I didn’t get to read the comments today until after noon today and it seems we were ALL on the same page with this one… I think Linda was the one who started it… “Maybe a pretty little green capelet would be the finishing touch?” WELL… it seems like everyone loved Linda’s idea and agreed that’s what this dress needed… and it’s funny… because that’s what “I” was thinking too…
After my Physical Therapy appointment this morning, I started looking for a gas light and a lantern and trying to come up with an idea for a caroling folder! I won’t tell you exactly what I found (I did find something!) but I will show you what I MADE! I had just enough green wool felt to make a little capelet… but since I had to be careful and cut it exact… I did a prototype in red felt first, and it turned out nicely. Since the wool felt isn’t as drapey as something like a crushed velvet or a silk… I made it conform to Rebecca’s shoulders just a little bit which made it more shapely…
I’ll show you…
I edge stitched the wool capelet in the red thread all the way around…
Then I braided several strands of a matching red embroidery floss into a decorative cord… I stitched it along the top front edge and tapered it to the back… then I fringed the bottom so it looked like a tassel.
I added a few felt flowers and a gold bead in the center of the flower…
I think Rebecca looks exceptionally sweet in this…
It turned out exactly as I hoped it would…
You can see the seam on the shoulder where it conforms to her shoulder…
Here are a few more pictures…
I hope this is what everyone envisioned in their mind…
Laura asked about the fabric used for the dress…it’s called Christmas Medallions Metallic Christmas Cotton. It does have a tiny bit of gilding (gold outlining) on the dots in the fabric… look closely and you can see them…
Along the selvage it only says Designed for Joann Fabrics…
My day was too long to get anything else done… but I will show you, “hopefully” tomorrow, what I found to go with Rebecca’s dress and cape…
Remember when I had my eye surgery about 3 months ago? Well now it’s time to do my right eye. (I have lens’ in my eyes where my left eye is for distance and my right eye is for things up close!) I am going to have my right eye surgery very early Wednesday morning and I’m not sure how I’ll navigate with ONLY my distance eye, as I’ll have a patch on my close up eye…but I’m going to try. If I can’t focus very well, (the patch will come off Thursday morning) I was sent some sweet pictures from Kathie, who went to an antique doll auction. Maybe I can get them ready just in case…
Well, I need to go… it’s been a full day!
I’ll see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, yes Jeanne, that little capelet is Perfect! I like how you shaped it to her shoulders, too. (Perhaps the red prototype can be used in a future ensemble?!)
Will keep you in prayer for your upcoming procedure. How nice that Kathie has already sent you photos for a post, should you need something. You may get pics from someone else by then, too, which would give you an extra day. Or we can sit here on the sofa and chat while you are recuperating!
Tomorrow is my next ortho appt., but we might get snow! We will check in the morning, call up there (in the greater Seattle area, 15 miles can make a difference in who gets snow and who doesn’t) and ask them, then decide. With me already “broken” and Ron pushing 90, we don’t want to take chances!
Oh yes, Jeanne, Rebecca looks just like a Victorian caroler! So glad I mentioned the capelet! I think it is always good to have some sort of “activity” that you can imagine the dolls doing when you are sewing for them. It certainly helps to flesh out the story and give ideas for props. That’s how I stage my dolls so that I can get everyone in line for the activity they are supposed to be doing, and not have a mish mash of outfits that don’t relate.
I love how you curved the shoulder area to lay without flaring out too much, like felt would normally do. The embellishments on the cape are wonderful aand certainly the right clors for Christmas! Now what will she be holding?
Prayers for your eye surgery tomorrow Jeanne, and hoping for a quick recovery!
Charlette, here’s hoping you get good news at your appointment tomorrow (or is that today?), if you go! Better safe than sorry!
Christmas decorating here has started in earnest!
I love the little capelet, it is perfect for this outfit! I don’t think I have seen such a pretty Christmas outfit! Again, I am sorry I don’t own any American Girl dolls but I don’t have the space to start collecting them, ha ha, if you know what I mean!
Rebecca’s Christmas dress is just right in every way. Prayers for your eye surgery tomorrow. We are on the final leg of our holiday trip and it is very hard to type flying down the highway.
Oh yes, that capelet is absolutely perfect. Rebecca will be the standout dolly with the Christmas carolers this year. 🙂 If there is any fabric left, I think I’d like to see a simple self belt covering the waist seam that ties in the back. I believe someone mentioned it yesterday. This outfit will be a big seller I’m sure. Love it. 🙂
Definitely be thinking of you and your eye surgery. Sure hope you don’t get another shiner. I suppose, as long as you plan to only view things in the distance, like sitting way away from the tv or checking out the view across your lovely yard, it shouldn’t be too bad. Keep your spirits up and you’ll be back to close up work very soon. 🙂
Yes, take care Charlotte…you and Ron and snow would not be a good mix 😉Hope that arm is healing..eating a good amount of protein I hope…helps healing.
Jeanne I don’t have enough adjectives to describe that dress….stunning comes to mind….and the caplet is so perfect. Can’t you just picture her with friends standing under an old fashioned street light holding the Christmas Carol book and singing away?
Saying prayers for your eye surgery. Hope the weather cooperates for the drive.🙏🏻
Humph! I wrote a long comment and just as I hit post a kitty stepped on the keyboard and poof gone. Oh well.
So… thank you for the fabric info, gorgeous outfit, and prayers for your eye surgery, Jeanne.
Be very careful if there is snow, Charlotte. Looking forward to Kathie’s photos.
Rebecca’s ensemble just keeps getting better every day. The capelet is picture perfect. Can’t wait to see the caroling aspect.
Charlotte, I hope you can attend your doctor’s appointment if possible. I know you and Ron won’t take any chances with the weather. I always figure there’ll be another day to tend to things (spoken like a true procrastinator) and you want to stay safe for sure.
Jeanne, the very thought of eye surgery makes me queasy. I’ve had two when I was younger and it was no big deal, but I hope not to have any more in my future. The surgeries were on my right eye (muscle) and left me with a hugely dominant left eye so that when I cover my left eye I can’t even walk straight. The sight is fine but the focus is way off. My eyes do work fine together thankfully. Hope everything goes well with your appointment tomorrow.
Today I am working on getting things ready to go to Goodwill tomorrow. Chelsy willed her doggy items to the Goodwill and I’ve pretty much got things cleaned up and organized. She had a very nice, large kennel that still has a lot of life left in it that should save someone a lot of money because it was an expensive one. It came with her and we were glad we didn’t have to buy one. I’m glad I put this off for a (good) while, since it is easier to part with them now than it would have been awhile back. I also have a bunch of stuff that came out of the closet I no longer have and David “suggested” that I might not want to put most of it back into the new closet so I’m having to sort through that and decide what to do with it and which kid I can coerce into taking some of it. It’s unbelievable what we store when we haven’t been faced with moving in years.
Today it is late spring here, tomorrow we will be back in early fall and probably sometime soon we will return to winter – temps that is. In summer I have one wardrobe. At this time of year I have three.
Jeanne believe or not, I never, ever read anyone’s comments until after I write my own. That is so funny that we all had the same idea with a capelet of some kind for a Caroling outfit. I hope you can find a little lantern or something for her hands, or sheet music. You did a fantastic job on this one. I am so very sure you will get bids going through the roof on this ensemble. It is so very Christmasy. I love it so much. Good Luck on your eye surgery. Hope all goes well for you.
Hi Jeanne,
Love this Lovely Christmas Carole! It came together pretty quickly and it’s spot on. Good job! Prayers that your eye surgery goes well and you heal quickly.
hugs
Ingrid