Before I forget, one of my customers reminded me of a purse I made for her a few years ago to go with a Samantha dress. I didn’t remember to use it in yesterdays post, (HERE) so I thought I’d at least show it… It was very pretty…and my daughter, Rebecca made her a lovely necklace to match it.
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I used to make and sell my little girls dresses at a shop in a nearby town and actually did quite well there for 2 years. I sold almost 400 dresses in that time and was very busy delivering dresses at least once a week. When the coal mines in the area shut down, most of the customers who bought my dresses at this shop were forced to stop buying them.
When Rebecca was little I used to have her try on everything I made before I took it to the shop to sell…it didn’t matter if she was a size 3 and it was a 7…she was still my model. Sometimes she looked like she had just gotten out of bed and sometimes it looked like she was just learning how to smile for the camera.
Speaking of cameras… the one I had 20 years ago wasn’t much to speak of…and my pictures are a true reflection of that. I hope these pictures make you smile on this Saturday morning.
This next dress set was one I made for a local doctor in town. She bought I don’t know how many mother daughter dress sets from me for years and years. When her little girl outgrew them she would pack them away in a trunk to save them as heirlooms. One windy night lightning struck their house and it burned to the ground. She just cried when she told me how she lost all those dresses I’d made her. This was a Christmas set one year and was probably my favorite. It was a gilded (gold outlined) print in lavender and green with a dark green velvet collar on both dresses. It was very pretty…
Her little girl and my daughter were best friends, so I figured it was okay for Rebecca to try on her dress for a picture or two.
Here are some other pictures of some past things I made for others… these 2 little twin girls wanted dresses from me so their grandma surprised them with dresses with matching doll dresses…
…and speaking of “matching” outfits… here are a few more that I made…
This black and red outfit was one where I sewed all those squares together like quilt blocks and then sewed the rows together to make each ruffle. It was bright and colorful…
Well, that’s a trip down memory lane for me… I hope you enjoyed it as well…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, first off – Rebecca is just darling! As a little girl and now as a grown woman. Precious daughter…. and that beautiful red hair. WOW !!
I do remember so many of the styles shown in the dresses you made. They all are so sweet and innocent with full skirts, puff sleeves and lace trims. They are my favorite which is why my grown kids tell me I am “so old fashioned”. This, my LD’s benefit from!!
I love the matching Christmas dresses for your doctor and her daughter. Such a sad thing that they were all lost to a fire. A heartbreak for them and you.
You have provoked lots of memories. I will have to go pull out some pictures and reminisce myself.
Hi Jeannie,
Yes, I have to agree, my daughter is one Little Darling herself! Her hair is still that bright red today!
My hubby used to call my style “Country Romantic” dresses. I think it’s fairly safe to say he was pretty much right on the money with that one.
I hope you have fun going through your pictures and find your own “memory lane” to go down.
Thanks Jeannie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Such darling outfits, Jeanne—and that darling model too! What gorgeous hair she has! That purse is fantastic too. What kind of dress went with it?
I remember dresses like that, and also made a mother-daughter outfit for my daughter back in 1975 or so. It was red and cream, maybe beige, with lots of puffy sleeves, lace and ruffles, you know, those Gunne Sax dresses? It took forever to make them though, and it was close to Christmas, and I was still sewing several days before! Never again, too much to do before the holidays! But the memories were so good, and at least I can say I did it once!
Morning Linda, or maybe afternoon to you!
Yes, I think I’ll keep MY model…
The red purse went with a Samantha dress….very Victorian.
Yes, I remember the Gunne Sax dresses… my wedding dress was made from one of the Gunne Sax patterns. I got married in 1981 so the styles were still popular I guess.
Those patterns did have lots of pieces to them and all sorts of extra details. If you took it step by step you could make a beautiful dress, but sometimes those steps just seemed like extra busy work…
Blessings to you, Linda,
~ Jeanne
What sweet memories you have of all your sewing and your adorable girl. You were (are) one busy lady, Jeanne! Thank you for sharing your photos. Those styles and fabrics take me back.
That little red AG purse is too cute. Is that a plastic decoration that you sewed on with beads? It turned out so pretty.
Hope you have a beautiful Saturday. We are in for another 60 degree and sunny day I think! Love it!!!
Hi Cindy,
Looks like another “Country Romantic” comment-er? Did you wear those style of dresses as well, Cindy?
I found a metal finding in the jewelry department at Hobby Lobby that was bright brass. I used some antique Rub n Buff on it and turned in more of an antique gold, then stitched it on with some glass beads using hidden stitches. I have to say it was very pretty and it went with a Victorian dress for Samantha.
The rain finally stopped for the most part; just a bit of misting going on, but no sun for us…cloudy and slightly cool.
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, your daughter made such an adorable model. 🙂
Thank you Christine,
Yes, she’s a pretty model and she could have been one…she’s 5′ 10″ tall.
Blessings, Jeanne
Lovely dresses, Jeanne, and Rebecca is the most beautiful doll of all.
Hi Jevne,
Thanks for the compliments on the dresses AND on my very own Little Darling!
Have a wonderful day!
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, just have to get back with you! Your daughter is 5’10? Well, mine is about 6′ tall in stocking feet, and I am 5’9″! My son is 6’3′ and my hubby 6’2! It is so nice to see that my family isn’t the only family in the clouds!!
HI Linda,
I’m in the land of giants around here… my hubby is 6″4″ and Rebecca probably would have been 6′ too, but she followed in her mom’s footsteps and had scoliosis. The curve in her spine knocked her down a bit. She has 2 rods and 16 screws in her back but still a bit of a curve that made her just short of 6′. The doctors projected her to be between 6′ and 6’1″. I’m a mere 5’4″ but my scoliosis probably knocked me down about 2 inches.
Oh well… I’m closer to the ground this height!
Thanks for letting me know that extra tidbit about your family! I love it!
Blessings, Jeanne
You daughter has the most beautiful hair! What a pretty little girl! I love the matching “dolly and me” dresses–I’ve made a few of those myself. I am going to have to give the purses a try.
Thank you Carolyn, for the nice compliments on my dresses and my daughter! She’s my favorite doll!!!
Yes, do give the purses a try and see what you come up with.
Blessings, Jeanne