precious things #5

My wedding dress. A precious thing full of memories, woven through every stitch and tiny detail. A reminder of so much happiness from our wedding day. The bodice laced by my bridesmaids as I nervously waited for it all to begin. Just a glimpse of the dress reminds me of the excitement and anticipation I felt on our special day.

Now it hangs inside its cover, unzipped occasionally. A pretty dress to be admired. But I have a quandary. It has been over ten years since our wedding and whilst I love my dress, I have wondered what to do with it.

For any of you who have a wedding dress or a special item of clothing, I'd love to know what you've chosen to do with yours.

For more precious things, pop over and visit these lovely blogs.

Sarah at Mitenska
Leanne at Today's Stuff
N at Creative Academia
CJ at Above the River

precious things #4

Our nativity. My precious thing for the festive season.

I really like the simplicity of the design. Tactile white porcelain figures edged with gold. The wooden stable, so perfectly formed. A gift from my parents when we moved into our home just before Christmas, five years ago.

Like all seasonal decorations it gets packed away to be refound each December. It always makes me smile.

To see some other precious things, pop over and visit these lovely blogs.

Sarah at Mitenska
N at Creative Academia
Leanne at Today's Stuff

precious things #3

Apologies for my tardiness in posting this month's precious thing.  I very nearly missed the boat. That may be a pun too far. I do apologise. 

As I have confessed before, I do have a bit of a magpies eye. I'm drawn to pretty, shiny things. A sparkle only adds to the allure for me. I have a small collection of jewellery. Most of it, gifts from my lovely husband and family. This vintage silver charm is one of my favourites. 

I love it. The perfect shape of the ark and the tiny animals inside. Each little detail so carefully crafted in miniature. I wear it as a pendant on a necklace almost every day. A treasure given a second chance. One of my most precious things.

There are more precious things featured on these lovely blogs today. Pop over and take a peek.

Sarah at Mitenska

Leanne at Today's Stuff

N at Creative Academia

precious things #2

Crinoline ladies aren't normally to my taste. They're just a little too twee. However I make exception for this little lady. She is very special to me. 

She belonged to my great aunt Rose Ann, my grandfather's sister. She was displayed on the mantel piece in the living room of Rose Ann's cottage. Each time we visited she was taken down and I was allowed to play with her. 

She brings back so many happy memories of the house and the lovely times I spent there. My grandparents, father and I visited two or three times a year. Rose Ann was full of Irish hospitality and we were always given a warm welcome.

Her home was amazing. There were beautiful flagstone floors and a traditional open fireplace with a crook for hanging the blackened pots and kettles. A painted dresser displaying sponge ware crockery. A wooden table covered with a pretty tablecloth. And always a vase of flowers.

The exterior was whitewashed with lime and the doors and windows painted red. The roof was thatched. A typical old Irish cottage.

Rose Ann passed way in 1991 aged ninety. My grandfather kept the little lady and gave it to me. Twenty three years ago. He knew I'd love her. A really precious thing.

Pop over and visit my fellow bloggers for their precious things posts at the links below.

Sarah at Mitenska
N at Creative Academia
Leanne at Today's Stuff

precious things

I am really excited to have been asked by Sarah, a lovely blogging friend to collaborate on her new monthly series entitled Precious Things. Sarah has a beautiful blog called Mitenska, full of stunning photography and lovely writing.

So what's it all about? Precious Things is about celebrating little treasures. The things you'd want to save in the event of a fire (aside from living things of course). And recognising why they are so important to us.

What makes something precious? Precious things evoke memories of places and times past. Baby's first shoes, holiday mementos and old family photographs. All just as precious as gold or jewels.

The things I regard as precious are not necessarily valuable or expensive. They have stories attached. The stories of how they came to be mine and the memories they conjure up. They hold a special place in my heart.

For this month's precious thing, I have chosen a little silver snuff box featuring Eyebright one of Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies. After I admired it at a market stall in Covent Garden Market, my lovely man bought it for me as a surprise. It's a treasured souvenir of our last visit to London nearly ten years ago.

We both adore London but haven't visited since the Christmas after we married. Three little ones have hampered our freedom to travel. But this little trinket rekindles many happy memories. It makes me want to visit again. One day, we will.

Thanks so much Sarah. I've really enjoyed choosing one of my favourite things to share here.

You'll find the other Precious Things posts at the links below. Do pop over and take a look. I know you'll enjoy them.

Sarah at Mitenska
Leanne at Today's Stuff
N at Creative Academia