Can you believe it? I’ve been rambling away for 600 days without missing one, and you’ve been reading and commenting each day on whatever it is that I’m sharing. It’s been a joyride for me and I hope you’ve enjoyed it too. I have met SO many wonderful ladies (and maybe a few men) along the way and you have been so kind to me! I am truly blessed!!
So today I want to bless you back by having a GIVEAWAY. I made a pretty blue lace half slip for the American Girl dolls and it will be perfect for the upcoming Spring dresses your doll will be wearing very soon. It has a stretch waistband and just slides up your dolls legs. You can wear it high on your dolls waist if you use it with a shorter dress or pull it down a little bit on her hips to use it for a drop waist dress or a longer length one.
The slip will be given away by having a drawing. This time, to be entered in the drawing, when you leave your comment, (either below or by email), tell us something about yourself that we don’t know… It can be dolly related or anything you want, but tell us something we don’t know about you. I thought this might be fun for us. I will draw a name out of the entries at midnight tonight…central time zone.
Now for the winner of yesterday’s question as to who should be the next doll I make something for?
The winner was 10″ Patsy by Robert Tonner…so I’ll start working on something for her. Then next will be Eden modeling something from the 1950’s. So you can know who’s coming up soon…
Thanks so much for playing along and helping me decide who to sew for next…
One last thing…. I saw this posted on a doll forum and thought some of you might like to check it out. It’s a link to Zulily and specifically for The Queen’s Treasures doll items. I’ve never actually bought anything from them, but I’ve heard their quality is quite good. I think the offer ends at the end of this evening, so if you wanted something you’d have to jump on pretty quickly.
The Queen’s Treasures on Zulily
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
That is such a pretty slip. Well let’s see, Mother to 4, grandmother to 8, sewing since I was 7. Mom did upholstery and grandmother did dress design and tailoring. Sewing is in the blood and my greatest passion outside my Lord and my family. I am happiest when the first two are in tune so I can indulge the last.
This was so much fun to see everyone’s comments! My favorite comments to date!
Thanks for entering April. What a great sewing past you inherited!
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m not sure what to say that you don’t already KNOW about me… I guess it would be something ‘personal’, like, I’m the only girl…I have FIVE brothers. 🙂 (none of them understand why I want to ‘play’ with dolls, either!) LOL!!
Congratulations on your ‘blog longevity’! I do enjoy reading daily…. 🙂
HI Mary,
Five brothers and you turned out NOT to be a tomboy! That’s great! Wonderful story!
Blessings, Jeanne
Congratulations on 600 days! So glad I found your website which inspired me to sew again after an almost 40-year hiatus. I bought a darling pair of light blue shoes from The Queen’s Treasures to go with a dress I’ll be making. The quality is excellent and the saddle shoes I bought are too cute. The little slip would look wonderful with the dress! Does the slip have a layer of tulle under the lace? Very pretty.
I graduated from high school in a class of eight from Burtonwood Royal Air Force Station High School in England. It was the base from which the Berlin Airlift was launched. It closed down in 1959 because the coal mines beneath the runway had caused them to sink to the point where a B-52 could totally disappear if one watched a takeoff from the end of the runway. The school was located between the takeoff and taxi runways. My mother taught me to sew as we found the different English sizing and styles at that time did not translate well to American teenagers.
HI Susette,
I’m glad you are part of my little blog family, Susette! All I wanted to do from the very beginning was put a smile on people’s face for a few minutes each day and inspire everyone to sew if they were so inclined! I see it worked for you!
The slip does have a layer of light blue tulle under the lace… :o)
You have a great heritage of sewing as well! Thanks again Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Congrats on you 600th post! Yay, Patsy is getting a new dress! I am the Mom of a son and daughter. My son and wife just had my second grandson on Friday. I have a step granddaughter who is 10 and I sew for her AG doll. I also sew for my Patsy, Ann Estelle, and Ten Ping dolls.
HI Regina,
I knew you’d be happy that Patsy was the winner!
Congrats on becoming a new grandma for the second time!
