Sunday 23 March 2014

Tall enough to reach for the stars


Eldest is 12 today. 
 
Let's call her Claudia on the blog from now on, shall we?
After all, she's practically a grown up, and refers to her younger siblings as the kids.  
 
Twelve going on twenty...
 
So this is what I was doing in March 2002;
 
 
We've been perusing the photo albums (actual shiny photos, pre-digital, sorted chronologically and put in albums, just like in the olden days), which caused much hilarity.

Seldom Seen (I should call him Owen really, but Seldom Seen suits him so well) pointed at a photo of me in 2004 and said but you look so young, Mum. Then he poked me in the face and asked what happened?

Ten years and three kids, mate, that's what happened.



I don't have very clear memories of being 12, do you?
 
It was 1976, which was a famously hot summer here in the UK. I think I got my first bra, listened to Abba, wore brushed cotton flared jeans with a cropped tie-front cheesecloth shirt off the market, and longed to be a teenager. Or a grown up. Or someone other than me.
 
I reckon this dress might be from around the same time, it has a mid/late 1970s look to it.



1970s West German-made chiffon dress - vintage kilo sale
Boots - Ebay
Bangles, purple flower on the waistband, and feather headband - charity shopped
1930s-style marcasite necklace (I suppose it might actually be 1930s) - street market
Black flower on waistband - gift from Sarah



 I have the uncanny knack of selecting my floatiest dresses to wear on the windiest of days.

 We went out for a coffee en famille this afternoon, and the chiffon swirled and twirled around in the most glorious fashion.
 
 
 
 The kids took some pics of me, vying for the top spot of Best Photographer.
 
Who captured the Essence of Me, I wonder?
 

I'm so classy. 
And so grown up.
 

 
 
That's better.
 


 So happy birthday to Claudia; a fabulous big sister...
 


and the kind of bright and beautiful girl I longed to be all those years ago in 1976.

Linking up with Patti and the ladies for Visible Monday.

xxxx

62 comments:

Pam @ over50feeling40 said...

This dress is beautiful on you...its a keeper!! I love how it flows...really pretty.

Patti said...

The baby pictures of you and Claudia gave me a big awwww. Two beauties! Love the twirly dress too. Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, and stay fabulous xox.

Fashionista said...

Your frock is divine, I do love a monochrome stripe. Isn't it funny that our children think we looked young? I always ask "but aren't I still young?" Cue eye rolling.....

Unknown said...

Another wonderful dress, I'm so jealous! I was 15 in 1976 and all I remember was that it was the bicentennial here! Memory is the first to go I guess! :)

Jane said...

That dress! Perfection!
Your children are beautiful. :)

Angels have Red Hair said...

Love the dress and love the pics of Claudia with the kids ... oh ... and you are still young ... of course you are :0)
xx

Val said...

Ah, she's beautiful. All your kids are adorable! And I think you look even better with age, and with a gorgeous floaty dress.

Connie said...

Happy Birthday Claudia. 12 is a BIG DEAL! She is so pretty. She reminds me so much of those sweet spunky 1960's fashion models. And speaking of fashion models...you in that flowy dress. Just beautiful. Your children are very lucky to have you for their mother.

Fiona said...

I laughed at Owen's comment...kids eh, they've got no tact. You look pretty damn good to me in that floaty number. Glad you mentioned the flowers on the waistband I thought it was a bumbag at first! ( I'm looking at this on my phone) Lovely photo's of your gorgeous clan..Happy birthday Claudia. I was 12 in 74, I think Abba won Eurovision. One thing's certain.... I was not cool
xxx

Virginia at A Sewing Life said...

Oh gosh, 12 years ago you might not have carried off that glorious frock with nearly as much presence and elan. Congratulations on all that you have accomplished over the past 12 years, and on looking so fabulous as your lovely daughter moves toward her teen years.

Becky said...

Happy Bday to your lovely eldest, Claudia. I am crazy for old photo albums--love looking real photos & old pics!!

Penny-Rose said...

Gorgeous dress, you look fabulous. Congratulations to the 12 year old. The photo of you looking at each other is just lovely (second photo, the one on the left).

Tamera's Craft Palace said...

Happy birthday Claudia!! She is quite a lovely young lady!! All your kids are adorable! You are rather fetching in your floaty striped maxi dress!!

Helga said...

