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Times-Advocate, 1999-02-03, Page 1412 11411,;41r , Wednesday, February 3, 1999 Quilt project raises fxds for breast cancer battle by Michele Greene RUSSELDALE - At the .beginning of the 20th Century, women often met around the frame stitching the patches together. As the century, draws to a close, that happens less often. But an Ontario woman could be changing that. Carol Miller, of Russeldale, is encourag- ing people across Canada to take their place around a quilt for the sake of an issue that affects all women --breast cancer. A long-time quilter and a breast cancer survivor, Miller launched a national quilt exhibit• entitled The Quilt: A Celebration of Survivors. It will feature quilts made by people across Canada and will be displayed at the Stratford - Perth Museum from April to October. The exhibit will end with a gala quilt auction on Nov. 12 at the Church Restaurant in Stratford. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to breast cancer research through the Canadian' Cancer Society.' "I thought about doing SO to do that," said Miller. In April 1997, she went to the doctor for a routine physical and mammo- gram which showed can- cer cells in one of Miller's breasts. A biopsy con- firmed the mammogram results and the doctor recommended surgery. Miller and her husband Tom took .the trip to England they planned first. Then, she under- went a mastectomy and breast reconstruction in July. "It was scary, the surgery as well as the cancer," said Miller. She took six months off from her work as owner and manager of Miller's Country Store, a quilt and craft store in St. Agatha, to recover. During this time Miller put together the jdealef a national quilt exhibit to raise money for breast cancer research. She took her idea to a, breast cancer survivors' support group, which she recently joined. Miller hoped this Stratford - based group would make the first quilt for the exhibit. Although the group was supportive of the idea, none of the members could quilt. That didn't stop Miller. She selected a quilt pat- tern and a fabric by 'Northcott Silk Inc. which makes a donation to breast cancer research with each purchase of its Quilt -for -a -Cure fabric. Together, the support group cut out the patches and sewed them to make a quilt top: A group of quilters in a nearby com- munity agreed to do the quilting for the exhibit's first quilt. "You're in a group, laughing and enjoying something together. It's healthy,'" said Miller, who ands healing qualities in the activity. Besides quilting, orga- nizing quilt festivals is one of Miller's skills. She was one of the founding orga- nizers of the Waterloo County and Area Quilt Festival. She is drawing oil her Festival contacts and contacts she made when she worked in the store, which she has since sold to new owners. Now, Miller's national quilt exhibit is an official part of the fourth annual Waterloo County event. It is the first satellite loca- tion for the festival. Miller is hoping at; least donate the batting or the fabric, she said. They could make coffee and refreshments for the quil- ters. Most of all, Miller said people can get involved by developing their own group commit- ted to donating a quilt to the exhibit. "If they did it as a group, many hands make light work," said Miller. The group can include people whowill donate the materials and then branch out to others who will do the actual quilting. "It's fun that way. Everyone has a hand in it," said Miller. Although Miller orga- nizes the exhibit and the Huron -Perth branch of the Canadian Cancer Society will handle the proceeds, she said the money won't stay in this area. Proceeds from the sale of each quilt will go back to the donor's home branch. "They still have owner- ship of the project," she - said. Potential quilters are asked to complete a call for entry, declaringtheir intentions, by the end of February. They are avail- able by calling 1-800-294- 0086 or e -mailing huron@ccsont.org. or vis- iting any .office of the Canadian Cancer Society in Huron and Perth coun- ties. Quilts must be sub- mitted by the end of March. 1•\Y1OI2 1I:1 1 1\'\ 1( 1 NSALL-N STRICT Tree & Stump Rernoe.al Res . Comm. • fully insured • over 25 yrs. experience ' Dump truck ' Chipper • Stump grinding Cal! Dave Taylor (519) 238-5451.- Complete line ofBuildfngMaterials 11OOLS - LUMBER &HENT DOORS - WINDOWS- HARDWARE PRESSURE TREATED WOOD RENTALS - ELECTRICAL & HEATING SUPPLIES 2364393'4 2352081 Zurich Exeter each province will be rep- resented. Quilters have been notified through quilters guilds, a national quilting magazine and by word of mouth. So far, quilts have been donated by Bradshaws, a Stratford store, and Famme and Co., a Stratford accounting com- pany. A group of surgeons from Stratford General Hospital are also working on a quilt together. Stratford Festival actor Michelle Fisk also plans to make a quilt from fabric donated by the theatre's wardrobe department. Quilters from British Columbia, Ottawa, Mississauga, Elliott Lake, Winnipeg and Saskatchewan have all asked for more informa- tion on the exhibit before beginning their own' pro- jects. They are making the quilts for many reasons. Some lire being made in memory of someone who fought cancer. An Ottawa woman is dedicati her. quilt to dedicatd,o a' friend's daughter who is battling cervical cancer. "You don't have to, a quilter to make a quilt. There are lots of ways for people to be involved in a quilt," said Miller. 'People can choose to Carol Miller encourages people acros's Canada to take their place around a quilt for the sake of an issue that affects all women—breast cancer. GORDON DANN Pump Sales & Service Ltd. 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