Thank you so much Regina,
Blessings, Jeanne
Congratulations on your 600th post! That’s a lot of writing, and you do it so well. I look forward to seeing what you make for Patsy.
A lot of people don’t know that I took piano lessons as an adult. My older sister gifted me with a piano after my separation from my first husband. I took lessons for two years and enjoyed it, but then I moved on to quilting which left little time for practice, so I ended the lessons. Now that I sew for dolls, I have little time for quilting! Sadly, I haven’t played the piano for years now. I would have to learn all over again.
Thank you Karen,
I’m glad you enjoy my blog each day and I enjoy your comments too!
Here’s my piano story… I took lessons for maybe 1 1/2 years and when it came time for our first recital, I chickened out and quit… I wish I had stuck with it… My little sister took piano lessons, but she was gifted to play by ear and took the lessons after we knew she could play. Maybe some day when you can’t quilt anymore you could get back to your piano lessons.
Thanks Karen,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, 600 posts. Patsy must be a popular one. She just got the dress before Rebecca and now she’s up again. The slip is lovely and would certainly look pretty under springtime dress.
Well, I’ve said a few personal things in the past, so let’s see… I’m an only child, my maternal grandfather was a first generation immigrant from Germany and came through Ellis Island in 1927. He played the violin as a child/teen (it belonged to my great, great grandfather) and brought it with him. My daughter plays that same violin! I am 1/16 Cherokee Indian from my father’s side, which I really like.
HI Laura,
Patsy is a pretty popular doll…she’s pretty inexpensive and not too terribly small to sew for, so a lot of ladies have her and her friends.
Wow, what a neat story about the violin… I bet it plays beautiful music!
My neighbor makes violins from slabs of wood and sells them. He does a beautiful job on them.
Thanks for your story, Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
I just got a new embroidery machine and a new serger last week! I’m sewing my little fingers off and learning embroidery. I love reading your emails every morning and love looking at your beautiful dolls and outfits! I would love to win the gorgeous slip for my ag dolls.
HI Judy,
Congratulations on getting 2 new machines in one week! That’s wonderful and I bet you really are sewing your fingers to the bone.
I’m glad you enjoy reading along with everyone else each day!
Blessings, Jeanne
Congratulations on your 600 posts, of which I think I have read them all! Enjoyed them very much and am learning many things about sewing from you. Thanks! Now, something about me…hmmm. I have two daughters and a son…all grown. I have been widowed for ten long years. Love the French Bleuette dolls most of all…and attempt to sew for them when time allows. Okay, that is enough about me! LOL
HI Jane,
Thanks for being a “long time” follower of mine. I do appreciate that very much!
I’m glad you are able to learn new things from me about sewing and then apply it to your sewing for your Bleuette dolls. Have fun!
Blessings, Jeanne
I am the crazy dog lady! We have 6 small dogs, the latest is an almost 3 month old puppy from a neighbor’s dog. Coco is a monster! lol! when she was 8 weeks old, she chewed a hole in the wallboard of the upstairs bathroom, went into the wall and fell out thru a hole in the laundry room ceiling. She landed on some wire shelves, rode stuff into the floor, then made it across a double barricade to be found in one of the dog beds under my desk when we got home. All this in 2 hours! And yes, we have pictures! 🙂
HI Melody,
As someone with a year old Schnauzer (still puppy), I can totally relate to your puppy story but yours is quite incredible. That was one little active monster, as you called her. You could probably hardly believe it… just remember, they don’t stay puppies forever, but long enough!
Blessings, Jeanne
I just want to add my congratulations to you, Jeanne. You have a gift with words as is obvious by all of the wonderful ladies who continue to leave comments on your blog. These ladies, whom you’ve probably never met, do feel like friends, don’t they? I feel that way when I get to know someone through the comments they leave on my blog. <3
Hmm, something no one knows about me… one year I wanted my Christmas present to be a litter of golden retriever puppies to play with for a day. No, I didn't get that present; I didn't think I would either, but that is what I most wanted. 🙁
HI Cindy,
It might not be so much a gift with words, as it is just someone who likes to ramble. I’m not one of those “can’t get away from her” kind of talkers, but when I get behind the computer screen, I like to tell stories… so the words just come…
Yes, the ladies who comment and ask me questions and send me pictures, are wonderful and it would be so much fun to meet them… that would be a real treat!
So you wanted a litter of puppies to play with… did you get stuffed animals, maybe? Your parents should have taken you to the pet store or the humane shelter for a couple of hours and picked you up later…
I know you have a little tiny puppy now… so I guess you got your wish…sort of…
Thank you Cindy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Happy 600th! The best unknown about me is that my first “date” with my husband was 2 weeks after we got married. We met at church and had gotten to know each other while he was in tech school in the Air Force. When he left, he missed me and came back and we got married before he left again (I had lost more boyfriends who had moved away and never came back). Anyway he had to leave right after and I joined him 2 weeks later and we just celebrated our 40th anniversary. He always says he did one impulsive thing in his life and doesn’t need to again.
Anyway today is our oldest granddaughter’ s 11th birthday. She was born on the spring equinox and her big brother was born on the winter solstice. Their little sister was a Mother’s day present and our new grandson was born on Super Bowl Sunday this year. I am making quilts for all of them this year, tied, not quilted. I haven’t sewn for years and am really enjoying it.
I love this blog and look forward to reading it every day. Thank you for all the inspiration!
Thank you for your wonderful “date” story, Donna,
What a great story about how you and your hubby got married….and congratulations on 40 years of marriage too!
You have lots of fun and interesting facts for your grand kids too! That’s really heat that you are making them all a quilt this year.
Thank you for being a reader of my blog. I truly appreciate it very much!
Blessings, Jeanne
Congratulations Jeanne on your 600th blog page!! I have read every day since I found you in 2014. (I think). Where ever my means of communication are, there is Jeanne!! I have enjoyed your blog so much…and the clothes you make!!!
I have a passion toward saving animals. When I was younger, I helped where I could in a physical way- as in rescuing and fostering greyhounds. The older I get, I find it’s easier for the younger people coming up in the ranks to take over and I have found other ways to help the needy animals, especially those in our area.
Thank you so much Paula,
I appreciate your faithfulness reading my blog…even when you have to figure out how to find you, you seem too.
I knew you an animal lover, but it’s neat that you started doing that even when you were a young girl. Thanks for all you do…(and thanks for all you have bought from me!)
Blessings, Jeanne
Happy Monday!
Darling slip! I’ll enter the contest with something ….I learned to sew on my grandma’s
Treadle sewing machine.
The items on the Zulily site are cute…especially the pets and that treadle sewing machine…oh so cute!
Kathie,
Thanks for all the sweet comments you’ve left on my posts! I do appreciate them…
It’s very special that you learned to sew on your grandma’s treadle sewing machine.
Was she alive when you first learned, and was she instrumental in helping you learn about sewing?
Yes, that sewing machine is calling my name… Kathie. I’ve tried to win 2 on eBay and lost both times. Every time I go into a thrift store or a junk shop I look for one… oh well…
Thanks,
Blessings, Jeanne
Yes, My Grandma taught me to sew on her treadle…in our basement. She lived with us until I was 10 and she was so sweet. She had heart trouble and her Doctor told her to have a beer every night. She would get her beer and she would pour me some in one of those tiny juice glasses. What in the world would happen if that was today? She’d probably be put in jail !
Just as a follow up..I have continued to sew, for kids and dolls and quilt…and only have a beer if it’s good and cold on a hot day!
Thanks so much for your blog…it’s just a perfectly wonderful part of my day.
Congratulations on your 600th fun blog, Jeanne! It’s always a thrill to check into my email each morning and see what Jeanne Marie has to say! You never let me down!
That slip is just what I need! I have a pink crinoline, a white one, and now this would be the icing on the cake if I could get a blue one!
