A few months ago, my friend Lynn lost her beautiful dog Kenya. She told me how sad it was to come home and see Kenya's empty spot on the bed. I knew I had to make a pillow for that spot. Here's what came out.
It's not just the finished pillow, or quilt, or whatever, that is consoling - it's the process, talking to the person about their loved one. When I asked Lynn what Kenya enjoyed, I was hoping she'd say something like a red ball, sticks, a teddy bear, something easy to piece or applique. Instead, Lynn said:
"Food."
"Which food?"I asked.
"All food. And dog bones."
Fortunately, I had a scrap of dog bone fabric:
Plus, I own an infinite amount of human food fabric. I pieced together some food fabric strips, cut them them crosswise, and set them in the outer border.
That border started out wider, but then I had to buy a smaller pillow form than expected (the store range was limited.) So I cut it back. That made the food border on front so thin you could hardly tell what the foods were. That's why I put more of the same food fabric on the back.
The goal of this pillow was to make Lynn smile. Dogs whose favorite food is everything are funny. And I hope the grass fabric suggests she's rolling in the lush grass of heaven.
For more memorial quilt and pillow projects, click on "memorial" in the word cloud on the right.
Aww what a sweet tribute to Kenya! My dog is like that too - he enjoys eating more than anything. He won't eat fruit though.
ReplyDeleteShasta, thank you. After I made the pillow, Lynn told me Kenya didn't like pears - alas, there was a pear on the back!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet memorial to Kenya! I'll bet her mom, laughed, cried, hugged the pillow, hugged you, hugged the pillow some more...and set it in Kenya's spot on her bed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that lovely message, quiltcat. Yes, she cried before she laughed. She told me she pats it every morning. Made my day.
Deletewhat a great idea for an animal memorial. We've had a dog and cat pass. I keep telling my husband that when I die I want their ashes buried with me. Making a pillow like that is so awesome
ReplyDeleteJoan, a friend of mine poured their beloved dogs' ashes into her husband's grave, during the funeral, when the gravesite officials weren't looking!
DeleteSuch a beautiful and caring gift.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann.
DeleteYou do have a great super power. The sharing and listening to grief is so important and comforting. Being able to comfort with sewn items is such a great gift. I consider the listening, acknowledging, and sewing to be a good purposeful life for myself in retirement. Your food pillow made me smile. Our old grey lab is so much like Kenya. Nicely made, well written, lovely to hold all you said in my heart.
ReplyDeleteJane, thank you, well said. Along with marrying my husband and having my kids, making memorial projects are the best things I've done in my life.
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