I don’t have a whole lot to show you but it’s the focal point of the dress, so I guess it counts as a lot, even though it doesn’t look like it. If you guessed it was Rebecca and this was going to be a Regency dress, you guessed right! I’ve had this fabric for several years and just love it. Here’s the clue I gave you yesterday…
The only thing I managed to get done was the beading on the bodice. I used tiny red and green glass beads and stitched them on one at a time… in clusters of three… and then stitched them AGAIN to make sure they stayed in place! The lace was a vintage lace I found at a little antique shop and I think it’s so delicate and dainty looking…perfect for this dress.
If you click on any picture, it will enlarge.
I added a tiny bit of the beading to the cuff of the sleeves, but it’s hardly noticeable…
I draped the skirt fabric around Rebecca so you could get an idea of what the rest of the dress will look like.
I hope you like it so far…
On another note, Paula re-wigged one of her American Girl dolls with a new wig. She was quite proud of herself for doing it and I can see why! Doesn’t her doll look wonderful in this beautiful new wig? Way to go Paula!
Well, that’s it for today…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
The Christmas Rose dress. It’s going to be lovely. It’s lovely now. The first dress of the holiday season. Now I can’t wait to see what you do with her hair and what kind of hair accessory you choose. Maybe I should let you make the skirt first. This really is a good omen for the holiday season.
Paula’s doll is beautiful. I like the dark blonde of her hair with her dark eyes, and her fall outfit coordinates with her skin and hair very nicely. She was brave to take on that project, and has been well-rewarded for it if she likes the results anywhere close to as much as I do. Look at the variation in hair color in that wig. I just realized — that is Julie, isn’t it? I was thinking that that’s almost what my hair looked like in the late 60’s. That tiny bit of curl in her hair is very becoming. Julie is a beautiful doll, but if I had one, I’d be thinking seriously abut sending it to Paula. I’d love to see her in a couple of the Julie outfits.
By the way, here’s something I learned from the AG medieval princess outfit from years ago. It’s cute, but not especially well-fitted and a bit cheap looking — that is the way most Halloween costumes look. If you buy or make something that doesn’t quite work or doesn’t go with the other clothes you have, it can be a great Halloween costume. I have an irresistible Renaissance gown that goes with nothing else in my AG collection, but it’s beautiful on Halloween, and I found some nice jeweled gold shoes to go with it. Perhaps my all time favorite AG outfit, Felicity’s green riding dress, goes with almost nothing else (except Elizabeth’s impractical pink and white one), but Kit wears it for Halloween and seldom looks better. A Victorian outfit in gorgeous colors of mauve (the ultimate Victorian color), sky blue, and ivory but undistinguished workmanship is a stunning Halloween outfit for Lindsay. On Halloween, all of the misfit outfits go together and look fine.
HI Marilyn,
I think you just gave me the name for Rebecca’s dress…”Christmas Rose” and I think it’s very pretty…so thank you very much! :o)
I wasn’t sure who it was but knew Julie had lined eyebrows so it’s not her… Paula chimed in below with who the mystery girl is…
That’s a pretty good idea…if you get an outfit you don’t like…turn it into a costume…somehow… “What am I? Oh, I’m a misfit!”
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
This is an absolutely stunning dress, Jeanne, or at least what you have started! I love the extra attention to the lace and beading detail, and also the beading on the sleeves. I would never have thought to do that, but it is what gives your outfits the “extra” touch. Yes, as Marilyn says, it will be a beautiful Christmas Rose dress, perfect coloring for this time of the year! Maybe you could make a little drawstring beaded bag to go with it? This would also be a good dress for a “Rebecca” necklace!
Paula, your doll looks very nice in her new wig. I don’t think that is Julie, however, since Julie has lined eyebrows, and this doll has the feathered ones. You are very brave to customize dolls, I have no ability to even try!
HI Linda,
Thanks for the compliments on Rebecca’s dress…and YES… I have to get a “request” in from Rebecca for a necklace for this dress. It HAS to have one…
As far as the purse… I have something in mind… :o)
I’m debating about whether to make it long or have it shorter with pantalettes showing… hmmm
I too, love the wig on Paula’s doll. Wish I could get a wig like that for me! :o) Just kidding… but it is pretty!
Thank you Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I actually gasped when I saw the bodice of your next outfit. How beautiful, especially with the detail of the beading. I can’t wait to see the rest when you continue with it. I’m still guessing which era it falls in. It’s probably not Civil War because of the exposed neck and chest. So far, the dress is very striking.
Thank you, also, for sharing the picture of my un-named doll. I need to work on a name for her. Marilyn guessed Julie but it is doll # 49. Linda realized that, and I can see why Marilyn thought she was Julie. Her eyes are brown unlike doll #49, whose eyes were blue. This doll is a result of another doll I had customized. She gave up her blue eyes and wig to another doll and came back to me with brown eyes and black hair. Confusing!
The wig is called English Toffee from Beautifully Custom. It’s a very heavy wig because of being thick and long. It’s also variegated with several colors. A little much for a 9 year old but I decided to use it anyway.
And I might say, taking off the first wig is easy, putting a wig back on, especially when it’s heavy, is difficult. The wig is a 10-12 and I should have used the next size up. I think it should come down on her forehead a bit more too and even though it is centered correctly, it looks a bit off. I may decide to adjust it at some point. Still for my first attempt, I’m happy.
Changing eyes is scary or painting the doll’s face is scary too, but I would love to learn that. Jeanne, you’ve re-painted your doll’s faces as well as repaired their stuffed bodies and did great. It would be wonderful to attempt that and some day I’ll try.
HI Paula,
Rebecca’s dress is going to be a Regency dress… somewhere in the early 1800’s… and thank you so much for your kind words about it. Hopefully I’ll get the skirt attached to it today.
I’ll have to look at the Beautifully Custom site… I love looking at doll wigs even though I’ve never changed an AG doll wig before… but there’s always a first! Then I’ll be JUST LIKE YOU!
Thanks so much Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
Love the lace and beading on this dress. Beautiful!
Paula’s re-wig is lovely. The wig is great shade too. I’m going to have to check out Beautifully Custom wigs. Can’t wait to see what she is named.
Thanks Joy,
Ah ha…someone else who loves wigs!
Paula always comes up with the best names for her dolls so it will be good!
Blessings, Jeanne
I too can’t believe how beautiful “Christmas Rose” looks so far. Jeanne, wow…you are amazing in your creativity. No doubt it’s tiring to hear it, but I just can’t wait to read your posts (as you can post them) as they come out….your work/your life is a major inspiration and encouragement to me. Thank you so much for all that you do.
Good job, Paula! Doesn’t it feel good to do something like what you did with your re-wigging?
Blessings.
Thank you Becky,
I am so blessed that you enjoy whatever I post about! That makes me smile… :o)
Maybe Paula inspired others to rewig a doll that needed a new look…
Thank you so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a beautiful Regency dress Rebecca is wearing. I love the beading on the bodice, very festive, perhaps for a Christmas ball. People wear roses at Christmas. That was a good call by Marilyn. I like the beading on the sleeve as well. Those extras details make your dresses stand out. I also agree a little reticule would be a perfect accessory.
You did a great job on the re-wigging, Paula. She looks very pretty as a dark eyed blonde. Her outfit is perfect for her as well. The owls on the top are so sweet.
Thank you Laura for the sweet compliments on Rebecca’s new Regency dress. I like the name Christmas Rose that Marilyn called it. As soon as I read it, I decided I’d have to go with it.
I’ve been working on it more today so I will have something else to show tomorrow.
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
I looked up English Regency. Officially it would be from 1811-1820, when George (later the IVth), the Prince of Wales, ruled in place of his father, George III, who was thought to be mentally ill though I have read that it was a physical illness that manifested itself as seeming insanity. If you consider the Regency as the Regency era, the dates are more generous:
The Regency in Great Britain was a period when King George III was deemed unfit to rule and his son ruled as his proxy as Prince Regent. On the death of George III in 1820, the Prince Regent became George IV. The term Regency (or Regency era) can refer to various stretches of time; some are longer period than the decade of the formal Regency which lasted 1811–1820. The period 1795 to 1837,which includes the latter part of the reign of George III and the reigns of his sons George IV and William IV) is often attributed as the Regency era characterised by distinctive trends in British architecture, literature, fashions, politics, and culture. The Regency era ended in 1837 when Queen Victoria succeeded William IV.
If you are not familiar with the period, the easiest way to get some idea of the culture is to watch the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice, the Emma Thompson Sense and Sensibility, and the favorite of many, the Amanda Root Persuasion. Of course, reading the books is wonderful, but seeing the houses, the clothes, the hairstyles, and the manners is a huge help. The problem is that Jane Austen’s world excluded London, and London was extremely important in every way. Some of Georgette Heyer’s books, Fredricka, for example, or Friday’s Child would help fill in that gap.
Thank you so much for the regency information. My English group decided to come to the US in the 1850’s. Settled in Iowa where they could have land. Unlike at home. Did pretty well. Had children, including my great grandfather, and he and family eventually continued on to California. Love that English history. My group were from Cheddar.
Hi Marilyn,
Thanks for the history lesson on the Regency period! I can always count on you to fill us in with the details we didn’t know!!
Blessings, Jeanne
Rebecca is the loveliest “Christmas Rose” I have ever seen in this dress! Your bead work is just beautiful, Jeanne, and a fine example of what makes your clothes so very special. Your love for what you do is sewn into every dolly design, and your artistry always leaves us waiting with bated breath to see what comes next.
Paula, your little girl looks very sweet with her new blond locks. Kudos to you on the wig swap. I’m sure you will have loads of fun styling those shiny long tresses. Please do share her name when you christen her.
Thanks again for launching the holiday season, and all of our spirits, with your lovely “Christmas Rose,” Jeanne.
Hi Anne,
Thank you very much for all your compliments on Rebecca’s dress. The more I hear the name Christmas Rose the more I love it!
I really do enjoy making Regency dresses… almost as much as Civil War dresses…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne