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These personalised portrait plush-dolls bring emotional memories back to life

Source: Facebook/Knuffelmakers

Knuffelmakers make memories tangible with their handmade huggable portraits of people and pets.

Meet the knuffelmakers

Knuffel Makers consists of Liesbeth Kruijs and Caressa Thera. Based in the Netherlands, they make memories tangible by creating “Knuffelportretjes” (huggable portraits) of people and animals, all handmade by the pair and only from the highest quality materials. The pair used to make plush dolls for family and friends and say it was great fun to ‘recreate’ people and see if they really resembled them. At some point however, they found out that people started to attribute more value to them, and that it wasn’t ‘just’ a plush toy but that there was a story behind it… and a tangible memory.

Her son Jip collects dolls (Funko pop) of famous people and figures. This suddenly gave Liesbeth the idea to make cuddly toys of people and pets.
In 2017 Liesbeth Kruijs came up with the idea to make cuddly toys based on people. Her son Jip collects dolls (Funko pop) of famous people and figures. This suddenly gave Liesbeth the idea to make cuddly toys of people and pets. Source: Facebook/Knuffelmakers

CUDDLE PORTRAITS

In 2017 Liesbeth Kruijs came up with the idea to make cuddly toys based on people. Her son Jip collects dolls (Funko pop) of famous people and figures. This suddenly gave Liesbeth the idea to make cuddly toys of people and pets.

Even after making hundreds of hugs, they say they also feel really honoured to be able to do this work. Because every hug has a story and those stories are very beautiful, special, but sometimes really heartbreaking. Children who have to miss their father or mother because they work abroad a lot (think military). But also heartbreaking situations in which a father or mother has to say goodbye to life much too soon. 

These kinds of stories affect Liesbeth and Caressa enormously and they really think it is an honour that they can use their skills in this way.

Check out more Knuffel Portraits on Facebook, Instagram and on their Website.

These personalised portrait plush-dolls keep emotional memories alive Knuffelmakers make memories tangible with their handmade huggable portraits of people and pets. Source: Facebook/BrightVibes
Even after making hundreds of hugs, they say they also feel really honoured to be able to do this work. Source: Facebook/Knuffelmakers
Hope in any situation “When you see these two children’s faces you can see that they are radiant. What you don’t immediately see is that these children have already had to endure far too much suffering. Something that ‘we as adults’ already find difficult to deal with. Losing a father or mother. These two wonderful kids have already had to experience that in their young lives. Because their sweet daddy is no longer there. But they can still shine after so much misery. That tells us that there is hope in any situation.” – Knuffelmakers Source: Facebook /Knuffelmakers
Liesbeth deals with the technical specs of the cuddly toys. Making the hugs is really her strength. Each hug is made with passion and love. The most magical moment for Liesbeth is when the hugs are stuffed, then the moment comes when the hug really comes alive!
LIESBETH KRUIJS Liesbeth deals with the technical specs of the cuddly toys. Making the hugs is really her strength. Each hug is made with passion and love. The most magical moment for Liesbeth is when the hugs are stuffed, then the moment comes when the hug really comes alive! Source: Knuffelmakers.nl
Even when her dad is on deployment, he’s still close “We received a message from a very sweet dad who has to miss the home front for a very long time because he is already on deployment. The question was if we could make a cuddly portrait of him for his little daughter. Of course, we could and here is the result. What a sweet beautiful girl we may make happy with a cuddly portrait of her daddy!” – Knuffelmakers Source: Instagram / knuffelmakers
“She had lost both her sons and husband. Then we received a picture of the grandmother sitting with the three most important people in her life and she was beaming. That really touches us. That is why we are so happy that we can do this work that people entrust their stories to us, as they don't have to do that. And that we can turn something sad into something beautiful.”
One of the beautiful stories that really touched Liesbeth was of a grandmother who turned 100. “She had lost both her sons and husband. Then we received a picture of the grandmother sitting with the three most important people in her life and she was beaming. That really touches us. That is why we are so happy that we can do this work that people entrust their stories to us, as they don’t have to do that. And that we can turn something sad into something beautiful.” Source: Instagram/Knuffelmakers
Here a nice one:) What a fantastic animal we got to cuddle again! This just makes you happy, doesn't it???
Can you spot the real dog? Here a nice one:) What a fantastic animal we got to cuddle again! This just makes you happy, doesn’t it???” – Knuffelmakers Source: Instagram/Knuffelmakers
The other force behind the hugs. All hugs are prepared on the computer by Caressa and she even draws all of the hugs portraits. Together with Liesbeth she will then fine-tune the drawing and see if it resembles the person being cuddled. Caressa is also responsible for planning, purchasing the materials and there is a good chance that when you call or email Cuddle Makers, you will be in touch with Caressa.
CARESSA THERA The other force behind the hugs. All hugs are prepared on the computer by Caressa and she even draws all of the hugs portraits. Together with Liesbeth she will then fine-tune the drawing and see if it resembles the person being cuddled. Caressa is also responsible for planning, purchasing the materials and there is a good chance that when you call or email Cuddle Makers, you will be in touch with Caressa. Source: Knuffelmakers.nl
Make an Impact

7 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR LOVED ONE’S MEMORY ALIVE

Losing someone we love is one of the most heartbreaking and difficult events we will ever face in life. While death deprives us of a loved one’s physical presence, that doesn’t mean we’ve lost everything we love about the person. Our relationship becomes one based on memory rather than physical presence. The grief journey is a meandering way, filled with many steps. And part of the journey is traveling back into our memories in order to move forward toward reconciliation with our loss. That said, our loved one may be gone, but their memory need never die. Here are several ways you can remember and honor your loved one’s memory long after they have gone on.