Morgan Renee's Bear

 My friend asked me if I could make a bear to wear a baby's onsie. The baby's name is Morgan Renee. She lived a very short time but was so very loved. Morgan Renee is my friend's granddaughter. 

I used a very soft fabric to make Morgan's bear. I wanted it to be extra cuddly for her mom. Morgan was born in the spring of 1998 and passed three months later. Her Mom held onto her onsie all this time. 

 There are no words for losing a child. Especially so young. As a person who has experienced a similar type of loss, I'll admit this was an especially hard bear to make since it was so close to my heart. Most times I focus on the family member left behind and pray the bears I make help them with their grief. I felt this with Morgan's bear, but I felt this one on a more personal level due to the losses I have had.    ` It doesn't matter how much time has passed; the loss of a child is always there. 

I used a very small button to make a belly button and sewed a smaller heart on the bear's foot since she was a little one.

 I am so honored to have been asked to make this bear. I hope it has helped Morgan's Mom to heal a little.  

                                 With a tiny belly button and a tiny heart on the left foot.

                                                    All dressed and ready to be cuddled.

Leonard's Bears

I met Leonard's daughter Donna through my cousin, Vickie. It was so nice chatting with Donna about her dad, mom, stepson and our love for our four-legged furry family members. The way Donna spoke of her dad, I know he was an amazing person and a kind and caring father.  I was happy to make two bears from his clothes.

Leonard's shirts were so nice to work with. The flannel shirt had a quilted lining. I used the red quilted lining to give a little bit of contrast fabric for the ears and feet of both bears.  The purple bear is made from a beautiful (but masculine) paisley polo shirt. I had never worked with a polo shirt before. It was so easy to work with.

 I usually place a red heart on the left foot of each bear. Since the ears and feet were already red, I used fabric from each shirt and put a heart from the paisley shirt on the flannel bear and a heart from the flannel on the paisley bear. 

There was a little extra fabric left from each shirt. Usually, I give every piece of fabric left to the family along with any buttons. This time I thought it might be nice to make use of the little bit that was left. I have made quilted hearts for the group I Found a Quilted Heart before and placed quilted hearts all over our little town near where we live. I thought it might be nice to make a few hearts from Leonard's shirts and ask Donna's stepson to distribute them. I was able to make 24 hearts (12 small, 12 large). 

I truly enjoyed meeting Donna and hearing about her sweet Dad. It was such an honor working with Leonard's clothing and helping his family with their grief.