Let’s take a short break from my mother’s family and jump over to my father’s family. My father’s mother Marie was the Head Fitter of the 28 Shop at Marshall Field’s flagship store in Chicago for years and an artist with a needle.
From the time I was born, Grandma sewed me beautiful dresses. But I first paid attention to her sewing on Christmas the year I was four. As we opened gifts, Grandma leaned down toward me, with her pearls swinging, and handed me a huge box. The blue eyes of a doll my size stared back at me when I pulled up the lid. I named her Bonnie, after one of my favorite records, “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.”
Grandma handed me another large, but more beautifully wrapped, box. I untied the grosgrain ribbon and discovered she had sewn an array of beautiful dresses trimmed in selfsame bows and flowered beads. The beret Grandma created for Bonnie matched the pink satin-lined pale blue velvet coat.
- Bow on back of Bonnie’s velvet coat
- Pearl button closures on Bonnie’s velvet coat
When I was eight, Grandma sewed me a glorious trousseau of clothes for the imitation Barbie (Miss Suzette) my parents had given me. My doll didn’t have the requisite zebra-striped swimsuit or the Enchanted Evening gown and fur stole, but she had a copper satin cocktail sheath covered with a copper rose point lace outer skirt. Both were trimmed in copper seed beads. The wedding dress of white satin was heavily beaded with real seed pearls. A lace trimmed slip fit underneath and the veil was matching lace and beaded with the pearls. I looked for stitches to see Grandma’s tricks, but they were invisible as all good magic.
When I was away at college, my mother gave the Barbie clothes away. While Bonnie has always sat on a chair in my bedroom, for a long time I kept Bonnie’s clothes in a small suitcase in my closet, away from dust and sunlight, and reveled in the knowledge that I had preserved these treasures. After moving to my last house, I decided to put them away more securely.
Then I forgot where I put them! For years I thought they were lost. Finally, last year, I found the clothing. The only piece missing is the velvet beret. All I have left of the Barbie clothes are the memories as I don’t have a photo of them.
All these years later, my parents have given me my grandmother’s German porcelain doll and the clothing Grandma made for her.
These doll clothes represent all the beautiful clothing my grandmother designed and sewed over the years. Clothing, Art really, which is long gone.
The Family Kalamazoo 
Just stunning…and truly a remarkable treasure to have!
Too bad about the Barbie dresses….Hooray for the china doll…maybe even better. I remember making my own Barbie dresses, too poor to afford the store bought ones…nothing as magnificent as the ones your grandmother made.
Thanks for sharing this one.
Mrs. P, thank you so much for your sweet comment. I feel that way about it, too–a stunning treasure!
Having your own doll clothes that you made yourself is very special. And look at the creativity and resourcefulness you learned.
What a treasure and what a talented grandmother! 🙂
Yes, Linda, it is such a treasure. She was so talented that it’s impossible for me to really get across all she could do.
Wonderful story, Luanne. My paternal grandmother was also a seamstress and made most of my clothes for me while I was growing up. She always made me save her gift for last to open at Christmas because it would be a dress she’d made for me for something special to wear. Alas, I was more interested in horses and being a cowboy – so I’m confident I never gave her the expression she hoped to see when I opened her present. Oh, well. I LOVED her fried pineapple pies!
Hahaha, you’re right that cowboys don’t need dresses! I’m trying to image these fried pineapple pies? Waaaa? How do you make them? Do you know? And where in the world does that recipe come from? Do you have a Hawaiian lineage? hah
Oh… my goodness. I am indeed awe struck. Such beautiful clothes, such a talent and such a beautifully told tribute to the artistry of your Grandma. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much on behalf of my grandmother, Catherine. I wish she was still around to read your compliments!
What a great article! Loved it!
Thank you so much; I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Lovely post; and such gorgeous clothes. Your grandmother truly was an artist and it is wonderful that you have such beautiful treasures from her. 🙂
Thanks so much, Su Leslie! I do feel so blessed by these treasures. They help me remember my grandmother more, I think.
I think you are right; although our minds do wonderful things with visual and verbal memories, there is something quite uniquely special about being able to hold objects that belonged to those we loved and who are no longer with us. Even more so when those objects are beautiful, and so obviously made with such skill and love. A real blessing. Cheers, Su.
What talent…and what a treasure! Very nice post, thanks!
Lenore, thank you so much for your kind comments!!
I enjoyed this posting very much. The tiny thread button loops on the doll dress still look strong and unaffected by time. To some degree I think the art of sewing doll clothes has made a comeback but the level of quality output varies.
They are still strong. All her fastenings are in great shape. Any wear and tear on the fabrics themselves are because of the lousy way they have been stored. I have them folded now in acid-free boxes and acid-free tissue.
[…] special for me is how his story connects with the piece I wrote about his mother’s sewing talent. I think you’ll enjoy his […]