Page 68 - Card Photo Flipbook-December 2022

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Activities, Crafts, Business Owner, Sports, Other Interests
In 1978 Helen decided to update her nursing training and took the Saskatchewan update at St.
Paul’s Hospital and graduated. It turned out she wished to continue looking after the family and
didn’t enter practice immediately. A year later while in California she became fascinated by the
world of miniature doll houses (a major parts supplier – AMSI – was in San Rafael) and she
designed and built a number of room boxes on her return. By 1981 she became involved with her
friends Bonnie and Brenda as a local miniature group. Brenda set up a local miniature business
getting Helen thinking of possibly having her own business. Thus Helen found a new calling
combining, crafts, teaching and business. She began teaching needlecrafts and working in
Needlework Nook in the Avalon Shopping Center. On Sept. 3rd, 1985 she and Judith Gidluck
jointly bought the store and Helen became a successful business owner for almost 20 years. She
especially enjoyed teaching craft classes and many in Saskatoon learned their various needlecraft
skills from her. Later, Helen later also taught classes at Prairie Lily Knitting on Quebec Ave.
Helen spent many hours making handmade items for anniversaries, birthdays, etc. One example
of many is the Lukie’s 50th anniversary framed hardanger seen in the photos. Over the years
innumerable babies were presented with handmade objects by Helen. Comments beginning in the
Kingston years were noted earlier and this continued until just before her passing. “Thank you for
the beautiful blanket. It is so soft and we love the colour …. Innis will treasure for a long time!”
O’Lynda Lovas. “Thank you for Jace’s blanket” Nicole Shedden – Jace born March 2020. She was
especially proud of the matching Christmas stockings she made for her own grandsons.Helen was
incredibly creative and tried hard to pass this on to Sharon, Mike and Geoff with variable success.

of many is the Lukie's 40th anniversary framed hardanger seen in the photos. Over the years