Snowy Kiss

     This snowy picture explains itself. They're walking in the snow, taking pictures of all the natural loveliness around them. And then the moment arrives and another photographer caught that moment -frozen- for all of time.

   

 This crocheted, 3 inch square was included in a box of buttons, clasps and pins that I bought at a yard sale. The little flowers in the corners are a brilliant pink. Delicate handwork - a token of love.

WE ARE FAMILY

    It looks like a simple wedding party photograph. The beautiful bride sitting on her lacy throne. The handsome groom on edge. And the parents, who stand by their offspring in almost identical stances. The mothers strike a sassy pose. The bride's father possessively touches her chair while the groom's father has his hand on his son's shoulder in support. It's kind of a study in family symmetry.

   

    This is a Made in France postcard. It consists of a thin fabric which has been embroidered with this sweet sentiment - "To My Dear Sweetheart." The fabric was then glued to card stock; ready to send to a dear sweetheart.

ROYAL COUPLE

When I came across this picture, I was sure that I had stumbled onto a photograph of royalty. The only identifying marks were attributed to the photographer. Though this couple is unknown, this is a picture of elegance. Actually, in Victorian times, it was not unusual for women to wear navy blue wedding dresses. And oh, those beautiful flowers.

Several years ago, I was in Riley's Antiques Emporium in Greenfield, Indiana. In the back of this establishment, they had an area that is all textiles. I was looking through a huge box of fabric and knitted remnants, when I pulled out this crocheted heart strip. I was stunned by it's beauty and craftsmanship. Of course one wonders what the artist had intended for this lovely item.

SWEETHEARTS

A sweet photograph of a 1960's couple. Is it goodbye or is it hello? 

This is one of the most unique wedding certificates in the Museum of Love and Marriage collection. It's basically a three part document. It has the license at the top. The marriage contract is in the center of the document and the marriage certificate is at the bottom. This is the wedding certificate for Howard Parmenter and Minnie McKean. Married on June 5, 1878. Officiating was judge Pane Hilden.

WHO'S THE BOSS?

This little tintype was found in an antiques store in Noblesville, Indiana. I think the thing that attracted me to it is the look on the woman's face. She looks a little miffed. A body language expert mighthave some insight into how her hand is possessively laying on her man's shoulder.

Notice the wrinkle in the screen behind them? This photograph was probably taken outside of their home by a travelling photographer.

    I found this little bride doll (approximately 8 inches tall) sitting on a table at a yard sale. I loved the way the ribbons circled her bridal dress. Her head falls off occasionally but what bride hasn't lost her head on her wedding day?

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The course of true love never did run smooth.

POWER COUPLE

An elegantly dressed couple is ready to have their photograph taken. Taken during the Victorian Era, a time when people avoided touching in public, yet these two appear comfortable holding hands. Actually, it was how sweetly they held each other's hands that drew my attention to the photograph. Her gloved hand inside his huge clasp; so sweet and comforting.

A handmade valentine from the Victorian Era. This three dimensional beauty has hearts, flowers, butterflies and cherubs. It also has a beautiful sentiment printed on the front of the card; "Life bear for you it's sweetest flowers."

AUNT LAURA AND HUSBAND

This item is actually 3.5 by 5.5 inches in size. It's a tintype of "Aunt Laura and Husband." Tintypes were a process of printing imagery on metal. The photograph was probably taken during the late 1800s. The tintype is glued to a sweet card marked "Lovingly Yours" with the image of Aunt Laura and Husband encircled with a heart. A sweet gift to a lucky niece or nephew.

Printed in the early 1900's, this wedding certificate features a bride and groom being joined in Holy Matrimony by the minister. They stand under a lucky horseshoe. A couple of cherubs hold the banner, ready for a deserving couple to record their details. Two hands shake below the banner and "Good Luck" is offered to the lucky couple. A chain encircles the entire bridal party. The bows outside the chains are simply a gorgeous graphic detail.

I GOT YOU, BABE

In collecting items for the Museum of Love and Marriage, it seemed like a fun idea to find celebrity couple's magazine covers. This TV Guide cover is from July 1973 and features Sonny and Cher as they gallivant for the camera. Two years later, their television show, The Sonny and Cher Show, ended when their marriage ended.

