Photo: TANNIS TOOHEY
Peg Billingsley of Alaska was adrift after her best friend, dad and mother all died within a year. As an outlet for her grief, she learned to sew. She began making aprons, eventually seeking inspiration in vintage patterns she purchased online. This new hobby connected Billingsley with Eric Mabley, of Canada. Mabley was also grieving; his wife and oldest sister died suddenly within a year and a half. Billingsley had ordered a vintage pattern that Mabley’s mother, Helen Ransom, had purchased in 1943. It came in the original envelope and Billingsley did some sleuthing to learn about the original purchaser of the pattern. She reached out to Mabley to learn about his mother so she could incorporate something about Ransom into the garment. Long story short, they hit it off and Billingsley ended up sending Mabley 3 aprons, one for him, one for his sister and one for his daughter. Their connection in a time of enormous grief for both of them was healing.
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