February 7 & 8 , 2003 the Prince George Coast Inn of the North will be a hub of creativity with Creation s - The Northern BC Sewing, Crafts, and Interior Decorating Show.

The first major craft and sewing show to be held in northwest BC in 10 years, it features a marketplace for exhibitors from across western Canada. There is also an extensive educational program with two days of seminars and hands-on workshops.

Creations is the brainchild of Bill and Lynda Bateman of Elbi Sew and Serge, Prince George’s Husqvarna Viking dealer . Late last spring Bill approached sewing enthusiasts and organizers and Creations was born. Community involvement was felt to be very important and the Northern BC Friends of Children was chosen to be the focus charity. One dollar from every admission ticket will be donated to fund medical treatments and expenses for children in the North Central Interior.

The Creations Marketplace includes many unique merchants from the North Central Interior and from Alberta, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island. Out-of-area exhibitors include Hammel’s Fabrics from Chilliwack, the Patchwork Studio from Victoria, Peak Fabrics from Calgary and Cotton Pickins from Rainbow Lake. Local participating merchants are too numerous to mention but can be viewed on our website.

Also to be featured are: Linda Beer and Linda McLeod from Sundrop Textiles in Port Coquitlam. Linda Beer will be presenting her daily fashion show plus three entertaining seminars. Linda Beer is the founder and co-owner of Sundrop Textiles and the designing force behind Northwind Designs, her own line of patterns and videos. Linda is an internationally recognized speaker and teacher and is well known for her humorous presentations and the wealth of information she imparts. Linda McLeod is co-owner of Sundrop Textiles and a certified Palmer Pletsch Instructor. She will be doing workshops for Husqvarna Viking.

Prince George’s own Helene Rohn is to present workshops for Husqvarna Viking with an emphasis on Heirloom Sewing. Helene recently became a Licensed Martha Pullen Heirloom Sewing Teacher on Viking/Husqvarna Machines and Sergers in Huntsville Alabama at the Martha Pullen Company. Helene is currently a free lance Martha Pullen Instructor doing classes in traditional and contemporary Heirloom Techniques.

Pam Mahoney from Prince Rupert will be doing two all-day, hands-on quilting workshops : Landscape and thread painting, and Three dimensional appliqué. Linda Hancock from Vernon has two all-day workshops : Bound to be Different, and Fabric Art. Kerrin Brookes from Robert’s Creek will be featuring Criswell Embroidery on Pfaff Sewing Machines.

Creations offers: Quilting, Outerwear, Embroidery Scrapbooking, Silk Ribbon, Dried Flowers, Home Decor. Come for the whole weekend! The Prince George Coast Inn of the North is offering "Special" Creations Rates or why not try one of our Bed Breakfasts - phone 877-562-2626 for the Bed And Breakfast Hotline.

(Julie Griffiths is a co-organizer of Creations.)

For more information log onto our website www.sewingshow.ca , phone 1-877-612-1144 , email info@sewingshow.ca or check with your local sewing or craft store for registration brochures. Special Christmas packages are being sold: A two-day pass and 3 seminars is $30 (a $42 value).