HI everyone,
I am slowly but surely getting Violette’s outfit completed… one day and one item at a time… I really haven’t run into any hurdles, except for the blouse taking such a long time… but that wasn’t really a problem… it was just a time thing, and a fabric thing! :o)
I did agree with Sally and decided to search for a thinner piece of black ribbon that didn’t look so stiff…but was positive I didn’t have a thing. No stores here in town carry the silk ribbon, and any other place would just have satin or velvet or grosgrain ribbon… that wasn’t going to help me any… so I set out to search my sewing containers and see if I couldn’t find something… I was about to give up when I found a ziplock bag of some ribbons that had gotten put in there. I found a black ribbon that my sister Cindy had given me… It may have been some of the Civil War ribbons she gave me. Anyway, it was black, and I think it’s rayon, but it was stringy on the edges… kind of like cob webs. I pulled the “fuzziness” off and it slightly fringed the edges. I tied a bow and sealed the ends with fray check… so it wouldn’t fray anymore… I’m pretty sure it will be fine… It did hang better and I like it.
Here was before…
…and now…
The snaps are sewn on the back and tiny white buttons were added… and the blouse was hemmed by hand.
Here’s a look at how it looks now…
I had been wanting a pair of doll shoe lasts to see how the fit compared with the ones I made from Sculpy clay… I caved and bought a pair from an International seller…
They are taller than the ones I had made and are the right measurements around the Ruby Red Fashion Friends ankles…
So now when I fit my leather pieces around them, I am assured they are the same size… Here was the start of Violette’s boots…
This is one boot stitched around by hand and the other boot with just the holes punched…
I was modifying my pattern to fit these lasts instead of my lasts, so I may need to do a little bit of tweaking still…
I looked in my doll shoes drawer and found a pair of almost sheer black thigh highs… I slipped them on Violette and stopped just below her knee… and slid on her boots and laced them with a thin black ribbon…
So here’s Violette with what I’ve made so far…
I forgot to take a picture of the “clue” for tomorrow, so you’ll have to watch and see what it is!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
First of all, congrats on a very successful auction, Jeanned. Well done!
The new bow does look more appropriate on Violette. I know I’ve found that a lot of the polyester ribbons, even the narrow ones, just seem too stiff on dolls. I think it’s a “scale” thing; smaller bodies seem to need softer fabrics and trims.
The boots turned out beautifully, and look very professionally done! Glad you had some stockings that would work for her, too. Win win on that one!
Now, what is coming up tomorrow?! I know we’ve thought jacket or vest, but maybe it’s a hat?
Barbara, it seems like your house is going to be “dolly heaven” in a short amount of time! Congrats on your two new additions! How exciting! I hope you’ll send pictures for all of us to see when they arrive!
Thanks for the congrats on Samantha’s dress set. It turned out lovely in the end, considering the rough start I had with that dress. :o)
I’m going to order some silk ribbons in some black in various widths.. ties always do better with a thinner ribbon…
You’ll see pretty soon what I ended up making… cause you’ll still be up when my post goes live!
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
I do see that the new ribbon made a big difference in just the way it hangs now, Jeanne! Such a shall change but it made a difference for sure, and only made good things better! The whole outfit looks very prim and proper for Violette with the addition of her darling boots and knee highs! Only thing that bothers me is those ultra long shoelaces! Isn’t she going to trip over them sometime? 🙂
Surely the next thing is something for her head? I can’t imagine what else is needed to make this outfit a winner! Outfits like this make me wish I had a RRFF doll!
Hi Linda,
Plenty of choices for RRFF dolls. Agatha just hit the website a few days ago. I’m still perfectly content with just my Requiem Celestia (Anaelle). I haven’t found a second (yet) that I can’t live without.
HI Linda,
I changed something in the post for Saturday that you mentioned… you’ll have to wait and see what I said!
For some reason, I was thinking you bought a Sarah doll… you didn’t? Even the other day, I was thinking you had bought her… guess not!
They truly are a fun doll to sew for and I’m sure play with! :o)
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
The boots look great with the found black knee highs. Lucky Violette. She is definitely a winner doll wise.
So glad to hear that the two new sleepouts are almost done at Anne’s place. Will be so nice for the kids and adults as well. 🙂
Great news for Barbara on her addition. Glad to hear you found some windows. Building can be very difficult right now.
My little Nunnu Meadow tiny one arrived yesterday. Our regular mail person was out, so she came late and other person got to the door first. 🙁 But, she quickly disappeared and did not hear a mention of her at all. She is adorable and came with a glasses case size carry box. She is that small. No wig yet or outfit.
And on to the weekend. 🙂
Dear Joy, another successful mission – kind of (smile).
Thanks for entertaining us here on the Sofa with your “spy” stories (laugh).
HI Joy,
Congratulations on your tiny Nunnu doll. I saw one listed on facebook and “almost” hit the send her to me button… but restrained myself… saying “I thought you might want the new fan club doll coming out!” So I didn’t hit the button! It was hard though! She must really be tiny, huh?
Good news that you didn’t get caught opening her up! EEK!
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Each little change makes even cuter. Such personality with this outfit on her. She will e sweet in most anything though.
Enjoy your weekend Sofa Sisters
Thank you Kathie,
I’m so glad you like Violette’s new set. She does too! She is very photogenic… we’ll have a grand ole time for a very long while! :o)
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
The change in the bow is great and hangs much better and Fray Check is always a good idea. Speaking of fraying, I was wondering how the ruffles stay fray-free on her collar and elsewhere since the edge doesn’t appear to be turned under and sewn? I must be missing something so I was curious.
The boots are as cute as can be and the shoe lasts will make things easier. Now Violette needs a sweet beret or bow to tame her wild hair.
HI Laura,
I thought I’d answer your question about the ruffles not fraying… I’m guessing they are cut on the bias, but there is no fraying on them at all, and the edges aren’t treated with anything that I can tell… I only had to take the ruffles off for the ruffle around the collars… the others were spaced about 3-4″ apart and I worked my blouse design around them.
Thanks for asking…
Blessings, Jeanne
I just love this outfit. And I do like the new bow. Except for maybe something around the waist, I find grosgrain is too stiff for most of my dolls and I love grosgrain but rarely use it. I stick mostly to softer ribbons. I tend to like the preppy look and this is an outfit I would have loved to have had when I was young. The boots came off great. You are becoming quite experienced as a cobbler. I can’t even imagine what else you are going to add to the outfit other than maybe a hat of some kind. Can’t wait to see.
Yes it will be dolly heaven around here soon. I mentioned to hubby that he was getting a new dolly daughter that I had ordered a year ago, but I’ve yet to mention Ashlynn. He’s going to be leaving town for a couple days to go to Kansas to pick up the windows. Could I be lucky enough to have her arrive during that time? Probably not since I just ordered her.
HI Barbara,
I’m like you… not a big fan of grosgrain ribbon either… there is a softer version of it out now, but it’s still not my favorite…
I’m very happy with this set and almost don’t want to stop making pieces for it… but I guess I will… boo hoo…
Congratulations on your new dolly’s coming soon… isn’t it fun to love dolls! The more you have, the more you can love! :o)
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, the outfit is adorable. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
HI Dorothy,
I can’t wait for you to SEE what tomorrow brings either! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I love this bow SO much more. Thanks for doing this as it is a softer look, nicer drape. And boy oh boy, look at you go with those boots! Yowsers! Can’t wait to see this on the auction block, but Miss Violette will need some prepping that she won’t have this outfit forever. I am already feeling sorry for her. 😟
Barbara, you have a lot of exciting things happening in your sewing room and doll collection. Hurrah! 👏
HI Sally,
Thank you for mentioning the bow… I like it better this way too! I am winding down on Violette’s set and almost hate for it to be over… I have really enjoyed making this one! She’s the new girl on the block, so she doesn’t quite understand the “selling” that comes after the “modeling!” EEK!
Thanks Sally,
Blessings, Jeanne
The whole outfit looks so cute on Violette, but I am so impressed with the way you make leather boots! I love seeing your process of how you make things!
Thank you Terri,
I love working and making little shoes and boots… I don’t know why, but I do!
Blessings, Jeanne
Lovely outfit. Perfect shoes.
Hi Alina,
So nice to hear from you! Hope you are doing well!
Blessings, Jeanne