My family had two old christening gowns brought from Wales when the family moved to Canada. I was baptized in one of them as was my brother, Ian, and a number of our other cousins. They date back to the very late 1700s / early 1800s and according to the cousin who has them, they are no longer fit for human wear. As you can imagine, that really bummed me out. Instead, I asked my mom and Aunt Katharine who wore the same wedding gown if I could turn their wedding gown into a new family baptism gown. And voila:
My mom and dad on their wedding day
My baptism, Spring 1985, in the old family gown.
First Congregational, Montclair, NJ
Steven's baptism, 1976. Holy Trinity Church, Norfolk, VA
My mom and Aunt K's wedding gown now
The back
Lace and beading
Very fragile fabric but the lace is intact
Thomas had a ball in my seamstress's room-of-mirrors
The final product (with Angie, the seamstress)
Her work is incredible. I could not be happier with the result!
that is so special. such a beautiful heirloom.
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