Happy Birthday, Claudia!!!! (Love that name!)
I can't remember being 12 much, except for not wanting to turn 13.....
I bloody LOVE LOVE LOVE that frock!!! It's DIVOON and HEAVENLY and you look HOT in it!!!
I reckon the pic bottom left captures you perfectly........
Love you, Mama! XXX

Goody said...

Happy Birthday to Claudia. I DO remember being twelve-it was all rather exciting being nearly a teenager. Being a teenager was kind of a let down but eh, whatever.

I can imagine someone reading this and wondering what a photo album is. Great pictures of your kids, by the way.

I like how you styled the dress with a flower at the waist. I'm stealing that idea, OK?

Sue @ A Colourful Canvas said...

Happy Birthday Claudia! I know this is your Mum's blog, but being as this is your special day, I feel I make this comment all about you! Mum says you're bright and beautiful, and beautiful you are indeed!!! {Both you and your sister look a LOT like Mum.} What country is Vancouver in? Did you get it right? I'm sure you did, you bright girl! I also see you've got your arm around your sister in these photos, so I know you are loving and protective of your sibs you call kids! You know what, your Mum is lucky to have you! Hope you had a super awesome birthday! xo

Natalia Lialina said...

My dear Curtise, happy birthday to your beautiful and charming Claudia! She is absolutely adorable, and looks a lot like you! I always, always love looking at photos of your kids. They all have incredible faces - you are a wonderful family and I can see that you have a great time just being together! I love all the photos here. The very first photos of you with the little one are so touching. Wasn't it one the greatest time of life when they were born? I will never forget how the whole world changed once and forever. One little person is born - and everything is different in the world, it's such a magic...

You are always beautiful, and you are so beautiful in this dress! Wind only helps it! Ten years and three kids made you a gorgeous woman you are today. I love the flowers, such a genius touch! Happy birthday! Wishing you all a lot of joy and a lot of love, always.

bahnwärterin said...

gorgeous kids you have!
claudia is such a cutie - happy birthday to her!
love your dress. sometimes i cant believe that they made such beautiful clothes in bad old germany. that they made clothes at all. today - like in the rest of the western world - the textile industry is disappeared. (should do a post about the "made in germany" vintage "modellkleider" i own - thank you for the inspiration)
wish you a lovely week!

Olga Rani said...

Happy birthday to your daughter, Curtise! Those family photos are so lovely. Your son's remark about "what happened" made me laugh. Kids sometimes say such funny things. Your dress is amazing, I like this kind of flowing chiffon dresses, so beautiful and feminine.

Shawna McComber said...

Awwww your children are beautiful! I love that dress and when I was 12 I would have loved it too. I remember very clearly being 12. I remember most of my life quite clearly really. It was 1979 for me. I was tall by then, at 5'7" and often called "Stilts". I was crazy about Blondie's Heart of Glass and all the songs from Grease. I liked the Bay City Rollers but wouldn't admit it to anyone. It was the year I was first allowed to wear nude tights instead of knee socks with my dresses.

CityScape Skybaby said...

Happy birthday to Claudia! All your kids are so gorgeous and full of character too, love seeing the old photos of them, and you. Your last line made me smile, I feel like that about my daughter as well, she's much more together than I was at her age. xx

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Claudia!! Gosh, I am going to admit that this post made me all teary! I remember holding my bubs and hoping that they would grow to be happy, healthy people with lots of love in their lives. I still have the same hopes but I know that they will still always be my babies no matter how old they get. I do distinctly remember being 12. Full of attitude and hormones (I was a really early developer!), covered in neon lycra and dreaming of being an Olympic gymnast and pop star. You are looking dreamy in that floaty number - absolutely stunning! XXX

Anonymous said...

Aw, what a sweet post; I'm actually getting teary. Happy bday to your beautiful girl, Claudia. I can remember 12: I remember buying my first mini at M & S ( back when they had one in Ottawa). I wore it with bright turquoise Danskin tights and my classmates called me a Valley Girl. That dress of yours is truly gorgeous - so flowy and feminine. Xoxo

Vintage Bird Girl said...

Ahh yes I remember 12 well. Fun times in floral jeans & cropped hair. My worst memory of that time would be my dental problems which took years of painful braces to fix. Lovely post, Claudia looks like she has some spunk about her, just like you. Xx

Bobbi said...

Gorgeous dress!
They grow up so fast, don't they? My son turned 15 on Friday. Do you still see your daughter as the little one she was, learning to walk and laughing in the way only toddlers can? She's beautiful! I hope you're prepared to keep all the suitors under control!

Asparagus Pea said...

We are totally time twins - I remember being 12 in 76 because that was the year we moved permanently from NZ to England. The details are crystal etched - being different, fitting/not fitting in, new schools and new ways to be. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, huh? Happy Birthday to your big girl xxx

Señora Allnut said...

you look gorgeous in your chiffon dress, lovely fabric and shape, and your dear Eldest looks cute as a button!!, so touching ol'style photographies!
Happy Birthday to your lovely girl!
besos & felicidades

Loo xx from Jumbles and Pompoms said...

Lovely pics, Curtise. My daughter was telling me that a new girl (12 years old) started year 8 last week and she was asked to remove her false eyelashes. YES! I said false eyelashes!! Blimey, when I was 12 (1974) I was still playing with my dolls.....xx

Kylie said...

You ARE classy Curtise!
Happy 12th birthday to your BEAUTIFUL big girl xxx
(and kisses to your beautiful little girl too)

Peaches McGinty said...

Happy Birthday to the beautiful Claudia! beautiful like her Mama, I love these pics, love 'em! the one of you looking face to face with baby Claudia is perfect, it captures so much love (I'm off again! I'm all misty eyed!!)
your dress is gorgeous, and I love those lace-up boots, I can't remember much about being 12 other than me having a bowl haircut and wearing braces on my teeth and wondering if Boy George would marry me, just without his make up x x x

Miss Magpie said...

Happy Birthday Claudia! what a charming son you have.

Good lord 12.....I had been living in Yorkshire for a year and a bit I don't really remember it distinctly. I do remember getting my beloved bicycle (that I still have) for my 13th birthday.

Vix said...

Happy Birthday, dear Claud! She's blossoming into an absolute beauty, just like her mum! I love that picture of you and her when she was a new born, look at that loving expression on our face.
Your dress is gorgeous, hope you had your thermals on under it, its a bit parky out there!
12? Living across the road, taping Top Of The Pops on my Crown tape recorder, buying my clothes from jumbles and being obsessed with Blondie - hardly changed!
Love you! xxxxxxxx

thorne garnet said...

awe, what a sweet post. Happy Birthday, Claudia

Emma Kate at Paint and Style said...

Ah, happy birthday Claudia! What a sweet baby she was. You have a good looking tribe there Curtise.
I don't remember much of being 12. I think I've blanked it out.
Claudia reminds me a bit of the little girl who was in The Piano. I just watched it. She's a very pretty girl, you must be very proud. xxxx

bohemian vanity said...

Happy birthday wishes to Claudia!!!
All of your kids are totally adorable!
Love your twirly frock, it suits you beautiful dear Curtise!
XX Tani

Suzanne said...

Happy Birthday to Claudia! (what a cutie!)

If I remember 12 there was angst about the whole "period" thingy and skateboarding. I didn't notice boys until I was 13 and didn't "really" like them till I was 15. Lucky for my parents. Then all hell broke loose.

I LOVE this dress and the belt. How gorgeous. What a find. Yes I am totally jealous.

bisous
Suzanne

Krista said...

We are on a first name basis now :) Happy Birthday Claudia! I am loving the picture of you as a young Mom *(what happened) that also cracked me the hell up. Life that is what keeps on happening. Watching kids grow is something I think is pretty special. Thanks for sharing yours with us! I love your family and how normal you guys are!

This dress is all kinds of vaudeville awesome!!!!! I love you honey!!!
XXXOOOOX

Dawn Elliott said...

Such beautiful children you have, Missy! And the dress - WoW! It is floaty and totally awesome! You have the best collection of cool vintage dresses of anyone!!!
(And that belt is uber cool, too.)

Pennyblossoms said...

Yay! Happy Birthday Claudia! Have a brilliant day!
Curtise you are fab! Especially in that floaty dream of a dress.
Z xx

Melanie said...

Happy birthday Claudia (one of my favourite names)!
You look beautiful in that dress, it's so pretty!
I love, love, love that picture of the three of them when they were all tiny, so sweet xxx

The Small Fabric Of My Life said...

Happy Birthday Claudia.
I was 10 in 1976 and remember dreaming of being Nadia Comeneci.
You have such lovely children.

Diane said...

I don't remember being 12 so much, but I do remember 1976 - year I left school! Happy birthday Claudia - it looks like you had a fab time xxxx

Kezzie said...

What delightful cuties!!!! You included!!! That is a gorgeous dress and I'd like to see the fascinator close up!!! X

Unknown said...

What cute pics! In love with that black and white stripe dress!

