My sister Cindy, from Pennsylvania, brought me a few things when she came to visit last week. It’s always a bit like Christmas when she has a box for me and I never know what to expect. This time it was some great ribbon trims, yarn and some really neat vintage flour sacks from the 30’s or 40’s.
Here’s a picture of everything…
Look at these trims… almost full spools on all of them… .50 cents and $1.00 on them!!! That $1.98 must have been the “per yard” price!
Now, take a look at these flour sacks. A lady from her church was telling about having them and my sister mentioned to her that I made doll clothes and could probably use them for one of the dolls. The lady was thrilled to know what her fabrics would go to a “good home!” I want to make something really special from them and then send a picture to my sister to show the lady.
I like them all, but the pink one with the girls in the big skirts is a favorite of mine. It’s just such a sweet print…but I also like the blue floral ones and the pink geometric one. They are a nice size too… about a yard by half yard… like a pillow case!
This afternoon I got a few pictures from Joy, one of my readers, and I wanted to share with you what she shared with me…
First up is her doll Michael in the outfit she made for him and the sandals she made using a Wren Feathers pattern. I think they are very “cute”…even if he is a boy!
Next she sent me two of the sweetest doll dresses made from the same fabric as I had made the “Sister’s Set” in red, white and blue. These dresses are shown on her 10″ Robert Tonner dolls…
Lastly, she sent a picture of her girls from last year dancing around a Maypole she made for them. I love how colorful her picture is. She’s challenged me to do a better Maypole next year! Don’t forget to hold me accountable! This is a darling picture.
Barbara, a subscriber and long time admirer of my work found 6 pictures of my earlier Felicity dresses. She thought they were from 2007 but, Barb, a few of them are actually from 2006, the year I began selling my doll clothes. A few things have changed since then. .. a new Felicity doll, a better camera, a little more polished sewing, and better lighting along with better posing… I see a difference from then till now and hope you can too… but anyway, here are some of my earliest dresses on Felicity! Thank you so much Barbara for sending them to me. I thought they were lost forever…
I have all my notebooks with all the information on any auction I’ve ever listed…
The black dress for Felicity sold in July of 2006. I called it “Beautiful in Black” and it sold for UGH…$24.99. It included the dress, the mobcap, straw hat, pail, and 6 vegetables.
I can’t find the black brocade dress in my notebooks… but I know I made it…
Felicity’s dress in the green and blue stripe with the white apron sold on March 9th, 2007 for $34.33.
I looked up the khaki dress and it was the 5th dress I made for Felicity. It was called “Simply Sweet” and sold on February 17th for $36.00. It included the dress, petticoat, mobcap, basket of fabrics and a hair ribbon.
Well, that’s about it for me… I hope you enjoyed seeing these pictures today…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, you certainly are lucky to have such a generous sister! Those trims are just wonderful and now that you have “cleaned out”, you have room for more! And I can’t get over those flour sacks! You mean flour actually came in those? I do remember my grandmother had chickens, so had a lot of feed sacks in cheery prints, and I learned how to sew with those. Can you imagine going to the grocery store and seeing these brightly colored flour sacks all lined up on the shelf? It certainly would make shopping more fun!
Joy had some darling pictures! She did a great job on Michael’s outfit and sandals! Those sister dresses are so cute too!
Love all the felicity dresses too—-especially the prices!!:-)
Thanks Linda,
Yes, I do have wonderful sisters… both of them keep an eye out for things for me and my dolls! The trims are really nice….that red one with the ruffled edge is super soft and pliable too.
Yes, flour actually came in those sacks…aren’t they fun? I should have shown the seams on them to keep the flour inside… maybe I will tomorrow… they are soft too, since they have been laundered.. all 100% cotton.
Thanks for the compliments on Joy’s and my dresses. We both appreciate your thoughts.
I hope you had fun with the grands yesterday when you babysat!
Blessings, Jeanne
What a wonderful group of photos today, Jeanne….”history” revived in so many ways in this posting. I always look forward to your postings.
Take care.
Thanks Becky,
It was especially fun for me to see the things on Felicity from 10 years ago… my have I changed some things!
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing the pictures for today!
Blessings, Jeanne
It was neat to see the pictures of your older outfits from 2006. Wish I had been aware of you then. The fun things from Cindy are neat. ( Cindy, you are such a wonderful sister.) I too, love those prints on the flour sack material. They are so interesting.
It was so much fun seeing Joy’s pictures and her dolls. The little boy in the green shorts is adorable – he looks like he’s off to have some summer fun. His sandals look like it might have been a lot of work but they turned out perfect. And all her dolls around the maypole!! How cool is that! Thanks for sharing.
Jeanne, have a great day. Yes, I wondering who’s up next for a new outfit.
HI Paula,
I’ve looked at the Felicity pictures so many times since Barbara sent them to me. It really takes me back to my beginning of all this!
I’m glad you enjoyed looking at the variety of things I showed today. It’s fun to see what other’s are doing.
I’ll let you know tomorrow who’s up next…
Blessings to you Paula,
~ Jeanne
Love the flour sacks. I like 30’s fabric in general. Lovely prints. Such a nice sister you have.
Of the early photos, I especially like the Colonial blue/green. Glad Barbara was able to share.
As to Joy’s photos, the camera’s focus is giving me fits. But, if you look closely in the July 4th dresses, there are apples on the tree. They are Yellow Delicious so hoping to try Jeanne’s pie later in the summer.
HI Joy,
Thanks again for the photo’s you shared! It’s nice to have something other than my things all the time to show.
I liked the blue and green dress for Felicity best too. It took me a while to get my patterns tweaked just right for her.
I did see the apples on the trees in your picture… I bet they’ll make a splendid pie when you get to it!
Blessings, Jeanne
What nice things your sister brought for you to work with.
Joy did a great job on her doll Michael. He looks all ready for an afternoon of fun. I love her Maypole. I think I will have to make one for my doll by next year as well
Wow, you have certainly come a long way since the first Felicity dresses. The people who won those first outfits really got a steal. Maybe you were catering to adults buying for children back then and now you are having adults buying for themselves.
How is the weather your way? We had a terrific storm last night with heavy rain a hail. We’re expecting another round this afternoon. Need to go out and check on the yard and secure the fish pond again to ensure they are safe.
Hi Laura,
Yes, my sister in PA is always looking out for me and my dolls! She sent me a new picture yesterday of some more eyelash yarns she found. :o)
Maybe we should have a contest on making a Maypole next year…or at least just show our pictures when we make one.
The Felicity dresses sold way back then were going to adult collectors… I looked at the buyers names and remembered them just like it was yesterday.
It is hot and humid today… the heat index is supposed to be 105 – 108 today…I am staying inside today!
Hope your fishies are okay…
Blessings, Jeanne
What wonderful mail you’ve had. I’m glad the red with the yellow roses will be easy to work with. I’d give it to Addy or maybe Josefina. It will be fun to see what you do with it. The flour sacks are going to be so much fun to design for. It will be lovely to make something special so that the owner can see how much you — and we — appreciate them.
Joy’s pictures were special — gladiator sandals are just the thing for a boy. He must be very happy stomping around in them. Of course I loved the tiny sisters’ outfits, but the Maypole was the very best — not only is the Maypole great fun, but that entire crowd of dolls — all the same size, or nearly — look like they are having fun. Joy, you have nearly a classroom full of dolls. Do they all have school clothes?
And then a whole new set of Felicity dresses. I wish you had more of that brocade. It’s splendid. Look at the green and blue striped dress. Note the matched stripes on the sleeves and the blue stripe at the center of the bodice. Some things you were doing perfectly when you started. You may have learned a lot since, but you started already a credit to your training.
You said yesterday that you weren’t ready to think about the next outfit, but you certainly have enough inspiration that by tomorrow, you’ll be well on your way.
HI Marilyn and thank you so much for your wonderful comments.
I was thinking of the red with yellow roses trim for Josefina too. It will add something special to whatever I put it on.
I loved Joy’s picture of her girls dancing around the Maypole too! It’s such a fun picture.
I do remember sewing that brocade and it was nearly as bad as the silver fabric I used for Nyssa’s dress. It was a royal pain as it raveled terribly.
Actually the sleeves on Colonial dresses are supposed to cut so the design goes sort of diagonal on the arm. I didn’t know that then…
I do have a start on the next dress. I could have been finished by now if I hadn’t spent so much time deliberating what fabric to use…
But Rebecca helped me out and then I got going… You’ll see…
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Marilyn, I’m working on the school theme. Only have a couple of desks. And of course, all the kids will want new school clothes. A classroom would be so fun to photograph.
I’m late commenting so I’m left to agree with everything said. Love the Cindy collection of fabrics and trims. Very thoughtful of her. Joy’s sandals for the Michael doll are perfect. Gives me inspiration. And the huge collection of dolls: Wow! The dresses are really cute too.
You were very accomplished even at the start of your doll sewing career. Is that a crocheted shawl worn with the black brocade dress? Very pretty mobcap with the green and blue dress. All of the dresses are really pretty and I’ll bet the people who won them are very glad they have early editions. How nice to have the pictures from Barbara.
Thank you Susette,
One of my early “buyers” sent me an email that I’ve kept all these years. She had paid a little bit more than what she normally did but said she wanted the dress really badly. Then she went on to say, it would be a steal some day when I became well known and famous! I remember laughing at her comments then… and I’m not saying I’m well known and famous now, but a few more know me now than did 10 years ago.
Thanks so much Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne