Two weddings, 90 years apart, linked by Chopin

Personalised bridesmaid gifts with a story that was 90 years in the making

I have been using recycled vintage music in my art for a while now and this summer extended that into art you can wear. I love to have a sense of connection with the music I use and that is usually down to associated memories, favourite pieces or the titles. Doing this through art you can wear and the resulting jewellery is no different.

When asked about necklaces for some bridesmaids, my first question was about the bride’s favourite composers. One of those turned out to be Chopin. I pulled out my Chopin music and on the top of almost all the music was one name and a year. That music had “from Edna” written on them all, a couple included their 12^th and 15^th anniversary, and all were gifted to her husband. How perfect that music gifted between a couple year on year would be used for a young couple at the start of their married life!

So, when you take a bride with lots to do, what could be better than a little creative calm?

With the music collaged onto the backing and hand painted, the choice was about which image to select from it. For someone with a knowledge of music, choices were made to do with the colours, the notes or even the words written on it. Each necklace would become a unique artwork to wear but with particular relevance to the person it would be gifted to. Sitting drinking coffee and talking through the wedding was an opportunity to decompress, relax and recharge while contributing a significant job to tick off the list. The resulting necklaces were then finished off with a sterling silver chain.

The bride had also done an extraordinary job of handknitting shawls for each of the bridesmaids. The shawls and necklaces unified the bridesmaids while they wore different shades of blue dresses. They were stunning!  I’m not sure they could have envisaged any more personal gifts.

The choice of Chopin as the music was even more pertinent with the connection to a similar young couple many years ago. Music special to a couple where year on year the wife had added to her husband’s music collection. But who was Edna? And who was her Chopin playing husband? Although I knew roughly when they were married there was not a lot to go on! However, when I was looking at the music a second time, one of them had been repaired and a makeshift cover made from old cardboard. Peering under the brown paper not only was there a surname but also an address. A few checks in the records confirmed that the surname and address matched someone by the name of Edna! BINGO! …. So then finding her husband was relatively easy.

Now I know that the Chopin appreciating couple were Edna and Edward Goode. I love to be able to find a story behind the music.

I have no idea how this music ended up in my collection from a couple who lived in Birmingham and later Great Yarmouth, but I’m very glad it did. I’m also grateful for Edna recycling a box addressed to her that she used for the cover when she repaired the music! I can see from records they had a daughter and then grandchildren, but none are names I recognise as being people I got this music from… that bit remains a mystery.

If ever their family read this, I hope they know that those handwritten notes on the music so many years ago have now added to the story of another young couple…. Almost 90 years later!

Chopin was a perfect choice and huge congratulations to Emmeline and Andrew.