CALEB NICKERSON
The Homecraft building is always busy over the Labour Day weekend, as local residents show off everything from their artwork and sewing to . . .
their baking and preserves. In addition to the home cooks and designers, the hall also puts on live demonstrations from people who are experts in their field.
One of the highly anticipated exhibitions this year will be a trunk show by a highly accomplished quilter, Beth Cameron of Manotick, which will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
“It’s a collection of quilts that this lady has made over time, and I think there will be more than 50 that she’s going to be showing,” explained director Elaine Lang, noting that the sheer scale of the Cameron’s collection was jaw-dropping.
Lang is a long-time exhibitor at the fair, and recently took the step of becoming a director again. She said that in addition to the exhibits and demonstrations, she enjoys seeing the passion people have for their projects.
“I think the one thing you enjoy is to see the work that other people do, and the talent that they have,” she said. “There’s some incredible seamstresses out there and the baking is just wonderful. It’s nice that people take part and show off their skills.”
She said that its always a surprise what people bring in, depending on their preferences or how certain plants fared during the growing season.
“Some years for example, if there’s a really good crop of chokecherries, you could have maybe 15 different jars of chokecherry jelly,” she said. “It varies. You could have 10, 12 entries in the junior section showing chocolate chip cookies. You just never know, it depends on the year.”
The sorting and judging of the numerous categories is a daunting task that takes a large team of experienced volunteers, Lang said. Even with all the help, the number of entries means that the judging takes the better part of a day.
