St. James Place resident Jerry Schreurs in the campus woodshop.
At St. James Place, we know the importance of cultivating your hobbies and interests. From utilizing campus amenities to taking advantage of new learning opportunities, our residents are spending their days doing what they love.
Quilting
Gayle Smith brought her long-time hobby of quilting to her St. James Place home last year, and now she’s turned one of her spacious bedrooms in her independent living home into a dedicated quilting room, complete with two sewing machines, an embroidery machine, a stock of fabrics and quilts decorating the walls for inspiration. “I didn’t know anyone who quilted, but I thought I’d like to do that,” Gayle said. “So one day I bought a quilting book, and I made a king size quilt.” She’s currently working on a seasonal quilting project featuring Clebert Cocodrie, a Cajun-French character she created, that represents every month of the year. “Quilting is my hobby and my therapy,” Gayle said.
Opera
Residents at St. James Place can pursue lifelong passions through LSU’s OSHA Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program. As a former LSU professor, our independent living resident Dr. Tommy Beard shares his love of opera through teaching an OLLI class and writing columns for Opera Louisiane. Many residents enjoy attending Tommy’s classes and even join his screenings of operas in our theater room. “I wanted to start a St. James Place Opera Lovers group,” Tommy said. “We’ve met a few times now, and it’s great having that community.”
Byzantine Icon Painting
When Ginnie Bolin retired, she ventured into painting with her sister-in-law and eventually advanced into iconography. Ginnie learned the art from a teacher in New Orleans and brought her skills to Baton Rouge with workshops at the Burden Museum and Gardens. Since the process to create an icon takes time and practice, Ginnie reminds her students, “You need obedience, patience and humility.” Now as an independent living resident at St. James Place, she started a workshop on campus to teach iconography techniques to a handful of residents. “I enjoy the painting, and it’s helped with staying social at a distance,” Ginnie said.
Woodworking
The St. James Place woodshop would not be what it is today without independent living resident Jerry Schreurs. When he moved to St. James Place, Jerry first lived in assisted living for three years. Then, serious prayer gave him a new outlook on life. He used his lifelong experience in automotive restoration to restore and update the woodshop at St. James Place in March of 2019 with fellow resident Roland Dommert. “We turned the woodshop into a very nice resident workshop for everyone,” Jerry said. A lot of technical skill went into renovating the workshop, including 40 hours of sanding and smoothing a metal shelf. Jerry uses the shop to help residents fix their loose or broken furniture, while Roland cuts brand new pieces. “It took three months of work,” Jerry said. “But we organized all the tools along the wall and set the shop up for work.”
At St. James Place, maintaining an active and distance-safe social life is easy. View our weekly event calendars to find more activities our residents enjoy, or call 225-215-4510 to schedule a private tour or appointment with a member of our sales team.