener of the show. 鈥淲e get about over 200 people attend the show on average each year that we have it.鈥�
The show is also a fundraiser for the guild.
鈥淓very season we pick a worthy cause to donate charity quilts to and some of our members get together in their spare time to work on those quilts,鈥� Painter said. 鈥淲e, as a guild, purchase materials for the charity quilts and are fortunate to have a lot of items donated to us to get us for the charity quilts.鈥�
One of the charities is Victoria's Quilts, which gives quilts to cancer patients. Other charities that have been given quilts include the Make A Wish Foundation, local first responders, Quill Plains Centennial Lodge, Ronald McDonald House, Partners Family Services, and the North East Outreach and Support Services.
鈥淲e're definitely a service group in the community and the money that we raised here goes back into the community in all kinds of different ways,鈥� Painter said.
While making quilts is a labour of love, Joanne Missler, the president of the guild, did try to come up with a dollar figure on what it costs to make one to sate the curiosity of the guild鈥檚 members.
Assuming she was working at $12 an hour, a 95-inch by 95-inch quilt would cost $1,143.
There were around 120 quilts on display. The guild usually has 25 members, from all age groups.
The guild鈥檚 next season begins in September. They meet on the third Thursday of every month at the Watson Legion at 7 pm.
