It took Joy a little while to get her dolls set up for their Fourth of July parade out in California…but I just HAD to show you… you really should click on each picture and enlarge it… they really are fun to scrutinize!
I guess by now you can tell I love to make patriotic dresses…finding that “just right” combination of stars and strips and swirls and sparkles and buttons and trims and lace is really fun! I was going through some fabrics I had picked out to sell, and ran across 4 more red, white and blue prints that I “took back” and added them to my stash. They’ll be used for new dresses next year.
I thought maybe I’d work backwards and pick my top 5 patriotic dresses and maybe tell you why. (At least they are my top 5 “this” year! :o)
This was harder than I thought, but working backward, #5 is going to be Molly’s red and white dress with blue rick rack…
The idea for this one came from a 1944 catalog that I have. I found this dress and tried to copy it as closely as I could.
My vintage rick rack is lighter blue than the one in the picture, but I wanted it to match the blue in the fabric I picked out.
Next is my #4 favorite 4th of July dress. Wren is modeling it. It’s made from a fun batik fabric and I really enjoyed making it. it was nice to do something different besides a dress…
I braided a tiny narrow scarf to go around her neck and even made her shoes!
Okay, we’re up to #3 on my favorite 4th of July dresses!
It would have to be one of my Kirsten dresses… I chose this one because I liked the way it looked on her the best…
I love to make “coordinated fabrics” dresses for Kirsten. She is the one doll that you can really have fun with using lots of different fabrics for the various items of her dress…ie: vest, skirt, apron, bodice, ribbons, bonnet, scarf, and trims. I very seldom buy actual fabrics that are “coordinated”… but like to mix and match what I have…somehow it doesn’t seem so “matchy-matchy” to me.
It’s time for my #2 dress. Instead of it being just one dress, it’s actually 2! When I made this sister set, I just LOVED it. It was something about the colors on my girls and how our photo session went I think. The fabrics and my plan worked out just as I had hoped… 2 dresses “almost” alike but still opposites! I hope you’ll agree with them being my #2 pick.
Here are a few more pictures for you…
…and now my #1 pick for my favorite patriotic doll dress. It hasn’t changed since I made it in 2015. There is just something special about this one to me. I don’t really even know if I have a reason unless you call “incredibly adorable” a reason.
…I love how it went together
…didn’t look “too” cutsie
…was whimsical, but still stylish
…and I loved the way the stars come out on her bodice.
If you remember I picked this one last year and probably the year before… But it’s the dress I made for Lian.
Here are some more shots of that dress…
The bodice was made from navy blue dotted swiss.
If you’d like the see “the making of that dress” you can click on this blog post I did…
I hope whatever you are doing today…seeing fireworks somewhere, having a picnic, spending time with family or friends, or if you are alone, take a moment to reflect on the freedoms we have and the liberties we enjoy. Stay safe and I’ll see you tomorrow!
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, Joy, thank you for sharing the pictures of your 4th of July parade! I wish my friend Daria was still alive; she would have loved to have seen them, I know. You see, about 16 years ago WE did a 4th of July parade with Our dolls (mostly the 16″ Julie Good-Kruger dolls, plus some Magic Attic dolls were in the parade; our American Girls and other 18″ dolls were the bystanders). I really do need to find those pictures and scan them, so I can share at least some of them in the future. We had so much fun that day. We set up around a small fountain in a local outdoor shopping mall, near our favorite doll store! It took us two hours to set up, then take pictures. Of course, we had to take it all down when we were done, but that was just such a fun day.
Jeanne, I do remember all those dresses, and remember your talking about sewing All. Those. Buttons. on Lian’s dress!!! So cute!! But of those five, I think my favorite is the one on Kirsten. The fabrics just really “sing” together, I think!
Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th. We have our church picnic, and I’ve made a rhubarb cake and Oriental Slaw to bring to it. Best get to bed now, as I’ll have to be up earlier than usual tomorrow!!
Hi Charlotte,
Oh, I do hope you can find the pictures of you and your friends dolly parade. We all want to see them…
I liked that dress on Kirsten because it seemed so flattering on her. Sometimes the AG dolls can look so body in their clothes.
We aren’t doing anything very special around here. No picnics around here today…the heat index is between 95 and 100…so we are working inside, catching up on things.
Happy Independence Day to you Charlotte!
Blessings, Jeanne
Joy’s parade is just the cutest thing! Talk about a dedicated photographer! I can only imagine how that whole thing was to dress everyone, figure out who goes where, all the props, and getting them in place! I do have that little red tricycle, and so know the approximate size the dolls are. What dedication, Joy, and thank you for sending that in! I certainly enjoyed it!
Jeanne, I so agree with you on your top five! However, Molly’s dress has blue rick rack? I had no idea! It looks white on my monitor! That was a surprise for sure! All the other outfits are cuter then the next! Lian’s Dress is really my top dress too!
Happy Fourth of July everyone!
Hi Linda,
Yes, Joy is one dedicated photographer!! I saw those pictures on the Meadow Fan Club site and asked her if I could share them. I’m so glad she said it was ok…aren’t they wonderful?
I’m glad you enjoyed my top July dresses tol. It was hard to choose..
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Happy 4th to everyone! It looks hot but beautiful here and I hope it’s as beautiful, but not as hot, for everyone else.
What a great post, Jeanne. I just love Joy’s doll parade and Charlotte’s description of hers.
I do remember that Lian’s dress continues to be your favorite 4th of July dress, and it deserves it. Like Linda, I thought that rick-rack was white, but I can see from the close-ups that it’s blue. Much more interesting.
Thanks for correcting the email address I sent for Barbara yesterday. I need to proofread more carefully. And the Swedish book I mentioned is full of small scale designs that might work for dolls as well as color combinations that might inspire. I wasn’t thinking of color until I was looking at your photos and Joy’s today. No shortage of color there.
Hi Marilyn,
It’s very hot here.. Good thing George mowed the grass yesterday. It’s pretty hot out there today…
I’m going to have to come up with something really special to take the #1 spot from Lisn
It may never happen.
I haven’t looked at that book yet, but I need to as soon as I get finished with these comments.
I hope you’re having a good day!
Happy 4th to you!
Blessings, Jeanne
I am so glad you have saved photos of your work over the years! Quite an amazing display of 4th dresses. I do love Molly’s dress with the blue rickrack. Very sweet. And if you look carefully at the parade, in the back sitting on the wagon seat is Tansy sporting my version of your flag dress. 🙂 Gave up even attempting to do a flag with tiny buttons, but she likes it. 🙂 A couple of the others are wearing the red/blue checks and stars print made as balloon dresses. You give us such great ideas. 🙂
Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday.
Hi Joy,
I did see Tansey’s copycat dress…so cute!! In fact EVERYONE is so adorable. How long did it take you to see that up before you started snapping pictures? I can’t imagine.
Thanks for letting me use your pictures to start off the Patriotic Parade!!
Have a great day
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, I’m not sure about the time, but I had at least 8 trips across the upper deck, down the steps and then back up again for another load. And then reverse to bring everything back inside when done. I’d been waiting for more shade, and then the wind picked up. So a few flying flags and flying dollies too. I’m just guessing, but putting wigs back on and getting some to stand must have taken awhile because when I was all done, I think it was 5:00 and I still had to go to the other house and check for mail etc. Time kind of flew by, but I would think at least an hour and a half? Maybe more. And it was pretty hot. I was mainly worried that I would end up with a bunch of blurry photos, but fortunately the camera worked great and all were in focus. What we do for fun eh? 🙂
Another amazing post!!! How long must it have taken for Joy to dress all the dolls, let alone getting them posed and photographed! I had trouble with just one doll, finding all the accessories and getting the light right. Makes one really appreciate the photos of dolls.
I remember all of these but especially Lian with the little tiny stars all lined up with their points at the top. What patience you have to execute your ideas! Every one of your doll dresses is a small masterpiece. I hope you will publish a book someday; you’ve certainly got the material and all the stories that went with these posts. Thanks for pulling all of this together. This post makes it a Happy Fourth of July for everyone!
Hi Susette,
I hope you are still safe from the earthquake…
I asked Joy how long it took her to set all that up and get her pictures….maybe she’ll let us know.
Thanks for the compliments on my red, white and blue dresses. I’m so glad you enjoy looking at my dresses.
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a wonderful 4th of July presentation from Joy. I’m sure it will be on the Meadows fan page. So many Meadows dolls and posing them must be a delight. I’m new to this doll picture taking thing and am always amazed at the number of props people have, most of which I’ve never seen. I’m so behind. I’m still trying to find the perfect spot to set up.
I too thought the rickrack was white until I saw the close-ups. What a wonderful duplication of the original dress. I used to do that with clothes for my daughter. I usually couldn’t afford some of the dresses I wanted for her but I could sew. So I often duplicated things I saw. There were no cell phones with cameras when she was growing up so I had to remember what I saw. A photo would have been handy.
Thanks Marilyn for the wonderful website. I read the “history”. What a sad story. Her clothes are adorable and the link to the sock and hat site is an added plus. I love buying socks for my dolls but they mostly seemed to be repeats. These socks are unusual. And the hats are great.
Hope everyone is having a wonder 4th of July. David is making us his yummy ribs for lunch. We will be meeting our youngest son and grandkids early this evening for fireworks. The location for the fireworks is by a Wal-Mart so we go early, get a good spot in the parking lot and walk to one of the fast food restaurants that are close by. Then we come back to the parking lot and pull out the boxes of poppers, etc. The adults have as much fun as the kids. We’ve done this every year since the grandkids were born and now they’re almost 9 and 7. Where does the time go…
Hi Barbara,
I love to “copycat” dresses and used to do it for myself when I was in grade school and high school. It’s always fun to see how closely I can replicate the picture.
Our day is probably about the most boring you could imagine. A haircut for my hubby, cleaning out a toolbox for him…sorting fabrics for me…a pizza for lunch, did dishes, Kristoffer came over, just trying to catch up on some things…it’s super humid and miserable ouside!
So I’ll probably make something nice for dinner, listen to the fireworks from around our neighbors.
Thanks Barbara
Blessings, Jeanne
Joy, your girls and boys look so cute and patriotic. I enjoyed seeing everyone else’s display the other day as well. Linda, I had to laugh at your comment about some dolls just standing there “without anything cute beside them”. At least you got them dressed for the 4th. I didn’t even manage that.
I just knew you’d pick Lian’s dress, Jeanne. I remember that one clearly. What a job that must have been to get all those little star buttons just right.
Ended up skipping the parade this morning because of the heat. We have the usual concert on the university lawn this evening followed by fireworks.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, friends!!!
Hi Laura,
I’m glad you enjoyed all the pictures of everyone’s patriotic outfits. I had fun putting all my pictures together…its fun to see them all in one place.
Someday maybe I’ll make a dress that takes the #1 spot away from Lian…but until next year…enjoy it, Lian.
Have a nice time tonight!
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, what great photos.
Joy’s children are adorable.
I too thought the rickrack on Molly’s dress was white.
Lian’s dress is adorable. Of course, I am partial to Little Darlings (smile). I like the “wave” of the flag on the front of her dress. It looks like a kind of movement.
I also would put the sister dresses at the top of the list.
Happy 4th to everyone!
Hi Dorothy,
I’m glad you enjoyed all of todays pictures! I LOVED seeing Joy’s patriotic parade pictures…there is so much to look at in them…
Thanks so much, Dorothy
Have a wonderful rest of the day!!
Blessings, Jeanne