She secretly told me so! She said she hopes I take my time finishing it because she just wants to keep wearing it. She said she could see out the window the leaves were falling like crazy off the trees and it since it was Fall, she just wanted to keep it on! The colors were “her!” We had a little discussion about that! :o)
Well, I’m happy to report that just the opposite from what Felicity wanted, happened. I managed to get quite a bit done on her dress and the cape is finished. The dress still has to be hemmed and the back snaps sewn on.
Let’s start with her cape… I debated and debated and debated about how to embellish it… but my plastic buttons just didn’t cut it. Even my mother of pearl buttons didn’t look right… The buttons I decided on were the only wooden buttons I have in my stash. I didn’t want to do any embroidery, because the only colors were the color of the cape, then gold and brown…so I decided go with the wood buttons.
Then I braided 3 strands of floss the color of the flowers and hand stitched it onto the neck of the cape… so it could be tied in a bow. Felicity approved… I hope you do!
Now to her dress, I found a creamy white pearl necklace that Rebecca made last time she was home… It’s simple but I think it looks nice so I’ll probably use it.
I added a petticoat under the dress… (just one I keep for displaying the full dresses like this) It’s just a bit too big in circumference for this dress and you can see where it drops off… Her dress needs to flow over the boning, not stick out where the boning is. So I guess I’ll be making another petticoat for this. Then we’ll be on the home stretch I think.
Here is the dress and cape together…
I will be working at the Food Pantry Friday and we have a funeral out of town for a relative, so my sewing time will be limited this weekend. Felicity will be the only one who’s glad I’m busy and can’t sew… :o)
I will see you Monday… Have a great weekend!
Blessings, Jeanne
The dress is lovely, and I see you must have noticed Marilyn’s comment about their being an “up” and a “down” to this fabric, as you seem to have the design on the skirt pointing the same direction as the design on the bodice. The pearl necklace is a much better choice than a button on the neckline, too, in my opinion. It has really come together beautifully.
I also like the cape but….not the buttons. Sorry, Jeanne, but they just don’t do anything for me. First of all, they’re not functional (which is okay, we do sometimes use buttons for decorations) but the placement just doesn’t make any sense! They seem to be just floating in space on the cape. I would take them off (if it were my cape) and either leave it without embellishment or use some of floss you used for the tie, and embroider around the edge of the cape or maybe make a few little embroidered flowers in the corners.
I got to thinking, when you talked about losing something in the sewing room….many years ago, when our son was still fairly young (maybe 40 years ago) I lost my good shears. I thought maybe one of his friends might have grabbed it and used it for something (Daniel knew better!) and then didn’t want to say anything. It was fall and Christmas was coming, so I asked for some Gingher shears for my present, which I got (and still use). Years passed. I mean, YEARS!! and then….I was going thru an old tote bag of stuff, and lo and behold, there was my good shears!! I figure I heard the kids coming and tucked them into the tote bag, and promptly forgot all about them!
I’m not sure what is going on with the blog, but it has me choosing different things to use to write, and I’m not sure what I’m doing here.
I absolutely LOVE the whole outfit, and yes, I’m afraid I am going in the opposite direction of Charlotte, to say that the buttons are the perfect embellishment for the capelet! I love the “woodsy” vibe they give, and add to the overall fall concept. I just can’t say enough good things about this outfit!
When you are ready to post, the envelope should be highlighted. If not, click on it. Then go to the next line, email and click on that and your email should automatically come up or type it in. Then go to your name and click on that line and your name should come up or type it in. When done, hit reply like usual. 🙂
Joy, this wasn’t that. It was before anything was written, and they were asking me what font I wanted, what size, etc. which I never saw before, but it looks like it is gone now. Must have been a glitch
Oh, thought it was the sign in. I haven’t had the font etc. come up yet on mine. I wonder if we would all be able to use different lettering on our posts? 🙂
I agree with Linda. The buttons exactly match the color of the flowers. It’s amazing what turns up in your stash to complete the ensembles. Also very resourceful to use the strands to make the tie for the cape.
The wooden buttons and the color of the tie are perfect for a fall outfit. The way you matched and gathered the waistline looks stunning. Great job!
Well, the outfit is definitely perfect for fall. So glad you chose not to add those large buttons on the lace. The necklace is nice to hide that AG seam too. I’m not sold on the cape buttons. The color of the wooden buttons fits in nicely though and matches the great braided tie that you made. They just seem way too big to me. If you put two of Felicity’s thumbs together, the buttons are about that size, which would be very large in real life. Anyway, maybe you might have some smaller goldish little buttons? They might work and still match the floss. And I know that many dresses were plain in the era, but I’d like to see something towards the bottom of the skirt. Maybe gathered up in places a few inches so the lace petticoat might show? Topped with a little bow at the gathers? Just my take.
Well, this morning, Samantha’s Doll store has a new little RRFF Fairy girl. Fauna. If you like fairies, she’s for you. 🙂
Well, it seems we are all weighing in on various aspects of Felicity’s dress. I do like the tie at the neck. The lace at the neckline of the dress is perfect without the brooch button. I think less is more in this case since the dress fabric is so decorative. Great matching up of the stripes on the skirt.
I’m liking this outfit because it looks “good” but real. The cape that we know is recycled, with it’s “non-bling” trim, the simple necklace, the rust bows that blend in. I also like the waist, with it soft curve that’s era appropriate but allows the flower stripe to match. I liked the button on the lace, but the necklace is better. Now for a simply trimmed hat. I love Williamsburg hats.
I’m glad Felicity will have the outfit to wear over the weekend.
It’s always interesting reading the takes of my sofa sisters and comparing them to mine. Sometimes I go back and take a second look and think hmmm I didn’t look at it that way and maybe an alternative might be better. But this time I went back and looked at the buttons and my instant reaction is I still like them. I wasn’t fond of the string tie until I actually saw what it was close up and now I think what a great idea and definitely worth plagiarizing at some point. Can you plagiarize a technique?
Your alignment of the floral stripe is perfect. Speaking as one who cut out two pairs of corduroy pants for my dolls the other day forgetting to see which way the cords went and had to recut them, I’m reminded once again it pays to really look at a fabric before you cut something out to make sure all your ducks are in a row, or at least swimming in the same direction. I once cut out a pair of pj bottoms for Skyy with pirate ships on the fabric. They were sailing up the front of one leg and sailing down the front of the other leg. Figuring they were pjs I didn’t redo them but seeing them every time he wore them always drove me crazy.
Beautiful weather here. I really need to open some windows and take advantage of the not-too-hot, not-too-cold weather here. It’s a rarity for sure.
Dear Jeanne, I went to The Strong Museum in Rochester, NY last weekend to see the exhibit of Black Dolls. It was amazing. Most of the dolls were made between 1840 and 1950. Many were made by slave women. Unfortunately, there was no souvenir journal.
The exhibit was originally in New York City. I found a link to a brief video about the exhibit. Here it is for those who might be interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prNuSUjWa00
Happy weekend and Happy November to you and the Sofa Sisters.
Thanks for sharing the link to the show. Really enjoyed it.
Dear Joy, the exhibit was so moving. I liked seeing the dolls that were part of the Doll Study by Mamie and Kenneth Clark. The study was used in the US Supreme Court Decision – Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. The dolls helped to make history!
I am glad you got a chance to watch the video.
Thank you, Dorothy, for sharing that link. The exhibit must have been just wonderful!
Dear Charlotte, it was wonderful. I learned so much. I just found the book online and bought it!
Such a lovely outfit! I always wished I could have that color hair🤣
I guess I’ll have to chime in on the buttons… I like them even though they don’t have a purpose other than for looks. The way you matched the design going down the front is so pretty. The skirt has just the right fullness and I see what you mean about the slip needing to be longer. You can probably make one up quickly since you have made so many over the years. Perfect timing for this month of Thanksgiving.
Sorry you have a funeral but hopefully seeing family will make it worthwhile🤔