A few weeks ago, Anne, one of my subscribers, complimented me on my doll clothes and wondered if I ever wanted to keep any of the outfits I had made. I sew for fun, but I also sew to make money and buy more fabric, dolls and sewing equipment. I don’t usually have a problem letting something go as I know I’ll be making something else and perhaps I’ll like it just as well. As I thought about her question, I had to admit, there were a couple of dresses that I just fell in love with; they went together perfectly and I loved how they looked on the doll. I may have had some reservations on a few of them, but not too terribly many…I thought I’d share a few of those very special dresses and maybe a few thoughts…
If you click on any picture, it will enlarge.
One of my very favorites…this orange and black dress, for the Dianna Effner, Little Darlings, was just perfect in my mind! I don’t think Lian had ever looked so sweet…
…until this one came along. I think it was, and still is my All Time Favorite dress ever made. I designed the pattern for this dress.
This was a Valentine dress for Elizabeth and I designed this pattern and loved how it turned out.
This “Simply White” Regency dress was way up there at the top with my favorites… (How many favorites am I allowed???)
This Christmas dress for Wren, by Helen Kish was a hard one to let go too. I’m seeing a pattern here… all of the ones I had a hard time boxing up were ones that I designed the pattern for. Maybe there was extra love and care put in them…
One last one on Nyssa. Again, another dress that I designed the pattern for. I think Nyssa looked lovely in it and it was hard to pack up. I wasn’t sure I could ever make another one that looked as sweet on Nyssa as this one…
So, to answer Anne’s question… do I ever want to keep something I’ve made for my dolls? I’d have to answer, “Yes, I do, but I don’t!” They always get sent off to the winner who decided they would put in a high bid and bring them home to their doll.
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh gosh, I don’t think I could pick a favorite among those, Jeanne! Each one is such a work of art and fits the doll so well! You certainly have a knack for getting the right dress for the right doll! Doesn’t Rebecca have any dolls with dresses you have made to keep for her daughters? I have many scraps of material from the days I made Jennifer’s dresses and outfits and meant to make doll clothes or just something from them, because they bring back so many memories, but I never had the time! And now my granddaughters are 10 and 13, so it is getting a bit late for that now.
Well, YAY, the Cardinals won! You stopped a 2 game losing streak! The rain never got here and we won, so that made for a great day! But—where were you? I couldn’t make out anybody waving!!! 🙂
HI Linda,
Thanks for your comments… Rebecca moved out of the doll stage and we sold all her things. She only “played” with her American Girl doll or Barbies when someone was here, like a cousin or someone… never on her own and she never took an interest in sewing, so it wasn’t that important to her. I first used her AG doll as my model, but that was WAY before I ever thought of having a blog and selling my doll clothes on Ebay. It was just a little hobby for me.
Yes, the Cardinals WON! It was pretty exciting when Wong hit that home run…to put us in the lead. We were up in section 442…pretty high up so no camera’s caught our waves. Kristoffer did take a picture of us and sent it into the Fan Cam, but we never saw it shown on the big screen… :o(
The thing I noticed the most was how different it was without the “commentary” that you hear when you watch it on TV… Kristoffer actually typed that part in the email I sent to you, where he said, “so much better in person.” While it was fun, I like hearing all the stats and being able to see the players up close… so I’m mixed on how I feel. But it was VERY fun for me… I had a really good time and it was a GREAT MOTHER’S DAY PRESENT!
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a great question that Anne asked you! I feel the same, I do want to keep some, but I don’t. And, when my favorites are “extra” appreciated it feels even better than if I had kept them. Do you agree, Jeanne?
I remember LOVING Wren’s dress when I saw it on eBay! The little lace top was something different and the scooped neck jumper reminded me of a Skipper jumper my mother made that I dearly loved. Also, Nyssa’s dress is very cute (I love ruffles) and the white Regency dress, and both of Lian’s. Well, they are ALL favorites of mine too. It would be hard to pick one.
Hope you had fun yesterday. The rain stayed away here and the sun finally came out. Yay! I was able to squeeze in a long (and sweaty) walk too.
HI Cindy,
I’m just like you… there will always be more and the thrill for me is seeing that they sell and knowing that they’ll be appreciated by the new owner. I don’t usually do “swaps” on the doll forums, because I really have no need for the outfits I’m sent.
Thanks for all your sweet comments on my “hardest to give away” dresses. I guess if “we” like them, chances are someone else will too!
I did have fun at the ball game. At the beginning of the week, there was an 80% chance of rain, but by last night the chance had diminished to almost nothing. We didn’t get a drop of rain, and it was nice and breezy where we sat. It was a perfect evening and WE WON! That was super!
Thanks Cindy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I can see why it is hard for you to let go of these dresses. They are each so beautifully made. The fabrics are lovely and the fact that you designed the pattern adds so much to the attachment to the dress.
I will tell you that you are so much stronger than I am because I do fall in love with too many of the dresses I make and I do keep them rather than sell them.
HI Jeannie,
Thanks so much for your very kind words about my doll dresses!
Sometimes I wish I could keep them, but I never give in…I guess if I ever started to keep them, I might be tempted to keep them all… that would never do…
I guess I kept enough of my Barbie dresses to satisfy me.
Thanks Jeannie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
What gorgeous dresses and designs! You are truly talented. I find it so interesting that you give the dresses such fabulous detail – details I would have never thought of. I love each and every dress I have gotten from you. They fit my dolls just right – and the style and material and details are simply superb.
It is interesting to see your favorites…good question from Anne. I wonder too, as Linda, does Rebecca have any doll clothes made by you?
Have a great Monday!
HI Paula,
Thanks so much Paula…your compliments have made my day! I’m so thrilled that you love every dress you’ve gotten from me. That’s the nicest compliment of all!
No, Rebecca doesn’t have any doll dresses from me… we sold her American Girl doll and the clothes that I had made for her. I wonder if I’ll sew doll clothes for my kids kids?
I”m going to try and get something done today… sewing wise!
Thanks again Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
All of these dresses are wonderful. I have hunted for applique motifs that look like lacing without success. they add so much on certain dresses. If you feel able to tell me where you found them I would love to know.
So, are you poor dolls naked as they wait for a new dress? Have your ever sewn a second one to keep? I kind of thought that you have a daughter who loves dolls. does she have some of your creations? It would be a little sad if everyone but your family gets to cherish your art. But I think you also sew full size clothing for them, so that may make the difference. I have a dear friend who is older now, and her family has expressed regret that they did not keep more of the beautiful things she made.
HI Kathleen,
Thanks for your kind words, Kathleen. My daughter is 24 and not really interested in saving any of my doll clothes for herself. I’ll just have to hope somehow I manage to make one for myself before I croak. I have lots of pictures, so that will probably have to do.
As far as the appliques go, I got the lace up ones shown in the pink, from Etsy shop, KimThayer. I did just recently order more in the black, but she is all out of the white and the pink. sorry… The other little black lace up on Lian was from Manhatten Lace in NY or NJ, and I bought it years and years ago.
Thanks Kathleen,
Blessings, Jeanne
I don’t know how you would pick a favorite dress, they are all so pretty. I would have a hard time letting them go, but you know that you will make more that are equally as beautiful. Hope that you had a great time at the ballgame with you son!
Hi Regina,
Thank you so much Regina… I appreciate you letting me know that you liked them all. Yes, I will be making more, so stay tuned!!!
We did have a great time at the game, and they WON…which made it ever better! We got home at 1am this morning, so I’m a little draggy, but when I get in my sewing room, I hope the creative juices start flowing! I’m hoping to get a lot done today!
Thanks again Regina,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a nice way to start a Monday! Your favorites are wonderful…I love the white regency dress and the tiny pink rosebud dress. Have you ever thought of selling your original patterns? To get a pattern that fits that well would be amazing.
Have a good week!
Hi Kathie,
Thanks to much for your sweet words about my doll dresses. I do try hard and I hope it shows! That white Regency dress was made from the most unbelievably soft and delicate fabric I’ve ever sewn with. It was seriously as dainty as a kleenex. I searched for months after I made it to find more of it, but never found the exact same fabric. I found one similar but it was heavier and the design wasn’t quite as small. It truly was exquisite!
Sometimes I look on Pixie Faire and it seems like there are 10 new pattern “people” each week. The market is flooded with patterns…and yes, I’ve thought about throwing my hat in the ring and doing it too, but so far I haven’t done it. It would take some time to get them together to look like a pattern as mine are usually just scraps of paper with scribbles on them. Maybe some day, but not at the moment.
Thanks for the compliment though… I’m sitting here at my computer stalking my mailbox, hoping your ultra suede comes today…
Oh wait…there he is… Hold on… It just came! The Ultrasuede is wonderfully pretty! I LOVE it and the hankie too! You are so sweet! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
My problem is that I have several layers of doll clothing in my cedar chest I made but no longer have the doll. I just liked the clothes and the sold doll paid for another doll. The one in, one out decision made early on. I never liked to collect anything, except paper dolls that later were thrown out while I was in college. My husband encouraged me to collect dolls when he discovered how much I loved them and he enjoyed going to doll shows.
HI Jan,
I know your dilemma… I’d like to have ALL the dolls so I could see if the dresses I make fit more than one doll body, but I’m like you, I sell dolls to pay for new ones… It’s a never ending problem…to keep or to sell..that is the question.
It’s fun that your hubby likes to go to doll shows with you. I think my hubby might go with me to a doll show…IF I let him go to a TOOL SHOW! (with or without me, of course!)
Thanks so much Jan,
Blessings, Jeanne
Husband understands to place his hand on a doll he thinks I might want. At doll shows he would start at one end and I at the other end. I’ve met him several times with his hand on a doll, I truly wanted. I’ve been in a few collector’s homes that had dolls in every room. Not my style. I do have two shelves in an old lawyers bookcase decorated with doll furniture, a dining room and a living room in our living room. No dolls. My little Ten Png sits on a swing in the den and I see her each day. Since one LD is Plum, Ten Ping is Peach. She could be Apricot as she does have a lovely complexion
HI Jan,
That’s interesting about you and your hubby and the “hands on” thing you do at doll shows.
I’m not a doll collector but I do keep all my dolls in my sewing room. I don’t think my hubby would like them spread out all over our house. He comes in every once in a while to see what I’m working on, but he mostly just supports my business with his compliments on my doll dresses.
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne