Since the pandemic started in March 2020, many of our quilters have found either purpose or solace in their sewing machines. We started out by making masks, and more masks, to support our health care workers. This was before the manufacturers of masks knew what hit them. After making and distributing over 22,000 masks at no charge over six months, we figured we could leave the masks to the professionals and get back to our quilting.
Since then, our Outreach Coordinators have made several donations to local organizations thanks to the many members of our guild who continue to sew for the benefit of others. Over the past few months, Outreach was very pleased to be able to make the following donations:
18 bed-sized quilts to AJOI for a young adult residence in the West Island, brightening up the very white decor
15 lap-sized quilts to Ronald McDonald House (see picture below)
24 placemats and 5 tote bags to WIAIH, a center in the West Island for people with intellectual disabilities
5 quilts and 2 quilt tops (including batting and backing) to Quilts for Survivors, a group offering quilts to survivors of residential schools
24 placemats to Meals on Wheels serving Pierrefonds West and Ile Bizard
12 baby quilts for the NICU at the Children’s Hospital
After a hot and somewhat-Covid-relaxed summer, we will be resuming our meetings. Our first meeting of the year will be the Evening meeting on Tuesday, September 7 at 7:00pm and the Day meeting will be on Wednesday September 8 at 10:00 am. Zoom links will be forwarded to members in the Newsletter. They are also available under the “Upcoming” tab here.
It is with great sadness that the Beaconsfield Quilter’s Guild announces the passing of our former President, Antoinette Scarano. A member for the past 6 years, she served in the Guild as Vice-President for 2 years before becoming President in June 2019. She was a talented quilter, knitter, card-maker and cook. But most of all she will be remembered for her huge contributions to the West Island community.
She lived her life as a quilt…
Life is like a quilt Years bound together with family and friends
Backed with tradition
Stitched with love
With cornerstones placed carefully together to create memories of our journey through timeLive life as a quiltIt's soft when importantIt’s warm when it’s coldIt’s proud to show your true colorsAnd always scrap together when times are tough
(Anonymous)
With great enthusiasm and love she talked about her joys in life: husband Ronnie, daughter Roseann (Alister), son Andrew, and most of all her precious grandchildren. With never a complaint, she faced her illness with dignity being so positive despite all. Her family was by her side, taking care of her with dedication and love. She felt all the love that she had been given as she went in peace. Our deepest sympathies to her family in this difficult time. She will be missed.
Welcome back to returning members and welcome to our brand-new members as well. Our Executive team is busy preparing our new guild season, after our summer break.
In some cases, the summer break (and springtime) included mask-making. Our guild prepared and distributed over 20,000 masks to over 20 organizations, both near and far: some of our masks were distributed locally to organizations such as CHSLD Manoir Beaconsfield and CLSC Lac St-Louis, while others went as far as Iqaluit! This initiative has now wrapped up; thank you for all those who participated and supported.
Ste-Anne hospital staff wearing BQG masks during their Recognication Day held in May
Looking ahead to the 2020/21 season, meetings will be held virtually, using Zoom, until further notice. The first Executive meeting will be held on August 19th at 9.30am and the first member meetings will be held as follows (please note that the meetings are, unusually, not being held in the first week of the month):
Tuesday, Sept. 8th at 7pm
Wednesday, Sept. 9th at 10am
Wishing you all a terrific year of learning and friendship with the guild: what an adventure we will have, learning new ways to meet, quilt, have fun and learn from one another… virtually!
Bienvenue à la saison 2020/21!
Bienvenue à nos membres actifs ainsi qu’à nos nouveaux membres. Notre conseil exécutif s’occupe à organiser la nouvelle saison de la guilde, après la pause d’été.
Durant la période estivale, quelques membres ont fabriqué des masques. Au total, notre guilde a préparé et distribué plus de 20 000 masques qui furent distribués localement à plus de 20 organismes, comme le CHSLD Manoir Beaconsfield et le CLSC Lac Saint-Louis, alors que d’autres furent envoyés aussi loin qu’à Iqaluit. Cette initiative est maintenant terminée. Merci à tous ceux et celles qui y ont contribué.
Le personnel de l’hôpital Ste-Anne porte nos masques lors de leur Journée de Reconnaissance en mai
Jusqu’à nouvel ordre, les réunions de la saison 2020/21 se tiendront de façon virtuelle, en utilisant Zoom. La première réunion de l’exécutif aura lieu le 19 août à 9h30 et les premières réunions des membres se tiendront comme suit (veuillez noter que les réunions de septembre, exceptionnellement, se tiendront la deuxière semaine du mois) :
mardi le 8 septembre à 19h
mercredi le 8 septembre à 10h
L’exécutif vous souhaite à toutes une formidable année d’apprentissage et d’amitié avec la guilde : quelle aventure allons-nous avoir à découvrir de nouvelles manières de se rencontrer, de faire des courtepointes, de s’amuser et d’apprendre les unes des autres … virtuellement.
We currently stand at over 20,000 masks sewn and delivered… incredible! What a great community effort! Read on for ways everyone can help out.
Beaconsfield Quilter’s Guild members are putting their sewing skills to work to help meet the need for face masks for staff and patients in our health care system. Friends, family, neighbours and local organizations are pitching in as well to iron, cut fabric, sew or donate elastic and fabric, making this into a true community initiative.
The masks are made of tightly-woven cotton using 2 different designs, as requested and approved by the medical personnel; they are washable and reusable. See the counter on the right side of this page for our latest totals.
Dr Nessrine Sabri (right), of Lakeshore General Hospital, and a colleague, give the thumbs-up to our masks
Where are the masks going? Masks are being distributed to over 15 sites throughout Montreal, including hospitals, CLSCs, CHSLDs among others. Click here for details on the receiving organizations and how the masks are being used.
Caring for masks: Wash in warm soapy water each time mask is worn. Do not iron elastic. Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends using non-scented detergent and no bleach to increase wearer comfort. Masks should never be put in a microwave oven.
Who are the people creating the masks? Some of our ‘mask-making magicians’ pose for a physically-distanced photo shoot above 🙂 To see more photos of our members, friends and family busily sewing masks: Mask Photos
Wondering about the efficacy of wearing ‘home-sewn’ masks? Our government has recently begun recommending use of face masks following specific guidelines. Face masks are an addition to other guidelines such as hand-washing and social distancing. While face masks provide an additional form of prevention, they DO NOT replace either of these critical strategies. Click on this link for more information on the efficacy of masks: Mask Guidelines
Want to sew your own masks for friends and family? There are many, many patterns on the internet these days. These are the 2 styles chosen by doctors at Lakeshore General and MUHC, should you want to benefit from their testing and expertise in your pattern selection:
