The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

LJ © The Hand-craft has become way of life for Utica artist By John'B. McClelland The living room in Mrs. Violet Skerratt's house. cannot help but thrill the fantasies and imaginations of persons young and old. There are tiny clothes for dolls, stuffed' animals, knitted things, stitched things, sewn things, tiny pin- cushion chairs made from of all-things - American beer cans, baskets made from wooven pine needles, dresses and sweaters for little girls, popcicle-stick baskets, and even a doll made from the pages of Readers Digest. All are brightly coloured, and amazingly, all are made by hand. For Mrs. Skerratt, whose home near Utica serves as a gift shop, the making of hand-crafts has become a way of life. "I've always loved hand- crafts," she says, "but I guess I really started to be serious about it 23 years ago when I got laid up with ar- thritis. At that time, I simply said to iayself that I was - going to do something to keep busy." Now, working at her kit- chen table, she spends up to eight hours a day. "I like to start early in the morning," she says, "and do as much as I can before my back starts to bother me. Once I get my hands limbered up I can. really work in the morning." Mrs. Skerratt suffers still from the arthritis. Part of the beauty of the work she -does,--is-- that everything is done in the home, with a minimum of tools. She uses scissors, i snips, thread, needles an pins, lots of 'glue, and of - course the materials. Most of these she orders from the Lewiscraft catalogue, and she says her friends are . always doing some shopping for her. But she uses or- dinary "household things as well, such as javex con- tainers, egg cartons, juice tins, and the Readers Digest. 'What she can make from these ordinary things is simply amazing. The idea for the tiny pin-cushion chairs came from-a friend who had seen this work done in Florida. The American beer cans are best, she says, because they have no seam in them, thus making them easier to cut. She cuts strips of the metal from the top to the base of . the can, and then bends and curls these thin strips fo make 'the legs, arms and back. She then paints it, and fits a tiny. cushion over the bottom of the tin, One would never guess that it had once been a 'beer can, "I was a little scared of making these chairs at first," explains' Mrs, Skerratt, "they looked so difficult." But I told myself I could do it, and I went ahead with it." ~Ittook her a couple of days to make the first one. Now, she can 'do one in half a day. ~ In the past three years, Mrs. Skerratt has made over 100 of the intricate chairs. How could anybody make baskets out of pine needles? "Really, it is quite simple," explains Mrs, Skerratt. "I 'soak the needles first, then when they are still damp, I shape the basket and bind . the needles together with ~thread. Then I Sut lacquer on it." Well, it sounds simple enough. The most popular items are the Barbie doll cloths, and the stuffed animals. And naturally enough, Christmas is the busiest time of year for Mrs. Skerrat'. She also finds that knitted slippers are popular this time of year, - and although she doesn't know how many pair of slippers she has made, she says, "It's a lot." Mrs. Skerratt says she: "loves all kinds of crafts, but if she has any preference, she says it would be the traupunto work. ee, is-an old craft of Italian - origin involving cloth and needlework. But the' 'unique thing about it that images can be raised off the flat surface of the cloth, for a .three-dimensional effect. This is .done by quilting around the image, slitting - the cloth at the back, and then using padding for the raised effect. The finished cloth can be framed, and: hung as a picture. . Mrs. Skerratt's hand- crafts, especially girl's smocked dresses, have won many awards at county fairs- and at the Canadian National exhibition. A quilt she made won grand prize at the CNE and was displayed across Canada by a large depart- ment store. Some time in early 1972, Mrs. Skerratt will be movi out of the house she has liv: in for forty years, to reside in Port Perry. She feels a little . apprehensive about moving, but says emphatically, that conducted at A Remembrance Day ser- vice conducted by Rev. V. Parsons of Blackstock United Church was held in _ Blackstock on November 11. The service = started at 10:30 a.m. with the singing of 0 Canada followed by Call to worship, Prayer and In-. vocation. Following SCriptuie reading and the Address a prayer of remembrance was offered. parade to the Genotaph was lead by a colour party and youth 'Remembrance Day service Blackstock groups. Reeve of Cartwright Township, L. Malcolm read the Honour Roll, followed by the laying of wreaths. This " year's silver Star Mother was Mrs. Gladys Thompson who laid a wreath at the Cenotaph. A. second Silver Star Mother. Mrs, A. Johnston also at tended the 'ceremony. Pianist for the occasion was Mrs. Gladys Thompson and bugler, Richard Osler. " Refreshment was: served to those participating following the service. my new home will have a gift shop," even if I have to have - it in my bed-room. I couldn't live without my gift shop hoYitiany, when it was suggested a couple of years ago, the idea of a gift shop + caused her to .have some apprehension, "I was a little afraid of having strangers in the house at first." Mrs. Skerratt says the most important thing -in doing handcrafts is time and patience. "I was born