Remember When. . . I sewed from memory?

My nephew and his wife are having a baby.  One of my favorite baby gifts is a quilt with the quote “Where there is great love there are always miracles” by Willa Cather. I then embroider the names of all the people who will love the baby. But knowing there were plans for at least two quilts for this child, that did not seem like a good choice. I was stumped for a gift until I learned that the baby’s name was Henry and that they had checked to be sure that was my father’s middle name (He was John Henry Gerdes). From that point on I knew I had to make a John Henry Bear!  My father was a great man, unique in many ways - one of which was that later in life he wore “the uniform,” blue oxford shirt, kahki’s and clodhoppers (work boots). 

 I had two challenges. I no longer had any of his clothes and the bear had to be baby safe. I purchased soft flannel in all the colors I needed. The clothing became the body of the bear with all embellishments either embroidered or appliquéd. Included with her bear was a collage of pictures of Great Grandpa, John Henry in uniform and an explanation of the uniform and who he was. As I made the bear I decided to write a storybook explaining who all the Henrys were who came before. My nephew, who was about 3 when my father passed, came near the end of the baby shower and when he saw the bear he understood without any further explanation. The materials I used to make the bear were all brand new yet the memory was preserved nonetheless.

John Henry Bear needed a special Story Starter, so I wrote an interactive picture book explaining who all the Henrys were that came before him in our family! It was narrated by Annie, my mother's puppy.

This business allows me to run with an idea to wherever my creativity can take me.  I would love to hear your story and see how I can tell it a way that it lives with your family.  Contact me so we can get started creating a unique Story Starter for you.