Marilyn asked a question the other day and it got me to wondering… she asked if this year; when I sold 31 doll outfits, was the most I had ever sold in one year? Well, I had a record of it somewhere, but had to dig through some papers to be sure. I found a paper where I had started writing out the names of the doll outfits I had made in 2007. I didn’t give everything names like I do now…
Then I discovered the paper that had the hashmarks of the dresses sold those years.
2008 was my best year ever…selling 142 outfits; and just beating out 2007, with 141 outfits, but that was way before I was writing my blog, so I had more time devoted to sewing… sometimes I would have 4 or 5 doll dresses on Ebay at a time… that hardly ever happens now. I averaged about 15 a month generally. That’s like half a year to me now! :o)
The dresses gradually dwindled down like this… (I was homeschooling both of my kids)
2009 = 124 outfits
2010 = 110 outfits
2011 = 65 outfits
2012 = 47 outfits
2013 = 49 outfits
2014 = 32 outfits (this is the year I started my blog)
2015 = 29 outfits
That’s as far as I have it on paper… but you see the downward trend…
I thought I might try and find a few of those oldies and show you… I wish you could have seen my earlier work… a few people have sent me copies of some of those dresses…and I’m thankful for that. I’ve even debated about emailing or writing to some of the early buyers of my doll outfits and seeing if they are still into dolls! :o)
These are mostly all of Felicity. (The one I called my “wonky-eyed” Felicity). I bought Addy about 10 months after I started selling on Ebay.
This was the black brocade dress…(obviously!)
Sally might have to help me out with the story on this one…
I better quit before you are sick of seeing Felicity… maybe I’ll show some more of her and some other earlier dresses another time!
Now, you still have time to get out and find some “After Christmas Bargains!” What’s everyone hoping to find?
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, I can’t imagine making over 100 outfits in a year, whether “people sized” or doll sized!! And 142…that’s a lot!
It was fun to see those older dresses, though. I just loved that light green/pale yellow one (with the double ruffle around the neck) on Felicity, although I really liked the two white ones below it, too.
Hope everyone had a great weekend. Our grandson Isaac was here Christmas Eve for a while and stayed with Ron while I ran some much-needed errands (our ice was almost all melted by then–that fast!); they had a good visit and showed each other pictures they’d taken. Then this afternoon he met us at Denny’s for a mid-afternoon dinner, and followed us home for some pie. He also helped Ron get safely back up the steps again. He’s a great kid (well, adult–he turned 21 this year).
And now…the last week of the year! Where did the time go?!
Charlotte your grand Isaac sounds like an outstanding considerate young man. We need more like him in the world. Dorothy L
Thank you, Dorothy! We think he’s pretty special!!
Well, Jeanne, I see that you have been working most all of your adult life, teaching and sewing! What could be more fun than that? I see so many dresses for Felcity that my Felicity would love to have! There just isn’t a lot out there now for her anymore, so mine is stuck with what AG made for her and also Elizabeth, plus two original Ebay dresses. That beautiful ivory brocade dress and hat combination that you said Sally helped name, took my breath away! Just beautiful! There are so many others too, and I wonder how many different patterns you used for her dressses, or was it just one that you tweaked for different dresses?
Shopping for bargains? Not me! I have no desire to get out there and find things that I don’t need!:-) I am the usual “day after Christmas tired”, thanks to our family gathering yesterday. Of all things, it is also our 56th wedding anniversary! While it is certainly a day I will never regret, it is also a day that we feel completely too tired to celebrate! I’m perfectly fine to stay home and have all the yummy food left over from yesterday! While I did have a very pretty wedding, with a white velvet gown, and a church filled with poinsetta’s, I wonder what an anniversary would be like if we had gotten married in the middle of June! Probably we would be less tired! 🙂
Linda your wedding sounds beautiful! Do you have a photo (especially of that velvet dress) that you might share with us? I can imagine the beautiful winter wedding. Can’t believe so many anniversaries! Blessings to you.
Sofa sister Dorothy L
Happy Anniversary! Your wedding sounds absolutely beautiful. Sharing about it is a bit of a celebration but I am with you on the too tired to celebrate anything right now. As a June bride I assure you it is less stressful to celebrate and a whole lot warmer!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Linda!! Your wedding gown and the church sound lovely. I hope you share your pictures.
I too had a winter wedding. January 19th (our 43 coming up). David wanted to make sure we could go skiing on our honeymoon (went to Crested Butte, CO). I’d never been skiing but he went to college in Gunnison, CO, so he was really good at it. I did not wear a velvet gown but my attendants did. My sister Beth was my maid-of-honor. Her dress was wine colored velvet with off-white lace trim on the stand-up collar and at the waist. My bridesmaids and junior bridesmaids wore teal velvet with the off-white lace. My dress was white lace with bishop sleeves. Here was the problem, I think like I still live in the north where January 19 would have been quite chillly. The day of our wedding it was 80 degrees in Houston. Fortunately the church was air conditioned or it would have been a very uncomfortable day.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Keep reading about those still snowed in and with more coming and cringe.
I’m with Linda on the the lovely white brocade with soft pleats around the neckline. Exquisite.
On another note, I would love to see a pic of Linda’s white velvet wedding gown and that church filled with poinsettias. 🙂
As to Jeanne’s yearly dress count, I don’t think the actual number is as important as the intricacy of the dress design and fabric choices. What an amazing collection of early photos. Jeanne deserves the life time achievement award. 🙂
Thank you Jeannie for sharing those past dress photos. I for one would like to see more “oldies” but goodies. I also love that white brocade. Some of the photos wouldn’t enlarge for me so there may be “other favorites” too.
That is some interesting data Jeanne. I do wish I had been collecting in those years and following your blog. Besides Kirsten, Felicity has always been my favorite AG to dress and display. I agree with Linda, there are very few new, handcrafted outfits for Felicity or Kirsten. The few that I purchased this year I had to sell or return because the outfits are made for more recent Mattel dolls and do not fit the PC dolls.
I agree with Joy, a lifetime achievement award and a coffee table book! I could look at it everyday.
I have been stretched too thin to even log on last week so I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope you are all well and warm.
Well, ladies, some of you want to see my velvet dress and the church filled with red poinsettias, but now remember, this is 56 years ago, and they did things differently back then. First, all of the photographer wedding pictures were in black and white. Back then colored wedding pictures were somewhat new, and I thought they looked too cheap for formal portraits! How things have changed! Also, I will have to look up my photographs, since we do not keep an album out on the coffee table, like young people do today! I do have snapshots in color, that I will try to find. Maybe in a few days I can find something to show you. Thank you all for the compliments!
Wow, 142 is a lot of outfits. i can also see that Felicity and Samantha were well loved back then. Speaking of Felicity, I noticed she was absent from last years’ dressmaking and maybe even the year before. Maybe you don’t have her anymore. Of course, she’s one of my favorites with a large collection.:-) Her PC accessory sets are just so neat. I also only have what PC made for her as the West German ones indulged in too many Queen cakes. LOL
That ivory brocade dress is just gorgeous. I also like the rust and green in front of her Plantation scene. Brings out her hair and eyes.
Absolutely no shopping for me today. I never do. I couldn’t even if I wanted as we are still snowed in. the snowplows might get to us today. Getting out of the cul-de-sac would be impossible.
Happy Boxing Day to Anne. Happy 1st Day of Christmas!
Jeanne, these American Girl dresses are absolutely stunning! My collection started in 1991 with Pleasant Company and I now have about 20 total, ending with a couple of 35th anniversary models. I just discovered you a few years ago, and wish I had know you all along. I would definitely have bought so many of your early works as well as the ones I have been lucky enough to win bids on now.. I feel very fortunate you have chosen the doll world to grace with your designing and sewing gifts. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and all your bloggers~
Jan
Jeanne your outfits are stunning. I can’t imagine making all those outfits and home schooling you children. You have obviously always been superwoman.
No malls for me yesterday apparently they were packed. I’ll wait till they have calmed down. We do have to do grocery shopping today though as it is Ashley’s birthday party on Thursday not that she will have many there as most of her friends have gone on holiday by then.
Laura and Debbie, I share your pain lol. I have a lot of Pixie Faire patterns and they are lovely to use but I always have to make them a bit bigger. I don’t have any AG dolls, they aren’t sold here in the shops and by the time you add postage to the other side of the world it can as much as double the price. I use Our Generation dolls instead which are slightly rounder than the AG and I have to add a little to the measurements so they fit.
Have a happy and restful New Year everyone.