Myra Iles, a resident of Whitehorse, transforms colorful fabrics and bags of cotton into unique feelie hearts at her home. Inspired by the fabrics left behind by her late mother, Iles has handcrafted close to 3,000 of these sentimental creations over the past six years.
The feelie hearts project by the Hospice Yukon Society became a meaningful endeavor for Iles. The hospice distributes these volunteer-made fabric hearts to visitors facing grief or challenging times, offering them a tangible source of comfort. However, the hospice is currently facing a shortage of these heartfelt tokens.
Deb Higgins, the program coordinator at the hospice, emphasizes the significance of these fabric hearts as an art therapy tool for individuals dealing with loss. The hearts serve as a reminder that one is not alone in their grieving process and provide a simple yet profound way to show support to those in need.
Within the hospice, colorful hearts are discreetly placed among books and decorations, with a selection of patterns available for visitors to choose from. Despite having around 200 feelie hearts in stock, the hospice distributes thousands annually, with some visitors taking up to 30 hearts at once.
Janis Timm-Bottos, a retired professor specializing in creative art therapies, underscores the therapeutic benefits of feelie hearts, particularly in aiding individuals in connecting with their emotions during times of grief. The small, handcrafted hearts offer a sense of warmth and support to those who hold them.
Despite battling arthritis in her hands, Myra Iles strives to create 30 hearts each month. The process of cutting fabric, stitching, and stuffing the hearts with cotton takes approximately 10 minutes per heart. Iles encourages more volunteers to join her initiative, aiming to provide peace and solace to those who receive her handmade creations.