As a long-time member and generous donor to NPCC, Lisa’s contributions will be recognized with a plaque on our donor recognition board. In honour of this special occasion, we sat down with Lisa to talk about her love of quilting, her early days in Canada, and why NPCC holds such a special place in her heart.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born in Vienna, Austria, into a very musical family. I went to a girls’ school where we were taught to sew, paint, type, and do housework. Basically, to prepare us for marriage and motherhood. But I didn’t want that life. So, at 22, I immigrated to Canada by myself and worked as a lab technician in a hospital.
I’ve been sewing my whole life. When I was starting out here, I remember renting a sewing machine for $5 a month. I’d sew my own clothes and make things for others. That kind of creativity has always been part of me.
What first brought you to Neilson Park Creative Centre?
It must’ve been around 2006 or 2007. I saw a flyer on a table with a postcard at a local mall that said “Neilson Park Creative Centre Quilt Group” or something like that. I held onto that card for some time until one day, I decided to visit and see what it was all about. I walked down the hall and found Studio C. They welcomed me in right away, and I’ve been coming ever since.
What role does art play in your day-to-day life now?
A big one. If I couldn’t do it anymore, I’d be very sad. Art gives your brain food and it makes you think. When I come in and see the exhibitions in the hallway, I always stop and look. Sometimes I think, “Oh my goodness, what is that?” But then I spend a moment with it, and I start to see it differently. That’s someone’s masterpiece. That’s what makes this place so special.
I also make quilts for the Comfort Quilt program where we donate quilts to those in need. Before coming here, I didn’t really think about the people who need a blanket. It hit me in the heart so bad.
These days, it gives me a sense of purpose. I feel like I’m still accomplishing something meaningful with my time. You make it with love, you give it away with love and that’s it. There’s always someone who needs a blanket.
You’ve also been a generous donor to NPCC, particularly to support the summer camps for kids. Why is that important to you?
Oh, the kids! That’s really my favorite part. Helping them come here in the summer and learn art. I save up empty thread spools and bring them in once a year. People ask me why, and I tell them they’re for the kids at camp. Last year, one little boy looked at a spool and said he was going to make a rocket out of it! That just warms my heart.
It’s about teaching them that they can make something out of nothing. That’s what quilting is all about. When I started, I’d go to Goodwill and buy men’s shirts or pleated skirts for a couple dollars, cut them up, keep the pockets and buttons, and make quilts out of them.
I think kids today have so much, but not always the chance to create. When they come here, with these wonderful instructors, they learn to use their hands and their imagination. That’s so important for the future.
Do you have a favorite memory at NPCC?
Yes! When I first walked in and Sylvia Rzadkowski said, “Come on in, you’re welcome here.” That moment meant everything. There was another quilter, Violet Redman, who also made me feel like I belonged. That kindness stays with you.
What does NPCC mean to you today?
It’s my other home. I live alone now, so coming here means everything. I walk in and the cardinal is singing outside and it’s just heaven. I have the ladies here that I love and we gossip and we talk about all kinds of things, but mostly we sew.
This place needs to go on and on. I don’t want it to ever close. It’s beautiful, it’s creative, and it gives people purpose and belonging.
Final thoughts?
For me, it’s all about staying active, staying productive, and being part of something. And really, there’s always someone who needs a blanket.
Let us celebrate Lisa Teskey not just for her generosity, but for the love, warmth, and creativity she brings to Neilson Park Creative Centre. She reminds us what it means to give, to create, and to belong.
