And the Dolly Fever continues…

A dear friend of mine, Joy, from here in town, sent this email to me today…

“Dolly fever? Is that what happened to me? I gave Micah Peterson’s doll back to her with the outfit I made for a birthday present early August. But I found I had plans for more doll outfits. It’s a lot of fun making those little clothes! So I got myself a new 18 inch doll. Haven’t picked a name yet. Suddenly I have four dolls!!! Terri Lee, given to me by my mother, probably 65 years ago, a little doll from Peru, the 14 inch doll you gave me. I might call her Jeanne in your honor!”

Joy, your new 18″ girl is very pretty. I love her face! Thanks for sharing her… now you are officially a doll “collector!” :o)

I also got a few pictures from Susette, showing off her Ruby Red Fashion Friends, Bella and a Siblie, Bailey!

From Susette: “Just in case you need another contribution. Here are the sisters, Bella and Bailey. Thanks to Linda’s pictures and quick action to hop on eBay, she has a purse like Linda’s Betsy. It’s just the right size but it had to be held up on her shoulder with a dab of Quake Wax. No, I didn’t crocheted the bear, eBay again. Same for Bella’s dress.”

“Here’s Sara joining in. I think it’s a much better picture. What do you think? I shows the color of their eyes better.”

Thanks Susette, they are so adorable!

AND… we have some wedding cake pictures from Marilyn! Since it’s “Wedding Week,” I thought I better get these in today or else I might get too busy and miss them… Marilyn sent this email to me… explaining the pictures…

“Here’s the wedding cake of my nephew and his wife. The baker decorated it but it was up to us to add the flowers as the wedding party and guests assembled.

When I saw the flowers ( hydrangeas, small pink roses, and large red and gold roses), my first thought was that they wouldn’t work together. I asked to see the table decorations, and then I began to see what I could do. They had to work — there were no alternatives. The wedding was on a large boat. The enclosed lower deck was used for incoming guests, who had wine and snacks while we waited to attend the wedding. That was also where the cake was, waiting for me.

Something about it was crooked, so one of the very pleasant, fast-moving crew members picked it up, moved it, and straightened it up. Then I tried out the flowers. When I figured out how to put them together, I asked my sister Linda, who is a good craftswoman, to be my assistant. Her husband immediately said, “Don’t touch that cake. Do not touch that cake.” Linda always considers Larry’s wishes before doing what she thinks best.

As you see, we decorated it, and then we all went to the upper deck (also enclosed and ceremony ready) for the wedding. During the ceremony, the crew moved the lower deck furniture and set up tables and booths and an area for dancing and one for cake cutting. On top of the cake, in the bride and groom picture, you can sort of see the cake topper, a clear plexiglass G, for the last names of the bride and groom, who shared the same last initial. They also share the same red hair color.

The woman in black velvet is me, with my pre-chemo hair. This was a January wedding, and I was grateful for the warmth. The woman on the left is my sister Linda. The groom is the son of another sister, Janeane (a different spelling of Janine). Everything was perfect, though it got a bit cold out on the water at night. Once we were back on land, the temperature was comfortable. I still think this is my favorite wedding cake.

Thanks Marilyn… it IS a beautiful cake and I bet even more so in person! I’m sure of it! Thanks for sharing!

Well, that’s it for today… lots going on around here… maybe I’ll share some of our accomplishments tomorrow!

See you then,
Blessings, Jeanne

21 thoughts on “And the Dolly Fever continues…”

  1. Charlotte Trayer

    Lots of fun pictures today! Yes, Jeanne, I think your friend Joy is fast becoming a doll collector! Dolly fever runs rampant!! Hahaha….

    Joy, your dolls are so cute. I remember hearing about Terri Lee dolls when I was a kid (we might be of the same generation–I’m 75), and thought I might like one, but it wasn’t in the budget at the time. Your little doll from Peru is darling–I love cloth dolls, and have a small collection of them my self (including three I bought when I was in Africa in 1999). I do remember that little blond doll; she is so pretty! And your new doll is so cute! What kind is she?

    Susette, your girls are darling! Glad you found one of those cute purses for Bella! But I think the same picture is posted twice–there’s nothing with Sara in it!

    Marilyn, your nephew’s wedding cake turned out just gorgeous!! So elegant, too. You did a fabulous job with the flowers! I don’t think I would have known where to start!

    I’m almost done (finally!) with pair #4 of the short overalls for my LDs. Three more to go! (I have 7 LDs) But first I need to make something for the back to school swap in which I am participating! I’ll be sure to take pictures and share after the swap is done and partners have been revealed!!

    1. Sally from Colorado

      Back to school sewing swap? Sounds like a ton of fun. Will we see some pictures, Charlotte? Also pictures of your LD’s in their new short rompers, please?
      Hope you’re still feeling good!
      Hugs,
      Sally

      1. clt22409@yahoo.com

        Will do, Sally–although the rompers for all 7 may not be done until NEXT summer, at the rate I’m going!! But I do take pictures of things I make for a swap (as well as what I receive), so will make sure to send pictures to Jeanne when the time comes. It won’t be until after the swap deadline, though, just in case the recipient I’ve drawn reads this blog!

        And yes, I’m still feeling good. Thanks!

  2. Lind in St. Louis

    Good morning, everyone! It’s so much fun to see what others have to share, and this post is a fun one for sure!

    Starting from the bottom to the top, what a gorgeous cake, Marilyn! I love the simplicity of the cake itself, with the smooth frosting and elegant swirls, which showed off the beautiful flowers to perfection! You and Linda did a wonderful job and it was so nice to see “our” Marilyn, finally! Thank you for sending and to keep us in the “wedding mode”! By the way did you do anything to keep the flowers looking fresh?

    Susette’s dolls are adorable, but then RRFF are like that, and steal everyone’s hearts, it seems! I’m so glad you were able to get that cute little purse, Susette, and Bailey’ little bear is such a fun little prop! Adorable dress on Bella too! Where is Sara?

    Joy, your dolls are a really cute and varied bunch! You have all shapes, sizes and types of dolls to keep you interested and who gets tired of that? I love your doll from your childhood, she looks like something I would remember when I was small too. Your newest doll has a very pretty face, and she can probably wear AG clothes also.

    Jeanne, thinking of you and everything going on there in Carbondale!

  3. Linda in St. Louis

    Jeanne, I think you should seriously consider not having a blog for this Saturday. We all understand and don’t want to get in the way of you celebrating Rebecca’s wedding and all the preparations that go along with it. Just my take, but one day off isn’t asking too much!

  4. Fun pictures to see today. First with your friend, Joy’s dollies. Definitely the start of a dolly collection, whether it’s for sewing or enjoyment. It’s a nice assortment too. The little Peruvian doll is adorable. The 28” is a very pretty doll. What type is she? I kind of recognize the Terri Lee doll and the smaller blond doll looks familiar. Those two are also pretty dolls. The Terri Kee doll looks like she’s wearing a poncho?
    Susette’s doll are so pretty in their summer outfits. They are posed so cute. Oh, and there’s that cute little kitty purse. It looks like many of us are starting to get those dolls. Other Sofa Sisters apparently have been getting them all along.
    I probably won’t get any more besides the two I have but Laura’s new RRFF is just too cute to resist.
    It would be so much fun to get married on a ship. The wedding couple are very handsome/pretty.
    Marilyn, your handiwork is beautiful. The flowers look professionally done. The couple look so happy. It’s also nice to see a picture of you and your sister working on the cake.

    Thanks for sharing the pictures with us all today.
    Jeanne, sounds like you had a nice birthday and I’m sorry I didn’t rush you happy birthday. Also, hope you have a nice anniversary amidst the wedding plans. We are all looking forward to seeing pictures!

  5. Joy in northern CA

    I remember the Terri Lee dolls very well, Joy, although I never had one. A friend in preschool brought one to school one day and had her in her cubby which was the rule. I can still remember looking at that doll and being very envious of her. I had a Tiny Tears, but it just wasn’t the same. 🙂
    Susette’s Bella and Bailey are so sweet! Now, I’m envious again seeing that cute purse. Maybe that means I need to pick one up too. We’ll see. 🙂
    How Marilyn and her sister were able to get those flowers situated so nicely while rocking on a boat is an amazing feat. What a beautiful presentation. Fun seeing you Marilyn.
    I sure hope Jeanne is able to snap a few photos of the wedding during the festivities. Don’t know how that is possible, but would be fun for all of us. Here’s a list: Rebecca & Karn, cake, tables, zipping away in the golf cart, and of course the parents of the bride. So excited that the big day is almost here. 🙂

  6. Linda in St. Louis

    Joy, and anyone else who might be interested, that cute purse with the kittens on it, is now available on sale with other things in Nanea’s Birthday Collection from American Girl. It includes the purse, a replica of a 1940’s camera, a doll sized Nancy Drew book, really cute, and a little skirt for Nanea’s dog, all for $24.00 through September. Look for it in “Monthly Sales” on American Girl website. EBay doesn’t have this set very much at all.

    1. Joy in northern CA

      Thanks Linda. I looked on there awhile back and have been waiting for a sale. I’ll take a look. 🙂

    2. Charlotte Trayer

      You are a bad influence, Linda!! LOL I just ordered that set, plus one of those Mystery Packs–I looked at the possible things that I might get, and decided to take a chance with one. I have enough dollies–someone is likely to be happy with whatever we get!!

  7. Love your dolls Joy! I’m sure there is a group on Facebook of Terri Lee dolls. It would be fun to see more of them ….yours looks in great condition. They are fun to sew for too.
    Marilyn the flowers you and your sister added are lovely! They look perfectly professional. What a beautiful bride, groom and cake!
    Suzette your Bella is one of my favorites and that sun dress is just perfect on her…I love the shoes she came in as well☺️
    Closer and closer to the wedding. I think you should take time off too. Not that I don’t love a daily post but you need time Jeanne. Maybe you could have one of your sisters be the camera person at the wedding so you can just enjoy it…. It will go sooooo fast.

  8. I want to thank everyone again for their sweet comments. I did read all the additional ones and Anne, Marilyn, Susette, Claudia, and Ingrid I replied to you on yesterday’s post.
    Jeanne, I want to think you for posting the photos and replied to you as well. Somehow my original comment to you disappeared.

    Sally, I DO like the shoes and she will be wearing them for a while. Rebecca has freckles?? Wow, that’s cute.

    Joy, your new doll is very pretty and Jeanne is right, you are now officially a doll collector. I felt the same way, the first three just test the waters and when you add number four there’s no going back.

    Susette, Sara and Bailey are adorable. I didn’t realize you had a couple already. I thought Alice was to be your second. Nanea’s purse is perfectly sized to Sara. Apparently a lot of the AG accessories work just fine which is good to know.

    Marilyn, your nephew’s wedding is lovely. The cake is beautiful and very unique. You did a marvelous job. So nice to see you as well.

    1. Just realized my mistake. Bella and Bailey are adorable. I KNOW Sara is blonde.
      Love to see your Sara.

  9. Anne Coldron in New Zealand

    Marilyn the cake is lovely. Well done, especially under fairly unique conditions!

    Joy your dolls are lovely, It doesn’t take long to find ourselves starting a collection.

    Susette I do love the RRFF dolls. If I ever get to visit my brother again I may order a couple of dolls and get them sent to him. I’ll just have to make sure I leave room in the suitcase.

    Jeanne, I agree with the others you should take Saturday off, we will miss you but we want you to come back refreshed not burned out.

    Well my first day of semi freedom and I managed to get my sewing machine into the repairers yesterday and what do you you know, it is fixed already and I can collect it today, Yay. I really hope it is fixed this time. I plan to try out the machine smocking on a dolly dress in the next few days of ‘semi lockdown’

    After two days of half the number of cases, yesterday it spiked again yesterday. Still mostly in Auckland one in Wellington. Still none in the SI so that is great news.
    Parliament sat yesterday. The leader of the National party (the Opposition) and their allies the Act party insisted. The PM wanted it to be via Zoom so more members could attend but that wasn’t good enough for Judith Collins so she flew down from Auckland (who are still at level 4 lockdown) so she could look the PM in the eye when she asked the hard questions! Not sure what it achieved and there were only a few there! Flexing her muscles I think and trying to get into the news. In lockdown everyone focuses on the Govt mainly the PM and the Director General of health, Dr Bloomfield and there is very little that the Opposition parties can say or do that is different to what the Govt is already doing!

    Got another busy day today, As well as going to the other side of town to get my machine I have to take the dog in for grooming. He isn’t as bad as in the first lockdown but bad enough. I did shower him the other day so he looks cleaner but he is very shaggy. He hates going, gets really excited when I take him in the car then as soon as I get there he stops dead and does everything he can to avoid going in the door. Because we are in Level 3 I can’t take him through the door, have to put him in a cage outside so that will be fun!!!

    1. Joy in northern CA

      Anne, want you to know that we’re supporting New Zealand. We went to Costco today for Fuji apples and guess where they were grown? New Zealand. 🙂

  10. Susette from Southern California

    Joy from Carbondale: What a nice collection of dolls that hold special memories for you. I especially like the Peruvian doll. Thanks for sharing them with us and again the story about your grandfather.

    So happy to see a picture of Marilyn with her sister and the beautiful cake. I think the bakers knew they were sending it to people who would know what to do with them. Great job, beautiful bride, handsome groom. Love your curly red hair. Your dress was perfect for a black-and-white themed wedding. Very special having it on a boat! Long Beach Harbor is just up the road from here.

    I think I’ve sent a picture of Bella in her Rock Star outfit sitting at the American Girl piano 🎹 which is exactly the right size for her. Laura, I wonder if you could let us know the size of the violin so we could order one too. I found a website in China that has them but they come in four different sizes. My dolls would love to have one to share with each other. Your violinist is perfect!

    Anne, all of the National Parks in California are closed to visitors from September 1-17th due to the fire danger and ongoing fire at Lake Tahoe. Sixteen firefighters were found to be Covid positive and have to be in quarantine for two weeks. Don’t know their vaccination status. There was only one road available for hundreds of families to evacuate due to the other two roads out being blocked by fire. They need some prayers and rain.

    I second or third the Saturday off resolution, Jeanne. 🥰

    1. Hi Susette,
      I have the AG violin as well, but it was too big for the RRFF. . The one I purchased is a tad over 5 inches. I posed her arm and measured to see where it would hit it the correct place.How nice you have the piano as a piano always accompanies the violinist.
      You must share a photo when you get one. I’m happy to have joined the RRFF club.

  11. Sally from Colorado

    Good afternoon!

    Jeanne, we sure hope things are moving along satisfactorily for the big day. Joy has already ticked off her list of the kinds of pictures we want to see. And being a big dog-lover here, I am kind of hoping Mr. Reuben gets a special collar or bow tie or ribbon. After all. I think you said he wasn’t invited to the wedding, but he deserves a special recognition for the day. Be a good boy, Reuben!

    Joy, I love the start of your doll collection; each doll is so sweet, and hearing that you are excited to sew for them is exciting news for all of us. They are all so different, and not just in size. I didn’t know about Terri Lee dolls until I was an adult. You took very good care of her. So Joy, you know, don’t you, that if you ever need any encouragement about adding another doll to your collection, we’ve got your back. You’ll get all the possible support you could ever imagine from this gang of enablers.

    Susette, your dolls are looking ready for fun and lucky little Bella that Mama found that purse. Nice work, and thank you for sharing!

    Marilyn, I loved seeing a picture of you and your sister. Of course, the wedding cake is a work of art and you gals really did a grand job. Handsome couple, and sounds like it was a very nice affair. Thank you for submitting these pictures, and Jeanne, thank you for posting the pictures.

    I heartily agree with the proposal of no post for Saturday. If time is weighing on your hands, well, just try relaxing and enjoy a little peace. Or use that DQ gift card…

    Laura, I applaud all the wonderful responses you made yesterday. It was just delightful. What will Requiem be playing next, I wonder?

    Hugs all around, you super women!

    Sally

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