If you’ve ever stood holding a babygrow, wondering how on earth your baby was ever that small… you’re not alone.
Hi, I’m Victoria. Mum, memory-saver, and maker of sentimental keepsakes here at Foxgrove Keepsakes. And if you’re new around here or just starting to think about having something special made, you might be wondering:
What exactly is a keepsake?
What’s a memory bear?
Why would I have one made… and is it really better than just keeping everything in a box?
Let’s chat. So… what is a keepsake, really?
In simple terms, a keepsake is a way of holding on to something important when time feels like it’s rushing past.
It could be the babygrow they wore for their first sleepy feed. The outfit you brought them home in. The first birthday romper, the muslin that never left your side, or the little cardigan Nan knitted and you could never bear to part with.
Here at Foxgrove, a keepsake is something I make from those pieces, stitched with care into something you can hold, see, and treasure every day. It's a way of pressing pause on a moment that mattered.
What’s a memory bear?
A memory bear is one of the most-loved keepsakes I make, and it’s easy to see why!
Each one is handmade from your chosen baby clothes. Soft, huggable and full of personality, they carry all the tiny details that meant so much: the print you adored, the sleeves you rolled up, the label you couldn’t bring yourself to cut off.
Some people like to add a little embroidery with names or dates, but it’s always your choice. No two bears are ever the same, because no two babies are the same. Each one is stitched with love and tells its own little story.
But can’t I just keep the clothes in a memory box?
Of course you can. Lots of us do!
We fold them lovingly. We tuck them away. We intend to look at them… someday.
But life gets busy. And before you know it, that box is at the back of a cupboard, hidden under a pile of board games and spare wrapping paper.
A keepsake brings those memories back into the light. It gives you something you can see and hold. Something you can show them one day when they’re taller than you, rolling their eyes, and asking, “was I really that small?”
(yes, you really were.)
What kind of keepsakes can be made from baby clothes?
Here at Foxgrove Keepsakes, I create a small but thoughtful range of handmade memory pieces from your baby’s clothing. These include:
•Memory bears and bunnies
•Patchwork blankets
•Cushions and decorative hearts
•a few other limited edition or seasonal items too.
You can use just one or two pieces of clothing or a whole collection. I’ll always help you figure out what works best for the keepsake you have in mind. Everything is stitched here in my little studio in Norfolk, usually with a cup of tea on the go and my little one popping in sit on lap.
Why mums love baby keepsakes...
Because they’re real. They’re emotional. They’re something you can hold onto long after the baby stage has passed.
A keepsake doesn’t just help you remember. It helps you feel. The softness. The sweetness. The story that’s woven into each tiny outfit.
And it means you’re not just keeping the memory in a box. You’re making it part of your everyday life.
Thinking about having something made?
If you’ve been holding onto baby clothes for a while and you’re not sure what to do with them, you’re not alone. We all do it. We’re mums. We remember everything, even if we can’t always remember where we put the car keys.
There’s absolutely no pressure, but if you’d like to take a look at what I can make from baby clothes, you’ll find everything you need over on my keepsakes page.
And if you’re curious about how keepsakes can also be a way to remember someone we’ve lost, you might want to keep an eye out for the next blog. It’s going to be a gentle and honest one about memorial keepsakes, the kind that carry love and loss side by side. X