A long time ago; probably in 2001 or 2002, I was selling little girls dresses on Ebay. I had dresses listed fairly often and did okay at selling them but not making much money though. I think my average was about $25 -$35 dollars for a dress. Well, I had this lady email me and ask me something I found pretty intriguing. She said she had this pretty little 3 year old daughter and she would gladly take pictures of her in one of my dresses and then send me several of the nicest pictures to use in my listing. It would be like she was my personal model. I could take special orders for the dress and she’d get the dress for FREE just for sending me her pictures. I thought about it and thought maybe this was my big break… so I went to Hobby Lobby and bought lots of these coordinating prints… all with (cute) bugs in them. They had names like Bug Trails, Lady Bug Allover, Bug Squares, and Buggy Stripe. I think you can figure out which one goes with which.
She said lots of ladies did this…for “wonderful designers like me who didn’t have a cute model to use…” Well, I did it. I worked like crazy making her little girls dress set perfectly and sent it to her free of charge….and in a little while she did send me back 5 pictures of her little girl playing in the grass wearing the dress. (I’m sorry I don’t have those pictures anymore, so you’ll have to just imagine it…)
I got my listing all figured out using her photos and sat back and waited for the orders to come in… and I waited and waited and waited… and nothing ever happened. I thought the dress was so cute and so bright and colorful…I was sure somebody(s) out there wanted it, but apparently they didn’t. That’s why I have that stack of fabric in my sewing cabinet… a distant reminder of a failure from long ago.
I did make one and sell it… this is the same style as the one I sent the lady…
It has a lady bug appliqued on the front with 2 bumblebees buttons sewn on.
I also made a cute reversible triangle headscarf and Rebecca made a fun bracelet to go with it.
…and I did make one for Katie Effanbee and Molly tried it on too…
So there’s no real moral to this story… except maybe don’t buy your fabric before you have your orders.. I guess!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
It would take some adjusting, but it might make a Julie dress. The little girl’s dress is close. My friend Peggy had a dress with a slightly high waist and a three tier full skirt. It was maxi-length. Granted, it was not so bright, but bright was possible. Let’s see if anyone else thinks this is a good idea.
In Boulder, which was a hippie center, women’s clothes were remarkably conservative — jeans, navy turtlenecks or black ballet tops, flats, sandals, or hiking boots, earrings, and sometimes a modest necklace were the most common. Silver rings were good.
HI Marilyn,
Thanks for your suggestions… I may just have to try it again… for Julie or Josefina! It just might work!
I used to have tons of those 3 tiered dresses… I mean tons!
I didn’t know that Boulder, CO was a hippie center…is it still? Maybe not…
Thanks for your kind remarks…
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, at least you tried, Jeanne! That little girls dress you made complete with adorable accessories is the cutest thing, though. I have no idea why you didn’t get tons of orders for it. I would have ordered one. 🙂 Where did you try to sell it, Etsy?
It’s crazy, but it is so hard to predict what will be popular and what won’t be. Sometimes I am not sure an outfit will sell and then it sells multiple times before I have a chance to mark it sold. Other times, I think that that will happen, and it doesn’t. I’ve given up trying to predict.
BTW, that’s nuts what ebay did to your listing. I just don’t understand them . . .
Have a great Monday!
Thanks Cindy,
The dress was listed on Ebay… I don’t think Etsy was even around in 2001 or 2002…
I’m the same way as you about predicting if something’s a winner or a loser… Hopefully I try to make all winners, but sometimes I guess they’re not!
Yes, good old Ebay… I do get positive results most of the time and can’t really complain with how things have worked out for me, and then they do this to me. Well, it’s not just me, I’ve been hearing lots of stories of people getting things pulled… I want to keep selling on Ebay so I’ll abide by their rules… grrr… just a little bit!
Thanks Cindy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
Your little girl’s dress is gorgeous! I love the color combinations and how you put it together. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.
I agree with Marilyn, the fabric could work with Julie since it seems like her time period if one wants to be “accurate” time wise. Otherwise, how about Josefina? She’s from a vibrant, colorful culture.
Thanks again for letting us know you a bit more. I always find your blogs so nice to read no matter what you write.
Take care.
