Making Saskatchewan more beautiful, one barn quilt at a time
By Joan Janzen
Eleven participants registered for the two-day Barn Quilt Painting event at the Dodsland Legion Hall on August 4th and 5th. Crafters from Dodsland, Kindersley, Brock, Plenty, Unity and Cutknife joined together to help make the Open Hearts, Open Minds Barn Quilt Painting project a success.
Four organizers also contributed to the event, which was sponsored by Rivers West District for Sport, Culture and Recreation, New Horizons for Seniors, and Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association. Bonnie Mills Midgley, community development co-ordinator for Rivers West, said, "We had New Horizons funding of $25,000 this year. This was the third year in a row to receive that." The funds cover the cost of four gardening and four painting workshops held this year.
Artist Bonnie Macnab offered her assistance at the Barn Quilt Workshop at Dodsland. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
Eleven participants and four organizers enjoyed a two-day Barn Quilt Painting event on August 4th and 5th at the Dodsland Legion Hall. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
MORE PHOTOS BY JOAN JANZEN, click for larger images
"New Horizons' definition of rural population is under 1,000. So when I'm looking for places I look for 500 and under because small places don't often get to have these workshops," Bonnie said. "This is our second one this year."
The first workshop was held at Maymont and two more will be held at Maidstone and Lloydminster. An affordable registration fee of just $60 provides each participant with a 4' x 4' plywood board, paint and patterns, supper, lunch and snacks in addition to instruction during the workshop.
Artist Bonnie Macnab was available to offer her assistance. She said they've done over two hundred barn quilts since they started conducting the workshops. Everyone takes their barn quilt home to display on barns, sheds, workshops, and garages.
Some of the participants expressed their appreciation for the event. "I do want to make more. Now I need to build a barn to go with my barn quilt," Dawn from Kindersley joked.
"I find this one is much more creative. They think outside the box. I would guess every class would be different," Susanne observed. And every completed barn quilt was as different as the artists who were making them.
"I love meeting all the people. We wouldn't get to meet these people otherwise," Bonnie Mills Midgley said. Some of the participants admit they're not creative, but once they draw the pattern and make a mathematic grid, they realize they can complete the project.
"You have a good conversation with people because you're a participant and go home with a product too," Bonnie Mills Midgley concluded.