A quilt unlike any other!

Warning: Picture intensive!

Last week, the group I meet with on Wednesday afternoons decided that we would all go to Cornwall on Friday to visit The Quilt of Belonging and a local quilt show. What was The Quilt of Belonging, I enquired. It is the largest and most inclusive work of textile art made about Canada. The quilt is composed of blocks representing all the nations that make up Canada's people, including First Nations peoples. How is it that I've never heard of this? I had no idea what to expect but once there I was blown away!!

Here's a pic of the group who made the trip.

Here's the quilt in all its glory!

The quilt is 120 ft long and 10 ft high and is made up of 263 blocks. All the more interesting to me was that the quilt had its beginnings in the village of Williamstown, Ontario which is just outside of Cornwall. I lived in Cornwall for many years and worked there at the hospital for 34 yrs and had heard nothing of this quilt.
I was shocked to see just how many of the blocks of the quilt were composed of needlework. The use of textiles, artifacts and materials native to each country made each block unique. These first blocks are those belonging to my own heritage. I've included pics where I zoomed in on the images so that you can see the exquisite work on each of the blocks. Also, if you get a chance, follow the link to learn more about the quilt and how it came into being.

CANADA

ENGLAND

FRANCE

The entire centre is done in Petit Point!

SCOTLAND

Have you ever seen thistles this pretty?

IRELAND

WALES

Here's the block belonging to the US for all my American friends.

I managed to photograph 123 of the 192 countries and 71 aboriginal nations. Below are some of my favourites.

CZECH REPUBLIC

SIERRA LEONE

I love the colours in this one and the use of the cowrie shells

AUSTRALIA

Exquisite needlework!

GUATEMALA

Don't you just love the dolls!

COSTA RICA

Their national flower is a purple orchid

EASTERN CREE

I love the use of beads on this one!

PAKISTAN

NUNAVIK

Sealskin border

I was astonished at the use of all the various textiles! The blocks are exquisite and very detailed.  I particularly loved the Aboriginal blocks. More and more I wish I could visit that part of our country. My DH was fortunate enough that he spent several summers in Nunavut and has experienced the north to a certain extent already.

If you wish to see the block from your ancestor's country just leave me a comment as to which country you'd like to see. I will continue to post pictures from the quilt over the next week or so. It's too good not to share! Speaking of sharing, the quilt has toured Canada, from the east coast to the west and everything in between, including the Arctic. 

At this point I'll continue with our outing on our next post with some pictures of the lovely quilts we saw at the show. Until then, happy stitching!