The reason I haven’t written in very early today—well, I guess I’m not a very interesting person to write about, and cannot think of much to say. I am the oldest of 4 girls, no brothers, and of course, our house was always filled with dolls, doll houses, tea sets, and doll furniture! One naughty thing I did was to wash some doll clothes in my little wringer wash machine with soap and water, and then strung the clothes line around my bedroom, attaching it to every door knob, and handle on the furniture! Then, much to my mother’s horror, I hung dripping wet doll clothes on the line! To make matters worse, I lied about not doing it!!! I told her my sister did it, and she actually believed me, so Val had to stay inside that day, and she has never let me live that down yet!!! This must have been 60 years or so ago, so it wasn’t yesterday!
And another silly thing, I DON’T have a cell phone, iphone or tablet either!! No technology for me!!!
HI Linda,
You most definitely are my “earliest” reader…usually! Sometimes Marilyn beats you, but most of the time, it’s you! I always look forward to hearing from you too!
Oh don’t say you are not interesting… you are! Interestingly sneaky though… your poor sister… to take the blame for what you did… Linda, Linda, Linda! I’m glad she forgave you…(I’m assuming she did?) Here while back when I showed that little Tin Sign of that little girl washing her doll clothes, and hanging them up, must have sent a shiver up your spine, huh?
I still can’t believe you don’t have a phone… but I admire you for holding out.. I was that way for a long time…
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
600 blogs, amazing! I’ve certainly enjoyed reading quite a few of them. I can’t think of anything interesting about myself. Although I have been to Machu Picchu and went swimming in the Amazon below where the Piranhas were fed.
HI Joy,
Not too many people can say they’ve been swimming where Piranhas lived! I’d say that’s pretty interesting Joy!
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Excellent topic, Jeanne. Reading these comments has been great fun. I envy Judy her new machines. Susette’s school story was very individual and would make a great chapter in a novel. Melody’s dog story should have made Cindy happy she didn’t get her golden retrievers. At least it would have made her mother happy they didn’t appear.
Congratulations on your 600th blog post. Just the blog would be enough work, not counting all the sewing and all your other work. I’m glad to hear that Eden is up soon, she’s a very pretty doll.
To enter the drawing, I have to say something new about myself. I don’t know if I’ve said this, so I’ll try it. While I was still working, my office mate decided to write a book about orphans, foundlings, and other people the UN calls “unaccompanied children.” Writing a book is a large project, and as time went on, I began contributing. This worked out pretty well for us — I learned about some interesting people, and every time I gave her an entry, it gave her more energy to keep writing. In the end, she said, “Do you want money for this?” Knowing that academic books don’t get the kind of contract that Harry Potter books do, I declined. Then she said, “Do you want your name on the book as a co-author?” The one thing about my teaching career that I regretted was not writing a book. I said, “Yes.” The book is Finding Our Place: 100 Memorable Adoptees, Fostered Persons, and Orphanage Alumni. As I told one of my classes, the book demonstrates that “normal” family life has a much wider range than we think. Nikki and Richard (the other co-author) are adoptees and Richard leads the Denver Adoptees in Search organization. Nikki is also an adoptive mother.
HI Marilyn,
Yes, I think this has been my favorite day of comments so far! I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s stories too!
Thanks so much for being one of my biggest cheerleaders! I so appreciate all your comments and research you do and special tidbits you add each day!
I couldn’t resist and had to look up the book and THERE YOU ARE… on the front of the book… Marilyn Grotzky… in print! How special is that. I’m so glad you spoke up and your friend added your name! That’s a wonderful story Marilyn…thanks for sharing it!
Blessings, Jeanne
Although I just started reading your blog, I love it. I really wish I could sew like you, and for a time I thought I might try. I think I am better off bidding and winning a few of your wonderful creations. Sometimes however I get the item before I have the doll for it!!! I am just getting a New Patsy (1st time) doll delivered soon!!
Robin
HI Robin,
I’m so happy that you found my blog too, and I’m really happy that you enjoy it each day.
