Nyssa begged me to work on her dress today so of course I had to oblige! She really is a sweet doll to sew for and I think this blue dress suits her perfectly!
I tried 3 times to embroider some tiny flowers down the front on that white lace, but ended up picking it out all 3 times. The open spaces in the lace made it look strange so I ended up sewing buttons down the front, just like I did on the red dress. I also sewed buttons on the sleeves but I think I’m going to have to add some headers to hold them up…one seems a bit droopy to me.
I decorated her hat with blue and white flowers and a sweet sheer ribbon bow in the back.
Nyssa said she needed a new pair of thigh highs with her dress, so here they are…
I ran out of time, but I’m going to make a white tulle slip to hold her dress out.
I don’t have a stand for Nyssa so I mostly have pictures of her sitting. I just can’t take a chance of her falling over and damaging her resin skin.
…except when she’s holding on to the bench…
I just might be able to get it listed on Ebay if there aren’t any interruptions.
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
That outfit is just Perfect for Nyssa!! I love how the colors in the trims on the hat pick up exactly the colors in the print and the lace. The buttons make a perfect accent on the lace, I think. I took a close look at the lace, wonderign if some narrow ribbon woven thru the edges might work, but I’m thinking maybe not. It’s a little hard to tell, though, without having the lace in my hands.
Seeing this outfit Almost makes me want a Nyssa of my own!! So pretty…..
I made good progress on my new top today–I’m planning to wear it to Expo on Thursday, so I need to finish it!!
I have to say, even with using “alternate” sewing machines, I did quite a bit of sewing–I made two sweaters/tops and two Rare Bears in the last month or so! The bears are pretty labor-intensive, what with a four-piece body, six-piece head (plus appliqued eyes), three-piece legs, and two-piece arms; I made each one over several days (well, we had to eat, too!).
Once Expo is over, I’ll start on some doll clothes again, I think! My fingers are itching in that direction again.
Thanks so much Charlotte,
I’m glad you like Nyssa’s dress…that Bohemian pattern will have to wait until next time I guess. I guess I couldn’t figure out how to do Easter and Bohemian at the same time.
You get a gold star this week from me for all the sewing you did! Way more than I did! I hope you have lots of fun at Expo wearing your new top! Then it’s back to sewing for your girls… that’s something fun to look forward to!
Blessings, Jeanne
What a sweet dress for Nyssa, Jeanne! I love the picture of her with her darling hat on her lap! Love that pretty bow! This dress can be worn for many springtime activities, not just Easter, and even summer too!
The blue brings out the color of her eyes, too, something I never noticed before, and the buttons on the lace are just perfect! I think embroidered flowers would be harder to see. All in all, just a perfect little outfit for Nyssa!
I would love to see some of your creations, Charlotte, as I am sure the rest of us would!
Thank you Linda,
This dress set came together pretty quickly! I think I like her holding the hat in her lap best of all too… I guess it’s because you can see the flowers better that way.
Now it’s time to see who is next on my list! I hope it’s someone easy to sew for and not a doll I have a dickens of a time picking a fabric for.
Are you ready for the cold again this week? I’m not… I saw someone’s grass today and it was SO green… I want it to be Spring!
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thank you, Linda. I’ll have to take some pictures, and send them to Jeanne, if she’s interested in sharing them some time. Or you can “find me on Facebook” (I include my maiden name, Larson, with my first and last name) as I sometimes post pictures of what I’ve made there.
Such a sweet outfit.. that shade of blue is gorgeous!
Her hat is a perfect compliment.. Nyssa sparkles:)!??
What kind things you’ve shared, Shara! Thanks so much!
