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So often when loved ones pass on, there is such a sense of loss. We know that we won’t see that face, hear that voice, or feel that touch again in our lives. Jean and her wonderful work with textiles has made it possible to actually hold on to our loved ones and their memories. We have pillows made from my father’s military uniforms which were so much a part of him and our family culture. And we have pillows made from German capes that honor my mother and her love for us. Jean’s work is thoughtful, detailed, and beautiful, creating pillows that preserve the love and memories of parents and family as a tangible gift. ~ Meg
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I am so grateful to you this year. You made my 30th anniversary even more special than I could have imagined by redesigning my wedding dress as creating the accessories.
Also, I will be eternally thankful to you for turning a simple horse fabric into a treasure to be included at every meal. My mom would have loved the table runners as they will assure she is at the center of all family meals. With appreciation ~ Whitney 
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Thank you so much for all your efforts in creating a very meaningful heirloom for me. And I loved the sentiment on the attached note - it captured my husband's feels so well. ~ Jocelyn
Thank you so much for creating a special memory - my husband would love it! ~ Jocelyn 
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Jean—You are amazing!! I just love the special ornaments and know my children will, also. Can’t wait for Christmas—I’ll try to remember to take a photo of the decorated tree. I so enjoyed working with you on this project—you went way "above and beyond” my expectations. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. ~ Jocelyn |
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I smile every night when I hear slippys soft thud as she slips onto the floor during the night. It has made me laugh out. Thanks for restoring slippy it has been of great comfort to me and has helped my healing. ~ Celia |
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The quilt, "Chain Reaction", captured my attention through Jean's artists, especially her exquisite "stitches of story". I will always "Remember When" I acquired the quilt through the online auction for Livestrong at the YMCA. Thank you Jean , for the contributions to my life as I am "Covered in Care"! ~ Anonymous |
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A few months ago, I decided I was finally ready to do something with Anthony's beloved blue plaid jacket. I wanted it made into something for Gage and for me. I was hesitant about sending it away to a stranger. It turned out I didn't have to. Through the magic of Facebook, I discovered that a friend knew someone who specializes in making memorial items. I then discovered that that person is none other than Ms. Jean Gerdes, my 8th grade home-ec teacher. I connected with her and we met last month, the week of Anthony's 5-year anniversary. As it turned out, she had Anthony too. It was tough to hand that jacket over, but Jean was so very respectful and compassionate, asked lots of questions about what I wanted, and made it easier to let that jacket go. She kept in touch with me, sent me pictures of the prototype, and finished quicker than I thought. Earlier this week I picked up the completed pieces, right before his 29th birthday.
To say that I love them is an understatement. I will treasure them forever, and I'm sure Gage will too. Thank you, Jean, for giving us such a wonderful remembrance of Anthony. ~ Stacy Emmlinger |
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Original Quilt
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Page from the Story Starter
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Finished Heirloom - Click on the image to read more.
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Working with Jean was a heartwarming, joyous experience. We took a tattered hand made quilt painstakingly made with love by mother in law 34 years ago when my first child was born. When I pulled it out to give to my firstborn grandson, I realized the years had taken their toll. It was falling apart at the seams…literally. While I could have easily tossed it away and replaced it with a store bought baby quilt, I knew this was a work of love and art by my mother in law who passed away over a decade ago. I wanted to somehow pass this on to my son’s son. Jean was exactly the person I needed. I was familiar with her work and turned to her with my tattered quilt in hand. Off she went with it to find materials to match, ways to strengthen the weak parts and fix up the tatters. She also had plenty of imaginative ideas about how to make it a strong, durable and adorable keepsake. We spent a bit of time discussing what I wanted and what became so evident was how well Jean listened and tuned in to what I was looking for. She even came up with a sweet book to go with the quilt to explain the story of it to my grandson with images of his Nanny and Pop-pop and the rest of his family. I know he will be read that book many times and the quilt will be a gift that will remind him he is love and cherished by all of us including those who are no longer here. The original quilt was a work of love that through Jean’s talents, creativity and thoughtfulness we were able to restore and pass on. Thank you Jean! ~ Cathy Walker
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~ I cannot thank you enough for embroidering my Dad's handkerchiefs for our girls. They have really been missing their Pappy and seeing his handwriting on their quilts is going to bring them comfort. I really appreciate you bringing them to school today. That's the best package that has ever been in my school mailbox! What a great surprise that you finished them so quickly. I enjoyed catching up with you and cannot thank you enough for being a blessing to our family. ~ Tiffany
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Our girls received their quilts last night. They were thrilled with them and then we showed them the surprise that you created. Both girls LOVED seeing Pappy's handwriting on their quilts. Our little one asked if she could have his handwriting put on all four corners. Thank you for the extra special touch you created for our girls' quilts. ~ Tiffany
similar tree shirt Clare's - Click on the image to read more.
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Jean, Nearly 25 years ago, you made us a tree skirt for a wedding present. That skirt was one of the treasured items we hand carried during our Army moves. It was too priceless to entrust in other hands. It has been the first thing I take out and the last thing I put away every holiday season. Through babies, deployments without John, Maddie home from college, family visits, and friends from all over the country; the skirt has been there. It represents Christmas and family. Of course, it’s beautiful work, but it’s so much more. We love it. Thank you. ~ Clare
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Even if there were no back story to our Remember When quilt, everything about it would still be beautiful. The fabrics used, the design, the quality of the work, is all absolutely gorgeous. But add on top of that the meaningful experience and the person (my son and his birth) the quilt represents, it turns from a beautiful quilt into meaningful art. It really symbolizes the brightness and hope his birth meant for us, and it'll definitely become a family heirloom. Thank you, Remember When! ~ Sharon
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Lin’s father passed on. After helping her mother work through her father’s clothing, Lin showed me a bag of her dad’s neckties. She shared how her dad wore one of these neckties each day over the course of his 40-year car salesman career. Lin fondly remembered each tie and especially the ties her father’s sister, Aunt June, had made. Lin stated that her mom wanted to donate the ties, along with the other articles of clothing. But Lin wanted to do something with her dad’s ties, as they were too meaningful to discard.
I said that I would investigate “tie memorabilia.” There had to be someone who did this kind of work, this kind of art. The search to find someone who would be able and willing to create a special memory started! I asked family, friends and colleagues to ask others and to keep “the Project” in mind. I asked my seamstress. One and one-half or more years passed and the ties were still in my possession. No connections were made. Mr. Miller’s ties were too meaningful to hand over to someone unknown.
One day in July, 2017 a dear friend and I took a day road trip for a reunion and "the Project" re-surfaced. It turns out, my friend’s sister sews, creates, and more. She was in the throes of a number of family projects. I asked if Jean may consider a tie project. Lee said, “Jean can do anything!” And over the months that followed, Jean and I connected, met, shared, explored, planned, emailed, talked, and celebrated “the tie project!” Jean respectfully, tenderly, and carefully created four pillows and two table runners in memory of Dad Geo. Miller and his ties. Jean included “his projects signature” and “his emails closing!” Both accents are/were very dear to Lin and her sister. No words can capture and/or describe the emotions, the love, the warmth, the memories, and more, that Lin, her sister and their mother felt upon opening the ties gifts. Jean is a blessing and blessed with gifts and talents. I am forever grateful that “the ties” and I found Jean! ~ Cathy
I said that I would investigate “tie memorabilia.” There had to be someone who did this kind of work, this kind of art. The search to find someone who would be able and willing to create a special memory started! I asked family, friends and colleagues to ask others and to keep “the Project” in mind. I asked my seamstress. One and one-half or more years passed and the ties were still in my possession. No connections were made. Mr. Miller’s ties were too meaningful to hand over to someone unknown.
One day in July, 2017 a dear friend and I took a day road trip for a reunion and "the Project" re-surfaced. It turns out, my friend’s sister sews, creates, and more. She was in the throes of a number of family projects. I asked if Jean may consider a tie project. Lee said, “Jean can do anything!” And over the months that followed, Jean and I connected, met, shared, explored, planned, emailed, talked, and celebrated “the tie project!” Jean respectfully, tenderly, and carefully created four pillows and two table runners in memory of Dad Geo. Miller and his ties. Jean included “his projects signature” and “his emails closing!” Both accents are/were very dear to Lin and her sister. No words can capture and/or describe the emotions, the love, the warmth, the memories, and more, that Lin, her sister and their mother felt upon opening the ties gifts. Jean is a blessing and blessed with gifts and talents. I am forever grateful that “the ties” and I found Jean! ~ Cathy
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Maddie and I had a trip down memory lane examining this bunny's patches. . . "do you remember. . ?" Her swim team friends, who now live elsewhere. Old school buddies, and a favorite play date with "Nana"! It's amazing how much memories mean to family togetherness. Thanks so much, Jean, for rekindling them. HUGS! ~Barbie For our daughter’s high school graduation, Jean created for us an amazing, happy and huggable friend sewn lovingly from favorite t-shirts and memory filled fabrics of every kind. ~Amy |
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My grandfather was a career military man and a lifelong man of stories. Some of his stories were set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and growing up poor, while others took place on Air Force bases dotting the U.S. and in the halls of hospitals from South Korea, to Germany, to Lancaster, PA. To his fifteen grandchildren, he was always part man/part myth—but we did not grow up in his shadow. Instead, we learned to play, fight, and love under his and my grandmother's protective shade.
When he died, my grandfather left behind a closet full of dress blues and boxes of badges, pins, nameplates, and dog tags. These were not just pieces of clothing or objects to him, but rather the foundation of the life he created, how he saw the world, and how he wanted the world to see him. My mother wanted to save these things, but knew that they would just gather dust and be forgotten if she kept them in a closet. She enlisted Jean's help to preserve the pieces as pillows and sent her his dress uniform, trench coat, winter trench coat, two dress shirts, and assorted regalia. My mother expected simple patchwork pillows, embellished with a dog tag or two. We were given so much more.
Our whole family was astounded and touched by what Jean created. She crafted ten unique pillows, and each reveals a chapter of who my grandfather was—from his early days in the Korean War to his final rank of Lieutenant Colonel at Langley Air Force Base. One of my favorites shows a complete but worn sleeve of his blue-dress shirt, and I love imagining him buttoning his cuff before going to work for the good of his country and family.
There are many people who can make patchwork pillows or blankets out of old shirts and jackets. What Jean does is something far deeper. She is able to listen to the stories about a person, and then translate the core of who that person is into a comforting and meaningful physical artifact for their family to hold onto. Jean creates time capsules and paints portraits through her work, and she is a storyteller in her own right. ~Maddie
When he died, my grandfather left behind a closet full of dress blues and boxes of badges, pins, nameplates, and dog tags. These were not just pieces of clothing or objects to him, but rather the foundation of the life he created, how he saw the world, and how he wanted the world to see him. My mother wanted to save these things, but knew that they would just gather dust and be forgotten if she kept them in a closet. She enlisted Jean's help to preserve the pieces as pillows and sent her his dress uniform, trench coat, winter trench coat, two dress shirts, and assorted regalia. My mother expected simple patchwork pillows, embellished with a dog tag or two. We were given so much more.
Our whole family was astounded and touched by what Jean created. She crafted ten unique pillows, and each reveals a chapter of who my grandfather was—from his early days in the Korean War to his final rank of Lieutenant Colonel at Langley Air Force Base. One of my favorites shows a complete but worn sleeve of his blue-dress shirt, and I love imagining him buttoning his cuff before going to work for the good of his country and family.
There are many people who can make patchwork pillows or blankets out of old shirts and jackets. What Jean does is something far deeper. She is able to listen to the stories about a person, and then translate the core of who that person is into a comforting and meaningful physical artifact for their family to hold onto. Jean creates time capsules and paints portraits through her work, and she is a storyteller in her own right. ~Maddie
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The story of my adult life is told in this bear designed by Jean. Items from the birth of my three children and their grandchildren, milestones, along with family history from my Parents and Grandparents. Every time I look at this BEAR it invokes memories. More than any photograph, Jean has recreated my history in a living form that is a real treasure. ~ Diane |
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When my husband died, this pillow was created to remind me of our special times together. More tangible than photographs, the Pillow consists of the tie John was wearing when I first met him, the tie he wore to our wedding, gift ties he did not like that we laughed about and many other memories. It is on my sofa and surrounds me with his love. Thank you, Jean. ~ Diane
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Jean Gerdes
(717) 492-6251
(717) 492-6251
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