More Heirloom Happenings....

 Janice and I were exchanging messages after I finished work today. She was planning her next EPP travelling project. It looks like a lovely project to keep her busy while she and Mick are away. I was having a think about my next heirloom adventure when an idea struck.
We were talking about a doll I plan  hope to make using an old faded yellow pillow slip, then an idea came to mind.
"Off you go". Said Janice, encouraging me to act on it quick. 
I was wondering about using one of Mums two baby jackets on a doll, but thinking they might be too big. Then I thought maybe on my teddy bears???
On my way to pull out my own bears I saw Mums bears on the shelf and quickly tried them on.

Perfect.

Duncan looks great in his yellow Jacket. I have mentioned this before, but it's worth saying again. My Great Grand Mother made this yellow silk jacket for my Mum when she was born.
Underneath it he is wearing a pair of brown corduroy trousers, a white shirt and a fawn knitted sweater. I gifted this bear to Mum. It seems right that he should wear her little jacket. 

Next I pulled out the little white Jacket, made I think by the same lady.

It fits beautifully on Andrew. He is a soldier bear and is wearing his army fatigues under his baby jacket. Once again a bear I bought for Mum, she named him Andrew after my brother, who served in Her Majesties armed forces.

While I'm on the subject of soft 'toys'. I thought I should mention another heirloom.

I'm sure I have told you before that one of Mums friends Linda made beautiful dolls, she made the fairy that sits atop my tree every Christmas. She is about 6 inches tall.

She is not the only Linda doll that is in my possession.

Josephine is much taller at about 20 inches.

Her dress was made from the left overs and off cuts after new velvet curtains were made for the dining room in my childhood home. I'm not 100% but I think she was made about 1980.

I always loved her.

Linda also made dollies for myself and my sisters. I have only one left, I'm really not sure what happened to the others. And don't know if my sisters still have theirs. Originally my dolly was dressed in green taffeta but it became stained somehow and I replaced it several years ago.

She is simply called Dolly and has been my companion since I was about 11 years old.

Dolly is about 12 inches tall.

Putting jackets on bears brought about a bit of a reshuffle and I even had to do some dusting, but I'm happy with how they look now.

Josephine falls over without support and she just wouldn't look right sat down on the shelf, so she stands off the the side, propped up in the corner. (I might look out for a little arm chair or rocking chair for her to sit in. I could live with that). The circular picture above and between the two shelves was my Grand fathers. It's a water colour of some hunters stalking a stag in the great glen in Scotland. The other two little pictures are my own creations. 

And that is todays little heirloom story.