Still thinking on Stella’s doll dress…

My hubby was going to Marion today to get some electrical items and wire at a town about 25 minutes away from us. I told him I had my own errands to do in town and unwrapping caramels and chopping peanuts at home… so I passed on going with him. We were both gone a couple hours.

He got home a few minutes before me, so we both brought in our wares together. I changed clothes and while I was in the bedroom… I heard my hubby groaning in the living room…”No, this can’t have happened… I couldn’t have…are you kidding me?”

Somehow he had gotten home but was missing one of his bags of electrical items!! We searched everywhere, and then he decided to call Menard’s… he described what items were in his bag and sure enough… the checker found his bag… (don’t know why it was left behind) and they said they would hold it at the front desk till he got there.

I changed my clothes back to what I had on before and told him I’d go back with him… so we headed out and pretended it was date night… after we got his bag of items, we stopped for some dinner and then headed home.

So my idea of working on Stella’s dress didn’t happen…but this morning we called Rebecca to wish her a happy birthday and I told her about my doll dress disaster… she said she would send some pictures that “might” help me come up with an idea.

Here are some dresses with the baby doll style… hmmm… still debating…

Lots of ideas there, but it really didn’t help me much for Stella’s dress… :o(

On one of my errands today, I had to return something to the Goodwill. As I walked down this one aisle, I spotted this ruffled top and when I pulled it out, it was just the way I wanted my dress to hang… so I bought it so I could figure out the ratio of gathers from one tier to the next. Here are a few pictures of the top and the look I was hoping for as I draped it on Stella. I’ll have to keep working on things…

…maybe as a skirt…

Well, that was my day…

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

12 thoughts on “Still thinking on Stella’s doll dress…”

  1. Charlotte Trayer

    Lots of eye candy there, Jeanne! That first dress looks like a really fancy square dance dress–all it needs is a full petticoat underneath (and some ruffly pettipants, of course!). I like the waist-cinching belt idea, although it’s a little different style than I was thinking of.

    Well, I think Miss Stella is loving the top you have wrapped around her, and now thinks She should have a dress out of it!! These girls can get pretty demanding sometimes!!

    Thanks to all for comments/suggestions for Ron. Elizabeth (the head of Abba’s Home where he is) had suggested Ensure for him, and will get some in vanilla for him to try. (For some reason this man, who used to dump hot sauce on EVERYTHING before tasting it, loves vanilla when it comes to stuff like ice cream, pudding, and milkshakes!!)

    1. Boy Rebecca really found lots of photos with ideas. I’m sure you will come up with something cute. The goodwill piece is really cute too. Love the colors but not with that hat☺️
      I know the feeling about leaving a bag at the store. Poor George…so frustrating but you got a dinner out so that’s not bad🤪
      Good luck with your next dress idea.

    2. Barbara in SE Texas

      Charlotte I once had an issue, I don’t even remember what it was now, but I had David buy me some of that Ensure and it was very tasty. I had several flavors and they were all good. Very nutritional too.

    3. Lauren from the Land of Lincoln

      Hi Charlotte,
      I just wanted to let you know as well that when my mom had cancer she drank Boost and they had flavors in chocolate and vanilla and when I had no appetite because of stress I might drink one and they were good and quite tasty! Ron should have no trouble with them! Good Luck!🍀

  2. Linda in St. Louis

    All the pretty dresses, Jeanne! Most look like they would be good for spring or summer, but since we are now in fall, I do absolutely love that last “creation” of Stella in the Goodwill blouse, but as a dress! It is perfect, but of course needs sleeves and something on the bodice, more than what is there now. But don’t give up on the dress you started for her! It just needs a bit of redoing, since you already have the hat made, and it really can be a cute outfit.

  3. I also love the goodwill find as a dress just like it is, hangs so nicely as you pointed out. I say add spaghetti straps and then a white or cream colored frilly blouse underneath with maybe a standup collar. Long sleeved?
    To me the inspiration dress had a slightly longer bodice, which shows in the under the arm seam, that gave it more shape and the sleeves looked narrower, tighter fitting.
    I vote for two outfits!!

  4. Joy in northern CA

    So glad that you and George were able to retrieve the missing bag. Had it been left in a cart outside, doubtful that it would have been found.
    Interesting to see Rebecca’s take on a baby doll dress. I was thinking of a much less mature look. But then, I’m old. The baby doll look of which I was thinking did not have a tiered skirt. Just plain design, gathered at the top and short to above the knees. We used to make them all of the time in the 60’s. 🙂 I fact, I remember making one for our senior cruise on the SF bay after graduation out of wool challis fabric. 🙂
    Love Stella’s outfit. Would be perfect for next summer or with a wool jacket for now.
    We’re going to be in the 90’s the next couple of days. Way too hot for me.

  5. Barbara in SE Texas

    I love all the dresses pictured and they would be a good idea for a summer dress, but I really like the Goodwill find and think that would make a nice dress in that fabric. I like the suggested ideas from my sofa sisters for a year-round dress. Their ideas would make a great dress for dolly girls living in Texas. I have a pattern for a baby-doll like dress I made that I loved. It had a short bodice with puffed sleeves and three tiered ruffles. I made it out of a floral lightweight knit and it draped perfectly. I liked it so much it was the dress I wore to the church the day of my wedding before I changed into my wedding gown.

    I definitely think you should at least use the top on Stella’s dress you were working on. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble to make that part and it looks very nice. If you don’t want slacks or a skirt, maybe a different fabric for the skirt of the dress.

    Summer is making a return here for a few days. Maybe Dorothy in PA and the World should move here to Texas, but it might be too much summer even for her and she would surely miss the lovely falls colors.

  6. Lauren from The Land of Lincoln

    Hi Jeanne,
    I am glad that you and your husband made a nice night out of a stinky situation. I like the first dress 👗 that Rebecca sent you but with the shirt you bought I think it will make a very nice fall dress especially if you can make it a long sleeve one. Then it would be perfect to wear to Thanksgiving! I am very interested to see what you do with Stella and her dress! Have a great day to you and all the sisters!

  7. Some pretty dresses Rebecca sent. I love the Cinderella one and would totally wear that in the summer. The Goodwill top is really pretty on Stella. Of course it needs sleeves or a blouse.
    The beautiful fall colors are staring here. Enjoyed a walk in the sun crunching leaves and acorns all the way.

    1. Barbara in SE Texas

      I remember in Bethlehem, PA, when the leaves started falling we always had a “leaf” project while I was in elementary school. We had maples, oaks and others that turned lovely colors. We used to love seeing the oak tree seed pods fall from the trees because if there was a breeze they would spin. Then we would pick them up and open the one end and stick them to our noses. Oh how I miss the northern Fall season.

  8. Marilyn in Colorado

    Well. I was wishing I was seeing something I really liked, and then — there was Stella. looking adorable. I’d go with the dress she;s wearing, plus straps, boots, a maybe cream cardigan, possibly with bell sleeves, a hat like Frieda’s with the bow on the side. a purse to match the boots, and maybe a leather corset belt. Consider a choker of tiny beads the color of the darker color in the print, and maybe a tiny bead flower at the wrists of the sleeves.

    I love the dress you have draped — now all you have to do is make it. What I’ve suggested may be in need of some contrasting color for the beads or bow. The only sure thing is that you’ll find the answer.

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