Toymaking a Year-Round Project
November 3, 2015 -
It doesn’t have to be Christmas to find the Carol Woods toymakers hard at work. They are making toys for children who may be in stressful situations any time of the year. Each Wednesday morning, a group of residents gather in the Sewing Room producing soft stuffed toys of every description: teddy bears, puppies, cats, donkeys, and ridiculous clowns. When the toys are finished they will be delivered to local charities, such as the Ronald McDonald House, Interfaith Council for Social Services, and the Center for Couples and Families. But children aren’t the only ones who enjoy the toys. The people who make them have fun, too — laughing and chatting as they put together the lovable little animals and clowns.
When head toymaker, Pat W., persuaded me to give it a try, I became a regular member of the group. Doubtful that I could measure up to the skill of others, I found that there is a job for everyone. Carol P. begins the process by placing patterns on colorful cotton fabric, two sides for each toy, and cutting them out. Next she hands them off to our accomplished seamstress Jean G., who sits at her sewing machine, joining the two sides together leaving but about a two inch opening. That’s when the trimmers, Lena Clifton and others, take over with scissors, cutting close to the stitching and turning the toy inside out. Those of us with limited eyesight begin stuffing it with soft fluffy fiberfill, pushing it through the opening with sticks like knitting needles into narrow arms, legs, and tails. Stella Lyons is especially good at this. She does it with nimble fingers that work better than eyes. I find that this job suits me, too. Another who can handle this step with expert care is Rosemarie Faust. When the toy is almost done, Pat and Rosemarie sew up the opening.
Now we’re ready for the finishing touches from Marge Gulley who draws adorable faces on each toy with Sharpie pens. (Marge would like to find a new volunteer among our residents to take over this job.) When she attaches a colored ribbon and a Carol Woods tag, the toy is ready to join about 50 others in a bag for delivery to one of the charities mentioned above. You can imagine how happy a distressed child can be receiving one of these toys.
Cloth material is donated and Carol Woods Life Enrichment provides stuffing, ribbon, colored pens and tags. All we need is you.
— Written by Carol Woods resident Martha B.