{"id":30229,"date":"2014-05-21T01:55:23","date_gmt":"2014-05-21T05:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/?p=30229"},"modified":"2014-11-20T02:43:10","modified_gmt":"2014-11-20T07:43:10","slug":"timeless-but-expendable-heirlooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/21\/timeless-but-expendable-heirlooms\/","title":{"rendered":"Timeless but Expendable Heirlooms"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Vivian<\/a>

Blue bishop, 2014–Last week at nursery school, Vivian Rose was cute and comfortable.\u00c2\u00a0 She is wearing a bishop dress made 32 years ago for her mother, Rebecca.\u00c2\u00a0 True to the adage that any bishop is good for 3 sizes, this size 3 dress fits our 16 month old just fine after the hem was taken up.\u00c2\u00a0 And it will fit for a long time.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recently, I’ve changed my thoughts and opinions about the use of heirloom\/smocked garments. From this post title, it’s likely you can tell\u00c2\u00a0 where I now stand on the issue of packing away my lovingly stitched heirlooms.<\/p>\n

With their almost timeless appeal and classic style, they can be worn in any fashion era.\u00c2\u00a0 Until recently, my plan for their future was that they be carefully packed away in acid free tissue and then be passed\u00c2\u00a0 down to the next baby in the family–whenever that might be.\u00c2\u00a0 I felt certain that the style and stitchery would still be appropriate. \u00c2\u00a0 Often,\u00c2\u00a0 that is exactly what happened, i.e. the Imperial batiste bishop dress shown above and below.<\/p>\n

But I hadn’t expected that they would be put in service for everyday use, like at Vivian Rose’s pre-school.\u00c2\u00a0 There, painting, bib-free eating, and rough and tumble playground time are daily events.\u00c2\u00a0 And no child tumbles more roughly this little dynamo.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Vivian<\/a>

Blue bishop 1982–Rebecca, Vivian Rose’s mother,\u00c2\u00a0 wearing the same blue bishop<\/a> dress.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Again and again, the smocked and heirloom things I have made have been passed down the line, always\u00c2\u00a0 to my great satisfaction and pleasure.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Further below are several examples.<\/p>\n

Two events have clarified my way of thinking.\u00c2\u00a0 First was this dress, worn often by my daughter and then loaned out through the years to several friends.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"beloved<\/a>

The last hurrah <\/a>for a well loved dress. 2013<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

A family friend wore it for a special visit with grandmother.\u00c2\u00a0 Alyia’s mother was cautioned that the tissue thin Swiss batiste dress and lace portrait collar might not come away undamaged, even with the perfectly ladylike behavior of her precious almost 5 year old.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 As predicted and at the end of the evening visit the fancyband tore away from the skirt. \u00c2\u00a0 The soul of the dress went to that Great Walk-In-Closet in the sky.\u00c2\u00a0 But in the adoring eyes of her grandmother, Alyia was a princess for the entire time.<\/p>\n

As I counted the number of little girls and occasions on which the dress was worn, I felt no loss.\u00c2\u00a0 There was only happiness in knowing that the long hours spent sewing the dress created a lot of smiles and happiness.<\/p>\n

It reminded me of a freshly cut Douglas fir Christmas tree with its annual house perfume, lights, and decorations.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Certainly, like a child in a pretty dress, neither the dress nor the tree is as important as the child or the occasion.\u00c2\u00a0 But each brings such a sweet joy while they are around.\u00c2\u00a0 And yet, no later than mid-January, even the most pampered tree loses its fragrance and needles and is discarded. \u00c2\u00a0 Like a worn out heirloom dress, it has served its purpose.\u00c2\u00a0 Maybe this example is a stretch,\u00c2\u00a0 but I hope you can glean my meaning from it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"$1.44<\/a>

2014–$1.49 Goodwill find<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The second incident that clarified my opinion was the watermelon dress above.\u00c2\u00a0 Just a few weeks ago at my local Goodwill store, I bought this size 2 bishop gem, nicely smocked, expertly constructed, and in absolutely perfect condition.\u00c2\u00a0 The fabric is Spechler-Vogel microcheck.\u00c2\u00a0 I know because it is a perfect match to some I have on hand.<\/p>\n

After a cursory glance it was obvious that it is not commercially made.\u00c2\u00a0 The watermelon bishop is mama-, auntie- or granny-made.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Hand made button loops, pearl buttons, French lace edging, and the hand stitched hem were all evidence of a lovingly made dress.\u00c2\u00a0 Why was it for sale at Goodwill?\u00c2\u00a0 Was it outgrown after it was worn a time or two for special occasions and then discarded?<\/p>\n

I paid $1.49 for it.\u00c2\u00a0 How sad.\u00c2\u00a0 Whatever the reason for it being surrendered to Goodwill, why was it not instead gifted it to some other little girl?<\/p>\n

