Castlegar Healing from tragedy with quilts A Castlegar entrepreneur started a quilting business after dealing with the death of her stepson by KRIS DICKESON
STITCHING MEMORIES: The quilt pictured above, created by Rita Crawford in remembrance of her stepson, was the inspiration for Kootenay Custom Quilting. —photo courtesy Rita Crawford
Rita Crawford, founder of Kootenay Custom Quilting, refers to herself as a sewaholic with an intense passion for sewing. Her mom taught her the skill in her childhood and Crawford remembers this as bonding time. In the early ’90s, Crawford tried her hand at quilting but found it took too much time, so went back to sewing.
Then one day in 2004, while living in the Lower Mainland, Crawford watched in horror as her stepson Kristopher was run over by a dumptruck while riding his bike.
“Kristopher’s death was very hard to deal with and our new reality was difficult,” Crawford said. “It is not in my nature to join a group and share my feelings and grief. Being a seamstress, it was only natural I did more sewing than I had done in a long time.”
It was four months later that Crawford was inspired to make a quilt commemorating Kristopher’s life.
“I remember it so clearly,” Crawford said. “I was walking through the mall and the idea hit me, and I knew this project would help me heal . . . I also made the decision to keep the photo memory quilt a secret and give it to Kristopher’s dad (her fiancé) for Christmas.”
Crawford managed to complete the quilt in several months, which provided her with the opportunity and time to come to terms with her loss.
“It was emotional as I went through the photos of Kristopher,” she said. “I became engulfed in the project and this cleared my mind and was a release of emotion for me.”
In May 2005, Crawford and her family moved to Castlegar; not long after, with the help of Community Futures Development Corporation in Nelson, she started up her own photo memory quilt business, Kootenay Custom Quilting.
The process of creating a photo quilt entails the use of letter-sized photo fabric. Crawford enlarges and edits the photos on her computer, then feeds the fabric through a computer printer that uses specialized ink. Next, the fabric photos are cut into symmetrical shapes to fit a pattern. Kootenay Custom Quilting creates about 20 quilts per year and has expanded to sewing pillows and encompassing other memory themes such as birth announcements, weddings, birthdays, pets and graduations.
Crawford has spent the last year completing an array of designs, but the quilt closest to her heart is still the one she sewed for Kristopher.
“It will always be special to me,” she said, “but I also see how special each quilt is to each client. I love to see the look of joy on their faces. It is also nice to sew for someone else who has been through a tragic situation. I can relate to how they feel."
For more information about Kootenay Custom Quilting go to www.kcquilting.com.
Key Castlegar contacts
Environmentally friendly living Biosustain Technologies is offering five-acre lots on new crown land in Nelson, Ymir and the West Kootenays as well as one-acre lots with waterfront living on the Columbia River; these developments feature engineered and sustainable building design with environmentally friendly land development. In addition to home design and building lots, Biosustain Technologies also offers construction services, topsoil, flagstone rock products and landscaping and property development.
Teck Cominco Metals Ltd. Teck Cominco is a diversified mining company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The company is a world leader in the production of zinc and metallurgical coal and is also a significant producer of copper, gold and specialty metals.
Teck Cominco is committed to creating value for its shareholders while continually improving its performance as a responsible corporate citizen and a leader in its industry. The company pursues development of new technologies that make mining more economically and environmentally sustainable and strives to be a Partner of Choice wherever it operates and with whomever it is associated.
Teck Cominco Metals Ltd Po Box 1000 Trail, BC PHONE: (250) 364-4113
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Columbia Power Corporation At Columbia Power Corporation (CPC), we believe in creating long-term jobs and economic and social benefits through environmentally-sound power projects. Pursuant to the Columbia Basin Accord signed in 1995, the primary mandate of CPC is to undertake power project investments as the agent of the province on a joint venture basis with the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT). The joint venture partnership is contributing to the economic, environmental and social well-being of the Columbia Basin by planning, acquiring and developing power projects in the region.
Columbia Power Corporation 200 - 445 13th Ave Castlegar, BC PHONE: (250) 365-8545
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ZELLSTOFF Celgar Limited Partnership
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Merit Mining Corp 550-580 HORNBY ST Vancouver, BC PHONE: (604) 694-2344 WEBSITE: www.meritminingcorp.com
Home care providers since 1977 Looking for a rewarding career? Then look no further. BC Care Providers has created our Careers section just for people like you, people who are interested in a career within the Long Term Care and Home Support sectors. Visit our Current Vacancies section to see our listings which are catalogued according to provincial health region. As a group, the BC Care Providers Association provides effective leadership and valued resources that facilitates progressive changes, promoting the growth and success of its members who provide care services for seniors.
BC Care Providers Association 301 1338 West Broadway Vancouver, BC PHONE: (604) 736-4233
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Affordable waterfront community Twin River Estates is a spectacular 60-acre waterfront community with stunning river and mountain views. Over a quarter of the site is dedicated to open green space. There are parks for all ages and a three-kilometre trail that meanders along the river. Close proximity to urban amenities and unlimited outdoor recreation make it an ideal location for all lifestyles. Choose from the wide selection of affordable lots, and live the dream at Twin River Estates.
Newgen Real Estates (Twin River Estates) 104-32310 South Fraser Way Abbotsford, BC PHONE: (604) 853-8625
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Award-winning par 3 golf Little Bear Golf Course boasts a 9-hole setup with 18 playable tee-offs, amazing scenic views and a beginner-friendly layout that offers just enough challenge for all playing levels. Our facility is equipped to host private functions, weddings and golf tournaments. At only $10 a round, Little Bear Golf Course is ultra-affordable for the family or weekend golfer. After a wonderful round of golf, you can enjoy fine dining at our fully licensed restaurant—Creekside Grill. Visit Little Bear Golf Course this season and see why we’re unlike any other par 3 course.
Little Bear Golf Coarse & Creekside Grill 872 Waterloo Rd Castlegar, BC PHONE: (250) 365-2353
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Columbia Recycle Ltd. 330-317th Ave Marysville, BC PHONE: (250) 427-2994 WEBSITE: www.columbiarecycle.com
Bc Forest Safety Council 200-1055 West Hastings St Vancouver, BC PHONE: (604) 632-0211 WEBSITE: www.bcforestsafe.org
Buster's Escavating (1986) Greenwood, BC PHONE: (250) 445-6406 WEBSITE:
Golden Life Management 1800 Willowbrook DR Cranbrook, BC PHONE: (250) 489-0667 WEBSITE: www.goldenlife.ca
We capture the moment Make your special moments last forever with Tait Photography. Specializing in weddings, portraits and boudoir photos, Tait Photography in Nelson is a modern documentary photo studio with a passion for artistic and creative images. From capturing the important details to the sweet moments, our photojournalistic approach means we are unobtrusive, documenting life and recording the special moments that could have gone unnoticed or been forgotten. Our fine art background means that we create cherished images and combine them with unique pages designed to form your favourite albums.
CXXR Corporation 807 Radio Ave Nelson, BC PHONE: (250) 352-1196
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Kootenay Direct Airlines Po Box 1137 Nelson, BC PHONE: (250) 505-3552 WEBSITE: www.flykda.com
Maglio Building Centre Ltd 29 Government RD. Nelson, BC PHONE: (250) 352-6661 WEBSITE: www.maglio.ca
Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd. (Vancouver) 500 2955 Virtual Way Vancouver, BC PHONE: (604) 669-3800 WEBSITE: www.klohn.com
Heritage Credit Union 100-630 17th St Castlegar, BC PHONE: (250) 365-7232 WEBSITE: www.heritagecu.ca
Castlegar & District Recreation & Aquatic Centre 2101-6th Ave Castlegar, BC PHONE: (250) 365-3386 WEBSITE: www.castlegar.ca
Whisper Creek Log Homes 2248 Columbia Ave Castlegar, B.C. PHONE: (250) 365-3696 WEBSITE: www.wseng.ca
Castlegar & District Chamber Of Commerce 1995 - 6TH Ave Castlegar, BC PHONE: (250) 365-6313 WEBSITE: castlegar.com
Green. Safe. Fun. The 2008 Civic Hybrid is stylish, earth friendly and so enjoyable to drive. The heart of the Civic Hybrid is a responsive 1.3L i-VTEC® engine that operates in tandem with a lightweight, high-output self-charging electric motor called the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA®) System. The 15-inch lightweight alloy wheels and low rolling-resistance tires also help Civic Hybrid deliver the fuel efficiency that won it the EnerGuide award as “Most Fuel Efficient Compact Car” in 2008. Stop by Glacier Honda in Castlegar to view the 2008 Civic Hybrid.
Glacier Honda 1602 Columbia Ave Castlegar, BC PHONE: (250) 365-4845
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