HI Becky,
It was a long time ago that that happened, but I tell you, when I look at the fabric up on that shelf, it seems like yesterday.
I may give the fabric another chance… and see what happens. 2002 was a long time ago.. I think I have improved my fit on the dolls quite a bit so maybe I could get it to look decent on Josefina…
Blessings, Jeanne
That was a cute one. Oh well. Agree with Marilyn that a Julie dress would be appropriate.
Thanks Joy,
I guess I’ll have to give Julie another try… since a few of you liked the idea of a dress or some kind of set for her out of the fabric…
I appreciate your thoughts, Joy.
blessings, Jeanne
I still like the Julie idea, but Becky’s idea of a Josefina dress, maybe a fiesta dress, is a good one, and that means a new Trixie dress might also be great. Sister/friend modern fiesta dresses? Or similar but not matching dresses for Josefina and Julie, adapting them for girls of different coloring. The triangular scarf is a great accessory for Julie’s era.
If we are working on your stash, there’s a picture from the other day of 4 Felicity fabrics. The pale blue and white might make a lovely spring Regency dress, and the other three might be wonderful Civil War era outfits.
HI Marilyn,
Okay, I’ve decided to not give up on the fabric or Julie just yet. I’ve give the fabric another try and see if Julie, Josefina and maybe Trixie can sell any of it for me…
I know what striped fabric you are talking about…the light aqua one…and yes, it would make a pretty Regency dress…hmmm… I should let you all do my thinking from now on…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh dear! I just lost the comments I wrote! Apparently I didn’t write out my email address correctly, it told me to go back, so I did, then everything was erased! Ugh!
I’m trying to remember what I said now! I can’t believe you didn’t sell any of those darling dresses, unless maybe they were on a site where not too many people saw them. I would much prefer Ebay to Etsy myself, since you just don’t know where to start looking on Etsy. Julie does have a dress like that, her maxi-dress, and it looks cute with a big straw hat. It may be retired now though.
I would like to see a fiesta dress for Josefina too, like Becky and Marilyn mentioned. I guess you will be making something for one of your smaller dolls before you do another for an AG doll, but I hope Josefina will be having a turn soon.
That pretty material you have had for so long, well, you know that adage “whatever goes around, comes around,” so I think you will find something for all of it. Is it doll sized or too big?
HI Linda,
I feel your pain about losing your comments. I tried to post something to a blog this morning and lost it 3 times… I finally gave up and decided I wouldn’t leave a comment today! UGH!
The dress I listed years ago was on Ebay.
Yes, I think Julie had a dress called a caftan with big bell like sleeves, didn’t she? I might
have to look it up and see how it was made.
Then again, there’s Josefina and I think everyone is right, the bright colors might look very nice on her too! So I guess we’ll see…
I think I could easily adapt the fabric to an AG sized doll. I just need to watch what print I put where… is all..
Thanks Linda,
I guess you’re probably having the same gloomy weather we are here?
Blessings, Jeanne
I’d love to have that pattern for a dress in a size 7 for Riya. Make another one and I’ll buy it! Seriously. I really like the placement of the fabrics in the girl-size one. That fabric is certainly “today” and not out of style. I can see that dress at LEGOLAND when they come visit in July.
It was so nice of George to help Jean with his projects. You are both so generous with your time and are paid back in respect and love.
HI Susette,
Are you serious? I can do that!!! Thanks! I haven’t forgotten your slips either…
It will be a perfect Lego Land dress!!!
Thanks so much for your kind compliments…
Blessings, Jeanne
You’re on!
Hi Jeanne,
I love the fabric… I actually thought it was a recent purchase. I saw something very similar at JoAnn fabrics last week. Little bugs and a few with lots of butterflies all coordinating so sweet. Truely what comes around goes around. I think a sweet little short dress with cute little shorts peeking out would be so fun made with this fabric. Although I think a dress for Caroline would make you more money for the same amount of time put in. Like you said you never know what will sell.
Have a great evening. Ingrid
HI Ingrid,
Well, I’m destined to make something else out of the fabric eventually… I just love it and always have.
One of my girls will be the recipient of a new updated version of Lady Bug Trails one of these days!
Thanks so much Ingrid,
Blessings, Jeanne