In fact, it has been gifted to my sweet dgd Vivian Rose.\u00c2\u00a0 I’ve told her mother to let her wear it anywhere, anytime–but not because it\u00c2\u00a0 cost me so little.\u00c2\u00a0 Like all of the things I have made for my grandchildren, this should be worn, not “saved” for some extraordinary occasion worthy of special costuming.\u00c2\u00a0 Such occasions often come long after the child has outgrown the special garment.<\/p>\n

I’m not saying that coming home outfits, first birthday dresses, christening gowns or other emotion laden garments ought not to be packed away.\u00c2\u00a0 But for items of more common use,\u00c2\u00a0 let them be worn!\u00c2\u00a0 We almost always shower the precious children in our lives with a plentitude of smocked and heirloom sewn clothing.\u00c2\u00a0 If they get stained or torn or ruined, we can always make more.\u00c2\u00a0 And if that is not possible, isn’t it better that it be worn to death after generating attention and praise for a child–any child–\u00c2\u00a0 than for it to be unworn and folded\u00c2\u00a0 in a cedar chest?\u00c2\u00a0 Or end up at Goodwill, valued at $1.49?<\/p>\n

You’ve probably all heard the story about the elderly woman who died, leaving at the back of\u00c2\u00a0 her bureau drawer a beautiful set of lingerie which had never been worn. \u00c2\u00a0 Gifted to her years before, it had never been out of the box.\u00c2\u00a0 She had been saving her prettiest things for a special occasion, but nothing quite special enough came along before she was gone.<\/p>\n

I do not want that to happen to anything I have made.<\/p>\n

\"3c0e90d9a98489825670bbd4391f8a22\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here are some well-loved, often worn garments stitched for my children and grandchildren . Each of these outfits has been around the block more than a few times.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\""Brother<\/a>

“Brother Bishop<\/a>,” made in 1999 for a wedding. It was passed down and worn first by a flower girl, then dgd Laurel, and subsequently several other children.\u00c2\u00a0 It still has plenty of life left.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\""Rebecca's<\/a>

“Rebecca’s Bow Dress”<\/a> was made in 1982 for by a precious little\u00c2\u00a0 family friend to wear to a state dinner in Beijing with the Premier of China. After it was outgrown, it was “traded in” for credit toward another custom made heirloom dress.\u00c2\u00a0 My Rebecca wore it for two years.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

After Karoline<\/a>, the original owner, outgrew her blue bow dress, it was lengthened so my Rebecca could wear it.\u00c2\u00a0 After Rebecca, three other little girls pirouetted in blue Swiss batiste and bows.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Now, it waits for\u00c2\u00a0 Vivian Rose to grow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>

made in 1989–This classic kimono<\/a> has been worn by all four of my grandchildren. It’s about ready for retirement or a chilly baby whose mother is not fussy.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Gap-toothed<\/a>

1984–Laurel’s aunt, my gap-toothed Rebecca in the Little Fawn pinafore<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"2010--Laurel<\/a>

2010-dgd Laurel wearing the Little Fawn pinafore
.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Dress<\/a>

Made in 1986, this lawn dress<\/a> and the plain linen fagotted collar were made in 1984 for my\u00c2\u00a0 Rebecca. It was machine monogrammed for dgd Laurel in 2010. Vivian Rose is next in line to wear it.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

This Madeira applique’d suit <\/a>was a gift to my son, Ryan, in 1975.\u00c2\u00a0 As the first heirloom style garment I had ever seen, its impact on his Mid-Western mother has had lifelong impact.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>

1975, Ryan, wearing a one-piece suit with Madeira aplique’d teddy bears. Each bear poses in a patch of flowers.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The suit was worn by Ryan’s son, Robert Charles, when he was a little younger and a little smaller.\u00c2\u00a0 Still, he was comfortable and adorable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Robert<\/a>

2006, Robert Charles partying at his Aunt Rebecca’s wedding.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Next in line for the suit was Robert’s cousin and Ryan’s nephew, Alastair.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alastair<\/a>

2010, Alastair is wearing the heirloom suit worn by his uncle and cousin.<\/p><\/div>\n

These are just some of the worn and passed on garments in our family.\u00c2\u00a0 As others have been outgrown and not special enough to save, they have been sold in my Nursery Closet Sales or given away to family friends.\u00c2\u00a0 I’d like everything I make\u00c2\u00a0 to be worn out, not laid rest in a cedar chest in near perfect condition or sold at Goodwill for a pittance.\u00c2\u00a0 Like the pitiful watermelon dress.<\/p>\n

Your thoughts?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Recently, I’ve changed my thoughts and opinions about the use of heirloom\/smocked garments. From this post title, it’s likely you can tell\u00c2\u00a0 where I now stand on the issue of packing away my lovingly stitched heirlooms. With their almost … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":30271,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[28,141,140,24],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30229"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30229"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39465,"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30229\/revisions\/39465"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}