Alzheimer’s Notes

Creating Art from An Alzheimer’s Patient’s Doodles

by Mary Emma Allen on March 31st, 2007

Mother loved to jot down notes in her diary, on the back of envelopes, in notebooks all her life.  I’ve found many of these as I’ve organized her belongings.  (She also never threw out anything!)  Among these jottings are doodles and sketches of animals, flowers, and birds.  She also wrote poetry for her grandchildren and included sketches.

During her Alzheimer’s journey, while she still could use a pen or pencil, Mother tried to write, but often resorted to sketching.  These gradually evolved into doodles which the staff at the nursing home saved for me.

My daughter, Beth, who is a quilt and fabric artist (Meandering Threads blog), and I have been discussing turning some of Mother’s sketches and doodles into fabric art for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  One sketch of a bunny could be enlarged as a pattern for a stuffed toy, Beth decided.

Other sketches resemble folk art and would make interesting quilt blocks or designs for ATCs [Artist Trading Cards], fabric postcards,  fabric books, and wall hangings.  We could enlarge them and use singly or in combinations. 

These projects are still in the planning stages.  But I wanted to share so that others could think about creating memorabilia and family memories from sketches and handiwork their family member has done.  Just because the person now has Alzheimer’s doesn’t mean they haven’t left a lovely heritage to pass along to future generations.

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