From a young age, I was immersed in the vibrant world of textiles, thanks to the incredible women in my life-my mother and grandmothers.  Their self-taught skills in sewing, crocheting and knitting sparked a lifelong love for craftsmanship and creativity within me. However, it was my father’s mother, my French grandmother, Mémère, who truly inspired my love for textiles. Her skilled hands and creativity left an indelible mark on my life, nurturing my appreciation for fibre arts. 

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Their story,​

My Mémère was gifted with a passion for textiles and fibre arts, she was a self-taught seamstress, crocheter, and knitter. Known for her stunning crocheted baby sets, she brought joy to families and spun a sense of community by selling tickets for her monthly draws in Kapuskasing, ON.  Years later one wouldn’t be able to count the number of baby sets she’d make for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Not just a maker, she was an entrepreneur, baking chocolates with her very own molds! Though she sometimes hid her projects when guests visited, she saved up enough money to buy a washing machine, a luxury few in her community could afford.

 

A few years before I was born, together, my grandparents and parents bought a duplex in Welland, ON.  My Mémère was not just my grandmother but a second mother, inspiring me every day. Mémère and Pépère would embark on adventures to a rug factory in Quebec, bringing back ‘end’ rolls of phentex yarn in their RV.  Mémère had a special way of selling it by the pound, and I still cherish those moments spent winding balls of yarn by her side. She, along with my parents, instilled values of hard work, creativity, and thinking outside the box. My father, a renowned craftsman, and my mother, a dedicated piano teacher, paved the way for my entrepreneurial spirit. But it was my mother’s words that resonate the most with me: “You’re a Pelltier, like Mémère.” There’s truly no greater compliment.

 

My Great Aunt Madeleine and her daughter Laurence were the first in our family to discover weaving.  They lived in Saint-Pamphile, Québec, where my grandmother was born.  To this day it remains a small town located closely between the St. Lawrence River and the State of Maine.  My cousin Laurence became an avid weaver, and her passion influenced her mother.  Together, they created beautiful cushion covers, blankets, and rugs, utilizing whatever fibres they could find. For their rugs, old socks often found new life. Nothing went to waste in their hands; every scrap of fabric was woven into something beautiful.

 

A spark ignited when my Aunt Lisette visited Aunt Madeleine, leading to a beautiful journey into the world of weaving. It was then that my Aunt Lisette joined a vibrant community of inspiring women dedicated to the art of fibre and friendship, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Welland.  From its humble beginnings to celebrating 70 years of creativity in 2024, “Le Cercle D’Artisanat Club” has evolved, embracing the craft of weaving as a glorious expression of art and culture. Upon retirement, my Aunt Lisette’s husband, Uncle Gerald, discovered the magic of weaving! At the local club, he was known for fixing looms. But soon, he couldn’t resist trying it himself, and just like that, he was hooked! 

 

The weaving journey didn’t stop there—their daughter Helen joined in, and the family inspired each other to create their very own masterpieces on their prized Leclerc Looms from Québec. 

Though we lost Helen on April 1, 2022, her spirit and creativity continue to weave through our lives. 

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​My story continued,​

In the summer of 2023, while visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Welland, they introduced me to the art of weaving. I rediscovered my love for creativity in a whole new way, much like the joy I found in music. In March of 2021 I suffered a severe concussion.  It propelled me into retirement after 23 years of a successful career as a professional harpist in the wedding industry.  I won’t lie; stepping into something new seemed daunting, especially given the complexity of weaving. But it was a  calling that I couldn't ignore. I began online classes and more lengthy intentional visits with my Aunt and Uncle. The colours and patterns began to dance in my mind, igniting a passion I thought I’d lost forever.  Soon I bought my first 45” Leclerc Loom, and soon after that a 36” loom and a 24” loom were also added to my studio.  

 

I’m so thankful for the women in my life who have inspired me. Their journeys remind me of the power in creativity and the deep connections woven within family traditions. It’s truly an honour to carry on this beautiful tradition for future generations to enjoy!

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Chantal Dubé