I don’t know if anyone else thought the lighter blue waistband wasn’t quite right, but Joy voiced her opinion and I decided to search in my ribbon stash for a piece of this same bright orange. I did find one and laid it just on top of the blue waistband and tied it in the back… I think I’ll go ahead and send it along with this set in case someone else felt that way…
I wanted to make a pair of shoes for Nyssa’s new blue and orange outfit, but I didn’t have the right shade of blue leather, so I had to go for the orange… It was my first choice to begin with but I was open to blue if I could have found the right color. First, I had to come up with a pattern for Nyssa’s foot… she kind of has big feet so I had nothing to work with from previous patterns I’ve drafted.
This gray pair was a prototype for what I was trying to achieve. Unbelievably, my first attempt fit her pretty well… so I decided to just cut out the orange pair of plunge ahead…
…and a few hours later this is what I produced!
They aren’t finished yet…
I think I’d like to turn them into a Mary Jane shoe… sort of like this… I just cut a strip of leather and laid it across her shoes…
I’ll figure out something…
Now, I thought since I showed you my flower handiwork on Nyssa’s jacket yesterday, I’d show you a few pictures I received from Laura… These are a few dresses she silk embroidered for her daughter when she was younger…
In her email she said…
Joy and Barbara expressed interest in seeing the ribbon embroidered dresses I had made for my daughter. This is obviously a Christmas dress. My mom made the dress and I did the handwork as a freehand design just measuring to place the flowers and beads correctly.
The back of same dress, again freehand design.
Close up of the front. The centers are gold seed beads.
This was an Easter dress one year. Again my mom sewed the dress and I did the handwork. I absolutely loved this muted fabric when I found it. The design was freehand with measuring for placement. I don’t know if they show up, but the flower stamens were beaded so they stood up 3 D.
Close up that shows the stamens more clearly.
Back of the same dress. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed doing this I think I may have done another dress or two, but these were the two I remembered offhand and looked for.
Not ribbon embroidery, but ribbon flowers. I found this one while looking and thought I’d include it. the dress was obviously purchased and I made the ribbon flowers of organza ribbon and beaded strings of purple and gold beads to twist around the centers. this was a Christmas dress one year. Thank you so much for letting me share, Jeanne. I think I need to resurrect these two skills again because I loved doing them.
Thank you so much, Jeanne. One advantage to doing it on doll clothes is they are never outgrown. I’m definitely going to think about something on a doll dress in the future whenever i find a little more time in a day.
Thank YOU Laura… you may have just inspired someone else to do some silk ribbon embroidery! I love doing it when I get the chance!
Well, that’s it for today!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, *I* kind of preferred the blue waistband (but if it had been a little deeper blue, it might have looked better close-up), as I’m not a huge “orange” fan, but by sending the ribbon along, you offer the purchaser a choice, whichever she prefers.
The shoes a wonderful, and turning them into Mary Janes is a great idea. (And in this case, I don’t mind the orange at all, for some reason!! Go figure…)
Laura, thank you for sharing your pictures! Your silk ribbon work is exquisite, and I love the beaded accents. I’ve done lots of silk ribbon embroidery, but can’t remember putting beads with it before (although I’ve also done a lot of bead work!). Hm….
Jeanne, in response to your answer to Laura yesterday, *I* have a whole houseful of fabric, too! I would hate to tell you just how many boxes and plastic crates of fabric live in the basement, for instance!
Kathie, I’m so glad your husband is finally doing better with his pacemaker. It sounds like they had to put a whole new one in, not just reconnect the wire? Fortunately Ron didn’t have that problem with his. It sure made a difference in how he felt, though, once the incision healed, etc. Hope they can get the lungs taken care of now. Getting older sure isn’t for sissies!
Thank you so much, Charlotte. I have done some ribbon embroidery without beading, but felt dresses needed both.
LOL We have fabric that lives in the basement as well. When my mom and I use to go to JoAnn’s a lot she would buy fabric and I would buy ribbon, silk ribbon for embroidery, and embroidery floss. We both still have too much of it.
The orange ribbon just “clicks” for me, Jeanne! Perfect, even though orange isn’t my favorite color! For the dress by itself, the blue waistband is better, but this gives the new owner a chance to do what works to her liking.
The orange shoes are another “just right” thing for this outfit! I do prefer the Mary Jane’s to boots, so this fits the bill for me!
Laura, your handiwork is exquisite, and shows that you have a perfect eye for design! What a lucky little girl you had, to be able to wear these beautiful dresses, and I am sure she was so proud of her mother! Those flowers on the last picture are just beautiful! It looked like the perfect dress to wear for Mardi Gras!! Happy Ash Wednesday to you!
Thank you so much, Linda. The flowers on the last picture are made of organza ribbon, very soft and east to work with. Happy Ash Wednesday to you as well. I can hardly believe Lent is starting.
I do really like the orange extra belt with the Nyssa’s jacket. Everything flows together now. And the orange shoes add such a great touch as well. Can’t believe you were able to do such a great first pair for her. I like the Mary Jane straps too. Nyssa should be a very happy girl. š
How wonderful to see Laura’s lovely ribbon embroidery pieces. Thanks for sharing the photos Jeanne and Laura. I had to enlarge to see the talented bead work. Wow, that adds such a special touch. And those organza ribbon flowers with the beaded centers are so fun. What wonderful ideas you’ve given us. What a lucky daughter to have been able to wear those adorable dresses and thank you for saving them to share with us. š
My RRFF Maisie is on the truck and should be here next week. Must develop a new strategy for procuring and hiding the delivery. š
Joy, which Maisie did you decide on? Blind or brunette?
Iām trying to think of the music I picture playing in the background as you plan your stealth strategy for doll securing! š
Not blind!!!! So sorry – blond!!
I immediately heard the theme from The Pink Panther and Joy skulking around the house from room to room trying to evade “other person” while clutching latest RRFF.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp6z3s1Gig0
I’m just full of comments today. I started playing the theme and my one kitty Ollie who is a Bombay breed, aka a parlor panther began walking back and forth stealthily to demonstrate.
In case anyone cares to know about a Bombay https://lifeandcats.com/the-bombay-cat/ They are super friendly, smart, and affectionate. he’s one of my rescues.
That is exactly the song I was thinking of Laura!! I couldnāt remember the name of it!!
I can just picture Joy artistically planning the maneuvers already!
Laura, this was great. Oh, how I loved Peter Sellers in these movies as Inspector Clouseau. Fun to listen to, but I fear the last crashing note is where Joy gets busted by OP! Hope not! Good luck, Joy!
Thank you so much, Joy. I’m so glad you enjoyed seeing them. Pulling them out again made me remember how much fun that was.I really need to think about something doll related now.
Good luck smuggling Maisie in the door. Better make sure she doesn’t play one note on her guitar until she’s safely in the doll room.
Jeanne, the orange belt looks more noticeable in color with the print but both belts pull colors out of Nyssaās dress which is your purpose. The shoes are the perfect orange color too.
Laura, your ribbon work is beautiful! Such talent. The design on the lighter dress color is perfect on the collar. Iāve never seen ribbon work like that before. Beautiful. Thank you for showing us.
Up early, off to have our little poodleās teeth cleaned. Poor baby, no water since last night. She loves going places with us but isnāt going to like this visit. We feel like traitors!
Thank you so much, Paula. I’m so glad you enjoyed seeing them. I really loved that craft and definitely want to get back to it sometime soon.
Oh, poor Holly, but teeth cleaning will keep her nice and healthy. I’m sure she’ll get a nice treat or perhaps a new toy afterwards.
Holly is drowsy and resting along side Gregg! At least itās over.
Have to say I am in the orange camp, too. I, however, like the plain ballet flats to Maryjanes because they slip on ever so easily. Last night I was trying to put a wonderful necklace on my new core Hanna that arrived yesterday and I tried every possible way. My fingers have gotten too slippery and clumsy for that. I DO think I have a solution. I will use a Christmas tree decoration hook to hook the two sides together in back. With the coat, it wonāt be seen. Or I suppose a small silver safety pin. This is one reason I donāt change doll clothes or accessories much any more. Too, too frustrating! Anyway, this outfit is so colorful and lovely, and I sure enjoyed your story about how you got your doll. What a generous, kind woman. Hurrah!
Laura, I also enjoyed the pictures of your remarkable ribbon and bead embroidery, SO pretty and unique. The fabrics are gorgeous, too. One of the best features though, is the fact that your mom sewed the dresses and you did the trimā¦a two generation collaboration for the third generation. I am so glad you and Jeanne posted these pictures. Thank you, both!
Hope all hubbies recover so you gals can also have some relief from worries. May our sisters in Europe and NZ be safe. May everyone get the weather they need.
Thank you so much, Sally. I like your comment about the “generations”. I have a filet crochet dresser scarf that my grandmother was partially through when she died when I was 14. At first i was going to just leave it unfinished, but then a few months later I decided I would complete it as it was the same design as the one I had on my chest of drawers and nightstand. I crochet at the precise same tension as she was the one who taught me and I now have no idea where her last stitch and my first one is. I’m glad I did since I can use it instead of just having it unfinished in a drawer.
Not a big orange fan either but this deep reddish shade is lovelyā¦as is the printā¦and the jacketā¦and embroidery ā¦.and now the shoes. Either belt is good. Having orange leather on hand is great and making them into ā Mary Janesā will be a bit more dressy for this outfit.
Laura, your pictures of the silk embroidery are such a treat. Wish little girls would still dress like that. The flowers around neckline of the Lands End top are my favorite!
Thank you so much, Kathie. Yes, I wish little girl’s clothing was still like that. I could definitely be accused of having made my daughter wear “little girl stuff” later than some. She’s commented seeing photos. LOL At least dolls won’t complain when I try this skill to them instead.
Dear Jeanne, the dress is so pretty. I am sure that some lucky dolly is going to be very happy.
I checked the measurements of my Kaye Wiggs Holly doll. She is a tad bigger than Nyssa so she won’t be able to wear this dress. We are both sad about that.
UFDC has posted it’s program: Passion for Fashion on its website.
I am placing the link here in case anyone would like to view the program.
There are several different segments so folks could watch one of them or all of them.
https://www.ufdc.org/videos/events/2022-winter-celebration/
I watched the entire program and learned so much about dolls and what they wore throughout the years. I think it might be particularly interesting to the Sofa Sisters as many of them sew.
I’m usually not an orange fan at all, but it really works here both for the belt and shoes. Nyssa’s outfit is so bright and cheerful.
HI Laura,
I’m not much of an orange fan either… in fact, back when the Super Bowl was playing, my hubby asked me if I had any orange fabric… he wanted me to make him a little orange and black striped (Bengals) kind of “kerchief” for his shirt pocket to wear to church that morning.
I only had ONE piece of orange in my whole fabric stash. I guess I’m not an orange person either!
Thanks for sharing and answering all the ladies comments.
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne,
How well done are the Nyssa shoes. They look lovely. And i really love the blue and orange fabric.
Laura,
You are so talented. What a beautiful ribbon embroidery, so delicate and detailed, and the color of the ribbon matches perfectly the fabric. Thank you Laura, I think you really inspired all of us with your beautiful work.
Have a very good night.
Angela
Thank you Angela,
I hope you’ll like Nyssa’s shoes even better when you see them tomorrow… all finished in Mary Jane style!
Thanks so much for your sweet comments!
Blessings, Jeanne