Friday, March 15, 2013

Starting New Traditions & a Blessing Blanket


Do you have family traditions? We do too. I try to be careful not to over load the family with following too many of them because family traditions can become chores rather than blessings. When we were expecting our first grand child, I wanted to have a gown and blanket for each child to use on their Dedication Day at church; like a Christening gown. A new tradition to follow.




At the time of our first grand child's arrival, I was working full time and there was no way I could fit the sewing of a gown and matching blanket into my schedule. So I turned to a loving friend that sews beautifully and asked her to make one; she did and the craftsmanship is fabulous! It is my hope that it will be passed down and used for generations to come.



I wanted this gown to look like a family heirloom too, so I choose an off white silk. Yes it was expensive and worth every penny! The fabric does wrinkle, and my mother would fuss at me for photographing it without ironing first. I kinda like the wrinkling though. Look at the sweet embroidery on the yolk. 





There is a matching bonnet.


And there are folded pleats at the hem of the gown where I can one day embroider the initials and birthdays of each grand child that uses it. (when I am old and the kids are grown :)  

The blanket comes in handy for the boys if mom and dad are afraid the gown is too fussy to for them to wear.


One day when I was cleaning the closet I took out the gown and blanket. I was thinking how sad that something so beautiful was stuck in the closet after one use per child. It might not be used for years until the next generation arrives. (That is if I don't have any more grand kids. I think I will though, one or two ;)



Then I had an idea; the blanket could be re-used to start a new tradition! A Blessing Blanket that is wrapped around the shoulders of a birthday child and a blessing spoke over them by their family and friends! Now we have a new tradition to follow in our family, one that is very cherished and looked forward to by each child. 

Cousin giving the birthday girl a blessing; I love it! The birthday girl held on to some of her new toys while she was blessed :) 



 Mom blessing her sweet birthday girl.



What is a blessing? Here is a link, and here is another, if you would like to read their definitions of a blessing. We speak words of encouragement, good things we wanted to happen for them. We ask that God direct and protect their lives. We tell the birthday child what we liked best about them and why they are special to us. Sometimes some one will say something funny for a blessing, and that was ok; we all laughed! Some times we were very serious and shed a few tears. It is a wonderful way to draw those heart strings tighter, wound around to gather us all together in deeper love for each other. 

Gee, I would love to have that blanket around my shoulders and be blessed by my family too; maybe I should extended it to the adults as well! What are your most cherished family traditions?



I link at these parties. 



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58 comments:

  1. I love the idea of a blanket! I am now following your blog from the Pinterest party :-)

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  2. What an absolutely beautiful family tradition! The grandchildren will have so many wonderful memories of having blessings spoken over them that they can carry with them the rest of their lives. The gown and blanket are beautiful, too!

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  3. What a wonderful tradition and such a sweet gift, too! Just love that picture of the cousins sharing such a special sentiment.

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  4. Beautiful beautiful new tradition....the Lord has to be so proud of you creating this for your family!!Blessings!

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  5. What a great idea. These are beautiful!

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  6. Oh Connie the gown itself is beautiful but coming to the blessing part of it I got all teared up...what a precious idea and the photo of it actually happening is just wonderful!

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  7. Happy Country Whites Weekend! Thank you kindly for embracing your country whites and sharing at the party. The gown is so beautiful, I actually thought it was vintage. This post is so touching and it must be a blessing to just be a member of your family. Have a wonderful weekend!
    Farmhouse hugs,
    Cindy

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  8. These are beautiful and worth every penny and more. Families are blessings.
    Thank you for sharing your tradition.

    We may have met by chance...but we become friends by choice.
    http://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-mac-n-cheese-bacon-grilled-cheese-sandwich/

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  9. I like the idea of the blessing blanket. Your christening gown is very sweet!
    Sherry

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  10. Lovely christening gown! My mother wants to embroider the names and dates at the bottom, we just haven't gotten to it yet. Growing up she had a family gown that was passed to everyone (she had LOTS of cousins) and it was embroidered. Things like that are so special.

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  11. Love the idea of a blessings blanket.
    And oh my, what a gorgeous christening gown.
    Tam

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  12. so beautiful, and a wonderful idea.

    blessings
    barb

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  13. Beautiful gown! Beautiful tradition you started. Thank you for joining Country Whites Weekend! We have some wonderful posts and yours was certainly one of them! Be sure and check back this Friday for the features!
    I'm a new follower from The Country Farm Home!
    Blessings from the Farmhouse,
    Dru

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  14. How sweet ... I love old fashioned christening gowns. It was never part of our family growing up but I love checking out the gowns others pick for their children.

    Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
    Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. :)

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    www.raising-reagan.com

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  15. Oh my goodness. The gown is absolutely beautiful. I love this tradition you have started. The fabric is beautiful and I like the wrinkle look as well. :)

    Thank you for linking up to Raising Imperfection!
    Make sure to check back on Friday to see if you were featured.
    Leslie

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  16. It does look expensive, and it does look worth every single penny! This is lovely.

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  17. What a great idea to use the blessing blanket each year. It's beautiful.
    Visiting from Raising Reagan's link party!

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  18. I love both of the ideas, the christening gown and blanket for each child and I specially love the blessing blanket, must make every person feel so loved by the whole family.
    Thanks for sharing your family traditions.
    Michele

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  19. Beautiful gown...and blanket! My mil made a gown for my daughter but I purchased my son's. I have a shadow box for each one and they are mounted on the wall in my hallway! That's a super idea about the initials! Have a blessed week!

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  20. What a lovely gown! And I love the idea of the blessing blanket. I don't know that we have a lot of traditions. When the kids were little they slept out by the tree the first night that it went up, but once they got into high school it wasn't so "fun" anymore and they chose their own beds instead. But hopefully they will pass that on to their children someday.

    We take our picture in front of the Christmas tree every year. We always take a midnight walk in the snow the first time we have a really great snow. We've been waking them up to do that since they were little kids and we still do it (although sometimes they're waking ME up, lol!).

    I'm sure the minute I finish blogging I will think of more, lol! My oldest is big on tradition and sometimes we have traditions that I didn't even know about but he now calls a tradition, lol!

    Thanks for linking up to "Making Your Home Sing Monday" today!

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  21. So beautiful! I can't wait to start traditions like that. Although I had a very happy childhood, we didn't have a lot of family traditions. Thanks for sharing!

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  22. I love your dedication gown. It's lovely. I have baptized my children in the same gown that I was baptized in and I hope they will do the same. Such a wonderful tradition. Here's a post that I did on mine! http://blessedlifeatopacakestand.blogspot.ca/2012/05/another-non-creepy-heirloom-baptismal.html

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  23. I love this idea. However, my sons and grandson's were not very tender hearted. I had to learn to give up my often, Norman Rockwell version, dreams of traditions. I adapted and let my rough and tumble grands guide me. We now have the special birthday elbow touch..the birthday boy and Granny touch elbows, a special sound is made, and birthday boy announces his age and what he's learned since last birthday. I works.

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  24. What a great idea! Love that little dress. Thanks so much for linking up to Monday Funday!

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  25. I think this is just the best post!

    That dress and blanket is stunning - and I love you were thinking ahead and now using the blanket as a blessing blanket- to clever.

    What child wouldn't feel extra special and close to God wrapped in that beauty?

    Neat, just so NEAT!

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  26. What a beautiful family tradition ... and a beautiful dress. Stopping in from the GRAND Social.

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  27. How beautiful! It DOES look like a family heirloom. You are so talented!

    Congrats on the blessing of your grandchild!

    Hugs x
    Crystelle
    Crystelle Boutique

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  28. Beautiful! What a lovely family tradition! And your grandchildren are precious.
    Thanks for sharing at A New Creation link party!

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  29. What a gorgeous heirloom Christening gown and blanket for your family to treasure for generations to come! And don't worry about those wrinkles... they are the mark of fine fabric.

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  30. So Sweet! Thanks for Sharing at Show Me Your Plaid Monday's!

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  31. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing at my Twirl & Take a Bow Party! Have a great week.
    Leslie
    House on the Way

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  32. Connie, I really LOVE this idea. I'm so glad your thumbnail caught my eye at The Scoop link party. What a great idea to use a blessing blanket for birthdays, and even better that it makes that blanket that much more special. Maybe I'll start this tradition for my own grandchildren someday. Oh, and the gown is exquisite! Thanks for sharing!

    Debbie

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  33. Such a beautiful tradition you started. My girls all wore the same Baptism gown that I wore. I hope my grandchildren will do the same. As I am writing this I am wondering where the heck it is? I hope my Mom has it since I am notorious for losing stuff.
    xoxo tiffani
    www.tiffanigoff.com

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  34. What a great idea, so beautiful. Thank you for linking up at Fluster's Creative Muster. Hope to see you next week!

    Robin @ Fluster Buster

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  35. Found you from the Adorned from Above Blog Party! Very nice post and a beautiful family tradition. I am a new follower! Would love you to visit me at www.musingsodfavintagejunkie.blogspot.com

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  36. what beautiful traditions! love this post - thanks so much for sharing!

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  37. This is such a sweet post!! Thanks for sharing. We appreciate your participation in our weekly Link Up Party on Thursdays that just opened!! We tend to attract moms and I'm sure our readers would love to see this post. Hope to see you there at allthingswithpurpose.com. We are your newest FB like!

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  38. What lovely traditions. Great post and a great blog. I am visiting you via No Minimalist Here. I would love for you to stop by My Dream Canvas. I am hosting a Giveaway for my blog's birthday. Please join in if you like it :)

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  39. Pretty gown! Thanks for sharing @ Submarine Sunday!

    T'onna

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  40. Loved your post, the gown and blanket......we have a lot in common...loved your blog...found you at Trendy treehouse and Yara is my daughter....,I would love to have you visit me at pinecreekstyle.blogspot.com
    Following you with Style, NeeCee

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  41. What a lovely touching post. The gown is delightful. I love the tradition of a Christening. What better way than to have a gown to hand down to all the generations. The idea of the Blessing blanket is so touching. x

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  42. This is such a lovely tradition. And what wonderful and gorgeous keepsakes.
    Mary Alice

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  43. Aaaawww! The Christening gown is beyond beautiful...just stunning. Most touching, though, was the blessing blanket. What a truly lovely tradition. Thank you so much for sharing. Catherine

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  44. What an awesome tradition!! The gown is beautiful. I love the blessing blanket and adorable photo. Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent! So thrilled you shared with us! Happy Friday!! YAY!! :)
    hugs
    Kathy

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  45. What a beautiful gown. Love the blanket and your "new" tradition of using it for birthday blessings -- what a sweet idea! Thanks so much for sharing on Busy Monday!

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  46. How beautiful. So important to have family traditions.

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  47. I have read a lot about the impartation of blessings. This tradition is priceless. Over the generations, the benefits will show.

    Interestingly, my Jewish mother-in-law probably did not understand what she was doing years ago but she was with us for dinner and out of the blue she said "Blessings on this house and those within it." I seized the moment and said "amen". I knew it was inspired and it was powerful.

    Your tradition of the blessing blanket, Connie, is superb. Thanks so much for sharing this link on my Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop. I would have missed this treasure if you hadn't. :)
    Blessings,
    Sinea Ducks ‘n a Row

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  48. Beautiful blanket and gown, and a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing on The Creative HomeAcre Hop! Hope to see you tomorrow at:
    http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/03/the-creative-homeacre-hop-8.html

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  49. I think you should throw that blanket over your shoulders and receive blessings from your family ... just because.
    What beautiful items and wonderful traditions!
    I'm visiting by way of Sarah's Homemaking Link Up (Link #63). If you hop over to my blog by this comment, just scroll down a bit for Kids & Kupkakes post.

    Thanks! Jenn

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  50. Connie, what a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing this at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. You will be one of the features on Monday! Hope to see your prettiness again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  51. A touching idea. The gown set is just beautiful. A heirloom for sure. The cousin blessing is precious memory. I'm happy you have pictures to preserve the moment.

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  52. The gown will surely be a cherished treasure. I loved having a special outfit and blanket for each of my children when they were blessed. Family traditions are what ties us all together with love. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  53. A lovely idea. What a wonderful tradition to be passed on, one that your children will remember forever.

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  54. Oh my gosh Connie, This is so beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing with Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop. Have a great week.
    Debi, Charly, Marci, and Suzan
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com

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  55. What a lovely idea and tradition. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  56. I am thinking of doing a tradition passing unto my daughter to her daughter's daughter. This is a very lovely tradition you have with your family.

    I am pinning this. I would like to invite you to join Pin It Monday Hop Where you pin and get pinned (Link) . Followed you via Pinterest, GFC and added you to Feedly. If you get a chance, I'd love for you to stop by and join us. I hope to see you there.

    Judy
    http://www.pursuitoffunctionalhome.com/
    http://www.kusinaniinday.blogspot.com/

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  57. Beautiful gown and blanket. I like the winkle look too.
    Thanks for sharing

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  58. We have a tradition for Easter. Each new household gets a chook, some kind of chicken decor item, which holds eggs for easter. It does not matter how unsightly it is, you cherish it as your easter chook. Thanks for sharing and linking up with Eat.Pray.Love this week :)

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