Little did I realize how precious those pillows would become when I started sewing them in 2002. After having slightly injured my back the year before, I designed a few pillows to help get more comfortable.
That summer - July 2002, was when I showed the first tell-tale sign of Lyme Disease- the classic bulls eye shaped rash! It was on my left wrist and I never did see a tick.
The rash disappeared as did the flu-like symptoms, even before we got home from camping at Long Point Provincial Park (north shore of Lake Erie). A few months later I started to develop many seaming unrelated medical problems.
I continued designing new sizes and shapes of pillows to help support my ever increasing number of spasming muscles and sore joints. I remember thinking at the time, how peculiar it was that here I was making pillows and never had there been a time I needed them more! Starting around the Fall of 2002 I had to use a small pillow under my arm while driving my vehicle, in order to prevent my shoulder from 'dropping'. Not only was I starting to develop a repetative strain problem, but also tingles, shooting pains, headaches, Bell's Palsy and more!
Before ever displaying 'symptoms' (major ones at least), I left my career of 14 years in November 2001 to venture out on my 'own'. Having operated a family business during those years, I was excited to get my hands into some new projects. I had actually started 2 new ventures at that time. The 'pillow project' ended up being the 'after-thought'.
First were the Bolster pillows then the throw pillows with dolphins and Orcas- stuffed with whatever I could find! Next came the buckwheat hull filled pillows- November 2002, right when I was coming down with what we now know was full-blown Neuro Lyme with the typical side dish of multiple co-infections.
By 2004 I had developed over 50 different sizes and shapes- all very useful in my world.
It's interesting looking back now for me, realizing I had designed all those pillows during what was my worst stage of Lyme Disease and Co. I am still battling 'Late Lyme and Co.'. Not being diagnosed until June 2006 has made my road to recovery a rather bumpy one. That's another blog post some day.
I've decided to start sewing pillows again after being away from it for 3 years. I barely got the 'new' name for the pillow business picked on Vancouver Island ( we lived there- 2005- 2007). So for now the old name of 'Van Island Dreamz' stands. We'll see what the future brings.
My very first Bolster pillow
- made out of some 'extra' upholstery fabric my mom have given me
