A mini-crafts gallery of maximum variety

St. Vital

Recently, I was stunned by fellow-resident Olive Norberg’s rich assortment of handicrafts on display when I entered her suite for an interview. She has been much too humble about her achievements. Who among us residents knew what treasures she had produced in her lifetime? This artisan’s history is best told in her own (abridged) words.

“In 1949, I moved from Glenboro to Winnipeg as nine-year-old Olive Swainson. I started sewing in Home Ec classes in Grade 7, but figured I’d never use it. Never say never, for in my late teens, with mom being a sewer and crafter, I made some of my own clothes and got great pleasure crocheting and knitting. After marriage to George Norberg, I sewed curtains, etc., and an abundance of things later for our two girls.

“Our family moved to Brandon in 1974. I joined IODE and met Merle, who became my golfing partner and lifelong friend. As the children grew up, Merle and I started taking interesting craft courses: macrame, ribbon embroidery, quilting. And we joined the Nifty Needlers Quilting Club for its lessons and bus trips, some to the U.S.A. for fabric and kits.

“I also did a lot of doll-making. When the Manitoba 55+ Games came to Brandon in 2012, I entered two crocheted dolls, one Icelandic doll, my petit pointe picture of horses, and a knitted doll. What a finale! I was awarded four first prizes and one second.

“Fellow crafter Elsie and I had fun making advent calendars when employed by the Brandon S.D. — she with felt and sequins and I with crocheting. We had no patterns. My daughters liked the results so much that when they left home I had to crochet a calendar for each of them. Through the Nifty Needlers, I won a set of six quality scissors as first prize for my Christmas ornaments made with felt and sequins.

“The ladies at the Icelandic Convention in 2012 decided to use my Icelandic dolls as centrepieces for 24 tables. I proudly crocheted dresses for them while a friend made their capes, veils and slips. They were a great hit.

“Pictures I’ve done in petit pointe include Pinkie and Blue Boy, thanks to sister-in-law Bernice’s lessons in my teens. I’ve also done cross stitch and smocking. And I tried stained glass art, but it was completely out of my comfort zone — a totally different procedure than working with cloth or yarn. Still, I’m proud of a vase I created.

“My quilting nowadays is called English paper piecing, a complicated process easily done by hand but difficult to describe. I’ve used it for several afghans and a cover for my daughter’s grand piano.”

It’s that spectacular runner-cover I’d seen earlier which sparked my interest in writing this article.

Olive has wisely preserved these memories and prize ribbons in a beautifully illustrated three-ring binder. What a precious heirloom for her family! She’s also left Easter eggs with crocheted covers at some residents’ doors at Dakota House. We call her our Easter bunny.