At the end of last year I did a post about my Floss Frenzy adventures. Chris responded to it and I was inspired to write this week’s post, but a bunch of other topics jumped in the way. I’m so glad you’re finally getting to see it ?.
This was her comment:
“I’m a member of the Crazy Quilters and I also chair the bear program at Angels Grace. We use floss to finish the bears so if you still have some that need a home I would be happy to give them a good home.”
Angels Grace is a Hospice in our area and the Crazy Quilters guild is a wonderful group of quilters located in Mukwonago, WI. After reading her comment I peeked into my floss bin and discovered I still had plenty to share, so I sent a bag off to Chris right away. I also asked her if she’d share a few photos and a bit of the story. She was happy to oblige. Here she is with a few of the bears they’ve made:
And here’s the story:
“When Angels Grace opened Sandy Hendricks started making bears for the patients. She tried several patterns before settling on the one we use today. Sandy moved out of state five years ago which is when I stepped in to chair the program. Angels Grace is a 15 bed hospice and we average 30 bears a month. I have a lady in a wheelchair that does a lot of sewing for me, I love that it gives her an outlet. We meet the first Monday of each month which is when we stuff bears to take home to finish (sew up the five openings, give it a nose, mouth and eyes) this is also when it gets a ribbon and an arm band. Each bear takes an average of 6 hours. Sometimes family will request special bears made from the patients clothing. Like a husband and father who had 3 bears made for his daughters from their mother’s nightgowns. He said he could always tell when they were having a bad day because they would have their bear. When I first started driving out there 8 years ago it was just me, but now if all my friends that I have talked into helping go we need two vehicles. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to work with the patients but as a sewer I could do my part to make their last days a little easier. Thanks again for your gift.”
I love happy coincidences – the Sandy Chris mentioned is a dear friend of mine. I remember her sharing about her involvement with Angels Grace and her generous heart. I still miss Sandy and her amazing fiber art. I did a post about her and her thread portraits many years ago. To read that post go to: https://www.chrisquilts.net/4832/
I’m so glad to know that Chris has carried on this generous and much needed program! If you’d like to get involved in bear making please contact Chris at:
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In parting this week, I think you’ll enjoy one more response to my previous hankie posts. Eileen sent me the following email with photos of 3 very interesting hankies from her collection:
“After seeing your post about hankies, it reminded me of my handkerchief collection which my grandma helped me collect when I was a youngster, probably around 10 or 12 and maybe into my teens. I pulled out my collection today. I have 149 hankies in my collection, ranging from state maps (28 state maps) from countries and cities throughout the world, from whimsical ones (such as a vogue diet, Arthur Murray dance with steps for the fox trot, a lucky charm one, Democratic and Republican ones, a presidential one through Eisenhower, etc.) I will attach pictures of three of them including your home state of Wisconsin. Now I have another project – to wash them and decide on another album in which to display them. Thank you for the reminder.”
Thanks Eileen!
J.Rakowski says
So wonderful to hear about our dear friend, Sandy.
What a lovely legacy she created. So good to hear if is continued.
Miss Sandy.
Jrak
Shellie says
What marvelous handkerchiefs!
And the bears are very wonderful. What a lovely remembrance! Angels grace sounds like a fabulous facility.
Judy says
I wanted to tell you that I have one of the bears those ladies made. They let me pick one out in the middle of the night just after Dick passed away. I have it sitting in my family room. It will always be cherished. They surely are a great remembrance.
Sandy Hendricks says
Hi Chris: Your post was forwarded to me by friends. So glad you are still carrying on.
I miss all my Wisconsin friends, but the Colorado move was a good and timely move for us.
I now have a group of sewers with the Castle Rock Senior Center and we do many community projects: Quilts for our Vets, Quilts for Victims of Fire, items for Cancer patients, masks, and items for our annual Craft Show fund raiser.
Sandy