I did it! I worked at it all day and came up with a Maypole that I hoped would work and then I managed to get Kirsten’s Mid-Summer’s Day dirndl listed on Ebay! (Sorry that was in 2016!)
Here are a few pictures to show you how it all turned out…Maypole and all!
This is how it looked in a few of the pictures…You saw this…
But…if you stepped back 3 feet, this is what it looked like…
I used a piece of a green striped chenille bedspread for the grass and pinned my ribbons onto it. My mannequin was set up on some containers and a trunk was used on the other side.
I used a piece of jute tied from the trunk to the mannequin and then had a white pole I tied in the middle. Then I taped a ziplock bag and put all my ribbons in it, after I had pulled out some length for them to be pinned to the “grass.” I took three of my gingham bias trims and wound them around the white pole. Then I clipped it with a hair clip and covered it with some flowers.
It might not be the best Maypole you’ve ever seen, but when you look at the picture below, it works for me…and Kirsten!
Kirsten very much liked walking on the green grass barefoot!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh Jeanne, that is just the most adorable outfit you have created for Kirsten! Every single piece is just perfect! I think you did a great job of the maypole, and it was most interesting to see how you did it! I would never have guessed all that was on the sidelines! It certainly makes for an interesting background and gives the pictures interest without being over the top.
I too, especially love Kirsten’s hair braided. It just looks like a real Swedish girl would wear her hair. My mother used to braid my hair and put it in a crown like Kirsten’s, so you can guess how old I am, and no, I’m not Swedish, but German! You sure don’t see that much now, if ever!
We are going to have 100 degree weather today, with a heat index from 103 to 108—yikes! I’d better get out and get things watered early, since I also babysit today. Looks like an afternoon of watching Thomas the Train videos!!
Thank you Linda, for all your compliments on this dress and how I did the Maypole. I wish now I had used more ribbons, but it was time consuming setting it all up and I wimped out toward the end. It’s better than just that plain background, I think.
I did it in the loops first and then decided to put it on top of her head in a few shots. I like it across her head the most I think. She is a little cutie when she’s all “dolled” up!
I just got home from the Food Pantry and the temp in town said 96 degrees… I don’t know if it was higher than that earlier or not, but it is scorching out there… I do know that.
I hope you had fun babysitting today!
Thank you so much Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
So much for “the camera never lies.” This was a wonderful post. Who would have guessed that that lovely setting was improvised this way. The poor mannequin may never recover — it’s accustomed to showing off pretty scarves and beautiful knit tops. It was worth it. These are lovely photos, and the outfit is one of your most charming.
And now we get the pleasure of seeing what you’ll do next. I wonder who’s up for a new outfit.
HI Marilyn,
I know it looks a little strange when it’s not cropped, doesn’t it? I thought everyone might like to see the conglomeration of strings and props used to pull this off…
I’ve got to decide who will be next… I haven’t thought that far ahead yet…
Thanks for calling Kirsten’s dress set Charming… I LOVE that word!
Blessings, Jeanne
What a beautiful Maypole for Kirsten! You always think of such special photo set-ups for your outfits. Kirsten looks so pretty! I think you will do very well with this listing!
Thank you Karen,
It would have been fun to have come up with something outside in the grass, but I didn’t really have a nice spot in my yard and there was a chance of rain yesterday and it was slightly breezy. I just decided to come up with something inside… it turned out to be quite a long process to get it all figured out.
Thanks so much for your sweet comments Karen,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a beautiful setting for Kirsten you’ve made, Jeanne. And, how generous of you to let us view the “behind the scenes” of it all. It does work and it is a totally fun and pretty picture for pretty Kirsten in her beautiful dirndl that you created. No doubt she feels so special…has she told you that yet?
Take care.
HI Becky,
Thank you so much for your sweet comments on Kirsten’s dirndl and the set up that showcased it! I love to create little scenes and this one was fun…just wish now I had used more ribbons. I was trying to be careful and not use a doll stand and then not let Kirsten fall over and pull the whole thing down. That would have been disastrous.
She does feel special… she didn’t tell me, but I “heard” her whispering it to the girls on the dolly shelf. They’re each hoping it’s their turn next.
Thanks Becky,
Blessings, Jeanne
Love your step back photo! Ingenious use of the trunk and mannequin. I picture her running through the Swiss Alps even though it is a bit far from Sweden. Have a cool day. Going to be hot here again.
HI Joy,
Thanks so much for the comments today! I’m wondering if Kirsten knows how to sing????
Nothing cool about our day here today..it’s 95 degrees right now with a heat index of 102!
I worked at the Food Pantry today and sweat like a pig the whole time. I enjoyed it very much when I had to get something out of the freezers!!
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Kirsten is Swedish–of course, she knows how to sing! 😉 The Swedes sing some wonderfully joyous songs, some of which can be danced to. One of my favorite records was my parent’s; it is a Swedish Christmas album, and one side is all dance songs!
What an enchanting Mid-Summer’s Day scene you have created, Jeanne! Using all the things you had at hand in your sewing room for your rigging system was very ingenious. Thanks for sharing the “behind the scenes” details. How clever of you to use the green striped chenille for grass, and your colorful Maypole picks up all the hues in Kirsten’s dirndl. I just love Kirsten’s looped braids and bare feet! And not to be forgotten is the pretty floral hair garland with coordinating ribbons and adorable bumble bee accent. Congratulations on a very festive look, Jeanne, and thank you for sharing your process. Kirsten is sure to be the loveliest girl at the celebration! I wonder what the next creation will be?! Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Thank you Anne,
I appreciate all your kind thoughts about Kirsten’s dress and the set up used to achieve the look. I almost tossed out that chenille “grass” and now I’m glad I didn’t.
I’m thinking Kirsten might be the prettiest one at the dance too… this set was fun to create even though it took me forever to get everything all pulled together.
Marilyn asked me too, who would be next… I’m going to have to go look and see who holds their hand up the highest…”pick ME!!!”
Thanks Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
I think your Maypole is perfect. Talk about creative!! 🙂
Thank you Christine,
I’m glad you think the Maypole is perfect…it’s not really but it works pretty well for a few quick pictures. I may try again next year to have a better one. It does make for a pretty background.
Thanks again,
blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
It was so nice to see you picked up on my talk of Midsummer’s Day–a very big annual celebration in Sweden. I’ve seen a few pictures of their May Poles, and, although theirs are, of course, very elaborate, I think yours gave the appropriate “feel” to the pictures of Kirsten’s beautiful outfit! You may have started something, though–now MY Kirsten is reminding me I haven’t made her anything new in a very long time! LOL