I hope these pictures of Rebecca in her 1900’s dress, that I’m thinking of calling “Coral Charm,” make your Saturday extra special. Let me tell you, I stayed up late Friday evening, just so you’d know I DO REMEMBER HOW TO SEW! Lately my sewing has been a little sporadic to say the least! But when I do get the chance to sew, I make the most of it.
I don’t think Rebecca has ever looked sweeter in any dress I’ve made her up till now…and she’s had plenty to model for me. (As soon as I typed that sentence, I immediately thought of ONE dress that I absolutely adored on Rebecca… this green one. I don’t have a single shot of her in the dress, but only in a group and one closeup of her with her hair bow pinned to her head. This was back when I did special orders and a lady wanted 3 dresses sort of like the Little Women theme dresses.)
[If you click on any picture it will enlarge.]
Anyway, Rebecca has exceeded my hopes of looking very pretty in this coral colored 1900’s dress. It turned out just like I was hoping it would. (See…I even aim to please myself!)
As I was working at sewing the vintage mother of pearl buttons and snaps on the back, I was trying to decide which button “brooch” to use at the neckline. I actually loved the butterfly one in the sort of greenish gray colors the best, but in the end I decided to go with the cameo one. I just thought it looked better. (My) Rebecca thinks maybe I should put a thin silk ribbon bow behind it but I’m not sure.
I made a pair of lacy thigh highs to wear with her boots, but I also have a pair of cream dressy shoes that look pretty cute with more of the lace showing… so I might have to show it with shoes in my listing too.
A bonnet was mentioned in the beginning when I first started this dress, but when I got the dress finished and stood back and looked at it, I didn’t think it needed a bonnet, but a hair bow. I used a delicate piece of the same lace as on the dress and a piece of coral silk ribbon. I tied one and then the other. I think anything else might be too overpowering.
I still need to find some little something to go with her dress for her “accessory” and haven’t decided on it yet, but I will soon. I’m hoping to get it listed on Saturday evening.
After the long wait, I hope it was worth it…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
It was definitely worth the wait, and the wait wasn’t all that long either. I’m looking forward to seeing the dress with the cream shoes as well.
I agree with you that the green dress that matches her eyes is very special on her as well. Do you keep track of the number of outfits you’ve made? The photo collection alone must take up a fair amount of space.
Thank you Marilyn,
It seems like it was a long time coming getting this dress finished. I really don’t like to show snippets of it along the way over a period of too many days… so I was anxious to get this one finished.
The cream shoes are some that my sister Cindy sent me from PA and they are very pretty with her lace stockings.
I don’t keep track along the way, but I’ll stop here and add them up… *pause* Okay, I added the new dresses onto the count I had already done and I’m up to 885 doll dresses since I began selling them on Ebay and Etsy in 2006… and yes, my doll dress photos take an enormous amount of space… you are right about that!
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, that is such a darling outfit, Jeanne! It turned out perfectly suited to Rebecca! She seems like she would be a quiet, sweet little girl, and this dress highlights that! The cameo you picked works perfectly too! I didn’t think that this outfit would need a hat, it would just be too much, and the two ribbons are just the perfect touch. I don’t think the brooch needs a ribbon in the back either!
The more I see of the doll Rebecca, the more I think she is a mini-me. My hair was just that color and I wore it just like that when I was 10! She also has the same greenish-hazel eyes !I can’t figure out why I never got her, but if/when they ever archive her, I just might!!
I think maybe having her hold a little bouquet of flowers might be what she needs if it comes to nothing else!
HI Linda,
I’m very happy with how this one “finally” turned out! I think Rebecca looks very sweet in it too! I’m glad I didn’t have any flub-ups because I didn’t have enough scraps to cut any of the pieces over again. When I was snipping some threads off on the inside, it was like I was in slow motion being super careful and super slow with my scissors. :o)
Ohhhh Linda, you should get her. I think she is one of the prettiest dolls AG ever made. I just love her face with her hair style. It took me 3 Rebecca dolls to get the right one, but I’m happy now!
I’ll have to find her accessory and get her listed before something happens in my day and it gets pushed aside.
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
The dress looks beautiful on Rebecca. You used just the right amount of lace trims, and that particular cameo is the best suited for the dress (I hope you can find another use for the other butterfly cameo – it’s very unique!). I love your addition of the pearl buttons down the back. Beautiful!
Hi Karen,
Thank you for your sweet compliments on Rebecca’s dress. I’m sure I’ll find another use for the other button… I always do. I have a big assortment of mother of pearl vintage buttons and was so happy to have found 5 buttons alike in the lot!
Thank you again,
Blessings, Jeanne
Truly beautiful….your work does great credit to the dolls you use. I love the coral dress and adored the “Little Women” dresses too. Your work is better than a bowl of ice cream! Thanks for the sewing boost for today.
Take care.
HI Becky,
Thank you very much for your sweet comments Becky…I especially liked the ice cream comment… what a compliment!
I hope you get some sewing done today too!
Blessings, Jeanne
Those Little Women dresses are amazing. Such a great look. Rebecca looks like she is ready for a spring event. Maybe some flowers, like Linda suggested would be in order.
