Michael Christopher Kessler (1982 - 1999)
2004, 67" x 67"
Fragments of Michaels’s baby cloths, cloth toys, t-shirts, karate
belts, and the jeans and plaid shirt he died in. Made in the studio
with Mary Kessler, Micheal's mother. Machine and hand pieced, hand
quilted.
This quilt is made from the clothing of Michael Christopher Kessler, who took his life when he was 17.
His mother, Mary, brought to my studio, boxes of clothes, cloth toys and baby quilts from his infancy, childhood and teenage years. She unwrapped karate belts, booted jumpers, stuffed dinosaurs, small t-shirts with zoo animals and monster trucks. . .
We cried together when she uncovered and touched the pair of blue jeans and the short sleeved, plaid shirt he chose to die in.
Comments and faves
"Gayatri", saraaires (quartodeideias), neftos, stitchindye, and 19 other people added this photo to their favorites.
slowasaurus (74 months ago | reply)
I'm sorry to hear about someone dying that way-especially someone so young. I lost my brother to suicide september, 2006. Its been hard on my parents and me as well. My mom found a company here in columbus, oh that makes quilts from t-shirts. My brother had a lot of shirts so we decided to make quilts from them. I think its a nice way of remembering them.
cindratee (72 months ago | reply)
Such a beautiful, cheerful quilt with such a sad story. My heart goes out to you and the mother.
travelin_kim (21 months ago | reply)
Thank you for sharing your beautiful blanket with us. My mother just finished a blanket (not a t-shirt), in honor of my older brother Michael, who passed away do to an illness in (B.1983-) 1999. Many hugs to Mary.
elnorac (10 months ago | reply)
What a sad, sad story, but I'm so glad you helped Mary make this beautiful quilt!