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About the Book
"Sewing Up Friendship" is a heartwarming tale of stitches, surprises, and second chances!
Meet 11-year-old Ella Daniels—new town, new school, and new sitter (who just happens to be her estranged grandpa).
Life feels flipped upside down... until she meets her lively neighbor, Mrs. Rose, a sewing-loving senior with a big heart and even bigger ideas.
Together, they dive into fabric, fun, and finding purpose.
From classroom woes to unexpected joy inside a local nursing home, Sewing Up Friendship is a feel-good, coming-of-age story that reminds us all that healing happens in community, and kindness is always in style.
Includes kid-friendly resources for understanding memory loss and meaningful conversations.
The Story Behind
Sewing Up Friendship
How Two Friends Transformed a Community
One day while working at a senior living facility, I overheard a young man say he didn’t like going into the Alzheimer’s unit. When asked why, his only answer was, “I don’t know. I just don’t like going in there.”
That moment stuck with me. I’d worked with dementia residents and knew how warm, funny, and full of life they could be. I wondered if his reaction came from fear or simply not understanding what dementia really is. Right then, I promised myself that if I ever had the chance, I’d help change those kinds of perceptions.
That’s where "Sewing Up Friendship" began. While it’s not “a book about dementia,” it gently weaves memory loss into a heartfelt story about kindness, compassion, and the beauty of connecting across generations.
If someone you know is living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, help is available. To learn more, visit the Alzheimer's Association: https://www.alz.org
My hope is that kids—and adults—will walk away from the story not just entertained, but inspired to see the elderly with fresh eyes and open hearts.
About the Author
Colleen R. Carpenter enjoys being of service to others and has always felt a special fondness for the elderly and children. Having worked for 10 years with the elderly in nursing homes, senior communities and Alzheimer’s units, she’s seen first-hand the effects of isolation, loneliness, and life transitions.
Colleen has always wanted to find a way to “bridge the gap” between residents and the outside world through volunteerism and awareness.
She has also entertained senior audiences as a professional singer sharing her love of music and performing arts. Colleen’s goal has always been to encourage the elderly to continue to enjoy life, adventure, and learning.
A grandmother of four and having worked with children at a local elementary school and the YMCA, Colleen is quite comfortable interacting with and teaching children through activities, crafts, public speaking for kids, and of course, sewing lessons.
As the owner of Word Processing Diva, LLC, Colleen has assisted clients in self-publishing their own books but never considered attempting to write one herself - despite being an avid reader and lover of books and libraries.
Colleen enjoys DIY projects, interior design, learning innovative technology, public speaking, and working as a voice over professional.
Sewing Up Friendship has Merch!
Looking for unique gifts? Check out our print-on-demand store for Colleen's custom designs inspired by "Sewing Up Friendship."
