Hi everyone,
I have been busy and I’d love to show you the bed in the guest room, but I think not… I’ll keep it a surprise. It’s loaded down with lots of what I’m hoping to sell.
I have decided it is time to let some things go… some I’ve had forever, some I had to fix up, and some were given to me but I don’t need them anymore.
I was in a quandry on how to sell them… as you may recall from a previous post… I finally just decided to list them on Ebay…that way, the person who really wanted something could bid and hopefully win the item. I’m not doing the listings the way I usually do; with the super big pictures and the borders around them, but rather, with the simple listing feature Ebay offers… I may do some of my items that I want to show lots of details on, with my regular program. My goal is to get 4 listings done each day and they will go on, in the evening, starting at 8:30, Central Standard time zone… (Illinois)
They will all be a 5 day listing, unless the Buy It Now feature is used. I’ll have the starting price, but also have a BIN price on each item, if someone wants to get it right away. I will be happy to combine shipping too.
So far I have 2 dolls scheduled, one doll head and wig, and one doll outfit…
The auctions I have scheduled will go on at 8:30, 8:34, 8:38 and 8:42, Tuesday evening. I hope you’ll take a peek and see if you need anything I have. I just now thought about how to let you know what I have up for sale… Maybe I can put a link to the 4 items each day at the right side bar on the blog Tuesday evening. My Ebay Seller ID is IDreamofJeanneMarie
Okay, so I hope everyone understands…any questions, just ask… or email me…
Now for something else. I received the most wonderful email from Linda Gronvall in Minnesota. It warmed my heart… and it will yours too.
Dear Jeanne,
Thank you for posting the instructions for re-stringing/tightening the limbs on the soft bodied dolls like American Girl! My Kirsten has been loose for several years and I’ve hesitated both on the cost of sending her to AG and the idea of taking her apart. After looking at your photos again, I asked my husband to give me the gift of repairing her and Kit as my Christmas present! He’s game to try anything! After reading your site, we did it!!!! One limb on Kit and all four on Kirsten! I’m so excited. They have been so loose that they don’t hold a pose. I enjoy setting up vignettes and photographing the dolls and it’s been no fun with floppy limbs. In the process, I decided they needed a bath so searched your site for instructions on that…. Basically seems to be use baking soda. I was very careful.
(Linda, I use a Magic Eraser very lightly to get off most grime on the dolls too! Just be careful on the face or you can wipe off an eyebrow or blush without really trying! EEK! Also just disenfecting wipes are good for getting off lots of dolly grime!)
Another site I follow had earlier posted a pattern for a 50’s dress with the full skirt I remember. I’ve wanted to reproduce on of my childhood dresses for my childhood doll, Sweet Sue. I’ve had the fabric for years so I took this week to sew the dress for the doll and her doll! I was back on your site to remember how you did gathering a full skirt, lining a bodice, and making the puff sleeves stand up. I also found the post about sewing on snaps but haven’t done that yet. Tomorrow.
So, just wanted you to know that I appreciate all the sewing instructions, the daily eye-candy, the courage/example you show in trying something new (doll repair and shoe making!) and camaraderie with the Sofa Sisters.
May the Lord bless you richly in this new year.
Linda G from Minnesota
Thanks everyone,
See you tomorrow with more items on Ebay…
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, this should be interesting! I wonder what all you will be selling? Probably that Lily doll you restored, and maybe that Felicity, but what else?!
Linda, I loved reading your letter, and you did a fantastic job on your Sweet Sue dress (and her doll’s dress)! Good for you. I think you came really close on reproducing your childhood dress. I’m assuming it was one of your favorites?
Kudos to your hubby for tackling the tightening of joints on Kirsten and Kit!! My Felicity is loose, but I’m not sure I have the courage nor the inclination to do that kind of “doctoring”!
Happy New Year to all the sofa sisters!!
Hi Charlotte,
Well, we shall see… :o)
Yes, wasn’t Linda’s note sweet… that’s what I hoped my blog would be about… encouragement to try new things, tips, etc.
I was happy she and her willing hubby gave it a try.
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
I too, am curious about what you are selling , Jeanne! Yes, it would be easier for us to have your listings here on your blog on the right hand side where you normally have current Ebay listings, since I have the darndest time finding what I want on Ebay!!
Linda, your Sweet sue dress is just perfect! I too, am named Linda and also had a Sweet Sue! How about that? Mine is somehwere in dolly heaven I guess, but she had blonde hair and that is the doll I learned how to braid on!
Your dress turned out just great, and I must say you were a darling little girl!
Is that your little sister with you in the picture? What a wonderful husband you have to fix your dolls! Everybody should have one of those!
Definitely would be easier to see Ebay listings on the sidebar. Sounds like you have a lot going at your place. The guest bed is a perfect place to store things until they sell too.
Linda from MN did a remarkable job sewing the repo dress for her Sweet Sue. I was looking at the original and wondered if that was a bow at the bottom of the velvet ribbon front trim? What an amazing collar as well. Linda was so lucky to have such a lovely holiday dress as a child and to still have the photo as well. Thanks so much for sharing.
Looks like we’re back to some more rain later today. Lots to do outside before then though. )
This is so interesting! I know it is easy to keep too many things. I have been giving away nice dolls and plan on doing more this year. There is a group on EBay where people list dolls at no cost to those who want them if they pay the postage. That shipping cost which certainly is more and more all the time.
Barbara… how nice for the newly engaged couple. They will have a fun year getting ready for a wedding and you will too😉
Our Christmas was different this year too. We have any family in town on Christmas Eve with all the Christmas dishes, painted wine/ water glasses, good silver etc then just our kids and Grands on whatever day they choose…usually a few days later which has always been another formal dinner…but this year they wanted to do soups…. I was disappointed but couldn’t do the dinner myself so the daughters and daughter in laws each made a soup and with a yummy salad and toasty rolls it was very good. Two fun games that got everyone in a fun mood Then since the grands are all adults everyone went in on a 25.00 gift. It included one new hubby and two boyfriends. It also had the stealing option….Omgosh it was hysterical! Poor Landon, the youngest at 16 must have had his stolen at least ten times.
Only problem is that the whole group that decorated for Christmas need to come help put it all away!
Well…it did it again… sorry Joy.
Linda… I forgot to say your SweetSue dress is just perfect.Fantastic job!
Hi Kathie,
I’m very late today, but would love to know the name of that eBay group of doll for just postage. Thanks so much!
Hi Laura,
There are two groups. One is called “ Rehoming Dolls Shipping Cost Only” from 2022 and has 1.2 thousand members..yo need to join it.
The other is “ Dolls for Trade Only” and says it is for purposes of trading or gifting dolls for shipping cost only. It is from 2020 and has 500 members😉
Linda Gronvall you sure were a cutie. I love your reproduction of the dress and the one for the doll’s doll. I never had a Sweet Sue but I had a Toni doll and have since found one like I had on eBay. I have no clue what happened to the one I received at Christmas when I was five. Are the Sweet Sue and Toni dolls about the same size?
This blog is definitely the “go to” site for learning techniques. I use it often. I have no dolls in need of restringing at the moment but I would have to muster a lot of courage to try it myself. That and shoe making are things on my “to do” list and I would like to try the straw bonnets also. Hopefully in the New Year I will spend more time on sewing/craft projects.
