Charity creates quilts for kidsArnold resident is founder of Annapolis chapter
By Wendi Winters
One quilt is a quirky mix of prints that make sense out of nonsense: bold red hibiscus contrasted against saucy seashells and yet another very silly image of Sponge Bob Square Pants and Patrick the Starfish wearing grass skirts. A second quilt has a repeating pattern of a sweet white rabbit on fields of Laura Ashley prints. Both quilts were lovingly made and, just as lovingly, they'll be given away to strangers.
Claudinne is the founder of the Annapolis chapter of Quilts for Kids, Inc. The primary purpose of the charity is to create quilts for kids in need.
Six years ago, founder Linda Arye, of Yardley, Pa., was attending to business at the Philadelphia Marketplace Design Center, home to over 50 interior design showrooms. She said, "I noticed more than 20 industrial-size trash bags filled with discontinued designer fabric that were to be thrown away. What a waste!"
Mrs. Arye remembered when her daughter had been hospitalized. The child was not allowed to keep her favorite stuffed toy with her. She found out many hospitals, instead, eagerly accept 100 percent cotton, machine-stitched quilts because they help comfort their young patients and are easy to clean in hospital heavy-duty washers and dryers.
Determined to "bring love and comfort to children in need" and keep tons of beautiful fabrics out of landfills, she went back and retrieved the fabrics. Not long after, with the help of friends and family, she launched Quilts for Kids.
The concept spread like wildfire. Over 40,000 quilts have been made and given away to kids in hospitals, shelters, Ronald McDonald homes and wherever there's been a need. Fifty-eight "Quilts for Kids" chapters have been set up in 29 states. Fabric manufacturers, too, have been generous, donating tons of fabrics they'd normally throw away.
Claudinne moved to the Annapolis area from Sacramento, Calif., three years ago with her husband, Bill and their two children. She was busy with work and kids, but didn't know anyone. Back in California, she'd made quilts whenever a friend had a baby.
"I still wanted to make baby quilts," she said. "So I Googled 'quilts' and 'kids' and found Quilts for Kids. I called Linda and asked how to help." Mrs. Arye suggested she start a chapter and sent her a "starter kit" of fabrics.
"Boxes started arriving... she sent ten 50 pound boxes. They were filled with high-end decorator samples. Gorgeous fabrics from Ralph Lauren, Laura Ashley and Waverly, and more."
A member of Bay Area Community Church, she appealed to its congregants for help. Carolyn Sabisch of Severna Park, who works at the church, came right over.
The church, known as BACC, is now in its brand new home at 884 Chesterfield Road in Annapolis, not far from the mall. For years, it held services at Annapolis High School while construction was underway.
"We sorted through fabrics for hours and made hundreds of color-coordinated quilt kits. They're all ready to sew; all we need are people to sew them," smiled Claudinne. After that, she established a monthly "Quilting Session" at BACC. "Quilting Bee sounds 'too old,' what's a better word for a bunch of people sitting together, stitching up a storm and having a great time?" she asked.
The Quilting Session is the second Saturday of each month, from 8 a.m. to noon. The next session is Jan. 13. For directions to the meeting, call 410-544-2222 or visit the Web site www.bayareacc.org .
"Attendees will get a bundle of fabrics to get started, a lot of fun and a bunch of new friends," Mrs. Sabisch promised.
Claudinne set up an online blog to recruit new members and update the dozen or so core volunteer quilters - www.quiltsforkidsannapolis.blogspot.com.
Some people don't stay for the meeting, she said. They just breeze in, drop off a quilt or three, and pick up new kits to work on at home. Even people who have never quilted before are welcome to try. Each session offers easy lessons for beginner quilters. The Web site www.quiltsforkids.org has a beginner's section on constructing colorful quilt patterns.
The rules for making the quilts, Claudinne said, are simple. Make 'em fun. Make 'em kid sized and attractive to children. The fabric and thread has to be 100 percent cotton and completely machine washable and dryable. For safety's sake, no hand tying is allowed - quilts have to be machine sewn to withstand tiny, prying fingers and notoriously abusive hospital washing machines.
Right now, quilters also need to supply batting and thread. All the top fabrics are provided.
A Glen Burnie woman learned of Claudinne's efforts through her own online search and got in contact. Her mother Alice had recently passed away. Alice was a quilter and had piles of fabrics in her home that her daughter was reluctant to toss out. "Come over and bring a truck," she told Claudinne.
"I went over and filled up a Dodge Ram with gorgeous quilting fabrics. Alice had started 10 large quilts and stored them in pizza boxes. I resized them and made 20 kid-friendly quilts. When I'm using her fabrics, I sign the quilt 'Love, Alice' in her memory," smiled Claudinne.
Quilts have already been donated to the Neo-natal intensive care unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center and the NICU at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore. The D.C. Ronald McDonald House is waiting for a supply of quilts, there are eight children served by the Annapolis Lighthouse Shelter who are hoping for a quilt, and Arbor House for abused women is in need.
The Annapolis Chapter is looking for non-sewing volunteers, too, to field requests and deliver quilts.
One quilter, an 8th-grade boy, made his first quilt for a family whose child was not going to survive. It was a baseball-themed comforter. "He did it all by himself. Seams puckered or were crooked and it was stitched wrong in places. But the family loved it because it was made by a kid who wanted to help their baby, it was the most beautiful one of all."
"These quilts aren't meant to be art or hang on a wall. They're meant for use, for a child's comfort."
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