Today I was busy helping get the huge room (actually a gymnasium) decorated for our church’s Thanksgiving Dinner. It’s Saturday night and there was lots that had to be done… 49 tables had to be decorated. Then there were lights to string up, flags to hang, plus a zillion other little jobs… it looks wonderful.
Here are a few pictures of the tables… I just snapped these few shots as we were working…it was much prettier when we left!
If you click on any picture it will enlarge.
Sooooo… I had very little time to sew this evening. I did manage to get the slips made for the dresses and they each picked out something from the Dolly Toy Box.
Here are a few fun pictures of today’s progress.
I have to make 2 corn casseroles, a salad and cook 2 hams tomorrow, so there is no way I’m going to get the new thigh highs and their head bands made. Since there is zero chance I’ll get this listed on Ebay on Saturday, I’m thinking I may redo Janie’s gold slip. There really isn’t anything wrong with it, but I’m not crazy about the fabric. It’s not a tulle like the other slips…it’s sort of stiff like….just what I don’t like. It’s kind of like the difference between parchment paper and saran wrap… if you know what I mean…just a little too stiff for me.
So…that’s it for this seamstress today! I hope you’re liking the dress sets so far. I know it’s taking longer, but just remember, it’s 3 sets! :o)
See you Monday morning,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, I see what you mean about Janie’s gold slip being stiffer than the others….but….it’s SOOOOOOO pretty!!! It caught my eye immediately!!! I absolutely love it!! And I have to say that, although I wasn’t too crazy about that yellow/gold dress to start with, it is definitely growing on me, and I think it’s my favorite now, or at least tied with the red one!
Hope you have fun at your Thanksgiving dinner. We had the one at our church tonight, and it was so nice. Our son and his family were able to come, too, so we had two of the grandkids with us. Man, those kids have shot up since we last saw them a month or so ago–even the “little” one is taller than I am now! (Of course, that’s not difficult, since I’m only 4’6″ tall…)
HI Charlotte,
Janie’s slip is very pretty and so sparkly, but I just am not sure of the feel of it. I may make another one, or find a different fabric altogether, but nothing will be happening on it today, so for now I’ll take the compliments. Maybe it’s the stretchy waistband…. hmmmm…
I’m sure we’ll have fun at the dinner tonight…we always do. I’ve got my corn casseroles all make and just have to wait till closer to the time to bake them. The salad is ready and the hams have to be heated up… not to bad for 10:15 in the morning, is it? :o)
Charlotte, it’s funny… I always imagined you as the this tall lady with a very slender build, like my Aunt Evelyn…of course you don’t know her, but I just thought of her when I thought of you! 4’6″ is really tiny! That’s what my grandma was…It’s no wonder your grands were all bigger than you…
Blessings, Jeanne
You really Are ready early, Jeanne!!
Oh, my, I wish….!!! At least the “slender” part! Not really “fat” but definitely on the “fluffy” side. (If I told you my weight, you’d think it wasn’t much at all….which may well be if I were a foot taller!!)
And *I* had an aunt Evelyn, also! She was my great-aunt by marriage, and really enjoyed spending time with her. She was quite a stylish lady–having once owned a dress shop–and her somewhat auburn hair was always in a French roll! Not overly tall–sort of average–and not really slender, more a curvy type. But a lovely person.
How funny — I was thinking just what Charlotte said. The gold slip is so pretty. I liked it immediately, and the gold dress is now my favorite as well. I’d love to see what the slip looks like with the dress over it — the skirt might hold it down a bit just as it will hold the skirt out. I like the contrasting slips for the other dresses, but I like the entire gold outfit because it’s unusual and very pretty. The Georgette Heyer expression would be, “It’s not just in the common way.”
I’m hoping for more pictures of the Thanksgiving tables. I’d like to see the complete effect and I’d love a picture of the food table. It’s going to look very festive once there are people in the picture, but by then it will be hard to see the tables. The centerpieces are especially nice. Fall is a short but pretty season and fall colors are so warm and inviting.
HI Marilyn,
It’s funny about the slip…I’m going to have to tweak it a bit to get it to be my favorite. I feel a trip to Hobby Lobby or Joann’s coming on… I better get all my baking stuff in order so I can “play” a bit. Oh the gold slip will definitely hold out the gold dress… wonderfully in fact!
Maybe I’ll work on the “gathers” a bit to see if that’s the problem…
I’ll try to remember to take some pictures…. I have to be there at 4:00 so I should be able to get some nice pictures of the whole room with not too many people in it.
I should have taken a few pictures of something besides brown…
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Now I’m embarrassed, but thank you for the lovely compliment yesterday. You can see why I love sewing for them. Made pajamas for Riya and her Mommy while there and had sent the pillowcase with all the trucks and car design fabric for Krish earlier.
I was pleased to see a refund of $6.50 from Amazon for the Nahji doll I ordered after seeing it on your Blog as that is their policy on preorders if the price goes down. I didn’t know about that. The doll should be here tomorrow. It’s another thing I wouldn’t have known about if not for your Blog and your followers. Can’t wait to see her.
The Thanksgiving tables look so inviting. You and George contribute so much to your church and community. I’d like to see more of your beautiful self in the pictures you post of events you attend. I don’t know how you find time to sew, but the results are remarkable. Love the petticoats, all different, all beautiful. Thanks again for sharing.
HI Susette,
I meant it… you are very pretty! So is Linda…she sent me a picture of herself one time too! :o)
I didn’t know about the refund policy on Amazon either…that’s wonderful for you! Oh, you’re going to have a fun dolly day, I can just tell!
I’m not big on being in pictures myself…that’s why I take pictures of “other” things…
I’m glad you like the slips… gotta tweak a few things and they’ll be fine… I wish I could sew today…it’s freezing cold out… the temp is 40 degrees, but the wind is blowing, making the wind chill factor 29! BRRRR…. George is out blowing leaves out of the gutters.
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
My first thought too was how great the gold slip looks. It may be stiff, but looks fabulous.
Nothing like slippery plastic tablecloths. Yours look lovely especially with the centerpiece decorations. I was just remembering for grandson’s first birthday how his other grandmother and I were taping the tablecloths to the tables as they were so slippery and wouldn’t stay on the tables.
Getting some rain here. Hope your dinner and weekend go well.
HI Joy,
Well, that’s 3 out of 4 that commented on how much they liked the gold slip… maybe I should listen to you all and use the fabric, but refine the waistline… I think if I stitched the stretchy lace on the top of my gathers, they might lay down better… maybe that’s what I don’t like so much…too puffy…
The round tables are made of a plastic something or other and aren’t too terribly slippery so the tablecloths held in place pretty well… the ones that don’t get damaged, we wash and use over again, so some of them have more wrinkles than others… I had to buy 12 new ones yesterday.
We don’t have rain today… just windy and cold… by tonight the wind chill is supposed to be 27 degrees… that’s too cold for me…
Thanks Joy,
blessings, Jeanne
You know me, Jeanne–I’ve never met a slip of yours that I didn’t love! These are all so poufy and pretty. But I do see what you mean about the gold seeming stiffer. I also noticed that the lace waistband on the gold looks different from the others, so maybe that is a factor. The red and white ones look like they are folded over. Did you use a different technique on them? Trying the dresses over the slips might help you determine if/what tweaking is needed. What ever you decide, I’m confident the end result will be perfection.
The tables for your church Thanksgiving look very festive. Kudos on your decorating, Jeanne. I, too, would like to see more pictures of the event. Perhaps you can snap a few pix of your casseroles, salad and hams, too, and we can all do a little vicarious eating (the kind without calories)! You are very blessed indeed to be a part of such a large and active church family. I’m sure they are a wonderful support for you and George, as you are for them.
Your girls look rested and bright-eyed now after their sleepover, Jeanne. 😉 Thank you for sharing the pix of their sweet slips with us as you work through the process of finishing all the little details for your Three Christmas Blessings. Thanks, too, for taking time to share some pix of the preparations for your Thanksgiving feast. Wishing you a joyful celebration of food, friends, fun and fellowship, and a restful Sunday tomorrow.
P.S. After rains last night, it is currently 37 degrees with clouds and strong winds in Powell, Ohio. The first snowflakes of the season are projected overnight tonight, with a low temp of 29 degrees. With winter knocking at our doors, it seems like a good time for playing with dolls! Dolly ((hugs)) to all of you, ladies!
HI Anne,
I haven’t forgotten about your slip either… I still have it on a to do list!
The red and white ones are folded over, but the gold one I did first and decided to stitch it…but I don’t think it has enough weight to hold it in place. I’ll have to figure it out.
I have to be there early so I’m hoping to get some pictures taken of the food and the whole room fully decorated.
My girls ARE all rested up and ready to get their dresses on… I’m ready too! Gotta find time to get the last items for these dresses done.
I think Winter is a coming! As much as I don’t want it to…it’s coming!
Thanks Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh my goodness, Anne. It IS a small world. I live up or down the road, however you want to look at it. I live in Delaware, OH. I have friends who live in Powell and use to go there quite often to browse the antique shops when we would bathe our dog at the dog washing place on the corner. Stay warm. and play with dolls. 🙂
Hey, neighbor! Well, two of us in the same location is a start on getting everyone from Jeanne’s blog together! We do have a lot to offer here in central Ohio if any of the ladies come this way — antique shops, flea markets, unique boutiques, fabric stores, and of course, Jeni’s ice cream! And, we have the start of a caravan for a for a trip to Jeanne’s, should the “reunion” take place there. ; It may be only a dream, but it’s a fun one! Anyway, stay warm Laura. Old Man Winter has come knocking!
Late agaiu, but good excuse!! I went grocery shopping today at the break of dawn, so I have my Thanksgiving food bought and the turkey in the freezer for now. Then a birthday party for my youngest grandson, Willie, at a gym, then onto their house for lunch. Of course visiting happened too afterwards, so I didn’t get to comment.
Oh my those slips are so pretty! I think the gold one is also very different and pretty. The dresses looks so sweet and perfect for whoever gets them. I still love that red dress—a lot!
Wow, you certainly have a lot of people coming for the Thanksgiving dinner! It this just for people who go to your church or others? The tables look so inviting, and by the time they are filled with food, and with people there, it will look very festive! You and George are the most loving, caring people I know! Thank you for caring about others!
Oh my goodness, Charlotte! You are very short, at least compared to me! I’m 5’9″, and maybe shrank an inch, but wow, 4’6″ is really short! So far none of my grandkids top me, but my oldest granddaughter is as tall as I am, and she is 14. I must say I am the shrimp of my family, since my hubby is 6’2″, my daughter is close to 6 feet, and my son is 6’3″. We are tall! Oh Jeanne, don’t make me blush about that picture!!!
Thanks for your compliments on the slips. I hope the girls look wonderful when they get everything in order… I can’t wait to see them all dolled up either!
Sounds like a busy day… me too… just waiting on my corn casseroles to finish baking…
The Thanksgiving dinner is sort of an outreach…inviting friends is very welcomed and there are sometimes just as many guests as regulars (or so it seems!) We do something different each year and this year we have a video about how Thanksgiving really came to be called that. It’s very good and keeps your attention!
Linda, YOU have nothing to blush about with your picture. I can only HOPE to look like you when I am your age… which we’ll keep a secret! :o) I have 2 glamour girls who read my blog…I don’t know about anybody else! :o)
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Now I feel embarrassed, Jeanne. As much as I have admired your slips and think they could be worn as dresses, I would never want to burden you. Please don’t feel obligated to make a slip for my LD. My goodness, I don’t even have her yet, and I don’t expect her until at least May. There is absolutely no rush, and you do have more important things to consider right now! I know you aren’t doing commissions at this time anyway. Just admiring your slips in pix is enough for now. 🙂
HI Anne,
Well, I’m still planning on getting it to you… sooner or later… you’ll get it.
Blessings, Jeanne
The Thanksgiving dinner set up is wonderful. Love the table decorations. I hope that everyone has a fantastic time and would love to see pictures as well.
I’m with the others that like Janie’s gold slip. It is so pretty, my favorite of the three really. Janie’s dress didn’t strike me as Christmasy like the others at first, but I’m completely thrilled with it now. It ties with the red as my favorite. Everyone DOES look well rested considering it was a sleepover. LOL
The weather here for the last 24 hours has been unbelievable to say the least. We had 72 with tons of sunshine yesterday, 38 this morning with snow showers and now it’s about 40 and rain. My grandfather always said. “If you don’t like the weather in Ohio now, wait an hour, it will change.
HI Laura,
We are back home now…the Thanksgiving dinner was a big success….everything went the smoothest it ever has and everyone got plenty to eat!
Well, so many of you liked Janie’s slip, I’m going to have to see if I can’t make myself like it… I’m going to try a few different things with it tomorrow. I think the fabric is nylon and I’m wondering if I washed it in Downy if it would soften up and maybe become a little bit limp…that might help. It didn’t gather as well as I would have liked it to.
We have that same saying in Southern Illinois. It’s 39 and feels 35…so it’s not terrible. I only wore a sweater to the dinner tonight…I’m not a big coat person.
Thanks Laura,
Have a nice Sunday tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
What pretty unders the girls are modeling. Your dolls are always dressed as prettily underneath as on top.
The Thanksgiving set-up looks great, Jeanne. It is alot of work, but I’m sure those who will be there will be thoroughly grateful. Thanks again for sharing various aspects of your life. It is an honor to be a part of it.
Blessings.
Thank you Becky,
I do like pretty underthings for my girls… they do too! :o)
The dinner is over and I’m glad… I’m pooped and so is my hubby. Tomorrow I’m sure a nap will be in order! Everything went very well tonight and it was a big success. The only thing we forgot was big trash bags… but we managed with boxes…
Okay now back to normal… sewing for me!
Thank you Becky,
Blessings to you, Jeanne