Abbotsford’s Holiday Craft Fair
By Julie Ireton
Sharon Ferrill has been crafting with fabric, paper and paint for 60 years and for the past three she’s been doing it alongside a group of creative women every Thursday afternoon at Abbotsford Seniors Centre.
“They let me do anything I like,” said Ferrill who moved to the Glebe from Winnipeg in 2021 and became a member at the senior’s centre. “Today I made mug rugs, kind of a tiny quilt to put beside your computer with your mug on one side and your cookie on the other.”
As Abbotsford Seniors Centre, across from Lansdowne Park, prepares for its third annual Craft Fair, the crafters are working on seasonal cards, ornaments, baby clothes, knit wear, yoga bags and other hand-made creations.
The fair, set for November 30, from 10 am to 2 pm, will also feature hand-made teddy bears, and home baking including frozen apple pies. Visitors that day will also be invited to visit the tea room, where you can relax and enjoy lunch and treats. All the proceeds will go toward supporting the senior’s centre.
Having spent close to four decades travelling the world on postings for Canada’s foreign affairs department, Ferrill was accustomed to moves and making new friends, but Abbotsford made the transition to life in a new city even easier, she said.
“Everyone in the craft group is very friendly. It’s a social occasion, and a very relaxed, lovely place to go. We sit around, chat about other things – not just crafts,” she laughed. “Some are knitting, some are sewing, others are making cards.”
Ruth Hetherington, one of the veteran crafters, has been involved at Abbotsford for more than 20 years. She said Ferrill has been a great addition to the group.
“Sharon is amazing. She has tons of ideas and shows up with something different every week,” said Hetherington.
After spending her career in high tech and government in Ottawa, Hetherington did some crafting on the side. Now it consumes a lot of her spare time.
“When COVID closed everything down, we were wondering what would happen to the craft group since it was dwindling then,” said Hetherington. “Now we have about a dozen members. Everyone gets on like a house on fire and we share ideas and suggestions.”
Since Abbotsford often receives donations of supplies, the group will also set up a table at the Craft Fair to sell supplies, beads, buttons, fabric, yarn and fabric.
Fundraiser concert
Abbotsford Seniors Centre hosted the Womensong Collective: celebrating local women songwriters and supporting community on Sept. 20. It was a fundraiser for the senior’s centre.
Sponsors of the event included: Whole Health Pharmacy (gold level) DBA, (silver level) Amica The Glebe and JUHL Realty Team (bronze level) and Gigspace and The Blue Pearl Foundation.
“Seventy audience members were riveted by the performance of five,
talented local musicians: Sarah Jackson, Lisa Taylor, Caroline Cook, Patti Burnett, and Karen Oxorn,” said Karen Anne Blakely, director of community services at Abbotsford. “Each musician showcased their inspirational songs within the genres of
folk, country and bluegrass music.”
At the cocktail party after the concert, bids were made on silent auction items in the Abbotsford dining room.
The chef and director of culinary services at Amica The Glebe, Robert Hughes, provided the hors d’oeuvres.
