While caring for my mother as she suffered from Alzheimer’s, I discovered she could still accomplish some sewing tasks. Up to the last few months of her life, my mother sat next to me as we made baby bibs and aprons together. It was a wonderful way for her to feel useful and productive; sewing activities calmed her anxiety and I came to call it “self medicating with fabric.”
I wrote a book about my experience, "When Life Hands You Alzheimer's, Make Aprons!" and now donate all profits from my book to Alzheimer’s respite care. I also continue to sew the aprons I made with my mother using Barbara Brunson’s pattern from Vanilla House Design (P132).
Barbara Brunson has embraced my project and even invited me to join her at the International Quilt Market in May of 2011 where I was able to make many contacts with shop owners and magazine publishers.
An article was recently published in Primitive Quilts and Projects Magazine about my charitable cause and in the Country Register of Michigan, Oregon, Washington, and Southern Idaho. More Country Register’s in other states will be publishing my story in the next few months if they haven’t already done so. The November issue of Threads magazine has published a short article about my project, you can read it on page 79.
I try to make contact personally with shop owners as I travel. My husband and I live full time on the road in small travel trailer, but we can’t be everywhere so I also try to make contacts by phone, and emails. Family members and friends have helped by making contact with shop owner’s in their communities.
My sister, Katie Frostic, of Applegate, Michigan, encouraged me to write the book and she took care of the responsibilities of getting it published. Katie sends five books to shops who agree to help with our cause and includes a self addressed stamped envelope.
The books sell for $12.00. Once the books are sold, we ask the shop to send a check to my sister for the total amount of $60.00 and she will then donate net profits to an organization in your community that offers Alzheimer’s respite care.
The following is a list of shops that are helping their communities by selling my book:
Alaska:
Dina’s Cozy Cabin Quilts,10901 Mausel Street, Eagle River, Alaska 99577
Sylvia's Quilt Depot, 1261 Seward Meridian, Suite E, Wasilla, Alaska 99654 907-376-6468
Arizona: Quilters Quarters, 51 Verde Heights Dr., Cottonwood, Arizona 86326
Colorado:Between The Covers Book Shop, 224 W Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435
Buckskin Booksellers, 505 W Main St, Suite 110, Ouray, CO 81427 970-325-4044
Lady Bugz Quilt Co.,302 W Main St, Montrose, CO 81401 970-249-1600
Needle Rock FiberArts, 320 W Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435 970-728-3427
Stitcher's Garden, 303 South Union Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81003 719-545-3320
Connecticut:Sew Inspired Quilt Shop, 8 Wilcox St., Simsbury, CT 06070
Florida: Coffee Mug Cafe, Meridian Ave., Dade City, Fl 352-567-2224
Patchwork Pig Quilts, 228 E. Pine St., Lakeland, FL 863-682-4774
Quilts on Plum Lane, 14215 7th St., Dade City, FL 352-518-0003
Quilters Quarters, 4833 Allen Rd., Zephyrhills, FL 813-779-2615
Michigan:
Catty Wampas Fabric Co. State St, Caro, MI
Back Street Quilt Shop, 4910 York St, Elkton, MI 48731
Front Porch Quilt Shop, 305 S Franklin, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
Piece Full Quilting, 611 Vista del sol, Lapeer, MI 810-664-9452
Sew Elegant, 3909 Pine Grove Ave, Fort Gratiot, MI 48059, 810-982-6556
Victoria's, 6894 Lakeshore Rd, Lexington MI
Minnesota
Magnolias, 177 Lafayette Street,Winona, MN, (On display with Sandy's Sweet Nothings(c) Aprons, Compliments of: Sandy Erdman ~ Apron Lady of Winona, Minnesota)
New York:
Calico Gals, 3906 New Court Ave., Syracuse, NY 13206
North Carolina:
Thimble Pleasures, 225 South Elliott Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Utah:
Kings English Book Store, 1511 South 1500 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105 801-484-9100
http://www.kingsenglish.com/book/9781456750404
Corn Wagon Quilt Co, 303 E 400 S, Springville,UT 84663 801-491-3551
