About 4Keepsies...

I wanted to write my children a story about their lives, who they were when they were young, but I'm not very good with words. As they were growing up and growing out of their clothes, I realized that their t-shirts told the story of who they were. Favorite characters and colors, teams, schools, camps, plays, activities, family trips, etc. So I started saving t-shirts. And more t-shirts. And more t-shirts. And did I mention that I have 4 children? What was I going to do with all of these t-shirts and where was I going to keep them?

In 2012 I was faced with my most challenging craft dilemma. My inner Martha had to be channeled to come up with the perfect gift for my daughter who was going to be graduating high school. What could I make for her that was special and that she would have for the rest of her life? What could I do with all of those t-shirts?

"I can make that" are words I often find myself confidently mumbling. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. Seeing a t-shirt quilt for the first time, I knew that this was one of those times that I was going make it myself. Lucky for me, Grandma Helen had given me her circa 1970 Sewmaster sewing machine. It was just begging to be used to make a t-shirt quilt.

So I set out on my journey and after a few months, I DID IT! I created the perfect gift, using all 90 of my daughters saved t-shirts, and used Grandma's machine that had created so many memories for her. It was perfect in so many ways. 

I was so proud of what I made that I posted it on Facebook. Immediately I started receiving phone calls, emails and texts asking "can you make me one?". Like they say, that's how it all started.

I started receiving more calls, emails and texts. "I wish I had saved my kids' t-shirts, how can I make them a blanket?". That's when my creativity had to step up a level. I started shopping thrift shops to find t-shirts to make blankets for those customers. I felt good supporting thrift store causes, upscaling t-shirts that would otherwise end up in landfills and being able to deliver blankets that put smiles on peoples faces. That's how the "ready to sell" blankets came about.

And the name, 4Keepsies? Well, that just brings back one of a few of my childhood memories  -- when I traded Wacky Packages cards on the playground. "Really? Can I have it for keepsies?" And now each of my 4 children have memory blankets 4Keepsies :)

Thanks for listening to my story. I look forward to creating your "blanket story" soon.

Joyce
Owner, Designer, Sewer