Well, well, well… everyone must have been patiently waiting to find out which doll dress would be next, because yesterday, I had my second best day ever, as far as visits on my blog goes! So…thank you very much! That lets me know… you do care when I post something new and you want to see it right away.
I had to help my mom with something yesterday and didn’t get any sewing done on Felicity’s dress (*sigh*) but when I got home, Rebecca surprised me and had Felicity’s necklace ALREADY made and on her neck! It’s very sweet… dainty like I think it should be for a young girl and perfectly matched to her dress, just like Rebecca always does! :o)
If you click on any picture, it will enlarge.
So now what do I do? Her new necklace was all that got done toward her outfit…
I looked online to see what I could find out about bonnets or hats in the 1770’s. There wasn’t much besides straw hats shown. I looked at some fashion plates and many of the ladies wore these elaborate “concoctions is the only word I can think of” in their hair, but I’m pretty sure young girls didn’t wear those. Most young girls just had ribbons or mob caps. So… I was wondering, do you think I could spray paint my straw hat a pretty green, or should I leave it natural? Anyone have an opinion? Do we go for authenticity here or just for looks and what might work?
Laura mentioned a cape possibly and I remembered a piece of green wool felt that I have. I wrapped it around Felicity’s shoulders and snapped a picture… any comments on that? I’d have to draft a short cape but I think that might be cute. I could maybe use some kind of form and possibly see if I could steam my wool felt into a hat shape.
I finally looked in my favorite “go-to” book on the fashions in Colonial times and took a few pictures for you.
Here is the page in the book describing the hats women wore…
Ingrid asked yesterday what a bum roll was…and here’s the section in the book on that. I like the story near the end where the bum rolls (rumps) were filled with cork and saved at least one lady’s life by keeping her afloat when her boat capsized!
Well, that’s going to have to be it for this post. Today is my hubby’s long day of Chemo and I have things I need to get done… He’s had a pretty good week… he was off this past Tuesday with no treatments and he almost felt like normal… he’s always had super thick hair and we’ve always kidded him about having hair like carpet. Well, it’s starting to come out in his hands in the shower and it’s not so thick anymore. I can see his scalp in the back and know this heavy treatment tomorrow will probably take its toll on what he has left. It’s hard…but it’s hair… and it will grow back!
Thanks everyone, I’m glad you all liked Felicity’s dress so far. Hopefully soon, I will have more to show you. I do have some other pictures from my readers…I’ll show those pictures soon…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Sending good thoughts to you and your husband today.
I think a caplet would be a delightful addition to Felicity’s outfit.
Thank you Charlotte,
I appreciate you thinking of us today. We are “enjoying our day at the spa” as best we can.
I was actually thinking of a caplet and will have to see what I can come up with.
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
I hope the chemo goes smoothly. George had beautiful hair — it will, as you say, come back. Mine came back silver and the color is so pretty that I have decided to go with it instead of adding color. Losing hair and energy are both nasty prices to pay, but they are worth it.
Rebecca’s necklace is lovely and delicate — like a young girl’s necklace, just as you said.
I like the 1780 hat shown above and the dinner plate, forward tilted hats I found on Google. Here’s one: https://www.eastangelharbor.com/colonial-dinner-plate-hat-abigail-adams They are tied in back. (My vote on the spray the straw hat or leave it natural is to leave it natural. The flower pattern and the natural colors in the fabric and the ivory lace will all go well with natural straw, and the ribbon and flower trims that you have used before have always made beautiful hats.)
I too have a Pleasant Company Felicity with eyes like those of Jeanne’s doll but not the ribbon at the base of the wig, so probably she’s not quite so early. She was definitely sturdier than the newer dolls and had the general floppy leg problem, partly from being squashed into a small square box for travel. I felt bad because she could fit into fewer and fewer of the newer clothes and the ones being made by individuals, so, with many feelings of guilt and regret, I sent her off to the AG doll hospital for a new body, specifying one like Kit or Lindsay — medium sized instead of the newer, slimmer ones. This also took care of the floppy limb problem.
Body replacement has the benefit of allowing a buyer to select a doll with the perfect face but a stained or damaged body. It does change the value on the collector’s market, but I decided I was buying her for me, not for some unknown future person, and it certainly changes her wardrobe selection.
Hi Marilyn,
We are at “the spa” and have 2 hours to go. Yay!
I was very happy with Felicity’s necklace. I just asked Rebecca if she could make a Colonial necklace and she surprised me with this! She knows her stuff!
When I first got this Felicity I wasn’t sure I liked her that much, but as she has stood on my dolly shelf I have come to adore her. When I look straight into her eyes I can’t believe how beautiful they are. It’s nice when you love the dolls you have!
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Marilyn,
My Felicity is a PC 1991 West German one like Jeanne’s. I bought her NIB from a sweet lady who had bought her back in 1991 just to save, but never removed her or displayed her. I feel I got her for a steal as she came with three early PC outfits and her cloak. I looked and looked until I found the one with the perfect face for me. She has a ribbon wig and the gorgeous muted peridot green eyes and, of course, those stunning long reddish eyelashes.. The PC 1991-1992 West German and German ones did. My daughter has a Lissie bought direct from PC in 1994 or 1995. She is a 1993 edition and was made in Germany, no ribbon wig and has ever so slightly less red hair ( only I know from comparing side by side) and ever so slightly brighter green eyes, but nothing like the Mattel green. I had always loved Felicity best when my daughter got the dolls and made up my mind after seeing the first release ones that I would have that edition. I doubt my Lissie will be able to wear the new clothes, but I didn’t buy past the Town Fair outfit so I don’t know if the couple of Mattel outfit would have fit. I’m glad you have a Felicity…everyone NEEDS a Felicity. She was the doll Pleasant wanted first and I can definitely see why.
I’ll bet mine is the 1993. She’s a beauty. I found her on Ebay and she was in worse condition than I expected. Doll rescue is so rewarding. By the next day she looked completely new and ready for adventure. I don’t know if everyone needs a Felicity, but we certainly did. I hope the new Felicity is at least close to as beautiful as the originals.
Hi Marilyn,
You mentioned “doll rescue” and I find myself looking on Ebay at the TLC American Girl dolls wondering, “hmmmm, I bet I could fix that or I could live with that little flaw!” Silly me!
I’m glad you have a Felicity too! and I think like Laura, everyone should have her!
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thanks Laura,
You’ve done it again… answered all our lingering questions about American Girl dolls… Felicity especially! You know so much and it’s fun to learn from you!
Thanks again,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, that necklace is just darling, Jeanne! Rebecca gets it right every time! I love little lockets for the younger girls, and have a few of those myself from when I was small.
I love the idea of a shorter capelet, the kind that has openings for her arms, which is shown in the first illustration. I actually have all of Elizabeth’s clothes for my Felicity, and she has a soft green cape that is a thin type of quilted fabric. It is so pretty and goes with many of Felicity’s dresses too. It is not as Kelly green as the piece of felt you have, but a very pretty soft green that would work well with the material you have for the dress. If you made a capelet with a hood, like the first one is pictured, you wouldn’t necessarily have to make a hat, just a pinner cap would look nice.
How about that little ad at the lower right hand corner, “Aids to Beauty”!!! 🙂
Good luck with the chemo today. George’s hair is the least of it! It will come back for sure. Now just try to tell me that with the situation with my grandson! He is turning 11 Friday, and has decided he wants blue hair, so that’s what he got! Good grief!
Hi Linda,
Felicity’s necklace isn’t a locket but it sure looks like one. I think it is so darling around her neck.
My wool felt isn’t but about 8 or 9 inches wide so if I did make a capelet it would be on the shorter side. Also, it’s not as green as it looks like it is. I have a darker green but it doesn’t go.
So you are going to have a blue headed grandson, huh? It’s better than a tattoo at 11 years old…
I wasn’t going to say anything about that little ad and see if anyone noticed…you did! :o)
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Neat necklace. Goes so well. If it would cover the seam around the neck, that would be a double plus. I have always had a personal problem with the cloth body showing on AG’s. Just me.
The manteau cape pattern is lovely. Like the other too. But, I’m not so sure about the green color of the felt. Matches Felicity’s eyes but not the dress so much. Maybe it’s my monitor but it seems overpowering. Maybe with this dress just a simple ribbon for her hair might be in order. Like whatever is in the hair on the manteau photo. However the dress is finished, it will be a winner. Such a wonderful color and workmanship.
Sorry to hear about George’s hair. I know they are using ice caps now to prevent hair loss in some cases, but that might be pretty uncomfortable.
Know this will be a long day for you both, so try to keep things on the positive side even though it might be difficult. Good times will return.
Where’s my bum roll? Some out here could use one now with all of the rain we’ve been having. Lots of things floating away.
Hi Joy,
You aren’t alone in “not” loving the seam at the neck on rhe American Girl dolls. It bugs more people than you know.
The green looks a little too bright in my picture…it’s a pretty nice match but I’ll check it again in today’s light when I get home.
