I raised my son and daughter myself.  I bought Mother and Daughter and Close to Me for my daughter's 30th birthday, and I am buying Mother and Son for my sons 30th birthday. I think they say it all. I hope I always feel close to my children.

Submitted by janey in ayrshire, January 2012

I have always loved your sculptures,but as a single Mom, they're usually a splurge I can't afford to make- especially for myself. I DID break down and buy one last year ("Chrysalis") that reminded me of my daughter and myself. Since the death of my mother seven years ago, it's been just her and me. This Christmas, my daughter (now nearly 16) bought me "Close to Me." I started to cry as it reminded me of the little girl she was, and next to "Chrysalis," the young woman she now is.
Your sculptures do do what you intended, for me at least. They Do "speak" to me & bring me love & peace. Thank you Susan!

Submitted by Donna in NY, December 2011

I started my collection in 2000, and I have always loved wood pieces. The craftmanship of these pieces and the detail of each one is beautiful. October 2010 my dad passed away from a battle of skin and lung cancer. I miss him greatly and this year my husband gave me the Willow Tree figure of "Remember" to always remember my dad. I have a special meaning for each of my figures, from my pregnancy, to friendships, to my loss.Thank You
Lindsay,

Submitted by Lindsay in WA., December 2011

Last month my mother passed away. Some good friends gave me 'Close to Me.' It is a reminder that my mother is always there to hold me in her arms and will continue to love me and be by my side.

Submitted by Kate in Utah/USA, December 2011

My Willow Tree ornaments were given to me by my son and daughter-in-law upon their wedding (Together), and my daughter and son-in-law for Christmas (Close to Me). I teased my daughter that because she is now taller than I, the 'Close to Me' ornament is backwards) Both of these ornaments are in prominent places in our home, and always bring to mind the love in our blessed family.

Submitted by Brenda in New Brunswick, Canada, November 2011

I never took much interest in figurines, until these were my gifts for me moving to university. My mother bought me 'Close to me' and my sister gave me 'Sisters by heart.' My family said it was a symbol of their love and how close we will always be no matter where I am in the world. My mother and I gave the same two figurines to my sister when she also left home for university, giving her the same message. I am now on the hunt for the perfect figurine for my mother from my sister and mr. They are truly beautiful.

Submitted by Katie in England, October 2011

I started college a week ago and my mom gave me the Close to Me WillowTree to remind me that she's my best friend, always. She told me as I was leaving, "Most moms send their daughters to college hoping they'll get closer someday, but we're already close so I can only hope it gets better from here." It sits on my desk and I feel like I'm not really away at college because my mom is still close to me.

Submitted by Marissa in New Jersey, USA, September 2011

I started college a week ago and my mom gave me the Close to Me WillowTree to remind me that she's my best friend, always. She told me as I was leaving, "Most moms send their daughters to college hoping they'll get closer someday, but we're already close so I can only hope it gets better from here." It sits on my desk and I feel like I'm not really away at college because my mom is still close to me.

Submitted by Marissa in New Jersey, USA, September 2011

The first Willow Tree I purchased was "Close to Me" because our little girl age 15 was gang raped last year and again a few months ago. One was at a church camp and the other was from a worker at the psych unit. Since then she has gotten very close to me.

The second Willow Tree I bought her the very next day was"Angel of Healing."
These are so calming.

Submitted by LS in ny, July 2011

I recently lost a wonderful woman that I considered my mother in law. I wanted something to remember her by and when I walked in the store I saw this and it made me think of her. Everytime I look at it I remember her and the good times we had together.

Submitted by Nancy in Ontario, July 2011

This is the second figurine given to me for my 70th Birthday last week. Close To Me is to represent my daughter and myself and Surrounded by Love is to represent the next generation,my grand-daughter. Both were given by the same family.They are very precious to me and will always be.

Submitted by Marilyn in South Australia, June 2011

I bought this for my mother for her fifieth birthday this year. I have been married for three years and live an hour away. I feel that Close to Me perfectly describes our relationship. I talk with her multiple times a week and we are closer now that I live away from her than when I lived at home. I think that she is going to LOVE this figurine. Thank you for making such a beautiful and meaningful gift.

Submitted by Jessica in South Carolina, June 2011

I received Close to Me as a gift from my granddaughter's mother. Every time we see each other we hold each other the same way. This was a perfect gift and I love it so much.

Submitted by Kitty in TX, May 2011

I received Close To Me for Mothers Day from my daughter. It brought tears to my eyes when I took it out of the box. It is beautiful just like my daughter. It is a sculpture of my daughter and I. I hold my daughter exactly like that to comfort her to tell her that everything will be ok, that I am there for her and that I love her very much. It is a treasure from her that I will cherish always.

Submitted by May in Canada 9 May 2011

Submitted by May in Alberta, Canada, May 2011

My mom and I are extremely close. I joined the military and haven't been able to talk to her much, with everything that goes on in my life, but I know she's always there holding me like this--praying for me and helping keep me safe. She's my guardian angel and I don't know how I could live without her.

Submitted by Elizabeth in Ga, April 2011

I have been searching to find the perfect figure to give to my coach for a couple months now. She is honestly a mother to me, and I know that no matter what or where I go we will always be close. When I saw Close to Me I knew instantly that it was the perfect figure to give her.

Submitted by Aly in CA, March 2011

My husband recently gave this to me for my birthday and I absolutely love it.  It is very meaningful for me as the mother with a daughter on the brink of adulthood. I love the way the branches intertwine between the the two. It reminds me of the e.e.cummings poem "i carry your heart with me."

Submitted by Shari in Virginia, March 2011

I was shopping around in the PX here at Fort Campbell, KY, and found a store that sells Willow Tree figures, angels, and more. Every year I buy my mom at least one. This one means so much to the both of us, because we are so close to one another, but I am so far from her. My mom received it today, and it touched her deeply. I love that this was created, because no matter where I go in life she is always close to me.

Submitted by Breanna in TN, February 2011

My 18 year old daughter has been placed in prison. We are very close and it will be very difficult for us to be apart. God has given us peace over the matter. She cannot have figurines but I will be sending her a picture of the "Close to Me" figurine so she will always know that even though we are apart, we are always close. Thank you.

Submitted by Caroline in CA, January 2011

I received Close to Me from my daughter for Christmas. It was extra special because she is my only child and is getting married in June. This was her last Christmas at home and she will moving two hours away when she gets married. She wanted me to know that no matter how far away she is, we will always be close. Needless to say, I cried like a baby.

Submitted by Shirley in Indiana, December 2010

I was in the mall shopping when I saw "Close to Me" and I couldn't hold back the tears. I was trying to avoid other customers eyes, because who cries just from looking at some figurines? Apparently I do. The depiction of a mother tenderly hugging her daughter- this instantly revealed the intention of God's heart for mothers and daughters. The essence of tenderness I found brought me face to face with an attitude check I needed as a mother that day. I was moved to buy it - an instant nonessential purchase, which I hardly ever do. I was moved to put it on my daughter's desk along with a card I'd written so she could be surprised and felt loved when she woke up. I was moved to spend a long time in prayer for her and our relationship, and to re-commit myself to a posture of tenderness towards her, despite our differences and moments of clashing. I was moved to stay cuddled up to my daughter all night as she slept, treasuring her more than my own sleep that night. Thank you for reminding me of who I want to be.

Submitted by Jenny in OR, December 2010

I was adopted in 1985 and growing up didn't realize how much my mother loved me until I became a mother myself. How much she sacrificed and loved me even though I was not her biological child. The last few years we have become very close and even though we live a couple hours apart we talk almost every day. I have given her Willow Tree figurines for about 6 or 7 years now for different occaisions. Last Christmas I gave her this one and I enclosed a written explantion how much she means to me and the story behind this. It seemed like it was meant for us as I have darker skin than she does, We both started crying right away as she opened it. I also gave her recently the near or far always close to me, which also has such special meaning to us.

Submitted by Ashley in SD, November 2010

My wonderful daughter was killed in an accident this summer, only 25 years old. She was visiting us during her holidays, as she was living in another city. We shared a wonderful evening, sitting together and talking, sharing memories and feeling so close. The next evening, a policeman came to bring us the terrible news ...  The day before the funeral I saw Mother and Daughter "Close to me" -- watching it, I felt comforted in a very special way. Close to me reminds me of our last evening together, when I could hold my Swantje for the last time in her life and show her my love, which I hope she always felt, "together or apart".

Meanwhile, I have some more of the wonderful little figurines, but Close to me will always remain the most important one for me.

Submitted by Kerstin in Germany, November 2010

I love your figurines. I own "The Hero" because of a loved one who has passed away and she stands next to his military flag. I gave "Close to Me" to my daughter while she was away at school. I gave "Generations" to my grandson's mother at her baby shower. I gave "Father and Daughter" to my husband when I first saw your beautiful figurines, and "Promise" was my anniversary gift to him a year ago on Valentines. Right now I am looking for Mother and son for both of my sons. One son is now a father and the other is going through some rough times. So I thought I needed different emotions, but of course your figurine says it all. I do wish though, that there was one showing a mom embracing her son like she never ever wanted to let him go. I think my son needs that right now and he is in another state, so symbolically your statue could say that for me.

Thank you for making such beautiful and meaningful art! Sometimes I find myself standing there in tears or smiling or just...standing in awe. RL

Submitted by Robin in Utah, September 2010

On Christmas morning 2006, my 17 year old daughter, Kala Christine, couldn't wait to give me my gift. As I removed the beautiful necklace from it's box I noticed her initials were on it. I jokingly said, "I see you put your initials on it so you can borrow it whenever you want". She smiled and said, "no momma, I put my initials on it so I'd always be close to you". Eight days later, January 2, 2007, Kala was in a fatal accident.

As you can imagine, I struggled with a pain that I'd never known, nor could ever be imagined. Burying a child is a pain that unless you've experienced it you can't possibly know or understand the depths of it.

One day while waiting on my to go order from Cracker Barrel Restaurant I was wandering through their gift shop. I almost fell to the ground when I discovered your sculpture "Close to me" of a mother and daughter in a full embrace. It was truly a gift sent from Heaven by my special angel thanks to your incredible talent and willingness to share that talent with the world. It sits proudly on my mantle and I am able to look at it everyday, smile, and say hello to my baby girl, my precious Kala Christine.

 Kala is not my only child in Heaven. I also lost a son at 5 months of pregancy in 1985.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story...Kala's story...and thank you for all you do to comfort and bring joy into the world.

Love and light,
Teri

Submitted by Teri in Georgia, September 2010

Willow Trees are a big part of my family. My mother and I exchange them for almost every holiday or birthday. I have been at college for three years now and still can't go one week without talking to my mom. This figurine encompasses everything I have with my mother.

Submitted by Bailey in Utah, May 2010

This is my beloved daughter and me as we often hold each other - time stops, the surroundings seem to float away and there is no sound except one heartbeat between two of us. I could not imagine a better way to describe our love than this figurine - an emotion that can be touched!

Submitted by Monika in Australia, January 2010

I grew up very close to my mother, so it was painful when I left for college in Idaho shortly after Christmas 2009. I had mixed feelings about going; wanting to spread my wings and fly, but wanting to cling to my home, friends, and family. My mother gave me this figurine as a Christmas present, and when I opened it, we clung to each other and wept. It fit us so well; a mother holding onto the daughter who didn't really want to go. It now sits on my desk in my dorm, reminding me of the loving family that I'll be seeing soon, and supporting me with their unspoken love.

Submitted by Taylor in Arkansas, January 2010

When my twenty year old daughter was killed in 2005, my niece bought me the Angel of Healing. I have been collecting Willow Tree angels and figurines that remind me of my gentle Erin since then. Last Christmas my son got the Guardian for me. It has been my absolute favorite since then. Close to Me will take it's place this year, as I remember that she was just tall enough for me to kiss her forehead when I hugged her. Thank you for the gentle reminders of my little girl and the peace they bring to my home.

Submitted by Johna in Maine, December 2009

I have a 17 year old daughter who is finishing high school in TX with her dad. God moved my husband (a pastor), our first grade daughter & myself to a small, rural community in KS to shepherd a wonderful congregation a year ago. Your piece (Close to me) is absolutely breathtaking. It speaks volumes to my heart, as I tearfully write these words. It is such a tender piece of beauty. Thank you for your inspirational artwork.

Submitted by Karen in Kansas, November 2009