As confused as I was yesterday, today I’m seeing things slightly in a different light…
…but before I show you, let me show you this picture from Joy of all her My Meadow’s dolls… she made the camp uniforms and Trish Breisch made the tee’s for her smaller dolls. Isn’t this a fabulous picture? I asked her if she had a favorite and being a good mommy, she said she loved them all equally the same!!!
If you’re on a desktop computer or a laptop, click on the pictures and see them full size! They are wonderful!
Joy said everyone was looking at the camera, but Ardyn was looking up at a hawk flying around… :o)
I went back to the patterns I had looked at on Ebay and wanted to show some of the 3/4 length sleeves I had seen.
It seems most everyone had problems with them…so I didn’t remove them, but changed them up a bit…
…and what I did…
Ok, so I’m hoping everyone thinks that was an okay fix…
Then I took the waistline loose just enough to add some tabs…I can’t believe it but I had to run to Joann’s to see if I could find some different brown buttons. I did find some and added them to the tabs.
A brown ribbon was run through the tabs and ties in a bow at the back.
I guess you noticed I removed the old skirt with the drop waist…and just added a new one….more 50’s style…everyone like that?
The last thing I was working on was a lace piece under the collar. It is a vintage piece I had and is just basted on as I was waiting for “your approval” before I hand stitched it to the underside of the collar. Yea or Nay on it? The lace isn’t as white as it appears in the pictures, but more of yellowish/creamy color. It has aged over time and looks nicer than a new piece would have. I have a small brown bow pinned on top…
So here is Maryellen’s new 50’s look…
Can I proceed with finishing it?
What I learned from making this dress… THE NEXT TIME I MAKE A 50’S DRESS…COPY A PICTURE AND DON’T WING IT!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I liked the drop waist but I think, and your patterns indicate, that this skirt style is more typical. You kept the scallops but added them on a new way, and I think the chocolate brown accents will please nearly everyone. Good shoe choice. The sleeves are now more interesting, and the waist details subtle but give the outfit a nicely finished look. The skirt length is perfect. Does the sash tie with a bow in back? You have kept the pretty New Look silhouette but added interest. I think this outfit looks right for Maryellen for Thanksgiving and is going to be ready on time — and now it’s time to start sewing for Christmas!
HI Marilyn,
Yes, the drop waist was pretty and on quite a few of the patterns I looked at, but the typical dress skirt was full like this…
I did change the shoes… I couldn’t find the brown ones I knew I had… UNTIL I took Julie’s dress off her to send to the winner….and there were those shoes! :o)
Yes, the ribbon ties in the back… I didn’t show it because I hadn’t gotten my snaps sewn back on after taking off the skirt.
It IS time for Christmas dresses… and I’m getting excited… :o)
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
I didn’t comment yesterday but counted on you to “fix” things. Excellent job! Thanks for getting it right once again. Happy ending.
You are in a much better position to make one of the wreaths using spools wrapped with fabric than I am. I don’t have enough. Do you save empty spools. Don’t know why I do.
Oh, dear. I forgot to thank Joy for sharing her wonderful collection. I’d be daunted by so many asking for the next outfit. No wonder you’re willing to do things like making the tent for them!
HI Susette,
Thanks for your encouraging words on Maryellen’s dress. I’m glad I got it corrected at least somewhat… the next time there will be a white collar… I think white collars were on at least 85 or 90% of the patterns I looked at.
I don’t save my spools… but I’ve seen wooden spools at thrift shops and antique places I could have picked up… but nowadays they are mostly plastic… not sure a plastic wreath would be as charming.
I’d be overwhelmed if I had that many girls to sew for… I’m not doing as well as I could with the ones I DO have… Joy must be a better mommy than me! :o)
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
I save empty wooden thread spools too. I have jars of them. 🙂
I think this is the perfect solution to fixing the dress for the 50’s, Jeanne! I love it! The tabs at the waist with the ribbon running through it give the waist definition, and the lace is just the perfect way to define the collar! I love the brown bow, and the brown buttons too! The
I like what you did for the sleeves! No complaints here from me at all!
This can be a perfect school dress, or even something for Thanksgiving! I noticed the change in shoes too, love the brown ones with this dress!
Maryellen looks like she is “Miss November” if she was featured in a doll calendar! Hey, maybe you should make one of those with your various creations in your “spare time”!
I know…………..what spare time? 😉
What happened there? I wrote The, then nothing! I think I was rearranging words and missed this one, so don’t even think about it! I think the election is rearranging my brain!😉
Also, I neglected to say what a wonderful grouping of your dolls, Joy! You did a great job of getting them to look at the camera, but you know, there is always “that one”! Where do you keep all these dolls? Are they on display all the time or just every once in awhile? They make me smile!
Thanks Linda,
I’m glad you like Maryellen’s dress now. I really should stick with a picture when I’m not sure of something…
I think Maryellen will HAVE to have a storyline about something regarding Thanksgiving… her dress screams it to me!
Sure… I’ll just whip up a dolly calendar before the end of the year… (truth be told, I’ve wanted to do one for years… :o)
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
First of all, Joy, thanks for sharing your pictures of “Meadow Camp”. I see that many of the campers even have matching uniforms! You’ve been busy!!
I loved seeing more vintage pictures! I guess I didn’t remember 3/4 sleeves as a kid in the 50s because I didn’t have anything with them. I had short sleeves for summer and long sleeves for winter (layered with an undershirt–what Anne referred to as a vest–underneath, and a sweater on top, and then my coat, etc.). My favorite of the ones you showed is the jumper with the heart-shaped pockets! That is SO “early 1950s”–I remember when I was 7 or 8, having a red and white striped sundress with heart-shaped pockets!
Now, as to what you did with the dress: I think the adjustment of the sleeves brought it away from Felicity and more to Maryellen. I LOVE the lace under-collar-a perfect addition!!–and changing the bodice to a waisted style with the tabs and sash really brings it squarely into the mid-50s! The matching neckline bow just completes the picture. And, yes, the shoes you have her in are perfect for the era, also!! Makes me almost wish *I* had a Maryellen to wear it, but I keep saying I don’t “need” any more dolls….(which is why my new Leeann doll, Leona, and her two ballet outfits will be on their way to me shortly! LOL).
HI Charlotte,
I can’t even imagine how long it took Joy to make all those uniforms and then the time to get them all dressed… what a mom! :o)
Thank you for your kind compliments on Maryellen’s “new” dress. I hope everyone likes what I did to change it… I like it better too… I have to admit.
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well done. Yesterday was a great chaos and today a beautiful creation. Cool.
Thank you Alina,
Yes, yesterday was pretty much a critique session and I needed it… I do like what I did to her dress and hopefully someone else will too…enough to buy it!
Thanks so much!
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh my! Your changes are wonderful. Now she really oozes ‘50’s’ style. Delighful like always!!!!
For me just the skirt change made the BIGGEST difference in look. Are you adding a ‘crinoline’ underneath to pop the skirt out more? Just curious. My mom still talks about the crinolines she always wore with her dresses in the 50’s.
The tweaks are fabulous!
Thank you Ellen,
I’m so happy you like the new look to Maryellen’s dress…she likes it too! Me three! :o)
I have already made her a slip that holds her skirt out pretty far… you can separate the layers of the tulle and make the slip even fuller if you like…
Thanks for your nice comments,
Blessings, Jeanne
The tabs, the sash and button color, the under collar trim, the sleeve ruching, I heartily approve of it all!
Joy, all your little meadow dolls are adorable! I kept thinking, “where did she get all the tiny shoes?” Once we leave AG land, shoes are a bigger issue.
That last vintage pattern with roosters on the center dress rang some bells. I imagine my mom had it at one time. I had many dresses in that style while I was in grade school.
Yay Julia,
I’m glad I got it right and you approve! That’s what I like to hear! :o)
Actually once we leave AG land, shoes are a “smaller” issue… sorry, I had to say that!
Isn’t it funny how you can see a pattern and it brings back memories of your past…even remembering fabrics used in some of the dresses?
When I was looking at 70’s ideas for Julie, I saw MANY patterns I had used and I could tell you about the fabrics in just about every one…
Thanks Julia,
Blessings, Jeanne
Joy, Camp Meadow is awesome! Love the color choices and prints for camp clothes, and that all the campers have a camp meadow tee shirt! Ordering sizes and handing them out must have been a riot!! Lol. I think I can hear all the little excited voices way over here! Thank you so much for sharing. Very well done.
Jeanne, the tabs and buttons and the regular waist are perfection. All the changes you made are wonderful, the sleeves, collar eyelet, skirt etc. can’t wait for the listing. I hope you have the other skirt with the drop waist, (like you make your slips) would make a wonderful skirt with a blouse and and a pretty vest.
HI Dorothy,
I loved looking at Joy’s dolls too… their expressions, their wigs, their shoes, their outfits, their tee shirts…what a great picture! I know she had to have fun putting that together… :o)
I’m glad you are in the camp for thinking I got it right the second time around… I did keep the bottom half of the first skirt, but I’m ready to move on to something else right now… too many headaches with that part. I just wish the wool felt would have shown up better in my pictures. It’s kind of a blend of 2 or 3 different colors but very subtle… and it goes absolutely perfect with this fabric. But my camera makes it looks like a blob of solid orange…it’s not like that at all. Maybe some outside pictures would help…
Thanks SO much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Joy, what a cute collection of Meadow campers. The uniforms are perfect and those tee shirts are all individualized — and you found shoes for all those cute little people. I love the little hawk-watcher. You deserve this collection.
HI Marilyn,
I agree this is an absolute adorable collection of sweeties. I can’t imagine how much fun it must be to see and hold them all in person… I have one… Navi…and I adore her size, so I can’t being to know what it feels like to have this many in her size…and a little bigger.
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
A new day, a new dress. Definitely like the new skirt look. The dropped waist just wasn’t working. The tabs/belt define the waist now and the chocolate buttons/ribbons definitely pick up the right color in the fabric and show up. The lace however, isn’t doing it for me. Reminds me of an old schoolmarm somehow. Wouldn’t have had that on my 50’s dresses, such as they were. I would like to see chocolate brown piping around the collar instead, or a small white collar, but that is just me. Maybe the bow can be smaller too with that dangling little charm hanging from it. 🙂
In the late 50’s circle skirts were the rage with those scratchy 1/2 slip petticoats layered underneath. All the girls had them, and often the number of slips underneath were counted at recess. Those with the most slips won! Wasn’t me. I don’t think my mother liked the idea of slips showing so I was graced with one slip and a semi circle skirt that just didn’t stand out enough to my liking. I can remember the girls holding out their circle skirts as high as their heads and layers of ruffles below. Oh well, I survived anyway and eventually made my own circle skirt years later for a costume party. 🙂
HI Joy,
You had me thinking all morning about that lace under her collar… so I cut out just a flat piece of some white fabric and laid it on top of the existing collar and stood back and looked at it. I know white collars in the 50’s were the go to way to finish off a neckline, but I really didn’t want to undo the whole bodice to do it… sorry…
You had me second guessing myself though…
I even asked my hubby, (who has absolutely no idea what a 50’s dress looks like compared to a 70’s dress), but I asked him anyway… I told him the white collars were more popular, but I had done it with the lace underneath a collar in the same print as the dress. I laid the white collar I had cut out on top of the collar as it is now… This is what he said… “Well, the white collar may be more popular, and maybe more authentic, but I think the way it looks right now will be more appealing to more ladies…” So, I went with my hubby’s idea and moved ahead… Sorry…
I need to make a poodle skirt set… that’s something I never had done…at least I don’t think I have…
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
LOVE LOVE the new look of the dress. The small changes to the sleeve made so much difference! The lace under the collar sets off the collar from the rest of the dress…love it!
I liked the dropped waist but this skirt looks good too. Great job on the changes.
Joy…your Meadow dolls are fantastic. Those adorable faces looking at us are so totally real. Little differences in the expressions and the way you have them dressed make it such a wonderful picture!
Thanks Kathie,
I’m glad you are liking the new dress look too. They were relatively small changes and it did make a big difference. They needed to be done…
I totally agree about Joy’s picture… what a great collection, huh? Lots of love going on at Joy’s house!
Blessings, Jeanne
I love the dress now. The ribbon and tabs seem to work perfectly and the sleeves do look better. Obviously three quarter sleeves were around in the fifties from your pictures but I don’t remember having any dresses with them. I quite like the lace and brown bow myself.
I loved seeing Joy’s girls, what an amazing collection. The little one in front looking up reminds me of Ashley! That would be her not doing what she should be doing (looking at the camera) lol.
I was thinking about the liberty bodice I mentioned in yesterday’s post and wonder (because of the name) if it was created in the 20’s to flatten the girl’s growing boobs. (Didn’t work for me I still have big boobs lol). I don’t remember my brother having to wear one so I am sure it was a girl thing. My friend (who is 5 yrs younger than me) remembers wearing one as well.
Jeanne, you continually amaze me with your creativity and skill and yet you are still willing to listen to others and take their advice.
HI Anne,
Thanks for your kind compliments on Maryellen’s dress now that it’s been changed to be more 50’s authentic…
I didn’t know what a Liberty bodice was so I had to look it up… several things I read talked about them being the healthy way for little girls to wear suspenders… it didn’t rub “things.”
Thanks Anne, for your comments!
Blessings, Jeanne
I really love Joy’s Camp Meadow picture. What a lot of work putting it together and how wonderful it turned out. I’m really impressed!! I think I’m hearing some talk from the dolly room wondering if they should register now to make sure there is room for them at Camp Meadow next summer. Does Camp Meadow have a website? LOL
I was okay with the dress before but your changes are great too. My tastes are wide and varied. I remember having those tabs on some of my dresses. They always added a nice touch without adding a lot to the price of a school dress. I like the sash and the ribbon at the neck. I think the lace on the collar really adds to the dress. The sleeve treatment is very nice.
I found a picture of my sister and myself on Easter in about 1956. We were about 9 and 7. Our suits had three-quarter sleeves. I could only find one picture of us without our spring coats. In PA we usually had some kind of coat to wear over our Easter outfits, even if they were suits, especially if Easter was in March. I’ll see if I can scan and send it.
I remember the crinoline slips and how some of the girls had tons of them. My mother thought that was silly so my sister and I only had one. My mother used to starch them and dry them over an umbrella but ours did not have a lot of layers. One day in 5th grade one of my friends decided she didn’t want to wear hers the rest of the day so she gave them to me to wear. Unfortunately I didn’t have the right dress on for wearing them that day and it took a lot of the fun out of it.
Got a laugh from the Camp Meadow website. The fun thing about Camp Meadow is that anyone can join in. Everyone is welcome. Just need your dolls to participate. 🙂
Hope we get to see your 50’s photos. And I’m glad I wasn’t the only one that had only one of those scratchy slips! 🙂
HI Barbara,
If we are all smart, we better keep our girls away from the computers so they don’t see what’s going on at Camp Meadow in California… Joy might have a full house now, but if our girls got their way, it might be overwhelming to Joy… she’d definitely need to make more tents!
Thanks for telling me you like the dress as it is now… I’m just wanting to get it finished and move on to Christmas… :o)
I remember loving to “twirl” in my slips… I have no idea how old I was, but I do remember twirling. Too bad your dress was the wrong style that day… with all those slips you could have had a great twirling day yourself!
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I love it too!! You are so talented!
Judi Kaye
Awww…thank you Judi Kaye!
Blessings, Jeanne
Joy’s dolls are just the cutest in their camp uniforms. I’m sure whatever projects they are planning will be wonderful.
I love i the dress, perfect save!! The lace under the collar is lovely and I like how you altered the sleeves. The tabs and the ribbon belt really define the waist. Maryellen looks delighted with her new dress. I hope you can get it off of her. I enjoyed seeing those different patterns you shared. I agree with Charlotte that the dress with the heart pockets is just so cute. You will have to remember that one for Valentine’s Day.
Yes, now it’s time to start sewing those Christmas dresses. I can hear all the dollies clamoring for one. can’t wait to see who lucky number one is and I hope to see a Civil war style one.
Thank you Laura,
I’m glad you like Maryellen’s new dress look. It was needed! She’s new enough, I’ll have to explain the rules around here… I’m sure she’ll be okay… :o)
I LOVE looking at vintage patterns… it makes my mind go in a thousand different directions!
I’m sure there will be a Civil War dress in the bunch… there will HAVE to be one! :o)
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, do you notice all the bangs in the pattern illustrations? Maryellen fits right in!
HI Linda,
Yes, there were LOTS of bangs in the pictures I shared… now I have to figure out what to do for her hair… probably just a ribbon, but I’m going to check it out…
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, your dress is really sweet. And very 50’s. Perfect for the fall. I like the changes to the waist and sleeves and the length of the hem. The brown buttons in the front are perfect too. I still love the type of dresses from the 50’s. The dresses were always so girlish.
Joy, your Camp Meadow group is fabulous! What an undertaking in making all those outfits. It’s a perfect setting with the camp counselors in and around their little charges. The signs… love it. You are so creative… no less, there’s a tent you made too! I like the background you found. Is that an actual background piece? What a labor of love, it is so unique.
I’m planning some more scenes for Camp Meadow, but the weather isn’t cooperating today. The tent will be there for sure. The background is some tree fabric I found and sewed together to get the right size. It’s thumbtacked to the upper deck rail and hangs down to the table below. 🙂 Most of the backdrops I’ve looked at, were not the right size for my space.
Thank you Paula,
I’m glad it works for you because I really wanted this way to be right for everyone’s tastes.
I like the styles of the 50’s too… in the women’s fashions, they are so stylish and feminine to me… Now to get this dress set finished and move on to Christmas…
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I love the new version of your 50’s style dress. It is perfect as are all your creations!
I love Joy’s My Meadow dolls! I am going to save up just for one of these cuties. I am so glad Joy shared this picture.
HI Nora,
Oh you really should find one of these little cuties to adopt… I love my 6 1/2″ Navi, but the 11″ Dumplings are a really fun size too…
I wish I had more time to sew… so I could make everyone something every single day… Thanks Nora,
Blessings, Jeanne
Meadow, the doll creator is moving right now so there haven’t been any pre-orders, but after she’s settled in her new place, there will be. Often on the Meadow Dolls Facebook page there will be dolls up for sale. Some like to switch sizes or want a different doll so put them up for sale. They do sell quickly though.
I loved the pictures of the little ‘campers’. Reminds me of the summers I spent working at scout camp!
On MaryEllen’s dress, I love the new waistline, and the collar with lace and bow is just right