Ross Bay Villa could really use an Awesome Oilcloth!

Email: klpreston@telus.net Phone number: (250) 634-2524 Your Location: Victoria - Fairfield Company or Affiliation: Ross Bay Villa Restoration Project - a TLC The Land Conservancy of BC heritage property Website: about the Oilcloth Project... http://blog.conservancy.bc.ca/2011/09/mark-your-name-in-history-tlc’s-oilcloth-project/ Other contact info: presenters - Lisa Preston and Angie Pass Your Awesome Shit: Ross Bay Villa, one of the oldest homes in Victoria, sits tucked away on Fairfield Road across from the Ross Bay cemetery - a beautiful Gothic Revival style house from the 1860’s, with an intriguing history. A group of dedicated volunteers has been working to restore Ross Bay Villa to its original charm since TLC saved it from demolition in 1999. The newest project involves creating a 13’ x 7’ handcrafted oilcloth for the front entrance hall. The oilcloth is based on an actual 1860’s oilcloth design and boasts six colours and intricate patterns. Simone Vogel-Horridge, an expert in art conservation and restoration, leads the oilcloth project with the utmost care. Researching the 1860’s era and the history of the original family of Ross Bay Villa has been crucial for designing an appropriate piece. The manufacturing of the oilcloth involves several extensive processes including: silk screening, stencilling, graining, and painting details by hand. We estimate that $500 will be required to purchase all the necessary paint and materials to complete the oilcloth. We are off to a great start and have secured a donated workspace and volunteers are at the ready but are short of funds to complete this project. Your Bio: Lisa Preston is one of the p/t Site Operations team at St. Ann's Academy (a National Historic Site) and has a background in Interior Design. She has been volunteering on the Ross Bay Villa restoration project since 2006 and can be found at Gonzales Observatory and the Villa on most Saturdays willfully neglecting unfinished renovation work on her own home. Angelica Pass is a Project Officer for TLC's Craigflower and Ross Bay Villa heritage properties and is currently writing her Masters thesis on Latin satire. There have been over a hundred volunteers who have spent thousands of hours over the last 10 years on research and restoration of the Villa. Our current core group of volunteers comprises: students, public servants, historians, conservators, homemakers, gardeners, carpenters, and many others passionate about keeping the past alive. Anything else you think we should know: more about Ross Bay Villa here... http://blog.conservancy.bc.ca/properties/vancouver-island-region/ross-bay-villa/ thanks! Lisa Preston