Friday, February 1, 2008

Show & Tell Friday

Show and Tell
Its Show & Tell Friday over at Kelli's There's No Place Like Home. Drop by for a visit and see who else is there for Show & Tell.

Oh my, what a busy, busy week! I haven't even had time to stop by and visit many of my bloggy friends. I will try to catch up this weekend. This show & tell is like some of my others, part of a family memory/memorabilia and part history lesson. I hope you enjoy it!

This is the original portrait of my grandmother Bertha Violet on her wedding day May 9, 1915. When it came into my possession it was cracked and broken as you can see. I had it framed to try and perserve it as best as it can be. She was my daddy's mother; I posted a picture on a previous Show & Tell of her holding him.


As you can see she is wearing a collar with a cameo pinned to hold it in place. A bouquet of purple and lavender violets were pinned to her dress as well. When I was given the picture my aunt also gave me the cameo she wore and a couple of lace collars that belonged to my grandmother. I had these framed and have them hanging in my bedroom.

She died when my daddy was 7 years old, so I never had the opportunity to know her personally, but I am so glad that these small items are mine to treasure and preserve for others. It will be 93 years this May 9th, since Bertha Violet wore this cameo on her wedding day.

As a point of reference 93 years ago, Woodrow Wilson was President of the United States, World War I was underway, in Washington, D.C. the first stone of the Lincoln Memorial is put into place, postage stamps cost 2 cents, and women in the United States were not allowed to vote until 5 years later, when on August 26, 1920 the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was signed into law.

I wonder if my grandmother ever voted?



27 comments:

Gattina said...

That's a very good idea to have these items framed ! It looks very special and nice. She also was a pretty girl !

ellen b. said...

Wow it's so nice that you have these treasures. The lace collar and cameo are beautiful. How smart to frame them to preserve them.

Rose of Sharon said...

What a beautiful picture! How big is the portrait? I can't believe how neat it is that you have the cameo and one of her lace collars! They look so great framed!

Thank you for sharing the little bits of history from her time period too, very interesting!

Have a blessed day! Sharon

Hootin Anni said...

Be still my heart!!!! I love everything antique and something treasured in the family!!! You have some top notch heirlooms!!! [I have a photo of my grandmother on her wedding day too, and I've often wondered why back then, the 'groom' was never photographed with the bride]

Happy show n tell Friday

Blessings from Chestnut Hollow said...

What a beautiful woman your grandmother was! The lace is absolutely gorgeous. What a great idea to frame the lace and cameo. A wonderful keepsake!

Anonymous said...

I loved your post. It was so interesting. I too have a lace collar that was my mothers but I haven't known what to do with it. Yours looks just beautiful in that frame.
Kathy b

Cheryl said...

Wow, what a treasure to have! How lucky you are to have her lace collars & her cameo pin as well! Lucky-lucky!

Jean said...

Love the picture! What wonderful treasures!

Susan said...

Oh my, what lovely, lovely treasurers. Thanks for the history lesson, too. We need to remember how far we have come. I know for sure your grandmother never dreamed a woman would be running for President. I know my mother didn't.
Susan

Julieann said...

What an excellent Show and Tell--I always enjoy my time coming here. Bertha Violet was a beautiful lady:)

Julieann

nannykim said...

That is so awesome!! To have both the picture and the pin--wow--hard to believe---and so old!!

Constance said...

Neat story! I love the how you have the cameo and some of her flowers! There are many places that do restoration work, have you considered it? I am in the process of having my grandmother's trunk restored and I am antsy to see the results! Once I get it back, it'll be a S&T Friday entry!
Connie

Anonymous said...

What beautiful and meaningful treasures. Thanks for sharing.

j said...

This is a WONDERFUL post. how prescious those items must be to you. I have a photo of my grandmother and grandfather inside of a collar that she crocheted (like a mat, sort of). They were young and beautiful and I love that photo. Thank you for sharing - Jennifer

Rebecca said...

Oh how special! I would have framed these things too. Thanks for sharing.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

What a beautiful Show and Tell! The portrait is very special and I love the way you framed the collar and cameo!

Katherine

Rosa said...

Amazing pieces that are indeed priceless. The collar and cameo with the picture of her wedding day is breathtaking. You are so fortunate. PS Very nice to meet ya!

cherished*vintage said...

Hi Sandra! I love the way you have displayed your Grandmother's lace collar and cameo. I too posted about my Grandma's cameo today.
-Karoline

bluemuf said...

Lovely post. The lace collar with the cameo is beautiful

Karen

Cathy said...

What a beautiful picture of your grandmother and such special treasures! Great show and tell!

Cathy :)

Betty said...

What a marvelous gift to receive...the picture, the cameo, the lace collars, the memories you've been given....I'm just sorry you weren't able to know your grandmother personally.....

Thanks for visiting with me...Betty

Liz Harrell said...

Wow. That's pretty incredible to think about women not voting. Bertha Violet (I just love that name) was a very pretty woman.

Thanks for the sweet comment you left for me the other day. I really appreciate it...

Beki - TheRustedChain said...

Wow! Now how cool is that?

Anonymous said...

I could have sworn I left a comment here...I read the post...oh well...

It is so awesome that you have treasures such as this!

Unknown said...

What wonderful treasures!! I enjoyed reading about them... Have a great weekend!

Jen

Back Through Time said...

I love your show and tell!!! What treasures of your family's past
Michelle

Anonymous said...

I had to sit out last week, but I was scrolling through your blog after visiting this week's S&T and saw this. It's just beauitful: I love both lace collars and cameos. What a beauitful way to display them and what a sweet way to remember your grandmother.