Hi everyone,
I REALLY enjoyed reading all your comments about how your family members, friends, relatives, and strangers feel about your dolls. It was nice to hear some hubby’s know your dolls and like the ones that smile. (My hubby likes those too…) I also enjoyed how “some” have to “sneak” things into your house… (isn’t it refreshing, Joy, to know you aren’t alone?)
I asked my hubby what he really thought about my doll collection. He said he doesn’t really see me as a doll collector, but thinks of my dolls pretty much as just models who wear my outfits. I asked him if they ever “creeped” him out, like some said their guests felt. He said, “No, it’s not like they are all over the house, like the nutcrackers on the fireplace.” He said he wasnt sure how he’d feel if they were standing in little groups all around the house…
So I left it at that… apparently my dolls are all welcome to stay around here… as long as they stay in my sewing room.
When I visited my sister in Springfield, Missouri, I was thrilled to get to visit the Springfield Leather Company store again. I was looking to find some new and pretty colors of leather and I did! Truth be told, I probably found too much, but I was like a kid in a candy shop. In fact, the lady who helped me, was the one who waited on me before. She remembered my doll boots!! :o)
Here are a few pictures of my goodies… the leather was rolled with the right sides to the inside, but I turned out the leather side, so you could see them.
With every purchase, the customer can fill up a bag of Free leather scraps. :o)
The leather was the only thing I bought in Springfield… but… on the way home, we stopped at a few antique and thrift shops. I found this cotton fabric that I thought would make a pretty Spring dress. It’s very soft and lightweight and I’m not sure who will be the first to get a dress from it, but I’ll figure out who looks best in it.
The blue fabric was in the same package as the white print.
I found a few pieces of lace for just a few dollars and couldn’t resist.
The last thing I found was a mini American Girl Josefina doll. I had never seen a Josefina mini doll and she is very pretty…
She has on an Our Generation dress and is carrying a pet hedgehog. I only know that because I looked it up on Ebay.
So those were my only treasures…
I was happy just to have spent time with my sisters and their hubbies… I could have just spent my time sitting on the couch and visiting!
See you Monday,
Blessings, Jeanne
What wonderful treasures you got, Jeanne!! I dubsy the purple leather! 😁 I’m sure someone around here needs some purple boots. (Actually that would be me–well, I can dream, right?! LOL) Or the pale pink…better not let little Gigi see that or she’ll lay claim to it. You know how she is about all things pink!!
Now that print fabric looks like it should be for Felicity. Maybe the blue could be just used as a bit of trim somewhere, or perhaps one of the modern girls would like something in that blue–looking ahead to July 4th, with a bit of red and white worked in?
All those lace pieces–how lovely!! Some are large enough to use for a large part of a gown or other fashion, too! I think you’re going to have fun with those–can’t wait to see what you’ll use them for!
Your mini Josefina is really pretty. Do you think you’ll be keeping her and maybe sewing for her? Or perhaps just save her for when you need a little dolly gift for someone?
Our big news is that Ron actually got to the barbershop today. It’s been a couple of months (since before I broke my arm), and he was getting pretty shaggy. (You definitely don’t want Me to touch your hair. 😜 It is so Not my talent!) Even though he did use his walker going in/out of the shop (I insisted), and just stayed in the car for our other two stops, he was quite exhausted when we got home. Well, he will be 90 in a couple of weeks!
Hi Charlotte
When I saw that purple leather, I immediately thought of you! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, in spite of the last few days not being about sewing, we did learn a lot about each other, Jeanne, and it was fun! It’s nice to know that others have the same experiences and how fun it is that your blog brought us together!
The leather is going to make a nice variety of shoes and purses, for upcoming outfits, and you won’t have to go out trying to find the right color, since you have everything right there!
The laces are so pretty, and you do have quite a few that will make one-of-a kind outfits that no one else can duplicate.
I second that beautiful blue and white print fabric for Felicity! It is so dainty and just evokes a colonial dress!
As far as that cute little doll, well, I think that really is Kaya. I have most of the 25th anniversary mini dolls, and have them sitting right here in front of me. The difference I can see right off the bat is the hair-do. Kaya has those same braids, while Josefina has hers braided with red ribbons in them, and put together in the back so they fit tight to her head. Another thing, is Josefina has gold earrings, and her teeth are showing. Kaya has no earrings and her teeth do not show, which is the way your little doll is. Not that this is a big deal, but I do think you have a mini Kaya. She is a cutie, nontheless!
Well, Ephiphany has come and gone, so here goes taking down my decorations! I’m in for a l o n g week!
Hi Linda,
Thanks for letting me know my little doll is Kaya, not Josefina… I have only seen Felicity and Emily in the mini size, in person, so I just assumed she was Josefina.
Wow on the leather! The colors are amazing! I wish you collected more Meadow dolls, it is very hard to find shoes to find the Moppets, ( Mae, Aya, and Tia). One of the seamstresses actually found little dog boots to fit them, LOL!
I have a suggestion for those of you who wrote that you had no doll collecting friends. If you have no doll club near by to share your hobby, please try to think of a way to attend a doll convention, especially MDCC or UFDC. You can even join UFDC as a member at large and get the wonderful magazine. My neighbor and I get to MDCC every year and we get enough dolly fun to last until the next year. And we have made so many dolly friends! This year it will take place in Indianapolis in August. It is a much smaller convention than UFDC and just so much fun. There is a “Funway Runway” Auction where those of us who wish to do so dress an Effner Little Darling donated by the convention. The outfits have a theme and the dolls are auctioned off. The theme last year was characters from stories. I dressed mine as Pollyanna and won first prize in my category! The auction raised $15,000 for St. Jude’s hospital! That is just ONE of the many fun things at MDCC. Think about it!
hugs,
Sissy
Hi Sissy,
Wow, what a wonderful auction for St. Jude’s!! Do you have a photo of your Pollyanna outfit? I’d love to see it. I love that movie!
Hi Sissy,
Do you know how close the Disney Animators feet are to the Muppets? I see those dolls all the time at my Goodwill and could maybe improvise with their feet…
The information about the MDCC sounds really fun… I think Indianapolis is about 3 hours from me… I think I would love to participate in the “Funway Runway” for the Little Darlings…
Thanks Sissy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Congrats on all the great treasures! My hubby doesn’t mind all my dolls. He says as long as they make me happy, he’s good with them. We have them in our living room/dining room (part of my sewing area) and in my sewing room. (It’s a small room). They don’t creep him out at all. XD
Hi Christine,
Nice to hear from you… it’s nice to hear of another hubby in the “happy you have dolls and no, they don’t creep me out” category.
Blessings, Jeanne
WOWZA on all the leather colors! Maybe try making some shoes for Meadow dolls…poor things need a shoe/ boot source😉
That lace piece that is a bodice front is amazing!
Today Is for making pocket hankies for the Show Choir boys suits. Fun little project.
Guess Christmas needs to go away this weekend🥴🙁
Love the suggestion for shoes for the Meadow kids. My Mae and friends definitely would benefit from some nice boots. 🙂
Hi Kathie,
Yes, isn’t that lace front just the prettiest thing? I will have to make something with it… and use some of the lace you sent me to go with it.
Blessings, Jeanne
What beautiful colors of leather. I’m still hesitating in the cobblering department and seeing what you have gone through to get it just right is not motivating me. But I’ve got leather, shoe soles and patterns so I really need to get to it. Still waiting motivation.
I love the blue print fabric and the laces are great. You do find some treasures on your outings with you sisters.
I have two mini-AGs, Molly and Julie. They wouldn’t mind if their Auntie Jeanne would make them some clothes. They’ve lost all hope of my ever getting around to it.
Hope it has warmed up for some of my sofa sisters. It’s like spring here and looking ahead at the forecast, barring the unforeseen of course, it looks like our winter is pretty much over. The guys are nearly finished with the laundry room and second bath and it all looks fabulous. I’m totally enjoying not having to do laundry in the garage any longer. And now that the steps are in, I don’t even have to go through the garage to do the laundry. My closet in the laundry room is going to have to wait a little while though, but it’s for a good reason. They will soon be doing the roof. That’s going to slow me down in my sewing room for awhile but when it’s done I will no longer have to worry about leaks and I will have my new lighting. They need to do the roof before the heat sets in. The closet can be done no matter what the weather or the temperature.
David’s birthday was yesterday. We are now both 76. He cherishes the eleven days I’m older LOL. He used to like to go to a place called Steak & Ale for his birthday because they had small rooms and it was quieter than most restaurants. I told him I would see if I could find another restaurant like that since the Steak & Ale restaurants closed down years ago. I decided on Brenner’s Steakhouse. A friend of mine goes there a lot for special occasions. We were delighted when we got there and had a table for two in a small room. Sadly it did not last long. There was a table for four and two tables for ten in the same room. Before too long they were all filled and the noise level was such that we couldn’t even shout to be heard. So we just spent the evening smiling at each other. The food was amazing and we were not disappointed at all with that, but if I make reservations there again I will ask very politely if we might not be put in that room again.
Hi Barbara,
Linda corrected me on that doll being a mini Kaya, not Josefina… I will have to see if she’s worthy of keeping as a model… she sure is a cutie!
Congratulations on getting all your dream renovations done!! Pretty soon, your whole house is going like it’s brand new!!
Blessings, Jeanne
I also agree the print does look perfect for Felicity and while I’m a fan of fabric complementing a doll’s eyes or hair I think there is enough green to balance out the blue. I can also see that last piece of lace as perfect for a colonial bodice by putting the edge up at the squared neckline.
I know Felicity never modeled last year and I’m not sure about the year before. Of course, she’s one of my absolute favorites and was doll #2.
I also wanted to comment to Nancy that I also love Felicity, Samantha, and Caroline.
I agree with Linda that the mini is Kaya. Very cute!
Yes, Epiphany is over. I took the outside Christmas decoration down this morning leaving just the small tree with white lights on the porch. Just did the second smaller tree inside with the non- glass ornaments so easy and fast to take down. I’ll be tucking my German wooden things back in the bookcase where I actually can see them year-round.:-)
Hi Laura,
I think Felicity WILL be getting that print for her next dress…
Everyone is taking down their Christmas trees and decorations and we are still waiting to celebrate… I am enjoying my tree still…
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
Looks like you’re now well stocked in the leather department. 🙂 Cute fabric too.
We’re still in for more rain. Just hope it goes to the right places. Ha ha. Some places are a mess right now and need time to dry out.
Hi Joy,
I AM well stocked with lots of leather colors… and hopefully, I’ll find lots of time for cobblering.
I hope your eating came down in all the right places!!
Blessings, Jeanne
I love your leather selection. I can’t think of an outfit that you won’t be able to compliment with shoes. The laces and the sweet blue and white floral will make a pretty dress for any doll, I do agree that it would be beautiful on Felicity – also Kirsten. I know you will come up with something just right.
Linda, good luck with the un-decorating, I find that it takes me twice as long to put it away as it does to put it out. In our home state of Louisiana the Epiphany also signals the start of the Mardi Gras season and Christmas cookies are traded for King Cakes. I can’t say that I miss the temptation.
Barbara, Happy Birthday to you and David! I hope you did something fun for your birthday 12 days ago. I worked at Steak and Ale during my college days. It was one of the most popular restaurants in the city. The tips were generous but the best part was the free meal every shift.
Sissy, those are great suggestions. I do see Madame Alexanders at the estate sales but haven’t searched for collectors among the living.
Charlotte, Happy Birthday to Ron. Do you also have a birthday at the end of the month?
Yes, I do, Debbie! Thanks for remembering! Ron’s is the 21st and mine is the 28th. We are one week–and 13 years!!–apart!
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for the compliments on my new treasures. I hope I can make lots of shoes, boots and purses for Easter this year…
I think it’s settled… that fabric will go to Felicity first… I think there is probably a yard of it…
Blessings to you Debbie,
~Jeanne
OMG!!! That lace is fantastic!! Just a few dollars?!?! Like how few? LOL