FOR ALE!

That's a strange post title on a quilting blog, I know!  But there is a story and it does end up to be quilting related so, hang in there!  Who doesn't love a quilt with a story!

I am very proud of where I grew up, where my ancestors, on both sides of my family, settled and have lived for many generations.   I am going to tell about just one of many aspects of this place, this Prospect, Nova Scotia, CANADA

We call it "THE STAGE" aka, Grandad's Stage, Jack's Stage etc....  It has been photographed so many times over the years, painted by artists.  A.Y. Jackson spent time painting in Prospect, Stanley Royle too.  W.R. MacAskill took photos in the Village as well.

Photo with permission by Ashley Coombs Photography  

The Stage was part of my childhood and dates back to the early 1800's.  It passed through many hands, most of them my relatives. The last owner in my family was my uncle, my Dad's brother.  It was during this time that the "S" went missing.  Only a select few know the story of how it disappeared.  I can't divulge the secret today, but maybe sometime in the future I will spill the beans!

The "For Ale" sign is completely gone now.  The new owners removed it. Too bad.  Looks like they are trying to fix it up though.

So, getting to the quilty connection, As I was visiting a quilt show in Pictou, NS this past spring, I walked past a vendor's table full of fabulous quilt patterns.  The vendor was well-known Nova Scotia quilt artist Karen Henry.  I was introduced to Karen by a friend.  We spoke for a bit and as I turned to walk away, out of the corner of my eye, I saw "For Ale".  Whoa, back up...there was a pattern of "The Stage"!

  So of course, I mentioned my connection to Karen right away and she was happy to hear that I knew all about it.  She told me her father had taken the photo that she made her pattern from but he wasn't sure where he had taken the photo.  Mystery solved.
Of course I bought the pattern complete with the fabrics to recreate Karen's design.  How cool is that!
Can't wait to get working on it. 

 I found The Stage in a lovely hooked rug here 

Taken while used by lobster fishermen

This photo is taken from the yard of the house I grew up in.  As kids, we would all swim across to "The Stage" and back again. 

If interested in the History of Prospect, which dates back to the 1750's, here is the link to the Prospect Genealogical Website 

Thanks for stopping by!