Let’s get the business out of the way first… I have a dress listed on Ebay and it ends TUESDAY evening. I thought it was tonight… It’s the dress for Noel, my sweet little 10″ Boneka doll. You can see that listing by clicking the picture at the right side bar or you can click HERE. Hope to see you at the finish line! :o)
Well, those of you who picked the Cream and Sage fabric for Felicity’s next dress were right! This partially completed dress is going to be so beautiful on Felicity. I hope you like how it’s turning out! It’s really a pretty fabric next to her skin and she’s loving it.
I decided to use a new pattern from Eve, at Keepers Dolly Duds. This was her Colonial dress and it has all the things you love to see in a Colonial dress: double ruffled sleeves, a full skirt, a vee at the front, a scooped neckline with pretty lace…and a pretty fabric doesn’t hurt!
I had quite a bit of this vintage lace that I recently used on Rebecca’s dress and decided it was a nice and soft lace and would work well around Felicity’s scooped neckline and along the hem of her undersleeves. It isn’t absolutely pristine lace, but I cut between any stains I saw.
It’s a bit hard to see the bars going across the front where the fichu will be tucked in, but if you look closely you can see them.
The ruching adds a really sweet touch to the dress and is plenty of decoration to me…
I took a picture of the bodice with the skirt fabric wrapped around Felicity, so you could see how it’s going to look when the skirt is added.
Well, I hope to get more finished on it by the next time we meet!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Felicity’s dress is going to be just lovely! Those bodice front details are really nice, and will set her dress apart as something extra-special, I think.
By the way, have you tried using “Martha’s [Pullen] Biz Bucket” for whitening vintage laces? Just make a solution with Biz (and you can add some mild detergent like Dreft, too) and water, and soak the lace. I’ll try to remember to look up the specifics for you. I understand you can safely soak things in the Biz solution for several hours, without harming the item, then rinse it all out, and the lace (or fabric or whatever) is back to its pristine, un-yellowed, un-stained loveliness! If you’re not sure how it would would work, you could cut a few inches of the trim and try it, and see if you like the results. If you can get the stains out that way, you won’t have to “cut around” them!
Thank you Charlotte,
It’s hard to see the details right now, but hopefully they’ll pop when I add the fichu.
I think I’ll pick up some Biz the next time I’m out… The stains are some age spots and some are rust I think. I have nothing to lose to give it a try. I was out this morning, I wish I had seen this then. I might make a whole post out of it if it works. I have lots of lace that could use it!
Thanks so much Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, that is going to be just beautiful, Jeanne! I love the lace, how it circles the neckline, and edges the pretty sleeves! Yes, the colors of the material are just perfect with Felicity’s complexion, and I should not have worried about it mimicking the school outfit, because it doesn’t! The detailing on the bodice is just lovely, and the lace fichu will only enhance it! Felicity lovers are going to love this!
Thanks Linda,
I hope I can get some more done on Felicity’s dress today. Nothing like standing in a half finished dress, is there? I’m getting the “evil eye” from Felicity I think!
Thanks so much for your compliments!
Blessings, Jeanne
Charlotte’s idea sounds like it might produce a near miracle. I’ll be watching for details.
The dress is lovely and is only going to get prettier. Linda is right, it doesn’t look at all like the school dress. What a lovely treat for Monday morning, even a cloudy Monday.
HI Marilyn,
I have BIZ written on my next shopping list. I hope it works. I’ll be buying it by the gallon! :o)
I think the dress IS going to get prettier too! It will be nice when I attach the skirt. That will make it look much better!
I hope your day doesn’t stay too cloudy… The sun just broke out here… I wish you the same!
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, I like this on Felicity. You have been working hard. Curious. I wonder what covers the neckline? Can’t tell from the pattern. Maybe it turns under? Just guessing.
Something was mailed out from Maine to me early this morning. I hope it arrives promptly.
Beautiful fall week ahead.
HI Joy,
There is a full bodice lining that catches the edge of the lace and then pulls it up… The lace won’t be down, it will actually stand up when done. It’s pretty down and I’ve made a few dresses for Felicity where I did leave the neck ruffle down.
Oh I bet you can’t wait for the mail… did you think of something to occupy the other person when the mailman rings the door bell… maybe tell your mailman to knock… and you can get to him first! :o)
It’s a beautiful week here too… a bit on the warm side, but that’s okay… considering what’s coming soon!
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Felicity’s dress is going to be lovely. You have done a lot of work on the bodice which has many beautiful details. I just knew that fabric would be perfect on her :o) Keepers patterns seem to be so historically accurate. Can’t wait to see more.
HI Leigh,
Thank you so much for your kind compliments on Felicity’s dress. If the fabric was a bit darker, the details would have shown up more… I’m hoping the do when the fichu is added.
I just loves Eve’s patterns and yes, they are very historically accurate.
I’ll show more as soon as I get something new done to it.
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, what a very pretty pattern! Felicity is going to look adorable when the dress is finished.
I am just back from the UFDC Region 11 Convention in Maryland. Oh my goodness, it was so much fun! Four whole days of doll talk. I learned so much. Who knew there was something called “Smelly Doll” syndrome? One of the best features was the banquet at the end. There was a DJ to play music. He began to play music from the 60s and 70s. Folks jumped up and ran to the dance floor. We literally danced until the music ended. I don’t mean just the young folk, I mean everyone! I am still in doll bliss.
Welcome home Dorothy,
It sounds like you (and lots more) had a wonderful time at the UFDC Convention! Someone should have video recorded everyone dancing! I’m glad you had so much fun!
Thanks for the compliments on Felicity’s dress. It’s turning out prettier than I had hoped.
Blessings, Jeanne
Would love to know of what Smelly Dolly syndrome is comprised?? Sounds interesting.
HI Joy,
I bet it’s a combination of almost every bad smell out there.
Hi Dorothy
Your convention sound like so much fun!! I too would like to know about Smelly Doll syndrome and dancing too. “Dolly” ladies are just the best.
Yes, yes, yes! Felicity is looking just gorgeous in her lovely gown. The pattern is beautiful as well, love the ruching!! The vintage lace is the perfect touch and frames Felicity’s pretty face perfectly. I know I’m biased, but she really is the prettiest PC doll. I really have absolutely no idea why she was considered a poor seller.
Simply gorgeous day here today, warm and sunny, and I got to take a nice long walk, always a plus.
HI Laura,
I just realized my auction for Felicity’s dress ends tomorrow night….not tonight. I corrected my post, but most people have read it by now… oh well, I guess I’ll see what happens.
Thank you for your kind compliments on the dress. I agree…Felicity is a beautiful doll…I just finished the dress part…now to get the rest finished…
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh that is going to be pretty. I have that pattern, and it turns out so nice. It will be perfect in the fabric you chose—with a little help from your readers!
HI Carolyn,
Thanks so much…and yes, the dress that everyone helped with!!! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
I accidentally said the dress set for Noel ended Monday evening, but it ends Tuesday evening.
Sorry about that!!
~ Jeanne
This material really looks wonderful on Felicity. The pattern is so neat and it’ll be interesting how it looks when finished. It will be a masterpiece. The lace is lovely and the perfect accent.
I think I’m a day late in getting this post. You said some may still get the post a day late?
I looked at your blog today on my desktop computer with the big monitor and OH MY! That fabric is absolutely fantastic. The pattern looks pretty complicated to me but y9u are the pro…all those tiny gathers…yikes! That pattern would be a knockout in a plain color to show off all the tucks and gathers.
Biz is my go to fabric refresher for sure. It needs to be dissolved well before the item gets submerged in it though.
Smelly dolls are really becoming a problem the older the hard plastic dolls get. I listened to some ladies years ago give a class on them in Minneapolis at a Regional Convention.
They said plastics were new enough that not all batches had ingredients measured carefully when manufactured and that the sour smell comes when the plastic components start to break down. I brought a doll off Ebay in the early days from a doll dealer who had a Store in New Jersey..the auction said the doll had an “attic” smell. She wouldn’t take it back. My poor hubby let me put it in his garage but finally we trashed it. Not all hard plastic dolls get smelly..the good brands are better. They did say not to put a hard plastic doll that is starting to smell near any other hard plastic dolls because it can spread.