I was once again racing against the clock trying to get Lian’s Christmas dress finished and listed on Ebay this evening. (Fortunately I made stir fry for lunch and had enough left over for dinner…so that was a quick fix.) I got her dress listed on Ebay at 9:05 p.m….a little later than what I normally like to list things, and do you know why I was running late? Because I had taken so many pictures of Lian in her dress…we’re talking one-hundred-fifty-six photos…and they were mostly all GOOD! That’s the problem I had… she was so cute in most of them that I had a hard time narrowing it down to the 20 or so that I used. (I liken it to picking out your wedding pictures from all the proofs…it was HARD!)
Then I got them all cropped and ready to go and remembered I told Isabelle and Janie they could try the dress on and I’d take pictures of them. Well, that slowed me down even more… but I did it. Of course in the Ebay listing, I already had so many of Lian , that I only have one apiece for them…so I might have to make up for it and show you a few more here. They were NOT happy with me…
I think Lian looks absolutely adorable in this dress…it’s funny, but when I was selling little girl’s dresses at my local Farmer’s Market, black dresses (prints…) were very popular with my customers… I think there’s something timeless about black…Lian’s dress could be worn now or back in Samantha’s day (1904) and still be fashionable…
After I got the dress completely finished with the lace in the back fixed, I had to decide how to “embellish” it. Right when I was working on it, I got an email from Susette… I guess my idea has already been used before… :o) This is a Christmas dress she got for her granddaughter… isn’t she sweet?
Okay, so do you want to see some darling pictures of Lian in her dress?
[If you click on any picture, it will enlarge.]
OH…something just for fun… If the winner of this dress is one of my subscribers, I’ll sweet talk my daughter, Rebecca, into making a little pearl bracelet to go with this dress. I thought it needed a little “bling.”
I found this little Christmas tree water globe and just couldn’t resist…
See, I told you she was a living doll in it, didn’t I? That’s why I had such a hard time narrowing down my pictures…
Okay, now here’s a few of Isabelle and Janie… like I promised them…
(Sorry Isabelle, I know you are much cuter than these pictures portray you. My lighting was wrong for you… I’ll make it up to you next time.)
Now, if you’d like to be transported to the Ebay listing, you can click HERE.
I just realized this evening that I left a very special doll dress off my Christmas dress list…the “Civil War Christmas Dress!” I’ll have to add it in somewhere. But next up is Felicity…
Don’t forget, Nyssa’s dress, “Frosted Silver Reverie” ends this evening on Ebay.
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
It’s the details — always the details. The headband is wonderful — it looks so simple and probably wasn’t — and the tiny pearl buttons in the back. It’s lovely on Lian, but just as lovely on Janie and Isabelle. You are right about black on little girls. I think it works because their skin is so perfect and the black shows that off, something that is nicely illustrated by the picture of Susette’s granddaughter.
Now for Felicity. I wonder if you’ve chosen that beautiful green fabric for her. There’s always something to look forward to on your blog. I’m waiting to see the Civil War Christmas dress too.
HI Marilyn,
Thanks so much for your sweet compliments on Lian’s dress. It truly was a fun one to make…aside from the slippery velvet… In person Isabelle and Janie look sweet in it, but Lian just looks outstanding it the black… it was tailor made for her…
I can’t remember which green fabric I may have said would be for Felicity. I’m going to have to look back at my posts and see which green fabric you meant.
Thank you Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, oh, oh, Jeanne, that’s all I can say about this gorgeous dress! It just takes my breath away! Yes, like Marilyn says, the details many times make the dress, but this dress can work without them too I think! But oh, the red ribbon waistband and headband look just adorable, and give it that “special” touch! Did you make a slip to go underneath, or does the lace stand out like that?
Susette’s granddaughter is adorable and her dress is too! Yes, I see you can’t quite take credit for the embellishment, but who cares?
Do the Little Darlings have the same face mold and different eye colors? They look so similar, and I am not familiar with them enough to really know. Some people don’t know that American Girl dolls come in different face molds either. I guess it’s what you have and are familiar with.
HI Linda,
Yes, Lian’s dress does have a little tulle slip underneath her dress. It’s just the right fullness to make the lace stand out the way I wanted it to.
Actually I had my embellishment all lined up before I got her email… it just wasn’t sewn on yet.
The Dianna Effner Little Darlings come with 3 face molds, Isabelle and Janie are the #1 sculpt and have wider, more open eyes…. the #2 sculpt has a squintier type eye… Lian is a #2, and there is a 3rd sculpt…that is a smiling little girl… but I don’t have her. All the Little Darling dolls are one of those 3 sculpts but they are all painted in lots of different ways by about 5 artists trained under Dianna. I do have another Little Darling on order…she’s been on order for 19 months now! When I ordered her, I was told the wait was about 11 months, and I’m not sure what has happened, but I’m still waiting… she’s another little brown eyed cutie and I was hoping to have her by Christmas, but so far no word on when she’ll be coming to me… UGH! Oh, well, she’ll get here when she gets here…
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
GORGEOUS!
I love it on Lian.
Thank you Maureen,
I like that word… GORGEOUS! Appreciate you taking time to let me know you liked it!
Blessings, Jeanne
How exciting to see Riya on your website! I couldn’t resist sending the picture when I saw that her dress was kind of like yours for Lian, so you can take total credit for your design. Your dress is, of course, more beautiful and the details wonderful. My picture won’t be any help in deciding what kind of shoes or tights with the dress as after living in Japan, we don’t wear shoes in the house, and this was a “try on what Nana’s bought” session last March.
Now I’m wondering if Rebecca could make a graduated pearl necklace for Riya to wear with the dress. Sara would be a good model to decide on the right length. Come to think of it, maybe make two of them for me and one will be for Sara and one for Riya if Rebecca has time to make them before Christmas.
How wonderful for the dress to be bid on already. Lian is a Star! And I’d better get started on a red velveteen headband.
HI Susette,
Thank you for sending the sweet picture of Riya in her Christmas dress. It was perfect timing for my blog post today!
I am going to see Sara tonight at her school Christmas Concert. I’ll measure her neck and get back to you… she’ll never know… thank you Susette!
Yes, I’m quite shocked to get so many bids and so many watchers on the dress so quickly… I have 46 watchers on it since I listed it last night at 8:30!
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Lian’s dress is just beautiful. ( and it looks great on Isabelle and Janie too).The details are perfect. The red accents are outstanding to the dress. To me, it is really a “dress up” outfit.
I would have loved to have had that dress as a little girl.
And Riya is adorable in her dress too. What a cutie.
Have a great day Jeanne.
HI Paula,
Thanks so much for your kind comments on Lian’s dress. I think it is the prettiest on Lian with her dark hair, but in person it does look sweet on Isabelle. I don’t think I have the right wig on Janie. I tried on a brown wig and reddish one, and neither looked right.
I think I would have worn this dress as a little girl too, Paula.
Thanks so much Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
Little girls in sweet lacy fluffy dresses – that’s what I love. Maybe it is because I felt so special when I wore such dresses. On those special days I just wore them all day long. Hated to take them off!
Lian and her sisters are absolutely adorable in this Christmas dress. There is not one thing I would change…… oh, not true. I will try to make it mine. Here goes my bid !!!!
Hi Jeannie,
I like sweet dresses like this on little girls too, Jeannie. Rebecca used to call hers “princess” dresses and she was like you, wanted to wear them all day.
I’m sorry you got beat out on your bid already… :o(
Blessings, Jeanne
Janie and Isabelle look cute in the dress, but in really works best for Lian. Her black little bob looks fantastic with the black velvet and the red details I think this dress will be real winner as you already have 4 bids on it. Those Little Darlings are sure lovely. I know I’ll never own one unless i’d be gifted one because they are way beyond my dolly budget I do enjoy looking at them though and what you sew for them.
I’m glad your going to add Civil War Christmas dress to the list. I won’t get my new Marie-Grace a Christmas dress made this year, but I do hope to make a spring dress over the winter and work on a Christmas dress during the summer sounds like a good plan.
Can’t wait to see what my favorite girl gets made for her. Felicity is just about to don her blue PC Christmas gown and her ivory dancing slipper with the blue bows . There’s just something very special about Felicity.
HI Laura,
Back when I got my Isabelle (as a gift from a doll customer), the wait was only 4 months to get one hand painted just the way you wanted… now it’s over 2 years to get one done by Dianna herself. I was fortunate to find Janie on Ebay at a VERY reasonable price and Lian… well, Lian stole my heart and I had to have her no matter what… She wasn’t what they are going for now, but she was a lot of me at the time… However she has probably been my most “money making” doll I own… I think it’s her sweet face that draws people in and then they want what she’s wearing second!
I still haven’t decided what to make Felicity yet. I’ve been busy this morning and haven’t even made it into my sewing room yet. Marilyn said I showed a pretty green fabric… I’m going to have to go track it down on some post I did.
I’m glad you are enjoying your Marie Grace. She’ll have a nice Spring dress waiting for her…
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
Gorgeous, Jeanne!!! You’re right, Lian looks the prettiest in this dress, but the other two look cute too. That tiny snow globe is so perfect with this set. Someone is going to be very lucky to win this Christmas ensemble!
Thanks so much Cindy,
I think I may need a few more of those snow globes… they make cute little props!
What are you working on today? When do you quit in December? I wish I could keep going the way I am now, but I have 2 Christmas parties…one I’m totally in charge of for about 20 couples. One is a Christmas party for church staff. I have a big day with the Food Pantry where we give away all kinds of things to 350 families… Tonight is Sara’s School Christmas concert, so I know my time is going to be limited.. and I’m sure I’m not going to make it through my list… :o(
Thanks Cindy,
Blessings, Jeanne
All of your girls look adorable in this outfit. Such a winner. The tiered lace is so beautiful. You must have a slip under as it stands out so nicely. I like it because it isn’t overly gaudy.
And Susette’s grand daughter is a sweetheart!
HI Joy,
Thanks so much… yes, Lian’s dress does have a slip underneath it… Sometimes simple is better!
I’m glad you liked it Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
I must say I think that is my VERY FAVORITE dress of all the ones you have made EVER! It just couldn’t be cuter, The flower…the headband, the pearl buttons ( gives me an idea for my Swap) ..are there snaps under them? That lace is brilliant.
You did a great job!
HI Kathie,
Oh, what a sweet compliment… this might be your very favorite of all time! That brought a big smile to my face… :o) see…
Thank you so much Kathie, I do appreciate your very kind words…
Blessings, Jeanne