I’m sorry I didn’t make it to your comments today… They were long and many and my day was long and I had many things to do. But I was feeling just a little bit melancholy too… my dad died 47 years ago today (23rd)…and sometimes at Christmas I can become a little overwhelmed with feelings and emotions. Plus my mom isn’t here with us this Christmas and that seems REALLY strange. I miss her very much and so many things around me remind me of her. I cried doing the dishes this morning, I cried as I sat in the line at the bank, and I cried as I was coming home from taking Jean and Bithar’s Christmas things to them… It’s just been an all around weepy day for me… plus it’s been dreary as can be out and that didn’t help. So I’m trying to pull myself out of this and think of happier times… I do think of them; I just let myself sink into the sad memories from time to time.
I have much to be grateful for… this year has been hard, but as I look back on it, there have been some bright spots.
I wound up with a completely new sewing room when all I really asked for was a new sewing table!
Rebecca got a brand new room from ceiling to floor to walls too!
Somehow I lost 7 pounds through the pandemic!
No one in my family has been sick!
We “fostered” a fun little raccoon living in a tree, 3 months over the summer! Miss you, Simon…
My hubby was the first one on the list to get his knee surgery, (July 1st) after it had been canceled in January.
We just got news that his CT Scan from last week came back with no signs of metastatic cancer in his body!!!
I’ve added a few new dolls to model my dresses!
I’m still sewing and YOU are still buying from me! Thank YOU!
So now that I’ve acknowledged I’ve had a pretty good year, all in all, how about 10 of my favorite Christmas doll dresses? I’m going to look through my pictures and the first 10 dresses that give me cause to pause… will be shown… let’s see who gets picked!
I think MOST of my pictures will enlarge if you click on them.
Nyssa, in this green crushed velvet dress has ALWAYS been one of my favorites… see if you agree…
Rebecca looked so sweet in Rose Christmas…
I know this is 3 dresses but I did this as a set for a lady years ago…she wanted a set of dresses for her Little Women collection…and this is what I came up with…
Rebecca gets another one from me… this is a pretty red metallic plaid I have searched for since 2014, when I made this one… I LOVED this fabric…
I’ve discovered as I’m doing this… these are just SOME of my favorites… not ALL of them… I guess you could say I like my own dresses, which I guess is a good thing! :o)
This is a pretty Christmas dress for Kirsten…it had several possibilities for different looks.
This is Wren Pistachio, by Helen Kish, in her gold floral Christmas dress. I thought she looked so beautiful the day we took these pictures…
This is Christmas Elegance on Lian, my Effner, Little Darling…
Here are my Effner girls again in Love, Joy and Peace… (or maybe it was Hope in there) each dress was sold separately!
Here is Felicity in Colonial Christmas Charm…
…and last up is Molly in her dress made from that favorite red metallic fabric I loved!
I hope you enjoyed this quickie slide show of some of my favorite Christmas dresses!
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
I think I’m going to take Saturday the 26th off, so I’ll see you Monday the 28th!
Blessings, Jeanne
What lovely photos!! I like Nyssa’s green velvet–so rich looking!–and the metallic plaids and… but I think MY all-time, all-around, hands down favorite is Lian in Christmas Elegance. I would happily wear the adult equivalent any time! (Just put long sleeves on mine, as I get cold, and Washington is usually in the 30s-40s during December/January! LOL).
I’ll tell you, Jeanne, there must be something in the air today. It was a weepy day for me, too, but for different reasons. I didn’t cry off and on all day, but had a good old cry while I was doing dishes and fixing supper tonight! And then….I got all my LDs dressed up for Christmas and took some pictures–and Gigi, too!! Will be sending those shortly.
A blessed and happy Christmas to all who celebrate it!
Jeanne, after reading the first paragraph in the blog, I just wanted to give you a hug! I can’t imagine what it must have been for a child to lose their father on Christmas Eve. It stays with you forever, doesn’t it? I certainly can understand your weepy day, and then losing your mother too this year, doesn’t help. But you have perservered and have so many wonderful things that have happened to you!
And now you will be starting the new year with a new sewing room! And to hear the wonderful news about George is the cherry on the top!
I loved seeing those pretty dresses again, and expecially that dark green velvet dress on Nyssa, so elegant! Then too, Lian’s pretty black and white dress is another favorite that is hard to top! Thank youfor showing all these beautiful creations of yours! More to come!!
Merry Christmas everyone and let’s hope that 2021 is a better year!!
Dear Jeanne, we are all here for you with shoulders to cry on any time. As much as I miss my mom, I am so grateful to still have my dad.
I am wishing everyone an extra special Christmas this year. It may not feel or look anything like we expected but we still have so much to Celebrate.
Jeanne
You are not alone in how your are feeling. I’ve cried everyday since Thanksgiving. It is a difficult time of the year for me also. My father died Dec 30 1980. I was one of the most horrid years of my life. My dad never was since every, not even a cold. Suddenly he was in horrible pain, and you know men, they don’t like to go to the doctor. We convinced him, xray’s, cat scan, more blood work then I can count. The xray showed a black mass at the base of his lung. More tests all coming back negative even a biopsy. No other choice than to operate and when they opened him up the lung was 90% cancer. The specialists and surgery were horrified but the lung had to come out. He had the most amazing surgeon, told us he had to stop smoking and even with treatment he had a year. Well he didn’t stop smoking, why bother as he said. He came home Christmas Eve morning in horrible pain, couldn’t eat but never lost his sense of humor. He was Christmas Day and dinner at his house and we did. He was suffering and spent most of it laying in bed. I had three young children that loved him and he let each one lay on the bed and chat. Lots of kisses. It was a horrible year, two more operation, allergy to chemo, was down to 82 pounds (he was 6’4). Through it all he just amazed me that he never said why me and always made us laugh. The surgeon was right on as my Dad lasted 1 year and 1 day. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years have never been the same. What gets me through it is his Christmas tree that I bought him when he was in the hospital. It’s 2ft, came with decorations, garland and a tree skirt. It had seen it’s better day for sure but every year I put it up in the bathroom. Yes the bathroom, his request and it was his favorite room to hide from my mother. He’d take a good Civil War book, a mug of coffee and he’s hide in peace and quiet. I was hysterically as soon as I woke up and am crying for you and me while typing this. Maybe we are more weepy this year because its been such a brutal year.
I love you creations all of them. I can’t say that I’ve even seen one that I don’t like. I am always in awe of the and if I wasn’t on a fixed income that doesn’t leave much for extra I would own one. Merry Christmas to you, George and your family. Stay safe. Stay strong.
Blessings
Sandra
HI Sandra,
Here is a great big HUG from me! I pray you find good memories to sustain you through these holidays… Please know I will be lifting you up to our Heavenly Father who gives even BETTER hugs than I possible can! :o)
Love you, Jeanne
Thank you so much. I can’t fathom losing your father on Christmas as a child. That kind of hurt goes very deep and stays with your forever. My only relief from the pain of losing my father is that I know he’s up there somewhere and not in pain. If I know he’s found some musicians to hang out with that loved the ’40’s/50’s music. Oh and where does he get fresh pots of coffee. If I know my dad that was the first thing he asked. lol.
Massive hugs to you also.
Dear Sandra, I am sending special blessings your way.
Thank you so much Dorothy in Pa.
Pa person her also though I know live in NJ. I was from Ridley Twp., in Delaware County.
Apologies! I didn’t mean to ramble on so long. I walked away from pc and the screen was still up and I am like oh my. Feel free to skim over or not read.
Hi Sandra,
I’m so very sorry for your loss. There’s no need to apologize, everyone gets melancholy at times.
I believe writing about our experiences in life is extremely cathartic. I hope your holidays are bright and filled with happy memories!
Hugs
Ingrid
Dear Sandra,
May God comfort you! I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you can find some happy memories.
You have a lot of friends here, Sandra, and I think most of us can understand at least a bit of the loss you have felt. My best friend lost both of her parents around Christmas–her dad a week before (back in 1995) and her mom on 12/27/09, I think it was. They were like my second parents, so they were losses for me, too. And I realized today from my second cousin’s post that her mother (my mother’s cousin-in-law) died on Christmas Eve several years ago.
So, count me among those who will be praying the Lord will comfort you. Cherish the wonderful memories of your dear dad. (My parents have been gone 13 and 15 years now, and today was a kind of weepy day for me, too!)
<<>>
Not sure what happened–that should have “hugs” in the brackets!
Charlotte Trayer
Thank you so very much and sending healing prayers your way.
Sandra, I am just now reading your comment and want you to know I read every word and will read it again. That’s one, among many, things I love about this blog. I always feel like we’re here for each other. On December 20, 1979, I lost a man I had dated for six years. He was in an auto accident on the way to work. I said it was like walking into a brick wall. One day I was looking forward to our spending the holidays together and couldn’t wait for him to open his gifts from me, and then I was unwrapping his gifts and returning them to the store for refunds. The company I was working for was moving from downtown Houston to the west side and feeling the need for a change, I moved from the east side of Houston to near the new location. After my move I realized it was coming up on Lent and I needed to find a church. My search found one immediately around the corner. Soon after I joined the choir. There I met a man who was to become my future husband and the father of my two children. We’ve been married for 41 years next month. I’m always reminded to keep the faith and never lose hope no matter how dark the days seem. Our church held a Blue Mass this year for anyone who was anticipating a difficult time this season due to a loss of one kind or another. It was well attended. I’m adding my hugs and prayers to the others coming our way.
Supposed to be hugs coming “your” way.
Barbara
How very sad to lose that special man in life right at Christmas. I don’t know how you got through that holiday. Am happy to read that out of all the sadness, hurt and sorrow you did find love again and have a life with him and your children. Hugs.
Seeing those all of those dresses made by an accomplished seamstress brings great happiness! Thank you so much for sharing the photos and your words with us each day. Hope that celebrating the season lifts your spirits as those long gone would have wished. Memories are golden. 🙂
Jeanne, you have heart and at special times and even ordinary moments, they often bring thoughts of the past and of those loved ones we have lost over the years. I so understand. Blessed are they who mourn.
The older I get, a mere song will start my heart to ache and tears well up in my eyes. Especially Christmas songs. I become so moved by their meaning. I can hardly get through listening to the song, “The Little Drummer Boy” for imagining the honor of playing for this Blessed Baby! It’s good to recognize your feelings. I’m sending hugs to you.
On to your choices of beautiful outfits. The plaids and the Little Women dresses are my favorites but I’ve also loved the black top and white skirt, LD Lian, is wearing. She’s the perfect doll to model it with her dark hair and sweet little face. I thought you also had a similar outfit for an American Girl too. Thank you for sharing them again.
Christmas is finally upon us. You have added to the joy of our days with your posts and the Christmas and doll pictures have been so much fun. I wish you and your family and all your blog followers a blessed and Merry Christmas!
Hi Paula,
I went back to yesterday’s comments and saw your question about the dress Linda’s #21 doll is wearing. It is an AG dress. It’s Kit’s Holiday dress that was issued with the BeForever items. Her original Christmas dress is the red one with white collar and scottie pin.
I’d love to see her angel holding Honey. What a precious idea.
I saw also that you live in Ohio. We’re neighbors. I live in the north- central area, maybe you’re close by.
Christmas blessings to you.
Your not alone with hearing a song. Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember as soon as we came home from going out to “fancy” restaurant (which is something on did one a year), going to mid night mass my father would put Mario Lanza’s Christmas album on the turntable. He passed as I said in 1980 and his tradition carries on. Never a dry eye in the house until it is over.
Hope Christmas with your family is warm and loving and many laughs. Good news about George! Happy 21 too….geez I hope it will be something like normal for all of us! We all understand a good cry and you have sure had your share ((Hugs))
Charlotte and I have the same thoughts about Christmas Elegance. It is my ALL TIME FAVORITE…but then looking at Peace, Love, Joy…that is the best too. All of them are favs for sure! Traditional Christmas dresses are beautiful.
Thank you to all the Sofa Sisters for their fun comments and amazing pictures. You are such a wonderful group. They were so much fun to see . Glad you are taking a day off…enjoy any little thing you can. See you next week!
So glad to hear his CT came back clear!! That is something to be so grateful for. Merry Christmas Jeanne to you and your family!!!
Hi Jeanne,
My heart broke reading your words. I hope counting your blessings cheered you.
I agree you have so much to be thankful for. George’s news is wonderful and definitely
something to praise God for!!! Amen
Thank you for sharing your lovely outfits today. I can’t pick a favorite they are all drool worthy!
I didn’t comment yesterday but the photos really cheered me. I received the call I didn’t want to get yesterday late in the afternoon. I’m positive for covid. Hubby ran out last night to be tested and also decided to get the blood test to check for antigens as he isn’t showing signs of illness, we thought maybe he’s already had it. Dominic is sick and so is my daughter. We will make the best of it and be happy it’s not as bad as it could be.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!
Hugs
Ingrid
Dear Ingrid,
I’m so sorry that you tested positive for Covid and that your daughter and grandson are ill as well. I pray that you all recover quickly and that you are able to have a Merry christmas despite those circumstances.
Not good news at all, Ingrid. Please take care of yourself as the virus can leave you thinking that you are all well one day and then the next back to horrible again. Perhaps, your doctor can give you something now that you know you have the virus. I understand there are lots of treatments they are using now that they didn’t have at first. Thinking of you and family.
Oh Ingrid,
I am so sorry it turned out that you do have Covid… Mean ole virus! I hope you are all taking care of each other and know that we are praying for you to get better…and soon!
May the Lord bless you and meet all your needs!
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Ingrid, I am continuing to pray for you. Please take care of yourself.
I’m so sorry for this news, Ingrid; praying for a speedy recovery for you, and may you have the best Christmas possible under the circumstances! Take good care.
I just now got to read what has been posted on the blog these last couple of days.
So sorry to hear your bad new….hoping it is a mild case and that your husband doesn’t have it so he can take care of you. I hope you and him despite being ill were able to have a quite Christmas for 2. Get well soon.
Oh no, Ingrid! What more can I say, that you and your family will be in my prayers, and hoping for a speedy recovery! Let us know how you are coming along every once in awhile. I can’t wait to get out of this horrible year we have had!
Jeanne your dad must have been very young when he died. I must have joined the sofa sisters after your mum passed away I didn’t realise it was only this year, I can understand a few tears.
Your pictures are lovely it is very hard to pick a favourite but possibly Lian’s black and white creation might just win for me. I could see the lovely metallic in the plaid a little bit in the photos but it must have been stunning in reality. Have a lovely couple of days off you deserve them.
Ingrid I am so sorry you have the dreaded virus, I thought you probably had when you said you lost your sense of taste and smell, that seems to be a very common indicator. Hope you all get well soon.
The play went off very well last night. If Pastor Mary puts it on YouTube I will send you the link. It went much better than Tuesday when we did it for Delta, it was like Tuesday was a full dress rehearsal. I think everyone enjoyed it anyway.
It is 6.15 am Christmas morning here, I woke up at about 4.45 and couldn’t get back to sleep. Luna (my cat) seems to know when I am awake and gets all smoochy, it’s probably all cupboard love! I lay in bed till 6 listening to the heavy rain. Sam is picking me up at 9 and we are picking up my youngest son and his partner and going on to my second son’s for breakfast and bubbly (which is why Sam is the driver, she doesn’t drink at all). Last year we all sat outside in the sun! That’s not happening this year unfortunately. We are so lucky compared to the rest of the world, our Christmas will be completely normal, the only restrictions mean no overseas trips but that is a relatively small price to pay for the freedom we have. The benefit of living on an island 2000 miles from the nearest land mass (Australia) and a small population.
So I wish you all a Meri Kirihimete, merry Christmas and hugs to all the sofa sisters. Kia Kaha, stay strong and stay safe
HI Anne,
Yes, my dad was the baby of his family…he was 48 when he died and my mom was 39… she raised us all by herself after that… Cindy was 18 and had just gotten married… in fact, my dad got sick at her wedding (Sept 21) and my mom had to go home with him. I was 17, Bob was 15 and Deb was 9 I think.
Thanks for the Christmas wishes, Anne!
Blessings, Jeanne
When you mentioned your father passed away 47 years ago I calculated how old you were at the time. Until now I never knew the order of you and your siblings. I’ve always marveled at the relationships you all had and had very high regard for your mother who fostered this. It never dawned on me she not only kept the family together but thriving after the loss of your father. And the way she encouraged you all to pursue your talents shows how much your mom was a giving person. I thought she was pretty amazing anyway but I really wish I had known her.
Merry Christmas to you, Jeanne and your family and to All the other girls that love dolls.
Praying for you Jeanne.
This has been a particularly difficult year. I also has found myself in tears or close to tears often since Thanksgiving. I can’t imagine losing your father on Christmas Eve. and now that your mother is gone makes it doubly hard.
I think Christmas is hard for a lot of people because of loss or bad experiences. My grandmother died shortly after Christmas when I was 14, and although I got to spend that last Christmas school break with her, it wasn’t enough. I also lost my sweet Collie Mix shortly after Christmas one year.
i’m also trying to focus on positives and gratitude. Finding things to do each day that bring joy helps.
So nice to see those gorgeous Christmas dresses again. Christmas Rose is one of my absolute favorites. The Little Women trio are just darling as is the metallic plaid on Rebecca. I love the bonnet especially on Kirsten’s outfit.
Janie’s gold dress was my favorite of the “Peace, Joy,Love (Hope)’
Felicity’s Colonial Christmas was very elegant.
Merry Christmas to you, Jeanne, your family, and to all the other dear sofa sisters. Visiting with everyone each day is such a bright spot.
Dear Laura, it certainly has been difficult this year. I find myself struggling to put one foot in front of the other and one thought after the other just to get through the day. I go to church “on the radio” now as we cannot meet in person. I don’t know what I would do without that spiritual base.
I feel like that sometimes too. Like I’m slogging through mud just putting one foot in front of the other and things are not as restricted here as many other places. It’s just that things are not normal. I have been fortunate to be able to be inside our church since April. My husband and I have been choir volunteers for our online services. Two of only ten that were allowed in the church for awhile. Since September we have been back in person but that’s still not normal as people come, sit apart and leave immediately after the service. But it does give me a feeling of peace just being there. I’m with you in that I would feel much more lost than I do at times if not for my spiritual base.
Joy is right. I was thinking much the same thing — you add so much to the balance of happiness in the world.
It is interesting that Time apparently feels a need to celebrate something positive and so created Guardians of the Year — in this case Dr. Fauci and healthcare workers.
We might consider also Jeanne and George and all the people who support the mental, emotional, and non-medical physical well-being of others, often in ways we take for granted.
John Donne said, “Every man’s [person’s] life diminishes me.” If that’s true, then every person’s life enhances mine. People die but their memory continues to make our lives better and more complete – as Joy said, memories are golden.
We share interests and memories here. Jeanne and all of the sofa sisters have and give each other a place to go for a pleasant break every day. Having something pleasant to count on every day matters a lot.
PS — I once mentioned a Jewish woman who became a Christian minister. Someone here said she was her minister. I can’t find her book and have forgotten her name. If you know who she is, please let me know. Many thanks,
Hi, Marilyn. Could the person be Rosalind Moss? If not her, there is a book, Girl Meets God: A Memoir by Lauren Winner.
HI Marilyn,
I think you are WAY too extravagant in your comments toward me and George… we are just ordinary people who love to help other ordinary people. I’m glad you are still with us Marilyn… I wanted to put you on my gratefulness list… your miracle of coming back to us… I cried for 3 solid days and was a wreck after I got that letter from you and then your sister telling us about what was ahead for you. I prayed as hard for you as I did for my hubby when he got bad news… Don’t take it lightly that you are special in God’s eyes.
Love you Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
All the dresses are so lovely! Happy .Christmas to you, and thank you for your wonderful blog. Your sweet words and lovely dresses are such eye candy, that you are like a gift to me every day!
I am sorry you were feeling down. I can relate somewhat. My Grandma died on Dec. 17, and it was her funeral yesterday on the 23rd. I am sure she would appreciate prayers. Also found out yesterday that my daughter Rose’s Godfather is in the ICU, not sure why. Also, my inlaws’ old house was knocked down for a business’ parking lot. We have a lot of fond memories of that place. That was where I met my future husband.
The good news is that the hawk that flew down by our house had something in its mouth other than our chicken. Also that my husband got new flooring installed before Christmas in the living room and hall.
My favorite dresses include Rose Christmas, Little Women, Christmas Elegance, and Love, Joy, and Peace. I appreciate your efforts you put into making your blog and the doll clothes beautiful. It is a calm place to be. :). Hope you have a wonderful, holy Christmas!
Thank you Karen,
I’m glad you can come to my blog and find peace and calmness… The sofa can be a pretty nice place to hang out sometimes!
Have a wonderful Christmas,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Karen, I am so sorry for your loss. What is your grandmother’s name? I will put her on my prayer list?
Thank you very much, Dorothy! Her name is Patricia Wyffels. God bless you and Merry Christmas!
Karen
So very sorry to hear about the passing of your grandmother. Stay strong as that is what she would want you to do. It is a very difficult time right now and the pain I know is unbearable but each day will get a little easier. Hugs.
Such mixed emotions while reading the blog today. It’s so sad to have lost your father at such a young age. The military did not take nearly as good care of families then as they do now. It had to be very difficult for your dear mother, both emotionally as well as financially.
Ingrid, I’m so sorry you and your family have the virus. Friends eventually convinced me that I probably had it from January through March before it was the known quantity it is now. Fever, chills, constantly coughing and weakness that lasted for weeks after two round trips to Texas, close contact in airplanes being a possible source of contagion. Purchase of a pulse oximeter at the drugstore is a good idea so a serious problem doesn’t sneak up on you. I think the pneumonia vaccination I had helped to ward off even more serious problems.
All of the Christmas dresses are wonderful. I remember sending along a picture of Riya in a dress that was remarkably similar to Lian’s dress that I sent for kindergarten “graduation.” I also sent a picture of a Vogue Magazine cover with a dress that was similar to that dress.
I hope for a peaceful Christmas for everyone this year and hope we can all safely visit extended families next year after stay at home is no more.
Dear Jeanne, we are all surrounding you with our love. It is so difficult to say good-bye to our parents.
Thank you for being there for us through the grief you are feeling.
It is now one hour past midnight. I am sure that Santa has made his way to your house and left a pile of special gifts under the tree just for you.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.
This truly can be a conflict of emotions time of year, especially if we’ve lost a loved one during that time, and it doesn’t matter how long ago. But even in bad times there is a lot to be thankful for. We’ve had some difficult years that were far worse for us than this COVID year has been, so we’ve learned to say that no matter how bad things are, they could have been worse – and then we laugh.
So very good to hear George got a clean bill of health. What a true blessing. Marilyn came back to her seat on the sofa and that is definitely answered prayer. Julia got to spend some serious quality time with her dad and that was a blessing for both of them. An added blessing is her husband and son who helped make it possible. And you got a new sewing room. Unfortunately, after several hopeful “fixes”, the roof in mine is still leaking some. Maybe next year both of us will be blessed with new roofs. It looks like the new driveway has been put on hold too.
I love all the dresses, but Lian’s does tend to fall at the top of my list every time I see it. Looks like I’m going to have to copy it or you will have to make several to sell. Today is my birthday (74) and hubby just showed up to take me to lunch. Then this evening we are going to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. I love to do that because it’s in an area that is decorated so beautifully for the season. I’ll do all right until the end of the season when all the lights are turned off or taken down and everything seems so dark again. Unfortunately so many, including my town, do this right after New Year’s rather than wait until January 6. At least I’ll still have mine past then.