First of all, I have to tell you about the Saturday post. I was on my way to Cape Girardeau, when I realized I should have put at least some kind of a post up so everyone could keep trying to see if it was going through for them (or not!) Since I wasn’t driving, I took a few minutes and wrote what I did about 11:00 and hit the publish button. I think if you were in the western states, the time was delayed because I normally post at 1:00 a.m. each morning, and my computer may have thought it was my regular 1:00 a.m. post, so it came up on Sunday. It doesn’t matter, but a few of you were wondering about it… I’m just glad things seem to be working better.
Freida didn’t just get ONE new thing today, but TWO!
First up… I wanted to make her a headband out of that trim that was around the waist of the dress. I had just enough from the dress I cut up from the thrift shop, to make the headband. It took quite a while to pick out all those stitches without snipping the threads of the embroidered work. I was like a grandma easing those threads to come loose… then I had to trim it down and stitch on a piece of the fabric to hold it together.
Just making sure it’s going to be long enough…
I think it works well for a headband and pulls the dress fabric to her face. I added a magnetic clasp on the ends of it when I was finished hand stitching the edges down…
It shows off really well with her very dark brown hair. I might have to try it on a doll like Violette, who has massive amounts of hair!
Because it’s a bit thicker than a normal ribbon or hair bow, it’s best to take a section of your dolls hair from both sides and pull it forward…
Then take the ends of the headband and meet them behind her neck and they will automatically connect to each other.
It looks very nice on Freida…
Okay, now for the second item Freida received today… I was in Hobby Lobby for just a few minutes, and as I passed by the fabric, a fat quarter piece of fabric caught my eye. I thought to myself, “I think that would be a perfect match to Freida’s new outfit!” So I bought it.
Then I had to go to Joann’s for something else I was looking for and noticed Butterick and Simplicity patterns were on sale for $1.99. I looked at some baby hats and decided to buy this hat pattern and see if I could reduce it for Freida’s head size…
After about 4 different reductions, I decided on 55%. I did have to make a few adjustments on the crown of the hat because it was just too tall for Freida’s head. The pattern shows a bow on the front of the hat, but the pattern pieces and the picture ARE NOT the same thing. The picture shows this long bow tied in a knot and looking nice. The actual piece is only about 3″ long and you’ll see how long it actually is.
So this is what I came up with… I’d call this piece a “STATEMENT PIECE!” You’re either going to love it or hate it. My hubby LOVED it… so I guess I do too! :o)
It has a really nice brim on it with a split at the front and the ties are added on the ends where the split is…
Here is the inside of the hat… fully lined and just look at that match to the dress and jacket!
Here are a few more pictures showing it with the dress…
Okay, so what are you thinking?
Even if you don’t care for it, it’s an extra piece that will come with this set…
Well, that’s what kept me busy today!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I LOVE IT!! I love the headband, and I love the hat. It’s absolutely perfect with the dress and jacket, and will be good with jeans or almost anything else she wants to put with it. The style is darling, too. (And I might have that pattern, or an earlier incarnation of it!) Absolutely perfect!!
I was reading the comments on Saturday’s blog (and thanks for explaining why some of us got it so late–makes sense!), and noticed Barbara said that David and Jason hit a gas line when they were digging. Oh, boy, that was not fun, I’m sure! Out here in Wash. state they make a big deal about “call before you dig”, and I guess can charge you for any gas (or water, in the case of water pipes) that is lost if you break thru a pipe because you didn’t have the information as to where it was. (I’m assuming if someone from the gas or water co. came and marked it wrong, it would be on them.) I hope there wasn’t that kind of an issue for them, Barbara. It sounds like the gas co. was able to get out there right away to fix it, which is good.
Ah, yes, now I see that only the little mailbox icon is showing, with two gray circles where the “w” and “f” had been previously. Sounds like your blog is getting back to normal again, Jeanne! Oops….when I clicked on the envelope, the other two showed briefly….)
Oh, I LOVE it Jeanne! It’s just what I was thinking when I mentioned a patterned fabric for something for her head! It works perfectly with everything and brings out the colors of the bracelet too! You did an excellent job and the headband is another cute addition that will work just as easily! A gold star for each piece!
I don’t understand how I could possibly be considered living in a western state, since I am only two hours away! But, oh well, I got the blog anyway, no matter what day it came. Things are certainly looking better, but I wonder what happened in the first place to cause all these problems?
I’m in the “Love The Hat!” group. However, I think the most dramatic detail of the hat, the bow, is lost in the large scale print. What would you think about making the bow out of the blue denim fabric? I might even consider making the right side of the bow blue and the wrong side of the bow rust colored.
How does the head size of the RRFF doll compare to the American Girl head? I’d love to make one for my AG doll.
Perfect to tie the blue and orange together. Great job adjusting the size of the hat, 55%! The hat certainly completes the outfit.
It seems like the little quilt squares by our names have also changed? They look round instead of square and some are so faded that they can hardly be seen. Oh well. When I start typing, a box appears with the envelope sign. A bit different, but it seems to work. 🙂
I really like the fabric choice for the hat. However, it seems way big for Freida’s head. Maybe it’s her hair. It seems kind of overpowering for her as well. All I’m seeing is hat and not the lovely outfit. I’d like to see it on an AG doll. A big floppy bow to the side in the same fabric would be my choice and attached with a clippie to avoid going under the hair. The headband is a nice touch, but I’d like to see it behind the ears without hair in front, like a person would wear it to keep hair out of their face. That said, I love this outfit. It will be a big winner for sure. 🙂
Yesterday, I was expecting two doll boxes from FedEx with a time window of 10:00 to 2:00. It also said must sign for direct delivery. So, I sent other person to the store. No delivery. We had lunch. No delivery. No follow the truck to watch, so I had no idea of when the boxes would arrive. I kept jumping up to see if there was a truck. Nope. Then, the light sprinkles had stopped and other person had disappeared. I saw him in the back yard and wondered what he was doing. Horrors, he had out the power tools. I quickly ran out and down the steps. He was randomly cutting blackberry and leaving a mess everywhere I had clear cut a couple of months ago. I didn’t want him there, so I directed him to the edge and under the deck and pointed out pieces that I couldn’t pull out last time and had asked him to cut/dig out. So, that redirected his attention long enough for me to get back inside and pick up my gloves and clippers. I really have to watch where he is cutting or all of my plants would be toast. Anyway, it was easy to grab a clump of blackberry and cut it off pulling the long new growth with it. Anyway, sweating, and filling three cans to take out in front, it is back to looking good again. Other person grabbed his power tool cutter and my heart stopped. However, when he tried to use it. Nothing. He fiddled with it for awhile and then gave up. Yay! Since our big can was full and there was no where to put any more cuttings, I went inside for a second knowing that other person wouldn’t be cutting anything in my absence. 🙂 After a quick water break, I thought, wouldn’t it be nice if the boxes had arrived? I opened the front door, and there on the mat were the two white boxes stacked on top of each other. I looked around behind me forgetting that other person was still in the backyard. Coast clear, I grabbed both boxes and hurriedly deposited them in that secret location where they remain. 🙂 When I thought about it, neither of us had heard the truck from the backyard. All we heard was PGE cutting back limbs from the power lines on the next block down for fire safety. Other person had taken the full can to the front side to dump in the large can several times, but fortunately for me, he didn’t see the truck. And they didn’t ring the bell for me to sign for delivery either and left the boxes anyway. Lucky me. Now, I hope I can get a few minutes soon to open my new party girls, Candy and Pinky. 🙂
Hi Joy,
Fun reading your latest dolly caper. Good job being able to smuggle two boxes in undetected. Are you keeping count? I think you have managed more not being caught than being caught.
I’m not sure of the count. I get so excited when I am able to get the boxes inside undetected. 🙂
Stress! So glad you managed to pull it all off anyway. It was definitely good you didn’t have to sign for anything. I replied to your comment on the L’il Dreamers yesterday but it was late so you may have missed it.
Dear Joy, another successful caper. I am sure that the FDI (Federal Doll Inspectors) will be knocking on your door soon to recruit you. Their mission is to keep dolls safe in transit (laugh).
Yes, must keep an eye on those dolly box travels. My last girl had an exciting time in Japan for a couple of days before heading here. And with the dolls that keep arriving, I could definitely need another job. The FDI, sounds interesting. It is quite an expense keeping them all in shoes. 🙂
Joy, we love your stories! I really could relate if I were married to my first husband, (divorced and now deceased), he didn’t want me to spend money on ANYTHING that didn’t involve him. That is why I made a lot of my own clothes and also started my ceramics business. However, Peyton loves my dolls, especially the Meadow moppets that sit on the shelf and look as if they are having a conversation. He misses them when I take them down to sew.
Your Peyton, sounds like a good choice! 🙂
Yes, Joy, he really is in many ways, but we are getting older and he is not working in the yard like your sweetie!
The hat and the fabric print and colors are adorable!! I wouldn’t change a thing! It’s a charming accessory for the outfit. Good to know the size to reduce a baby hat pattern for the Ruby Red dolls. I have ordered patterns made for the Ruby Red dolls and needed to enlarge the hat patterns for a better….not so snug….fit on the dolls.
Hi, Elizabeth. Where in Texas are you? I’m west of Houston on I-10.
Hi, Barbara! My daughter and I just moved to Hutto a few months ago, from Pflugerville. Another daughter of mine lives in Pflugerville….about 6 minutes from us since we’re on the southern end of Hutto. New Hutto homes are more affordable which was a plus, however, Texas is building new suburban communities faster than the infrastructure of roads, utilities, etc. can keep up!
I really love the hat and the fabric is great! The headband came off very nicely and looks great on Freida. I need to try to do some bangs for my Freida. She looks better with the bangs. I forgot to mention yesterday that I liked the bracelet. Very pretty.
Went to the dermatologist yesterday because I had something on my nose that concerned me and another spot on my face I was concerned about. First time I ever had the freezing done. Quick and painless. I liked that. The spot on my nose was sun damage, which was strange because I’m rarely out in the sun but I feel good it’s taken care of. The other was nothing to worry about but I had her freeze it anyway because I didn’t like the looks of it. Recently I acquired a rash on my face which wouldn’t go away. She gave me a prescription for something to hopefully help with it. She said it is caused by an allergy of some sort but I’ve tried everything I could think of and changed what I could and it’s less than before but still there. She told me to switch to a plain cotton pillowcase because it seemed to be worse on the side I sleep on. It first showed up when the guys were doing the addition and opening up places that hadn’t been exposed in years and I wonder if I got into something there I hadn’t run into before. My skin is much more sensitive these days than in my younger days so who knows. I have no problem with getting older and rather like the idea but I sure do wish it involved less vigilance.
A little warmer today than the last couple days but it’s overcast so still on the comfortable side. Gotta love this time of year, the weather is like a roller coaster.
Hi Barbara,
Glad to hear those spots weren’t of any concern and happy you’re back on the sofa with the rest of us.
Thanks, Laura. It’s good to be back.
I’m heading over to check yesterday’s comment, but first, I’m glad to hear that the freezing was quick and painless. Because I too am having that freezing done next week. Did they put a bandaid on it? Curious as I don’t do well with them at all. Probably, a latex allergy. Don’t know. Anyway, thanks for the information. From what is your pillow made? Could it have latex inside? A lot do now and it does breakdown over time. That can cause a rash too. 🙂
No band-aid. One spot was on my nose and one on my right cheek near my ear. She told me they might look sort of bad for a few days and then would peel off or something. I don’t do well with band-aids either. You should see my arm where I had a small mole covered up. That was one of my reasons for going but it fell off Sunday. I had just taken a shower and was going to put another band-aid on it until I would see the doctor Monday and when I went to put it on the mole was not there. It had fallen off on its own. She checked the spot where it was and said all was good. About my pillow, good point on the latex. I need to check that. I love my pillow but if it is part of the problem I guess I’ll just have to find another pillow to love.
I love the hairband and I absolutely LOVE the hat. The hat pulls it all together and draws your eyes up to her face. It’s perfect and I really like the little matching bow at the front. Cute!
Oh my gosh…that hat is outstanding. I love the print….the colors…the style everything. It is exactly what the set needed. You made the best out of that goodwill dress. Of course the jacket is my favorite…or maybe now the hat isðŸ¤
The delivery caper was a success! Could we get a pic of them? No need to take out of the box…just interested.
Dear Jeanne, it is just amazing to me that someone can take a larger pattern and reduce it to doll size (says the non-sewer). Some little dolly is going to be very happy very soon.
I think this is my all time favorite thing you have ever made! It’s lovely, from the hat to the shoes.