Does Ebay ever frustrate you? It does me sometimes… I’m very grateful for the opportunity to list my things on Ebay, but they always tweak things and now they’ve done it again. You would think if you were looking for a dress for Patsy Tonner, you could just type in Patsy Tonner and all the things listed with “Patsy Tonner” in their titles would come up… Not so… Ebay has changed it now so you have to look under “Clothes and Accessories” to find the rest of the listings. Actually if you type in Patsy Tonner you have to look at the left hand menu and click on “Dolls” first and then a sub category comes up called “Clothes and Accessories” and that’s where you’ll find all the doll clothes made by people… Ebay won’t let us list our “handmade” things in with the clothing sold by the manufacturer for the dolls… whether it’s American Girl, Tonner or some other dolls…if it’s not an authentic brand made specifically for that doll, it can’t be listed in the category with all the rest of the items with the dolls… which seems crazy to me. If someone is looking for a dress for Patsy, they type in Patsy Tonner and assume everything available is listed under “Patsy Tonner.” Nope… it now has to be listed under Modern Doll Clothing and in a sub category of clothes and accessories.
So if you think there aren’t too many doll dresses listed for the doll you’re looking to buy for, you might want to check in the “clothes and accessories” tab….
Sorry, I just had to vent.
I called Ebay and tried to tell them that people looking for something assume everything will come up if they type in the words for what they are looking for. The person I spoke with had no idea what an American Girl doll was, let alone Patsy Tonner. It was a losing battle from that moment on. The next time I talk to someone, I’m going to insist I speak to someone who knows what an American Girl doll is… and why it matters!
Okay…now who’s up next… well, it’s Addy and she’s got a dress “mostly” pinned together to show you. You’ll really have to use your imagination on this one. I cut the pieces out and managed to get the shoulder seams sewn together and the sleeves set in, and the skirt gathered up, but the rest is just held together with pins. Maybe you can get the idea of it…but I’m hoping to surprise you along the way… :o)
Here are a few pictures for you to imagine what it will look like…
I loved this fabric the moment I saw it… it’s a pretty grayish brown print and I love the white dots in the background of it.
One last thing that blessed my heart yesterday. I had a busy day (I’m trying to decide on a new paint color for my living and dining room) so I was painting pieces of cardstock and using little color swatches to try and decide… which, by the way, I’m still not totally sure of what I’ll pick…)
Anyway, I received a comment from Marilyn and I just had to share it… maybe you saw it, but I didn’t see it till late and commented on it even later… This is what she wrote…from yesterday’s post… HERE.
“I too love the lace backdrop. I also love Anne’s idea of all of your readers coming for tea in the gazebo and all of the ladies in your church calling each other and saying, “For heaven’s sake, take more [tea, cookies, chairs, paper napkins, tea cups] to poor Jeanne. Dozens and dozens of women keep arriving and greeting each other and inspecting her sewing room and laughing and talking and asking to see George and Rebecca and Kristofer and Reuben. They are in the house and on the lawn and in the chicken coop! And most of them brought dolls that are wearing the prettiest dresses.”
Here’s my gazebo…
…and here’s a party I once had… see how much fun we could all have?
Now my question to you is… just suppose we were able to all get together and have a little tea party in my gazebo, what would you bring to share with everyone? Are you famous for something? Let us know… we love the details!
Sweet dreams everyone…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, my, Jeanne. It looks so nice, all green and fresh when we know it’s really so hot — you’d need vats of ice tea. But your idea of everyone bringing something is very nice. We would each arrive with a beautifully dressed doll in one hand and a cake carrier in the other. I’ll bet some of us would arrive in flowered skirts and some of us in jeans. Most of us would probably wear some piece of jewelry we like — a favorite pair of earrings or a bracelet — and some of us would have made our own or be wearing Rebecca originals.
I remember taking a cake to the Shakespeare Festival rehearsal on Ricky’s birthday. It was a hot muggy summer night and the theatre is an outdoor one. The cake had crisp meringue nut layers and buttercream frosting and filling. You know how buttercream reacts to heat. The slices were closer to heaps.
So, let’s see. German chocolate would work. Or a Lane Cake from Southern Living. That was one of the best cakes I ever made. I’ve always thought that the person who came up with the German’s Sweet Chocolate Cake was trying to make a chocolate version of a Lane Cake and succeeded beyond her (or his) wildest dreams. I’ve always wanted to make a Lady Baltimore cake. This fall for sure. I’ve wanted to do that since my aunt gave me Amy Vanderbilt’s cookbook for high school graduation, and that’s a long time ago. Somehow there was always something else to make.
In the dress she’s wearing, Addy could take a Lane cake or a Baltimore cake to a family picnic. She’d be the best dressed girl there. I love the fabric and I’ve always loved that sleeve shape. It would be pretty in fall and even for Christmas with Christmas roses in the snow. That would also be a great display dress and I’m sure it will have a pretty petticoat and some lovely panatalettes, but I’m really waiting to see what you make for her to wear on her head. This is a beautiful dress and it will be a splendid outfit — one of Addy’s all time favorites.
OH Marilyn,
You have such a way with words and I just completely got lost in your description of everything. Thanks so much for your thoughts about it. I think I’ll have to copy this down and share it with some ladies at church… :o)
German Chocolate Cake is my hubby’s favorite, but I’m going to have to look up that Lane Cake you mentioned… It must be yummy!
I’m liking this fabric very much on Addy too… I knew the instant I saw it, it was coming home for Addy!
Thanks for such a memorable description of our Tea Party, Marilyn…
Blessings to you, this Saturday evening…
~ Jeanne
Sorry for the ebay troubles. Searching is always a challenge. If you type in Ann Estelle, you’ll usually find some Patsy too and sometimes the others. If you add in Tonner who knows? Personally, I would never look under clothes and accessories. I might look for Ann Estelle shoes. or Ann Estelle accessories. The things on the right side bar often lead to more things by that seller too. How does one get their items displayed on the right side photos? That is a good thing.
Addy’s dress is beautiful. The print and design are striking.
As to the tea party, I would bring the hot artichoke dip! I’ve never known anyone to not like it. The accompanying tortilla chips would arrive in a decorated basket made from grocery bags, lined with doilies. I always make one so there is nothing to bring home later.
HI Joy,
If you type in Patsy Tonner, my dress won’t come up… If you type in Trixie Tonner it does. I’m not sure exactly why, because both names are in the title of my auction.
There are some “homemade” dresses in the mix with the dolls, but it’s just because Ebay hasn’t caught those sellers.
I have been reprimanded 3 times and suspended for 3 days once… I can’t take that chance of listing in the wrong category, so I’m just trying to spread the word about things being in the “clothing and accessories” category. I told the lady at Ebay that “NOBODY” knows to search for things that category. She just said, “well, that’s what it’s there for.”
I’m not entirely sure how things get listed on the right side menu area. The ones on the left are things that you have looked at… but I’m not sure about the things on the right side.
Oh, yum…hot artichoke dip… I’ve had that before and it is delish!!! I asked for the recipe the first time I had it! It all sounds wonderful… oh, how fun this would be if it were possible.
Thanks so much Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Joy–how do you make a basket from grocery bags? I’d love to know! What a fantastic idea, if you are taking something appropriate for that type of container, that is!!
Thanks.
I love the imagination of the girls talking about the imaginary tea party gathering of all your readers, Jeanne. Anne and Marilyn…your writing descriptions alone could transport us for tea at Jeanne’s gazebo! I’m pretending right now even though I only have a cup of coffee.
For Jeanne’s gazebo tea, I would bring a homemade butter pecan cake and my purple pansy teapot. Both would be carefully packed in baskets lined with floral material. I’ll be the one in the wide brim straw hat!
Well, Addy’s dress is already spectacular. Wonder what you’ll do next, Jeanne. It’s reminding me of one of the dresses the girls wore in “Little Women.” One of my favorite stories.
How frustrating Ebay can be at times. I’ve heard other complaints about some of their changes.
Have a great Saturday. Your tea party was wonderful, Jeanne.
HI Paula,
Thanks for bringing the butter pecan cake! It sounds wonderful. I just had some butter pecan ice cream the other night…a favorite of mine.
Once I did have a ladies tea party and asked everyone to wear a floral dress and a hat if they had one. I had some that I supplied for anyone who didn’t have one…
I’m glad you’re liking the dress that Addy’s getting right now. She’s being awful patient right now as I’m doing some alterations for Rebecca today… Addy is hoping I’ll get back to her dress soon… I will!
I’m glad you have fun at the tea party, Paula… I did too!
Blessings, Jeanne
What a darling dress for Addy, Jeanne! That is a gorgeous color and it looks to me like it might be polished cotton? I like those little white polka dots too! Maybe Addy could bring a basket of fresh cookies to the tea!
Oh, I loved reading what Anne wrote about the tea party at your house! That was just so cute to read and it sure would be fun to really have! I certainly wouldn’t recommend that you have it any time soon, with this heat wave we are having! The picture of the ladies sitting around the gazebo is so pretty, too bad it isn’t 1904 or something and the women would be wearing long dresses and big, beautiful hats!
What I would bring, well, it depends on what you asked for. At work we always had a food day once a month or so, and everyone brought something to share. I would bring a vegetable pizza, which was a cold pizza, and everyone just loved it. It was made on a jelly roll pan, and cut in little squares. It was made with various colorful veggies and looked so pretty, plus it tasted so good! It’s not a “sweet”, but others have already said they were bringing cake, so I thought this would be a good alternative! I think I’m getting hungry already!
HI LInda,
I’m glad you like Addy’s dress fabric… I really do too. No, it’s not a polished cotton, just a regular cotton… I’m hoping when I’m all done, it photographs well…and shows the true color it is.
I think if I had a Tea Party, we’d have to move it inside or everyone would melt outside. My hubby was helping someone move today and he was up and down flights of stairs and in and out of 2 different apartments… He came home wringing wet!
I LOVE cold pizza and have it for breakfast when we have left over pizza at night. It sounds yummy! You are so right… we have several cakes coming, so we did need a few veggies in there… :o)
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Ebay search findings:
Ann Estelle 1337
Ann Estelle Michael 33
Ann Estelle Trixie 10
Ann Estelle Gracie 11
Ann Estelle Sophie 266
Ann Estelle Accessories 4
Ann Estelle Patsy 769
Tonner Ann Estelle 595
Tonner Patsy 258
Tonner Gracie 5
Tonner Trixie 22 Your dress was here. Maybe on others but further down and I didn’t really look too far.
Tonner Sophie 22
The searches above had dolls as well as clothes and shoes. A mix.
What does it mean?? I have no idea. Other than including Ann Estelle which appears to have many more listings.
HI Joy,
Well, I did just discover that Trixie’s dress is listed under the Sophie things… I mean when you type in Sophie Tonner, my turquoise dress is shown in those listings. However, if you type in Patsy Tonner, it isn’t in those listings. You have to go to the clothes and accessories to find it.
I thought I had put Ann Estelle in my title, but I just checked and I didn’t… I will next time. There is a category when you list your dolls for the “Ann Estelle Collection” and my dress should go in that category, but my listing got yanked one time when I listed it in there.
Who knows… one thing is certain… apparently 2 somebodies found my listing and have already started a bidding war…and it has to go till Tuesday, so this might prove interesting. :o)
Thanks for all the work you did on this Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, the bidding is amazing. So wonderful for you!! That dress is a winner for sure. Sweet.
You are on another roll, Jeanne! Addy’s dress is really taking shape. The fabric choice is so pretty with the red roses and tiny dots, and the puffy sleeves are so feminine. I’m thinking there may be a cameo or other brooch for the neck? Can’t wait to see what surprises you have in mind. Trixie’s turquoise tea party toggery is doing very well on eBay, but I’m afraid I will have to drop out of the bidding soon. Someone’s little “girl” quite possibly needs this dress more than my Patsy!
I love the imaginary tea party in the gazebo! Oh, what fun we would all have! Marilyn’s description of the church ladies calling to help made me laugh out loud! What to bring, what to bring? I would have to bring something that would withstand the long car trip, so I think I would bring my husband’s grandmother’s white velvet cut-out cookies in the shape of flowers, recipe following:
1 lb. butter, at room temperature
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, at room temperature
2 cups white sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 and 1/2 cups flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and cream cheese. Add sugar, egg yolks and vanilla. Beat until well-combined and smooth. Gradually incorporate flour and mix well. Dough will be quite thick, but soft. Cover well and chill several hours, or overnight. Carefully roll out on lightly floured board and cut into desired shapes. Do not roll this dough too thinly, as it is very tender. Bake on lightly greased sheets or parchment 10-12 minutes in 350 degree oven, being careful not to over-bake. This is not a crispy cookie. Cool; frost and decorate as desired.
These are the best cut-out cookies I have ever tasted. Grandma Esther made them for my bridal shower. I recommend them to be served with “Party Punch” over edible flower ice cubes. (Party Punch: 46 oz. Hawaiian Punch; 6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate and 6 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate, barely defrosted; 52 oz. ginger ale. Combine all in punch bowl).
The cookies sound wonderful. I have copied them to my word processor recipe file. Many thanks.
I copied the recipes too, Marilyn,
The cookies sound scrumptious and the punch sounds so refreshing!
Blessings, Jeanne
Me too! I love cut-out cookies/sugar cookies….Thanks for sharing!
HI Anne,
Oh…you might be right about a little cameo at the neck… but I’ll never tell! :o)
Yes, the bidding has begun early on Trixie’s dress… I’m flabbergasted…already!
If I had some cream cheese, don’t you know I’d have these cookies in my oven by now! :o)
They look yummy and I’ll get some cream cheese the next time I’m in town, make them and think of you as you are on your long drive here! :o) They sound divine!
I’m always looking for punch recipes too, for baby and bridal showers… this looks like another one to file away…for my next party! I wrote it down and might make it just for us to have to cool off with!
Thanks so much Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
For tea, I’d bring my world famous pound cake. 🙂
HI Melody,
WOW… world famous pound cake…it must be delicious! I think we’ll have 3 cakes at our tea party. Sounds great to me!
Thanks so much for your contribution!
Blessings, Jeanne
Love pound cake. Is that a recipe you might share??
Hi Jeanne
If you put in Patsy Tonner into the search bar then look under the three boxes that say all listings, buy it now and auction you will see the word all in tiny letters. If you then click on that your dress will come up. Don’t know why it works but it does. I wondered why I didn’t have the same trouble looking for things for my Little Darlings then realised that almost everything for them is handmade as they only arrive in their undies.
If I were to come to your tea party I would bring a very traditional English Victoria sandwich cake or perhaps a rich fruit cake or a Swiss roll or some coconut tarts but by the time I had finished I would probably have to pay for excess baggage on the plane 🙂
Lorna
I think I would bring mom’s Muscle Torte. It’s like a sponge cake, but with finely chopped walnuts in it, and the frosting is very special–it always stays soft and creamy!! Last time I made it as in 2005, for Daddy’s last birthday on earth. It was his favorite. (I need to make it again, I think, because I love it, too!)