I had a busy weekend but took a little time and enjoyed reading all your comments again. I always try to make dresses that people will LOVE and want to buy… and not just dresses that “I” like… because I’m selling them…not keeping them for myself.
This Colonial dress has been fun for me… so far. I loved the fabric…it’s soft and dainty, and so feminine looking.
I knew I was going off the rails, with my blue ruffled netting, and make an “un-authentic” petticoat, but I hoped everyone would understand.
I enjoyed making the sleeves this time, because, by taking Felicity’s original dress apart and seeing how the ruffles were sewn onto the sleeves, I found out the ruffles were sewn on separately… and not together.
When I discovered my vintage 70’s Laura Ashley, lace collar would work for a capelet, (or a Pelerine… as I learned about)… I was pleasantly pleased…
…then when I found ONE last blue cameo button to use for a brooch, I did the Happy Dolly Dance!
So when you last saw the dress, that’s what you got… all the things I just described…
…but surely you didn’t think I was going to leave Felicity with a plain dress, did you?
I couldn’t! I had already decided how I was going to do it… not too fancy, but just enough to make the dress a little more interesting…
Do you see it?
How about now?
If you guessed “bows” on her sleeves, you’d be correct…
But wait…there’s more…
I added some hand silk ribbon embroidery around her ruffled neckline…
Here you can see the bows on her sleeves and the flowers around her neck.
I just made french knots with some blue silk ribbon I had and then did some green leaves with some floss.
Another thing… I think Joy asked about the stretch lace being too wide on her petticoat… but… it’s easily slid up on her body and it makes the dress pouf out at the sides like Felicity’s wearing Panniers… only without them… The ruffle comes up higher on her waist and makes the gathers around the waist stand out, like this…
Subtle, but there if you like that look…
And one last thing… Felicity heard me talking about heading to town and she called out… “Try to find a candy bar with a wrapper that has blue and white and green and a little bit of color to match my hair…for the winner!”
She liked what I brought home! :o)
I’m “almost” finished, but not quite…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I really like the touches you added to Felicity’s dress. I’m so glad the embroidery is against the white ruffle, so it shows up nicely, and the blue bows, too. Just the right touches.
Now, what could be next? A reticule? A hat? Hmmm…
Has anyone here ordered Ruby Red’s new doll, Rita? I am sorely tempted. She has gorgeous deep blue eyes, and she
loves to read!! I’m glad they are doing her as an open-ended edition over a specific ordering period; no mad rush to try to get into the website on time. I already have a special Leeann doll on the way, but Rita is pretty nice, too. Stay tuned!
Hi, Charlotte. I, too, am tempted by Rita, but my space is getting used to full capacity already. Today I have a brown and green Rose coming, the two French dolls will likely be here this week or next, and Talia and Damarella should be showing this month. My plan was to wait for the Princess/Queen Elizabeth doll and then call it quits. Rita IS cute. You are so right about how nice it is to have time to order this doll instead of hopping on the “Crazy Train!”
Hope you will share pics of Leeann, and that you and Ron are doing well.
Hi Charlotte, Sally, I too am on the fence about Rita. I love her hair, a bit like Phanie and Perehilia. Two that I don’t own. Love those eyes also. I wish her sweater was not red and her skirt a little longer. I am also waiting on Talia and hopefully awaiting a good Queen doll. I agree, so nice to mull this over instead of sitting in front of a website that has crashed!
I totally agree about the open-ended edition dolls. I don’t always have time to check out what is next on the RRFFs and end up missing out on dolls I would have loved.to have such as Violette and George and Charlotte. By the time someone mentions them here, they are unavailable any longer. Not that I need more dolls but I hate having that “one that got away” feeling.
Well, having been stomped in the stampede for RRFF Xiong Xiong, I decided to order Rita who is the same sculpt. She won’t be coming until mid April, but that gives me time to make something special for her. 🙂
Today, however, RRFF Rose arrived. 🙂
Felicity is looking lovelier everyday! The perky blue bows just add to those gorgeous sleeve ruffles, and I like the way you added the stitching to the neckline, like a real Colonial dress would have!
For some reason, I thoght I saw a big bow in the back of her hair, but I don’t think a proper Colonial girl would be without some kind of head covering, so maybe something for her head is coming? And maybe a pretty reticule?
Happy MLK Day everyone!
I am really loving the touches you added on to Felicity’s gown, Jeanne. Perfect. The pelerine is also way, way, way better. Ann Van Doren has been making pelerines for quite some time; I have hers for AG and AGFAT. I believe it is a Pembery Threads pattern as she does pattern testing for Elizabeth.
It would be perfect for one of your exquisite leghorn hats to top this off. You do those magnificently.
Happy MLK to all. Glad you are getting a reprieve from all that rain, Joy.
Looks like the outfit is getting close to a finish. Maybe a head covering is needed if it’s going to be authentic Colonial, as Charlotte/Linda mentioned. As to the slip, which is lovely, I still would prefer a narrower waistband. I suppose it could be folded in half though. I don’t think that would make any difference in how poofie it makes the skirt. Just my opinion. The overall look is great and the added neckline embroidery is a nice touch. Maybe those sleeve ribbons need a couple of beads? 🙂
And a great MLK Day ahead. We have a break in the weather and actually saw a crescent moon this morning. Yay, finally some sun arriving. 🙂
This is SO pretty!
I love the way Felicity’s dress has evolved over the last week. The finishing touches at the sleeves and neckline are a pretty accent. The pelerine saved the whole outfit in my opinion, so soft and era appropriate. Like Joy, I would have loved a narrower waist to prevent the dress from slipping into the Antebellum era. I do love that your gown fits on the plumper PC Felicity. I spent hours online yesterday choosing a modern AG doll that would look right in 1700’s and 1800’s era clothing but could wear the slimmed down modern patterns that many seamstresses are using now. I finally settled on Blaire from 2018 because she doesn’t look too contemporary.
Joy, so glad to hear that you are drying out.
Thanks on the weather. Looks like Wednesday, we’ll get some more wet stuff, but after that, clear sailing on the Pacific for some time. 🙂
Felicity’s ensemble just keeps getting better and better. I didn’t chime in on any of the opinions because I haven’t a clue what is appropriate and what is not for certain fashion eras. Probably why all my girls are of the modern ilk. But I have a tendency to be eclectic by nature so for me anything goes. I love the beautiful lace capelet but would still like to see the blue caplet with an outfit down the road.
Susette’s comment on group sharing was interesting. I love sharing thoughts and opinions, but I usually end up odd woman out because I seem to always have at least a slightly different take on things, often after doing much research, and it makes me look argumentative when I don’t mean to be. I’ve been in groups where one person puts forth and opinion and likely as not the rest follow suit. When I interject my thoughts “group sharing” becomes “groupthink” and I had rocked the boat. It is interesting to listen to the give and take in this group and what comes of it, so I haven’t lost faith in group sharing.
Beautiful dress and the embroidery at the neckline is perfect as are the bows on the sleeves. I think Felicity needs a pinner cap and she will be ready for the spring dance.
This outfit is beautiful and so sweet and dainty and feminine!
This was not a favorite at first but the changes you made to th e dress and sleeves and ruffle and of course that fabulous pelerine made it perfect.
This is a very polite group and everyone’s opinion seems to be welcome. Without all the opinions how changes happen😉Jeanne knows how to interpret suggestions in the most positive of ways.
Jeanne, You did it again. You never, ever disappoint. I love the subtle touches for Felicity’s gown. Is she going to have a bonnet of some kind or a purse to hold onto? She is so beautiful. You did a fantastic job! The candy bar matches perfectly. Good Job!
This entire ensemble is exquisite. I am so frustrated by trying to find fabric since I am now homebound. So many sellers do not superimpose a ruler on their fabric selections. My Felicity is glaring at me because I cannot find fabric for her.
I’m so sorry you can’t find any fabrics for your Felicity… I can spend LOTS of time in the fabric stores looking at fabrics, and I too, have a hard
time finding fabrics I like every so often… but I have a pretty good stash, so I’m set for a while…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne