Monday 21 February 2022

Member Olympic Connection

The February meeting featured a member, Joyce S. We are happy she shared some of her experiences on the national basketball team and their trip to the Olympics. Joyce came from an athletic family, playing lots of sports. She was selected to try out for the national team. This process involved living and working in Ontario (on the assembly line at Westinghouse putting transistors into TVs), and having a 3 hour basketball practice in the evenings. Joyce was chosen to be on the team and played with them for 7 years. 

Her first basketball trip was to Cuba in 1969. Other destinations over the years included Brazil, China, and Russia. We appreciated the look at the official uniforms and a bit of a trip down memory lane about fashions and expectations of that time. Joyce played in World Student Games, Pan American Games, World Championships, and the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. 

Joyce retired to get married and became the head coach at UNB for women's basketball and later field hockey. Her secret to success - get in the best shape possible and outlast others. 

Members shared some of their projects. Like many of us, Christa says that quilting is keeping her sane in the pandemic. She says after piecing a red and black cobblestone quilt, she decided to do one in blues. She said it was quite boring so she added a block in between with lots of little squares. Definitely not boring now. Your nephew in Germany is bound to like it.


Debbi D has made a baby quilt for her daughter's friend.


And when the recommendation came out to have 3-layer masks instead of 2-layer, Debbi went to work. Notice they all but one feature cat fabrics.


Joyce completed a little wall hanging. The French knot flowers are lovely.


In preparation for Valentine's Day, Joyce made postcards for her grandchildren and sister.


Kathy H "needed" a winter wall hanging for her kitchen so she dug into her drawer of fabric squares.


Then she made a Valentine door hanger for her mother (and used a few more squares!).


Melanie has been busy as well. She made a quilt for her grandson. She says she found the panel at The Fabric Cupboard, cut it up and made some other blocks to go with it. Melanie had Gisele quilt it.


Melanie also made a Valentine post card. And a very attractive display!


Linda has been piecing quilt tops. Have you got your stash under control yet? For this quilt she made haphazard blocks using blue and brown scraps.


Then Linda played with using strips.


She says one weekend she made over two hundred blocks. The three quilt tops are shown. Her 17 year old cat has picked his favourite.




Susan A says she had to make the Myrna purse because her mother's name is Myrna.


Elaine and Linda's tops are now completed comfort quilts. Thank you ladies.



And lastly, our intrepid retreaters sent pictures from retreat. First the fishing shacks at Renforth. 


Christa was working.

From Susan A


Heather taught how to make gnomes.


And she quilted too.

Gisele was busy.


Evelyn finished two projects.




Elaine was busy quilting on her machine. I am told the owl is done with glow-in-the-dark thread. 


Diane from Woodstock was making feathers.


Janet M. from Woodstock was putting together her hand embroidered birds.