Tuesday 17 April 2018

Baby Dress Stand

Hi friends,

For over 35 years I've collected vintage baby dresses from op shops, since I had any income of my own. I could pick up a dress or knitted set for fifty cents back then. I used to dream that babies would be left on our doorstep, and I would be the one to find and look after them., since Mum was too busy! I remember the feeling of waking in the morning and excitedly looking at the end of my bed for the bassinet - only to be disappointed on realising it was just a dream. 

Vintage Baby dress

Later when I had my own babies, I dressed them in these old fashioned dresses (the boys too!), along with hand-knitted or crocheted matinee sets when it was cold. I have kept the special old ones, even though some are almost falling apart. 


The material in these two dresses is so weak I can't display them properly. They have large tears and are falling apart. I decided to photograph them before they totally turn to dust! Luckily this one is worse at the back,while the front just has just a couple of small holes.


Vintage Baby Dress


I love the tiny roses on this sheer fabric below. Sadly, you can see the large tears at the bottom. I'm not sure what the fabric is, but these dresses seem similar: perhaps organza?


Vintage Baby Dress


I wanted a way to display pretty baby dresses to photograph them, apart from being displayed on a doll or bear. I came up with this display stand made from a heavy candle holder, dowel rod and a decorative wire dress form. First I found a dowel rod to fit into the candle holder - I had to sand it to fit, then I glued it in with 5 minute Araldite. I spray-painted it white. This is the base.



Candlestick Repurposed Baby Dress Display


Here is the dress form, balanced tightly on a groove cut into the dowel rod. I glued on two extra pieces of thick wire at the top to hold a padded coat hanger which I can just lift out to change the dress. I took the hook off the coat hanger as it looked better. 




My vintage door makes a great background.



Here is another baby dress on the display stand.

Repurposed candle holder baby dress display






All of my most beautiful old baby clothes are packed away in tissue paper. My aim is to photograph them all gradually, and change the one on display occasionally. It takes a while to sort through and iron them ready.

It's Autumn here in Australia now, but here is one of my vases of roses from a previous Spring. The rose is Champagner.


Roses by lace Age Girl


Simply Neutrals Tuesday is happening again at Wen's blog, AppleApricot. Come over for a look at the displays of neutral - shaded beauty there.




I'm joining Vanessa and Sabrina for Nifty Thrifty Sunday this week, too.



And Lynda for Awesome Life Friday



and  Grandma ideas at Party in your PJs



Wishing you a wonder-filled week...


Jesse

15 comments:

  1. Hi Jesse, Oh the dresses are so vintage lovely~ I'm glad to know you used them for your children when they were babies! Love that idea~
    And the dress form is awesome! Great way to feature these beautiful baby garments. You are smart ; ) <3 Thanks for sharing! Hugs, karen o

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Karen, Thank you for visiting. Now I wish I'd looked for a couple of pics of my kids in the old clothes - oh well, another time! I really enjoyed your post this week, too :) Hugs, Jesse XX

      Delete
  2. these dresses are so lovely and delicate, I can just imagine the stories they hold...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes, Linda, I'm sad they are disintegrating with age. I have been hand-washing some carefully to freshen them up.
      Hugs,
      Jesse XX

      Delete
  3. These dresses are precious! I have quite a few old baby dresses that I and my sister and brother wore as infants. I think my sister and I wore them more and many of them have been carefully mended in many places. I believe the very delicate fabric they are made of is called batiste (bah-teest).

    You have done a beautiful job of photographing yours and I am inspired to do the same with mine. My favorite images from your collection are the ones where the dress is lying down with the skirts in various soft folds. But your stand is very creative too, and they look lovely on it. The tiny dress form is so sweet.

    Such fun to see these delicate pieces which have been hand-sewn in many cases. At the least, they have undoubtedly been sewn with care and love. Thanks so much for sharing them and inspiring me to do something with mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Naomi, Thanks for your feedback on the images. I like the dresses lying down too, but sometimes it's the background that is simpler then, or the textures I've used to frame them. It's easier when the background is 'clean'. These dresses are so damaged they'd probably fall apart if I hang them, and the rips would show.
      Your batiste dresses sound sweet - that's really fine. I love fine cottons. Thank you for visiting my blog. Hugs,
      Jesse

      Delete
  4. Jesse, so very lovely are the old dresses, so sad they are falling apart, they hold such beautiful memories for you. I also admire your dress form, a wonderful idea, to be able displaying the little beauties.
    Hugs from Dorthe xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorthe, thank you for stopping by to comment. Hope life is treating you well, my friend.
      Hugs,
      Jesse XX

      Delete
  5. Dear Jesse!
    Your collected dresses are simply amazing and so precious! You have a wonderful collection for sure and I love your display- so clever made and so useful and pretty!
    Hugs, Susi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Susi, but not as creative as your efforts. I must do some arty stuff soon. But tax first, I'm afraid!
      Hugs,
      Jesse XX

      Delete
  6. What a lovely post about your collection of baby dresses Jesse. You certainly have some beautiful ones there even if they are slowly falling apart with age. It is hard to know how to stop this from happening though!
    That was such a great idea in building your dressform to display the pieces. It is an art form in itself!All of these things are an expression of your own particular art so enjoy!
    Just now starting to really feel the Autumn mornings and evenings - you too?
    Enjoy these days and take care,
    Love and hugs,
    Suzy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Suzy, Yes, distinctly Autumnal now, though still seems warm for this time of year. I may try for a swim in the ocean today. I am diving in to my baby dress collection, ironing, washing, sorting, displaying and photographing. It makes me appreciate what I have, and brings back memories. At this moment I have many projects on the go, one of my problems, I think - I try to do it all at once! I try to focus on one or two, then come back to others...It's all creative and good for the soul.
      Sending love and Autumn blessings,
      Jesse XX

      Delete
  7. Hello sweetie, your vintage dresses are so so sweet and gorgeous! And what a clever way to display them! Good thing to photograph and enjoy them while that's still possible. Wising you a beautiful day and sending you big hugs and love, xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Wen, for hosting again for us. It's an exercise in gratefulness for me as I prepare each post... You enjoy your week too -my goodness, it's tomorrow again!!!
      Love to you too,
      Jesse XX

      Delete
  8. Prime Trading Company offer a tailored solution to today's garment manufacturing.Our Production range Covers

    baby girls knitted dressn
    and much more.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for your friendly comments. It makes my day to hear from you about my artworks and topics.