The little birds...

If you watch little birds you will see they are busy and happy! Using whatever they can find they create the most gorgeous little nest.
I would be the little bird with some glittery thread in her nest!
We can be like this. Happily working away with the things that are available to us to create a beautiful and happy home.
All the while with a little song in our heart.

Banner by Free Pretty Things for You.

Sunday 25 January 2015

Made with love.

Last week I had a very special day. Lucy and I had an afternoon going through the baby things that I have kept stored away since the girls were babies. These things have moved houses numerous times and have been kept here up in my high cupboards.

A row of boxes contain baby cards from when both the girls were born, precious baby clothes, the outfits the girls came home from hospital in, special dresses they wore and all kinds of little treasures. It includes the hand made things of five generations! The oldest things I have were made by my Great Grandmother Annie Susannah Pratt. But she is Lucy's Great Great Grandmother of course. And the babies Great Great Great Grandmother!

Annie Susannah is the Great Grandmother who's Bible I have with all her markings and notes and the unbelievably beautiful letter she received from a friend when my Great Grandfather died. She had 13 children and my Nan was the youngest one. When Nan was born she slept in a shoe box lined with cotton wool she was so small. Annie Susannah was also tiny. She was 4 foot 8. Lucy is almost as tiny at just 5 foot exactly. So there is plenty of Annie Susannah in Lucy I think!

Here are some silk crochet garments she made. The little booties are just beautiful. I don't know where she got the silk thread from and this must have been very special as they didn't have money... they were farmers and hard workers. The silk things in the middle you can see, have sheen to them.  The blanket (Winnie the Pooh) I made, the cardi on the top left Mum made, the dress Nan made.


Next I have things made by Nan (her daughter) Cora Jean. Nan had black hair, fair skin and blue eyes. She sewed, knitted and made so many things always for us all. She also spun her own wool and dyed her own yarns. She provided so many things for us and everyone she knew.

Also Nan's friends made me things when the girls were born. I have talked about Loris Smith and Mrs. Mann before and how wonderful they were. This is a little dress Mrs. Mann made for Chloe which she wore and wore.  Then Lucy wore. I could cry at the sight of it now!



Out came Lucy's baby album. She could see what she wore when she came home from hospital and then there it all was kept for her. Over and over she could see her little dresses in the album and then see them in real life. Here is the album with Lucy in a little dress Great Gran made and the dress next to it.



Then there are so many things made by Mum, Patricia Ann. Mum made things from newborn right through their childhood. Mostly knitting but some sewn dresses as well. I still have most of it and even though it was all worn constantly it all is in great shape.

There there are things I made. One of Chloe's favourite things is when she was at kindy she went dressed to something as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I painted a little pair of shoes bright red then layered them with red glitter to make ruby red slippers. At the time she could hardly walk in them as she had to stop and admire them so constantly that progress was slow. She has these on display in her home now as they pretty much set the standard of her love of shoes!



Over the years as I have sewn, embroidered, knitted and crocheted, I've stashed away things for one day for the girls. I used to sew for a baby boutique and I made a set of everything for both the girls. Pram sets, sheet sets, baby rugs, embroidered blankets... singlets, muslin wraps and wash cloths... piles of stuff.





It was so much fun getting all this out!

Then there was a box of things that were little dresses worn through childhod. Lovely smocked liberty print dresses, knitted dresses and more! A little velvet dress I wore when I was four in a wedding!

I think Lucy was surprised by how much of it she loved and thought she can use. Of course if she has a girl there are more things but I have made things suitable for boys as well as girls so there is lots there.

Everything represents love to me. I appreciated it all at the time but even more now.
If Great Gran and Nan were here now they would be so excited! Mum is and you guessed it she is probably knitting as we speak! Luckily Lucy adores knits and cute things. Her baby will be wrapped in things made with love from the minute its born.

The things these women did everyday so influenced me so much.  And the girls and now a new baby. I am so glad I kept these little treasures. And my line has been filled with sweet things as I have washed it all up and hung it in the sun. This was my line today... I'm up to the bigger dresses! Lucy is set if she has a girl. But if the baby is a boy Mum and I will create a new supply!



Really this was an afternoon of loveliness. Gran and Nan kept us company as we thought of them and all they did.

I took over 80 photos of mostly differnet things. Another day I might post more of my embroidery as there are little outfits with Winnie the Pooh themed stories on them and mice getting married and pushing prams and all things I made up!

It makes you wonder what are we making that will be handed down the generations and treasured? Not only that but just how much we are remembered and how much we influence our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on...

We have the opportunity to be a great blessing to them all!

There is the saying that some days are diamonds. This day was one of them! xxx

27 comments:

  1. What a lovely treasure trove of love your girls will inherit, Annabel! What a legacy has been handed down as well....a love of crafting handmade items for the next generation. So many happy memories there.

    Have a Happy Australia Day!

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    1. Thanks Nanna Chel. Down the track Ill have to post pics of what Mum is making now as she's busy busy busy! New treasures!
      Plus I feel fired up to make new things.
      It is really cool here today, like early winter! But I am happy about Australia Day and having a quite day at home. I hope you are having a lovely day.xxx

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  2. Absolutely lovely!

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  3. Just beautiful! such a history of clever sewers in your family Annabel :-) The detail in the items are truly lovely, thanks for sharing, love Maria xxx

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  4. What a sweet time you had! I love seeing all the sweet things.
    We have 2 grand babies coming, we know the one due in May is a boy but we don't yet know about the one due in July.
    Isn't this fun?

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    1. Rhonda thank you. Lucy is due in May also. How wonderful for your family.
      This baby is our first grand baby.
      I am op shopping this week. You inspired me with your good finds for the little boys. Such cute things! many thanks.xxx

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  5. Dear Annabel, It is overwhelming to read this post and *see* the generational love and support within your beautiful family. What a wonderful time for all of you. For those of us who have not had this type of family closeness, it should encourage us to be steadfast in our love for Christ and help us to focus on living a life of love and legacy. Such a wonderful, beautiful post. I'm so happy for you! Xxx

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    1. Thank you Colette. You are right. If we dont have strong traditions and blessings in the family it is our chance to start them. And we can. And this shows just how they last and last and what an impact they have!
      It kind of shows all our work is important. It counts for more than we will ever know! We are building strong foundations. Keep building God will bless you every step! xxx

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  6. Annabel, this post is so beautiful! Yes, it is as you say, your Nan and Gran are living on throughout the generations with their beautiful work gracing another precious baby. Thank you for sharing such a truly special experience with us all. Love Helen xxx

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    1. Thanks Helen. Every time Nan sat down she was working on something. Mum is the same. It is amazing how this adds up! And like with cooking... a few humble ingredients turn into something gorgeous worth a great deal. I think thats wonderful. Working with our hands works miracles pretty much! xxx

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  7. What a lovely, lovely post. I realy enjoyed seeing the baby clothes.

    As a monther of two girls also, I appreciate pretty things. My girls both had lots of knitted things from my mum and I loved to dress them up. My girls were small babies so they looked like little dolls. I've kept the knitted items and lots of dresses and one day I'll be going through them with my girls just like you did with Lucy. I still have their pram and cradle in excellent condition.

    A diamond day indeed.

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    1. I can just imagine your little dolls Wendy! All snug as a bug in a rug!
      You will love this time too when it all comes out again. It is such a trip down memory lane. It is a time of being very thankful!
      And my Mum is knitting again for this new baby. It is so nice! I hope you are having a lovely Australia Day.xxx

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  8. awww, soo soo soo beautiful, what lucky girls you have, what memories, what history. thank you for sharing. love it.

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    1. Thank you so much Fiona! Isnt it an exciting time waiting for a baby! I feel very sentimental and happy looking at all these things and remembering ...
      Those women really laid a good foundation for us too with all their hard work!
      Im so glad you liked it! xxx

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  9. Is there anything lovelier than hand made vintage baby things? The care and attention to detail rivals any designer baby wear available now. Annabel how very fortunate you are to have a multi generational family and to have whispers of the past blowing down the years to love generations to come. Just beautiful.

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    1. Mimi thanks. I am pretty sure many of your creations will be handed down the generations and you have a family a bit like this. We are lucky yo have inherited strong traditions and good things. But it shows the value in what we do, kept and treasured memories and I feel so grateful for all the love that I had (and still have!) and even now Mum is knitting madly for the new baby! Lucy needs to have 6 kids just to wear all Mums knitting! lol xxx

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  10. So much love and gorgeousness there Annabel.

    Makes me wish I had held on to more of my baby clothes. I do have some of my sons clothes and almost all of his shoes from when he was a baby. I have a couple of baby blankets, and the girls christening outfit. They all wore the same one. Hubby's mum gave me a heap of his clothes from when he was a bub for my son when he was born.

    Love Tania xx

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    1. Tania I have seen your knitting! So I hope you have many more grandchildren to knit for and great grandchildren! Your things will become the next heirlooms!
      Its beautiful your son wore some of his Fathers baby clothes! that is lovely! Have a wonderful week, thank you Tania.xxx

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  11. I didn't have much hand made for my boys but I have made a heap of stuff for my grandkids. My Daughter in law loves anything hand made and that makes it so much fun to make things for them. What a wonderful day you both had.

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    1. Debbie I still remember the gorgeous dolls you made. You could go professional on those I think! Your things will become heirlooms! How lovely that you have a DIL that loves hand made things! You are starting off a whole lot of things that will be passed down! I would love to see what you are making now! xxx

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  12. Just lovely, you have a wonderful legacy and are leaving one as well. This really is the goal isn't it to hand down our love and our faith and our values. Wonderful post thanks for sharing the memories with us!

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    1. Thank you Kathy. I am so glad I kept these things that Nan, Gran and Mum made and its special to me that I have something to see and show that Gran made etc. Im so glad I did that! But without them I would still know how hard they worked and what good women they were. In both ways there is evidence of what they did. It is wonderful to know what we do now has such a long lasting impact and importance. I wish I could thank Gran and Nan! xxx

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  13. Your happiness from this day of loveliness just jumps off the screen! It's almost as if we are all there with you. Thank you for sharing this special time xx Fiona

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    1. Thank you FIona! I really appreciate such a kind comment.Thank you so much! xxx

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  14. Such a blessing for you Annabel. I am so pleased that you had this wonderful day.
    God Bless

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    1. Mel I know you are busy creating a new round of heirlooms yourself! And we both had grand babies to look forward to! I hope we can share this experience , love to you.xxx

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