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ZOE SZUCH
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Quilting and crocheting extraordinaire
Dennillia "Nellie" Bischoff is celebrating her 92 birthday
today.
The long-time Hat resident is always on
the go – when she's not crafting up a storm in her St.
Joseph's suite, she keeps busy with her five children, 26
grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, crossword puzzles and polka
dancing.
"I sew a while, I cut a while, I draw a
while, whatever, but I'm always doing something. I don't sit
still for very long," said the Saskatchewan-born Bischoff.
But it's her quilting and crocheting that
keeps her busiest.
Bischoff has sewn approximately 192 quilt
tops for the Quilting Club at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church
and crocheted countless blankets and afghans for the local women's
shelter, The Salvation Army and the hospital. She's sewn nearly
500 neck pillows, which she sells for $5 apiece, and can crochet
anything from baby booties, to purses or even fabric dolls.
Bischoff was taught how to crochet by her
aunt at a young age and has since taught many of her own children
and grandchildren.
Each of her five children have stacks of
her hand-made crafts, and most of Bischoff's grandchildren own
personalized quilts made by Nellie. Bischoff said a making a quilt
usually takes a week or so, but if the pattern is tricky, it could
take her up to two weeks. Holding up a large black and white flower
design quilt, Bischoff said, "this (quilt) was harder than anything
else, the pattern was difficult."
All of the fabric and yarn Bischoff uses
for her handy crafts are donated scraps. "I never buy nothing.
People sometimes bring it into my room and I don't even know where
it came from."
Bischoff said she's glad her hands don't
ache and that she can still thread a needle, "as long as I can do
that, it's good." |
