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Love Is Common Thread Among Quilters In Club

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - Somewhere out there, a homeless person is keeping warm or an orphan at a children's home has a smile on her face because of the love the women of the Victorious Life Church Quilting Club put into their projects.

In the beginning, the club just focused on quilts. After 2 1/2 years, the club's main goal is to create and give items to charity. The women in the club create a variety of projects for charities local and abroad, including Hope Children's Home, Mothers of Preschoolers, Guardian ad Litem programs and Joshua House.

The club meets Wednesdays for discussion, prayer and a little bit of work at 9:30 a.m. at a log cabin owned by Victorious Life Church in Wesley Chapel. The women create projects including quilts, quilt bags, Bible bags, pillow pals, stuffed animals, laundry bags and baby quilts.

"We are going to expand to nursing homes and oncology treatment rooms," said Dorothy Smith, who started the club in July 2005. "I want to see where we are needed and what is needed. All our projects are made with love. We hope anyone getting our projects can feel our love and especially God's love. We aim to show God's love in everything we make."

The club is open to anyone whether they are a member of the church or not.

"It doesn't matter if you don't know how to sew," said club member Marti Lucas. "We can make up lesson plans and do demonstrations for people. I only started to quilt about eight or nine years ago, and in that time I have made about 300 to 400 quilts. I took some classes and learned about different tools and techniques, and now I teach them to the ladies in the club."

Lucas said even though she loves to sew, she keeps coming back because of the camaraderie.

"We love each other, and we have a lot of fun," Lucas said. "I feel like we are a blessing and I love what we are doing."

Zephyrhills resident Linda Carr, a member of the club for more than year, said she loves to sew and enjoys giving her creations to other people.

Nina Miok of San Antonio said she has been in the club since its inception because she loves the people.

"I started in this club because it was right up my alley," Miok said. "I love to do crafts. I look forward to coming here every week. The people here are so wonderful."
Miok said she loves quilts for a number of reasons.

"When you sleep under a quilt, you sleep under a covering of love," Miok said. "Quilts are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They are on every bed in my house."

Susan Bisulca of New Tampa said she keeps loves the club because she loves to work for charities.

"It is great to take a bunch of scraps and turn them into a finished product that is something beautiful and meaningful to other people," Bisulca said. "We hope people getting the items will get the sense that someone cares about them. We pray over our quilts and we include the number of the church on the quilts so if someone is in need they have a place to go."

Everything the club makes is usually funded by the members with some money coming from the church. The club welcomes donations of 100 percent cotton material or gift cards to Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts.

For information, call Smith at (813) 715-9671.

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