PLEASE NOTE: Rozen’s last day of modeling the blue and pumpkin Romper set has come to an end… The auction on Ebay ends this evening (Tuesday) If you haven’t checked it out yet, please take a peek by clicking the picture at the right side bar or click HERE. I have LOTS of watchers so be careful if you want it! :o)
NEXT: A week or so ago, lots of ladies said they were having trouble getting my blog posts on a regular basis. I had Sarah look at things and she believes it was just a glitch from an email that I had received. Please, could you let me know if things are back to normal for you receiving the blog?
NEXT NEXT: Sarah is also working on getting my Etsy shop linked up to my blog again. She was working on things tonight but had to stop for the evening. I’ll let you know when things are up and running again.
NEXT NEXT NEXT: I just broke another record! But I’m sure it had something to do with the phrase I used in my title, “That is the question…” Although, I do get lots of hits when I have the words Civil War in my title. Anyway, my all time highest number of views on my blog in a single day was 822. I just passed that number and it’s sitting at 866 now! It’s nothing to you, but it’s kind of exciting to me… it’s called “exposure!” Who knows who might stumble across my blog because of some silly phrase I used in my title? Maybe they love dolls and didn’t know I existed! Just sayin’… :o)
We worked again at the International House today and I “think” the bathroom is finished… my hubby hung up the new shower curtain rod and we hung the liner and the shower curtain and I didn’t take a single picture of it… oops! I was working on something else… painting the frame around the doorway and working on the backsplash around the sink. It was just plaster before and it can only handle so much water before it starts soaking it up and them crumbling away… this was what it looked like in the beginning…
I painted the walls and decided to put some vinyl peel and stick tile around the vanity. I only used 2 packages of tile.. I think they were $9.98 at Lowe’s.
They are vinyl so I used a utility knife to cut them. They are super super sticky on the backside once you peel off the plastic backing, so I did a lot of “puzzling” work to make sure everything was going to fit just right before I stuck the pieces on for good. It looked like this after it was painted, but nothing up yet…
The tile I bought was in about 1/2″ or 5/8″ narrow strips but all connected together unless you used a utility knife to cut them apart…There was a repeat pattern every 3 rows so I had to figure out how high to make it and connect it to the wall on the left side…
The edges of the tiles were kind of rubbery like and blackish gray…
…so I decided to paint the edges with a tiny paint brush, using the paint I had used for the walls. You can see on the left where I have painted and on the right where I haven’t. I actually gave it another coat after I took these pictures and it looked even better.
I was a little tricky, but I still managed to get it looking as nicely as I would have in my own house… that was my goal.
So, once again, a BEFORE…
…and now a pretty AFTER!
My hubby took the old light above the medicine cabinet down and steel wooled it and then painted it with hammered bronze and it looks like new! Oh, I remembered my hubby was going to give the wood vanity a rub down with Old English and make it look better too.
We have to finish up in the kitchen and what we committed ourselves to will be done…
Okay, now to my dolly portion of this post…
I knew this would happen… it’s about half and half for the 70’s look vs the Civil War dress! I’m still teetering on what to do… I went to high school in the early 70’s and know those styles, but it seems I always have some difficulty getting them figured out on here. I was a sewing maniac in the 70’s… I mean MANIAC! I sewed most of my free time away making new things for me. But… I looked at some 70’s dresses to see if could be inspired… and this is what I found…
This is what I was NOT WANTING my dress to look like…
This was my prom dress pattern…
…and this was another tiered dress pattern I found.
So I didn’t do anything to the dress yet, (obviously no time today) but I do agree the dress needs to have an empire waist if I’m going to make it a 70’s dress, which was my original intention… and then I’ll go from there…
So have a wonderful day and I’ll see what I can come up with… thanks for ALL your thoughts… I really appreciate you telling me your opinions!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, oin answer to your first question, no, I am not receiving your blog regularly, even when I just added my name to the list, a week or two ago, and also received confirmation that I was on the list, my last blog from you was August 19th! So there’s that.
What a difference that bathroom is turning out to be! You did an amazing job!
OK, you want a 70’s dress! Those patterns look so familiar! I actually made a bridesmaid’s dress from the first pattern you showed, the green dress, view 2, for my sister’s wedding! That was way back when!! It was a flowy, flowered pattern, if I remember, in soft mauve, lavenders, and cream. They wore a wreath of flowers on their heads, and carried a basket of flowers. It was so “back in the day”! So what are you plans now? You will come up with something good, I just know!
Oh, darn, my comment went through without me proofing it! Not “oin”, but “in”!
First, I’m getting your blog (twice!) just as I was before, so whatever glitch was there is gone now, I suspect. It’ll be nice to have your etsy shop hooked up to it again.
Second, congrats on the new record of hits! That’s quite a lot, and I can see why you are excited about it!!
Third, that bathroom is looking really nice now! The girls will be quite happy with it, I think!
Also, it’s kind of fun to see the patterns from the 70s. The skirt is pretty similar to some of those on your patterns; it does look, however, like they used a softer fabric, as those skirts don’t stand out quite the way your 1970s/Civil War one does!
It will be fun to see what you decide! Glad we gave you plenty of options!! 😁
The tiles remind me of what my husband installed downstairs in the wall near the shower. The bathroom looks much better. Good job!
I have been receiving your updates regularly in my email. They come about 6 a.m.
Receiving the blog as usual. For a short while, the email was coming all mixed up. Enlarged bigger than the screen and unreadable until clicked on which went to the normal blog. Okay today.
Love how you were able to fit those plastic tiles together and make it work. Not sure how you were able to do that at the corner. One giant puzzle, but turned out perfect. Good idea to paint the edges as well. Looks very nice now. 🙂 So how many new blades have you gone through with your cutting knife?
Funny how you were able to find those tiered skirt patterns. They may have been out there, but no one I knew wore them. Only the full length not tiered style here. And no long sleeves, too hot, but with the puffed sleeve or elastic gathered sleeves and the gathered with elastic neckline and bodice. 🙂 I wonder if I have an old photo around here? It will be fun seeing what you decide. You are the master sewer! 🙂
Hope it doesn’t hit 98 again today. Yesterday, was a bear. Like wearing a fur coat in the summer. When it got down to 84 inside, and we could open the windows and get a breeze, it was such a relief. This no air conditioning thing is getting out of hand. The “new” continued hot temperatures are not welcome. Ugh.
Those 70 patterns took me back. For my sisters wedding we had empire waisted dresses in a green yellow orange floral….oh my we thought we were beautiful…and for the time I guess we were. Maybe we should all send you a pic or two of us in the 70’s styles? That would give you a day off🥰
The bathroom is a total transformation! I don’t know how you figure out all those angles and pieces but it looks like a million dollars☺️ That tile looks like the glass ones too.clever, clever! The light fixture is awesome.
Those students will be so pleased👏👏
Good morning.
First, the blog comes here fine. I think there was only a problem once. Very good that Sarah is helping you with the various issues and good luck tonight; I see there are 50 watchers. 🙌
Bathroom sink do-over is a super improvement, but no surprise to any of us.
Keep on getting those hits! 👏
Delighted to hear Rebecca and Karn are coming for your birthday, Jeanne. Great weekend for you coming up and have a blast. Happy Reuben!
Love this fabric, love the bodice and sleeves. Never liked Julie one bit, never liked the 70’s other than that was when the boys were born. The only thing I would suggest is making two skirts so buyer can have a choice. Sorry I’m not a fan of the doll or decade style. Obviously many sisters love it. 👍😉
The first pattern you showed was the bridal and maid-of-honor dress a friend of mine used. It was a very small wedding and her sister made both dresses. It’s a sweet pattern. The dress actually looks fuller in the pattern picture than it actually was. My friend got married in the early or mid-70s.
I made a lot of the granny dresses but mine looked a whole lot better than the picture you showed. I used a puff sleeve on mine and a grosgrain ribbon tie at the “waist”. There were so many calico-type prints to choose from, which is probably why I made so many. Sadly I could not wear them to work. I did one day and I was told it was a safety hazard. It was short enough I did not trip on it but we had some steps to enter the building and they were afraid I would trip up them – and sue them I guess. I could have shortened the dresses and worn them then, but the effect would have been lost, but I found other occasions to wear them.
Wow what a change to that bathroom. Definitely a sows ear to a silk purse. I got an e-mail today about “ten things that make your home look dated”. I never worry too much about that and living in a house for over 30 years I imagine I will be guilty of many of them, since I buy things when I need them in the “style du jour”. I will be checking the article out at least for grins.
That light fixture is like what I have in my bathroom. I want to replace them because the finish is coming off in places. I never thought of painting them and wouldn’t know where to start.
Well, if you want to save some money and the lights are a style you still like, definitely try painting them. I recently repainted a birdcage and stand a kind of copper color. It is for a plant not a birdie.:) It is amazing what great colors are now available for spray paint. After the fixture is removed, wash it well and carefully sand with a fine grain sandpaper. You can also strip it and remove all of the paint for a better finish, but sanding will probably work. Use a tac cloth to remove any sanding residue and then outdoors of course, give the fixture a light coating of paint. Let it dry between coats. Probably two is enough. Some, lightly sand between coats, but it isn’t always necessary. And if you don’t like it, you’re only out a can of paint and can buy some new lights. 🙂
Thanks Joy. Now all I need is some courage.
Dear Jeanne, the sink looks wonderful! You and your husband are such a blessing to the church.
I am happy that the newlyweds are coming for a visit.
I cannot believe we are sliding through August. It is already getting dark earlier. Oh thoughts of May… (smile).
This is the title that led me to your blog: “I need some super sleuth American Girl Kirsten detectives…”. I am somewhat of a Kirsten groupie so I dove right in and have been checking in ever since. You are right Jeanne, the title can be the hook, line, and sinker. LOL
That backsplash looks amazing! In fact that can be said of the remodel in general.
Happy (early) Birthday! I hope you have a very special celebration with your family.
Happy Birthday Jeanne! I am like you I love the Gunne Sax Dresses from the 70’s and I absolutely love all the dresses you have photos from on those pattern pieces. Very feminine for Julie. I love that fabric as well and the way you incorporated the design on the edge of the fabric into your design. The house is taking shape and you did a fantastic job with your Bathroom. Looks very nice. I think you and I are around the same age, you could be older than me by a few years though. This is why I did not get Julie. She was too familiar to me with all her things. I wanted a doll that was different to me. Have a good time on your special day.