Story of the Quilts
Linda Notestine, a retired trucking HR executive and breast cancer survivor and her mother, Carolyn Riewer, a retired decoration seamstress, recovering from a triple aortic aneurism and stroke, contacted Choice Senior Services to find seniors in need who would benefit from the donation of one of 65+ Scrap Lap Quilts that they have handmade together.
The idea that these two ladies, who were in the process of recovering from life-threatening illnesses, chose to focus their energy on charity touched all of us at Choice. As the story continues, it is amazing to see the impact of this act of love has had on everyone.
How the project started:
Linda and Carolyn began creating “Scrap Lap Quilts” in November 2007.
Carolyn has sewn all her life and ran her own decorative business for over 35 years. She created the first uniforms for the Centennial High School Dance Team and has designed and sewn gowns for contestants in the Miss Oregon Pageant. At age 75, Carolyn had a stroke and found she could no longer work on the decorative sewing that had kept her busy over the years.
In response, Linda helped her mother finish some remaining projects for existing clients. Around the same time, Linda discovered she had stage one breast cancer, and began treatments.
At the completion of the work projects, and being the type of people that are unable to sit idle, the ladies were in need of something to do. Working together and using surplus decorative fabrics from Carolyn’s former business, they began their sewing project.
By the end of 2007 they made and donated 72 wheelchair/walker bags, 1100 yards of fabric to make quilts for families at The Friendly House, and pillows for the Breast Cancer Center at St. Vincent’s Hospital.
They also began their project of designing and creating what they lovingly call “Scrap Quilts.” The lap-sized quilts are gender neutral and cheerful.
Linda and Carolyn contacted Choice Senior Services hoping to find “seniors who may be alone and financially challenged”, hoping each quilt may bring joy to a senior.
Choice jumped at the opportunity to help find a lap for each quilt. We contacted several Adult Day Centers, Senior Housing and Community Centers. The first 100 quilts were givien away within a few months.
The story continued when The Oregonian printed a story about this unselfish donation of love and time by Linda and Carolyn, calling it “A Patchwork of Stories.” Also published in the article was information on how to donate extra fabric, thread and batting to their cause. Within days, a flood of calls came in from people wishing to donate fabric, materials and time.
And the project continues:
Two years have passed and we are still receiving donations. The fabric comes from a multitude of places—church groups, individuals, even people cleaning out their mother’s sewing room after her passing. As the donations keep coming, Linda and Carolyn keep sewing. To date the ladies have created over 300 unique quilts; all of which have been donated to seniors in the Portland area.
The “Scrap Lap Quilt” story has touched so many lives that we wanted to create a place for each recipient to share their experiences. The story from each person involved is, in itself wonderful; tied together the story is as dramatic and as beautiful as a finished quilt.