It’s all about Addy and Poppy…

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I’ll be the first one to admit it… I have too many irons in the fire right now… but I’m still trying to get as much done as I can…
So I won’t give any excuses… just show you what I DID get accomplished today…

First up is Addy…again…
I got her dress hemmed! Yay…that was a goal of mine today… I did leave it long as most everyone wanted…and it does look nice now that it’s hemmed. It really stands out with that crinoline underneath…

I looked in the shoe drawer and couldn’t find the cream and black boots…but Addy spied them on Rebecca and made her take them off…

I did get the back all faced and finished off and “ready” for snaps, but they didn’t get sewn on today… they will tomorrow hopefully…

I think I’m just about done… aren’t you thrilled? It’s not even the middle of January and I have a dress almost done!!! :o)

I’m hoping to possibly go outside and take some pictures… Addy just seems so drab with my lighting… I’m not sure how to fix it…

Okay, now onto Poppy’s day #6 with me…

This is a dress set I made a few years ago from the same fabrics as Poppy’s… I’m putting these 2 pictures on here so you can see the actual colors of the fabric and wool felt…

Poppy wanted me to finish her dress before we did anything else… but I told her I’d have to have help if she wanted it all done today…

Can I help you sew?

“Yes, you can make the slip if you like…”

Yes, please… I think I know how…

“Okay, you work on the slip and I’ll make the jacket…it has lots of embroidery on it and will take some time…”

I’m finished with my slip… can I try it on?

“Yes, and I’m finished with your jacket… so put on your slip and then your dress and I’ll help you with your jacket… You have to put your arms out back behind you and slide your arms through…”

I like it, thank you…can we do something besides sewing now?

“Would you like to go see the chickens if it warms up tomorrow?”

YESSSSS….

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

27 thoughts on “It’s all about Addy and Poppy…”

  1. Charlotte Trayer

    Yay, Addy’s dress is hemmed, and almost done!! Those boots look so cute, peeking out from underneath!

    I see what you mean, about Addy looking a little “drab”, and the first thing that struck me was that everything is neutral colors–the dress is black/white/gold, her bonnet is tan/black, the screen is sort of tan wood/white lace, Addy herself is brown and black, mostly. I’m wondering if maybe changing to a different color of lace of fabric behind the screen might help? Or maybe a different backdrop altogether? I’m not sure what color might work best; red maybe, or a deep pink? Not sure–you might have to experiment. But, for what it’s worth, those are my thoughts.

    Well, doesn’t Poppy look pleased with herself for making her new slip?! It adds so much to that dress! And the jacket turned out really cute, too. If I can make a suggestion, though: I think I would remove the two buttons and let it just be a little bolero jacket or shrug (which typically did not fasten in front), and maybe move that one pink flower a little closer to where the buttons now are. I think that’s the only thing I would change. And that’s just me.

    I found out last night my Hanna (RRFF) is due here on Thursday, a whole two weeks before my birthday!! Yay!

    1. Charlotte Trayer

      Or if you don’t want to move that flower, maybe just add another little one close to where the buttons now are.

  2. Linda D.

    Jeanne, I love Addy’s dress! She looks just perfect, and the ivory of the shoes is what is needed at the bottom, not white pantaletes showing! Black boots would work, but not as well as the ivory ones! I think her face looks a bit different because of the shadows, maybe from her hair on the sides? I think the black dolls need more light in pictures than the white dolls. I notice that with my Cecile, not that I am a good photographer!! Nothing of the sort!

    Little Poppy is getting more and more sure of herself! Sewing her own petticoat gives her big ideas, it looks like! I too, would remove the buttons and move that flower over a bit. It just seems like too much there and the flower doesn’t really show up as well as it could. Out of that, the outfit is darling!

  4. Carolyn

    I would say you are making good progress. It looks like you have been quite busy. That little tiny jacket is adorable!

  5. Joy

    Addy looks so proud wearing her new dress. It is lovely. Not sure if you were planning pantalettes or not, but with the dress length, probably unnecessary. Love the perfect shoes peeking out below. As to the photo lighting, the dress colors are lovely, but Addy’s face has a shadow. If you can move the lights lower maybe it would go away? or somehow have them so her hair and hat don’t cast a shadow on her face? Outdoor photos are always nice, just hope it isn’t too cold. Wouldn’t want poor Addy to catch the sniffles. I still think a simple black cape would be a lovely touch for this outfit. 🙂
    Poppy is such a good helper. The outfit is perfect on her. Although the embroidery on the jacket appears to be lost in the arm folds, I’m not sure moving it is necessary. Such a tiny little area to work on. Might be nice to see a photo of Poppy with a familiar object or ruler nearby so her tiny size can be appreciated. I think that little decorated space is only what a half inch wide? 🙂
    Looking forward to seeing the chickens, owl pigeons, and cabinets too. You’re such a busy girl. 🙂

  6. Dorothy L

    Lovely dresses for both girls. I feel the placement of the flowers on Addy’s bonnet although PERFECT where they are, aren’t easily seen so the eye isn’t focused. Maybe a bouquet or hanging flower somewhere above her head on the screen panel. Or maybe just a flower bud on the inside of the bonnet front edge?
    Do you think the chickens will be nervous if most of the sofa sisters come along to see them? I’m game!!

  7. Alina

    Addy’s beautiful dress. Elegance in every detail. Tiny dress is sheer sweetness. Just give her the purse.

  8. Laura

    Yes, it isn’t even the middle of January and you have a dress almost finished and I know the AG dresses take a bit more time. You seem to whip out the smaller dresses faster, but I LOVE seeing the AG ones.
    Addy looks amazing in her gorgeous dress. Poor Rebecca, she thought she could at least keep shoes on on the dolly shelf.
    Poppy is certainly enjoying her stay with you. What a sweet little dress and jacket and how wonderful that she “helped” you by sewing her own slip.
    I was going to see they same thing as Dorothy L… I think Addy needs a yellow flower or two on the inside of her bonnet on her right (the same side as the bow is tied).
    Seeing the chickens with be an adventure for Poppy. Maybe you’ll let her feed them.

  9. Anne Coldron

    It’s a shame you can’t show Poppy Simon, she would have loved to see him. I think she is enjoying herself, she made a lovely job of her slip, lol. I love the little dress and jacket she looks so sweet.
    Addy is looking very smart in her new dress and bonnet. I rather like the length of the skirt on her and the boots look great. I think Joy’s suggestion of a cape for her is a good one I can see that on her.
    It was very hot last night I ended up putting the air con on trying to cool the house before I went to bed. It wasn’t particularly hot during the day, 25C, but the sun comes in the windows in the evening which makes it particularly hot.
    Life is slowly getting back to normal here after Christmas. My small patchwork group meets tomorrow, we are having a ‘road trip’ around Rangiora (which is a small town just outside Christchurch) checking out the patchwork shops in the area and having lunch together. It should be fun. Then next week is the Patchwork and Quilting regular meeting. Church started last Sunday, we are such a small congregation and so many are on holiday (including Mary, our Pastor) that we don’t have a service on the two Sundays after Christmas.
    You will remember I told you about the church that was building next door to us, well their building is almost ready, they hope to have their first service on 31st Jan. Unfortunately we won’t be there we have an open air service/picnic that day but I think they are planning a big opening and of course we will be there for that. The building is fantastic with lots of rooms for different things. We hope to use one for our meditation group which is usually held on Fridays in our chapel next door to Delta cafe and Friday is the day of the Inn, the $3 meal open to everyone and it can be very noisy which is not very good for meditation. It will be great to have a room to use away from the busyness of the cafe. There is also a small play area for the children outside which we have never had before, a gym (which is still multipurpose) and a Sunday School room as well as a worship space. I think Crossways are very excited, they have been out of their building since Feb 2011 and since then they haven’t had a church home, only borrowed/rented rooms mostly in Delta.
    I can’t believe it is more than 10 years since the earthquakes and our lives here changed forever. 22 Feb will be a pretty big day this year. That sounds dramatic but it is true. There is almost nothing left in the city centre that we recognise except the Anglican Cathedral and that is still a ruin so is the Catholic Cathedral. At least they have started on the Anglican one, I doubt I will be here to see the end of the build. The first quake in Sep 2010 was centred in Darfield a country town about 40 kms from Christchurch. It was 7.2 on the scale so pretty big and caused a lot of damage and liquefaction (I had never heard of that before then) but no one died and we thought we had escaped very lightly. The one in Feb was centred in the Port Hills and the fault line went through Barbados St (right under the Catholic Cathedral) which is inside the Four Avenues which enclose the city centre. And unfortunately where the Sep one happened at 4.30 am, the Feb one was at 12.50pm. Masses of people in town so we lost 185 people that time. Most were in one building which completely collapsed. In fact the largest number of deaths occurred in some relatively new buildings which should have been built to code. It was thought that there were up to 22 people in the Cathedral at the time and the Dean of Christchurch was almost beside himself. It took a week to find that in fact there was no one buried under the rubble. One poor lady was working in one of the upstairs rooms repairing some of the vestments. She managed to get to a window and attract attention and was rescued though she had a broken arm. One of the things I learned (that I would have been happy not to) was about aftershocks. They just go on and on. They are what makes it so difficult and dangerous for the rescue services and terrifying for the rest of us.
    Sorry about that, most of us who lived through that time get a bit maudlin around about now. It may be ten years ago but sometimes it feels like last year. Fortunately the aftershocks are very few and far between now and usually pretty small.

  10. Kathie

    Addy and Poppy are having a very good time! They both look so pretty. Addy’s dress is so lovely and the fabric seems to show up well ….it might be interesting to see what another color background would do..but it will still be such a beautiful dress.
    Poppy’s little red wig has improved her looks 100%. It matches her coloring and her cute personality!
    The picture story you are making is so freaky cute. She is not going to want to leave your home🥰

  11. Ingrid B

    Hi Jeanne,
    Love what you did with Addys outfit. The hat is perfect … I wouldn’t change a thing IMHO. I do like the dress longer, I’m glad you left it long. Also I think just moving your lighting around might prove helpful.
    Poppys outfit is so adorable. I don’t think I’d move the buttons or add anything. The jacket is so tiny, I’m amazed at the embroidery you have on it and I think it’s lovely.
    You are such a busy lady and such an inspiration to me. I’m excited if I get 3 loads of laundry and dinner made while babysitting Dominic. Some days it’s all I can do to watch Dom. Anyways… Jeanne you really have made TWO outfits so far this New Year and it’s only January 13th Congrats for sure!
    I really love how you’ve incorporated your sewing talent into the traveling Chibbi story. It’s been lots of fun following along. She looks like she fun to pose too. Love the photo’s of her … that cute little sewing machine is the perfect prop for her.
    Hugs
    Ingrid

  12. Marilyn

    You might develop a couple of alternate backgrounds to accommodate different fabric colors. I realize you have endless time for extra projects, but maybe sometime in the future.

    I agree that with the skirt this length, pantalettes are unnecessary, but I love the cape idea, since this is a winter dress. I do like this skirt this length. The bonnet seems to fit now, with Addy’s new hair style. What would it look like on a different doll with less full hair? It would be fun to see a flower on the inside of the bonnet, just to see what it looked like.

    And then there’s your apprentice, Poppy, in her beautiful and very becoming wig. Good luck getting the sewing machine away from her. She is having such a lovely time — and chickens tomorrow! More than fun. She’ll hate to leave.
    I agree with comments above about placement of trim on the jacket and with the suggestion that you put something in a picture to give us a better idea of her size. You’ll be glad to have a record of her size later.
    Two dresses, and not the 15th yet — and cabinet work in progress already. You should be pleased with this year.

  13. Jeanne W

    HI everyone,
    Addy’s dress didn’t get the snaps sewn on today… my life as a seamstress was interrupted to be a barber, an alterations lady, a mask maker because someone’s mask mailed on the 8th of December still hasn’t arrived, a racer to the Post Office, a cook, a bottle (and more) washer, a photographer, a sander and painter, an end of the year giving helper at church, and I found out today my sisters are coming on Friday, so I had to be a bit of a housekeeper today…

    So, I’m just doing this one comment so I can get a few more things done before bed…

    As far as Poppy’s little jacket and the flowers, I’m going to have to leave that alone and just let it be. If I were selling it, I would probably take time to move the flowers over, but what’s done is done… and I have to let it go… I think the dress, jacket, slip and panties with hair clip is all I can accomplish right now… no shoes, no thigh highs and sorry no purse or hat for her…

    I am going to work on getting Addy’s dress finished and figure out a place to take better pictures of her… I hate to have made it for ADDY and then have to show on it another doll because I can’t get the lighting right…

    Julia, you’ll be thrilled at Thursday’s post… Chickens and Old German Owls…

    I was thinking of making pantalettes, but have decided with the longer length of Addy’s dress, it would be okay if I passed on them this time… I think the dress holds it own without them.

    Dorothy L, the chickens will only be nervous if you make loud noises… which I’m sure Sofa Sisters wouldn’t do… :o)

    Anne, it would have been fun if Simon were still around and Poppy could have seen him… but alas…just a summer memory from last year… I will be SO glad when I can write… “Life seems to be getting back to normal around here…” Oh how I long to write that!

    Thanks everyone… I have lots to do, so I have to go…
    I will still work on Addy’s bonnet, with maybe a flower added, her lighting, the backdrop, and of course her accessory…and listing it…
    Thanks and many blessings to you all…
    ~ Jeanne

  14. Dorothy in PA and the World

    Dear Jeanne, sorry I am late making a comment.

    I really think you are going to have to get a Poppy of your own (laugh). I am enjoying reading the story you are creating for her. And oh no! Poppy can sew better than I can (big laugh).

    Her little dress is so sweet, especially with the jacket.

    Addy outfit has really come together.

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