P.E.I. woman offers comfort to those in mourning with custom keepsakes

A PEI woman uses the clothing of late loved ones to make precious keepsakes.

A crafty woman in Milton, P.E.I., is keeping memories alive with custom keepsakes.

Jennifer Ford started sewing 25 years ago after her father died because he encouraged her to buy a sewing machine and she wanted to put it to good use. For fifteen years she’s been honouring that commitment by sewing things for people who have lost loved ones.

“Might be teddy bears, blankets, quilts, pillows,” Ford said. She makes the items from the clothing and other items that belong to the recently departed.

“I feel like it was just a message sent from my dad,” Ford said. She worked as a counsellor and social worker for years and said she always loved helping people.

“I think this is just a continuation of what I used to do in a different way.”

Ford said her custom keepsakes give people comfort when they are grieving lost loved ones.

“When you feel connected to that person, just anything that you can have that you can cuddle or hold in your hand just seems to bring such relief and peace to people,” Ford said.

After 15 years, Ford said she only realized the emotional impact a custom keepsake can have after making one for herself to remember her best friend – someone she lost 30 years ago.

“Her mom and dad were so gracious to give me one of her sweaters,” Ford said. “I just recently made a teddy bear out of it.”

That teddy bear oversees Ford’s work from its shelf in her sewing room. She said it brings her peace along with the work, which is labour intensive, but satisfying.

“I feel like I’m helping,” Ford said. “I’ve always felt like that’s my call to do.”

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