Comfort quilts
Family makes quilts for children in crisis situations
PEQUOT LAKES -- When a child in Crow Wing County is taken from his or her home in the middle of the night by a police officer, or children are caught in a crisis situation, Arlean Rosemore and her family hope they find comfort in her family's handmade quilts.
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Quilting is a family affair for Ralph and Arlean Rosemore, Pequot Lakes, their four adult children and grandchildren. Arlean learned to quilt at age 15 and for several years owned her own quilt shop in Floodwood. They taught their four children -- two girls and two boys -- how to quilt.
They often quilted together as a family, often entering their quilts in fair competitions. Arlean has won more than 250 blue ribbons, mostly for quilting. But she and her children thought there was something more they could do to help others.
For the past 10 years, the Rosemore family of quilters has created quilts for their Quilts For Kids booth at the Minnesota State Fair. Brainerd Dispatch/Jodie Tweed
The Rosemore Family Quilters for the past 10 years have teamed up for Quilts For Kids, a project they created to make quilts for children in crisis. Family members make the handmade quilts throughout the year, and law enforcement officers who carry a quilt in their squad car and child protection workers give the quilts to children.
For one day during the Minnesota State Fair each year, the family mans a demonstration booth where children are given the opportunity to design a quilt square. The children use special fabric crayons to color a block of plain paper. Then the Rosemores transfer that design to a white quilt square that already has been sewn into a crib-sized quilt as the child artists watch. There are 12 child-designed blocks per quilt.
At the State Fair Aug. 29, the Rosemores finished 21 quilts, using the designs children made. In 2003, the family was able to give away 150 quilts.
The Rosemores moved to Pequot Lakes from Floodwood five years ago. For the first time, they had a booth at the Crow Wing County Fair in August. At the county fair, 610 children colored quilt squares.
The project not only allows children to see how they can help others in need, but demonstrates how fun quilting can be. The Rosemores have visited area schools with Quilts For Kids.
Arlean, who grew up on a farm with eight siblings, knew what it was like to have nothing. There were times when she and her siblings didn't have pencils or paper for school. She became interested in quilting after reading about the hobby in historical novels and asked her neighbor ladies for help. This spurred her lifelong interest in quilting.
"I don't know how to do anything else," Arlean said with a laugh. "I can't teach poor people to cook because I never learned that myself."
For the past 10 years, the Rosemore family of quilters has created quilts for their Quilts For Kids booth at the Minnesota State Fair. Brainerd Dispatch/Jodie Tweed
"I like talking to the kids and helping them with their coloring and seeing them smile after their picture goes on the quilts," said her son, Dan Rosemore, Pengilly. "Their smiles are worth a million bucks."
"Giving back to the community is very important," said Mary Hammer, the Rosemores' daughter who lives in Pequot Lakes. "I've always had that strong feeling. I think all of us do. To make a difference."
"It's a way for the family to stay together and stick together," said Dan.
"We're very close," said Hammer. "All of us. Any excuse to get together."
The Rosemores' other children also help make quilts for Quilts For Kids. They are Ranae Walsh, Brookston, and Ralph Rosemore Jr., Eau Claire, Wis., who wasn't able to attend the State Fair this year because he is being deployed to serve in Iraq.
Quilts For Kids
-- Quilts For Kids donates quilts to children in crisis situations in Crow Wing County through various law enforcement and child protection agencies.
-- Children design quilt squares that are transferred onto the quilts.
-- To donate quilting material or to make a monetary donation to make the quilts, send donations to Quilts For Kids, 4284 Blueberry Lane, Pequot Lakes, MN 56472.
-- For more information or to volunteer to make quilts, contact Arlean Rosemore at (218) 568-6924 or via e-mail at quilter15@tds.net.
The Rosemores estimated they have donated about 1,000 quilts over the last 10 years. At the State Fair last month two young sisters came up to their booth and were shocked to see the same quilts they had on their beds at their foster home. The girls, who were taken from their home, didn't know how they got their quilts. They each colored a square for another child's quilt.
The Rosemores don't label the quilts because they feel it is a distraction for the recipient. It doesn't matter where the quilt comes from, they believe. But they do put a label on the plastic zipper bag that law enforcement personnel receive it in so they know how to get more quilts when they need them.
The Walton family in Jenkins is now helping the Rosemores make quilts. Those who would like to help make the quilts for children in crisis can help the Rosemores and Waltons make quilts from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday night at Jenkins City Hall.
The Rosemores also make crocheted rugs for people who move into low-income housing and create other craft projects, like crayon holders, to make money to buy quilt material. When people give them a donation, they give them colorful cuttings they can put outside for the birds to enhance their nests.
The Rosemores would be grateful for donated quilt material or monetary donations to make more quilts and right now need more plastic zippered bags to place the quilts in.
JODIE TWEED, staff writer, can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.