with patience," she says with a smile," and being laid up has given me the time", . Close examination of her hand-crafts indicate that ° time and patience are indeed very important, But talent, imagination, and a love for the work shows in everything Mrs. Skerratt does. + The age of assembly-lines, and mass productions . heightens even more the appeal for hand-made items. The personal touch is there. And it is gratifying somehow, to know that certain people have retained an immense amount of pride in the work they do. PORT PERRY UCW The November Executive meeting of Port Perry United Church Women was . well attended. The Unit Leaders were reminded to collect "The Bonnets", and be sure the treasurer, Mrs. Joy Hull has them by December 20th. Several recommendations were made. All ladies were in favour .of giving a cash donation toward material to outfit the new Jr. Choir. It was unanimously decided to charter a bus to attend the 34th presentation of the Christmas Story, an annual pajeant to be held at the "Church of the Holy Trinity", Toronto, Friday, December 3rd. Mrs. Charles RALPH FAIRMAN "s Brignall, Sr. and Mrs. Roy Lane volunteered to look after the sale of tickets. As these are limited the ladies would like to know who is interested without delay. The installation of Officers for "72" will be held at the December 14th general meeting. This meeting will also be the Christmas Social evening when we hope all U.C.W. members will attend ° and join in the singing of carols and the delicious Pot Luck Lunch at the close of the meeting. Anyone desiring a drive, please call the President, Mrs. Jean McDermott, 985 - 7977 by Monday, December 13th. ~ 4 PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1971 -- ~ASHBURN NEWS It was nice to see the laymen of our church con- duct the worship service at Burns - Church on Sunday morning, November-7th. Mr. Russell Batten was in charge of the service. The men's choir renderedan anthem "Take Time'to be Holy." Mr. Cyril. Knight, Oshawa preached the sermon. The Ladies Bible Class met. at the home of Mrs. D, Ashton on Wednesday evening, November 10th, with about 16 members present. Mrs. Mildred Routley = conducted the meeting whith Cecil Vicars read the scripture from Ephesians 6. Meditation by Mrs. Routley, giving two readings 'The Call to Arms" and "The War is Over." Mrs. D. Ashton lec in prayer. The offering was received, and the minutes of the last meeting read and approved. Our Christmas meeting is to be in a form of a supper meeting to be held in the church hall, Mrs. H. Ashton was - in charge of the programme and introduced our guest for the evening, Mrs. Alfred Wilson from Brooklin. Mrs. Wilson showed us slides of her trip to Europe this past summer. Mrs. Ashton thanked Mrs. Wilson on behalf of the class and presented her with a small token of our ap- preciation. Mrs. Ashton also read a poem on Remem- brance Day. Hymn 648 brought the meeting to a close. Closing prayer by © Grant Menzies MOTORS LIMITED Whitby ~~ 1250 Dundas Street Fast 668-6843 Dial Direct 985-302] "We Will Not Be Satisfied - - Until You Are" Mrs. W. Hopkins. Lunch was served by the lunch com- mittee. The 'euchre parties have started once again at the Community .. Centre. Everyone 'is welcome to these get-to-geethers. The Saturday Movies will be shown again this fall, thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Wal s Burketon Mrs. W. Bryan, Mrs. T. Bailey attended the 25th Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and. Mrs. Orval Geer held in Kedron Church on Saturday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Barrett, Scarboro spent the weekend . with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Holroyd and family. Mrs. T. Fitzgerald and Mrs. R. Davey spent Wednesday evening with Mr. and Mrs. Sam Grant, Zion. Several from here attend- the Greer anniversary in Kedron on Saturday evening. 1% § 2 NA ST = NRT "Somehow. this all seems like a rerun." GRANT MENZIES radio. performance car 1970 MUSTANG 2 DOOR-HARD TOP, 1 year or 12,000 mile warranty, brand new 428 engine, 4 speed, ps., p.b., Pearl white outside with black vinyl bucket seats. A high 1969 FIREBIRD 2 DOOR HARD TOP, 350 motor, automatic, p.s., radio, vinyl roof. Spanish gold exterior with all matching interior. car at an'easy to get price. A hard to get interior. LAURENTIAN, 2 DOOR HARD TOP, V-8 power, automatic trans. mission, radio, vinyl roof. Tiahan Bronze in color with matching family man's price. PONTIAC A family car at a 2 DOOR SEDAN 4 cyl economy with 4 speed transmission. blug in color with all vinyl! interior. Sky Lic. #37646A $2695. Le Noss19 $2395. Lic. 299345 $1995. 1970 CORTINA 1969 PONTIAC GTO, 2 DOOR HARD TOP, V-8 engine, automatic, p.s., Lime green outside with all vinyl p.b., radio. AMBASSADOR, 4 door sedan, big 6 cyl. power, automatic, p.s., p.b., radio, air conditioning. Royal blue with all matching interior. A prestige car at a low low price. Lic. 7034 $1795. An economy car for the. economy V interior. A sportsman's garden buyer. 18583A. - of eden. Lic. #15956A $1596. | | : $2395. RE " A sD . 1969 RAMBLER. 1969 CHEVROLET 1967 DODGE IMPALA, 4 DOOR HARD TOP, V-8 motor, automatic, ps.; p.b., radio, Turquoise exterior with all matching interior. A family's buy of the year. Lic. C2998. .POLARA 4 DOOR STATION - winter sports ahead. / $2195. WAGON, 318 motor, automatic, p.s., p.b.,, radio. Turquoise out: side with all matching vinyl interior. An idcal car for the $1295. Lic. 23424X