Wednesday 31 October 2012

I See Dead People


It's Hallowe'en but an exorcism won't be necessary. As the last in the maternal line I've inherited the family portraits going back almost three hundred years & there's long-dead ancestors giving me disdainful looks from the walls in every room in the house. 


 Nice but hideously dim, bet he wouldn't have been capable of tying his own shoelaces. 


 This bloke was a member of the clergy, he'd probably spontaneously combust at our godless lifestyle.


Bet she wouldn't have enjoyed backpacking around India or getting down & dirty at Glastonbury.


This one looks like a right old cow. Bet she's horrified by my unmarried, voluntarily childless state.


I even wear dead people's stuff. This is Great-Great Grandma Alice wearing the same brooch 130 years before me.


  This was her locket. 


 An obsession with massive silver jewellery must be a family trait. 


 There's a fashion for calling it "curating" but I'm not one for poncy labels, I'm just a hoarder, plain and simple.


When this box slid off the top of the wardrobe this morning I took it as a spooky sign that it was crying out to be featured on my blog. I used to roller skate round the block wearing this over 40 years ago. What an odd child I must have been. Mind you, there's a red wine stain from when Mum wore it to the pub, such disrespect, Mary must be turning in her grave.


How freaky that I'm the identical size and height to my Great-Grandma, a lady I never met.


I'd love to know what she'd have thought of her Great-granddaughter's lifestyle. It couldn't have been more different to hers. 



Have a ghoulishly spooky night if that's your thing. We'll be padlocking the front gates as soon as darkness falls to keep out any feral youths demanding money with menaces (sweets aren't acceptable around here, it's a £5 note or a brick through the window).

Linking to Lakota's Woooooo-Wednesday!

See you soon.

81 comments:

  1. Love this pics. That dress is amazing. I would dress up in it all the time if I were you. How lucky you are to have such family treasures. There is a definite family resemblance between you and the bloke in that first pic. The lady in the bonnet does look a bit frightening doesn't she. I will be staying in tonight too. Cosying up in my jammies with all the lights off! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Have amazing to have that dress ! And photos , and jewellry..
    Looking good as always !!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy Halloween, Vix! I love this post :) That locket is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Vix, you look so beautiful. A wonderful celebration of your ancestors too. I can't believe you use to roller skate wearing that dress. But we did a lot of strange things back in those days. I use to wear smashed pop cans on my shoes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I wish I saw the painting types of dead people instead of the ones I do see! I think that was definitely a sign that your great-gran wanted to feel close to you today! How fantastic to have such family heirlooms. My mother threw practically everything out. (She hates my house, says its filled with "old junk". Ah no accounting for taste!) Pisses me off, especially my gran's flapper dresses designed by my great-grandpa who it turns out was the only one in the family with green eyes -- and I'm the only one who got the same ones! (And the only one who became a designer decades ago.) The kids expect money there? I was talking to a friend in London and another in Brighton the other day, and they said it's finally caught on American style for the kids begging for candy and dressing up, as well as the houses getting all spooky too! Which reminds me, with all this bloody Frankenbitch, I had to take everything in, so I'm off to spook up the house! Happy Horrors! XXX

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy halloween - that dress is fabulous on you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy halloween dear Vix! This was so interesting post! :)) I really looove that gown, what a treasure!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You look spook-tastic (Spooky plus fantastic!) :)

    ∞ © tanvii.com ∞

    ReplyDelete
  9. This dress is gorgeous and holds so many secrets! You look like a ghost bride from Victorian times and I mean that in the best way! One of my favorite things about you and your home is that it is filled with so many things that have a past or connection to your family! I'm still remembering that locket you showed me with hair in it.

