The Sidney Sew’n Sews like a challenge.

The quilting group that has been together for six years has created and donated many traditional-style quilts to hospitalized children, and enjoy encouraging each other to get creative and make works of art with fabric. This spring, when challenged by one member to create a quilt using Ted Harrison’s paintings for inspiration in order to raise funds for the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, they worked together to create a vibrant wall hanging.

“The idea originated with Katherine Gibson and myself on one of our many walks together,” said Dorothy O’shea. “I personally, have always enjoyed Ted’s work and through our ‘walk and talk’ mentioned that I thought his work would be just wonderful done in quilt form by our quilting group. At our next quilters meeting, I put forth the idea and seven of them said yes. We were off and running from that moment on.”

The quilted tribute to Harrison’s dynamic work which is based on many of his West Coast works has received the approval of the artist himself.

“He has signed his name to the quilt, increasing its worth considerably,” said Lynda Spence, Sew’n Sew member.

The quilt is currently on display at the CACSP Arts Centre in Tulista Park. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at the arts centre, Legacy Gallery on Yates Street, Crown Publications on Superior Street and the Ted Harrison Gallery on Oak Bay Avenue, or at Fabric Traders, Muffet and Louisa and Holmes Realty in Sidney, as well as at the Hospital Foundation office.

“This is the very first project (we’ve) done as a group on such a large scale. Each of us works on individual projects during the year for ourselves and have shown only at the Sidney Historical Museum until now,” said O’shea, who is a seasoned multi-media artist working in acrylics, oils and large fabric wall hangings.

Fans of Harrison are also invited to enjoy Tea with Ted in the lobby of the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 15. The winning ticket for the brightly-coloured, Harrison-inspired wall hanging will be drawn at 3:30 p.m. Harrison plans to join the tea party, and will sign copies of his biography by Kathrine Gibson.

Along with the soft cover edition of Gibson’s book, the collector’s edition (750 limited edition printing) which includes a frameable giclée print titled Sketching in Paradise, rendered exclusively for the book and hand-signed by Harrison and a limited edition DVD copy of Harrison images, set to an original composition.

“He’s very happy to have the opportunity to make an appearance in Sidney because of his support of the hospital,” said Gibson. “He just loves meeting people that enjoy his work. To take time to tell stories and talk to people, he’s a fine gentleman.

editor@peninsulanewsreview.com