Copse and Spinney

Originally published June 19, 2024, for Natural Posh Vintage (my other blog!)

It was about summer of 2000 when I realized I was expecting my first child.  Oh, the excitement! I tried to picture if it was a boy or girl, and imagine the color of hair and eyes.   One night, after I had learned from the sonogram that she would be a little girl, I had a dream that she was already born and about nine months old, and, in my dream, she had red hair and brown eyes.  I woke up that morning just sensing in my heart I was going to have a red headed little girl.  My dad and paternal grandmother both were red heads so there was a pretty good chance of it. But the red hair had skipped my generation.  

(Some of the photos featured in this journal are from the book “Jackpot 2001” a Danish fashion collection, as well as some of my own photos from the time). 

In different times in life, I have put fashion before comfort. I wore uncomfortable high heel pumps to work or hot synthetic sweaters made of acrylic, or polyester knits that don’t breathe when you wear them. At the time, I had not yet discovered the advantages of wearing natural fibers. But with more experience, I began to appreciate and place a premium on comfort; natural fiber clothing in good quality.

I recalled the high quality combed cotton was a hallmark of vintage Laura Ashley dresses.  I spent time looking on Ebay for those dear little dresses from their Mother and Child line. And sometimes, rather than focusing on brands, I just looked under a general search for the fabric itself, using words like like “wool” and “linen”. As a result, we discovered beautiful barely used clothing for my daugher and son, from brands like as Clayeux, Papo d’ Anjo and Strasburg, or Hanna Andersson, for a fraction of retail price. We often shopped for them in the off season.

We had so many hats…  

There were big floppy hats, straw hats, berets, newsboys…Ian loved to wear his hats, and rain coat.

The colors or the time were bright pinks with oranges and yellow. Leah had a long sweater dress from the Danish brand Clayeux, that she wore with brightly colored tights.

I kept the motto, “quality is better than quantity”. So, we would regularly play a game of keep or throw, with excess toys and clothing that was either too little, too itchy or uncomfortable. This was before the popular Marie Kondo method of “does it spark Joy?” But it was basically the same exercise.

My heart’s desire was for my daughter and son to both have a peaceful world and at the time I wanted life to feel as sweet and innocent as a Dick and Jane and Sally book. I longed for simplicity and order and a slower more intentional pace. The same year she came into the world, the upheaval and terror that was 9/11 took place we longed for place of peace.  

Our lives back then were filled with busy-ness, play dates, friends, lessons, and church. Maybe my younger me was too concerned about dressing myself and the kids to the nines and cared more then about keeping up appearances or… the Joneses whomever they were. I can only be kind to that younger me, a first time mom, and say, well it’s not over yet. There is more to life than clothes. But, aren’t they fun!

When I found this book memoir of 2001, (above) which was the year Leah came into the world, I savored each page. My memory was jogged by the styles of the time. I could see myself in its pages. Embroidered pieces similar to the dress I wore for her baby shower; bright and wild colors with ribbon details, such as the couple of maternity items I had gotten at A Pea in a Pod.  My mind raced, “Where did all the time go.” 

The models in the book might have been sisters, but they both had long red hair like my daughter. I remember wondering, in 2001, how she would look when she grew up.  I asked my Grandma, who was like a best friend to me and at the time was still spry. Even though, then, I did not realize that she only had about another year of life left in her. Grandma said she could just picture her grand baby grown up, with a sweet disposition, long red wavy hair, and tall. (Of course every one was tall to Grandma, who was less than 5 ft tall);   Grandma depicted her granddaughter well because that is exactly who she became! 

Although this book that I discovered on my thrifting day, is what inspired me to write, I truly am the one who hit the jackpot! And these loved ones inspire me everyday through their music, art, and loving kind hearts!