With Love…

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Sue Vincent

When a young mother could not bear to discard her first baby’s clothes, she decided to make them into a keepsake for her daughter. That baby was my granddaughter, Hollie and three years later, Hollie was joined by Imogen.

Laura, their mother, kept everything… making them gorgeous family scrapbooks, patchwork quilts, and stuffed toy keepsakes with their outgrown clothes and special outfits. Not only was I impressed by her skill with a needle, I loved how much care she put into the designs, cherishing each memory for future years in a very practical way.

Laura writes, “I was on maternity leave after the long-awaited arrival of my daughter, Hollie Olivia. I wanted to keep hold of as many memories as I possibly could. So when it came to her outgrown clothes, passing them on wasn’t an option. Living in a one bedroom maisonette at the time, there was nowhere to store them. That’s when I decided to make her a teddy and a blanket. Fast forward three years… we moved into our first house together, the little one is now at playschool and in summer 2017 our family of three became four and we welcomed our second daughter, Imogen Lucie.”

Friends and family saw the stuffed animals and quilts and, thinking it was a lovely idea,  they passed bundles of clothes to Laura from which she crafted teddies, reindeer, blankets and a whole menagerie of animals. Each keepsake is personal, most are hand embroidered with names, dates and special messages. At first, it was all about new babies, but then she was asked to create keepsakes of other special events, like weddings and birthdays. The most touching were the memory bears she made for those who had lost loved ones, crafted from items that were known and loved too.

I have watched her skills grow, from the first hand-embroidered gift tag on the home-made chocolates she and my son made as Christmas gifts many years ago, to the beautiful things she now makes, each one crafted with just as much love. She takes each story personally and I have watched her smile and weep as she has shown me what she has made over the years.

Knowing the difference it can make to a child to have a parent at home, the idea of using her skills to help her daughters in a more practical way began to grow. In today’s world, both parents are often obliged to go out to work, but a possible solution was right at Laura’s fingertips and, with the proud support of my son, With Love Keepsakes was born.

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Laura has just launched her new website and shop. There are many pictures of her work and a brochure that tells her story, and I hope that some who read this will visit her site and fall in love with her work. What the brochure does not tell is the personal story behind the keepsakes. She called it ‘With Love’ because each unique keepsake really is made with love, both that of the person who chooses one and that of the young woman who makes them, and it is the love of a young mother for her daughters that brought the idea into being.

Visit Laura’s website at With Love Keepsakes

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
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57 Responses to With Love…

  1. rivrvlogr says:
    March 29, 2018 at 17:22

    What a great idea. I wish her the best of luck.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Mary Smith says:
    March 29, 2018 at 17:27

    What a wonderful story, Sue, and a fabulous idea. I wish Laura every success with her venture.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. pensitivity101 says:
    March 29, 2018 at 18:22

    It is a beautiful idea and the personal touch is even more so knowing that these gifts are made from items belonging to a particular individual.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. willowdot21 says:
    March 29, 2018 at 19:49

    This is a wonderful idea and I wish your daughter in law all the very best in her new venture. I shall definitely be visiting 💜💜

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. Pingback: With Love… – The Militant Negro™

  6. noelleg44 says:
    March 29, 2018 at 20:51

    Wonderful story, Sue, and gorgeous toys. If I EVER become a grandmother, I’ll keep this site in mind.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  7. Darlene says:
    March 29, 2018 at 21:10

    Laura is incredibly talented. I am impressed with people who develop a successful cottage industry. I’m sure she will do very well. xo

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  8. Eliza Waters says:
    March 29, 2018 at 21:50

    These are adorable and a wonderful idea – best of luck to Laura in her new endeavor.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    March 29, 2018 at 22:57

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    To leave you tonight a heartwarming post from Sue Vincent who introduces us to a very special mum.. to Sue’s two granddaughters.. Laura has a very special skill and that is to create something beautiful from baby and toddler clothes into a keepsake… do head over as Laura now has a website… very special #recommended.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  10. ksbeth says:
    March 29, 2018 at 23:08

    amazing and she is a natural talent

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. Dori Fritzinger says:
    March 29, 2018 at 23:15

    They are awesome
    When my grand daughter started Kindergarten
    I sewed all her school dresses
    I wonder if my daughter stashed so away.
    My granddaughter is now 18 and a freshman in college

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  12. Marilyn Armstrong says:
    March 30, 2018 at 01:45

    Really lovely work. A little far away, but i wish you all the very best with the venture!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  13. Laura Ashton says:
    March 30, 2018 at 07:52

    Thank you for all your kind words and wishes ❤😚 xx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  14. robbiesinspiration says:
    March 30, 2018 at 09:34

    How amazing, Sue. So nice that Laura could turn her creativity and passion into a business that lets her work from home. Going back to work away from your kids is a total killer in my view.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  16. OIKOS™-Redaktion says:
    March 31, 2018 at 02:46

    A really wonderful idea.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  18. jenanita01 says:
    March 31, 2018 at 08:00

    What a wonderful idea!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  19. Jennie says:
    March 31, 2018 at 15:02

    This is lovely! Such a wonderful idea.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  21. dgkaye says:
    April 3, 2018 at 03:30

    Hi Sue! I’m just surfacing back into blogland after returning late last night. What a beautiful post and a fabulous idea to make such items with love indeed. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  22. jjspina says:
    April 3, 2018 at 18:18

    How beautiful these items are for you and the children to talk about! Laura is truly talented! Best of luck to her in her new endeavor – making things from love! Thanks for sharing these lovely items with us! hugs xx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  23. Rotimi Elijah says:
    June 9, 2018 at 09:04

    Lovely… Wish her all the best

    Like

    Reply

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