The 37th annual Quilt Show took place in Quispamsis, N.B. this weekend, and this year’s theme was inspired by nature and Canada 150.
In a room with more than 250 quilts, each one told their own story.
“A lot of thought, colour and expression, a lot of our energy flows through our body and into these pieces…it's fine art,” said show convener, Sally Reibling.
Tying into the theme, artisans created small quilts with rhymes to go with the traditional children’s song “Down by the Bay.”
Rhymes included: “did you ever see a seagull quilting with a needle?” and “did you ever see a fish looking like this? Down by the Bay.”
Some of the quilts were as old as Canada as quilters celebrated 150 years of living down by the Bay of Fundy.
One of the show’s quilts was made back in 1875.
"This quilt was found by my sister in her mother in law's trunk after she died,” said show convener, Sue McEachern.
The Kennebecasis Valley Quilt Guild also supports a number of charities including Victoria Quilts, a national organization that provides quilts to cancer patients.
McEachern says quilting is a way for her to create something that will be used by another person and hopefully help them.
“As you’re making them, you put your heart and soul into them, you think about the recipient and how they’re going to feel when they receive this,” she said with tears. “It makes me very emotional.”
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Mary Cranston.
