Well, it’s not really a “Civil War” button, per say, but I’m using it “on” a Civil War dress so I called it one… I had a busy day and only got to half the comments today… sorry… I’ll read them over tomorrow and see if I need to address anything…
I wanted to get started on Addy’s dress so I’d have something more than fabric picked out to show you…
I pulled out about 3 or 4 red fabrics and debated if I wanted to do something for Valentine’s Day, and then I pulled out my typical Civil War prints and had a stack of them… Then I got Addy off the dolly shelf and had her take a look… We eliminated a few of the red prints and narrowed it down to 4 fabrics. I let her choose and she (surprisingly) didn’t want a red dress, she wanted this print… because she said it was still January and there was lots more Winter still to come… So I listened and started cutting out…
This is a pretty black and goldish striped floral… and it has a white dotted row in it too…
This is what it looks like so far…
Now, see this little button?
I thought it was a perfect match to the gold in the dress, so I sewed it on… and stood her back on the table…
…but then… I remembered back in the Fall, we had gone to an antique shop just down the road from us and I had bought 2 big pieces of cardboard about 12 x 16 with vintage buttons sewn to it. They wanted $350 for ALL the buttons on ALL the cards, but I talked the estate guy into letting me have 2 cards from the basket. It was hard to decide which 2 cards I wanted. They are mostly metal and glass buttons and many of them need to be cleaned somehow, but I haven’t done that yet…
Here’s a picture of the buttons… I think I counted 135 when I first got them… Some were loose so I took them off…
If you can, click on the pictures and make them larger… you can see the details…
…and a couple of closeups.
I found the button that I just showed you on Addy’s dress, in my loose pile and while it’s beautiful… look what I found when I scrutinized my button cards…
Isn’t that an ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLY PERFECT MATCH for this fabric? It even has the little white polka dots… So I took the first button off… and laid them side by side to make up my mind for sure…
Both buttons are glass and very pretty, but the round one won out… for this fabric…
The front of Addy’s dress is taking shape, but the back is a Hot Mess all pinned together! :o)
Well, let’s see what I can get done on it today!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I almost gasped when I saw the start of Addy’s new dress! Beautiful! Poor Addy when it is time to take it off, and that will come soon enough! The first button was a very good match, but the second one is spectacular! I don’t think you could have come up with one better than this one if you tried!
The close ups show some very interesting buttons! I see a gold button with a Teddy Bear on it! I wonder what it could have adorned when it was new!
HI Linda,
Oh yay… I’m glad you like it. I was wondering if everyone thought I should go ahead and make a red or pink one… but Addy overruled me… I liked the black too, though.
Isn’t that teddy bear button interesting? There are some that are really interesting…
Thanks Linda…
Back to sewing…
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, yes, that is definitely an “Addy” fabric! And the button is perfect. I do love buttons particularly old ones, and I would have enjoyed sorting thru those with you!! Good for Addy, for steering you away from the red–for now!
Oh Charlotte, you should have SEEN the buttons in this basket… they were incredible and SO tempting… but I only got 2 big cards of them…
Yes, we can do a red dress later… :o)
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
That button is perfection for that beautiful fabric. Jeanne, I want to let you know that I am unsubscribing from your blog. Life has become much more hectic with a serious family issue and also because I am receiving way too many emails,. I also have decided that I have more than enough doll clothes and do not want rot purchase more. So for that reason, I am unsubscribing. God bless and keep you.
Hi Lauren,
I’m sorry to hear it. Life does indeed get hectic at times. I’ll pray for you and your family, he knows what’s needed. Remember there’s always room on the sofa for you.
Hugs
Ingrid
HI Laureen,
Oh, I’m so sorry to see you go, but I understand with a family situation and being needed someplace else. We shall miss you… please do just type in idreamofjeannemarie.com occasionally and see what is happening… if you get a chance.
May the Lord bless you with wisdom as you go about your next days and weeks.
Blessings, Jeanne
Lovely fabric! And even lovelier button!! You couldn’t have found a better match! I am one of three sisters and lucky for me, the only one who sews. I inherited my grandma’s sewing box and was thrilled to find a tin of buttons inside. She was born in 1900, so these are very old, metal, wood, and even some very unique plastic ones.
Can’t wait to see the dress completed!
HI Linda S,
I know… isn’t that button spectacular? I couldn’t believe it was black with the gold floral part, but then when I saw those little white dots I was so hoping the back was broken and I could sew it on. It was fine so on it went! On to stay!
I’m working on the sleeves this evening… so I’ll have something new to show you…
Blessings, Jeanne
My reaction when I saw the fabric was the same as Linda D.’s. It is absolutely breathtaking. And, while I liked the first button, I love the second one. It’s always exciting when you find just the perfect embellishment. I can’t wait to see the evolution of this dress/outfit.
We finally got word yesterday afternoon that David’s angioplasty will be Friday morning. He may not have to have a stent but they won’t know until then. My day will be long and up-in-the-air, since we have to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. which means leaving home at 4:30 and then I won’t know until around noon whether he will be staying over night or coming home after four hours. It depends on stent or no stent. Fortunately my son lives in the area of the hospital so I’ll just hang out at his house until I know one way or the other. If David stays over night, I’ll just take my son to lunch, then go home and take a long nap.
Barbara, I will be thinking of you and your husband Friday! Prayers too!
Hi Barbara,
Praying all goes well for Friday and that David has a speedy recovery.
Hugs
Ingrid
Hi Barbara,
That’s the way I was with the buttons… liked #1 and then LOVED the 2nd button!
Please know that you and your hubby will be in our prayers Friday… I’m glad your son is close by and can be there for you…
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Barbara, you continue to be in my prayers.
Prayers for you and David; hoping he won’t Need a stent, but if he does, he’s in the right place!
Oh I like that fabric! It is just beautiful and perfect for the Civil War era. Either button is nice, but I do prefer the one you used. It’s very unique.
Barbara, I hope all goes well with your husband, and you have a safe trip there and back.
Thank you Carolyn,
Addy is so excited that I found that button! She’s been wanting me to hurry up and do more sewing on the dress and I’ve been trying to accommodate her… Sleeves next..
Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a wonderful start to the new year ! It’s a treat just to see these two buttons. The fabric, too, is perfect for the era. You’ll have fun with this one. Can’t imagine how high the bidding will go for this dress! Thanks for showing us the collection.
Thanks Susette,
The first button would have been fine… IF I hadn’t found the second button! Then there was no question, I had to use it! Yay… I’m glad you like it! I was hoping it wasn’t going to be too drab of a color for the first dress of the year.
Blessings, Jeanne
That material looks very nice with Addy’s coloring. That is amazing that the flower button goes so well with the pattern! I think you should use that one. Happy feast of the Epiphany! The kids have to go back to school tomorrow.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for your compliments on Addy’s new dress… well, at least the start of it… She’s liking it…
Sorry the kiddo’s have to go back to school tomorrow… they are probably sad, but YOU might not be… :o)
Have fun with the house to yourself tomorrow!
Blessings, Jeanne
Addy chose well. The fabric suits her and what a find!! That button is a perfect match!!
Thank you Christine,
I’m glad you like it so far!
Blessings, Jeanne
Your button cards have some fabulous buttons. The one you used is so perfect!
Barbara, prayers for your husband and his procedure.
HI Julia,
I couldn’t have found a more perfect button if I had searched the internet for hours… It was right in my sewing room! Yay!
Thanks Julia,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, Addy looks amazing in this fantastic new year dress. What lovely fabric and button perfection. How wonderful to come upon someone’s old button collection. There are lots of button collectors out there. Wouldn’t it be fun to have them all identified and dated? Some of them look surprisingly familiar. Perhaps, from some oldies gathered around here. I’m not sure what you can do about the corrosion? Sometimes that can transfer to other buttons I believe like it does on old jewelry. Would be wonderful if someone here had the answer.
I’m fast forwarding ahead and can’t wait to see the skirt on this ensemble. Wouldn’t it be lovely for Addy to carry an umbrella along on her travels? Just a thought towards spring. And maybe she still needs a lovely cape to ward off the lingering winter/spring chills?
Have you seen those cute little pointy hats a lot of the dollies are wearing lately? Might be fun to do a tutorial on how to make a simple one. 🙂
Stay safe everyone.
HI Joy,
I’m sure these were sample cards as they are sewn on this cardboard with red thread… I should have shown the back… I would love to more about the buttons… I’ve seen an antique button book before, but maybe I can just describe some of them and find a few… just for fun…
An umbrella, hmmm… I’ll have to check that out… and then a cape? Oh Joy…
I haven’t seen the pointy hats you are referring to… on what dolls?
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
The caps are winter knit tie ons. I’ve seen several on the Meadow kids. I was thinking of making one out of felt since knitting is not a skill I own. 🙂
I don’t know if the button cards are sample cards or collected and sewn on. They don’t look too even so I thought they may have come from a collector who sewed them on for display. If they are actual sample cards, they may be worth investigating as to value. 🙂 I’ve never been a button collector, they just seem to collect me. I have them from many relatives.
Ohhhh Jeanne! This material is gorgeous and the button is absolutely perfect!!! Caroline and Marjolie ( Cecile) will go crazy over this dress!! Can’t wait to see what else you have planned for it.
Addy looks so darling in it.
Barbara- thinking of you and David today.
HI Paula,
I only had 2 fat quarters of this fabric… and can’t remember where I got them, so I’ll have to be careful how I cut things out, as far as a bonnet goes… as ONE of the fat quarters has to be used for the skirt…
This black fabric WOULD look lovely on a blonde like Caroline… I might have to show it on Elizabeth or even Julie just to see how the blonde hair looks next to it…
I’ve been working on the sleeves this evening and hopefully they will turn out as I hoped!
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
I nearly gasped also when I saw the fabric Addy had chosen. We are indeed in the “heart of winter”, so a dark fabric is perfectly in keeping with the season. How fascinating that you were able to get cards with so many buttons. sewn onto them. The button you chose for Addy’s dress looks as if it were custom-made for it.
I have my grandmother’s button collection – she had a lot of real pearl buttons which I separated out. Then there are metal ones from my grandfather’s shirts he used in the garden and even wooden ones with large holes.
What a perfectly lovely dress to start the new year. Absolutely can’t wait to see more.
Dear Barbara, praying for David and thinking of you today.
HI Laura,
Oh goodie…another like on Addy’s chosen fabric. I was concerned I might have picked one too dark, but I really did like it. I had another one in Navy blue that was similar, but this black one won me over… Addy too.
That button does appear to be custom made for this dress. I hope my pictures in the end do it all justice…
I’ll keep sewing, so stay tuned for more!
Blessings, Jeanne
The fabric is just fabulous and the button is a wonderful match. better not make a travel bag for Addy to go with it she might just pack it and run away so she doesn’t have to give up the dress. And that is before we have seen it finished. You always seem to pick up lovely items when you go to these shops. I only ever see other people’s rubbish!!! I would guess the cards were sample cards that shops ordered from so not many matching buttons. It would have taken you a long time to use the buttons on all the cards if you had had to buy them!
I’ll be praying for you and David today, Barbara. I do hope everything goes well
HI Anne,
I hope Addy is pleased with her dress so far…she hasn’t “said” much… but I think she likes it.
I’m hoping you find something really fun and interesting and exciting this year on one of your travels to little shops you go to…
I’m pretty sure they WERE Sample cards or maybe just someone put the buttons they collected onto the cardboard… it’s pretty primitive looking when you look up close… I may show the back of the card…
I’m sure lots of the buttons I will never use, but it’s still fun to see them on the cards…
Thank you Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
What lovely fabric you chose, it suits Addy perfectly. The button you picked is spot on. I love old buttons. What a find you have there! I’m excited to see more
HI Ingrid,
I love it when you say something I chose is “spot on!” Makes me glad I picked what I did…
I’ll try not to disappoint you tomorrow with what I got done today…
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, I love this dress already! I can’t wait to see it completed.
Oh wonderful, Conni!
You like the dress and it’s hardly put together at all… I’m sewing as fast as I can to make it even more lovely tomorrow!
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, well you and Addy have certainly been busy working on the next project. I echo the others, the button is stunning.
I saw the little teddy bear button. It is so cute. Maybe it would go on a romper.
HI Dorothy,
Thanks so much for your kind comments… I have a button for everything…I think! I just need to find out how to clean them up… I showed them to Cindy, but she didn’t know about buttons… I’m sure if I googled it something would come up…
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Barbara, I’m wishing you and David the best possible results.
Jeanne, it looks to me like this is going to be another Regency Romance. You may spend the rest of 2021 trying to outdo it. Are you planning a straw bonnet?
HI Marilyn,
It’s funny that you should mention that about this dress being to top one of 2021… I was just thinking that not 20 minutes ago… It’s turning out REALLY pretty and I was wondering how I was going to top it so soon in the year! Yikes! I may have created a monster! :o)
I haven’t figured out her bonnet yet… or whatever I do with her hair… I only have a scrap of the fabric left so that will dictate my decision a little bit…
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
WOW is all I could think of when I saw that fabric and button! You have some amazing buttons on those 2 cards. Do you think they were sample cards or did someone put the buttons on the cards for display ?
Addy is perfect for that fabric and the button is the best match ever! It will be fun to see tomorrow.
Hope all goes well with your hubby Barbara!
Hi Kathie,
I’m not sure where the buttons came from. The lady from the estate had died a few months before my mom and her hubby had gone to live with their daughter in PA so there was no one to ask… The Estate guy may have known but I didn’t ask him. I’m just glad I got a few of Polly’s buttons.
I’m going to go take a picture of the back of the cardboard the buttons are on to show everyone…
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne