I did have a few interruptions but STILL managed to get Nyssa’s dress totally finished and listed on Ebay. You can see it by clicking on the picture at the right side bar or you can click HERE.
Here is her sweet slip I finished for her…
…and Nyssa picked “Ariel” from the Dolly Toy Box to be her accessory!
Caroline’s dress didn’t sell last night, (She was the only one in my house who was thrilled!) so I lowered the starting price $10 and have it relisted. You can see it by clicking Caroline’s picture at the right side bar or by clicking HERE.
I was browsing Ebay and something caught my eye! One of my creations from a few years ago. The seller is selling it and very nicely gave me the credit as the creator of it. You can see it here on my Lian…and then on her doll, with the link to the auction below…
Well, in that search for the perfect pattern that Jane mentioned a few days ago, I have some more information from Janet… She left a comment but it came late and was probably missed by most of you. I thought I’d copy what she posted so you might check it out if you like.
“Hi Jeanne,
This is in regards to the cute little dress you pictured a couple days ago. I have been searching and I think I have found one that is really close. Your readers can go to Etsy and look for it at Vaniline’s Dress Pattern It’s pattern #14. The neck line is higher but wouldn’t be too hard to change.
I hope this will help with your readers.
Blessings, Janet”
Then Janet sent me another link to the instructions for the pattern.
“Hi again,
I think you have to add 1/4″ to each piece to make it fit. For instructions go to:
Instructions for dress pattern
and translate to English for instructions.
Hope this helps. Janet”
Susette sent me a picture of part of a Tatami Mat loom she owns… she bought it when she was flea market shopping in Japan. She said the wood is smooth from all the use it’s received. If only it could talk!
Look at her gigantic poinsettia beside it! This was this past Christmas…
She also sent me a really interesting article on the calming effect sewing has on you…it’s very good…
Well, I guess the next thing you’ll want to know is who’s up next… don’t know yet, but I’ll tell you soon!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, Susette’s whole room seems calming. Do the fish symbolize something?
It was nice of the seller to give you credit for Lian’s dress.
Nyssa’s slip turned out very well. She looks adorable.
Hi Dorothy,
Susette’s room DOES seem very calm!
I don’t know if the Koi represent something but I think they look great on her floor surrounding the Poinsettia.
Thanks for your sweet comments.
Blessings, Jeanne
Yes, Nyssa’sslip turned out beautifully, and just adds to the whole outfit! Such a sweet start to the spring season, wherever it is! Not here!!!
Oh, I remember that dress that is now selling on EBay! I love that outfit!
And that loom that Susette has! I cannot figure out how it is a loom! You mean that tallish piece of wood? That would be amazing to make a rug or anything like that, since I think of a loom as something you sit at and weave. My cousin’s grandma had one and made all kinds of things with hers.
And yes, Susette’s living room looks so restful! As for me, sewing is great, when I do it as a hobby, but when you are making something, like I had to make prom dresses, and bridesmaids dresses, and get it done within a certain time frame, plus have it fit, it gets a little hectic, to say the least!
Hi Linda,
Nyssa is ready for Spring, but it sure doesn’t seem like Soring is ready to greet Nyssa.
I always loved that little dress too. It’s neutral but still perfect. I hope someone buys it for their doll. They will love it in person…it’s such a sweet little set.
I think Susette only has a piece from the loom… not the whole thing.
My favorite thing about sewing for the dolls is NO fittings have to be scheduled. There are fittings, but on MY time…someone elses.
Sewing relaxes me and keeps my mind at ease.
I’m so glad I know how to sew!!!
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Such tastefully displayed possessions at Susette’s. After seeing the vintage loom, I’m happy that someone else is able to make Tatami mats. 🙂 It appears to be way more complicated than I could achieve. And I love how the koi are circling the poinsettia. Very cute.
I checked out the pattern that Janet found on Etsy. I had not looked at Valinine’s patterns prior. She has some for Ann Estelle which will probably fit the Meadow Dumplings as well as Minouche. Fun. Interesting, as I believe we all were looking for two different patterns. The one that Carol Pringle does with the one piece sleeve/bodice style and the other a regular short bodice with puffed sleeves. I think I will pick up another of Trensations that is very cute and probably some of Valinine’s too. Oh the decisions. 🙂
I’m sure Nyssa will be without a dress soon. Poor thing. It will be interesting to see what is the next selection.
Finally stopped raining just a bit ago. Poured all night. I believe we have had at least 6 inches since Monday morning as it has been raining nonstop. Tons of road closures and the Russian River is flooding. Hoping for some dry time before the next storm shows up.
Hi Joy,
The piece of the loom that Susette has reminds me of the piece of the piano harp that Cindy has on her wall.
I had fun looking at all those patterns from Vaniline. I used to read her blog, translating it from French to English and loving it.
Nyssa’s dress just got a bid, so she will be giving hers up soon. Caroline thinks she still has a chance at keeping hers. NOT!
I hope things dry up quickly for you…soggy ground is no fun…
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Yay for Nyssa’s dress! Your photography is great Jeanne, as well as your sewing skills.
Thanks to Janet for the Etsy discovery. I too have enjoyed the Vaniline Blog
All that liberty lawn. I’ve even tried to purchase a pattern, and failed. Now we can buy on Etsy, happiness is mine. The translation of tutorials makes me laugh. Shuttlecocks and steering wheels! Thankfully lots of photos.
The sewing is calming is a good article – I noted that it refers to hand sewing, sewing machines can cause fury in my experience. There has been a lot of research by neuroscientists about knitting and brain activity, perhaps hand sewing is similar.
Send some rain way way south Joy. We had a cyclone (Oma) threatening but it stalled and dumped it’s rain near Australia.
I’ve made a pattern for the special dress. Now that I’ve written that down I will have to make a dress to show you. I hate my current sewing machine…..
Thank you Jane,
I’m pleased you like Nyssa’s dress. I’m also thrilled that you can get things off Etsy now! That surely must be a real treat for you!
I remember reading Vaniline’s tutorials years ago and was confused about some of the words she used too.
I’m sorry you don’t like your sewing machine. I don’t know what that feels like as I love mine very much…
I hope you get your rain AND your doll dress finished…we want to see what you came up with.
Thanks Jane,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’ve lost all hope of having a calming place in my house like Susette. Seems everywhere I go it’s chaos and the more time I spend trying to make it less chaotic, the less time I have for sewing, the thing that really calms me. I’ve been trying to downsize some since my kids left years ago. I’ve managed to give my son most of his things, mostly because he wanted them for his kids, but my daughter lives in a tiny house (and I don’t mean small house) and monitors everything that comes in carefully. I hate throwing anything of hers away because I feel she may want it some day, but one day I may have to give her an either/or. In the meantime I have to deal with it. My house was built in 1945 and has little in the say of closet storage, no basement and no attic.
I looked at the e-bay posting for Nyssa’s new dress. I especially love the picture of her back and her adorable hat. Really cute. I didn’t realize Nyssa was as tall as she is. I guess because she is so slender I thought she was smaller. The Little Darling outfit on Lian is very nice. I like neutral tones every now and then. I also like black and white. When my daughter was small I saw this black and white dress I wanted so much for her. When we tried it on her it made her look so washed out. She is a blonde and can wear white by itself or black, but the two together was awful. Glad I hadn’t spent time making the dress myself.
More pattern sites. Just what I need. I’ve already picked out a few patterns on the Vaniline site I think I can’t live without. I studied two years of French and did passably well when I visited France. Her site might be a good way for me to brush up. They say the best way to learn a language is complete immersion. If I get stuck, I’ll just look at the pictures – or find the translation.
I found an interesting item on e-bay the other day and bought it. It was the history of Betsy McCall in McCall’s magazine. It was an article out of the UFDC Doll News from awhile back. My mother did not get McCall’s but my grandmother did. Each summer my sister and I would spend two weeks with her. She saved the magazines all year so we could have the paper dolls. But I was not aware that all those beautiful clothes were available in department stores or as patterns for little girl’s dresses. Or that they were created by many famous designers. Probably a good thing because we didn’t have the money to buy them anyway. My mother sewed, beautifully, but worked full time as a nurse and, except for Easter dresses now and then, didn’t have much time for sewing. The article contained a pattern for a lovely dress for Betsy (she’s already wanting me to get right on it) and several paper dolls. It cost me only around $10.00 but the knowledge it contained is worth far more. Probably why my house is so chaotic. I spend way too much time seeking out dolly things.
As much as I have sympathy for Caroline wanting to keep her pretty dress, I know you need to sell it so here’s hoping you do so quickly.
Hi Barbara, was the pattern called Betsy’s summer vacation dress? A gathered skirt with (oddly) a circular petticoat attached.
White bodice blue green check skirt.
Seeking put dolly things is calming and therapeutic in itself.
Hi Jane,
I think looking AT and sometimes BUYING things for our dolls IS therapeutic!!
Thanks Jane,
Blessings, Jeanne
Yes, that’s the dress! I love it.
Hi Barbara,
I’m so sorry you feel like you can’t get ahead in the “calmin” department. A small house can sometimes be your worst enemy. If you whittle at it a little bit at a time, maybe you’ll see results someday.
I loved looking at Vaniline’s website too. Her patterns shown on 3 different dolls at a time is very helpful with deciding on who it might fit.
I have 2 vintage 1904 and 1905 (I think) Mccall’s Fashion magazines and I LOVE looking at them. There are patterns in them but not with the pieces… just like what you’d see in the pattern books today…only better!!!
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne