07/04/2024
The African Nova Scotian Quilts Exhibition is curated by the incredibly talented and distinguished, Mr. David Woods.
Thank you Mr. Woods for all of your many years of mentorship, hard work, and contributions, by serving as a leading vessel to help bring forward and awaken cultural awareness and provide opportunities nationally.
My beloved grandmother, "The late Mrs. Sophie V. Elms, aka Aunt Sophie or Granny to many" of Monastery, N.S., would've been very pleased and proud to have seen an exhibition of this kind take place during her lifetime!
Presenting Granny...
Making quilts and other household items during the early years of my grandmother's life, was out of necessity. Arts and crafts was a form of creative expression that evolved from generation to generation. Each passing decade impacted the role of women. Quilting and sewing was formerly a chore for women. Throughout the decades, the art transitioned into an enjoyable and relaxing outlet to pass the time and socially engage with other women. Quilting, sewing and knitting clubs were formed and provided a safe space for women to share their ideas, crafting techniques, recipes, family concerns, and discuss topics that were considered taboo in society during their lifetime.The Women's Right Movement gained alot of momentum from many kitchens and parlors where these women gathered. Mrs. Sophie V. (Ashe-Reddick) Elms was a pioneer and Trailblazer of her generation, and one of these incredible women.
Granny was a nurse, caretaker, volunteer, mentor, self-taught carpenter, and creative art and craftswoman during her lifetime. In 1975, she organized and was founder of the registered society, "The Harmony Knitting & Crafts Club" in Antigonish-Guysborough County. Granny was a talented and innovative woman of all trades who sourced whatever she could to bring to life and create her designs. She could make something beautiful out of practically nothing! With enthusiasm and excitement, she shared her passion and was eager to teach anyone who expressed a genuine interest in learning how to knit, crochet, quilt, sew, make crafts, and cook. In 1979 with the help of her youngest son (the late Clarence"Chuck" Reddick), Granny built on an extension to her home in order to run and operate her home-based business, formally registered as "Sophie's Arts & Crafts Shop." In addition to operating her one-woman shop daily, she also filled hundreds of mail orders, and recruited a few of her grandchildren to advertise and market her designs across Canada and in the U.S.
One of her specialty creations included her famous handmade "Granny Quilts," that she gifted to all of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, family, friends, visitors, and strangers full of curiosity who stopped in to browse when their eye caught the store sign mounted on a tree next to the family famous "In God We Trust" boulder at the entrance of former Civic number 444 Highway #16. Granny's home and shop doors were open to all, and she rarely turned anyone away, even after closing up shop for the day. Her home was occasionally a temporary place of comfort and refuge for those in need or suffering hardship. It seemed that Granny always had plenty to give to others, even if she only had a little. She was sure to invite anyone hungry or in need "up the hill" for a filling meal followed with piping hot tea, homemade biscuits accompanied with homemade strawberry-rhubarb preserves, and fresh butter. Granny was a loving yet stern woman, and few dared to test or disrespect her. She seemed to find peace and solace in the wee hours of the night, as she poured all of her love into each piece she custom designed and created in her collection of hats, mittens, scarves, cushions, curtains, table cloths, placemats, runners, furniture covers, dolls, holiday gifts, and pretty much everything one could possibly imagine her making. Granny made over 450 quilted blankets and knitted/crocheted approximately 640 blankets, in all sizes for all occasions from 1975 until a few months before her passing in May of 2007. To this day, it's very likely that a token of her art and memory lingers in the homes of many locals and beyond our borders.
Mrs. Sophie Elm's daughter, Deacon Sonja Reddick of Tracadie United Baptist Church, and granddaughter's, Sophie Crawford and Sonja Crawford, are the caretakers of the vast inventory of what remains of the legacy of Sophie's Arts and Crafts of Monastery. The homestead has been renovated and renamed, "Sophie's Daugher." Installation of an Art Gallery & Tearoom to display memorabilia and showcase local artist's creative works and host social events are in the future plans.
Please feel free to post a picture of your blankets and "tokens of love" made by Granny, and share your memories of our beloved late grandmother, Sophie V. Elms.
In Posthumous Honour and Recognition of the Life and Community Contributions of
💐Mrs. Sophie V. Elms💐
In Loving Memory of Community Trailblazer, Humanitarian, Samaritan, Entrepreneur, Artist, Nurse, and Craftwoman.
💞Thank you for leading and paving the way! ~
Grandaughter, S. Crawford
