Maybe incorporate a couple of pictures of her with you and your family members in the pattern you choose. Then the children will know who and what that particular quilt is all about.
I was like you with cleaning my sewing room. I had it in a royal mess after making Christmas stockings for the Seniors of our county, many projects.
I have saved some of my dear husband's clothes to sew up into a quilt one of these days, but not yet. You are probably going to heal better because it's just been to to soon for me to try.
Hugs,
Sharon