Every time I see a box of Kleenex, I’m reminded of James’ last few days at home. He sees the box and says to me, “We’re going to need a lot more of those.” Oh that guy.
So back in 2016, I looked through every single page of Etsy results for “baby clothes quilt.” Page after page of sewing projects summed up as a colorful collage of crazy. Then I stumbled upon Blue Sky Bubble Atelier. Her colors were cohesive. Her composition curated. She was a mom in the Netherlands. And she was an artist.
Packing up the boys’ precious baby clothes and shipping them to Europe sounds crazy. But one of my superpowers is recognizing talent. I was her first American client. Laura made two of my most precious possessions and if there’s a fire, I’m grabbing James’ ashes and my two beautiful baby quilts.
At some point she started making “Remember Me” quilts. They were for kids who had lost their mom or dad, made from their parents’ clothes. They were beautiful and special and guaranteed to make you cry.
Laura’s success is undeniable given her multi-year waiting list and updated pricing. But her memory quilts and her philosophy hold a special place in my heart. James would quite possibly send lightning down to strike me if I were to cut up his clothes, but I love sharing this idea when faced with loss. And yes, you may have mad quilting skills, but this is one activity you outsource.
I had a quick look through Etsy for “memorial quilt” and while there’s still plenty of colorful collage of crazy, there’s a whole new crop of artists. Reading the reviews will really getcha. I’d recommend having a box of Kleenex nearby.