I paced things today and gave myself three 20 minute segments of sitting down sewing time and got a few things accomplished. I was totally concentrating and knew what I was going to do before I sat down at my machine so I made the most of my time. I had already hemmed her skirt a few days ago. It also helped that my hubby went to town for a few errands and brought home one of those TENS units for back, neck, shoulder, etc. pains. He stuck that baby to my lower back and I’ve used it several times throughout the day. It’s one of those things that when it first starts it’s like an electrical jolt, but not too bad, and then you get used to it and it feels good. I also used ice on my back today too. So I’m hoping between the heat and the ice and the TENS unit I’ll be back to normal pretty soon. I’m sort of doing everything in slow motion… even my sewing I noticed I was doing kind of slow… but that’s okay… this fabric is so delicate it probably needs a soft hand.
So I have a few pictures to show you. The basting is still in Molly’s collar, but I finished with adding her skirt to the bodice. I sewed the trim to her waistline. Tiny pink buttons were placed down the front and on her sleeves. I added a belt to tie in a bow in the back…and Molly asked me to let her hair down. I didn’t style it or even find her any shoes yet…but you can see it won’t be long till it’s finished. I might make this a 3 day listing so it ends sooner.
Well, here are those pictures. Hope you enjoy them.
Okay… night everyone!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Molly’s dress is certainly a pretty one–perfect for Valentine’s day, or Easter, or perhaps the Mother-Daughter tea in May!
I’m glad you’re limiting yourself to short bursts of sewing; with your back not feeling good, you don’t want to take a chance on stressing it more–and ending up flat on your back for a week!! The TENS unit and ice are also helping you heal. Take good care, Jeanne!
Thank you Charlotte,
Molly’s dress is turning out prettier than I had hoped! She really likes it too!
My back is better today but still very weak feeling and kind of sore…
I’m taking it easy… thanks Charlotte
Blessings, Jeanne
Beautiful dress, you picked the perfect pattern for this beautiful fabric.
Thanks for your compliments, Christal,
I think it’s darling, if I do say so myself…
Thanks for letting me know you like it…
Blessings, Jeanne
Molly looks oh, so sweet there modeling her new dress, Jeanne! It’s the perfect pattern for a 1940’s dress, simple, but simply darling with the dainty fabric and pattern, touches of white at the collar and arm bands, and a pretty lace waist line. I was wondering how the back would be, and happily see that she will have a nice big, puffy bow! I remember helping my sister, who was not quite 2 years younger than I was, to tie her bows in the back of her dress, and she did the same with me. It took us forever to do it right, but we finally learned. What do little girls do now, since there are no bows to tie?
I have no idea what a TENS unit is, but have heard of them. I sure do hope it helps and with all your “take it easy” steps, plus plain old time, you should be back to normal in no time at all! You might as well stay in, because this weekend will be COLD!
Hi Linda,
You made me think of my m om trying the bows on the back of our dresses…she had to get in front of us and lean over us to tie our bows…
A TENS unit is a sticky patch with electrodes that you place on your body where it hurts and when you turn it on it’s a sort of tingly feeling that pulsates into your sore muscles…there are higher and lower settings so you can get it just right. They use them in physical therapy…
Thanks for your glowing summary of Molly’s dress. I enjoyed reading your thoughts on it.
Blessings. Jeanne
I LOVE this one!! One of your prettiest and you specialize in gorgeous outfits!
I know you and George love helping so many people, but maybe it’s time to pull back a bit and take care of yourselves first:) None of us are as young as we used to be. Hope your back heals quickly ❤️
Thank you Shara,
I appreciate your kind comments on this dress.
We HAVE been discussing the probability of us having to slow down. It’s both kind of hit us at the same time.
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Never heard of the 10’s thing either. If it helps, go for it. I still recommend exercises as the best fix though. If you Google Sciatica exercises, usually the one I mentioned yesterday, knee across chest comes up first. 🙂
I guess you can call Molly’s beautiful dress “The Sciatica” and have her delivering ice packs to grandmother in her basket. Just kidding. I too have experienced the S and don’t want to go there again. So happy to see the almost completed dress because it is amazing. Perfect and springy. And I really like her hair down. Maybe with a simple ribbon band.