We can’t all be seamstresses…otherwise there would be no one to buy the dresses! So I thank you for helping me out by bidding.
Congrats on getting your new Patsy… which one did you get? You’ll enjoy her!
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
Wow 600 blog entries! That is quite the accomplishment. I am loving that Patsy won : ) big smile! Maybe I’ll win this one. Oh my word the blue slip is so sweet. Love it!
Add me to the list of admirers that love reading your daily blog. Reading the comments does make me feel like I am getting to know some of your frequent commenters. It’s like a little family here and I feel very welcome.
Something not many people know… hhhmmm When I was in grade school the class was assigned a history project. I made a diorama of a one room log cabin, I made a bed out of small tree branches, I lashed the twigs together and made what I thought was an awesome bed. I sewed a mini mattress and mini quilt by hand. My teacher was very impressed. He give me a A for the bed and quilt I guess the rest of the cabin wasn’t up to snuff but that was ok it was the beginning of my love for quilting!
Take care Jeanne
Ingrid
HI Ingrid.
I am so happy to have you join my little group of followers. We do have lots of fun here and everyone is so nice… I love them all.
How fun that your love of quilting started with a history project! I LOVED making little diorama’s when I was younger… actually I still think I like making them now… I wish I had room to make lots of them for all my dolls…
Thanks for joining in Ingrid…it’s nice to have you here.
Blessings, Jeanne
I had a couple of ladies who left comments by email and thought I would transfer them so you could see what else was being said. I have already answered them, so I won’t put my comments here, but thought you might enjoy them…
This first lady was a bit shy, so I won’t give her name, but just wanted to share what she wrote…
Hi Jeanne,
Well I am new to communicating involving a blog, and am going a little private for now. I found you in December, I think, when you had the beautiful Kirsten Dirndl outfit on ebay. I have enjoyed your blogs ever since, usually reading them in the morning while keeping my dog company so he will eat.
I grew up in St. Louis, lived there til ’97 (miss the trees, especially Dogwood, don’t miss the humidity or freezing rain), when my husband and I moved to Denver, Colorado, some of my family had roots in Carbondale long ago. I have had a passion for sewing since Junior High, have a Home Economics teaching background because of my love to sew. Found I liked to sew more than to teach it in a classroom setting, so moved into Middle School Counseling until getting to retire 5 years ago. Now I sew every chance I have, and with multiple machines, 2 of which do machine embroidery I usually am working on more than one project at a time, literally. I started as a garment sewer, but do more around quilting, and crafts such as bears and whatever looks fun. My nieces where into American Girl in the ‘80s when they were first introduced, and still have their dolls. About 3 or 4 years ago I started searching and acquiring the first 4 girls – Samantha, Molly, Kirsten and Felicity. Planned at first to collect just a few of my favorite pieces for each. Now I’m hooked, always looking for pieces in hopes of having at some point complete collections to legacy my Great-nieces and complement what their Mom’s have. I’m now thinking about adding an early Kit and Mary Ellen to my obsession. I was starting to think it would be fun to make period clothes for them as well, and was starting to collect patterns when I found your blog. I have not had time to actually make something for one of my girls, but am collecting a lot of inspiration from you – Thank you!
I was thrilled this weekend when you mentioned the Keeper Dolly Duds patterns, immediately had to explore and realized I have acquired her Simplicity patterns without realizing the connection. Another pattern company I have found is Sew Adorable Patterns. They are on ebay and maybe etsy. There are 39 patterns total, I have 12 of them. In communicating with the designer, I learned she started the patterns when she had a sewing machine shop. It was a way she encouraged customers to try something new, either work with a new fabric or technique without investing a lot of money or time.
Looking forward to continued inspiration and stories. Thank you for sharing your talent, knowledge, family and life.
Maybe I will leave a blog comment in the future.
