Summer Project

My latest quilting project has been completed and it even managed to make the newspaper. I, however, can not find the link to attach, so you will just have to live with me retyping the article. (The article ran in July, so maybe they don't keep the links that long). Anyway, here it is:

Quilt gives youngsters valuable life lessons by: E.J. Anderson and Lindsey Walker

Youngsters at the Wilkins Learning Center learned more than academics this summer.

They discovered what it means to work as a team, and the importance of caring for other people. These important life lessons were taught through the creation of a quilt for the Phoenix Childern's Hospital.

Sharon Wilkins, a teacher and owner of the Wilkins Learning Center, said that the idea for the quilt was part of the four-fold summer camp mission.

"When we designed our summer camp, we decided there were four main goals we wanted to achieve," Wilkins said.

First, we wanted to make learning fun. Second, we wanted to help the kids believe in themselves. Third, we wanted to engage them in a variety of activities that kept their skills strong. And fourth, we wanted to help teach children to give back to the community.

"That's where the quilt idea came in", said Wilkins.

Wilkins says that the school receives a lot of support from the parents of their students, and it has been that way from the beginning. Creating a project that allowed the students to give back in some way would come through this same support system.

"One of our moms loves quilt making", Wilkins said. "She was in the learning center one day and we proposed the idea about making a quilt with the student's help. Angie (Spinetti) was just wonderful and said of course she would do that," said Wilkins.

With Spinetti's help and the teachers at their disposal, the kids set out creating something for someone else. Each student went to work designing, coloring, and creating his or her own patch that would eventually be stitched together and donated to the Phoenix Children's Hospital.

The students learned valuable lessons.

"We talked to our students about how all kids need encouragement and love. It taught the kids to become thoughtful of others and they learned what team work was along the way," Wilkins said.

"I liked doing the special quilt for the kids at the hospital. I hope it cheers them up and makes them smile." student Lindsey Sutton said.

Spinetti was also delighted with the student's hard work and is looking forward to the quilt's delivery.

"To the recipient of this quilt, please know that there is love in each stitch, and happiness in each picture," Spinetti said.

The summer camp program is new to the Wilkins Center, but it has been well received. The school recently expanded into a second building in the Farmhouse Village complex on Gilbert Road.

With three teachers in the family and all of them now at the center, they can teach preschool through sixth grade classes. The center also offers tutoring, homework help, and classes for kids, parents and teachers alike.

Riley's decorated quilt block:)