A Civil War dress in the making…

I realized this morning as I was pondering the color of this new Civil War dress… it’s kind of like “Aquamarine!” So I’ve decided on aqua for the color…and “my” Rebecca and I have been tossing around names for this one… Blue Beauty, Blooming in Blue, Bedecked in Blue, Adorable in Aqua, Alluring in Aqua, Adorable in Aqua… We started getting silly, so we had to stop. I really didn’t care for any of them.

Anyway, Rebecca is thrilled with her new “aqua” dress. She loves this color and it reminds her of the Easter dress she wore at the White House Easter Egg Roll. She loved it and is positive she will love this one too!

I took the dress (as it is) outside for some pictures so you can see just how pretty this is on Rebecca. I might have to show this on a few different dolls… Addy and maybe Caroline like I did with my Colonial dress. It has sweet, short, puffed sleeves with a narrow cuff and has a midriff section that really makes her waist look slimmer than it actually is. The little stand collar is from a textured cotton fabric I have that like to use just for collars.

I think the dress will be too short if I hem it where it is now… (the bottom has been serged) so I’m thinking it’s going to have to be kind of mid calf… but then that means I’ll have to make a pair of pantalettes to go under her dress.

Okay… hope you are liking it so far… now on to the bonnet! :o)

See you tomorrow… My sisters and their hubby’s are coming for 3 days… YAY!

Blessings, Jeanne

17 thoughts on “A Civil War dress in the making…”

  1. Charlotte Trayer

    That dress is turning out so pretty, Jeanne!! I really love the print fabric you are using–it looks different (to me, anyway) than it did in yesterday’s picture of just the bodice. Maybe it’s having the photo session outdoors that makes the difference?

    For the name of the dress, since the color reminds you of the aquamarine gem, how about “A gem of a dress” or “Aquamarine Beauty”?

    1. Hi Charlotte ,
      The outside pictures are much better than the inside ones with my lights. The color outside is more blue than it really is. It isn’t minty in color but a little bit.
      Thanks for your names…
      I’ll add them to my lists…
      Have a great weekend.
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. Dorothy in PA and the World

    Dear Jeanne, I am so glad you are having sister time! I know there will be some fun adventures.

    The dress is very pretty. I can’t wait to see the accessories you use with it.

    1. Hi Dorothy,
      There are always adventures when we get together. :o)
      I’m going to town today to look st buttons and flowers today…
      Thanks Dorothy,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. What lovely little dress, Jeanne, just waiting for you to turn it into something truly special and one of a kind! It’s looking just great so far, andI can’t wait to see what is in store for it tomorrow!

    Have a great time with your sisters, but I don’t think you need me to tell you that! You always have a good time with them without anyone telling you to do so! Enjoy!

    1. Hi Linda,
      You’ll see the bonnet tomorrow!! Rebecca and I really like it with this dress.
      I promise to have a good time with Cindy and Deb!
      Thanks Linda
      Blessings, Jeanne

    1. Thank you Becky,
      I’m glad you think it’s pretty… I value your opinion. :o)
      I love every moment I get to spend with my sisters and their hubbies.
      Have a great weekend!
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. Oh pretty on Rebecca. Might give Elizabeth a try with this one too. 🙂
    Enjoy the weekend with everyone. Should you get away to any shops, be sure to take some pictures. 🙂

    1. Hi Joy,
      This probably would be pretty on Elizabeth…I might have to try it on her
      Of course I will take pictures if we go somewhere.
      Thanks Joy,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. Your sister weekend sounds so wonderful. I had those with my younger sister and I miss her so much.
    Like Charlotte, I think the outdoor pictures make the fabric look different. I didn’t think it was so blue. Your reply explains that!
    We are planning to set up our new tent this weekend. A trial run in our backyard before the 4th of July vacation.
    Hope we all have a good weekend!

    1. Thanks Jillaurellia,
      I ALWAYS love my time with Cindy and Deb…and Bob, when he can make it.
      The fabric isn’t as blue as it appears outside..I’ll try to get it right by the time I’m ready for Ebay pictures.
      Have fun with your new tent…I don’t know what we are doing just yet for the 4th…I guess I need to plan something.
      Thanks Julia,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. Jeanne, I don’t know whether or not I missed the boat today, but I’ll leave this anyway. I unexpectedly had my grandkids three days this week due to a payment glitch for their day camp. The bank failed to tell people that their old debit cards would no longer work while they were changing from Visa to Mastercard. When their card was denied, they wanted to charge them per child what they were paying for both of them. They couldn’t do that so, since my son was coming out to work with my hubby on some A/C things, it made sense for him to bring the kids with him. I haven’t been able to check in on the blog until now. Things will be back to normal next week, but I’m behind in everything.

    But I did manage to make the dress for my LDs to go with their pretty slip. I will be sending pictures of that as well as others. I bought a package a few years ago telling how to photograph dolls. I never opened it until today. Inside, much to my surprise, were three wonderful poster backgrounds. So, I took several pictures of my girls, of course they were all lined up for their chance to be featured. I will send some of those, but definitely not all. I was having too much fun. One of the pictures will be of Gracie in her new Jeanne Marie patriotic outfit. It came today. I love it. She can’t wait to put it on and have her picture taken to show you how good she looks in it.

    But back to what you’ve been doing. I would call the dress aquamarine according to my computer. I love the fabric and the dress is so sweet. I don’t mind making fancy things, but I do love simpler lines that leave the appearance largely up to the choice of fabric. I can’t wait to see the hat. Your Goodwill find is wonderful. One year my oldest stepdaughter wanted me to make her a dress for her prom. She thought she would be saving me money by going to Goodwill and finding a gown for me to alter. She wanted a Scarlett O’Hara kind of dress. She had no idea that I really don’t like remaking anything and would much rather start from scratch, but, not wanting to hurt her feelings I bit the bullet. For starters there were sweat stains under the arms so that whole area had to be replaced, and that was just the beginning. I found a piece of fabric that actually matched perfectly (Divine Intervention) and I created a lovely dress but it was a struggle. My other stepdaughter brought me a Vogue pattern to make her prom dress. Their mother sewed but she was having none of those two projects. I can’t resist a challenge.

    1. Hi Barbara,
      You sound like you’ve had a busy day…and week… Good grandma you are!!! :o)
      Yes, we want to see your new dress and your new backgrounds too… And Gracie too… You’ve got lots of pictures to take! I hope you have fun with them…

      I’m like you and would rather start from scratch “most” of the time when I’m making something. Sometimes I do like to take something and see what I can turn it into…
      Congrats on your sewing…
      Have a wonderful weekend,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  7. My turn for our golf group was tonight so had 14 for dinner after golf. Love those folks…we’ve been together for 30 years! Now not everyone golfs but we all still eat LOL
    So treated myself to read your blog after al th dishes!
    Love that color and taking pics of it on your blonde AG would make it even more marketable. Will there be something else with it out of the white pique?
    Pantaloons will be so cute with it!
    Have a blast with the family…I know you will!

    1. HI Kathie,
      I’m late… kind of like you, I guess… I hope you had a good time with your friends.. what did you make for dinner? (Inquiring minds want to know! ) :o)
      I think I’ll have to try it on Caroline or Elizabeth and see the “blonde” thing too. I’m not sure I have enough of the pique fabric for pantaloons, but they will definitely be white…
      I will have fun with my family… :o) :o)
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. marla johnson

    Hi Jeanne,
    I think your dress is very pretty! I’m a little confused about the white collar though. Are you putting embroidery on it or something ?

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