Please get well quickly. Looking forward to seeing the photos of the house makeover too. 🙂
HI Joy,
That 10’s (TENS) unit really did make things feel better. I did your exercise pulling my knee up to my chest and then the other one today… I’ve done that before and it does feel good when it stretches things out. Thanks for reminding me…
I hope I can think of a better story line than the Sciatica story… P-L-E-A-S-E…. :o(
I can’t wait to see your new doll… you surely must have the best doll room of anyone!
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Molly’s dress is just so sweet and pink. That era of little girl dresses were so feminine and appropriate. Those were the days! Love the delicate buttons and the waistband. So sweet and girlish.
I had a Tens for my lower back and hip. It helped some but my back has never been the same since the fusion I had done 10 years ago.
Please take care especially since it’s your back.
Hi Paula,
Yes, I agree, Molly’s dress is sweet and pink…and girly and feminine. I’m loving it and would have loved to have worn this one back in the 50’s. I think it might pass for a 50’s dress, don’t you?
I’d love to give one of those inversion tilting tables a try, but I had my spine fused from surgery for scoliosis when I was 19 so I don’t usually mess around with stuff like that. I am being careful and not taking any chances… slow she goes is my motto these days!
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
What an incredibly sweet dress!! I love it for any occasion, but it would be wonderful for Easter. And I love the waist trim. I told you I’m a button connoisseur, well I’m also a trim connoisseur. I finally got so overwhelmed with trims that I had my hubby build my cabinets to fit those fabric storage bins. I then put my trims in those by color. Now I can find the color I want without spending a whole day looking. I use zip lock bags to keep the trims separate. It works great.
I am getting my sewing room better organized, but I am totally overwhelmed by my fabric stash. I told my hubby that the only cure was for me to spend more hours in my sewing room. Yes!! Every time I looked at a piece of fabric I just knew what I wanted to do with it so getting rid of some of it is not an option. I actually got so far behind because I spent four years studying music with not much time for sewing. I need to start making up for lost time. As I’m getting things more organized I’m getting more antsy to get in there and sew to my hearts content. There’s nothing like an organized sewing room to get the creative juices flowing.
I used to get STEN treatments at the chiropractor for my neck and then again after I had my car accident. I loved them. I have used the at home variety though it’s on a much smaller scale. It did help a lot. Hope you get to feeling better. Something like this can really slow you down and I know you’re not happy with that.
Thank you Barbara,
I’m so happy you like Molly’s dress.
I’m right there with you on the trims too… I wrap lots of mine on cardboard squares, but I’m out of squares and still LOTS of trims to go. I have mine in zip lock bags too… but I do need to thin mine out.
Once you get your sewing room organized, you’ll be on a sewing frenzy.. I can see it now!
The back thing has slowed me down, but maybe I needed some slowing down…
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’ve never heard of a TENS unit, but it seems like a good idea and everyone here seems to be agreeing with you that it is. Let us know how well it’s working tomorrow too.
I do think mental preparation for an activity is a useful thing, and it looks like Molly agrees on that one. She’s certainly looking happy with her beautiful new dress. When moving is painful, it’s nice if something works well, so I’m especially pleased that the dress is going well. The other thing that’s nice is that the idea of slowing down has hit both you and George at the same time. That’s perfect. Now if you can just agree on the projects you want to take on. Who is the woman who thinks the things you own should make you feel joy? Maybe that would work on projects as well. If another giant yard sale makes you feel no joy at all, perhaps you could suggest the sponsors find someone different to take it on. I’ll bet there are people on here who have done that and can tell you ways to say no nicely. At one meeting, we were advised just to say, “No,” or even, “That won’t work for me.” No apologies, no, “I’m sorry,” no opening for someone to try to convince you. I do think worthy causes, and there are tons of them, deserve something nicer. It would be interesting to see what other people say.
Hi Marilyn,
I’ve got that TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit stuck to my lower back again as I’m making some stir fry… my back does feel better than it has the last 2 days.
I was thinking of making her headband this evening… I’ve had all day to plan it out so it should be a snap. Let’s hope so…
The timing for both of s to slow down HAS come at the same time and that makes it easier…at least for now. George is better at saying NO than I am… maybe I can learn from him!!
Thanks Marilyn….dinner calls…
Blessings, Jeanne