Mother of Reinvention said...

I hope your beautiful daughter had a great birthday. Mine is a teenager this week. How time flies when they are growing up. They do have no tact though. When she was wee mine grabbed my stomach when I was coming out of the shower and sang "wibble wobble, wibble wobble jelly on a plate". You really wouldn't want a thin skin round Sprogzilla, I tell you. Love your dress, stripes are brilliant and your dress is very elegant.

Mrs Bertimus said...

Love, love, love the dress! X

silvergirl said...

They grow up so fast and think they know it all don't they
Love the itty bitty baby pics!
Brett

freckleface said...

Bloglovin eats my comments!! Let's try again...
Claudia is such a glamorous name, it conjures up images of beautiful pouting Italian film stars, and with a beautiful mouth like that your daughter lives up to her name. Happy birthday Claudia! Her mother looks utterly gorgeous too, in that wonderful diaphanous gown! It's heavenly. What a coup at the kilo sale. That photo of you in the blue t-shirt with your new born babe just melts the heart. Your kids are the best! I can see you so much in all of them, can you see Simon in them too? Xxxxxxx

Sheila said...

What a beautiful young lady Ms. Claudia is! Happy birthday!

You, Curtisse, look amazing in that vintage dress - wow, just wow. I'd be swanning about all over the place in that.

Anonymous said...

I Curtise!! I miss you. I'm thinking about blogging again because my art stuff is boring me to death!! Those photos of you and your little precious girl are so sweet. I can't wait to have a grandchild, I think it will happen in the next few years. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

Pull Your Socks Up! said...

Oh the dear heart ... happy, happy birthday Claudia! What a stunning young woman you are!! I love these photos of the kids growing up, thank you so much for sharing them Curtise. Claudia has even changed in the few months since the wedding pic was taken! I hope she had a lovely birthday:). I'm batty for your frock, the frill, the swish of the skirt, the flowers on the waistband. At 12 I dreamed of owning such a glorious gown. Not much has changed really. Big hugs to you my dear. xoxoxoxo

The Style Crone said...

Happy Birthday to beautiful Claudia! And Curtise, you are lovely in your romantic chiffon dress, perfect for a windy day. The silk flower at your waist is a very special touch. Your family photos are as radiant as you!

Vanessa said...

Love all the fam shots, and that dress is glorious!

Melancholy and Menace said...

You have a BEAUTIFUL family.
So many gorgeous photographs.

Happy birthday to your dear Claudia :)

I think I'm in love with your dress! xx

Marjorie said...

Best wishes to Claudia on her birthday.

Sue said...

Your kids are gorgeous, just like their mum!!!
Oh and your floaty dress is pure heaven, and perfect for a breeze!!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday, gorgeous Glaudia! So good to know your name. Hope you have a lovely day!
Curtise, you look timeless in your black and white chiffon. Seriously. Really, all in all, a wildly attractive family! They get it from you.
For me, 12 was in 1962 ... pre-Beatles here. I remember summers at the beach in California, an adorable boy whose name I don't remember but whose face I do. Another doomed crush on a lovely Japanese boy. Lots of reading, Sunday night television habits, madras shorts and a ponytail. Not much else, but I'm old so I wouldn't!

Unknown said...

Rats. Claudia, not Glaudia. Like I said, I'm old. And not a great typist. Sorry.

at my dressingtable said...

Just wonderful pictures of you and your family, Happy Birthday wishes to your Daughter !.
Love your dress, you have some wonderful clothes Best wishes Curtise xxx

Forest City Fashionista said...

Happy Belated Birthday to the eldest, from now on referred to by her given name! She is a lovely girl - enjoy the last year before she hits her "teens" and all hell breaks loose ;)
I don't remember anything about being twelve, oddly enough. I wasn't a particularly happy kid.

I love the floaty dress - it's very pretty and festive, and also makes your boobs look great!

Veshoevius said...

Happy birthday to Claudia! And you look fabulous in that chiffon dress! I think I wanted to be Alex in Flashdance when I was 12 - not that I really knew what Alex got up to in Flashdance apart from dancing really well as I wasn't allowed to see the movie being 12!

Unknown said...

oh my that dress IS PERFECT on you! You look like a goddess in it!!! and only you can look like a creature from heaven and then add on top a denim jacket and silly face and still rock it to the stars and back! happy birthday to your lovely girl!! oh and by the way THE GODDESSES i mention in my yellow skirt post...you know you are firmly one of them dont you? Thank you xxxxxxx