HI everyone,
You might know what I mean, but then again, you might not. Remember about 2 weeks ago, I mentioned my hubby was going to have to have surgery again? Well, he didn’t want me broadcasting to the whole world that we were going to be gone, so I tried to keep it a secret and “sort of” carry on my blog posts.
My hubby’s doctor was able to get him an appointment VERY quickly and he had surgery Tuesday! We were told it needed to be done as soon as possible before it became more serious and dangerous than it was now. The surgery went well and the doctor was pleased. So were we…and very thankful for all the prayers! The Lord has been very gracious and merciful to us all these years concerning my hubby’s health. We go back later to get the staples removed… He is very sore and is moving like a snail… and my jobs have increased greatly, but I’m okay with that. (Tonight, I had to go close up the hens and when I got to the coop, as I shown the flashlight on the ground, I saw all these bugs hopping and it sort of creeped me out. I didn’t know if they were grasshoppers or tiny frogs…when I came back inside and told my hubby about it, he said they were Camel Crickets! Oh dear!!! I absolutely HATE Camel Crickets… you never know which direction they are going to jump!)
I did happen to meet the nicest nurse who was taking care of my hubby. Her name was Laura and I can’t exactly remember how we got started talking, but she is JUST LIKE ME… she loves sewing, quilting, and at one point she mentioned something about bidding on a sewing machine. When I asked her if she had a Singer Featherweight sewing machine, she said, “I have THREE!” Here is her picture of them… on top is a vintage Baby Lock Serger too!
She loves to smock and crochet and do counted cross stitch and I’m sure other things I’ve already forgotten. She mentioned something about buying a composition doll that was naked and she wanted to make it a dress. She showed me the picture of the doll’s face, but I don’t know “if she bought it on Ebay” or “how long” ago she bought it and wasn’t sure what I was looking for in the completed listings on Ebay. So, I just picked one of the Ebay dolls that had been completed to show you what she was similar to. She is a 27″ Miracle on 34th Street doll.
When you click the link, scroll down just a bit to see the doll. I absolutely LOVE those raised up curls on her forehead.
I told her I wrote a blog about sewing for dolls….and then we both kept asking each other questions about our sewing and what we made. She wrote down the name of my blog and said she’d like to check it out… Right about that time, my hubby’s doctor walked in… OOPS! She left and we talked with him… When I saw her a bit later, she told me she had “already” subscribed! It was the bright spot in my stay at the hospital… other than getting a good report from the doctor!
So… what can I show you since I’ve been gone for a few days? I know… how about Mae’s shoes? After I got everything unpacked and put away, and a light dinner for my hubby made, I went in my sewing room to see if the shoes I had made would fit my doll shoe lasts! THEY DID! I was so happy. I was so glad I had punched the holes in them right before we left to go to the hospital. In fact, it was the very last thing I did before we got in the car to leave. My hubby was loading the car and I was in my sewing room, punching out holes in the pink leather. Silly woman! But I’m glad I did!
You saw them on Tuesday when I was stitching them in the waiting room… they looked like this…
Tonight, I slipped them in the shoe lasts and they look like this…
After I wet molded them, they were starting to shape up…and had that curved vamp at the toes.
I actually had that pink waxed thread and think it’s pretty on them…
I’ll let them dry overnight and see if they need to be wet and shaped again before I finish them.
I think I’m going to go to bed! I am looking SO FORWARD to sleeping in my own bed!
Thanks everyone, for carrying on without me being around much! I did read all your comments and thought it was so interesting that most everyone wanted to go on a train trip. Tonight, I read the comments to my hubby, but I told him first what the question was. He immediately said, “Well, the train trip would be my LAST choice!” And then you all wanted to go on a train ride! :o)
See you Monday!
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m guessing that this is the Miracle on 34th street doll.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326273810505?_skw=miracle+on+34th+street+doll&itmmeta=01J87G3FNGYF69CTZ1XBWD3SEJ&hash=item4bf76f4049:g:V6YAAOSwxydm6jBZ&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABAHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlqkd3wZmuCGaUMaSUjH9lP4nchsK7MzFvSa%2BH70ocsM8IvrStnda4zWH4NL%2B8RlAHC1v1BwMsJ7Zuwtcujp6mXnb09HtA%2Bqzw3fXHA3FZzWsRvmGdZZ%2BxjhQqTkOrpZzM0iYXTZiVHrCd4LkavN%2BcD0Oe95VRz12JWxf9Nq%2FrqB5WTT0nsyuFpuIAqlO55XDOU8HOkbDqKZvd%2BEjF7CCdoAkOGjkCsddZSGTpUrRbUwiGlY6E5WvJUpuE1rNLwgj%2BL1geuN2ebaogvyw1YrM26Ip0RbvwHQCE1WLUt31P4S1NnPc5afcWtXXZcLCAHcIg%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-76jfDBZA&edge=0
18 bidders and it’s up to $104. This one might be fun to watch.
I’m glad you are both home and safe. Amazing to think of George moving slowly. The doctor knows him, so he won’t be surprised at how fast George recovers.
The nurse will be so glad she found you — she sounds like a perfect sofa sister — except she may never sit down. We’ll be looking forward to hearing about some of her projects.
Jeanne, I am so pleased to hear that George’s surgery is over and y’all are home. Prayers for his quick recovery!
The little shoes are coming along and you have a new blog friend! I hope she will find time to join us.
My older son has been here most of the week. Such a lovely time, just having him here, although we had too much rain for him to do some jobs in the yard I had planned for him.
I am looking forward to Mae’s finished outfit!
Wow, Marilyn is first! Where is Charlotte?
So glad you are home and now George is doing well, just slower. He does need time to recoup, but I know, knowing him, it is going to be hard just sitting around! Prayers will keep coming for you both!
Well, what a coincidence that you found someone almost like you, Jeanne, and here in St. Louis too! And a nurse, almost like you, since you are now Nurse Jeanne, in a way!😊
I too, love those raised curls on that sweet doll’s head! That’s the kind of doll I would have loved as a little girl!
Mae’s shoes are so cute, and coming along so well! Can’t wait to see them finished and on her with that cute little jumpsuit and hat! And please, pictures in the yard! Give her a little bucket of corn kernels and have her go feed the chickens!
I too, love those
What happened there with those last four words? 🤣
So glad you are home and George is recovering well from his surgery. He must have the history of healing well or he wouldn’t have been released this quickly.
So nice for you to have met a fellow traveler in the sewing world, right down to the collection of sewing machines! The little tiny shoes are darling. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the outfit. Enjoy some rest when you can. We’ll be here.
So glad his surgery went well and that he was able to have it quickly! The shoes are pretty. 🙂 That’s good you were able to work on them while you were waiting.
My brother recently visited Alaska with his new bride. They got to go on a cruise as well.
Oh my, I am so very relieved the surgery adventure is over for now. I hope your dear husband heals well and progress ahead is smooth. both of you will be in my prayers.
Home sweet home indeed. what a delight to meet a superb nurse. (I was a hospital nurse for about 4 years and did indeed meet so many incredibly wonderful people) Laura sounds like a GEM!! what sweet enjoyable conversations! I have three featherweights too!!
Actually we are down sizing and I am keeping ONLY 6 machines!!! hahahhaha
My others are a White mechanical set in a table with a walking foot, a Singer 316G that is my mothers that I adore, and a Singer 301A I bought from a friend some years ago. I cant let any of them go. Maybe I can take them to Heaven with me. I could mend wings and robes.
The pink shoes are adorable. The pink thread is the only appropriate color, because it is so adorable.
The comments about the train from your hubbs is very funny. I have ridden many many trains and they are kind of variable, I would want super fancy like Princess level train travel haha
Happy Friday, rest well this week-end and greatest healing prayers for your dear hubbs
OH and that antique doll is incredibly beautiful.
-and absolute treasure
That’s great you met a nurse who loves to sew!
So glad to hear George’s surgery went well and you are both recovering at home. New friends can be found in the most unusual places. I don’t own Mae or any dolls by My Meadow but that outfit is adorable and surely to be a hit!
We made it to the wedding and back but not without enduring 2 tropical storms and a category 2 hurricane. I feel like a storm chaser. We ended our journey (by auto) on Jekyll Island for one night. I thought of you Sissy. Thus far this is the winner for overnight stays on the southeast Atlantic coast. We are looking forward to returning and exploring more of the Golden Isles.
My goal today is to dress my dolls in the colors of autumn. Hoping the weather will get the hint as it is still warm, rainy, and humid.
Debbie, please let me know when you are “in the Golden Isles” again. We could get together for lunch or something! That would be so fun. Maybe we good find a sofa to sit on and take our pictures, LOL.
I would love that! We are already in the planning stages. 🙂
I live between Savanna and Brunswick, but grew up on St. Simon’s Island. Just so you know.
Looking forward to meeting Y’all.
So glad to hear that George, is doing well and home. Those bugs in the yard would have creeped me out as well. Ugh
How fun to have met a sewing nurse. Hope she decides to join up. 🙂 And what a great group of Featherweights she enjoys. (Only one here.) Lovely way to display them too.
It’s nice to see Mae’s shoes come into fruition. Love that pink.
Hope Jeanne, gets some time to rest and recover this weekend as well as George. It must be great to be home safe and sound.
Somehow I suspected you might be at the hospital with George. So glad all went well and in spite of his moving at a snail’s pace he’s doing good. He sounds a lot like David. After his heart and knee surgeries he would only stay put as long as it took for the pain to diminish and then he was off to his shop. At first he tried using a walker to go down there but if he used his one with wheels, he said it was too bumpy and the one he had to use after his knee surgery was too slow so one of the boys walked with him. He was determined to go. But I sure wish I could be more like you. When I’m faced with something unusual in my life it seems my creative instincts just shut down and the situation is all I can think of until things settle down. I did take a book to read when David had his surgeries and got frequent texts from the operating room telling me things were going well, but until I knew all was well I could not focus on anything else. I really admire your being able to accomplish things during trying times.
Laura is a rare find indeed and I’m so glad she joined us on the sofa. Welcome Laura! Three featherweight machines and so nicely displayed. I don’t even have one and at the moment I’m not sure where I’d put it if I had one. My sewing/embroidery machine and my serger and their tables take up a lot of space on their own.
I wish Laura lived near me. I do not have a friend or an acquaintance that has anywhere near the same interests I do so I’m very much a loner in my creative endeavors. Most have no interests or hobbies at all and I cannot fathom how that can be. I have so many I can’t indulge in them all, at least routinely. A friend once said that if I don’t “have” something to do I “make” something to do. But that was years ago when I had boundless energy. These days I do know how to rest every now and then.
The little pink shoes are coming along nicely.
I received my Ruby Red Galleria Sassy Sage yesterday. She is lovely. I liked that they sent a headband for her head to hold her wig in place. Until I located that in the box her wig would not stay put. My only problem was her boots. They are amazing but very difficult to put on. I opened the straps because they would not let me open the laces wide enough to get her foot in. But then they were difficult to close again (they were also difficult to open) so I just removed them totally for the moment. If anyone else has one and has solved this problem I would love to hear how you did it.
I think my new AG #122 is due to arrive today. Since Sassy Sage came yesterday I’ve got to figure some way to covertly keep her arrival on the QT. I thought hubby would be on a job today but they are not ready for the next phase yet so he is here and since he watches for UPS or FEDEX because he’s been ordering things for his bulldozer, if he sees them or our postal lady show up he’s here in a blink of an eye. No time for subterfuge.
I don’t know why we can’t live in the same place! I can’t say no one has a hobby but many play golf or ride horses. None that share my interests. There are doll clubs in the big cities but they are too far from our small town.
I was so tempted by Sassy Sage and am so sorry about the boots. They were one of the best parts of her outfit. I am waiting on Zora but I can’t remember why I thought I needed her! 🥹
Dolly fever is very elusive in its “why”. I have a few dolls that I might not have bought if not in the throes of dolly fever. But they are members of the family now so it matters nought.
🥰
My Sage also arrived. However, she is still in her undies although she is wigged. 🙂 Hope to get the outfit on her soon. 🙂 You are not alone in the boot problem. If you’re on FaceBook, the RRFF Official group has lots of responses about trying to get on those boots. 🙂 I guess I have that to look forward to.
Dear Barbara, congratulations on your new arrival. I look forward to seeing a photo of her when she is ready.
Did you have a chance to look at the RRFF Noelle doll? She is the one I mentioned that my friend Martha helped to design for the company. She is wearing one of the dresses that Martha created and RRFF adapted. Someone in my local doll club is getting her so I will be able to see her close up.
I am still hoping to find a Violette or Victoria. They are the older RRFF dolls.
Jeanne has Violette and I would love to have her. She reminds me a lot of Jennifer Grey in “Dirty Dancing”. I have looked at Noelle but it was before you told me about being friends with Martha so I need to go back and look again.
I had a feeling you were at the hospital with George, but very right to not let anyone know you aren’t at home. Good to know the surgery is over and recovery can begin.
Welcome to another Laura on the sofa! I love to crochet and do counted cross stitch as well. That baby doll with the raised curls is just darling. Mae’s shoes will be super cute.