Thank you Joy,
I’ll have to look at my flowers and see what I have… thank you for the compliments on all the dresses I showed today… It is fun to hear what everyone thinks…
Thanks again,
Blessings, Jeanne
I love it! Those lace trims you used are just beautiful. I like all those little women dresses also–the lace collars and full gathers make them really special. I have the Keepers pattern you used for the coral dress but have never made anything with it. Your pictures make me want to dig it out and get something cut out, maybe for Samantha or Nellie. Unfortunately, I have several charity quilts I need to get quilted and bound before I get started on something else.
HI Carolyn,
Thank you very much for your kind comments on Rebecca’s dress. I sold my Samantha and my Nellie so Rebecca is standing in proxy for them…although it might still be fashionable for 1914… :o)
As soon as you get your quilts out, start on a dress…it was actually fairly quick to make… unless you have tons of interruptions like I had… :o(
Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
I remember seeing those Little Women dresses and they were all so lovely.
Rebecca’s new dress is just gorgeous and that color is so becoming to her. The two ribbons are the right touch. I think a bonnet might have been detracting from the dress. I considered getting Rebecca at one point, but heard her hair is so thin that her wig cap shows in places. Is that true? My Caroline has a super thick wig even though she has curls as well. I love the color though. I do think Rebecca could be going to a spring flower event. If you have a basket like Felicity’s Gathering basket, that would be lovely. I use that in displays because it looks so nice. Looking forward to seeing the dress with the cream shoes as well.
Thank you Laura,
I wish I had taken better pictures of the “Little Women” dresses, but I only have a few of them… and was just sending them to the lady so it didn’t matter so much how they looked…
Like I told Linda above, I went through 3 Rebecca’s to get the one I wanted. While I wouldn’t say her hair is thin, it definitely isn’t like my Elizabeth’s thick mane…
I just found some flowers and made her a bouquet…now to think of her story line…
Thanks so much Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
I do love the Rebecca dress. The coral color is brilliant with a background texture in the fabric. I do love that also. Then you added all that great lace!! Oh, how I love lace. I am so drawn to lace whether it is full cotton eyelet or delicate Chantilly or re-embroidered Alencon. I am always on the hunt for nice lace and grab it up when I find it. I am impressed with how you combined the laces on Rebecca’s dress and made it flow together. Hard to do.
We are holding our own here with Jack’s numbers getting better but we are not where we want to be so we keep praying. Continuing with Chemo twice a week until we hear the magic words – Remission. Then Jack will have a maintenance dose until God wills a cure for this terrible cancer.
HI Jeannie,
Well, if this isn’t providential… I was looking for the number of dresses I had made to answer Marilyn’s question and I was looking through some posts that I thought that number was in, and I saw some comments by you and told myself, it’s been a long time since you’ve chatted with Jeannie… you better email her today! And now, you’ve commented! I am so glad to hear from you… and I do appreciate your kind words about Rebecca’s dress. I am always on the hunt for laces too… and I buy them when I see them just like you!
Oh you poor dears still going through the weekly, no… daily struggles of chemo. I pray that you are taking care of yourself in all this too! How long has your hubby been having Chemo twice a week? It seems like forever to me, so I can only imagine how it must really be to you.
I am so glad to have heard from you and I’m glad Rebecca’s dress put a smile on your face and lifted you away from “reality” for just a few minutes as you read today’s post.
Thanks so much Jeannie,
May the Lord bless you with a great day,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh yes, it was worth it! Love the whole all together look..it’s just so pretty. The high top shoes are the perfect accessory but the other ones you have would show off those cute lace tights!
Gosh…do you have a day to your self now? :0)
HI Kathie,
Thank you so much for the wonderful compliments on Rebecca’s dress. I just finished scheduling it on Ebay and it will go on this evening.
Yes, I actually have a day to myself. I need to do dishes first, and while I’m doing them, I ‘m going to think about what I’d like to accomplish most… surely it must be something about organizing… but I’d love to try out my locker hooking… maybe tomorrow on that…
I’d love to take a nap, but I know I would just lay there thinking about what I’m “not” accomplishing… *sigh*
Thanks again Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
The dress is adorable, the color looks great with Rebecca’s eye and hair color. I love the pin you picked, it looks stunning with the dress. I’m sure there will be a bid war over this one. Thanks for sharing the little women dresses they are so lovely, I really like that period, the fabric and colors of the long dresses. I just love the whole era.
I wanted to comment on your little chicks… They are so cute. Hope they are all doing well and keeping warm. They do grow so fast it’s amazing.
My son has chickens, he has a few that just love attention. There is one that will follow you and bump you with her little head until you pet her. It is so cute! Animals are such blessings. I’m reminded daily that all living things need and crave love and attention.
Have a wonderful weekend Jeanne
Thank you Ingrid,
I’m so happy you like how Rebecca’s dress turned out. What sweet compliments you shared.
The little chicks are so sweet when they atr this size. I find my daughter, Rebecca, holding one everytime I walk through the living room.
Your story about the friendly hen was fun to hear about.
Blessings. Jeanne