Fibre Arts Sale – The Gift of Giving
The annual fibre arts sale at United’s Garrison Green community raised about $1,200 for four Calgary charities. The sale ran for two days last week and sold a wide range of hand-made gifts produced by more than a dozen residents – all members of the Fibre Arts Club.
The residents knitted, crocheted, cross-stitched and quilted to produce hundreds of one-of-a-kind items perfect for Christmas giving.
Trudy Martin, who has lived at Garrison Green for four years, said the club is a great way to make friends and introduce new residents to the community. “The club is a great part of this community. Some of us are here alone, so there’s a social aspect. And to be able to do what I love and create something useful, I think that’s terrific.”
Trudy’s specialty is knit shopping bags, which were a big hit at the sale. Her daughter, Rose Thomas, often comes into Calgary and helps at the club and at the sale.
Resident Louise Dean has been at Garrison Green for a year and a half. This was her first sale. “It went very well. A sale like this is an excellent idea. It’s nice to see our work put to good use. I contributed scarves, hats and dishcloths. The very first person I met when I was thinking about moving in was Trudy, and she asked ‘Do you knit?’ I said I crochet, so she immediately invited me to the Fibre Arts Club. It’s a great way to make new friends.”
The club holds two sales a year, with all money raised going to four charities they support – Children’s Cottage Society, Women in Need Society, the Calgary Food Bank and the Women’s Centre Calgary.
Each charity will receive $325 from last week’s sale, with unsold items also donated.
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Photos and video by Sherana Productions
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To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.
Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.