It is always a surprise and a good feeling when you meet a new person who shares your same interests in sewing and dolls! I do not have anyone near who shares my doll and sewing doll outfits interests, so I was pleasantly surprised when I ran across your website “I Dream of Jeanne Marie”. Your postings are such an inspiration! I may not contribute often, but I look forward to reading your emailed posts each day….makes me feel connected to others who also enjoy sewing for dolls and crafting!
I am retired and share a home with my middle daughter and I don’t have a car so don’t get out often….she works and has her own interests and friends, and we tend to order online so things come to our home….so much easier than dealing with the heavy Texas traffic on the weekends! Pflugerville just opened their first Hobby Lobby last spring….good thing as I hail from Indiana and I thought nearly every city had a Hobby Lobby! The closest JoAnn Fabric store is in Round Rock, TX so that is not exactly a hop, skip and a jump away. (It took some getting use to how everything is spread out here in Texas, compared to where I lived in Indiana!) I have been ordering fabrics for quite a while now from The Fabric Shack out of Waynesville, Ohio. They offer wonderful, quality cottons, etc. for quilting/sewing and have so many sweet little prints. AND, they will cut as small as 1/4 yd. if needed, whereas many places require 1 or 2 yd. minimum cuts.
And I am with you when it comes to Camel Crickets….ewwww! I thought the Texas fire ants were bad enough to deal with! However….I do not miss the cold weather and SNOW and ICE from up north. I certainly wouldn’t be wearing capris and sandals in northern Indiana right now!
Again….thank you for your daily effort to keep your site running even when dealing with the “bumps in the road” that life throws us from time to time. Seems like we’ve all had some and I know I always can’t wait to get back to my projects so I feel like my ‘ole creative self again!
I too was glad to find Jeanne’s blog since no one I knew was into even sewing let alone doll collection. In Texas terms you don’t live that far from me. In Texas people talk more about time to get somewhere rather than miles I guess since unless you are around a big city the traffic is rather light and the speed limits high. Coming from the northeast I’d never seen a 75 mph speed limit till I came here. When my daughter was in theater in high school their State competition was in Austin so I got used to that drive since they made State most of her high school years. Highway 36 to Brenham and then 290 to Austin. Not terribly stressful most of the way. But not being too far from Houston most of my travel is in that direction and traffic is never light. Did you know of Brenda Mize Eyes of Texas dolls? She was in Pflugerville but changed the name to Brenda Mize Dolls now that she’s moved to Connecticut. I never did make it out there when she was in Texas.
Hi Elizabeth,
I just wanted to thank you for introducing yourself and telling us a little bit about your interests. I hope you’ll join in often… it was fun reading your comments.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi, Elizabeth! Nice to hear from you and to get to know you a bit. I attend the Modern Doll Collectors conventions almost every year and have been to San Antonio twice with them. In 2023 the convention was in Indianapolis. I really enjoyed the city, at least the part around our hotel.
Nice to know about another good place to order fabrics, thanks for the tip. I hope we will continue to hear from you.
Dear Elizabeth, hello and welcome to Jeanne’s sofa. We, here, refer to ourselves as the Sofa Sisters (smile). We sign on, take a seat, and share bits of our lives, just as you did. We have varied interests: dolls, sewing, cooking, gardening, etc. This is an uplifting, supportive community. Now would you like tea or coffee as we sit and chat?
Dear Jeanne, so glad you and George are home safe and sound. Of course, prayers continue.
We have all scooted down and made room for Laura on the sofa. It is wonderful to have a new Sister.
I hope you can catch your breath this weekend and get a little rest.
Well, I don’t know what happened to my post last night–I really did write one, because I remember commenting on the white Featherweight that the nurse has. I have a FW, but just plain black, with the striped end panel, from 1948. She sings when she sews!
I’m glad to hear George is doing so well. I figured he probably was having his surgery this week–anything else, like out of town company, and you’d have said something!
That Miracle on 34th Street doll is certainly darling. (That is my favorite Christmas movie, by the way, particularly the original one with Maureen O’Hara. I have to watch it every year!)
The pink shoes are absolutely wonderful! I am a real shoe person, or was, when I could still wear heels and such. I have really small feet, so when I find something that fits, I buy it! Also, I sew, and I can make almost anything except shoes, so I buy them! And did I mention, I really love shoes?!! Especially if they are really cute and a pretty color!!
Yesterday was an extremely busy day for me. Dryer delivery/setup which came with some bumps in the road. For one, they were to be here between 8 and 10 a.m. (yawn), so I got up extra early, and a little after 9 they called–the guy who was supposed to do ours was sick but they could send someone around 1 instead. Would that be okay? Indeed! So I napped some and then…about 11:30 or so my son called–Jon and I are on the way to do some work for you!! So they were out in my yard for three hours! It looks much better.
Back to the dryer.. they came about 1:40, two of the nicest guys, the installer and his assistant (or maybe apprentice?). The main bump they ran into was that the connector that was used in my 56-year-old house and on my 56-year-old dryer (yes!! Ron kept it running ALL these years!!) are not the same size as the new ones, so he had to shut off the gas to the whole house, put a new connector on, and then turn the gas back on. Of course, this cost extra! (I’m sure if Ron had been alive and still able to do it, he probably could have rummaged thru his stuff and found an adaptor!) There was also an issue with the outlet, but that was easily taken care of. Finally, I have a working dryer once more!
Anyway, it was 3:30 by the time everyone was gone, and I was able to get ready to meet my friends for our early supper and trivia at IHOP. Afterwards I came home and collapsed on the bed! Rested a while, but didn’t sleep; however, I slept Really well last night, once I finally went to bed!
Dear Charlotte, it is so nice to read your post. Charlotte Noelle has been asking about you. She has begun a count down for Christmas.
She has had three time-outs already this month. The other day she asked me if Santa knows about time time-outs. I said, “well how do you think he makes his naughty or nice list?” That quieted her for a moment. Honestly, that girl.
PS For those who don’t know, Charlotte Noelle is my Little Darling doll daughter. She is named for our Charlotte. She is always getting herself in trouble (laugh).
….unlike her aunty Charlotte! Of course, I was always a perfect little girl!! 😂🤣😂 (My brother might tell a different story…)
Dear “Sofa Sisters” and fans of I Dream of Jeanne Marie!
Thank you for the warm welcome! I would love to chat over a cup of Breakfast Blend coffee…although I am also fond of New English Teas after I was gifted with a set of their loose teas. Really good tea and they come in the cutest little tins!
I had heard of Brenda Mize Eyes of Texas Dolls and we lived fairly close to her when my daughter and I lived in Pflugerville, but I had never met her in person. My daughter and I moved to Hutto, TX a year ago when new-build homes were more affordable here. So we are six minutes away from Pflugerville and still shop at the stores there.
I am finishing a stuffed cat doll as a “just for the fun of it” gift for my youngest daughter’s Birthday…she loves cats and has the room to take care of nine of them! I have also done many pieces of artwork for my daughters over the years and this year I did a large watercolor of a Puma for her Birthday. (She has my acrylic paintings of ocelots, leopard, tiger, zebra, camels, and elephants! My daughter would do very well running an animal preserve!)
Last year I drew pastel portraits of all eight of her cats, for her Birthday…she has since adopted a spunky adult cat named Miles. Then I’m back to crafting my Christmas figures for this year. For the past ten years or so, I made a different Santa for each of my family members (10 figures total, done on an assembly line fashion!) Then around 5 years ago I started adding snowmen figures to their Santa gifts. I’ll try to post a photo from my daughters collection at Christmas time as my girls display all of their Santa’s and snowmen during the holidays. I’ve utilized many patterns from Dollmaker’s Journey over the years…lots of creativity shown on that site.
And in between, my favorite activity is coming up with new ensembles for my Ruby Red dolls….I make their cloth shoes and accessories that go with their outfits or fabric prints. I find crafting the “extras” are as much fun as sewing the outfits!
I look forward to seeing your pictures, Elizabeth!!
I have a friend who lives in Hutto. I haven’t heard from her in a long time so I’m not sure if she still does. It’s a nice place. It sounds like you are very prolific in your sewing and crafting and make wonderful things. I can’t wait to see some of them. I used to dream of spending hours in my sewing room when I worked full time, but it seems now that I have retired and can I seem to lack the energy I once had to even get started sometimes. But when I change my dolls clothes throughout the year I find I manage to accomplish more than I realized. I think once I get started I move quickly until I run out of things on the drawing board. Then it takes me awhile to begin planning again. But I do love the process of picking out patterns, fabric, embellishments and the next dolly daughter to get new wearing attire. After I dress them all in their seasonal outfits (Back-to-school, Christmas/holiday, Easter/Spring and Summer) I look them over and see who needs what. Sometimes it’s someone new to the dolly family that needs their first outfit or sometimes I’m just tired of seeing one of them in the same old outfit and I want something new for them. While I’d love to spend hours in my sewing room, there seems to be a lot that takes my attention away from that so sometimes I just go in there and sit down and wallow in all the fabric, trims, patterns and possibilities.