My Mums Bride Doll

[bandstage]

Hi All

I have been meaning to post piccies of this little lady since January. It was my Mum and Dads 42nd wedding anniversary on January 8th. With all the excitement that was made over the one off TG brides from the 70's my friend Jan suggested to me i try and create a bride doll of my Mum. Thanks to Zoe who handspun the wool and knitted me the little two piece skirt and jacket with her amazing wool talent she helped me turn this into reality. I made the brown jumper underneath and the accessories, Mum held a prayer book instead of a bouquet and the 60's clone doll also wears vintage dolls stockings.

Mum was thrilled to receive it on the day as she had no idea and it bought tears to her eyes i was told. I wanted to do this for my Mum to show her she was a beautiful bride as she always regrets not having had a dress and veil which she would have loved. She was just 18 in the November of 65 and Dad just 17 in the November of 65 when they married in the January 66. My eldest Sister was already on the way and was born in June 66. Grandma meant well is suppose when they had gone to Sheffield to pick her something to wear claiming Mum would catch a death of a cold in a dress so talked her into the suit. Mum was telling me recently that obviously money was tight and Dads Mum had given her some money for her outfit but dresses that would have fit were a bit expensive and Grandma wouldnt put any money towards what my other Grandma had given. It was a funny old world i guess back then with different opinions to now and we always suspect Grandma didnt want Mum to have a dress as she was pregnant. Its something Mums always regretted and i know she feels it everytime she sees brides in dresses and veils. She would have loved a big skirt number and never likes to see slender wedding dresses. She saw my eldest Sister have a full white lacy number for her day 20 years later.

I really wanted Mum to know that she was a beautiful and elegant bride of the time, the epitomy of the 60's and the doll really did make her day. I have my Mums headdress and her wedding albumn, they are among my most treasured possessions. Sadly her suit ended up in a jumble bag years ago otherwise that would be safely here enshrinned in acid free tissue paper and a ornate box.

Thanks again Zoe as i couldnt have created this one quite the same without your help.

Carl xx

[alabama]

awwwww carl ... Whata lovey thing to make for your mum... she must have been soooo pleased. Well done zoe another triumph in thread!

[beanie]

Awww well done for posting her Carl she is lovely.

I was more than happy to help you

[sealcliff]

carl what a lovely thought i can imagine how thrilled she was and i am sure she will teasure it forever these type of gifts mean so much more because of the love and time spent in creating them
what special children we have
suexx

[bandstage]

Aaawwhhh thanks Claud, Zoe and Sue.

I know it was received with much touching treasured thoughts by Mum. She says she keeps it on her dressing table as i havent been able to get over to see her since before Christmas. She took it to show her neighbour friend that day. My younger Sister loves it too.

Carl xx

[scotty]

Carl that's lovely and such a special thing to do for your mum. I think a lot of brides got married in suits in the 60s. My mum did and both her sisters. People were much more practical in those days and bought something you could wear again. But it's so nice of you to give your mum a memento.

[bandstage]

Cheers Debbie

My Mum said the same too that there were lots who married in suits too at the time. Her 3 sisters all had wedding dresses thos. Mums eldest Sister is a good few years older than mum and she married in the 50's and really wanted Mum to wear her dress but the sinched in waist was just too tiny. My Mums elder brother got married in the November of 65 and his wife wore a suit with a pillbox hat and She also has a much elder brother and his Wife wore a suit too when they married in the 50's. Inccidentally all were so called 'shotgun' weddings when my Aunties by marriage wore suits.

Carl xx

[Bronnie]

Dear Carl
I think that this is one of the most moving stories I have ever read.
It's not just that you have made this special momento for your mum, it's that she always wanted a wedding dress which really touches my soul. The fact that you have presented her this very individual gift must now raise the suit to a higher plane and your mum must realise that it was just as good as a frock..in fact far more stylish and less dated!It's a great pic of the parents too..great shoes worn by your dad!

I'm going to make a Sindy replica of my wedding dress...but the thought of someone doing it for me as a suprise would be the ultimate accolade!!
LOL Bronnie

[bandstage]

Aaawwhhh thanks Bronnie.

It really did touch Mum getting the doll as i knew it would, where else did i get my sensitivity from. We always knew Mum was having our karen when she and dad married so young it was never hid from us for as long as i can remember. I've always thought she looked very special too on her wedding day and i have two copies of their wedding photo on my lounge wall. Mum and Dad have had their ups and downs over the years but still together. Oh yes Dads shoes. Thats another tale to chuckle about at the wedding. Both Mum and Dad knelt at the alter and both had still got the price on the soles of their shoes. Also Mums Auntie jumped in Mum and Dads wedding car to go back to the afternoon reception with them. Mums always talked about her wedding to us and how she knew Dad vaguely from being a girl as his grandparents grew up near my Mums. They actually met up thos when Mum was with a friend of hers and Dad was with his mate when they were all in Queens Park in Chesterfield Derbyshire where i grew up. Mum says they would have married anyhows and they had talked about getting engaged its just the wedding happened sooner instead of later. It all sounds so very young a romantic and 60's. I come from a real down to earth lovely family.

Thanks again.

Carl xx

[mamarijke]

Hi Carl,

How sweet of you to do this for your mother! I think she was a lovely bride, not only her suit is lovely and elegant, her face has such a young, sweet and a bit shy glance.

What an idea to make a Sindy in your mums suit! You really have inspired me!

My mother also married in a suit she made herself. The most expensive part is the fur collar, I still own that. My grandfather and grandmother were divorced and my grandfather had no contact with his family. He had a fur business, that's the only reason my mom could have this collar! And, what a naughty time it was, my mum was also pregnant of my eldest brother...but they would have been married anyway. My parents are still married for 45 years!

Marijke

[bandstage]

Aawwhhh Marijke

Thankyou too for your own lovely little parents story and the fabbie pics. Your Mum was also a very elegant and beautiful bride. I think we forget when we are so used to seeing brides in dresses and veils that other outfit choices can be just as stunning in a different way.

I think the50's/60's and into the early 70's were perhaps a time of the 'shotgun wedding'. Nowadays folk often wait until their childs born and then have a big wedding afterwards.

It doesnt matter what a bride wears so long as it suits her and she is happy. My Mum says she did feel special in a way, it was her wedding day and she did want to marry Dad. She also got to wear her suit on other occassions afterwards, infact when it did go in that jumble bag there was a sherry stain on the skirt i vaguely remember from one of her occassions out in it. Mums always followed fashions and kept herself with a young outlook and she as had some lovely clothes through the years. I always remember in the late 70's she had a lovely pale pink dress with a high frilled neckline and long loose gathered sleeves. It was down to around calf length in a Aline of tiers joined by a little frill. Its sounds like a young womans nightmare of a frock now but at the time it was from a high street fashionable shop and she bought it specially for dads works do. Her brunette hair was in a sleek purdy cut pageboy and she looked lovely.

Carl xx

[greentrixiepixie]

What a lovely thing to do Carl Sindy look lovely in her suit ..
Marijke.. Your mum and dad look really happy ... ;D
Lovely stories thanks for sharing ;D
Lisa

[bandstage]

Cheers Lisa.

Carl xx

[robin]

omg Carl you are such a sweetie! *smooshes* what a wonderful gift

[bandstage]

:)Cheers Robin.

Carl xx