Page 39 - Discover Summer 2020
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filled her eyes. “Now when my children Mountain Lake.
go to visit their grandfather they wrap The quilting guild holds a “general
themselves in it and sit in her favorite chair membership meeting” on the 4th Tuesday
while they talk with Grandpa.” What could of each month at 1:00 PM, at Trinity
be a better way to honor the memory of their Ecumenical Parish. In addition, there are
grandmother? several smaller groups, called Bees, that
meet monthly or bi-monthly. Quilters do
Other such items in high demand are both hand and sewing machine quilting.
“Pillow Pals”. These are 9 x 12 pillows (“a good Membership dues are $25 a year. The guild,
hugging size”). They typically have a happy or which always welcomes new members, is an
friendly face embroidered on the front, and in affiliate member of the Smith Mountain Arts
many cases “arms and legs” are attached. Post Council.
surgical patients and people suffering from
pneumonia hug the pillows tightly against The Guild also offers monthly workshops,
their chests or stomachs to help relieve the which provide instructions in advanced
pain from bouts of coughing. The pillows quilting techniques and for making specific
are also helpful for elderly patients whose items, such as totes. Workshops are also
hands are stiffening and tightening into available for beginning quilters. These
fists. By holding and squeezing the pillow, it workshops are open to both members and
helps loosen tendons and open their hands. nonmembers for a minimal fee. Monthly
Likewise, the pillows seem to be beneficial for programs also feature guest speakers. Once
relief from some autism symptoms. a year in February, the quilters have a “Sew-
In”, during which they work on a charitable
“Fidget Quilts”, miniature quilts just 18 project. This year they made some 150
x 18 inches in size, are also popular items bears to be distributed to hospitals in both
for patients suffering from dementia, as well Franklin and Bedford Counties, as mentioned
as children with certain degrees of autism. earlier.
They’ve also been known to help quiet
restless children. The Guild is happy to receive donations
of material for their lap quilts and other
And recently, during the pandemic crisis, projects. Cotton material is preferred.
Guild President Sue Whitney received a Typically, these quilts are made from cotton
request from Centra Health for handmade with a flannel backing, and batting which
protection masks. The request was posted on is sandwiched between the two materials.
the guild’s website under “new items” and Poly-fil, which is used to stuff bears, is also
“announcements”, along with instructions a welcome donation, in addition to the
on how to make such masks. Their website, materials listed above.
which is very informative, can be found by
searching for Lake Quilters Guild Smith
www.discoversmithmountainlake.com 37
