Well, I wish I knew the answer to that…but unfortunately I threw some of the “I don’t think so” bodices away and didn’t save them. However I did retrieve quite a few from the trash can when I realized this wasn’t going to “happen” on the first or second try and might make an interesting blog post! I had a sleeveless bodice that I had drafted once for Isabelle, but it wasn’t perfect and too much of the armhole showed “skin” (if you know what I mean), and just didn’t fit the way I wanted it to. I worked and worked and drafted and redrafted and cut slivers off this edge and that edge and FINALLY emerged a few hours later with a successful pattern for BOTH Janie and Noel. Noel’s was a tiny little thing and I can’t tell you how many I worked on for her, but I think I finally got it.
If you click on the pictures, they will enlarge.
Here is a picture of what I’ve gotten done so far…
I did go ahead and order a sweet little red bob wig for Noel… since they’re going to be “sisters” I decided to spring for the wig…
I also wanted to show you what else I have been working on.. their hats! I just love these little miniature pieces! They are so much fun to just look at… let alone put on your dolls head.
This one is Noel’s…made from the Sculpey mold I fashioned myself…
…and here is Janie’s pretty hat, from the mold I bought…
Now, you’ll have to imagine the bottom half of the picture, but here’s a look at the top of the girls… aren’t they going to be adorable as sisters?
Well, that’s it for tonight…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh Jeanne, I believe you have a great future in millenary. Noel’s hat from your ‘homemade’ mold is even better fitting and flattering than her big ‘sisters’ hat.
Love the fit of your sleeveless bodices – can’t wait to see your “two little girls in blue”. Perhaps a hat tutorial one day?
Jane
Thank you Jane,
I appreciate your kind words about my hats for the girls. I really do enjoy making them and agree with you about how pretty they look on my girls. They are such a fun little addition to the dresses…or “will be” when I get the dresses finished.
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Sweetness alert!! They are too cute!
Those are such tiny little bodices. It must be additionally challenging working with such tiny pieces.
The girls look so cute standing there together.
Their hats are beautiful. I can’t wait to see the whole outfits.
Hi Charlotte,
Noel’s bodice is about 3″ x 2″ so it’s pretty tiny. But cute things come in small packages!!
Even standing in their undies, the girls look cute, don’t they?
Thanks for your compliments on my work.
Blessings, Jeanne
No wonder your doll clothes fit so well. You adjust the basic patterns such as appear in the Rosemarie books or you have your own to start with? Great little hats. Too cute.
Living where I do in Southern California close to the beach, I’m having great fun watching the snowstorm in New York City on a website I found by entering “Snowstorm in New York City” and found a USA Today feed. A car is driving around the city and covering the various sites to see. Exciting!
Hi Susette,
I took a paper towel and started from scratch…holding it up to their bodies and using a pencil to mark the neck, armholes, etc. It does take a few tries generally, but getting a close fit around the armhole was crucial for this pattern piece.
Snow always looks prettiest….when you’re not the one having to shovel or drive in it!!!
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
What sweet little hats, Jeanne! Oh my, the delicate blue and the darling little roses are just perfect for such beautiful looking dolls! Sigh!
I see now that you do your own patterns and try them out on another piece of material before cutting your original one. Well, that’s probably the way to do it, especially when you are selling something, but me……….I just try to do it as efficiently as I can and probably take too many shortcuts. Sometimes things work out and sometimes they don’t. I have almost finished the little dress I made for Betsy, but it is little more than a skirt with a band for a bodice. It looks really cute, though with the little jacket and hat I bought off Ebay, and that’s why I made it simple. The sleeves on the crocheted jacket were much too tight to go over any kind of sleeve, so I made it into a sundress. It works out!
I just wondered, are you making jackets for these dresses? I notice that the bodices are sleeveless, and it’s really hard to make any kind of jacket to fit over sleeves, especially puffed sleeves. Maybe you are making pretty felt jackets with ribbon embroidery?? Can’t wait to see what YOU have up your sleeve, Jeanne!!
Again, we are having snow flurries , but it is tapering off. Wasn’t yesterday like a winter wonderland?
Thank you for your sweet comments about the doll dresses and their hats…well…doll bodices I should say. I love making these little hats and think this soft pale blue is the most precious color.
Yes, I do cut out my new “tries” on scrap fabric because I had only a scrap of this print and didn’t want to use it up trying to get it right…
I’ll have to think about jackets..I was just going to leave them as is, but jackets sound cute…
We missed most of the snow yesterday…it was kind of hit and miss and we got less than an inch. It was mostly gone by last night.
Where oh where is Spring???
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thanks once again for inspiring us with your careful, precise and pretty work. It’s so kind of you to open your “shop” and let us watch behind the scenes. I so appreciate your willingness to do so as well as the time it takes you AND the wonderful creations that come forth.
Prayers for your Tuesday.
Hi Becky,
I thought whipping out a new bodice would be pretty quick, so when I didn’t get it on the first couple of tries, I thought…”uh, blog post!”
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing the behind the scenes goings on…
Thank you very much, Becky,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, your little bodice tops look like they fit perfectly. Add some shorts and the girls would be all set for play. I’m sure the sister set with the hats will be a big winner. Can’t wait to see the completed dresses and Noel’s new hair.:)
Hi Joy,
It doesn’t seem possible that those tiny little pieces could be the result of a couple of hours worth of work, but they were.
I can’t wait to see them finished either…with Noel’s new wig especially!
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Good morning, Jeanne!
What beautiful beginnings for these two budding beauties in blue! I love seeing how your creative process leads to such lovely results. I also agree with Jane that you may have a booming bonnet business in your future, should you ever choose to add those to your Etsy shop. These two little hats are dainty and darling, just the perfect addition for the “pretty little girl” dresses these will surely be. Looking forward to seeing these sister outfits in full bloom!
Good morning to you Anne,
I did buy some new hat braid in a variety of colors and can’t wait to try them out. The hats really are fun to create and then find a fabric to match them to.
I’m looking forward to this photo shoot with my girls!
Thanks so much Anne
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, your perseverance is dress bodice drafting paid off. Both Janie and Noel look precious in the beginnings of their Easter dresses. The little hats are just lovely. That pale blue is so pretty. Can’t wait to see them finished and Noel’s new hair.
We got another 1/2 inch of snow last night. It looked pretty on the forsythia which is in full bloom. The weather here keeps waffling between 20’s and up to 60’s. I been looking through the seed catalogs as they arrive and planning this years veggie garden. I’m ready for spring!!
Thanks Laura,
I hope the “rest” of the girls dresses really pulls the blue out of the fabric. It really is a sweet print. I’m hoping Noel’s new red wig comes tomorrow…that would be nice.
I am ready for Spring too. It was spitting snow here today…but didn’t amount to anything…thank goodness. I’m ready for days like we had last week…sounds like you are too!
Blessings, Jeanne