Love of quilting brings women together

TREASURES—Members of the Conejo Valley quilting group display some of their finished work, the result of many hours of the ladies working side-by-side. SOPHIA FISCHER/Acorn Newspapers A group of Conejo Valley Jewish women have bonded together through their mutual love of quilting.

For 13 years they have met to create colorful blankets, wall hangings and bags for their families, friends and charitable causes. The group has shared life cycle events, the accomplishments of their growing children and a deepening friendship.

“These are my closest friends and the people I spend the most time with,” said Agoura Hills resident Leslie Bowdach, a 13year member.

Hope Kirsch formed the group in the mid-1990s. A member of a local quilting guild with hundreds of members, the Agoura resident sought a more intimate group. She and five other women began to meet in each other’s homes to quilt. Today the group has grown to 17 members, who take turns hosting the biweekly meetings. Kosher lunches are served to accommodate several members. The friends visit fabric shops together and twice yearly spend a weekend sewing at Oxnard beach houses owned by two of the group’s members.

“We are in heaven there. We sometimes quilt until 2 o’clock in the morning,” Bowdach said. “If you have a problem with a project you’ll wake up in the morning and the quilt angel has finished it for you.”

The group is more than women who enjoy quilting, said Miriam Gluzer. A four-year member, the Oak Park woman enjoys her fellow quilters’ camaraderie and support.

“When I first joined I was so surprised by how generous they were in sharing their fabrics and what they’re working on,” Gluzer said. “When my father passed away in December they were so amazing. They were right there, setting up for me while I was at the funeral.”

On a recent Tuesday the group worked on a philanthropic project at Miriam Spiegel’s Agoura Hills home. Each year the women use their sewing skills to benefit charity.

This year they created sensory book kits using donated fabrics in different textures. The kits will be sent to synagogues throughout the United States for children to assemble and then sent to Israel to be used to help the developmentally disabled. Last year the women made 64 oversized quilted bags for the Aviva Center, a Los Angeles school and housing center for troubled teens.

Spiegel joined the quilting group six months after it formed. Over the years she has made 30 quilts, including king-size wedding blankets for her sons, nieces and nephews when they married, as well as several chuppahs , Hebrew for wedding canopy, which the bride and groom stand under during the ceremony. She recently completed a gift for her husband, Marty—a quilt of blue, brown and tan arches among which Spiegel embroidered the dates and occasions of all of the major events of his life.

“I’ve always liked sewing things because you’re creating something,” Spiegel said.

Kirsch began quilting 27 years ago to make a baby gift for her sister’s new baby. She uses a sewing machine but also enjoys stitching by hand. Quilting is her passion, Kirsch said.

“It’s very relaxing, something you can do and still be social with family and friends,” said Kirsch, who occasionally teaches a quilting class in Frasier Park.

The women have made Judaica items, including challah covers and table runners featuring Jewish symbols such as the Star of David, dreidels and menorahs.

Gluzer enjoys making baby quilts. She is saving them for when her grown daughters have children. Her husband renovated a spare bedroom into a sewing room, where Gluzer keeps all of her sewing supplies.

“When I’m stressed I’ll go in my room and I can just sew. It’s peaceful,” Gluzer said. “I think we get to an age where we don’t need a lot of noise, we don’t need more friends. You just lock yourself up to be quiet and create.”

Claire Cutler makes the drive from her Los Angeles home to the group’s meetings. She joined nine years ago through a previous member.

“I came to visit and stayed,” Cutler said.

The other members of the group are Sharlene Blau, Marla Green, Carrie Greenberg, Diane Grossman, Esther Kallen, Erit Rosenthal, Lisa Snyder, Debbie Spindel, Magda Waldberg, Nancy Elkin, Lujean Seagal and Rhoda Pinchak.

Spiegel has started a new Jewish women’s quilting group and is seeking additional members.

For more information, e-mail meemspiegel@earthlink.net.