Sunday 4 July 2010

Arsenic & Old Lace


Want to see more of my family heirlooms? This is my Great-Grandmother's wedding dress I uncovered packed away in a box whilst clearing out my parents' attic.



I occasionally wear the silver monogram brooch Great-Grandma's wearing at her throat.


What a shame I have no intention of tying the knot myself.

102 years old and still going strong.

Some Victorian glass bottles we dug up in the garden of our old house.


I love the way the sunlight shines through them.


How very odd that I'm exactly the same size as my Edwardian ancestor.



33 comments:

  1. What extraordinary sleeves. I thought they'd be very fitted but that's a most interesting construction.
    How very Henry James!

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  2. this wedding dress is amazing! i wish i could feel the history like you do! awesome...

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  3. Wow that is beautiful. It is bizarre that it fits you perfectly. I love that there is a note with it, perhaps I should add one to my dress for future generations to find.
    Kandi x

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  4. OMG you're so lucky to find that! I definitely want to ask my grandma where her wedding dress is now, and that note is WOW, I'd be hanging that on my wall if i were you! :D

    classique chérie

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  5. Wow the dress is beautiful. I wish my mum had kept her wedding dress, she wore a gorgeous white minidress when here and my dad married, it was so beautiful x

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  6. Such a treasure! It doesn't matter if you don't want to tie the knot, Vix, the dress looks beautiful on you (and isn't it amazing that it fits you like a glove? All women in your family seem to be tall and slim built). xxx

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  7. Wow gorgeous wedding dress! My surname was Chapman before marriage like your grandmother! Hope you are well.x

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  8. This post is FABULOUS !
    And I adore this fantastic dress !

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  9. This is such a great post, love a bit of history.

    How strange you both were the exact same size.
    Love the note detailing the wedding, shame these days it'd be in a text or email eh.

    X xx

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  10. O my!!!How divine a/that you have such a wonderful thing,and b/that you can wear it!!!!
    Arrrgrghgghgh!!!
    Gorgeousness!
    LOVE Helga XXX

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  11. Beautiful wedding dress, looks like it was made for you (if you ever have a change of heart!). xx
    http://www.weshopthereforeweare.co.uk/

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  12. Dear Vix,
    That is such a precious thing to still have.
    It's a really beautiful dress that exudes quality & craftmanship.
    You look absolutely stunning!
    ...xXx

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  13. That dress is so precious! I love how it fits you so well. I can't get over how pretty it is, so lovely! What a treasure! x

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  14. That is such a beautiful dress, maybe you should change your mind!

    xx

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  15. So so beautiful! What an amazing piece to be able to keep and share forever. And yes, you are the same size! It fits you like a glove!

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  16. I like its construction & lines. Can you identify its fabric? You are gorgeous - as usual. Will you be putting this back in the box or what idea do you have for displaying it? (Personally, if it doesn't harm the dress, I think it should be left out where everyone can admire it!)

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  17. That dress looks fabulously vintage on you, Vix. You look like you stepped straight out of the 1900s - stunning. x

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  18. Wow. My favourite post you have done so far.

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  19. Oh wow! That last pic is abit similar to a uv my dad recently gave of my late nan on her wedding day, it's not exact but the setting, dress etc is very similar! my heart stopped when I seen you! must post it!
    You look gorgeous BTW vix
    xxxx

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  20. Gorgeous photos and the dress is awesome!!!!
    I too collect old glass bottles. I once bought an entire metal basket full that once belonged to an old doctor for a buck!!!
    Thanks for all your support. it really means the world to me. I am feeling a bit sappy today.
    I lost a follower after my last post.
    My hubs says, "Joke em' if they can't take a F#ck" ! Tee,hee. I love him, the crazy!

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  21. I adore antique bottles and decanter. I would not worry about the "Knot", dear, wear the dress in memory of her. I think that would be a fabulous tribute. What is the fabric of the dress, dear?;-)

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  22. Hello, I used to run the 'Martha Lust' Blog, but it stopped due to breaking up with my boyfriend :( I LOVE this post! That dress is amazing :) Commenting from my illustration blog, which is now up and running! http://catherinewhittaker.blogspot.com/
    :) LOVE YOUR BLOG xxx

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  23. Such a beautiful dress with a great story to tell - I wish I had some memories like that from my ancestors. It's great that it fits you as well, even if you don't use it for it's original purpose!

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  24. Thanks for reading (and commenting)!
    The dress feels like very fine cotton or muslin, it's quite see-through but very easy to iron.
    Vix
    xxx

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  25. You look amazing Vix and I'm so impressed at your tiny figure - she must have been corsetted up when she wore it! The work that must have gone into making that is unbelievable, it's so detailed and beautiful.

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  26. Wow hon... this is amazing... how did you feel wearing this dress?? This is history!

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  27. That is so, so cool! Wow! Love the dress, and it looks fab on you, how about that, you're the same size! Those glass bottles are cool too, I wish I could dig up my yard and find something worth a damn in it, other than cable lines or something! LOL! XO!

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  28. What an incredible piece of family history and what an amazing thing to be able to wear. You look fantastic!

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  29. ur one lucky girl to have ur grandmom's wedding dress fit u... i never knew my grandmoms too well coz they passed away way when i was little..but i must go ask mom for her wedding saree to see what it was like... !! brillaint idea!! u look gorgeous btw

    http://donotshoeme.blogspot.com/

    follow if u like what u see?

    xoxo

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  30. That dress is amazing and fits you like a glove! You are so lucky to have such amazing heirlooms!

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  31. wow, cant believe that dress is 102 years old ..it really emphasizes ur tiny waist:-)

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  32. elle est magnifique cette robe. j'aime beaucoup

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  33. Oh wow Vix, this really is just like Sarah Jane's dress!!!! You should totally wear it again!x

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix