I did it! I finished Julie’s set and got it listed on Ebay… I was so close to being done, I pushed myself to finalize the set and my hubby had to fend for himself for dinner tonight… bad wife! But it’s done… Julie’s set is in the books…
I was going to change her belt but quite a few of you spoke up and said you liked the chain just the way it was, so I listened and left it alone…Here is a close up of the front of the pants…
I added a flower cluster to the hat that can be taken off if you don’t like it or want to use it somewhere else… it is just safety pinned to the fabric band I added… and can be easily taken off…
I debated about making a pair of chunky sandals for Julie… but I didn’t have any leather or Ultrasuede in the right colors and so I did the next best thing… I made her a purse… I did have some purple corduroy and with the flowers used as embellishments, I think it blends in just fine… I followed it up by making a chain handle but just a smaller chain.
Julia mentioned the name, Summer of Love, and it stuck with me… there were a few others that I wrote down for another time…Pretty in Periwinkle, Little Miss Wisteria, California Dreaming, Lovely in Lilac, Wonderful Wisteria, and a few more, but I liked Summer of Love from the start… :o)
I have the set listed on Ebay and you can see it by clicking on the picture at the top right side bar or you can click HERE.
Hope you like it and “especially hope you have a doll clamoring for a 70’s set!” :o)
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
It turned out very cute, Jeanne! I love the purse, and the addition of the flowers to the hat band. Someone is going to have a happy dolly!!
Thank you Charlotte,
I sure hope so!
Blessings, Jeanne
Darling outfit, Jeanne! That flower on the hat was just what I thought would be so cute! That is great that the hat can be decorated whichever way the buy wants! I love that picture with the closeup of the purse, hat and pants , that shows how it all matches!
This whole outfit was a great save from the “dress” you started making! I thought it was going to be a plain, shift sort of dress, that anyone could make, but you certainly proved me wrong on that! Jeanne Marie wove her magic once again!
Hi Linda,
Yes, somehow this WAS a great save and so glad it was able to be pulled off! I like the set very much now… that pattern might not get used again for a LOOOOOONNNGGG time.
I thought it was going to be a plain dress too, but fortunately things worked out differently!
Well, I had some help from a few of you all, suggesting things.. this was a group effort!
Thanks Linda… enjoy this BEAUTIFUL day! Isn’t it wonderful?
Blessings, Jeanne
Absolutely gorgeous, Jeannne! So many details that remind me of my own ‘70’s daughter:) She would definitely have worn this outfit. !!☮️
Wishing you high bids when it goes to EBay… you are right.. every girl wants to enjoy this “Summer of Love”💙
Thank you Shara,
I appreciate your kind comments…and hope the winner was a 70’s girl and can enjoy seeing this on her own doll!
Blessings, Jeanne
It’s perfect! Nice save with a little help from your friends, ha, ha. Thanks to Marilyn for finding the Poppies at the Tower of London. That’s what I thought of immediately on seeing Anne’s wonderful tribute. Unbelievable losses in defense of freedom.
Jeanne, the outfit is definitely complete for Julie’s era. I like the flower addition in the hat and her purse is the perfect accessory with its chain handle. So groovy!!
I like the name too. Summer of love.
Thank you Paula,
I’m glad you think it’s groovy….that’s what I was hoping for!! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
HI Susette,
Yep, quite a few participated on this set… thanks everyone, for all your ideas and comments!
Anne’s tribute was very nicely done and having dolls in the mix made it even more special!
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
The losses were enormous in NZ (and Australia). The population was incredibly small so the percentage of young men who died compared to that was enormous. These were mainly farm boys who had never left their towns let alone the country. They had no idea what war would be like and were very excited to be going overseas, to them it was an adventure. There is a song called “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” by Eric Bogle which usually gets played on ANZAC Day. It was written in 1971, it pretty much captures the way it was.
Well, Julie speaks perfectly of those summer days of yore. Noticed that cute little waist button should she choose to wear a crop top. 🙂 And the purse certainly adds to the flavor of the era. Good job Jeanne.
Here comes May! Anyone dressing their dollies for May Day? 🙂
I plan on changing my girls’ Easter frocks to other spring dresses starting tomorrow. Does that count? I really need to make a May Pole.
Hi Barbara, I responded again to you yesterday about our family’s similar sad situation when someone takes what belongs to another. You forgive, but are forever saddened.
Of course, you need to make a May Pole
I did see your reply but thought it was too late to answer you yesterday. I usually check the day before each day to see if anyone said anything new but I wasn’t sure everyone did. Regarding our circumstances, sad as it was for us it might be good for others. Since our problem the state of Kansas has passed a law that would have precluded his sister from “saying” his parents wanted her to have it all. Evidently this was happening fairly often. The situation has caused a lot of sadness on our part but on his sister’s she’s still patting herself on the back. She is married to a very evil man (once threatened to kick us our of his house if we mentioned the word God again) and, while his sister’s greed was motivating her some he was actually behind her pushing all the way. But I think the thing that saddened David the most is that he was supposed to get Dad’s medals from his time in the service and they “disappeared”. I’m sure she gave them to her grandson. If so, that will be fine. He’s a good person and he loved Dad. She gave David Dad’s old fishing hat thinking it was of little value, but to David it was precious because his dad as an avid fisherman.
Good for you Barbara!l Some years back, I had my whole collection of Ann Estelle dolls all dressed and each with a May Pole ribbon dancing around a flower decked pole. I don’t think I can do that again. Was quite exhausting even then. 🙂
HI Joy,
I almost made her crop top a bit shorter, but decided if the winner wanted to, she could turn it up or run a length of elastic in the hem and draw it up some… Or it could be tucked in for another look. I almost made a bib front in the white that could be tucked down in the pants and it would look like overall pants, but changed my mind… and just went with what I had…
I looked at my pattern book from the 70’s and decided on a smaller dresser purse this time instead of a tote… there were lots of little purses to pick from…
Thanks Joy, I’m glad you like it…
Blessings, Jeanne
I would have made this outfit to wear! I made similar ones, including the floppy hat. I had a purple outfit I loved. Come to think of it, Mom made that one for me.
I’m back in southern Minnesota. The wedding is tomorrow. Dad and I will go back to his home next week. I have done a LOT of driving in a short amount of time and I’m not done!
Thank you Julia… and thank you again for the name Summer of Love… I liked that from the instant I read it… I would have worn an outfit just like this too!
I hope you have a nice time at the wedding and then just visiting with your dad… I hope you have nice weather too…
Blessings, Jeanne
I think this outfit is the perfect example of how accessories make the whole thing ! The hat with the flowers and the belt, purse, and my fav…the embroidered pants… are perfect. You made those jeans fit so well too. Tight enough to look right but generous and with the Velcro closure in back will fit most any tush😉
Back outside to plant today… this new knee is not happy doing garden chores. It better shape up!
Thank you Kathie,
I can’t believe this outfit finally came together… in the beginning I was pretty perplexed as to what I should do… Rebecca wanted me to make some white shortalls…and I almost did… but somehow I just think bell bottoms say 70’s a little louder than shortalls.
I hope your knee improves as May approaches… well actually as May appears! Yikes… what happened to April?
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh I love the addition of the flowers to the hat!! And the cute purse too!!! This turned into an absolutely precious outfit. Natalie and Gracie are working at convincing me to bid on it. They have no “era” so they wear anything they like and they really like this outfit.
I’ve been trying to get out and do some yard work for over a week now but everyday we at least have some rain which makes it not doable. Today it’s pouring off and on. Unfortunately my leak is back in my sewing room so I can’t sew either. It was fixed for awhile. A new roof is the only option it appears and hopefully that will be coming soon.
HI Barbara,
I love it when dolls talk to their mommies and tell them what they like! :o)
My hubby is out on the riding mower right now… He said he really needed to do other stuff, but the way the weather has been going, he said he better mow while it was dry… who knows what tomorrow may bring.
I hope your roof gets fixed soon… I can hardly wait for ours to happen… They said it would be 3-6 weeks before they could do it…and today marks 3 weeks… so I guess anytime now…
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Very 70’s stylish outfit!! I like the hat best, brings back so many good summer memories. How about another floppy hat for whoever is next?
BTW please add or update your fashion friends etc. to your “My Dolls.” After all how can the sofa sisters make suggestions for who is next up? Lol
HI Dorothy,
I need to do some major updating on my blog… I have quite a few dolls that aren’t listed on there… I was taking inventory of my dolls and somehow I have too many now… how did that happen… I wish I could figure out how to sew faster so I could get to more dolls each month… some dolls are just more popular right now than others so I hate to just sew for them once and move onto ones that aren’t as popular… any suggestions?
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Maybe the more popular dolls could come up twice for every once of the less popular ones? Not sure how you’d figure that out but maybe something like this: (CAPS represent more popular dolls, lower case/less popular) AB-a-CD-b-EF-c-GA-a-BC-b-DE-c….etc.
Julie’s whole outfit turned out really, really cute. I like the flowers on the hat and the band and it’s great that they can be used separately. The purse is a perfect accessory. My eyes just flit around from the pants decoration to the ruffle and lace on the sleeves, to the hat fowers and the purse flowers and the sweet belt charms. Somebody’s doll is going to be very happy is it looks like it might be Barbara’s.
By my calculations, Kirsten should be up next, just in time for a May time ensemble.
Oh Laura,
You are keeping track of my girls and yes, Kirsten is supposed to be up next… we’ll see for sure… as there may be someone new in the mix…
I’m glad you like all the pieces for this set and thank you so much for how you explained it as you glanced at it… I loved that!
Thanks again,
Blessings, Jeanne
The whole outfit is beautiful set in the 70’s. I’d like to see it with a banana skirt, what do you say.
HI Alina,
Thank you so much… I “think” I know what a banana skirt is but I’ll have to look it up for sure… Is that the kind that swirls around in sections..diagonally? Nope, I just looked it up and that’s certainly not what I thought it was… :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, I am happy that you got the outfit listed. It is a prefect retro outfit for the Summer.
Well, you know what tomorrow is. It’s May 1st! Yeaaaaaa!
Okay, get out your dancing shoes. I will meet you at the Maypole and we will dance around. It is definitely time to kick up our heels after the year we have experienced.
Hi Dorothy,
Yes, May 1st has finally made it here!!! I might have to pull up my dress for Kirsten around the Maypole…
I don’t have any dancing shoes…maybe I’ll dance barefoot!! :o)
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Enjoy May Day people. It has no significance here it just heralds last month of autumn and a month closer to winter lol. Oh and another year older (on Monday). None of which are exciting! Well a little bit. Sam paid money toward a new phone, which I needed (it was either that or a new battery), my youngest bought a new case for it and the second son has given Sam and I tickets to the Super Rugby Aotearoa final next Saturday (she will be 50 on 26th). Go the Crusaders.
Love the outfit Jeanne hope it does well. As somebody said yesterday it is easier to make the Civil War and later Victorian era more spectacular but you have done a fabulous job with the 70’s.
We could do with some of your rain. It may be autumn here (and very cold most mornings) but still very dry. There was a sprinkle last night but not enough to do any good! None coming today either. It will probably hose down with rain at the rugby lol.
Hi Anne,
I’m glad we aren’t heading into the winter season…I’m ready for some sun shiny days and green trees!!
So it’s YOUR birthday, Monday? Happy Early Birthday!! I hope it’s nice…sew if you can…. :o)
Thank you for the compliments on Julie’s outfit…this time last week I was havinanyg doubts about it turning out to look like anything…
Thank you Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne, I love the new outfit for Julie. I am very surprised you didn’t put fringe on the bottom of her purse? I love it in purple corduroy. I love the applique flowers on the hat and her bells and purse as well. I love the belt as well. Maybe next time you can go full 1970’s right? Platform shoes, macrame belts, fringe and elephant bell bottoms and a cropped top or halter.
Hi Elaine,
I’ve done a few of those “totally” 70’s sets in the past… peadant top, fringed purse, bell bottoms…the works…and I’m sure I’ll do one again…I’m glad you like it…
Blessings, Jeanne
I know I am late commenting but I wanted to tell you how cute Julie looks in her new pants suit. It’s perfect for the era! By the way, what is on Julie’s right wrist? It looks like a bead of clear glue or something. Just curious.
Hi Carolyn,
Good eye…I put 3 or 4 tiny little clear rubber bands on her wrist…it keeps her purse from sliding off her hand…
Thanks for your compliment on the set…
Blessings, Jeanne