Inspiration Gallery

Custom gifts for special occasions!

Remember When. . .

they said "I do"?

Looking for a special gift for a couple getting married?  
​​Together we can design a custom heirloom that honors them and the start of their new life.
I have made a Christmas ornament each year for my family since my first nephew, John, was born 40 years ago. Now in the year each nephew or niece gets married, I make a special ornament to celebrate the start of their new life.
For Ty and Carrie - overlapping hearts; Thom and Allison - Japanese characters for joy and love with a logo of their initials. My niece Abby even asked me to make ornaments as wedding favors using greens from their wedding as inspiration! I would happily work with a client to create a special heirloom ornament to commemorate any special occasion.
a unique heirloom ring bearer with crisscrossing lines intersected by many white hearts and 2 orange hearts.
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Invitation Inspiration!  
​The orange hearts represent the couple, with one white heart for each family member.
​Great Grandma's vintage monogrammed napkin was the fabric for this ring bearer's pillow.
The back of the pillow was embroidered with the couple's names and wedding date.
A vintage picture of a woman in a wedding dress behind a keepsake ring bearer pillow made of wedding dress materials.
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Remember when you dreamed of Mom's wedding dress?
You can wear your dress and use hers too!
A handcrafted Christmas tree skirt made from natural linen and embroidered with the couple's last name. The backing is green vintage holiday fabric.
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Red embroidery on the back end of the keepsake Christmas tree skirt that reads Remember When. . . they said
close up of the back embroidery
A hand-crafted Christmas tree skirt makes a great wedding gift. It can be made to match the couple's taste and it is unlikely they will get more than one. There is something special about being part of their holidays for years to come.
Memory bear made from treasured keepsakes.
Bearloom with the key to it's heart showing. Click on image to read more.
Memory Keepsake bear made from treasured keepsakes.
Bearloom with it's heart protected.
A Bearloom is a great representation of the union of two families. Each one has a heart. This bear's heart comes from the  mother with a key from the grandmother. Both are protected by a patch from the father's business.
Memory bunny made from treasured keepsakes.
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This is my personal Hareloom and it represents three generations. Each Bearloom and Hareloom has a pocket that holds its custom Story Starter. The baby ID beads probably come from my sister, Lee, since she claims that I arrived on their doorstep, bundled in newspaper. A Camp Oneka patch helps to tell the tail! (hee, hee)

Remember When. . .

the family grew?

Mom once said, "Part of heaven is when people share your story."
This is why I love the idea of baby gifts that start sharing the story of the important people in the child's life.
​ Every child should know that they have so many people who love them.
A vintage quilt that is pink, blue, white and green and worn with age.
Original Quilt ~ Click on the image to read more.
Page from the quilt's Story Starter The first verse reads: A quilt is made of many layers, One below, between and above. But don't miss the other layer, The one that's made with love.
A page from the quilt's Story Starter
Finished up-cycled Heirloom, with Silvius in blue in the corner and a patch made from his family.
Finished Heirloom - Click on the image to read more.
It is important to honor the maker when reworking any handmade item.  This quilt was made 34 years ago by Nanna and the quilt was up-cycled in the same pattern for the next generation.   With the quilt an original story book was written in verse, complete with illustrations, and was tucked in a pocket so the story of the quilt will be sure to be told over and over again.
Story quilt with rainbow design & 4 eggs in a nest.
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A story quilt can be made from only a memory. Sharon, a dear friend, had a "rainbow" baby, which is a baby that follows a miscarriage. As the 4th child, Robin's name was confirmed when she saw 4 eggs in a nest outside their window.
An assortment of special Keepsake baby clothing used to make the bearloom.
Special keepsake clothing
Baby Bearlooms are made from your child's cherished clothing and keepsakes. This Baby Bearloom has its pacifier at the ready as well as small version of the all important blankie. The heart is made from a special white blanket and covered with a soft sleeve with a "sweetheart" patch. It is finished off with custom embroidery of the child's name, birth date and a chosen quote.  She turned out so cute and we love how interactive she is! 
A Baby Hareloom is made from cherished baby clothing and keepsakes. A favorite pacifier is buttoned to the shoulder strap and loop on the hand allows him to keep his blankie close. The child's name and birthdate are custom embroidered on one foot and "I woof you!" on the other. On one of the shoulder straps we sewed a red felt heart which can tuck into the chest pocket. These interactive parts make it extra special.
Front of baby safe, memory bear
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We are please to introduce you to John Henry Bear. His inspiration is a memory, and he is sewn from all new materials. He was made in honor of my father (John Henry) as a gift for my great nephew Henry. ​John Henry's "uniform" was--you guessed it-- a blue Oxford shirt, khakis and clodhoppers.
Over 20 family members donated items to create these Barton Bearlooms as unique gifts  for the newest family members.

Remember When. . .

the path was new?

Want to honor a graduate, retiree or just to convert your own life of keepsakes into an heirloom?  
Together we can create an heirloom as a present that honors the past.
 ​If all the items ​are not traditional fabric, great! We love a challenge!
up-cycled Memory blanket that is raspberry pink with matching satin binding. It has white yarn ties in a square pattern.
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Slippy blanket was found at the bottom of a childhood closet as Celia was cleaning out her mother's home. It had been a cherished and faithful friend for years to the point it was frayed, warn and all the color had been loved out of it. Jean collaborated with Celia to bring Slippy back to her former glory just in time to help Celia through life's next challenge.
A water color painting with a sun in the bottom left hand color with colors radiating to the right starting with blue then green and eventually black. In the black area there are stars and moon. The words of the quote are written on top of the painting.
Fiona's painting
The back of the husband where Fiona's drawing reproduced in fabric.
The back of the husband.
The blue pillow with arms with yellow pipping and the appliquéd design on the back, sits on her bed with her white picket fence wall design behind it.
The husband in her room.
This heirloom started as a jar filled with quotes that Jean gave to her friends.  Fiona who was 14 at the time, liked the quote by Og Mandino so much that she painted a watercolor and gave it to me.  I was inspired to reproduce Fiona's painting on a husband pillow for her.  The painting and husband are prized heirlooms of each of the women.
Front of Memory bunny made from personal keepsakes and clothing
Jean's personal Hareloom
close up of a paper valentine sewn to the memory bunny's leg.
Close up of Aunt Murph's Valentine
back of Memory bunny made of keepsake items items like pins, patches and special clothing pieces.
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This is my personal Hareloom includes memories over a life span: from playgrounds to paychecks. I included a paper valentine from the 60s and used a Camp Oneka patch to help tell the "tail."  (hee, hee)
Do we make T-shirt quilts? Why, yes we do! This one honors 30 years of coaching. The word cloud (left) includes words and phrases from the recipient's staff (a great way to recognize a retiree, director, graduate. . . ) This coach had
themes for her players for each season. When there was no surviving T-shirt to commemorate a theme, I re-created it,
even featuring Bella, the coach's dog, in embroidery.
Keepsake bunny made from childhood memories
Maddie's Hareloom
This Hareloom makes me "hoppy." It headed off to college packed with childhood memories.
​ We're all "ears" to see if you can find this Hareloom's Story Starter booket!
front of memory teddy bear made from personal items
Jean's personal Bearloom
front of memory teddy bear with personal items
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Memories from swim team to retirement are part of this Bearloom. It is such fun incorporating unconventional materials.   We draft the patterns we uses, making them original to Remember When Studio.  
A black memory quilt with 13 interlocking circles the color of the rainbow, representing a stage of cancer recovery.
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The center of the memory quilt is embroidered with a design with the words, Peace, Courage, Health and Hope.
The quilt's center circle
Memory Quilt Circle Key: diagnosis/support, cancer recovery class, health focus, YMCA, Mindfulness, recovery class 2, Balance, Service, Gratitude, Joy, Peace, Love, Hope
The key to the quilt's meaning

Remember When. . .

a life was true?

Sometimes, a tie is not just a tie, but a tangible connection to a loved one and your life with them.  
​Together we can design an heirloom that will honor a life well lived.
Picture
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These Carelooms were created for the 5th anniversary of Stacy's son's death. They were made from his favorite hoody and needed to be monkeys since that was his favorite. She wanted one made for her and the other for her grandson, Gage, as a way to help tell the story to Gage about his father and his life. Gage's monkey has his father's pet name for him embroidered on its butt and Stacy's has a "tattoo" on its arm - the label from the jacket. What made this especially touching was that both Stacy and her son were both Jean's former students.
a memory bear and bunny made from a father's shirts
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This Hareloom and Bearloom were special Christmas gifts for two special girls. They are each made from two of their father's favorite shirts and a one from his work.  Each has his signature and a Beatles' quote embroidered on its feet and a 3D heart is tucked into its front pocket to remind them always of how much they are loved.
I was given some beautiful needlepoint and choose to use it to honor my Grandmother. She did beautiful needlepoint and crewel as well as made the most exquisite knitted baby sweaters and crochet bibs. I not only got her name but also some of her talent. By making items for my home from these finds I can honor the maker and my grandmother at the same time.
front of a black linen memory pillow with a piece of the vintage bell pull inserted in the middle
pillow front
Back of black linen memory pillow with
pillow back
Vintage bell pull made into a memory table runner by bordering it with black linen
table runner - Click on the image to read more.
quiltedMemory bed scarf finished at each pointed end with grandma's monogram and a tassel
memory bed skirt
Back of the memory table runner with
back of table runner
two needlepoint pieces with ivory backgrounds and blue and pink floral motifs
vintage needlepoints
From three pieces I created a table runner, pillow and bed scarf on which I included Grandma's monogram.  
​All work well in my home.  There is one piece still waiting for inspiration.
Memory table runner made from ties and embroidered signatures
Memory table runner - Click on the image to read more.
 A bag of 45 ties arrived and two table runners and four pillows were returned. I discovered that some of the ties were handmade by the owner's sister. These ties were indicated on the back, along with his sister's label.
Quote on the back of the memory table runner, “Remember when Dad always wore one of these ties?
back embroidery of table runner
A Memorial memory pillow made from yellow, brown and olive green ties arranged in a diagonal pattern.
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A memorial, memory pillow close up of the rust embroidery on a brown tie. The embroidery is of the tie owners email sign off of Love Ya with the a 5 times and his wood working signature.
close up of embroidery
The design was chosen by the client from options I presented. The owner of the ties signed all his emails with "Love yaaaa" and had a signature he used on his woodworking. Both of these were incorporated into the heirlooms.
​ I love to take the time to listen to client's stories and it helps to make each heirloom completely custom.
Back of heirloom memorial pillow. The fabric is black wool embroidered in red is
back of memory pillow
Although three of the pillows used the same pattern, the mix of fabrics makes each unique. Each heirloom features a "Remember When. . ." statement chosen by the client. The zipper was "tied" into the design with --well-- a tie!
It is always nice to see how a different layout changes the outcome. Jean's favorite part of her work is using her
talents to honor a life well lived.
An heirloom memorial pillow made from a military uniform using a trench coat flap, the lining, information tag, dog tag, dress shirt and buttons.
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​Sasha was a good, kind and honorable man. Making ten different pillows from his Air Force Uniform was truly an honor.
These are customer photos to show how unique each pillow is.
​ Every part of Sasha's uniform was utilized, including the ​lining of his dress coat and the chain from his dog tags.
Sasha's monogram was embroidered on the Story Starter pocket.  The Story Starter card included ​what was used to make each pillow, as well as the honors he earned in the service of our country.
Black velvet and heirloom memory pillow made with triangle design.
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This is a velvet and silk tie tapestry that tells the tale of a great love,
from first date to wedding, and the joys of life together.