Blessings, Jeanne
Loved looking closely at the antique store pictures on the post yesterday. I’m afraid to go to antique stores anymore as my house is full already. It did bring back good memories, though, of going to flea markets in Japan. I knew only a few phrases in Japanese, one to always greet the shopkeeper with when entering a store or booth and, of course, “Thank you.” The other one that was a necessity was: “Nan desu ka?”: “What is it?” Many things in Japan are so unusual and have uses we could not imagine. I have a piece of a wooden loom that was used to make tatami mats that is beautifully worn from use and sits in my living room. The other two expressions are: “Ikura desu ka? and “Subarashi desu.” “How much” and “Too expensive,” always said with a big smile to set off a negotiation which is always expected. I’m sure a Japanese reader will correct my spelling of Japanese translations.
This brings me to asking what the two pieces of wood are in the 18th picture that are on top of the cabinet. My only guess would be some kind of planes used in woodworking or some kind of threshing equipment. Maybe George know what they are. I’ve never seen anything like those.
I saw the basket Joy liked so much and I can see why. Did you notice the flying pink pig who is looking up at the chicks? I wonder if it is a metal doorstop. The basket is certainly unusual and wonderful. Your pictures are amazing and enlarge so well. Thanks for sharing with us.
Rebecca might like to find a bed with a nice footboard as well as headboard and cut pieces from each side of the footboard to attach to the sides of the headboard to accommodate the queen-size mattress. I’ve seen ones repurposed that way. I’m not explaining it very well but hope you get the idea.
Another tour de force on the dress for Nyssa. What a great hat! You always do such a great job of accessorizing.
HI Susette,
I don’t think you are alone in not having any more room for stuff to be brought home. Cindy does it, but she always swaps something out when she brings in a new piece. She even does that with her clothes…
George DID tell me what those pieces were… maybe planes, but I forgot…I’ll have to ask him…
I got down and looked at that pink piggie with wings, but can’t remember what it was made out of. We might be going there again tomorrow. Rebecca is off and she might want to see if the lady will consider lowering her price on that one armoire if we throw in a couple of French chairs. I’m not sure, but if we do go back, I’ll look at that pig again and make even take new pictures. :o)
I think Rebecca is trying to decide if she really wants a footboard on the bed she gets. Everything she has liked has sold out from under her…
Great Japanese lesson! :o) Great phrases to memorize… Too expensive and what is it! :o)
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Nyssa’s dress is so sweet. Does this dress fit Betsy McCall? Will you show back of this dress in your listing? I had wondered about the back detail of Caroline’s dress and what it looked like on her without the fishu. Caroline is so beautiful she actually distracts from the dress lol. You have such an eye for fabrics and wonderful talent for striking details. Love that about your sewing, I’ve learned so much about how to’s from you. Any chance you can give some helpful hints on attached collars like in the pattern one of your readers is looking for? Or if there is any easy way to sew lace/trim/piping around a collar or cuffs and seams? Have a great day, Dorothy
HI Dorothy,
I haven’t tried Nyssa’s dress on Betsy… but I should. I did show 2 back shots of the dress in my Ebay listing.
Thank you for your kind words about my doll dresses. I forgot to put the picture of the back of Caroline’s dress in my Ebay listing, but I said it had buttons… hiding the snaps.
I’ll try to do a “sewing lesson” soon on something…collars, cuffs, piping… etc.
Thanks so much!
Blessings, Jeanne
Nyssa is lovely in blue. So demure. I’d tell her to lift her little chin up higher if that is possible. She’s such a pretty girl. Love the bunnies on the bench shot that shows how nicely her hat fits. A few more details and Nyssa will be ready for the big screen.
Here, it’s still raining. Three inches since yesterday and lots more expected today. It’s duck soup around here.
If you do go back to that antique store, I would love to know the price of that basket with the chicks. 🙂 Not that I can afford it.
HI Joy,
I took your advice and lifted Nyssa’s chin up just a little bit. She has a hard time keeping her face looking forward…it’s one of those things like my Bitty Bethany… the head won’t just tilt however you want it too…it’s sort of got a mind of its own.
Nyssa is ON the big screen tonight… she’s thrilled, but wait till she has to give this dress up.
The only one HAPPY that her dress didn’t sell was Caroline. But it’s back on the chopping block tonight.
I hope you don’t get any leaks or floods. It’s supposed to turn cold on us in a few days… Waaaa!
Blessings, Jeanne
Once again I was blown away by your creativity Jeanne. Nyssa’s lovely blue Easter/Spring/Summer ensemble is precious. Her hat is the crowning glory. I loved the flowers surrounding the crown. What a sweet picture where she is petting the bunny. A wonderful outfit for some lucky Nyssa out there. As for lifting Nyssa’s chin, I have some dolls that absolutely will not lift their chins. I don’t know if it’s that they are shy or they just don’t grasp the concept. I keep trying.
Charlotte, I second Linda’s request for pictures of your endeavors. I love to see what others are creating.
Susette it looks like you have had some wonderful experiences in your life. Thanks for sharing some of them.
I thought Spring was on the doorstep here when I saw the Redbud and Flowering Pear trees blooming. But I think they’re in for a big surprise in a week when the next Siberian/Arctic front comes through. This one is supposed to extend all the way to southern Mexico. We may get our hard freeze here yet. I’ve only see the predictions up till next Monday. Spring this week, deep winter next. And with it all rain, rain, rain. If the precipitation and temperatures hit at the same time, we will most likely have ice. But the weather here up until the end of May can actually be pretty unpredictable. A few years ago we had our church Spring Fling around May 15. We got a cold front through the night before and we were wearing coats. It was a lovely sunny day, but some people actually packed up their booths and left because it was so cold and windy. Both my kids were married in March. Our daughter’s was an outdoor wedding on 3/12. It was a gamble. We could have moved indoors but it would have been very cramped. It turned out to be a lovely day. My son’s wedding on 3/26 was a lovely day also, but anything can happen in March around here. It could be an exciting few days here next week.
HI Barbara,
Thank you very much for your sweet compliments on Nyssa’s new blue dress. I think she looks very pretty in this color of blue.
Yep, it looks like another round of cold weather for many of us… we were very fortunate the last time the weather moved through…it went south of us and we only got cold temperatures and a bit of wind. I hope your trees won’t be permanently damaged from the cold and frost. We are in peach country and the peaches one year were totally destroyed by the frost. Lost the whole entire crop!
I hope that doesn’t happen to you.
Blessings, Jeanne
All of my Kaye’s girls of Nyssa’s size, including Nyssa herself, are promising me they will share the dress if I will buy it for them… 🙂 Very pretty dress on a very pretty girl!
Theresa, if you win the dress you need to send a picture with one of your Kaye’s girls wearing the dress and the others who will be sharing it. I don’t have any of the Kaye Wiggs dolls myself. I’m afraid I’m not mature enough to take care of them properly, so I’ll just enjoy everyone else’s.
I looked up ‘Sierra’ that someone mentioned, she has a very familiar look.
On Kaye Wiggs site I saw that she seems to have returned to the look she used for her porcelain dolls. In fact Chanelle is exactly the same (face).
I made a porcelain Chanelle some years ago, didn’t much like her, took her face off with acid, changed her eye colour , last year. Like Her much more now. Not dressed though.
Jane – Sienna is Kaye’s bjd resin version of her porcelain “Sini”. She has started remaking her porcelain dolls as bjd resin dolls. Chanelle, Holly, and Imani are three she is remaking – I think those are all the original names of the porcelain dolls, too. There might be another one, but I can’t come up with the name if there is. I have Sienna and would love to get Holly, but I’ve gotta stop!!! 🙂
HI Theresa,
I didn’t know that about Kaye making new resin dolls from her earlier porcelain dolls. How interesting…
Thanks, Jeanne
Hi Theresa,
Well, you better keep your girls away from the computer because Nyssa’s dress is listed on Ebay now. Unless they really really like it… then I’d be happy to send it their way, because “sharing” is a good thing to learn! :o)
Thanks Theresa,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, what a pretty dress! I love the color.
The bench is the perfect place for her to sit and catch her breath before she strolls to town. Maybe she is going to an antique store. Uh oh (laugh).
HI Dorothy,
Thanks so much for your comments on Nyssa’s dress. I’m not letting her go antique shopping. She’d probably buy fabric and I need to call it quits. (yeah right!) :o)
Thank you,
Blessings, Jeanne
That is a pretty dress and looks so good on Nyssa. The hat is a sweet touch.
Thank you Carolyn,
I’m glad you like it all put together!
Blessings, Jeanne
Nyssa looks so pretty in her new blue dress. The little bench with bunnies are the perfect props. Her hat looks so fresh and springlike. A dear friend of mine has a garden bench just like that in human size. I’ve always thought it was sweet with the birdhouses.
*I was absolutely amazed that Caroline’s dress didn’t sell. It was so pretty. I do agree with Dorothy though that Caroline is so beautiful that she actually does detract from whatever she is wearing. I think both she and first edition Felicity are that way.
Your antique store adventure was fun to see. I also enjoy going in other antique stores besides our town’s ones. You never know what you’ll find. I’m finally going to get to our craft store tomorrow, never made it there last week
I hope you’ll share your sewing endeavors also, Charlotte.
Thank you Laura,
How neat that your friend has a bench like Nyssa’s. I have other props, but I always seem to gravitate toward this bench for Nyssa. I’ve thought about painting it white and distressing it, but so far, I’ve kept is as I found it.
I was a little disappointed that Caroline’s dress didn’t sell either. I found myself second guessing what I had made. It’s SO pretty on her and I just wonder if she wasn’t recognized with her hair pulled up. I relisted it tonight, $10 cheaper to start out.. and hopefully the second time around it will sell.
I hope you find some great bargains at your craft store. Wish I could come too! :o)
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
You might add a few photos of some of the other girls in Caroline’s dress. I think fewer people have her so there is less browsing of her items. Personally I think the AG dolls with smaller collections deserve more pretty and interesting outfits. I have a 2 white curtains we used on our French door I am considering re-purposing into cape and dress set for me, the grand girls and my friend. They aren’t velvet or velveteen but remind me of velveteen. (We got new curtains from Costco which block the cold on those big glass doors so much better.). It must be the sign of a quilter and seamstress when you can’t stand to throw away a nice size piece of fabric.
Forgot to comment on the one antique. That Victorian desk/dresser/ curio cabinet is very nice. My great aunt had one just like it. It’s interesting that many pieces served multiple functions back then. I have a Victorian lady’s writing desk and it has all the cubby holes inside the top when you lift the lid, but it also has a mirror. Maybe so if you’re caught at your desk as your beau shows up you can check your hair. LOL
When we were in those shops, I found myself looking for a glass front cabinet that I could put my dolls in to keep them from getting dusty. I’d love to have them all sealed up and behind glass. There are certainly lots of cabinets to choose from…it’s just finding one at the right price and the right dimensions to fit in my sewing room.
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
Nyssa looks beautiful in her blue dress. The faint ‘chicken wire’ in the print is just right. Nyssa might look ultra sweet, but she is a gal with a bit of ‘edge’. Love the tights too. Can anyone remember the pre-pantyhose days?
My schooldays were all black stockings and suspenders. I once appalled my mother by unpicking the back seam, I thought they would be seamless, but alas they fell into a flat piece. I had to seam them up and (occasionally) wear them.
Wouldn’t it be great if this dress fitted Betsy McCall, then it would fit LDs . l actually had a dress like this, made it myself. Do you want a photo? I wore it in 1975.
Really sorry Caro’s dress didn’t sell, it deserved to.
HI Jane,
I hadn’t thought about that very faint design of Nyssa’s blue fabric as “chicken wire” but you certainly are correct!
I might have to see if Betsy can wear this blue dress… several people have asked that question.
I remember garter belts holding up our stockings… I hated sitting on those hook thingies!
Yes, we want to see you in the 1975 dress that’s similar to Nyssa’s.
Thanks Jane,
Blessings, Jeanne