These two necklaces are shaped like envelopes. The one on the right carries a special message; I Love You. The message that the "envelope" on the left contained is missing. They are both charming and seemed to me to be perfect for the Museum of Love and Marriage. Just a little touch of love.

MARY CHARLIE

This photograph, in it's creative, homemade frame, highlights the big day for Mary and Charlie. This unusual frame is a piece of glass that is painted on the back side and then a glittery glue was applied to the front side to emboss around the photograph. Another wonderful Ebay find.

A handmade, folk art box sits propped atop a door handle. It has a whitewashed surface with a pink bow on the knob of the lid. It also has pink rickrack around the outside edge. A lot of charm in a little box.

ALL TIED UP

The wind is blowing a small, gentle breeze. The wedding party stands ready to have their photograph taken. The happy couple sit side by side and then her veil begins to act up. He takes the corner of the veil just as the ribbons from her bouquet wrap around his legs. Now they are wrapped together in an intimate, wedding cocoon. Sweetness.

I found this wedding cake topper was found at an estate sale. It definitely has a homemade look about it with the heavier wire on the flowers and the arches misaligned with the base seams. And maybe the proportions - flowers, bells, people - are a bit off the mark. Yet there is a quaint beauty to this couple as they stand ready for the cake cutting.

OH, PIONEERS!

Here they are, an unknown couple, forever captured with him taking it easy and her at attention. To me, this pioneer couple present a strong image. They are a team. The decisions have been made and they are ready to tackle any task. And they are not joking around.

This box was donated to the Museum of Love and Marriage several years ago. It is handmade and has ceramic heart shaped tiles on the lid. It measures approximately 6 inches by 4 inches and is 3 inches deep.

HAPPY DAYS!

 It was their 50th anniversary; December 31st - New Year's Eve - 1871 until 1921. This little picture pin, measuring about 1 inch in diameter features the photograph of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Swank. There was probably a big celebration as pins like this were often handed out as party favors for the guests.

A friend of mine once asked why I collect bride dolls for the Museum of Love and Marriage. To me the answer seemed simple. Perhaps not so much in this day and age, but it use to be common for young girls to receive bride dolls. Girls were encouraged from a young age to dream of the time when they would become a bride. This doll measures about 15 inches tall and was popular during the late 1950s.

PICTURE DAY

Most, if not all, official museums, keep diligent records of where items come from. They have names and dates and any other factoid possible. I try to do the same. However, sometimes a picture just talks to me.

I do not have the names or dates on this picture. It's just a sweet couple, all dressed up for picture day. A special, exciting day for both of them. Barely noticeable is his hand on her waist. And oh, her fancy hat!

The amazing thing is that even though this looks like a studio background, they may have been sitting outside, in their yard, as a travelling photographer snapped the picture. Wouldn't that be something? Getting dressed up to go outside and have your photograph taken.

 I started collecting wedding certificates in the hopes of being inspired to create a modern day line of wedding certificates. Most of today's wedding certificates are reprints of old ones or just torn from a pad of 100 to be filled  out at the courthouse or by the officiating individual. This particular wedding certificate was printed by the original Currier and is copyrighted 1848. It is the wedding certificate of Daniel G? Bloom and Ether Rishel (though I wonder if her name was actually Esther). They were both from Danville, Pennsylvania. Married on what looks like February 28, 1849 at Northumberland, Penn.  by M.J Allerman, the Lutheran pastor. The union was witnessed by Daniel R. Rishel and Emily Ann McMicah. The writing is very faded so I am giving my best guess at the names. The certificate is hand colored and has a to do list from the Bible for both bride and groom in the side panels. A sample from the husband's side -"A man shall cheer up his wife." Deut. 24:5. From the wife's side - "Let every woman have her own husband." 1 Cor.7.2.

A Winter's Wedding

     I can just guess what this is all about. It's winter because there is snow on the roof. There's snow on the ground too but sometimes sand looks a lot like snow, especially in black and white photographs.  Of course the trees are bare - so it is winter.

     A large congregation gathers to witness the joining of this couple in the bonds of Holy Matrimony. The group is composed of all ages - young and old - all here for the wedding day.

    Now they are all outside for a picture. My guess is that there wasn't a flash on the camera. The photo came out precious in spite of the cold.

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Wedding cake topper donated by my daughter, Kora Nadler. This lovely pair of redheads stand surrounded by silk flowers.