I go through different phases when it comes to shopping antiques. There are periods when I am digging through every linen rack and pile in sight and other times when I’m scouring shelves for silver. In one of those phases, just about any antique baby item caught my eye. That phase was in my pre-baby years and that probably had something to do with it… I was drawn to little leather booties, delicate bonnets, highchairs, and white dresses. I even bought an antique iron crib and used it as a day bed for many years. I’ve since sold almost all of the baby gear I bought in that phase, but I kept a few special pieces. Today, I was cleaning up the guest room and saw two Christening gowns I had kept, but put away in the closet. It was time to find a place for them again.
I walked around the house, holding the two antique hangers from my fingers. I finally found the perfect place. I used the tall shutters in my family room as a place to hang Christmas stockings, so they already had nails at the proper height for the dresses.
I kept this dress because the handmade lace is amazing, but mostly because it was found in the attic of my husband’s great aunt. We’re not sure who it belonged to, but I always treasure family pieces. I think I cried when my mother-in-law gave it to me.
The other dress is a bit simpler, but is still special to me. I helped a close friend clean out her barn and we found this in one of the trunks. She knew I loved baby dresses, so she gave it to me.
The detail on the bottom of this one is beautiful as well.
It’s nice to have them on display again.
I had plans of putting a baby in them one day, but I had two boys, so I let those plans go. I’m sure they’ll thank me for that when they’re teenagers.
Today I did some painting, went to the doctor for a follow-up appointment from my surgery and went to the grocery store. That would’ve been a very light day for me a few weeks ago, but it was a flurry of activity when compared to my days over the past two weeks. I was utterly pooped when I was done putting the groceries away, so I need to take it a little easier tomorrow. I don’t feel like I pushed myself too hard, but I definitely discovered my limit.
I have another great giveaway coming up tomorrow and I’ll also announce the winner of the Sutton Place Designs giveaway.
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Sit a while in a comfy chair and admire the beauty of those two dresses. Can’t you just picture a sweet dimpled baby squirming in them? We had our daughter baptized wearing a flowing gown that her grandfather had worn. So yours wouldn’t have been the first boys to do so! Don’t know how much better that would help them feel about it!
Please pace yourself! I know you don’t need another mother but when you announced your pending surgery, I feared someone would need to tie you down in order to heal properly. My advice- take a nap every chance you get — you won’t regret it! The second dress looks so much like a slip I have that goes to the christening dress we have. It was 93 years old when our infant daughter wore it in April of 1971. The dress that goes with it is very similar in design with lots of tucks near the hem, bodice and sleeves. I should display this treasure. Love your blog! Now, rest – you’ve got big things ahead!
I have my christening gown and have been trying to figure out what to do with it (I haven’t been thinking too hard, I have to confess) …. I don’t have shutters lying around, but I like the idea of mixing architectural with fabric …. shall have to noodle longer…
Those dresses are amazing!! I dressed my little girls in dresses that were passed down from my grandmother. Made it so special!! I love how you’ve displayed them!
Glad you are feeling better- recovery is a goo thing
Marian,
Glad you are on the mend. Sounds like your recovery is coming along beautifully.
I imagine it’s difficult going at such a slower pace than you are accustomed too but
this will pay off in the end.
My mother had a similar piece to your second one and I think it may be
a slip used under a Christening gown. At any rate, they are both lovely pieces that you have
displayed beautifully!
Keep up the great job of pacing yourself.
The dress/slip are beautiful old pieces of history!! Love how you displayed them! Please take it easy and continue to rest whenever you can, you’ll be back to “full speed” in no time! Carol
Both of those dresses are so beautiful. You just know older baptism gowns like that are all hand stitched. Funny you blogged about this today because my daughter is being baptized in 2 weeks and I just found this gorgeous vintage christening gown for her on etsy last week and it came in the mail today. I should e-mail you a pic.
Take care of yourself.
The hardest part of recovering from surgery is always the lack of energy. Even if you are not in pain any more, your body is still recovering. I know it’s hard to jump back into things. Sounds like your body let you know just what it will let you do.
The dresses are beautiful. I have a baby gown and jacket that is as long as the dress I made for my babies. I’d love to display it. I’ll have to think on that since I have very limited wall space in this house. But you’ve given me some inspiration.
Take care!
how sweet! and I sooo love your gorgeous curtains!
Love the dresses,both are very special. I have to say the first one mentioned really makes me melt. Your lucky to have these and someday their may be a grandchild that will wear one of them.
keep taking care of yourself.
You do have the most lovely things! I have seen very old photos of children in my family wearing sweet dresses but I imagine when it came time to clean out attics those kinds of things got tossed as “old junk”. I have a photo of my grandfather in a christening dress. If that had still be around when my boys were christened I would have put it on them…and then waited for them to hate me as teenagers!
I love christening gowns. They look stunning on your shutters
Wow, now those are treasures! Absolutely beautiful and now they have the perfect home. LOVE. Continue to take it easy, girl! I need you in prime shape for Haven
Those are gorgeous! Love how they look hanging on the shutters and that they’re out for everyone to see. Definitely family treasures to hold dear!
Lovely dresses! Treasure for sure.
Marion,
Love those vintage pieces.I am sure you are glad you kept those.Sometimes if I am over a phase I get rid of things and latter I regret it.They look so pretty on those shutters.Glad you are feeling better and knowing your limits.
Blessings,
Anne
They are a little ghostly.
Oh! How wonderful! I made one for my great, great neices, (my late sister’s g’girls), and hope they are as treasured. wonderful things are still discovered!
I love the christening gowns. My son’s christening gown was made by his great grandmother, she gave it to me 2 years before she passed away and six years before he was born. She had made it just in case I had children one day. She was a wonderful woman who always thought ahead. I have it safely packed away and I will give it to my son when he is an adult. I’m hoping to start a family tradition.
Get some rest and take care of yourself. Kim
This post struck me–because I just last week decided to use the large shutters in my guest room to display vintage embroidered baby jackets (one was mine, one was a vintage gift for my then-baby daughter) and a sweet vintage dress on vintage hangers…and I love how it looks.
The gowns are quite lovely. One concern, however, is having a fragile textile laying directly on wood. You may want to get some acidfree tissue and layer it behind the dresses so they don’t actually touch the wood.
Love, Love ,Love old lace dresses! That is beautiful!
I used a vintage gown on one of my daughters that I got for .25 at a garage sale! I love that its so dainty.. my mom made a slip to go under it and did the same tiny stitches on it. Now this Friday my other daughter is getting baptised and she will be wearing a beautiful lacy dress my mom bought her and a blanket babys great grandmother chrocheted and a hankie that was another great grandmothers. I love the history behind these items!
I really loved the baby dress displays…so sweet!! Glad you are feeling better too! Just remember you are still in recovery mode!! So be careful!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Nice chairs!
Can I just say how happy I am to see them beautifully displayed in your pics and not covered in dust in my basement?!
You found the perfect spot for them! I’m glad to hear you are getting around a little better, but take it easy, girlie!
Those dresses are lovely! I have some old antique dresses I bought that a couple of my girls actually wore. I got their pictures taken in them – should dig them out, scan them and post them on my blog!!
And I like your idea of hanging them in you living room. I had planned to hang them in my daughters rooms but they are all getting old enough now they don’t really want their rooms to look like I would decorate them. Guess I waited too long to get it done.
Glad you are getting back at it a little – keep pacing yourself!
Hi Marian, I am glad your recovery is going well. Prayers and thoughts are/have been with you. —-
I agree, the vintage baby attire is so lovely on display. I agree with those who have already identified the second pieces as a slip. Although it isn’t in the same style as your family heirloom gown, you could slip the slip in the gown for a look at the way they would’ve been worn for a christening. I learned to smock and do French heirloom sewing on machine 12 years ago after my first son was born. The pin tucks and detailed handwork speak to me, I so appreciate the hands of long ago who lovingly fashioned those pieces for the newest members of their family.
Happy Spring!
w
I love those Christening gowns! I have collected batiste baby dresses for a long time. I used to use them to dress primitive dolls that I made. Now, I just hang them through the house. I have a row of these delicate ivory dresses across the window in my laundry room that fashion as a curtain. The lace detail in the family christening gown is exquisite!
These are beautiful, Marian! LOVE the detail.
This is untimely, but the christening gown caught my eye…I too love all things baby vintage. I have several christening gowns that were in the familly…one of which was our families gown that my mother hand knitted. It is beautiful. The lace gown you have is amazing. I believe that the other, sleeveless gown would be the under slip. I have one very similar that goes with my grandfathers gown. When my son was christened, he was such a big baby, that he could not wear the knitted gown that I wore, so I made hime a christening gown very much like the underslip…sleeveless, pintucks, embroidery. Love…now they are packed away, hoping that someone again will enjoy them. Such memories. I may have to dig them out.