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I’m a mother of 10 and a grandmother of 14-going-on-15. Dolls were my joy as a child. At Christmas or on my birthday I always examined the shape and size of any box with my name on it to determine if it might conceivably contain a doll. I poured over Christmas catalogs from companies that sent them to us (they all had fairly extensive doll collections) and found so much enjoyment in just looking. I have a Little Darling and a few reproduction antique dolls that can wear 18″ doll clothes. I just love the graceful look of 1800’s or early 1900’s outfits. Several of my granddaughters (all under the age of 10) have 18″ dolls that they take such good care of, and of which they are so proud, and we can enjoy them together!
Thanks!
Cherri
~~~~~~~~
I so enjoy your blog and read it every morning. One thing about myself, is that I just bout my first A Girl for All Times, Clementine. I have been sewing for all my American Girl dolls and am excited to add a new girl to my gang.
~ Susan
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Love the slip. April 1st I will 75. Been sewing since about 1976. I have made country curtains, barbie doll clothes,quilts, and American Girl doll clothes & beds. Among other crafts. Spend many hours with one craft are another. Still LOVE it. Have a great day.
~ Bonnie
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I am 79 and retired. I have a 40 year old daughter living with me, she has Down syndrome and was diagnosed with type one diabetes at age one, so it has been an interesting 40 years. She is all heart and truly a pleasure!
Where do you find the wide elastic lace? The blue slips the prettiest one you’ve made
But I like blue anything.
Thanks, Jane
Congratulations on the latest milestone! It’s really a testament to how faithful you’ve been about posting something interesting every day. I love the slip and would love to win it. There’s probably a lot I haven’t’ shared about myself, maybe the most interesting (or maybe surprising) is that in addition to sewing and quilting, I really like mechanical things. I rescue old sewing machines and refurbish them, and I also have two old jeeps that I do most of the mechanical work on, although one is in the shop now because I wasn’t quite up to rebuilding the transmission!
Thanks for the Zulilly link. I saw several cute things–I would like to have the little sewing machine, but don’t think I will be willing to pay the price, even on sale.
HI Carolyn,
Thank you for your sweet comments about my posts. I’m glad you enjoy reading what I write.
How very interesting that you are mechanically inclined… a little like my daughter. She tries everything from headlights, to tinting the windows, to replacing the windows motor, and just about everything else.
You’re sort of a girly girl in the house and a tomboy outside. I think that’s really neat!
Yes, that sewing machine is adorable isn’t it?
Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I’ve commented so often on your blogs that I feel sometimes I just repeat myself. Your imagination boggles me! I have so thoroughly enjoyed your 600 days of blogs. I click in as early in the morning as I can. Sometimes, when I can’t sleep I will be online at 4am! I love your creations so much and you have taught me so very, very much! Thank you!
What do people not know about me…. so one thing might be that I was a trained ballet dancer until age 15 when I was evaluated for body conformance. Too short but had the right feet. I did not make the cut. I did go back to ballet as an adult. I was still on pointe at age 53. I have pics. Still love the Nutcracker at Christmas.
Oh wow, Jeannie, how super exciting to know a real live ballerina! I always wanted to be one, until my mom told me they had to live on salads! changed my mind real quick!
I’d love to see a picture of you all dressed in your outfit!
I’m glad you have enjoyed reading my posts over the last year and a half. It’s been nice getting to know you and your butterflies! I hope they are doing well…
This was so much fun, I’ll have to think of another question sometime and do this again!
Thank you Jeannie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Congratulations on your 600th blog! That is a lot of writing and a definite commitment to sharing the joy of sewing–and decorating.
Something about me–for the first time in my life—This year I missed having Christmat home. I had emergency surgery in December and was in the hospital until the end of January. I am doing well now, but it has been a long recovery, thanks to prayers from friends and loved ones all around the world.
Diana
HI Diana,
I’m glad you are much better now, and there will always be more Christmas’s for you to get ready for. I’m glad you had friends and family who took care of the holiday things for you.
I’m glad you are a part of my little blog world.
Thanks so much for your comments, Jeanne
I didn’t manage to post yesterday and now finished all the comments. The most exiting thing I have done is travel by sea plane, helicopter and bush piloted plane in Alaska.