I didn’t get started sewing until late this evening, but I did make some progress on the blue dress. I finished the collar with a piece of lace that Cindy sent me. The card it was wrapped on said it was a vintage German lace. I used the last of it to make the decorative accents on the bodice.
Instead of the dress having a sash that sort of hit at the high hip area and criss crossing in front, I decided to stitch my lace down in the bodice area. It’s just a little different look than how Samantha’s original meet dress looked.
The sleeves are finished with snaps at the cuffs and should stay down nicely when the coat is put on.
I still have the back to finish and then the hem…
There’s the hemming on the coat and also finishing the sleeves.
I’ll be done pretty soon… I was thinking of calling this one “Winter Blues” unless I get any other suggestions and am persuaded otherwise! :o)
Now, for the SURPRISE…this JUST happened…
I knew I had made some doll a dress out of this fabric before and searched in all my pictures for it. I couldn’t locate it, but did remember a green print dress I had made for my earlier Samantha using this meet dress as a pattern and was hoping to find a picture of it to show you how different the bodice looks done the “new” way. Well, to my surprise and almost disbelief… look what I found…
I just couldn’t believe it… it was SAMANTHA that had gotten the first dress. Never in a million years would I have remembered this.. it was back in 2007… I still can’t believe it… but here are a few more pictures… just to prove it.
I hope you like the new one as well as the old one… :o)
Thanks for your kind compliments on the set so far… That’s really encouraging to hear from you!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I was amazed to see that Samantha had a dress made of the same material, Jeanne! What a surprise to all of us! I love both the new and old dress, and wasn’t it something that you made each one a bit different? You could have easily made them quite the same!
I just knew that if anyone could fix the sleeve “problem”, it would be you! The band will certainly keep the them from sliding up and staying down. Good thinking on your part!
OK, I have thought about your title for the outfit, but Winter Blues sounds kind of sad to me. And I think that putting “Winter” in the title will make people think it is just a winter outfit, when it can also be for spring. How about “Vision in Blue?? Is that something you have already used? At least it would not limit the outfit to one season, and it certainly IS a vision in blue! Would like to see what other names might be suggested.
We are now on the “upside” of this terrible stretch of frigid weather, and good riddance!!
Hi Linda,
I was just as surprised as all of you were. I had no idea that I had a dress in my archived pictures from the same fabric, let alone that dress being modeled by Samantha.
I looked on eBay last night to see if anyone else had a doll dress named Winter Blues, and there was a lady who makes beautiful doll dresses and she had just listed a dress with that exact title. I felt kind of funny and decided I think I’ll pick a different title at least for right now.
Thanks so much, Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
How fun is that? What a coincidence! I think the new and old dress are both beautiful. It shows your good taste is nothing new. And I think the new dress looks absolutely beautiful as part of an ensemble with the coat.
Would like to write more but I have to leave for work.
Hope you have a good day.
Take care.
Thank you so much for your compliments, Charlotte. I really appreciate them. I hope you had a good day at work.
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow! That was a surprise. Great minds think — like themselves?
Have you used pale blue crystal buttons on the front of the dress?
Linda’s email just came up, and I have to agree that Winter Blues sounds like all of us who are coping with snow and ice and wishing for warmer weather. This outfit needs something a little more optimistic.
Winter Blue?
Winter Skies?
Nearly Spring?
Ready for Spring?
Last Snow?
On another subject, my sister’s mother-in-law broke her hip late yesterday. She doesn’t remember how. She moved, unwillingly, into assisted living last summer. I keep thinking about what it would have been like if she hadn’t. She’d be lying on a cold or at least cool floor for an hour or two until someone realized she hadn’t phoned for several hours. Then one of her family would have needed to drive to Boulder or call me or the police when she didn’t answer her phone, and then call an ambulance. As it is, she was helped very quickly, which makes her chance of recovery much better. You did the right thing for your mother. We knew it, but this confirms that.
Thank you Marilyn,
I’m glad you like the dress so far. The buttons on the front aren’t crystal, but some I received in a huge lot that one of my readers sent me. I tried about 10 different things on the front of the dress and those buttons just seemed to work the best to me.
I like your dress names and have written them down…who knows what I’ll pick…
I’m so sorry about the news of your sister’s mother-in-law’s fall. I hope she heals quickly and yes, we certainly did make the right decision for my mom. It hasn’t been easy and it still isn’t easy for her but we know it’s the best thing for her.
Thank you Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
I was looking through yesterday’s comments. Anne Johnson said the outfit was a Glimpse of Spring. I like that better than my suggestions above.
I like Glimpse of Spring too…thanks for pointing it out…
I like Glimpse of Spring too! Maybe Vision I blue would be more appropriate for a long, elegant gown.
What happened there? I mean Vision In Blue would be more appropriate for a long, elegant gown.
Hi again Linda,
Yes Vision in Blue certainly does conger up a beautiful long flowing dress to me.
Thanks for your suggestion…
Blessings, Jeanne
What a lovely outfit. My favorite part is the lace under the collar, and now the lace is carried over to trim the dress. It does look like something we would have worn in the 50s. Ten years ago and you found the other dress; that’s amazing! I have an extra Samantha dress and will be taking it apart. Thanks for the suggestion as I love the style of the dress with Valentines Day coming up. I’ve taken care of Ten Ping for Valentines Day. Now for the rest of the girls, at least some of them.
Thank you so much Susette,
I’m so glad you like the way I did the lace on the front of the bodice.I think it makes the dress look more flattering, don’t you?
I made mine about 1/2″ wider in the back seam…the original one was pretty skimpy…and I made it about 1/2″ longer too.
I’m glad you have an old Samantha dress that you can take apart and give this a try yourself. I know you can do it!
Blessings, Jeanne
I too think “Glimpse of Spring” is an encouraging name for the outfit. It’s been arctic-like weather here and thinking of the upcoming Spring promises of fairer weather is warming. Your earlier Samantha outfit with the same dress fabric is very cute, but personal opinion here says that the addition of the lace on the current dress is even dearer. What a coincidental find in locating those older photos! We’re most fortunate to have such a bounty of photos come from a favored seamstress. Yours is a site that I never want to miss even one “episode”.
Looking for Spring as we continue to plow through Winter.
Looking for Spring is a nice variation on Glimpse of Spring. The right name will come with the photos. I’m wondering if you can do another outdoor shoot without freezing.
The sun is out but if I hurry, I might get some snow in my pictures…if it doesn’t all melt…
Thanks…
Hi Becky,
I’m glad you like the new dress as much as I do. The old one was nice but I just like the three rows of lace on the new one better…it seems more slenderizing to me.
I read through the rest of the comments and Anne mentioned again that maybe “the promise of spring” in her comments, and you just said spring promises, so I think I’ve decided on “Promise of Spring.” I just like the way that flows off my tongue.
Thank you Becky,
Blessings, Jeanne
Both dresses are wonderful! Changing “Blue” to “Bleu” would be another way to sound happy… a touch of Paris:)
Hi Shara,
I think I’ve decided on Promise of Spring, but I do like blue written like Bleu….very French indeed!
Thanks Shara,
Blessings, Jeanne
This will be a gorgeous outfit. The coat with the lace stitched under the cape turned out so well, and the dress is the right cut to go under a coat. I think a fuller skirt would have been a little much under the coat, but the front pleats should be perfect. That’s ironic that you used the same fabric for this pattern so long ago! I guess that was a surprise.
It’s cold here. There is ice on the roads, which Lord knows, none of us can drive on, so we have been furloughed from work until it melts. I will probably go in at noon, but until then, I am hunkered down in the house. What a blessing to have a warm, cozy house.
I know Carolyn,
Isn’t that the strangest thing that I had made the exact same dress out of the exact same fabric 10 years ago, and didn’t even remember it?
We were just talking about the exact same thing at noon today… How nice it is to be able to live in a warm house.
Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Maybe it’s just my monitor, but the former dress appears to be a slightly darker blue. Perhaps, it is the navy ribbon trim. The newest version is lovely and the coat perfection as well. I’m of the opinion that Glimpse of Spring is a wonderful title. Depending on what background is used, it could also be Winter Days or if a daffodil is popping up, Here comes Spring.
Jealous that Susette has something made for Ten Ping.
Glad to hear it is warming up for most.
HI Joy,
It must be your monitor because the fabric is exactly the same… I’ve decided to call this Promise of Spring… and so I’ll save Glimpse of Spring for another dress set. I love both titles though… I’m writing down all these names.. now Winter Days and Here Comes Spring goes on my list…
I’m jealous that Susette got some sewing done for Ten Ping too… my little one is neglected as can be…
It’s 21 right now and feels like 13 degrees… tomorrow it’s supposed to get up to 35! YAY!
Except it will probably melt the snow…right before I get any pics taken… maybe if I hurry in the morning I can get a few…
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, what a lovely surprise! I love the heart pin that Samantha is wearing. I like the name Winter Blues. It plays on the color and the fact that we want winter to hurry along.
HI Dorothy,
I read the comments below and saw that Promise of Spring was mentioned in Anne’s comment below… She mentioned Glimpse of Spring just in passing a few nights ago… but when I saw Promise of Spring.. I knew that was it.. I loved it… and hope everyone else does too. I’ll use Winter Blues another time…
Yes, we do want winter to hurry along don’t we??? :o)
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
I agree with everyone…what a neat surprise to find your other outfit with the same material. And brilliant minds like yours can be so creative without knowing it too!
I like Winter Blues but I also like Linda’s suggestion of a Glimpse Of Spring. Maybe if Winter Blues could be Winter In Blues or something similar, it might not sound sad….just a meager thought.
Hope Susette shows us pictures when she can of her Valentine outfits.
Stay warm everyone.
HI Paula,
Thanks so much for your kind comments… It was truly a surprise to find it… I had made a list of the outfits I had “found” when Kristoffer helped me load my pictures and thought I had found them all, but this one was a total surprise… I’m still hopeful that I’ll find some other earlier ones.. That would really be fun…
I’ve added Winter in Blues to my list of names… thanks!
I’m make sure we see Susette’s outfit for Ten Ping..
Thank you Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thank heavens for your extensive archives, and a big thank you to Kristoffer and Rebecca for helping to transfer them to your new computer! What a wonderful surprise for you to find Samantha’s earlier floral dress, and what a treat for us to see the two together. Same pattern, two delightful designs! I love the simplicity of the sweet little heart brooch and deep blue ribbon sash with buckle on Samantha’s earlier dress. I am charmed by both creations, but like Susette, I am enamored with the lace of your latest ensemble. The coat appliqué delineates collar from cape and adds a touch of femininity, while the diagonal lace on the dress adds interest to the bodice, giving Samantha a pretty shape and further unifying coat and dress. Using the lace is a real demonstration of cohesion and a hallmark of a true designer, just what we’ve come to expect from a Jeanne Marie Original. I love it so much, I would even like to see a bit of lace of it featured on Samantha’s tam!
This enchanting ensemble DOES feel like a glimpse of spring during these cold, wintery days, Jeanne. I like the hope it suggests for warmer days ahead. What about “Promise of Spring?” Whatever you choose for a title, this beauty in blue is a hint of good things to come!
Hi Anne,
Yes, thank you to Kristoffer and Rebecca.. I couldn’t have done this without them… and I’m hoping to find more surprises! Won’t that be fun???
I’m almost finished with both pieces… still have to hem to coat sleeves and sew the buttons on the back of the dress.
I think the lace on the diagonal gives the dress a very feminine flare too!
I’ve decided to call it “Promise of Spring” so thanks for that suggestion! I just loved that name from the moment I read it and knew that was it!
Thanks so much Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
Love the new version of the meet dress. Hard to believe what a difference embellishments can make. Wonderful work on your part, thanks for sharing.
Thank you Dorothy,
I’m so glad you like the differences on the dresses… and yes, embellishments make a world of difference!
Thanks so much!
Blessings, Jeanne
The 3 rows of lace with the glass buttons are perfect on the dress and how did you get that collar to stand up so straight? Looking forward to the finishing details on the tam. I like both names that have been suggested ? You are s busy bee!
HI Kathie,
Actually the buttons aren’t glass, but they certainly look like it. I tried lots of different looks and this was the best, I thought.
I’m hoping to get the whole set finished tonight… but we are picking up Sarah and her mom and dad at the train station tonight. They went home to Columbia, South America, for the last 5 weeks… They are coming home to super cold weather, but looking forward to being back here…
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
This is probably the latest I’ve seen your blog and commented also. I, too, the Glimpse of Spring is a wonderful title. I was out today and the sun was shining and both those together always make me fell better.
Amazing that you used the exact same fabric on Samantha. I think she looks very pretty in blue. I always thought her play dress and pinafore would have been a better meet dress choice. Who cares though, since i have both. 🙂 I truly think some dolls meet dress choices really work against them. Caroline and MG are prime examples to me. Get them out of those and into something else and they both came alive to me.
Both versions are pretty, but I like the new a bit better. Looking forward to the finishing touches Hope to see Susette’s Valentine outfits also. I managed to have a few minutes to stop in one of our antique stores and they had one of those lovely vintage Valentine pieces with the honeycomb. Beautiful, but too expensive.
Thank you Laura,
I loved the name Glimpse of Spring, but Promise of Spring has won out with me… Glimpse of Spring will probably be used for an Easter dress, soon…
I think Samantha looks very pretty in blues too.. especially in aqua blue tones…
I’m trying to get the set finished tonight and maybe take some snow pictures tomorrow if it holds out till I can get outside… it’s supposed to get up to 35 degrees tomorrow, but the wind chill will still keep the snow around for a little while longer… It would be fun if I could find a little crocus coming up through the snow for my pictures…
I hope you had fun shopping… even if it was just window shopping…
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne