Since we are talking about aprons for our dolls, Susette sent me an apron for her American Girl dolls that has a Christmas side and the other side is for Valentine’s Day! Red rick rack goes around the edges between the seams… I think that’s pretty clever! Here are both sides… Thanks Susette…
Let’s see if we can’t get these last few dolls wearing aprons finished up… when I’m done I should put all these pictures in one post…and it would be a long slideshow… (mostly with Kirsten, I think!)
If you click on my pictures they will enlarge…
Here is an early set I made for her…
This next one, made in 2016, was called Kirsten’s Mid Winter Dirndl and I loved it so much I’m showing all the pieces to it… I think she looked so pretty in it!
This is another set I wanted to show more than one picture of… it was Kirsten’s Christmas dress in 2014 and I loved it too… You can do A LOT with buttons and cluny lace… it’s just a bit forgiving and hooking it on buttons is a great way to change things up… It also had one of the prettiest hankie aprons I’ve ever used… It’s not just pretty…it’s incredible…
I’ve got Kirsten dresses coming out of the woodwork… here’s another one of my earlier dresses…
…and another… I’m guessing this was an Easter dress…
This was one of my favorite pictures of Kirsten…
But since we are talking about aprons, I better show this…
Here’s another very early dress I made for Kirsten…It was called Almost Spring…and was made in 2007.
Okay… I think I have finally run out of Kirsten dresses…It’s 10:30 p.m. so I’m going to call it quits. Looks like I’ll have to keep working on the apron pictures for the rest of my dolls. I’m thinking I might have a few more dolls in an apron…
I hope you enjoyed seeing all of them… Have a wonderful Saturday!
Blessings, Jeanne
Thanks, Susette, for sharing the pictures of the reversible apron. What a cute idea, and I love the prints you used!
Jeanne, of this current batch of Kirsten outfits, I think my favorite is the brighter pink and white one (second from bottom), although I do like the bottom one, too. In addition, your first outfit (where she’s holding apples) is very Swedish-looking to me.
I see what you mean about the exquisite apron on that one Christmas outfit, too.
Barbara, you’re welcome; I’m the one who mentioned putting my name in first–then your email pops up but nothing else. Discovered it by accident!!
A few of you mentioned 4H and of course I was in 4H from 5th grade thru 8th, and would have been in longer if we hadn’t moved! MY first project (aside from hemming a dish towel) was a full-circle skirt with a separate waistband and zipper; back in 1956-57, we were not allowed to do machine hemming, so that entire skirt was hand hemmed! I got a blue ribbon on it, too. Just wish mom had kept a scrap of the fabric, although I can see it like it was sitting in front of me–pale aqua with little deeper-aqua dachshunds (going both directions so there was no true “up” or “down) with deeper-aqua sprigs of grass and multicolored tiny flowers.
I am delighted to hear that we Will have our fair this year (although it’ll be less than half as long as usual), and we have 15 kids signed up for sewing competitions!! Woo hoo!! Fair, here I come! (I’m a 4H judge.)
Dear Judge Charlotte, how wonderful!
I thought that 4H just centered on caring for farm animals. I didn’t realize there was a sewing component.
I love attending Jeanne’s Academy. One learns so much sitting on the sofa.
I hope you are feeling better.
Dorothy, Thanks. 4H is just about everything you can imagine–jewelry making, photography, computers, robotics, art work, cooking, baking, etc. I think there must be something like 40 different categories!! I judge sewing, needlework (most kinds), baking and cooking.
Dear Charlotte, thank you for this information. I did not know that.
This is giving me an idea for a Little Darling ning project for 2022. I won’t mention it to Charlotte Noelle, though, until I figure it out because every day she will ask me about it. That child has no patience (laugh).
What a cute idea, Susette, to have two different holidays on one apron! It’s a nice little gift for someone too! đ
I can’t believe all the outfits for Kirsten, Jeanne! She certainly is fun to sew for and the possibilities are endless when you have all that material and hankies, and lace! The second dirndl is fun to see how you put things on and how it gets prettier and prettier!
The Christmas dress is a big WOW from me! Yes, that apron is really a pretty one, and I would think Kirsten would wear somehting like that to Christmas Eve church services!
That second to last pink outfit is SO pretty! I love the lace scarf you made for her too!
You ladies have made me really think about making an outfit for her, but it is going to have to wait a bit. The yard is forever needing something to work on, with all this rain we have been having, so when it cools off, I may start on sewing again. I’m already looking at patterns—-simple patterns!! LOL
Dear Jeanne, thanks for sharing Susette’s photo. I love the idea of a reversible apron.
Your photos are lovely. I was thinking that you could do a picture book of fashions throughout the ages using photos of your dolls in the outfits you have made. You might have to increase Kirsten’s cookie allowance though when she finds out her photographs will be put in a book (laugh).
Hi Dorothy, great suggestion, Iâve thought a coffee table book with all the outfits Jeanneâs made throughout the years would be a best seller. There are so many AG lovers out there that would love something like that!
Hi Jeanne,
Oh may Iâm in heaven! love love love Kirstenâs beautiful outfits⌠they are all just lovely. One of each please! Lol donât I wish
Hugs to all
Ingrid
Always a pleasure to see Kirsten and her lovely frocks. Jeanne’s details are the best.
Loved seeing Susette’s reversible dolly apron. Wouldn’t it be fun to make them in several sizes? I’d like to see one for the Meadow dolls as well as one for the Ruby Red Fashion Friends group. I’m sure the boy dolls would like one too. Maybe with a car theme or vintage look bbq. Fun. Best stock up on rick rack and fat quarters at the next Joann’s sale. Thanks Susette. đ
Still smokie this morning, but supposed to clear when the wind shifts later today. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
The last time I posted a comment here I expressed my uneasiness about a dream catcher with regard to cultural appropriation. Every response dismissed my concerns. Cultural appropriation can be hard to understand. If we are not part of a culture, itâs not our place to decide if something is appropriation. Seeing something âeverywhereâ does not rule out appropriation. However, when a member of that culture uses one of their art forms to craft something and sell or give, that is their right. Using what we have purchased or received is not cultural appropriation. If the same article were produced completely removed from that culture it is appropriation. So wear the Navaho jewelry purchased from the Navaho artist. You have their blessing. Enjoy the dream catchers from the St. Josephâs students. Itâs their culture and their right to give them as gifts. I hope the supporters of this school have done their due diligence and know how these children are treated and what exactly is being taught and how it is taught. The use of crosses as if they are simply âfunâ and of no more importance than a smiley face or peace symbol is absolutely appropriation. Another example of something being widely accepted but certainly not right. It becomes our job to educate the miss users. Be prepared to be dismissed. Itâs hard to step outside our white privilege but it is important and worth our efforts.
Julia, I am so glad you did voice your concern about the dream catcher. It sparked my doing a little research and learning A LOT! Itâs not just a macrame project. There are specific materials used for spiritual/cultural reasons. I remember being very upset when Madonna used the cross so nonchalantly in her costumes and videos. I have always hesitated sewing Asian, African, Indian, Scandinavian etc. inspired outfits for this reason, itâs a little daunting for me. We may be a âmelting potâ but I hope always a respectful melting pot. Thank you from my little corner of the world, for a thoughtful and thought provoking comment. Hugs to my sofa sister.
Hello, Julia,
Thank you for writing this, and you are, indeed, absolutely correct in your explanation. Your analogy of the cross is excellent. In my book, there are Christians and then there are âChristiansâ and the difference is huge, again, in my opinion. The Christians âwalk the talk, â so to speak. âChristiansâ only âtalk the talk,â and as another expression goes, âtalk is cheapâ. Again, my opinion and observation. There are way too many who have misappropriated the cross. So we can carry that misappropriation over to the dream catchers, as well.
Again, my thanks for sticking your neck out. Well done.
Your reversible apron is lovely, Susette. The ric rac is so perfect.
Kirsten’s Mid-winter dirndl was one of my favorites as well and she shines in that Christmas one. The bonnet style you used for that, Jeanne, is my personal favorite with the sweet turned back front and the ruffles in the back.
Linda, please don’t feel stressed about making something. We definitely don’t need any more stress right now. I’m glad you’re are enjoying your new Kirsten.
I also think it would be great to see some Depression era dresses The past year and months I’ve felt really connected to my grandparent’s Depression era mentality.
Oh, Jeanne, Jeanne, Jeanne. There is no end to the loveliness of your Kirsten sets. I very much remember the mid winter set and bidding on itâŚand losing! Ha! So it goes and I am sure it went to an awesome home. They are all simply wonderful.
I am looking forward to hearing what Rebecca had up her sleeve for you this weekend.
And Linda, please donât feel stressed out about doing a blue dress for Kirsten. Isnât sewing supposed to be fun? Well, if I answered that, I would say, âI suppose soâ though I have never found machine sewing fun. Hand work yes. But remember, if you make that dress, then I have to sew something for a doll and THEN we can compare stress levels! (I had to ask Joy what one does with a digital pattern. Not having a Simplicity or Butterick pattern seem so awfully odd and wrong.)
Dear Dorothy in PA. I saw your note last night on yesterdayâs blog. I did host a very elaborate tea for a friend back east and her two daughters who were so into their AG dolls. I think I have lost the pictures, but boy, did we have fun being all dressed up and proper! Watch what you say, though. Some day I may end up on your doorstep complete with my own traveling doll! Thank you so much.
Joy, hope your air quality is vastly better today. The haze from smoke is really heavy here in Salida today but at least we arenât dealing with any smell of smoke.
Have a great weekend everyone. I loved everyoneâs posts yesterday, very interesting and fun, and please, I mean no offense in my reply to Julia. I think I can safely say I âknowâ enough of you sofa sisters to say you are the Christians who walk the talk. My hat goes off to you all.
Fondly,
Sally
Dear Sally, you are invited! And yes do take along your travel doll.
Maybe we can all have winter tea parties at our homes with our dolls and send Jeanne photos.
Dorothy, I like how you think!! We should be neighborsâŚâ¤ď¸
Dear Sally, yes! Dolly neighbors.
It’s always fun to have someone with whom to play dolls. My first memory of this was playing Barbies with my friend Patty at her house when I was in elementary school. We made cars out of shoe boxes. In the early days, Barbie had to “furnish” her own transportation (laugh).
Now, I have some women in my local doll club with whom to play dolls. One friend has some Betsy McCall dresses that she thinks might fit the Little Darlings.
I will be going to her house on Wednesday with Lila to try on dresses. Lila is my well behaved Little Darling. Charlotte Noelle (named for our Sofa Sister Charlotte) and Selah are my Little Darlings who always squabble with each other so I am leaving them at home (laugh).
Never too many picturesđ¤ All of Kirstens pictures show her sweet personality and those combinations of lace, eyelet, prints and colors are all so pretty! Iâm not the only one who thinks you should make a book âşď¸ Shutterflyâs books are fun to make , and addicting. You donât have to do it all at once either. You can start one and edit and add all you want. If you need help you can call them. Every so often they offer a sale so if your book is done you can wait till there is a discount to print itâşď¸OH YESâŚ.THEY NAVE WEDDING ALBUMS TOO! Miss Thrifty Rebecca may want to look at the siteâŚmy nieces all did their wedding albums there. They quality of the books and the pages is excellentđ