Quilted Expressions sews up passion for artform by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 17 | Thursday, April 21, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The Oakville Quilters' Guild (OQG) is passionate about its members' talents, which is why its upcoming expo has a fitting name. The local non-profit organization is hosting the three-day Quilted Expressions Show and Sale at the end of the month. It takes place Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 1 at the OE Banquet Hall and Conference Centre, 2245 Speers Rd., Oakville. The OQG was established in 1994 to provide a place for quilters to find friendship and opportunities for information-sharing and offer a vehicle for developing workshops, sew-andchats and personal development. "We're a hard-working group of ladies. We love what we do, we're all very passionate about quilting and we're all very passionate about contributing to the community through our artform," said Rosemary Rosier, OQG president. More than 200 quilts will be showcased during the exhibit, which will also include a café, merchant's mall, members' boutique, raffle and demonstrations. The style of quilts on display will include "very traditional, beautifully-appliquéd and modern patterns," Rosier said, adding there may even be a few articles of clothing. "It's definitely a show for all members of the family, who are interested in sewing," said Oakville Quilting Guild (OQG) members created the Great Canadian Red and White Quilt. Pictured with it are, from left: Diane Wolder, Rosemary Rosier and Joanne Forsythe. | photo by Graham Paine Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Rosier. The OQG president noted the club organizes a show just every four years because of the work and expense involved. "It seems the four-year gap between shows seems to work out well for all of us because it gives us opportunities to learn more about quilting and techniques and to get a lot more work done," said Rosier. At Sunday's show (May 1), the OQG will raffle The Great Canadian Red & White Quilt, for $2 a ticket, with proceeds going to quilt education and the group's community outreach program. "This year we decided to get our raffle licence so we could do a big fundraiser every four years, which helps with the purchasing of things like batting and the backing of quilts," said Rosier. The idea for the red-and-white quilt came about 18 months ago as a way to celebrate Canada, Rosier said, as the group planned to raffle it at this month's show, so the winner could have it for the country's 150th anniversary celebrations in 2017. The nine large blocks comprising its centre represent all areas of Canada. "It was presented as a guild activity, so (members) took home their kits and they had to make a block of specific size. It could be whatever they wanted to make, but they had see Quilters on p.34 ALL YOU CAN EAT Dine in for AllYou cAn eAt O Thursdays 1:00 6:30 pm P E Saturdays 10:30 am 1:30 pm N Sundays 10:00 am 12:00 pm Lunch or Dinner Homemade Ukrainian Food terrace take-away all prepared and easy to warm up 280 north Service road W. @ Dorval 7 DAYs A week 905.337.1400 ext. 116 orders@terracetakeaway.ca cafe@sjucc.ca www.terracetakeaway.ca St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church 300 River Oaks Blvd. East (at Trafalgar) Oakville ON www.august8.ca 905-338-6228