It’s fun making vibrant quillows – Jill Sharpless (back left) and members of the CHSW Hayle Friends Group at one of Jill’s Quillow Days
 
Ladies from across the region are busy putting their sewing skills to good use to help local children who are not expected to reach adulthood.
 
Supporters of Children’s Hospice South West are beavering away to create individual quillows – quilts that can be folded into a hidden pocket to become a pillow – for life-limited children and young people to enjoy snuggling up to.
 
Thirty-eight beautiful quillows made by supporters from Cornwall were recently delivered to Little Bridge House, Children’s Hospice South West’s hospice near Barnstaple. They will be given as gifts to the children who visit the hospice to take home with them. Special quillows are also being made for the children who use Charlton Farm, near Bristol, and eventually Little Harbour, near St Austell which is due to open by the end of 2011.
 
The colourful quillows are all unique and cover a range of themes – from flowers, fairies, farmyard animals, and even old favourites like Scooby Doo! They are already proving very popular.
 
Julie Stanway, Head of Care at Little Bridge House, who was at the hospice to welcome the first delivery of quillows, says: “I have such admiration for the craftsmanship and creativity which goes into making the quillows. They are very special, touchy feely gifts which I’m sure will become treasured friends for the children to cuddle up to, lay their head upon, or wrap around them. The children who have received these gifts already have all been delighted, and are very much enjoying the comfort and pleasure of having their own unique quillow.”
 
Children who have been diagnosed with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions come to CHSW’s hospices for a range of respite, palliative, emergency, and end of life care. The homely hospices provide care and support for the whole family, enabling them to make the most of the precious time they have together in a friendly, fun, and comforting environment.
 
 
Gratefully received – Julie Stanway (left) receives some of the quillows at Little Bridge House from CHSW’s Mary Murfin and Sarah North from the Truro office
 
The idea to make the special quillows came from CHSW supporter Jill Sharpless, from Hayle, who launched the Quilliows Project at a special Quillow Day in March last year. She has been delighted with how it has been going.
 
Jill, a member of the Hayle Children’s Hospice South West Friends Group, says: “The response to the Qulliows Project has been wonderful. To know that the quillows are going somewhere where they will be loved and appreciated is a great motivator.”
 
If you would like to get involved, or if you are interested in becoming the Quillow Project Coordinator for Charlton Farm in North Somerset, please contact Jill Sharpless on: 01736 756896. Keen quilters from Devon can also contact the Quillow Project Coordinator for Little Bridge House, Wendy Baker, on 01884 8555548.
 
To find out more about the work of Children’s Hospice South West, and the vital support the charity provides to families with life-limited children across the region visit: www.chsw.org.uk