Quilters throw anniversary tea party
The Mad and Noisy Quilt Group is celebrating 25 years of tea parties, quilts and friendship.
Linda Cockton, a founding member of the group, said the group has a long tradition of sharing creativity, encouragement and of learning from each other.
Some of the original members are still involved with the group and over the years, she said, and many friendships have been made.
“We’re still carrying on,” said Cockton. “And we still have a wonderful community of quilters.”
Each year the quilters host a tea to share their creations, whether its crazy quilts, wall hangings, or other small projects.
She said the tea has always been a draw because of the China tea service and the yummy homemade treats. This year, a tour will be added with quilted creations shown at two homes, the Creemore Log Cabin and at St. John’s United Church.
It all started when Cockton hosted a party for someone who wanted to demonstrate and sell a new style of sewing ruler. The tea party was so popular that a group of Creemore quilters carried on with monthly meetings and annual celebrations.
The group has a philanthropic side as well. It has donated lap quilts to nursing homes, premie quilts for the hospital and placemats for Meals on Wheels.
The popular tea party in celebration of the milestone anniversary will be held on May 30. The event will include the unveiling of the mystery quilt made by members who follow the instruction of the leader as they work together to collaborate on a quilt without seeing the full pattern.
Admission costs $10. Pick up a passport at Creemore Log Cabin between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. or pay at the church, where tea, sandwiches and desserts will be on the menu.
The passport will include stops at Cockton’s home, where some of her thousands of quilts, wallhangings and other small projects, and Sandy Van Laar’s garden, with quilts on display.
When fundraising was underway for the relocation of the log cabin, the Mad and Noisy Quilt Group made a traditional log cabin patterned quilt to be raffled off. It will be on display at the log cabin during the tour, along with other antique quilts.
Contributed photo: Jackie Houston holds up her memory chain quilt with assistance from Marie Kidd during the Mad and Noisy Quilt Group’s foundational years. The early days of the group’s activities are captured in a memory book assembled by Diane Hutchings.
