Thank you SO much for your kind compliments and comments on yesterdays post. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading my thoughts as I showed you the dresses from 2020 that I had made. I truly enjoyed making them all (well, Maryellen’s gave me a few hours of aggravation) and I hope all those who won them are enjoying seeing them on your dolls.
I don’t know that I’ve ever put my dolls names in alphabetical order before when making a list of which doll will get a dress next. But tonight I was cleaning in my sewing room and I decided to write them down and then alphabetize them… and see what it looked like. It does kind of break up the sizes of the dolls a bit and just might work. After I counted them… (I have 28 dolls if I count ALL of them… even the ones I haven’t sewn for in a while… Elin, Ellowyne, Hope, Betsy and Trixie.) If I sewed something for each doll separately, that means it would take me all year to make just one dress for each doll… I didn’t want that…
So I combined the girls like this…
…with Patsy and Trixie together… and I think Elin might be able to wear most things I make for Patsy. I combined Nyssa and Hope, since they are both MSD (Mini Super Dollfie) and the exact same body, I could make one outfit and they could both be shown wearing it…
I could take turns with my Dianna Effner Little Darlings, so I combined Emmie and Janie in one group and Isabelle and Lian in another group. I put Betsy McCall in parenthesis because she can wear their dresses too…
I could combine Elizabeth with Felicity since they are the Colonial dolls, but I tend to use Elizabeth for my Regency dresses so I think I’ll keep her separate.
I combined Chrissa and Nora because they are my 2 girls that “can” be my modern girls if I like…
Samantha and Nellie were combined because they are the Edwardian girls and it’s fun to have them as a pair.
By combining the dolls I narrowed it from 28 separate doll outfits to 20… This seems doable to me… and just might work… If I could manage to get 3 dresses made a month that would be even better… Maybe a schedule of which doll is coming up next will help keep me focused…
So… I guess you can see that Addy is next… I have a few fabrics I’m deciding between… but I’m sorry, I don’t have anything started yet…
I was cleaning in my sewing room because a lady is bringing me a traveling doll Tuesday or Wednesday and my sewing room was a wreck.. I still had Christmas stuff out and needed to get it ALL put away…
Miroslava, the doll artist who sculpted Baily and Navi, the My Meadows Dolls, began a fun thing back in August or September for the ladies who collect her dolls. She created 15 dolls and asked for those who would like to host one for 2 weeks, then mail it to the next person on the list. This way they will travel all over the world… I think there are 10 traveling in the U.S. and 5 in Europe. The dolls are called Chibbi’s and are 8″ tall, (about the size of Ten Ping, but with a little bit bigger head.) Miroslava did this because there couldn’t be any Doll Conventions last year and she wanted to do something fun with dolls for her ladies.
I signed up and the doll I’m supposed to get is called Poppy and she’s sweet… You are supposed to take pictures of things in your area if possible or just do fun things with your doll at your house. You are supposed to add one small item to her box and write something in her journal before you box her up for the next person… but while she’s with you, you can change her wig and her clothes and make things for her and pose her and just mostly enjoy her…
Poppy is #13… These are called the Fabbi sculpt and there are 5 different colored skin tones for them… from left to right, #11 is chocolate, #12 is cream, #13 (Poppy) is tan, #14 is fair, #15 is sunkissed. Aren’t they cute? I didn’t think she’d be coming to my house until February… so I’m surprised…
The lady who has had her before me, lives just south of St. Louis, (about 90 minutes away) and she texted me tonight, saying because the mail is SO slow, she’d like to just bring her down and meet me… SO… I HAD to get my sewing room in order… for Donnell AND Poppy…
That’s why I didn’t get Addy’s first dress of the year cut out… but I will…
I also have something else to show you… My Amaryllis is just about to open up… it’s been slow at blooming but it’s coming…
This was a week ago…
This was 3 days ago…
…and this was today…
Here is Cindy’s… hers only had one stalk with one pod to open up…
…and from the top… there are 4 blooms…
…and Deb’s is coming up slowly too, but not too far behind mine… we should 8 blooms on ours…
Well, that’s it for today…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I didn’t realize you had so many dolls! It’s nice to have various sizes to keep things interesting! It also gives us a knowledge of what dolls are out there, and not everybody collects the same thing. Oh, Addy is up next! she always gets something pretty!
I love the Amaryllis flowers! I have one too, (it is fake), but always brghtens up my hallway in winter! LOL I also love those Paper Whites, and wish I had gotten at least one of the two real onesm for my living room. It helps keep things cheery after the Christmas decorations come down.
Oh, a traveling doll! Do you remember when they did that on AGPT with AG dolls? Imagine sending those dolls all around the world now! The shipping costs would be astonomical!! I think that’s why it kind of died out, but the smaller mini dolls were a lot better to mail. You will have to take us along when you take Poppy out and show her the sights in Carbondale! I’m guessing she is coming from Cape Girardeau or thereabouts?
Trees stilll up here, but will be coming down this coming weekend. It’s kind of depressing to take down all the cheery, light-filled decorations, right in the middle of the dreariest time of the year! At least I will be busy, with little time to look out the window!
Hi Linda,
Yes, I have that many dolls… it’s a manageable number and some might be going away this year… :o(
I’m anxious to see my Amaryllis look like Cindy’s… it’s getting there…
Yes, Addy is next and I’m looking forward to her dress…
Poppy is coming from the Fairview Heights area…Wednesday ….
I hope you got your Christmas tree and decorations all put away…time to think of Spring…at least I am!!!
Thanks Linda
Blessings, Jeanne
You are a brave, brave woman, Counting your dolls!! I don’t dare count mine; I have a hunch I’m into the triple digits by now, so if I don’t count….I won’t have to admit!!
Your Amaryllis is coming along nicely!! I had one once, many years ago, and it was fun to watch it grow and bloom.
Oh, what fun, a traveling doll!! Poppy is just adorable. I remember years ago (maybe 15-18?) the UFDC did that (or maybe it was just our region, I don’t recall) but our doll club hosted a doll for a period of time. We each made or bought goodies for her, and I wrote a story to go with her and her scrapbook page (which we all worked on) to the next stop. It was such fun!! Enjoy!
Dear Charlotte, Thank you for praying for my Dad. I’m waiting to hear on the kidney scan results as he’s still at the hospital.
Triple digits of dolls? Wow, they must be so much fun and you must have such a variety. My mom thought I’d lost my mind when I bough the five AGs. MY Queen Treasures doll doesn’t count, because she was free. Free never counts.
Whew, Charlotte, dolls in triple digits? I’d have to add on a room… :o) but it must be fun…
I’m looking forward to Poppy being here…not only is it fun, it’s a GREAT way to see if you like the doll enough to eventually buy her. Plus, I can get a head start on drafting patterns for her ahead of time.
Thanks Charlotte
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, Jeanne, I do have a full basement in this house–“Full” in more ways than one!! LOL
That was a productive task to start the new year. I’m looking forward to what we’ll see this year. It’ll be great to set a goal of three per month.
I’ll send a private email regarding visiting with a person you don’t know. I’m concerned about exposure to the virus, Jeanne. It’s everywhere!
Hi Susette,
I hope I can even beat the goal of 3 outfits per month…when I used to just sew for the dolls. It wasn’t uncommon to make 3-4 outfits a week. I think one year I actually made 127 outfits in a year.
I’ll answer your email, but I plan to be careful…I’m not riding in a car with her anywhere…
Blessings, Jeanne
My Uncle Lawrence always had many amaryllis that he grew. I think his were in pots and he could propagate them. Some years he brought them to church for decorating at Christmas.
Poppy is so cute! I hope we get to go along on her adventures.
I’ve never counted my dolls. I have been down sizing and sold some. At least one AG and one Les Cherie still need new homes. The one AG I wanted to sell spent a long time on eBay and never sold. Now I’m thinking I might try another that I bought new. I decided that one of each for my smaller dolls is enough. Every time I get my AG family whittled to a smaller number, I find another I just have to get!
Hi Julia,
I just saw a store selling the white Amaryllis bulbs…it would be fun to have another one…
Oh, I’ll be sure and take you along on any Poppy adventures…
Julia, You sound just like me…”until I find another doll I just have to get!!” I don’t know how that happens, but it does!!
Blessings, Jeanne
So, getting organized in the doll department. Good for you. Now, what about shoe sizes? Ha ha. Here I thought Nyssa was an SD and she is MSD around 17″. Would be nice to see the height of the doll next to it too. Except for the AG’s as we all know they are 18″.
So what’s happening with those kitchen cabinets? Would love to see the progress.
And I’m with Susette. Perhaps, make an in town outside hand off while masked for Poppy. You have to be careful.
Looking forward to seeing Poppy and what you might make for her to wear. The traveler that was here for two weeks, Coco, continues on her journey too. I’m sure Navi will be happy to meet someone about her size. 🙂
The amaryllis growing here has fully bloomed, two stalks. Lots of pollen coming off the stamens too. Wonder what can be done with the bulb after it blooms? Peel off the wax and repot it? Curious.
Can’t wait to see Addy’s dress.
H Joy,
I will try to take a picture of Nyssa next to a yardstick…and maybe one next to an American Girl doll…
Like I told Susette, I will be careful getting Poppy…
I was thinking, I should have made something for Navi and Ten Ping, or else they will be little nudies in the pictures with Poppy.
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
The grandkids were off from school yesterday so I had them so their dad could do a job. They are at such a perfect age now (9 and 10) and they entertain themselves so I can get things done – and I don’t have to watch them. But I was catching up on neglected paperwork and never did get to commenting. It was a wonderful commentary on all the delightful outfits you created last year and I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. Can’t wait to see what lies ahead.
Missed commenting on the “kapoc” tree too. Charlotte mentioned it might be a Cottonwood tree. That’s the first thing that came to my mind. We had a neighbor at our first house that had one of these in her yard. It was the most annoying tree – aside from the Sweet Gum maybe. We had one of those 3 ft. round pools in the yard. The “cotton” would get in the pool and if we didn’t get it out quickly it would get in the filter or pollute the water. When we weren’t using the pool it was covered, but when we were using it we constantly had to pick it out of the water. It was merciless.
I think the Chibbi dolls were mentioned in my new “Doll” magazine. I know I saw them somewhere. What a great idea for a traveling Chibbi! They are absolutely adorable. I would love to have one of those. Does anyone remember the time someone “borrowed” a gnome from a yard and took it on a world tour? They took pictures at each stop and sent them to the owner and when they returned they gave the gnome back. All parties involved thought it was hilarious and the matter of the taking was let go.
Beautiful Amaryllis. I think I’ve only seen white. Looking forward to seeing Addy’s new dress. Very clever way of categorizing your dolls. It will probably be good too for the girls to see when they are up next. Anticipation without frustration.
Hi Barbara, the cottonwood tree does sound very like the one I was describing.
Barbara, I remember one time (maybe 15 or so years ago) my cousin told me someone took a goose (remember those concrete or whatever goose figures that people had on their porches and front steps? In the Midwest, anyway…) from a friend’s front porch, and then every so often would send the owner a postcard from some place the goose was “visiting”!! At the end of the year, the goose was returned. I don’t know if the owner ever knew who it was who took the goose in the first place, and I forgot to ask Gail. She (my cousin) died about 3 years ago, so I can’t ask her now….Anyway, I thought it was hilarious at the time!
Thanks, Joy, for backing me up in my suggestions. Definitely don’t get into a car with someone. Six feet of separation is not possible. Ambulances here are no longer on diversion as there’s no hospital to go to that’s not overwhelmed also. Better safe than sorry. I’m so fortunate to have had surgery in July. What would happen now?
Yes, needing the hospital for something other than Covid is getting more difficult each day. Trying to stay healthy and away from everyone. A neighbor’s daughter home from college in the east had to have an emergency appendectomy a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, her dad is a doctor here, but had she been at college or with her sister, who knows what the outcome may have been. She was very lucky to have good care and is now recovered. Up here in northern CA, it isn’t quite as bad as in other areas yet, but it could come at any time. We could end up at a hospital hundred’s of miles away from home or even in a stadium or tent. Have no idea when we might be able to receive the vaccine, but hope it comes quickly. Stay safe.
I think your idea of listing your girls gives good direction. And I see Addy is possibly next? Yay!! Your Civil War outfits are my favorites…aside from your plaid outfits.
I keep a notebook on the dolls I have, next to their new names or actual names and a page for the doll clothes I have, made by you, or someone else ( my sister and the few others) and pages after for the accessories, furniture, paper dolls, Breyer horses and books. It’s just my way of being organized. Or a record nut! Lol.
Your amaryllis is coming along. When the flowers bloom, please show us. I love how nature can produce such perfect specimens. The color of the flower bud looks to be a deep pink or coral. Very lovely.
Dear Paula,
I’ll contact Jeanne to share my email with you.
I keep records like that as well. I have a list typed out of all the Pleasant Company/ American Girl accessories I have and the one piece of furniture by the date it was released and from whose collection it is (whether I purchased it that same year or not). I have things from one doll’s historical collection that belong to another, mainly because I loved it and don’t have that doll. I then have a list of little accessories I bought elsewhere and a list of which doll wears which outfit with certain accessories each month. It’s basically just on paper as I never change them more than once or twice a year. Never seems to be time.
I like being organized so finding things is simple. I know where I have everything stored, doll related or not. It’s a good thing, I’ll bet you can find everything easily as well.
What a lot of dolls! I love the idea of a travelling doll. I remember a Teddy bear being sent around the world but he wasn’t posted he was passed on to someone who was travelling somewhere and they passed him on to someone else who was travelling. he even had a passport that got stamped. Of course, at the moment no one is travelling anywhere from here unless it is in NZ!
Jeanne, I can sympathise about your sewing room. Mine is also a mess, I need to get into it today again. Already spent 4 hours in it, probably needs 24 at least to finish. I have so many small items like hooks and snaps some of which belonged to my mother who died in 1984! I still have her button tin, though that has been picked over quite a lot and not sure there is much in there that I am likely to use. I can’t bring myself to part with it though. Then there is the issue of how to store the fabric neatly but easily accessible. I have seen on line people using comic boards but they aren’t available locally. I tried buying acid free board and cutting it but that is very time consuming. Thought of using regular board and covering it with Contact (book covering plastic) but still quite time consuming but perhaps a bit cheaper. I don’t want to use regular cardboard or board without covering it as it could stain the fabric over time. Foam board might work but again time consuming and there is a cost (I have a LOT of fabric). Decisions, Decisions!
Looking forward to seeing what you make for Addy.
It sounds like you are super organized and are starting the year with a plan. This way everyone gets a turn at modeling. I’m afraid I’m not that organized and my sewing room is a huge mess. Of course, that’s always the case after all the last minute sewing getting done for Christmas. Maybe I can talk myself into cleaning up a little this weekend.
I’m very curious about the Amaryllis. It looks like some type of bulb flower, and it doesn’t seem to have much dirt around it. I will research it some more, and see what I can find out.
Dear Dorothy in PA and the World,
Thank you for praying for my Dad. We’re waiting on the kidney results from the hospital whether there is damage.
That is a lot of dolls, Jeanne, but your new system will streamline things and make sure no one falls through the cracks. It will be delightful to see Addy modeling a Civil War dress. Antebellum/Civil War tie with Edwardian as my favorites and then I like Colonial. All the frills, lace, and ribbons with fans and other accessories do it for me.
A traveling doll will be fun. That Amaryllis is just beautiful, such a gorgeous red.
I looked at the dolls and thought about which I would choose and picked the one in the pink overalls. It will be fun to see what you decide to give her. I’m thinking that a bonnet like the one for No Easter Parade would be a great gift. It was so flattering to Ten Ping’s dark hair.
I have to agree with Susette, who lives in a huge COVID hotspot. I do see that trusting the mail when a meeting is so relatively easy seems like a second class idea, but do take great care. Follow all the rules. The fun would go out of the project if COVID was a result. Not only do you have to avoid it, George needs to be taking no chances.
And back to doll clothes. Someone on AGPT mentioned Lolita fashion, which sounded iffy to me, but they clearly thought it was darling, so I looked it up — it’s sort of Gigi with ruffles https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=lolita+fashion
Since the beige dress was a hit with all of us, I thought you might be looking for a new challenge.
I like the way you have organized your dolls so no one is overlooked. I don’t even want to think about how many dolls I have…I just know it is too many. I just like them all…old, new….doesn’t matter. I was going to list one every day but that’s how long my resolution lasted.
This is the first year I haven’t had an Amaryllis …but I do have a fake one so must get it out!
Can’t wait to see Poppy. I ordered a Giggi and can’t wait for her :0)
Dear Jeanne, how wonderful that you are part of the traveling doll project. Someone in my local doll club was part of one also. She shared her photos with me.
I am already excited about the outfits you will be making this year. I better keep my dolls away from the computer as they like to peek over my shoulder and see what dresses you are showcasing.