Page 19 - Pierce County Lawyer - January February 2024

Quilts
Are Like
Families
By Judge Stephanie Arend, ret.
Individual pieces of cloth are useful and even beautiful. Then, when sewn together to form a quilt—
each piece dependent on the others— the pieces transform into something truly magnificent. Families, too, transform as they grow. To celebrate this change, the Quilting Sisters chose to participate in National Adoption Day at Remann Hall.
The Quilting Sisters is a group of retired women—former judges, lawyers and business people—who gather monthly to make quilts for others. The Quilting Sisters have presented quilts to women who are working to overcome homelessness
or are reintegrating into society after
a period of incarceration. Quilts have been donated to nonprofits which auction them to benefit young mothers
in need. And, most recently, quilts have been given to adoptive families at Remann Hall on National Adoption Day.
Many hands contribute to these quilts, each of which requires as many as 30 hours over several months to complete. Labels sewn into the quilts explain the quilters’ intent:
“This quilt was handmade for you as a labor of love to warm your body and comfort your soul.”
Joy Robson, one of the Quilting Sisters, reflects on her unlikely involvement with a quilting group:
“When I retired I wanted
to continue my life, full of friendship and activities. Joining a group of women making
quilts was an unlikely choice since I hadn’t sewn a stitch since seventh grade. I’d much rather play pickleball. But making quilts is a job where you don’t have to actually
sew, and the group is both
fun and purposeful. I was an adoption attorney, and my husband and I adopted our son. It is a wonderful and even an
emotional experience to give a quilt to each family adopting a child on National Adoption Day.”
Another member, Lesley Brook, shared her experience:
“I have so enjoyed myself
with the Quilting Sisters.
It’s a day each month filled
with fellowship, purposeful activities and meaningful rewards. Recipients have shown such appreciation.
Some are overcoming tough circumstances. In adoptions it was a joy witnessing loving and selfless parents and a happy child.”
A generous intent is not unusual. What is unusual is that most of the Quilting Sisters had never made a quilt before joining this group. In fact, some had never sewn anything. Yet each makes her unique contribution to the group and its quilts. And each month they share the joy of individual pieces connecting and creating something beautiful.
Judge Stephanie Arend is a retired Superior Court Judge and the Quilting Sisters group organizer.
January/February 2024 | PIERCE COUNTY LAWYER 19