I had to laugh at your last few sentences…that really made me smile! I needed that! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
You, Jeanne, and Rebecca, make lovely choices when you create ensembles for the dolls. Felicity looks just lovely in her new necklace.
May I ask what source you were using that you showed us photos/descriptions from?
Heartfelt thoughts and prayers for George today is what I’m sending you.
Blessings.
Thank you Becky,
I appreciate your kind words.
You can see the Book Review I did on it by going to the search engine at the right…below the ebay pictures and the “Connect with me” icons. Just type “book review distaff” in the white search engine with the green box that had the word “search” in it. The book is called the Distaff Sketch book I think.
We appreciate your prayers Becky,
Blessings, Jeanne
The necklace is beautiful and I like the it covers the neck seam. What a nice inspiration Rebecca gave you for finishing the outfit. A hat the color of the one you recently made for the Rebecca doll for the pin that matched the print in the dress might be nice and closer to the colors in the print, maybe a different style, but the same color.
I bought a Felicity doll on eBay early on in my collecting because she had the red hair and I wanted to make a St. Patrick’s Day dance dress. I appreciated Jeanne’s comment about the glass eyes which really was helpful. It was billed as a very early version and has the ribbon at the back of the wig and Pleasant Company at the back of the neck. Marilyn suggested looking up the accessories and I now have much of the collection and am awaiting the nightstand that is billed as a dressing table. As someone else wrote, I prefer the accessories made of glass, pottery and metal to the new plastic ones, although they are appropriate for the era. Thanks for introducing me to some of the nuances of collecting. Can’t wait to see this creation completed.
Hi Susette,
I will doube check the color in the daylight when I get home this afternoon. I will also check thst other green out too.
I am loving Felicity so much in these colors. It’s like I have a brand new doll for some reason.
I am so glad you are enjoying collecting your dolls and all their accessories. It is fun, isn’t it?
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Susette,
I was the one writing about the old PC accessories and what they were made of. So glad to hear when people have a Felicity collection!! My PC Samantha and PC Felicity are the two dolls I have PC collections for, everything else is just random pieces I liked of other historicals ( Kirsten, Addy, Josefina, Kit, and Caroline). I love the furniture, but with the exception of Samantha PC desk and Caroline’s skiff have avoided it in favor of the PC clothes/accessories. I would be happy to help you know what other things of Felicity’s are not to be missed *smiles*. :-)Do you have meet accessories, reading and writing lesson ( the silver sander is amazing- the top comes off), tea lesson, plantation play ( the signal whistle is amazingly realistic, shrewsbury cakes, original party treats? All of those are some of my favorites for my favorite doll.
That’s right the first edition dolls have glass eyes. My Felicity and Samantha’s eyes have a real 3-d quality to them that my others don’t. That and the soft matching eyelashes are two of my favorite things about the PC dolls. Too bad there were only six of them.
So you are the person who has gotten me into so much trouble. I kept “blaming” Marilyn. Please ask Jeanne for my email address and I’ll fill you in on my collection. I’m just like Jeanne, having the doll and not caring that much about her and now she is my favorite right next to Molly. Thanks again for the many tips. Marilyn and Linda helped me identify an Our New Baby gown that I found on eBay and was trying to find out to whom she belonged.
Beautiful as always and my thought are with you and your husband!!
Thank you Robin,
I’m so glad you like Felicity’s dress.
And…we certainly covet your prayers.
Blessings, Jeanne
What a beautiful necklace Rebecca made for Felicity. All the beads pick up the dress colors and the heart charm is a sweet touch.
I, too, like the idea of a capelet, it will hide less of the beautiful dress. This one will be so pretty. Can’t wait to see how to finish this one.
So glad to hear George is doing pretty well with his “spa” treatments. I will certainly continue to keep him in my prayers.
Hi Laura,
Thanks for your kind comments about Felicity’s dress. I’m liking it so far… just having a hard time carving out some time to get it going again… I’m going to play around with a capelet pattern this evening if I can, and see what happens!
Thanks for all your AG expertise up above too! I appreciate that!
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m so glad you chose not to use the felt! I felt personally, that it detracted from the pretty dress. The softer fabric is a much better choice. I feel sometimes in creating my ensembles that the ones I don’t overthink are the ones that turn out the best Lol! . Like one I just made. I originally started out with a regency pattern that I had never used, and I got half way through it ,and decided I didn’t like the style , so I totally transformed it, so as not to lose the silk fabric invested in it, and the second version was much more pleasing! I am persistent , I hate wasting time and fabric so I try to turn it into a designer look LOL!