Village Squire, 1980-09, Page 27executing each year's program, begin-
ning in 1981.
The yearly schedule will consist of a
summer program in Stratford and a
winter program in Toronto. The group
will pursue the development of Strat-
ford's connections in New York and
London, and in films and television.
Quilters can catch
classes at Millers Barn
Quilting is an exciting craft that has
grown up with this country. It began as
a necessity for our pioneer ancestors.
The quilts now being sewn demonstrate
the pure beauty of artistry and
ingenuity.
The technique of piecing several
layers of cloth to make a quilt is being
taught at Miller's Barn, a collection of
shops near Russelldale. Teacher Rose-
mary Schaefer's knowledge of quilting
is vast. Co-owner of the barn Carol
Miller has also taken a quilting
workshop at Fanshawe this past spring
where she learned to design and make
her own quilt patterns from paper
templates.
There is a nominal class charge and
materials can be bought at the Barn's
Shop. Stock includes every colour of
calico patterns imaginable, plain mater-
ials to mix and match and everything
from scissors to quilting thread to shade
frames.
The courses begin the second week of
September. The beginner's classes
introduce the quilter's world with
practical quilted projects. The advanced
course has instruction in making your
own templates and advanced patterns.
While at Miller's Barn you can
browse through the other shops. The
four shops are The Craft Shop, The
Calico Shop, The Antique Shop and The
Country Kitchen.
The Craft Shop has hand made
sewing including patchwork pillows, log
cabin place mats, hand made dolls and
stuffed animals. For children, knitted
sweaters, hats and mitts can be found in
many colours and sizes. Quilts for sale
here are as varied as the quilt patterns
available. Unique apple dolls, wooden
toys and wall plaques with decorative
painting add to The Craft Shop.
The Calico Shop, named after the
material it carries, is supplied with
every colour imaginable. Also featured
in the shop are hand made dresses,
smocks and skirts. Custom orders are
taken.
Carol's husband Tom Miller works at
..;;eping The Antique Loft in operation
and spends many hours refinishing
furniture he buys at auction sales. He
will also do custom refinishing as well.
Tom Miller also makes wooden toys,
jewellery chests and wall plaques.
The Country Kitchen is an added
attraction. The Kitchen has catered to
several large groups and the restaurant
can serve 30 people at once.
"The average busy day has 200
customers to come and browse. On a
slow day perhaps 50 customers come,"
says Carol Miller. "I enjoy talking to
people and listening to what they are
interested in."
Gallery Stratford moves
out to the people
The Gallery/Stratford is expanding
extension services offered to residents
of Perth and Huron Counties.
The expansion has been made
possible through an Audience Develop-
ment Grant from Wintario as well as
continued community support of the Art
Pack Programme.
Nearly 600 loans were reported to
school, community clubs and insti-
tutions during the first year's circu-
lation of the 200 small travelling units.
An Art Pack can be purchased in any
individual's name for S50 and would go
out on loan, without charge, to
community groups or schools.
In addition to the loans of Art Packs,
four small extension exhibitions are to
be organized from the permanent
collection of the Gallery which will be
made available for loan. Gallery staff
Paul Bennett, Maggie Mitchell, John
Silverstein, Bruce White and Ken Nutt
will be available to present lectures and
workshops on various art topics.
George Holm explains the fine craft of pewter molding to an Antours group at his
Touchmark Shop In St. Mary's. (Photos by Matt Adamson)
St. Marys hosts
Toronto Antours
A Toronto travel tour company is
giving a boost to the town of St. Marys
by including the town on a trip to
Shakespeare and Stratford.
The company, Antours, have become
well known recently for emphasizing
small town Ontario on its tours.
In a promotion tour, there are
descriptions like "the picture perfect
town of St. Marys" and the "unspoiled
little town of St. Marys."
Several local attractions are included
as stops on the visit.
VILLAGE SQUIRE/SEPTEMBER 1980 PG. 25