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OkillLiving LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVERALL WRAPPED UP:Hayley Berseth, 11, left, and her sister Courtney, 7, hold quilts they made with their grandmother, Patricia Phillips, in response to a call from the Oakville Quilters Guild to assist 700 families left homeless in the wake of wildfires that destroyed the town of Slave Lake, Alberta. The guild has amassed more than 150 quilts to be shipped next week to Alberta.Young and young at heart send a hug to Slave LakeBy Angela BlackburnAnd its members, and their many friends,The Oakville Quilters Guild has proved onceguild.ca, it features blogs and facebook and itsOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFresponded.more that working together, we can make a dif-members keep in touch through technology.Calvert may have set the pattern for the goodference, said Calvert.We just use technology to stay in touch,ts a story of technology meeting the old-deed little more than a month ago, but it was theAbout a month before this, the guild wassaid Phillips who said she began quilting as afashioned art of quilting, of Oakville resi-guild members, she said, who not only picked itsending quilts to Japan in the wake of the earth-young mom.Idents reaching out to those literally burned up enthusiastically, but turned it around andquake experienced there. Prior to that, the groupCalvert began it as a hobby to fill time whenout of house and home by wildfires in Slave Lake delivered back in short order.had put hands to material to stitch up lovingshe was an adult. Now Phillips granddaughtersAlberta last month.Quilts were made and ready for the guildsassistance for those involved in the Haiti earth-have learned as youths.Its about providing a hug to someone who last meeting of this year on June 16.quake and its aftermath.From artistic to utilitarian, quilts are sym-may have nothing much to cling to in their hour Now, the more than 150 quilts are awaitingEverybody who hears about it, likes thebolic of much, mostly of time invested andof need.shipping for delivery to the Alberta town thanksidea, said Calvert of the assistance to Slavecompassion, warmth and care.A quilt is a hug to wrap around you, quoted to the generosity and hard work of theLake.Both the Berseth girls are including a teddyBronte resident Lynne Calvert.members of the local guild and others.We know what if felt like for the kids in Haitibear along with their quilt the ultimate hug.Soon to be shipped westward from her An anonymous sponsor from western Canadaand because this is our country, we decided toI learned to quilt last year. One day it was toohome, is the recent bounty of the 100-member is assisting with the shipping.donate, said Hayley.hot to go outdoors, so it was my summer proj-Oakville Quilters Guild to which she belongs.The quilts have been crafted by those whoThe local quilters guild is no stranger toect, I learned to do something with my timeWhen images of a barren wasteland that was boast more than 85 years of age to those astimes of need. It exists to give to the community.inside, said Courtney.once homes, a town hall, school and more young as age seven, such as Courtney Berseth, 7,It regularly donates its wares to the local fireAnyone who has ever received a quilt willflashed in the media, Calvert thought of western who, along with her sister, Hayley, 11, made adepartment, hospital, seniors, and even makesknow what it feels like to be wrapped in love,Canada where she grew up.quilt with the help of their grandmother, Patriciaoncology hats for children and more.according to Phillips.Then she thought the more than 700 fami-Phillips.You hear a lot that its a dying art, but thereThe quilts will be delivered to those in needlies maybe 1,000 children of Slave Lake, The guild has achieved a successful outreach,are still a lot of quilters, said Phillips.in Slave Lake through that areas politicians.who have been left homeless in the town of too, in that 18 quilts have come in from as farWhile more quilts are being made onIt shows the compassion and willingness of 7,000 people who were literally burned out, away as Dunnville, while still others have comemachines, many still are being stitched the old-a group of people to pull together to make a dif-probably need a hug.from neighbouring Mississaugas quilters guild.fashioned way by hand. And quilters' guilds,ference, said Calvert.Then, thinking in case they have nothing to Just this week, nine more baby blankets, 20like that in Oakville, still carry a mighty weightThose interested in quilting can always takecling to during their time of trouble, Calvert put small handmade teddy bears and 22 knitted babywhen it comes to community networking in the guilds 2012 show next May 3, 4 and 5 orout a call to the Oakville Quilters Guild to do hats were delivered by women from St. John theand not necessarily the old-fashioned way.visit the guild online now at www.oakvillequil-what it does best.Apostle Church in Burlington.The guild is online at www.oakvillequilters-tersguild.ca.33 Friday, June 24, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com