The women of the Ladies of the Lakes quilt guild meet at Fabric Warehouse on the second Saturday of the month. Each meeting focuses on a project or a lesson. Today, they’re hosting a “charity sewalong,” piecing quilts to be donated to local organizations.
“We are about to start our race,” Donna Bishop announces to the 12 women gathered at the back of the store.
The quilters began arriving at around 9 a.m., their sewing machines in tow. Each has a jelly roll: a bundle of pre-cut strips of fabric, about two-and-half-inches wide, coordinated by colors — vivid, pastel — and themes such as holidays or flowers.
Bishop demonstrates how to sew the strips together, a simple technique popular among quilters. When everyone is ready, she starts a timer.
While giving back to the community, the women benefit from their friendships and learn from each other, says Ladies of the Lakes President Kimberly Boothe.
“We love to have new people come and join us,” Boothe says. “That’s part of our mission as a guild, to not just stay in our little box but to … grow and learn from each other.”
The Ladies regularly support several charities, including Florida Baptist Children’s Homes and VITAS Healthcare.
Partnering with VITAS, they sew memory bears or pillows for families after a loved one dies. Each family receives up to two free bears.
Hearts and unicorns: “Hey, Treva, do you have any pictures of memory bears?” asks Connie Haynes.
As she talks, Haynes sews strips of solid pink and purple alternating with patterned strips. Some have hearts and unicorns. Her quilt is destined for a little girl.
Treva Lawter, at the machine next to her, pulls out her phone and begins scrolling through photos.
“The family gives us things so we can make bears,” explains Haynes. She shows her flamingo bear.
The women smile as they share their work.
Lawter pulls up a photo of five or six more. She says she usually makes four to six bears per week.
Thinking about the bears, she goes quiet. “It’s really rewarding, very rewarding,” she eventually says.
Anna Toms is a reporter for LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.