    I love that you are wearing Grannies brooch and obviously the women in your family have always had a thing for chunky jewels! Lock that gate girl I can't believe they want cash, what? Keep walking then! if you are around this weekend, let's catch up, I wanna here all about tomorrow!
    LOVEYOU!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy Halloween Vix!
    We have a bucket of sweets for the cuties that come round to us. Teens have been scared off with Holly and Percie giving them a little bark. :)
    So spooky you are the same size, looks fantastic on you.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think Great-Grandma pushed that dress off the shelf today, and she would think she has an extraordinarily beautiful great-granddaughter. I'm glad you're a hoarder, er, curator of such amazing family heirlooms. Although I do wish folks smiled more back in th' day when sitting for formal portraits :P

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a gorgeous dress and how wonderful to have all of those portraits. Happy Halloween to you xxx

    ReplyDelete
  13. So lucky to have that treasure, it's a wonderful dress, I've stumbled upon a couple of antique wedding dresses in London and left my heart on them, I was just a poor student back then with a huge passion for vintage shops (now I'm not a student anymore, but the rest remains the same). I love the victorian effect on these pictures and you look stunning in all your romantic glory!The first ancestor is very handsome and looks like you and all the ladies are beautiful too! I adore the imagine of you as a child skating while wearing that dress!
    Love and happy Halloween!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love those photo effects you did on your self portraits, stunning photos. Such a lovely dress and brooch too. Happy Halloween x

    ReplyDelete
  15. what a fab halloween post. love that you have all your relatives things too. and that you use them! that is so great. happy halloween!

    you have some tough kids in your neighborhood. a brick? omg.

    have fun behind your locked gates:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I wore my grannies silk 1930s wedding dress as my costume in a school play in about 1985. It was really elegant and I had to give it back and havent seen it since. It would be no good now as it was probably a size 4/6 as she was tiny and would not fit my sizeable adult frame now lol

    ReplyDelete
  17. Blimey Vix, are you descended from gentry ? Your family must have had a few bob to have portraits painted! You look stunning in your great granny's dress, especially sepia enhanced! Her jewellery is lovely too and obviously quality to be in such good nick after all this time (and rollerskating)
    Just been moaning about all this Halloween crap on Caroline's blog, I'll be in with the lights off. x

    ReplyDelete
  18. You are so lucky to have all these wonderfull treasure's from your great grandma. I wished I've had some from mine. Love the old paintings and the spooky photo's of them.
    You look like a friendly beautifull spirit in the old weddingdress. Wished I've had you seen rollerskating in that dress. :) I was also walking around in old (now I know there are vintage) clothes as I was a child. I loved it and still do.
    And I am glad that nobody is going door to door sweets or money overhere. I am the only crazy lady who decorated her house in this street. :D
    Have a wonderfull halloween!
    xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  19. Its amazing that your ancestors old pictures still survive to this day! I think the oldest i've seen is my great great grandparents and that's it!

    I'm not huge on the old Halloween, it's rather in your face over here in the US too.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my glorious Vix, your post takes me through emotional stages that end up in laughter with the: £5 note or a brick through the window.
    Thankgod is not so big where I live.
    People copy USA with parties, and childres ring your front door.
    We will be staying in away from the feral, too.
    I love you in your extreme orgasmic vintage.
    yes, I took the cat bag to the market this morning.
    Much love and happy night of the Hollows to you both.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    ReplyDelete
  21. Some really cool pictures you have there, though I reckon she of the third picture in would or rocked Glasto you know there is definately a twinkle in her eye.

    I love all your heirlooms it must be fantastic to have such a connection to your past. And that dress is totally cool. Very gothic virgin bride.

    Can't believe the kids expect money round your way. It varies round our way last year it was like a street party with kids banging on the door every second, the girls thought it great fun though as I am an evil witch of a mother have never taken them trick or treating. But we do give out sweets. No fivers though blimey would need to take out a mortgage if we did that! lol. Batten down those hatches keep the little ghouls out.

    P x

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ah, I bet those ancestors just look disapproving. I bet their ghosts are pleased that you've kept 'the family' together and cherish all that they've passed on to you. The details on that wedding dress are exquisite. I'm always astounded at the workmanship of vintage clothing. But, I guess they didn't spend all their time blogging, did they?
    I hope the little hellions leave you and Jon in peace. If not, sic the spirits on them.
    Speaking of ghosts, I discovered the ghost of blogs past today -- my blogspot blog from 2006. I can now re-work it before importing recent content.

    ReplyDelete
  23. A great-grandma wedding dress AND a great-great grandma brooch. What a treat to see you wearing both on halloween (as opposed to the brick-based trick you mentioned). I too love speculating as to what various long-dead relatives would make of my life in comparison with theirs. And those family portraits - how thrilling - especially the one you describe as looking like an old cow! Maybe she had secret longings though and would envy you.

    ReplyDelete
  24. UBER envy alert! How FABULOUS to have all of those rellys looking out at you! And to have your G-Grandmothers wedding dress AND jewellery? *scherwooooon*

    ReplyDelete
  25. Really enjoyed this post. Love the dress and the bits you've inherited from your family. x

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a fab post!! Can't believe you inherited that dress, it looks gorgeous on you!
    Have a spooktacular Halloween!!
    XO

    ReplyDelete
  27. You look so demure in your last photo of the post, dear Vix. What an amazing collection of family history just laying about you. The dress and jewelry are pure treasures.

    We just turn the porch light off and ignore the Halloweeners as they do us. When I lived in Detroit, it was a whole other matter. They have Devil's Night, the night before, where "they" literally trash the town. Seems to be Detroit-specific though, thank goodness.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Such an interesting post Vix. It is sad these days that the trick or treaters are just after cash and some don`t even bother with a costume. I don`t blame you for padlocking the gates. My hubby has the most awful mask which he keeps threatening to wear with a black cloak and appear from the side gate to scare the wits out of money grabbing chavs!
    Dx

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow! this is an amazing post Vix!
    I am speechless, it is so fantastic - This dress is stunning -

    Happy Halloween!

    Ariane xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great post Vix, I'm sure you're ancestors weren't as straight laced as they look, I've just been discovering how *naughty* some of mine were at the house of an elderly relative. More skeletons in my closet than I really need to know about!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I adore that dress on you, it's fantastic. I would've probably played Victorians in it as a child and my Mum would've worn it to a 70s dinner party, so we're not that different!. The 18th Century lot look rather sweet but that Victorian lady scares the shit out of me!! Great grandma looks like she could handle herself! XXXX

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dearest Vix,
    A few years ago I bought a great big bumper bucket of lollies and excitedly awaited the hoards of trick or treaters but alas none showed so I ended up having to take my lollies into work and give them to the staff & punters...would you like a lolly with your pint of old peculiar?!
    The portraits if your ancestors are splendid as is your Great-Great Grandma Alice's wedding dress.
    You look grand my dear.
    Lot's of Muhahahahaha,
    Jennie
    xXx

    ReplyDelete
  33. You do look like a ghost bride - I think Mary may have enjoyed knowing her dress got to have a second, third & forth life! Your Aunt Alice (of the brooch) looks like she might have been kind of cool - she's got a good face. That is such a beautiful dress - so much more elegant than the strapless satin-y things everyone gets married in these days.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Vix im actually lost for words. The family history you have is wonderful and to be wearing the same dress as your great grandma is something really special. Its a stunning dress and im sure she would be really proud and touched to see you wearing it. Have a cosy night in and see you tomorrow, dee xx

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great-Great Grandma Alice looks like she had a twinkle in her eye! The rellie before her though definately would have scared them little shites away from yer front door!! Annd what a very cool dress!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi my dear! Great Grandma Alice was an inspirational style icon, just like you-that locket is totally gorgeous and what an amazing wedding dress, its beautiful! Have a great evening xxx

    ReplyDelete
  37. That's so cool that you have special heirlooms from your Great Grandma, along with a host of old family portraits - how many people can say they do? You look like a ghostly princess bride; too bad you can't frolic outside tonight, or at the very least give the ruffians hell. I am rather missing Halloween, which is very big in Canada but not so much in France.

    P.S. Thanks for your last comment on my blog, very kind.
    P.P.S. I didn't comment on your previous post, but that's so cool that you and Jo met ... and shopped, of course! I think you two are lost twin style & blogger sisters. :) xo

    ReplyDelete
  38. Bahaha,Tim nice but Dim! He does look rather gormless,but YOU,my darling,look delicious!!! I just love that era,and you makeit more beautiful with such spectacular makeup!
    I envy you all those wonderful heirlooms.To know one's history!
    I suspect most of your female ancestors would be envious that you are able to live your life as you please, as they certainly couldn't!
    Glad you had some bastard massive laughter over my post...I'm having bastard massive dribbles over yours!
    I do hope the 5 quid was sufficient bribery for any ferals who managed to squeak through the gates!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

    ReplyDelete
  39. The lady you called a cow is most certainly SCARY!! I hope she looked a little nicer than that in real life. *EEEEP*
    Thats very cool you that you can wear your Great Great Grandmas brooch.
    (Her locket is gorgeous)

    What a perfect day to wear your Great Grandma's its very crazy it fits you perfect. =O

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love that you can wear such a historical dress!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Fascinating stuff, Vix! What do spiritualists say when they encounter you or your home?
    You've got such strong connections to your past, and it certainly seems that the clothes and adornment love is linked deep within your ancestry.
    That dress looks tailor made for you, I love the red wine story. Your mother always sounds like such a cool person.

    Have a great day tomorrow!

    Lucy x

    ReplyDelete
  42. It's amazing that you have so many treasures which connect you to your family history - the pictures, brooch and locket, and of course the wedding dress are wonderful heirlooms.
    And how incredible that you can fit into the dress, you obviously are the last in a line of silver jewellery-loving petite style-conscious women! And I so love the story of your mum spilling red wine on the dress!
    You look like the heroine of a Victorian novel (The Woman in White is the obvious one!) and utterly beautiful, as always.
    Ignore the feral youth, enjoy your rum, and get ready for tomorrow! xxxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  43. How nice to know I wont be the only one sitting in the dark, not giving out candy. In the almost 10 years , we've only had 3 trick or treaters. But you never know.

    Beautiful dress and how cool it fits you like a dream. I do like the "right old cow's" hat.Looks like meat and veggies!

    ReplyDelete
  44. you look wonderfully eerie my dear :) happy hallows eve x

    ReplyDelete
  45. This might be my favourite post of yours I've seen to date! (Although I am hard pressed to pick just one) but this is so neat. The family photos, the jewelry, the dress, the stories. Wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  46. You are so lucky to be able to trace your history so far back! Love this dress & photos of a past so long ago.

    ReplyDelete
  47. you look gorgeous (as usual), and love that you're wearing a dress with some stories to tell!, specially when red wine stains and roller skating are involved!
    And demanding money with menaces is not how it's supposed to be celebrated this night in my neck of the woods!!, ;DD
    besos

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love that you have such connections with your family history - I'm sure it was a sign that you meant to wear that fab dress! I like Poppy's hubbie's idea - perhaps you could get Jon to dress up and scare the little blighters!

    ReplyDelete
  49. I'm so envious. You're the luckiest woman in the world to have such a rich family history and all the heirlooms to prove it. Those photos are awesome. That guy in the first photo is super hot. I loved your commentary too. :P

    That wedding dress you're wearing is gorgeous.

    Isn't it amazing how much more free life seems to be for us than our ancestors? Nobody (at least most people) don't raise an eyebrow at your lifestyle. It's become quite the norm, I think.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Wonderful post! Loved the family tree tour! That is such a gorgeous dress Vix - your great grandmother is surely very proud you are wearing it - have a great Halloween, Mr V and I hiding out from feral youths also!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Oh I loved this seeing your old ancestors pics, how wonderful.

    I hope you haven't had a brick launched at the house from the gate. Stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Ha ha, I'm guessing great great grandma may have envied your lifestyle!!! (as a lot of us in this day and age do!!!) Me thinks I can see faces/ancestors? in those patterns on your gorgeous curtains in the back ground! Whoooooo whoooo.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I'm laughing at the idea of spontaneously combusting, disapproving ancestors.

    ReplyDelete
  54. That dress looks as if it was made for you. Spooky.

    ReplyDelete
  55. How lucky you are to inherit so much family history! My ancestors traveled such a long way to get to NZ, I guess a lot of history was lost along the way. I love that beautiful frock - it is spooky you fit it! Beautiful collection of spooky pics.

    ReplyDelete
  56. How lovely to have so much of your family history around you - and that dress is just fabulous xx

    ReplyDelete
  57. How lovely to have so much of your family history around you - and that dress is just fabulous xx

    ReplyDelete
  58. What a beautiful and precious old dress. Fantastic that you wear it. So many things like that get put away. I have old things from my dearly departed. Rather keen to go try and squeeze the old fox furs out of my mother now!! You roller skating in that dress as a child made me laugh, we used to play dress up in my grandmothers wedding gown with her permission, I have a photo some where.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Darling, this curated collection is so amazing! I have not a single thing of my grandmother's, let alone any generations prior. You look so amazing in that beautiful dress and I love the portraits of your ancestors. As always, I love when you show us around your house and share your beautiful stories and collections and I adore that the love of chunky silver has passed down the genes. Rock the fuck on, hoarder! Love you more than lace! Sarah xxx

    ReplyDelete
  60. Such an interesting post and how great do you look in that dress! Hope you had a good halloween, we only had one treat or treater last night and they were our neighbours kids. When I was a kid it used to be quite a big thing but it doesn't seem to be that popular on my road anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Definitely spooky that you're the exact same size as your GGM, pity you didn't get to meet her, mine lived until I was 16 and it was so awesome.xx.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Truly spooktacular, Vix! Love this take on a Halloween-themed post xx

    ReplyDelete
  63. What an amazing dress and I love the locket. Christ on a bike that hat and collar combination no wonder she looks so stern having to wear that !?!

    ReplyDelete
  64. Ha, you're being harsh on your wonderful antecendants... I bet they liked to enjoy their lifes - I mean, they are related to you! The dress is such a treasure! I've got one from my great-grandmother, too, and strangely it fits like a glove. xo

    ReplyDelete
  65. Ha, you're being harsh on your wonderful antecendants... I bet they liked to enjoy their lifes - I mean, they are related to you! The dress is such a treasure! I've got one from my great-grandmother, too, and strangely it fits like a glove. xo

    ReplyDelete
  66. That dress is beautiful Vix and knowing it belonged to your great grandmother must make it all the more special for you. I don't know much of my family history and I think you are so lucky to have so much of your own past around you.

    I like trick or treating as around here it is little kids and they're happy with sweets and fruit. I did see some teenagers loitering but I avoided them because we had a good stash of sweeties by then and I didn't want to get robbed, I had stakes in that stash. xx

    ReplyDelete
  67. wow you totally blow me away. love those portraits and you are one gorgeous undead lady;)
    love and kiss,mary

    ReplyDelete
  68. it must be great to own pieces of your grand grand mother. this dress is so romantic ...

    ReplyDelete
  69. The dress is breathtaking and so are you. As I frequent estate sales, wearing the pieces that belonged to those who have transitioned feels like recycling at its best.

    ReplyDelete
  70. This is so brilliant - LOVE your outfit and the ancestors! Have a brilliant weekend. I've moved so hope this works. BTW it's Couture Coco, now Silk Path Diary

    ReplyDelete
  71. oh my....who do you think you are....what a brilliant collection of 'family snaps' and to actually have them in the family, do you know their stories? maybe you share more than just dress size with great grandma.....love that you have the picture of her wearing the broach you wear now.....history in the making!!!x

    ReplyDelete
  72. I love this post!! It's amazing that you have all those family portraits, I don't even have photos of my grandparents (yet, been meaning to pester my Mother for a while now) and your Great Grandmothers dress looks fantastic on you, somehow you make it look modern and edgy.

    Happy Halloween to you too!!

    Lxx

    ReplyDelete
  73. Hope you had a fun Halloween Vix! I enjoyed your explanation of a chip butty in your last post. We have something similar here called a California burrito! It's a flour tortilla stuffed with french fries, sliced steak, cheese, sour cream and guacamole. It's more like a California bomb than a burrito. It's quite good! xoxo, Bonnie

    ReplyDelete
  74. Stunning. I bet your great-grandmother would be fascinated by you and thrilled that her clothes are still getting an airing on her gorgeous great-granddaughter. And I'm massively jealous that you've got such amazing pictures of your ancestors - incredible that they're so old, I don't think I have any pictures pre Victorian times given that I doubt any of my family could afford portrait sittings.
    x

    ReplyDelete
  75. Great post,love your dress...fab pictures :)

    ReplyDelete
  76. Damn! You are so handsome, eccentric, artistic ... Perhaps the finest picture of you.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Love this spooky post and all the family history

    ReplyDelete
  78. Fab frock!

    I hate Halloween to be honest and we never open the door for the kids...lol x

    ReplyDelete
  79. Fab frock!

    I hate Halloween to be honest and we never open the door for the kids...lol x

    ReplyDelete
  80. Interesting photos and articles. I really enjoyed myself here. Just absolutely awesome. Thanks.

    car loans melbourne

    ReplyDelete

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