A surprise for American Girl Josefina…

Well, I’m so sorry about all the “moderating” and “needing approval” on the comments. I’m not sure what was going on and hoping with the next update on my blog it will stop. I had to approve 28 of the 31 comments today… and 2 of those were from me. I had to “approve” my OWN comments… this has never happened before… I looked for something that had somehow gotten switched, but I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary… so I’ll see if it goes away… sometimes things like these go away on their own…

Kristoffer came over today and we had a nice long visit… hence the comments not getting finished…

I did, however, get something else done today…

Remember Josefina’s blue Ultrasuede belt?

Well the more I looked at it in my pictures, the more it seemed too wide and too boring… so I split the strips into thirds and braided them… and turned it into this…

Josefina decided she liked it much better…

Me too… I think it looks better from a distance too…

Day before yesterday, when I was looking at charms at Hobby Lobby, I spotted this one too, and thought, “Hmmm, I wonder if that would go with that coral colored batik print I have at home?”

As you can see, I bought it and yes, it did go with the batik fabric…It’s a resin piece and really pretty…

So I made a second skirt to go with this blouse and shoes and belt…

Here is a picture of it without the belt so you can see how I did the waist area… I put a slight yoke on it and gathered that to a waistband…

The colors in this batik print go wonderfully with the blue belt and the shoes as well…

When Rebecca gets home tomorrow, she said she could make the necklace for me for both charms…

So now, Josefina will have 2 skirts, 2 necklaces, 1 peasant top, 1 pair of moccasins, 1 belt, and 2 sets of ribbons…

I hope I surprised everyone with this extra 2 pieces and the change to the belt. I wanted to make her a rebozo (shawl) but just didn’t have anything that would work… I may look a little deeper in my fabric stash and see if I could find something that might work…

Thanks everyone…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

29 thoughts on “A surprise for American Girl Josefina…”

  1. Charlotte Trayer

    Well, I certainly got surprised by what you made for Josefina! I like that charm a lot (I think I need a trip to Hobby Lobby!) and I LOVE that second skirt! Just so bright and pretty!! The blue print skirt was “my mom”, the new one is more “me”! LOL No Josefina though…

    The braiding of the suede for the belt really took it up a notch, too. This may end up to be another bidding war!!

    Congrats on the wonderful auction results! Whoopee!!

    1. Hi Charlotte,
      You SHOULD make a trip to Hobby Lobby. I highly recommend it… they have so much fun stuff to look at… I love going there!
      I’m glad you like Josefina’s second skirt. It’s very colorful and she likes it a lot!
      I just thought the belt was a little flat and plain looking…
      Thanks for the congrats on last nights auction. I about fell out of my chair… seriously!
      Thanks Charlotte,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. Charlotte Trayer

    I meant to say thanks to everyone for the nice comments on the pie recipe.

    Alina, I did add a reply to your comment, about what we call pie crust. Just go to yesterday’s post and look for it. I hope that’ll help.

    1. Thanks for sharing your peach pie recipe, Charlotte…
      What a great summer time treat!
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. Linda from St. Louis

    Jeanne, I absolutely LOVE the braided belt! It does so much to make the outfit look “special”! You just seem to know what to do every time!

    Oh yes, I was surprised to see that you added another skirt to make this a very versatile outfit! The charm is perfect and I always did love Josefina in bright colors to show off her beautiful coloring. She can pull off what a lot of other dolls would disappear in!

    1. HI Linda,
      Well, I’m not so sure I know what to do every time… there have been plenty of times I’ve asked for help or for an opinion… but I’m glad you like the new look to the belt…

      I like Josefina in bright colors too… she is definitely a “winter” skin tone gal.
      Thanks so much,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. This outfit gets better each time you show us your new ideas. Now two skirt with matching jewelry. Love it. I too, love that belt done in braided strips. Your ideas and styles never ceases to amaze me.
    I meant to also complement you on your new Josefina. She is a beauty. She’s probably pretty happy to be included in your group of girls.
    I’ve been working on my sisters dolls – she’s sewn clothes for them many years and then allowed her grand daughters to play with them once her sewing slowed down, so they aren’t exactly mint anymore. My sister gave up sewing because of problems with her hands and with a big move to another home, she passed them on to our niece to sell. I’ve had the pleasure of cleaning them up and it’s been fun but very busy work. I may not be a person who sews but I sure enjoy fixing up used dolls! See? I have “some “ talent. Lol

    1. Thank you, Paula,
      I’m glad you like the set so far, too… Sometimes it’s easy to get too many pieces going on but I think the winner can decide what pieces they like and how many they want to use at one time.
      Thanks for thinking my new Josefina is a pretty one… she really is, but I’m already having troubles with getting her skin to look great in my pictures…it’s a bit chalky looking to me… I think she needs to be outside, so you can see all the details in her features… she REALLY is a beautiful doll… I’ve just got to figure out how to capture her beauty.

      I really enjoy fixing up older dolls too… or just dolls that need a bit of tender loving care. It’s fun to see what you can turn them into when they are lacking a little bit in the WOW factor. Absolutely you have a talent…never sell yourself short… I’m glad you enjoy fixing them up… if you get any pictures of them, we’d love to see them… even before and after pics!
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. Dorothy L - sw PA

    Love the belt. Surprisingly although the coral batik were my expected color range for Josephina, I like the blue better!! Of course the coral is so pretty but I’m surprised by my now being in love with the blue. Great job.
    Congratulations on the monkey business auction. We all knew you had a real winner there. I bet you’ll hate giving it up, and poor Rozen, has to give up not only the outfit but JoJo as well!
    Have a great day all.

    1. HI Dorothy,
      I probably love her in the blue a little bit more too, but in person, she really rocks that coral color… I need some outside pictures…
      I mailed Monkey Business at the Post Office today…and said goodbye… I really liked it very much, but there will be more… It was actually Stella who was wearing it, and she’s a bit down in the dumps today…being nude again… she’ll get over it… :o)
      Thanks Dorothy,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. Joy in northern CA

    Josefina is sweet and looks so cute in the blues. I definitely like the change in hair ribbons to blue. I hope the batik you have doesn’t color transfer as the few pieces I have had were so full of dye upon washing (I always hand wash my fabrics before using) that I actually had to toss them. Hopefully, it was the brand I had and won’t happen with yours. Maybe that new multi color necklace piece would look nice with a silk cord rather than a chain? Might tie it in more with the skirt I think.
    Well congrats on the auction. Such a great outfit and model too, as Luca mentioned. Ha ha.
    Did anyone get a chance to see the latest Ruby Red Fashion Friends and Siblies available only in Russia? So cute. Hope they come out with some new affordable ones here. 🙂

    1. Sally from Colorado

      JOY, I agree. I would love to see some cute Siblies here that don’t have strange hair. Call me an old fashioned crone. That Dara and Natalie are so darn cute. I went to the Russian supplier and while there are occasional options for English, I reached a point of great confusion and frustration after, possibly, having set up an account with password. Then I lost sleep that night after I got an email from them in Russian, wondering if I had set myself up to be hacked. The two dolls were going to be about $178…more than ours.
      Very disappointed to see that Happily Ever After has some limited editions of Bella and Sara. Same hairstyles and eyes…just outfits which don’t appeal to me. There will also be a nautical theme edition of Maya and Kayla…same doll, different outfits.
      There is a nude Charlotte on eBay right now if anyone is interested.

      1. Joy in northern CA

        So Ed at Happily also has a doll, Arana I think is her name, with pig tails and an unusually painted face. He is going to have a few available after his convention I think. Did you see her?
        I had the same problem with the Russian dealer so gave up on the Siblies and cute Alezandra. I believe she is now sold out. 🙁

    2. HI Joy,
      I have plenty of ribbons so I thought why not add another set of ribbons for her hair… :o)
      The skirt won’t be touching a dolls body any place except at the waist and the peasant top will be in between… and it will be on a cloth body… so I’m thinking it will be okay…

      I might try a piece of cording for the new necklace piece… one will be a chain and the other a cord… that might work just fine…

      I didn’t see the new RRFF dolls, but I need to cut back anyway… and just use the models I have… yeah right! :o{

      You’ll have to tell Luca, Stella is sulking because she had to take off her Monkey romper… she’s actually pouting… and won’t speak to me… but I think some ice cream later on might get her back to her old self… :o)
      Thanks Joy,
      blessings, Jeanne

      1. Joy in northern CA

        If you haven’t shown Stella that pic of Luca in the banana shirt, that should make her laugh. 🙂 And that ice cream sounds awfully nice right now. 🙂 Oh, and the moderations are continuing for me anyway.

        1. Hi Joy
          I have been trying to figure out why I have to approve every single comment…even the ones I make…
          This is getting a little old…
          Thanks. Jeanne

  7. Barbara in SE Texas

    Wow!! Makes me wish I had a Josefina. Two beautiful skirts with lovely necklaces. I hadn’t noticed the change in hair ribbons. Goes great with both skirts. And how good that the shoes match too. And the braided belt, what a clever idea.

    I’m not sure how to find the RRFFs dolls available only in Russia. I probably was told how once before but didn’t write it down. I would love to see them.

    Paula, fixing up used dolls is definitely a talent and a very valuable one.

    1. Thank you for all your compliments, Barbara. I think whoever wins this set will have fun with the various pieces.
      I haven’t seen the new RRFF dolls from Russia. But maybe I don’t want to see them…I really need to stop and just sew for the ones I have.
      I might just take a peek at them..
      Thanks Barbara,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. Wow on Stella’s auction. I think that’s the highest one this year so far..
    Josefina’s additional skirt and charm are very bright and colorful. Braiding the belt was a great idea. I rebozo is really a necessity in the hot Santa Fe sun. If you have a solid blue like her belt and shoes, it would go with both. Muy, muy bonita!

    1. Hi Laura,
      Yes, this was my highest auction of the year…the green romper set with the skirt and straw hat was a close 2nd at $169…
      I stopped by our thrift store after I mailed out Monkey Business and looked through 2 big boxes filed with scarves and picked up a couple that I might use for future outfits. I may have one that might work for Josefina’s outfit this time.
      Thanks Laura
      Blessings ,Jeanne

  9. Dorothy in PA and the World

    Dear Jeanne, wow, that is definitely a surprise. Whoever wins this auction will be doubly happy. I always love having extra clothing pieces, says the non-sewer (laugh).

    1. Thank you Dorothy,
      I’m glad you like Josefina’s set…I may have one more piece…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  10. Sally from Colorado

    Hi JEANNE,
    Well, you sure have surprised us all which makes you quite the fox! Adding extra pieces to your auction pieces mark them more interesting to bidders, just like “Monkey Business “. Lots of fun and variation going on there. What a winner it was, and you, too! Congrats.
    Back to Josefina. Both skirts are really pretty. I, too, am more partial to the blue. I am the lone voice liking the flat belt (less bulk) and, I am sorry to say, not at all a fan of this multi colored charm. Scale? The plastic? I don’t know, but there again, two skirts, two necklaces, and two color hair ribbons are all good, adding appeal, value and versatility.
    LAURA’S idea of a rebozo is excellent and maybe a market bag of woven material?
    Thinking a bit more about the dream catcher charm…I almost think the most interesting part is that bar with all the feathers attached to the web by two whatever you call those loops. Maybe Rebecca can use just that part, again for scale. While a lot of Native American jewelry can be massive with large pendants, I am not fond of that with dolls. So, dear lady, I am just tossing in my two cents, and that is ALL it’s worth. You doll is really a gem. Hope you have had a super day!

    1. Thank you Sally
      I just think the more pieces, all the more fun!!
      Well, I can’t win everyone over with each piece I make…or buy…I think the charm will look better when its attached to a corn or chain.

      I’ll just keep going the way I was planning and see what happens…
      Thanks for all your thoughts Sally,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  11. Kathie from Omaha

    You are making this auction so full of pretty things! Love the idea of two skirts and the braided belt is awesome. It will be a fun ensemble to watch😉
    Thanks for the peach pie recipe Charlotte!

    1. Hi Kathie
      With another top, the winner could dress up 2 dolls…well, I guess they’d need another pair of shoes too…
      I’m glad you like it, Kathie
      Blessings, Jeanne

  12. Hi Kathie
    With another top, the winner could dress up 2 dolls…well, I guess they’d need another pair of shoes too…
    I’m glad you like it, Kathie
    Blessings, Jeanne

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