It was late, but I got your comments answered from yesterday… HERE.
Kristoffer came over this evening to fix my computer (yay…he did!) and I was showing him Julie’s new dress. My hubby caught sight of it, (he hadn’t seen it yet) and he said it looked like some drab, dull dress and why would anyone want a bland dress like that? I reminded him of the “beige” dress and said, “Well, remember, that beige dress for Samantha went for $112!” He said, “Well, if this one goes for $112, I’m going to stop giving my opinions.” I just said, “Well, we’ll see!” :o)
Some of you might be on his team this time because I know it is a different color of fabric, but again, in person, it is rich, and elegant and so pretty with Julie’s platinum blonde hair.
I did lots of unseen things today… finishing off the inside, sewing on 5 sets of snaps down the back. (I left it open all the way to the hem, actually because of the neckline.) If the back was sewn up partially, the square corners of the neckline in the front and back would get a lot of pull on them when trying to get the arms in. The fabric is already on the delicate side and I sure didn’t want someone to accidentally rip the dress at those stress points because they were tugging a bit too hard to get the arms in. SO… I made it easy and “stress free” for you. You just have to pull your dolls arms forward and slide it on in the front. Easy peasy!
I found a charm at Hobby Lobby for her necklace. The background of it almost looks like a pinkish rosegold tone and it says LOVE on it in gold. How perfect was that.
All of the ribbons and trims I have, and absolutely NO brown velvet ribbon… Hobby Lobby had NO velvet ribbon in brown either, so I threaded it on a piece of chocolate brown soft leather cording. Then I attached a magnetic closure on the ends of the cords. Easy peasy on getting this on your doll too! :o)
I didn’t have any wedge or clog like shoes but I did have a pair of brown ones and just put those on her. They don’t really show anyway. I put a small hem in it and thought the length was okay… it’s not like this is a formal or anything, just a day dress for a 10 year old!
I have one more thing I want to make for this set… anyone guess what I might use this for?
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I think you were so smart to make this dress open all the way down the back. Yes, as lovely as a square neckline is, it definitely has stress points, and that has to be considered when choosing an opening, whether for a “people dress” or a doll dress!
The necklace worked out very well, and is, I think, quite appropriate for the era. It seems like some necklaces Did have leather thongs rather than ribbon or chain.
It’s a little hard to just exactly What that brown “stuff” is. If it’s fabric, I’m wondering if maybe ultrasuede? That’s my best guess. If so, maybe a purse, or a vest? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.
BTW, I sent you some Halloween pictures over a week ago; did you get them? I asked the other day, but that was the day you didn’t get to the comments, so I am still wondering. Thanks.
Hi Charlotte
I just checked my email and don’t see any pictures from you. I’m sorry…maybe you can send them again? I double checked and don’t see any…
Blessings, Jeanne
Okay, Jeanne, will do. They are Halloween….
Jeanne, hello! Husbands have an interesting opinion about our needlework while it is in process. Sometimes it’s worth listening to, but sometimes it’s worth missing and waiting for the result.
The dress fits the style of this girl and makes her more elegant than could be imagined for the 70s.
Thank you Oksana,
My hubby came in my sewing room tonight and was looking around… Julie was standing on the table and I asked him again… “well, do you like dress any better now that it’s all finished?” He said, “I’m never going to like what you make that’s beige or brown or drab gray.” So I just left it at that… he doesn’t like it, but I do… and hopefully someone else will too!
Thanks so much Oksana,
Blessings, Jeanne
Shoulder bag! In the seventies I made so many purses of my own design. I wish I still had them. Marilyn’s link to the clogs sure sent me down the rabbit hole! 😊 Doll shoes are as irresistible as people shoes.
HI Julia,
You’ll have to wait till tomorrow to see… :o)
Weren’t there some adorable shoes and clogs in those links she sent. I would love to have those brown ones to go with this dress. I might have to keep an eye on them…
I LOVE doll shoes too… almost as much as I love looking for doll wigs!
Thanks Julia,
Blessings, Jeanne
Definitely can see a fringed suede purse from the fabric. Maybe little beads on the ends of the fringe? Or a nice plain design would be nice too. Kind of a sack look as memory unfolds.
I like the leather for the necklace. Great choice. I can remember hanging lots of little bobbles from black silk cord as necklaces too. I think I still have a jade piece I once wore.
Love the dress. Perfect for the era. George is probably too young to remember. 🙂
HI Joy,
Like Julia, one more day and you’ll find out…
I used to tie things on cords and use them for necklaces too… the good ole 70’s!
Yes, George IS 2 years younger than me… so that’s probably his problem! :o)
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m actually here a bit early this morning and that is only because rain from Zeta prevented being outside for yard jobs first. that’s the way I do things, work first and then the reward of relaxing.
Jeanne, I saw your comment regarding Hollie Hobby yesterday. Yep, the stickers came out in 1974 and I remember having tons of them in my sticker album to enjoy and trade. That was a big thing in early/ mid ’70’s grade school. I love Julie’s dress and the “LOVE” necklace is absolutely perfect, unless you wanted to macrame a tiny necklace. I do recall jade and quartz. My mom still has a necklace of various quartz beads, not sure of some are jade or just green quartz. Did you know Julie and Caroline have the same color of hair? Caroline’s curls just give her flaxen locks variations to the color.
The square neckline is so flattering. I have a couple of square neck tees that I love. That was a smart call to leave the whole back open, far easier for dressing without concern.
Julie needs a hobo purse with fringe and tiny wooden beads as Joy suggested.. I do recall those right before I got my Bermuda bag with the changeable covers. I still have that, but like you, I wish I knew why some of my things disappeared.
This is the 1970’s clothes I liked to go with the preppy look I liked of the 1980’s. Although I like a few of Julie’s accessories and a couple of her outfits, like Courtney, AG didn’t push the right buttons for me. Only a couple of Courtney’s clothing items appeal to me and there not the right colors. I need a half ’70’s child/ all ’80’s teen doll to cover the bases.
HI Laura and welcome to the early crowd! :o)
Hope you managed to get your outside chores done later today and didn’t get rained out! But then again, maybe you just got to relax the whole day! :o) :o)
I think I made a Hollie Hobby doll a long time ago. I’ll have to ask my sisters if they remember it. I used to do LOTS of macrame things and that would have been a great necklace too… didn’t think of making one… but I loved that LOVE charm too much to not use it.
I hope you’ll like the completed outfit when I get some decent pictures, hopefully outside.
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
I think the dress is so sweet! I love the style and the fabric/color! Not bland at all! 🙂
Thank you Melody,
Yay! Someone likes the fabric and the color! I’ll be sure and NOT tell my hubby… he’s a blue guy at heart and just can’t see why anyone would like more neutral colors like this. In person, it’s so pretty and dainty and feminine…
Thanks so much for your kind comments.
Blessings, Jeanne
The leather fits right into the period. Nice choice. The pendant was a piece of good luck. I think the brown will become a purse or bag that will accent the dress nicely.
Different parts of the country produced different versions of hippie dress. A couple of friends from Arizona went with me to visit a friend here in town. Once in the car they added fringed vests, headbands, beads. We got to Mikel’s and found a dozen clearly into-the-scene young women already there. They were wearing jeans, hiking boots or sandals, navy turtlenecks or black ballet tops, modest dangling earrings or small necklaces that were clearly meaningful — moon pendants or zodiac beads. I was undoubtedly wearing a dress that would allow me to sit comfortably on the floor. I never saw my friend’s vests, headbands, or beads again.
There were a couple places in town where you did see such things, but they were being worn by people just passing through. My grandmother loved seeing them. She thought they were gypsies.
HI Marilyn,
Oh, so you’re in the purse group? You’ll see tomorrow! :o)
You were definitely in the thick of ALL things Hippie-like! I can just imagine that day…isn’t it fun to remember things like that?
I’m glad you shared your story…
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
I think the necklace is perfect. I think the material is probably for a bag though I can see her with a floppy hat! I wish we could see the fabric of her dress for real as I think the photo’s probably don’t do it justice. Actually that is the reason I don’t buy fabric on line! What you see is not necessarily what you get. And, of course you can’t stroke the fabric (oops did I really say that!).
That stint in the garden has completely exhausted me, I can’t remember ever feeling this tired before. I went out to do some sewing yesterday and ended up back inside and did some crocheting instead. Have you seen the Christmas tree wall hangings made from granny squares? I thought I would have a go at one of those. I could only find white yarn and a small amount of red in my large collection of yarn so this one is white with a red border. When it is finished (I need to sew it up, crochet the planter box and add embellishments) I will send a photo. If you can crochet they are incredibly easy to make but look very nice. However I am not sure yet how it will hang. I hope it isn’t floppy.
It rained again last night, so the garden is getting a good watering. I saw the pictures of Zeta on the news last night the Gulf is really getting a hammering this year. yet another reason to look forward to saying goodbye to 2020!
The rain is supposed to clear and temp go up to 25C so the dog will be happy. Fortunately for me he doesn’t like the rain much either so I don’t have to take him out if it is raining heavily. We cope with drizzle. I found out he didn’t like the rain when I had to take Sam to Chemo one morning fairly early. It was raining very heavily but felt he needed to go out as he would be locked in the house till after lunch. We only got about 200 metres and he refused to go any further, turned around and dragged me back to the house!
HI Anne,
I know it drives me crazy to have to describe the fabric as best I can… I know “sometimes” it’s just too hard to have the right words to make it accurate. This is very pretty fabric and I hope I can take some outside pics tomorrow. I like to “stroke” my fabric too… and only unless I know from previous experience what the manufacturer sells, do I buy it.
I haven’t seen the Christmas wall hangings made from granny squares. When you get yours finished… you know what do do… send pics! :o)
Reuben doesn’t like the rain either…if we take him out, he just want to tinkle on the bushes close by and come back inside. He’s a big fraidy cat of storms too… thunder especially!
Thanks Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne