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Quilters Craft Smiles Stitch By Stitch

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 24, 2009

ZEPHYRHILLS - In the past few months, the Casa del Sol Quilters has produced 225 quilts, all for children at area hospitals.

Since October, the group, based in the Casa del Sol community, has delivered quilts to Pasco Kids First in Hudson, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Tampa, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House in Tampa. Next month, they will take quilts to All Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House in St. Petersburg.

"Sometimes the children come in with nothing," said quilter Anne Tomaszewski. "This is something they can call their own."

Founded in September by group leader Lin Coats, the Casa del Sol Quilters meets from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursdays to create small quilts with bright colors and child-friendly patterns, depicting everything from trains and airplanes to Dora the Explorer and Scooby-Doo.

"One day we met a little girl at a hospital who wanted a quilt with a frog," said Carolyn Mortimer. "And we had one with a frog. She was so happy."

Coats started quilting seven years ago. While she and husband Larry were touring the country in their RV, they donated the quilts to children's hospitals and local agencies.

"It always seemed God led us down streets we didn't intend to go on to find these children," she said.

After moving to Casa del Sol last year, Coats started the quilting group. Aside from working on the children's quilts, members talk and share coffee and tea.

"It's like an old-fashioned quilting bee," Gail Kerry said. "As much as we accomplish something, we share social time."

What they make are two-piece cotton or flannel quilts 36-by-44 inches. It takes about an hour to pin, sew and tie each quilt.

The quilters say they quilt because they love to see the reactions of the children who receive their work. For many of them, quilting also continues family traditions.

"My grandmother taught me to quilt," Marilyn Doak said. "She'd think this project was great. She used to knit mittens for children in the neighborhood."

Others have even more personal reasons for participating.

"A few years ago, my grandchild went to All Children's Hospital," Mary Ann Moody said. "I thought, 'Wouldn't it be nice if he had had a quilt when he woke up from his surgery?'"

Every third Thursday, the quilters take their quilts to children's hospitals and other agencies that help kids in need. Sometimes they have special requests for blankets for premature babies. Pasco Kids First also requests what it calls Tummy Time Mats for babies.

"Babies aren't supposed to sleep on their stomachs," Coats said. "So when they lie stomach down on these mats, they have to lift their heads up to see the pattern."

The ladies don't often get to meet the children they serve. When they do, it's something special.

"When you see a child find a blanket to cuddle up with, it's worth it," Coats said.

Any Casa del Sol resident is welcome to join the quilters group, which meets at the community clubhouse. Donations of cash and fabrics also are welcome. For information, call Coats at (863) 370-7489.

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