My life has been a whirlwind the last few days… We have been helping a friend with some window trim in her shop… She is a true shoe cobbler and her leather shop is connected next door to this building we have been working in. She’s going to rent it… hopefully to Dominoes Pizza. Friday we worked most of the day on the window trim… then Saturday we hit it again and worked until about 4:00…
This is what it looked like when we were finished… it still has to be painted… but I don’t think by us…
If you click on any picture, it will enlarge.
I talked my hubby into doing the trim just a little bit fancy…sort of like the farmhouse look in my kitchen… I had him cut the one board about 1/2″ wider and turn it sideways so the trim didn’t look so flat…
After we finished the trim Saturday, we rushed home, changed clothes, went to Walmart, got some groceries and stuff for a birthday party on Sunday. We came home, I fixed dinner and then started baking cookies… (one of these days I’m going to have to “buy” something instead of “making it”) but for Sunday I baked… until 1:00 in the morning… then I went to bed. We got up Sunday morning and went to church, took my mom home, dropped my hubby off at home, grabbed my decorating stuff and headed to the house where the party was going to be. I helped Sarah (my webmaster) decorate for 2 women friends who both turned 50! Then I dashed back home, grabbed my hubby and went back to the party… with my cookies. We had a nice time and left about 9:00. I changed into my jammies and started sewing… I finished Noel’s hat and her jacket and made a new pair of shoes! Gold, mind you… gold! So now it’s time to write about it all… See, I told you it’s been a whirlwind the last few days! Tomorrow my sister, Deb, is coming for a few days… and the whirlwind continues! :o)
Here are some pictures of the “uh” (just for you Dorothy) front of Noel’s dress set.. I decided the taupe/beige was too drab and since I couldn’t make any shoes for her out of the Ultrasuede that matched it, what was the point… there were going to be too many colors… so I decided to go a different direction.. I changed her jacket from taupe to a winter white… did anyone catch that in my picture of the back of her hair? You could just barely see the sleeves and I thought someone would have noticed it wasn’t taupe…
Anyway, I used a machine applique stitch around the edges and added some beaded “buttons” on the front of the jacket.
I reduced the pattern I made Nyssa’s hat from and made a sweet winter white hat with a bit of decoration on it…
Then it was time to master the shoes… I took a different approach and started with the back of the heels this time and tried to mold the front around the sole of the shoes. I had to hold it in place for quite a while before I could bend it around the sides…but I’m pretty pleased with how they turned out.. I think I’ll keep tweaking this pattern and get it perfect one of these days…
So, do you want to see some more pictures?
I still want to make her a pair of thigh highs before I list it on Ebay?
So, do you like it?
Maybe I’ll share a few pictures from the birthday party tomorrow!
See you then,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, Jeeanne, I LOVE it! That cream color is just So much better (IMO….I’m really not much of a brown/tan/taupe person), really brightens up the entire outfit! And I do like those gold shoes, too–what little girl wouldn’t want to have gold shoes?! Just like a princess!!
Coincidentally, I started cutting something out for Nyla (my Boneka) today, too–but nothing as fancy as this! I have a feeling I’m going to be “nagged” when this outfit hits ebay! LOL
HI Charlotte,
I actually thought the taupe felt was kind of drab but there were only 2 colors in the dress. When I laid the winter white across her with her newly curled hair, I knew I was going to change colors.
Oh, I hope you get your dress going but “also” hoping your girls keep nagging!!! :o)
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, this is just beautiful, Jeanne! I LOVE the contrast the white hat and jacket give the dress colors, and the little gold shoes give it a touch of fall glimmer! It shows off the lace too a lot better. Maybe a pretty gold bow for her hair when she doesn’t wear the hat, would be cute to add.
Honestly, Jeanne, you are burning the candle at both ends! I can’t understand how you do so much in one day, and still have the energy the next day to do it all over again! It’s nice that you do have a life outside of the sewing room though, but Jeanne dear, you have to take care of yourself too! You completely astound me in all that you do! 🙂
Jeanne, I forgot to mention how wonderful the windows look! I actually would love that for a living room, but without the scene outside! Ha, ha,! Would love it to look out at a woodsy setting and a small cheek nearby, instead of a busy city scene! You and George are certainly THE Team to beat!
HI Linda,
Thanks for your sweet compliments on Noel’s dress. I love the it changed looks with the white jacket and hat.
Yes. I think I’ll make a hair bow or at least a ribbon for her hair.
I do feel a little pooped today..I might try to catch a nap before Deb gets here.
I was kidding Hochung about that front room being a nice place for a sewing room. The light that comes in the windows is fantastic…the windies face south and west!
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Very pretty!!!
Have a great day!
Take care —
Thank you Charlotte,
I’m glad you liked it.
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne
Your Noel looks just delightful! I agree the winter white makes the outfit pop. And those little gold shoes are just perfect. I don’t think my craggy old fingers could ever make something that delicate and petite. I think you are the human Energizer Bunny with all that you accomplish!
All the Best ~
HI Leigh,
Thank you so much for your sweet comments about Noel’s new dress set. I think switching colors for her jacket was the right move.
I don’t feel like the energizer bunny today. I think everything finally caught up to me.
Thanks Leigh,
Blessings, Jeanne
The outfit is just perfection, Jeanne. You’ve outdone yourself with those well-fitting and very attractive shoes….good going!
I too trust that you will not overdo the energy given you. I trust that Deb’s visit will be busy with fun and relaxation together. I’m so glad you have a close-knit family.
Blessings.
Thank you Becky,
I think I’ll keep working on those shoes…trying to get my pattern perfected. Pretty soon I’ll have patterns for shoes to fit all my girls.
I am going to try and take a nap before Deb gets here or I’ll be dragging tonight…
Thanks for looking out for me, Becky.
Blessings, Jeanne
LOVE it; very, very pretty. You put so much thought and creativity and especially hard work in everything you do. My choice for your next creation would be for Felicity.
LOVE the window trim. Your husband did a great job; it just makes the windows pop.
Also, did you ever receive my message regarding the hat?
Bless You
Thank you Laureen,
I do have Felicity next on my list and then Ten Ping after that. Those 2 dolls were mentioned
when I asked who should be next.
I did receive your message about the hat…I’ll get back with you.
Thank you Laureen,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow oh wow! Where to start? Well, those shoes are a masterpiece. I don’t believe I have ever seen a pair made like that. So inventive. Perfect with the dress. The little jacket with the machine edging (at first look, I thought you had spent hours doing the blanket stitch) and beads is adorable. The reduced, a lot pattern, hat is fabulous and is a wonderful topping. Noel is a great model too.
That beautiful shop for Domino’s? I would have thought some kind of a boutique. The trim really looks lovely. I would love to see photos sometime of historic Carbondale. Maybe a special edition of Jeanne Marie.
Hope we are able to see some of your party decorating photos as well as the cookies for the big 50 party.
Hope you are able to get some rest and renew your energy before Deb arrives. Your “to do” list is an amazement.
Thank you Joy,
I was glad the shoes turned out as well as they did…it certainly took a while to get them figured out…some tweaking and it should go together a little easier..
Noel is enjoying being the model this week. I like sewing for her too!
I’ll try to take some pictures of some of the sights in town…
I agree…a ladies boutique would be fun in there…but Dominoes will do well there..it’s on the main street in town.
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a whirlwind indeed, Jeanne you have been in. I’m sure it is a good feeling of all you do, though, when you climb into bed. Such accomplishment!!
Noel’s outfit is simply adorable and I love all the colors together. The gold shoes are perfect and Noel’s hat is the icing on the cake. Love the whole outfit !!
HI Paula,
I corrected your typos…it’s okay as I have it happen to me all the time.
I’m glad you like Noel”s outfit…she does look pretty cute laying in it on my cutting table.
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh my, Noel looks absolutely divine. Everything about her outfit is perfection. I love the Winter White jacket and hat and the touch of gold is perfect right down to her tiny shoes. I much prefer the Winter White to tan/beige or taupe as it’s just softer. The jacket with that little edging is to die for. It’s all in the details that make outfit just a few notches above others.
Wow…those windows and that shoppe. Super job. I can’t even envision a pizza shop in there. All those sticky/cheesy fingers on the windows from kids that use a napkin…lol! A specialty store/ bakery or fabric/yarn shop would be perfect and do those windows justice. Though I admit I see a car backing up and hit the gas and crash.
Oh….I need to know where you buy and have your batteries charged. You just never run out of steam and George either. Both of you just keep on going and going and going. I’m exhausted just reading what you’s did yesterday. All that before 9pm. So time to fess up…what the secret?
Thank you so much for your rave reviews about Noel’s dress set, Sandta. I like it much better in winter white too!
There is a curb outside the window so the cars would be slowed down a bit… although there was a car that crashed into it before. It jarred the whole building and broke the seal on a window in another room of the shop. Now that window is all foggy…
There is no secret to what gets done around here…there is just so much time in each day and I guess we keep it filled up…sometimes to the max!!
Thanks Sandra!
Blessings, Jeanne
Remember not to be working on those windows when someone hits reverse instead of drive. The windows are beautiful and you were right about the trim. Detail in all you do. Congratulations on another job well done.
I think blue and taupe make a splendid combination, but the winter white does give it more life. It brings out that lovely lace pattern too. This hat pattern may be worth the cost of the entire pattern. Thinking of that, even though it’s too close to give Nyssa another dress, it would be nice to see that one again in fall colors. My sister was looking at pictures a friend sent and said that fall colors with a little purple for an accent was nearly always a successful combination.
After all of this, you deserve a reward, and Deb will be there shortly — you couldn’t have a better reward. I hope your weather is as nice as ours for her visit.
Thank you for the compliments on the window work, Marilyn. It looks really nice in that room now…and is a great view for checking out the weather!! It will make a nice room for whoever rents it.
I’ll have to remember what you said about Fall colors with a splash of purple!! I can see that in my mind…pretty…
Debt is on her way and will be here soon…
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Whew… I almost got winded just reading about your weekend.
The woodwork looks great. Such clean lines and nice finish work.
Your choice to use winter white was just right. Something about the taupe wasn’t as attractive but this cream is so rich looking.
That little hat is so freaky cute… and the shoes are too cute for words!
Have fun with your sister
HI Kathie,
It was a busy weekend but not too strenuous… just busy stuff.
I’m glad you like the white jacket with the gold shoes…it is a very pretty color combination in person.
Thank you Kathie.
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, Noel looks adorable, front and back (chuckle)! I like the winter white idea.
You could start a dolly shoe business, shoes to match each outfit all colors and sizes. Of course, the demand would be so great you wouldn’t have time for anything else. So maybe not (laugh).
I am so happy that you are getting to spend time with your sister.
There is a buzz about Modern Doll. I don’t have Facebook so I haven’t seen the dolls but I am told they are posted.
I am off to the UFDC Region 11 convention. I have an old flip phone (no texting or email) so I won’t be able to check in until I return on Sunday. I wish you and the blog family a great week!
Thank you Dorothy,
I hope you have fun at the UFDC and come home with lots of fun stuff…maybe even a new doll!! :o)
Thank you for your compliments on Noel’s new dress set. I’m glad you like it!
Blessings, Jeanne
Yes, I do like it; in fact, I like it a lot! I’m glad you used gold for the shoes. They really add to the outfit. You have been very, very busy. The best news is that George is feeling well enough again to also stay busy. That’s what we were all praying for!
Thank you Carolyn,
Gold shoes aren’t for everyone, but Noel sure likes hers!!
It is wonderful for my hubby to be as active as he is…
Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Really late to comment, but…
The windows look beautiful. Wow, a real cobbler, those are rare nowadays. We have a show repair shop in town and the elderly man who owns it has been doing it for more than 50 years. He can fix most any pair of shoes.
Speaking of show, Noel’s gold one are extra fancy. I think her outfit is really lovely and the contrasting winter white hat and jacket are very nice.
So nice for you that Deb is coming for a visit. It’s wonderful that you and your sisters manage to get together so often.
Thank you Laura,
I’m glad you like Noel’s shoes…I should show them to Hochung…she’d probably laugh at how small they are…
It’s always fun to be with my sisters…we have a great time no matter what we do…we just went to Paneras and had a salad then we went to Macys and Kohls…
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
It wore out just reading about your amazing 24 hours! I’m so late with my comments that I’ll second everything Joy and everyone else wrote. I do think you’ve mastered the shoe design, but how about asking Hochung if she has any tips. The whole ensemble is another triumph. Thanks for keeping us posted on all your goings on. Any cabinet painting in the near future?
HI Susette,
Thanks for the “ditto” compliments on Noel’s dress and shoes…maybe Hochung could give me some tips on the shoes!!! Hmmmm…
I’m going to get those cabinets painted and hopefully soon…just too many things going on lately.
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
After reading Susette’s post, it made me think that perhaps Hochung might be interested in making doll shoes. There are a lot of vendors in Asia, but the shoes take forever to receive. Doesn’t take much material and those tiny leather 26mm shoes are so cute. Larger sizes too. Leather, plastic, and all colors and styles are really wanted. Not that you couldn’t do the same and have in your etsy shop along with thigh highs and slips for the tiny set. 🙂 Add that to your “to do” list please.
HI Joy,
I don’t think Hochung has time to make doll shoes…she’s trying to go to nursing school along with running the leather shop. She just might be busier than I am…
I might talk to her about supplies though… she might know what I could use for soles that is better than the sticky felt stacked together… hmmm… I might ask her about that…
There is a tiny tutorial on Etsy for making tiny doll shoes… I’ve looked at it many times… and it really intrigues me… the shoes made and shown are outstanding…
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne