A little story here. My daughters boyfirend, Doug, brought me a shirt that he'd borrowed from his best friend, Mike, 8 years ago. He explained had this shirt stayed in his closet for so long because Mike had died unexpectedly shortly after he'd borrowed it and he never had the heart to attempt to give it back to the friends wife...and just couldn't in good conscience simply dispose of it. Well, his friend had a 5 year old little girl named Paige when he died...she's turning 13 on Thursday, and recently she's been experiencing some agitation about not remembering things about her daddy very well anymore. So I told him that we could make a little Memory Memento pillow out of her daddy's shirt for her. I left the back of his IZOD shirt intact, using the buttons for the pillow opening and stitched her fathers initials on the pocket, leaving a little space along the monogram so she could slide a couple of other precious mementos of her fathers in the pocket for safekeeping if so chose to. I used the Cute Embroidery Embossed Swan Font on the front signifying Paiges name...the lillies and the Swans felt so serene and perfect for the project. Now she can get and/or give her dad a little hug whenever she wants to. I truly hope she likes it and isn't freaked out by it. The story brought tears to me when he asked me if I could make something special for her out of the shirt...I think of all the projects I've ever made, this one will carry the most meaning for so many of anything else I've ever done. She'll have her own piece of her fathers legacy and since Doug stays so closely in contact with her and her mother, I think he'll be even more special to her as she matures and realized how deeply he cared for her father as well. Thank you for letting me share this with you. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 16 Jun 2010

Thank you so much! ~Rita

by msfancyvip 16 Jun 2010

Great...be sure to share pictures with us. I'd love to see other ideas. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 16 Jun 2010

Thank you! ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks so much. I'll find out her reaction after Thursday...I hope she it brings her comfort and fond memories. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks so much. I'll find out her reaction after Thursday...I hope she it brings her comfort and fond memories. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks Cutegirl...but it really wasn't my idea persay, it was simply an inspiration gleemed from the facts and material items presented at precisely the right time, that actually took on a life of its own, LOL. I think Paige was meant to get a meassage from her daddy at a time she was stuggling. I hope she loves it...if nothing else...it certainly based me in reality. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thats wonderful! I'm glad that your ill friend was okay with the idea...together the 3 of you have created a living legacy and that has to make your friend feel good and truly loved. Thanks for sharing your story. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thank you. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she finds joy in the pillow and that it doesn't dredge up sorrow on her birthday. ~Rita

by cutegirl 15 Jun 2010

THANKS, I NEVER KNEW THAT F.R.O.G HAD SUCH A BEAUTIFUL MEANING. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. I HAVE LEANT SOMETHING NEW AND BEAUTIFUL TODAY, BUT ARE'NT WE LEARNING EVERYDAY FROM OUR CUTIES!

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

It is true isn't it Fleabag? Sometimes we don't take the time to "SEE" the correlations because we get so very busy with our daily lives that we miss alot. I'm so glad for you that the FROG alphabet came along right now...and glad you recognized the irony! Your Dad must have had a fantastic outlook on life with such wonderful beliefs. Thanks for giving us a new acronym for FROGS! ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

What a wonderful group idea...I'm seriously going do some checking into that for this area...thanks for the idea. I'm such a prudent and thrifty person by nature that I just hate to see good things get simply tossed out as trash when there are so many useful purposes left in them yet. I truly think that alot of people would cherish something like this project to remember their loved ones by. Thanks for the motivation! ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thank you...lets hope she likes it. I'm anxiously waiting to hear about her reaction. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thank you...I hope it has a speical if not great impact with Paige and her mother! ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thank you. I feel blessed for being allowed to be just one small catalyst on this project of love and emotion. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thank you. I know what you're saying. It sure makes you respect and appreciate some of the old-time quilts that were made out of the same such memories doesn't it. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks for commenting. Doug has remained very close to Mikes family still, Paige calls him to keep him and my daughter aprised of all her school and sporting events so they can come and watch her...he is a special friend indeed. I truly hope she likes her own little piece of her daddy. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thank you! I agree with you 100%. I think her mother, Janina, and perhaps Mikes mom as well, may be able to help her understand the significance of the "pillow"...I'm sure it's not going to initally be the most favored gift a 13 year old has on her want list...but in time I think it may become much more to her. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks Sandy. I think it certainly came at a time in Paiges life that she was looking or needing to reconnect with her daddy again. I hope it brings her even a tenth of what I've experienced while making it. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks Judy...for some unknown reason I was just brought along for the ride on this project and I'm honored to have been offered the opportunity to be a such a small part of such a great thing. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

I totally relate...I had quite the little sit down cry myself before I could bring myself to cut Mikes shirt up...but that shirt material will now bring more to Paige than it's use ever as ashirt ever brought to Mike in his short lifetime. Thanks for you comment. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks Yvonne. I think your right, I have to believe that she will learn to treasure it with time. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thank you. I hope I'm blessed with more projects like this in my lifetime. I believe Paige will draw some inspiration from it also...how wonderful that something as simple as an old shirt could potentially become something so much more. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thank you Lenamae. The pillow basically designed itself...the rest of us were simply the mechanisms, LOL. I hope it shines a little light on her day when she gets time to understand it completely. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thank you Lyn. I think anyone who is touched by this story is special...or else they wouldn't "get" the significance. Paige may not understand this yet...but I agree that in time she will learn to treasure it. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks Claire. I hope she only feels Joy upon receiving it...she and her mother have had enough tears. I think her Daddy is sending her a message on her birthday! ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thank you. I believe that there were forces working here beyond our control...this project certainly humbled me and I'm happy to be allowed to be a part of the message. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks Edith. I'm hoping that it can be help her feel re-connected to her daddy again...maybe not right at the moment, but at some time in the future as she matures and reflects back. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks Shirlene! Trust me it certainly inspired me. God works in mysterious ways doesn't he? It certainly gives me pause to wonder what force(s) made Doug happen to pull this shirt out of the closet around her 13th birthday...her passage into teen years and maturity. I'm suspecting that her daddy is looking over her from beyond...Doug is indeed a very special friend to Mike and his family. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

Thanks so much for your comment. I hope it brightens her birthday a little bit to have a piece of her daddy with her as she passes into the monumentus "teen" status. ~Rita

by msfancyvip 15 Jun 2010

I know...it certainly tore at my heart strings. Thanks ~Rita