GLORIA'S KEEPSAKE DOLLS
MADE FOR OTHERS WITH
My dolls have not only given me a great deal of pleasure, they have also warmed the hearts of
those I have created keepsake dolls for. This
is where I really regreat not having pictures
of most of these dolls. However, I do have some,
and where there isn't a picture, I do have some
memorable doll stories to share with you.
RENASCENCE SWEET HEARTS
Melissa and Brad went to a Renascence Fare and
will always remember the wonderful time they
had with these 16" Porcelain dolls dressed just
like they looked in the costumes they wore!
A KEEPSAKE DOLL STORY
A woman had seen one of my dolls at a friend's
home and asked me to make her a doll. I told her
to give me something that belonged to a loved one
to work with. All she had was her mother's
old moth eaten sweater that she often wears 'just
to feel close to her'. I told her that I love a challenge! It took some doing, but I made a lovely doll out of it. A year later, when her sister was
near death, this doll was brought to the hospital
and placed near her sister's bed to give her the comfort her mother would have. I also understand
it was placed near the casket at the funeral.
She later told me. 'It felt like Mother was
with us the entire time!'
JANNET
Jannet once told me that she always wanted a 'Barbie' since she was a child, and she 'really needs a guardian angel', so on her birthday, I delighted her with her own Guardian Angel Barbie!
MY MOTHER THE BRIDE
Mom was a WW2 war bride. Luxuries like wedding gowns were hard to come by. Mom had to settle for a
blue velvet street legnth dress with lace trim.
I used a 'Barbie' doll to re-create this lovely
bride.
A KEEPSAKE DOLL STORY
I met a woman in a laundromat who admired the doll I was working on while I waited. I told her about the 'keep sake' dolls. Sadly, she told me that she sufferd from a form of mental illness, and her daughter had been taken away from her while she was hospitalized. All she had to remind her of her daughter was a cloth high chair cushion that she often sleeps with to help her feel closer to her. She asked if I could make a doll out of it for her. I went to her house, tore appart the cushion, ironed it flat, snipped and sewed, and dressed a 13" angel doll {I just happened to have with me} while we chatted. I made a delightful momento for her to cherrish right before her eyes! Now, she hugs her keep sake doll!
RUTH
My Aunt Ruth is one of my biggest fans! She
just adors my dolls. I realized that I had
made dolls for everyone but her, and she never said a word! So, I made this brown eyed 12" Porcelain Victorian sweetie for Christmas!
A KEEPSAKE DOLL STORY
Winny's sister had passed, and her nephew had
given her his mother's things. In addition to clothing, there were many unfinished crochet
projects. Winny asked if I would make some
dolls with these things for her and her nephew. When her nephew came to visit I brought him the
mantel where we had the dolls displayed and said: "This dress is made from you're mothers house coat, the hat, parasol, and the butterfly and rose applaques were done by her hand." The man had tears in his eyes and said he was going to build a glass case for it for safe keeping!
DEVILISH ANGEL
"BUTCH"
I took a shirt that once belonged to my friends late husband, made this adorable chior boy/angel out of it and surprised her! The halo is deliberately off center,and check out the sling shot he's hiding behind his back! 'That's my
Butchie!' she said with tears.
A KEEPSAKE DOLL STORY
While caring for a woman who was severly arthritic, who used to love to crochet,
I came across a bag of unfinished projects
that she started and sadly, will never finish.
She showed me an old doll that once belonged
to her daughter. I asked if I could borrow
them and promised to bring them back the next day. She was delighted to see her doilies and applaques had been put to use to adorn the 9" doll. I told her that 'if anyone asks who made the doll's dress, hat and parrasol, you can say YOU did! I just put it together for you!'
DOROTHY AND HER 'NANNY' DOLL
Dorothy is a special lady who is absolutly delighted
with this 13" Angel doll dressed in fabric from
her mother's dress. 'Nanny' wears a locket with
Dorothy's mother's picture in it. It has it's
place of honor on top of the T.V. where it can
be easily seen and is always greeted with: 'Hi
Nanny!'
THE ANGELIC TWINS
Deniece collected Angels. I told her I would
make an angel doll for her collection. She said:
'O.K., but I don't want it all frilly like the
others, and it MUST look JUST LIKE ME!'
I took the challange without batting an eye! What Deniece didn't know that I just happened to have a pudgy-cheek, dimpled brown haried beauty that already
looked like her. All I had to do was iron the
curles out of the doll's wig and there you have
the Angelic Duo! {NOT BAD HUNH?!}
MOM AND HER
CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Mom was just thrilled with this knealing, praying angel that plays 'Silent Night'.
KATHREN
When Carol's mother Kathern passed, she asked me to take what ever I wanted from some of her mother's clothes. She had no idea what I had in mind when I took a pink blouse, white slip and a wig! Not untill I surprised her with this 13" angel doll made from the clothing toped with mother's wig!
BOBBIE ANN
This I made for my sister, pull her string and she moves her head to the tune of 'Brahms Lullabye!' Check out the bunny slippers!
DOTTY
These dolls make excellent gifts......this one has a music button that plays Christmas tunes!
RIVKA
Rivka is a special young lady who was thrilled with the doll I made for her from the fabric and lace her mom gave me to work with!
DOT
Happy Birthday! What a nice gift for a special gal!
JANNET
Jannet loves dolls, especially the one I made just for her!
DOROYHY
Press her tummy and she says: 'I'm your guardian Angel, I'm your special friend!' A special friend for a special frined!
SUSAN
Bride's maid, my beautiful niece, Susan..... I even put pieces from her boquet in her doll's bouquet!
CINDY
Always a bride's maid, and soon to be a bride! When Cindy opened this Christmas gift, her mom asked: 'what is it?' Cindy replied: "It's Me!'
BRAVEHEART-HARRY
Harry,a die-hard Scottsmen wondered if I make dolls for men. Boy was he surprised with this much approiate gift!
ELIZABETH
This is a sweet story about a 95 year old man who gave me the only thing he had left of his wife's belongings and asked me to make a doll out of the dress he had hanging in his closet for the past 18 years. When the doll was finished, I handed it to him. His daughter said "Isn't she beautiful Dad?" Looking lovingly at the doll he
replied, "Your mom was a beautiful woman too."
GLORIA'S KEEPSAKE DOLLS
