Kari Cottom had no idea what to expect when her mother placed a gift in front of her this past February. In fact, she still hasn’t fully reacted to the gift — a “life quilt” made up of T-shirts that she has worn throughout her lifetime. “It was so big at first, and I haven’t had time to really look at it,” she said. “But yes, I was excited, and yes I’m thankful.” She added that she is looking forward to some “alone time” with the quilt. It had been presented to her at a birthday party for her own daughter, Brielle. “Having 30 people around and me crying would not be a good thing,” she said.
Cottom’s mother, Karen Hekr of Brookfield had been saving the shirts to give the quilt to Cottom for her “golden birthday” (she turned 25 on December 25th).
Among the family memories included are baby bibs, sweaters, a preschool shirt with Kari’s picture on it, T-shirts from camping trips, and other shirts from Brownies, Girl Scouts, Brookfield American Little League, St. Barbara Catholic School, and Lyons Township High School. There is even a panel from her grandmother’s kitchen curtain.
“This way she can have the warmth of her grandmother with her all the time,” Hekr said.
She said she got the idea from a friend who worked in embroidery and had heard of a similar project.  
“I thought, ‘This would be good,’” Hekr said, adding she kept a big box of the shirts under her bed for a long time to complete the project. “I wanted Kari to have a real treasure,” she said.
She said her daughter’s reaction ranged from stunned to overwhelmed.
“She said, ‘Oh mom, you do save everything,’” Hekr said.
Hekr had her own reaction after seeing the completed project. (The quilt was actually sewn together by her friend, Jeanne Fleck of Minnesota.) “I cried. They grow up way too fast, these kids,” Hekr said.
She added that she would recommend the project to anyone.
“You can go out and buy a quilt, but these are things that are unique to the person. They are things no one else can claim,” Hekr said.
She added that one of her friends who has seen the quilt has already expressed interest in doing a similar project.
“All it takes is having a little box to collect things in. If nothing else, it’s a great conversation piece.”