Sierra Mountain Times

Joan Rutty (left) and Phyllis Carraher display some of the finished “Kissing Pillows” bound for military service personnel and their loved ones.

By Wayne Kirkbride

When Phyllis Carraher and Joan Rutty read an email about a chapter of The Embroiderers’ Guild of America in Texas making a certain memento for military personnel destined for Iraq and Afghanistan, their interest was piqued immediately. For Phyllis, it was VERY personal. In 2003, her son-in-law David was killed in Iraq. He had been in a California National Guard unit deployed to Iraq and was the first California National guard soldier to die in the war. His death left a widow and three small children and extended family to grieve for his loss. Joan Rutty, a good friend, was also connected to the military family as her son is in the Navy.

As members of the Sierra Needle Arts Guild in Tuolumne County, both women’s curiosity was to lead to their local chapter becoming part of a grass-roots effort to bring comfort and a remembrance of love between the servicemen and servicewomen who leave behind family and friends as they fulfill their duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Phyllis contacted the woman in another chapter of the guild mentioned in the email. The woman, Geraldine Trappey of the Yellow Rose chapter in Houston, Texas, had begun a project of stitching, and sewing four-inch by four-inch pillows with red, white and blue fabric with a distinct message on the front inside of a heart that said, “I Love You”. Her idea was to produce thousands of these pillows, called “Kissing Pillows”, which would be given to service personnel bound for those two countries. Wives, girlfriends, children and relatives would each kiss the pillow, which would then accompany the serviceman or woman to their assignment. The pillow was small enough to fit in a uniform pocket or in some cases, inside a helmet. On the home front, the departing soldier would kiss the appropriate number of pillows he or she wished to leave behind for wives, children, etc. The pillows’ backing, made of different patterns, was intended that way so that children, for example, could each have their own pillow distinct from some other pillow and thus feel they had their own special connection to their loved one.

It was about three years ago that Phyllis contacted the Texas chapter about the same time that the chapter was beginning to offer the dozens of chapters of the Embroiders’ Guild across America the challenge and opportunity to share in this project. Once the project founder, who was careful to copyright the pattern, size, and material for consistency, granted permission the Sierra Needle Artists members enthusiastically supported the project.

While a machine could produce the pillow in no time, it would not mean the same for those who ready the pillows for shipment. Joan Rutty said it takes her about three hours to cross-stitch the emblem on the front with the “I Love You” inside the heart. It also means more to the recipients of the pillow to know that loving hands crafted the pillow with thought and affection for the purpose of the pillows.

The Sierra Needle Artists began to organize the project by making pillow kits that included the material, thread, and needle, along with printed instructions. It requires a knowledge of counter cross-stitching and the dedication of purpose, knowing that in one measure, they are helping loved-ones bond during separation with a symbol of love for one another. The local chapter has between 35-40 members who have been assembling the pillows. Joan Rutty said they have also received support from the local VFW, other groups, and those willing to help when the project was introduced at craft fairs. The pillows are returned to the chapter with one end opened and unstitched so that filling can be added before stitching it closed. Phyllis said she does most of the final stuffing, leaving some pillows with less stuffing so they can be pressed into something small, like a bible for instance.

The Sierra Needle Artists are about to send their first shipment of 100 or more pillows. Inside each packaged pillow is a slip stating the purpose of the pillow and the words, “Lovingly stitched by The Sierra Needle Artists of Sonora, California. They will be delivered to Travis Air Force Base sometime in November, where they will eventually be distributed among those destined for overseas assignments. The work by the local chapter as well as the dozens across the country will continue as long as there are service personnel in those two countries separated from their loved ones.

“There are probably hundreds of thousands of pillows over there shared between those in the service and those at home,” said Phyllis.

An estimate of the material cost might be in the range of $1.50 per pillow according to Joan Rutty. “It can vary, depending on the cost and availability of the material,” she said. “We try and recycle the needles and any left over thread or material.”

The group encourages anyone who would like to help create these pillows to contact either Joan or Phyllis. They will also gladly accept donations to offset the costs so the project can continue to offer these pillows as a gift and thanks for those who serve and the families they leave behind. Phyllis Carraher can be reached at 586-6188 and Joan Rutty can be reached at 533-4015.