In Whitehorse, Myra Iles is busy at her home, surrounded by colorful fabrics and bags of cotton on her kitchen table. Using a large sewing needle and scissors, she painstakingly creates feelie hearts, a craft she started six years ago with fabrics inherited from her late mother. Over the years, Iles estimates she has crafted close to 3,000 of these heartfelt creations.
The special project Iles had been waiting for turned out to be the Hospice Yukon Society’s feelie hearts initiative. The hospice provides volunteer-made fabric hearts to visitors facing grief or difficult times, offering them a tangible source of comfort. However, the hospice is currently facing a shortage in their supply of feelie hearts.
Deb Higgins, the hospice’s program coordinator, expressed the fluctuating availability of feelie hearts and encouraged individuals interested in contributing to reach out and participate in this meaningful endeavor. The feelie hearts project, rooted in art therapy, serves as a simple yet powerful gesture of support for those navigating the complexities of grief.
Higgins highlighted that the fabric hearts are not just physical objects but symbols of companionship and understanding for those in need. The hospice’s collection of colorful hearts, displayed within their premises, serves as a beacon of solace for visitors, with various patterns and designs available for selection.
Despite battling arthritis in her hands, Myra Iles remains dedicated to crafting 30 feelie hearts each month, with each heart taking around 10 minutes to complete. While she continues her efforts, Iles emphasizes the importance of community involvement, hoping more volunteers will join her in spreading comfort and memories through these heartfelt creations.