I've tried many times over the last year to get rid of my mother’s clothes that she will never wear again (due to her advanced Alzheimer's disease). Hospital gowns have taken the place of her favorite girly dresses and sparkling tops. I couldn't bear the thought of throwing them away. It felt like a betrayal to me, even though she would never know. She had two rooms and the garage full, and she adored them all. I needed to find a way to let them go emotionally, so I imagined what Mom would do. I decided to cut them up and make something new for my granddaughter, Grace. I'm sure Mom would appreciate the sentiment, as will Grace when she's old enough to understand it.

The dress is made entirely of fabric from Mom’s clothes, and so are the trim, thread, and I used Mom's sewing tools from her basket. I chose to make something historical because Grace is literally wearing her history; part of her DNA is embedded in the fabric. Some people believe that cherished possessions can contain a piece of the spirit of the person who loved them. I'm not sure if that's true, but I'm going to believe it anyway.

The process was not easy mentally, or physically.  It was the toughest “jigsaw puzzle” I have ever faced.  I really can’t sew at all and being limited to the pieces of fabric I ended up with seemed impossible.  But, in the end it was worth it.