The Christmas season around our house is usually very enjoyable but pretty much routine from year to year. This year was definitely different. Our son Jason (48) and his girlfriend, Stephanie (43), got engaged for Christmas. They have actually known each other since we moved to Sealy 33 years ago, but never really spent any time together. She is my daughter’s age and she and Andrea were in the same high school graduating class. She and Jason reconnected last December when she, her mother and brother came to my Chorale Christmas concert. It was a dinner concert and he and David sat with Stephanie and her family. We were quite surprised when they started dating but even more surprised when it continued. Jason usually ran from a relationship if there was any indication it might become serious. Stephanie was still living at home and had pretty much given up on finding “the one”. But they say there is a Jack for every Jenny, and that is true in their case. Sadly both “let themselves go” as they say and are now encouraging each other to lose weight and get healthy so they are very good for each other. Stephanie wore a dress to church yesterday she said she hasn’t been able to wear in six years. That’s another good thing. She has managed to get Jason to return to church. Sunday our priest announced their engagement and they both looked like they wanted to crawl under the pew. Their plans are for a year-end wedding while they continue their trek to a healthy lifestyle and getting in shape. We definitely wish them all the best. As Dr. James Dobson once said “be patient with your children while they are trying to find themselves, even if it appears they are not looking”.
Looking forward to seeing what will be up for sale on eBay.
Congrats on your son’s engagement. It’s like a Cinderella story. You can tell them what has worked for me. I’ve lost 17 pounds since summer. Skip dinner and have a small salad. No dressing. or a dot on the side of Ranch to dip greens, veggies in. For whatever reason, it works great for me. 🙂
My Jovi, is finally in CA, southern, CA, but getting closer. She’s still due for delivery Thursday.
My Jovi arrived today and she is just as I imagined. Along with her came an apology for being late and a 10% off coupon for the website so now you can add another piece to her wardrobe.
Linda, that Sweet Sue dress is perfect and reminds me of some of the clothes for my beloved Mary Hoyer dolls in the 50s. Could someone please point me to the post on getting puffed sleeves to stand up? I tried the search function to no avail. Thank you. Happy New Year everyone.
Linda G., what a wonderful project, finding a plaid fabric that small in scale and being able to duplicate the dress! Kudos to you! And your husband as well for taking on re-stuffing! Stewart plaid is my favorite fabric for Christmas dresses. Jeanne certainly does have very detailed and well-described directions for sewing and creating so many things. The picture of you and your sister is darling! You’re so fortunate to have it. Thanks for sharing your treasures.
Jeanne , I’m so glad you decided to choose eBay for your sales. I definitely think you’ll get the best results there. I wish I could work up the courage to try selling on eBay. I definitely need to get rid of a lot of things as Riya is putting away her collection of American Girl dolls as she’s 14 now. They are going to save the collection but don’t need mine too. Whatever was I thinking!
Happy New Year everyone! 🎉🎊🪅
Well, that’s just wonderful, Barbara!
Linda G. How cute you were and I love that you dressed your Sweet Sue the same now.
eBay really does seem the fairest way to go, Jeanne, and it will do well. Interesting to see what you will be selling.
Thank you, Sofa Sisters for all you kind words. I’m glad the dress is done, it may come in as one of my last projects. My eyes kept crossing! Charlotte, the dress was one of my favorites, a taffeta that swished when I moved. I think I always imagined the skirt flared out like Sweet Sue’s and was disappointed when I found the photo. Linda, that’s my cousin next to me. And yes, we share many dolly loves besides our name! Joy you’re right, there is a small black velvet bow at the base of the front ribbon. The dresses are probably up for tweaking once I get some ¼ inch black ribbon. I have some buttons set aside too. But for now, they’re done. Barbara, I’m assuming that Sweet Sue and the Tony dolls are about the same. Definitely from the same time period and came in assorted sizes. This one is 21 inches, slim-bodied. Hubby, who will try anything, said of the repair, “It wasn’t that hard.” But I had a hard time looking at the bodiless heads!
What do you suppose Jeanne will create in this new year?!?!?
Dear Linda, how adorable! I love “you” in the dress and your doll and her doll in the dresses. It is so much fun to remember how things used to be. I look forward to seeing your other projects.
Dear Jeanne, now we all want to see what is on your bed (laugh). Good luck with your upcoming auctions!