My hope was to get some pictures of Rebecca standing next to a Christmas tree and then get them listed on Ebay, but my day was too full and it never happened… Boo hoo!!
I did get my small dolly Christmas tree out and decorated it with a few ornaments. Look at this tiny gold star tree topper I found the other day at the Thrift Shop when Cindy and I were shopping there.
I was hoping to get just a few outside pictures today, next to our holly bushes, but the windchill never got higher than 16 degrees. It was so windy and cold, I passed and settled for inside pictures.
I need some new ornaments for my dolly tree… or maybe just some ribbons tied in bows… I’ll have to search and see if I can find something else…
I wish I had used some red vintage baby rick rack on her tree… or miniature popcorn strands… oh well…
This is why the sash couldn’t be pointed upwards… it goes around her waist and points down…
Well, I guess I’ll try again tomorrow…
See you then,
Blessings, Jeanne
That’s a wonderful tree for Rebecca to help decorate! Yeah, you Could have added some sort of garland or bows, but I think it’s nice just as it is, and it’s possible that some of the decorations we know now weren’t in existence back in Rebecca’s day.
I just read to comments on yesterday’s blog, and count me in on those who enjoy ironing. It’s the mindless, automatic kind of work that helps me figure out other things while I’m ironing! I, too, learned to iron on pillowcases, hankies and napkins. Then Mom said I could iron a twin sheet, but not to attempt the full sized ones, as that would be too difficult for me to iron. So I picked up a sheet, and I ironed, and ironed, and ironed…..it turned out to be a full size sheet! What did I know?!!
Joy, I think some people just are very skilled at making miniature things. My late friend Daria was like that. I have a little Easter basket she put together for one of my dolls some years ago (she died in 2007, so it’s been a while), filled with “candy” she made, and the little marshmallow peeps are incredible….a row of about 4 of them that’s about an inch long TOTAL, all made of Fimo or something along those lines!! At her celebration of life, her sons had put out some of the other miniatures she’d made, and really, she was so very talented in that way. She had made one of those spring-bodied doggie pull toys, for instance, that would fit into a dollhouse. I don’t know how….but some people just have that gift.
Barbara, when I was making clothes for our granddaughter Lily, when she was little, I often chose a cotton/poly blend plisse’ called TuttiFrutti, which was easy care. I didn’t smock her things, but I did make some very girly things for her (which she LOVED!), and yet her mom didn’t have to iron them (although I think she would have if needed, but I wasn’t sure, so decided to make it easy for her). Sometimes I used knit fabrics, too–a cotton interlock print dress, for instance, or a top made of that knit fabric that has rows of ruffles already built in.
You reminded me of something funny. In an effort to sew for my granddaughter with little effort required on upkeep I bought this wonderful pattern book that was geared toward sewing adorable children’s clothes with knit fabric. I made Jaiden several really cute short sets. One day her mom was fussing because the shorts I made for her kept falling down. Well the shorts were interlock fabric and the tops were made like yoga pants (no elastic just the stretch of the knit) so you can envision what happened when she sent the kids outside to play with the garden hose. The wetter Jaiden got the more stretched out her shorts became and that plus the fact that they were drenched with water made them slide down. But that was somehow my fault because I should have made sure that wouldn’t happen. But it was always something whenever I made something for the kids so eventually I gave up and sewed for my dolls. They always love what I make them. At least I never hear them say anything to the contrary.
Oh, that Is funny! Of course, cotton interlock gets heavy when it’s wet–it’s the nature of the beast! I guess you should have made them out of something that doesn’t absorb water, like parachute fabric?!! Haha….
Seriously, there are some people who don’t understand things like that, and have no idea it’s something that comes with the chosen fabric! And if they don’t appreciate your efforts, then, what can you do, but stop sewing for them.
I just love that realistic little Christmas tree, Jeanne! And garlands of little red beads that are supposed to be cranberries would work just fine,…………if you have the time for such things! I have a small tree for my 40’s girls, and have it decorated with various ornaments, many that we did not have in the 40’s, but I wasn’t thinking along those lines when I decorated the tree. So no tinsel on that tree, but the Christmas police have not yet arrested me!
I love the whole Christmas outfit, and with the tree in the picture, it is just stunning! I love that curved waistband, which gives it a period look, for sure!
About ironing, well, not my favorite thing to do, but I also learned on pillowcases, tablecloths and such, but today’s little girls do not have to do that, so out of sight, out of mind, I guess. My doll clothes are always ironed, and I cannot understand how some people take pictures of their dolls in wrinkled clothes! My ironing board is always set up in the laundry room, so it’s no big deal to press things. I simply don’t understand today’s young mothers in not ironing!
There is a shop on Etsy that has the cutest clothes and I bought a few awhile back. They came in all wrinkled so I tried to iron them. It appears that no ironing was done while they were being constructed so when I tried to iron them the pieces were not true (i.e. the facing and the bodice pieces did not exactly match up so when you ironed it you either had a wrinkle on the front or on the facing). I haven’t bought anything from that site since. I always iron while i sew and managed to find a small doll ironing board on the internet once that helps with the smaller areas. My one aunt that sewed professionally always told me you sew as much with your iron as your sewing machine when you are constructing a garment. I’ve never found any reason to argue with that.
When I was sewing at my son’s house, I asked my granddaughter Riya where the ironing board was. She asked, “What’s an ironing board?” Mommy’s an anesthesiologist, so ironing isn’t something that ever happens with the hours she keeps. I made a dress for Riya once that got the comment “You look like a farm girl,” when she wore it to school when they lived in West Virginia, so that ended that. I did sew matching Christmas dresses for Riya, Molly and Ten Ping years ago that Riya designed which required quite a bit of pressing.
Rebecca’s dress is beautiful. The small trees are fun to decorate. You have such good luck at thrift shops. Someone’s doll will look beautiful in this dress for a very special Christmas this year. The sleeve treatment and lace at the waist make it so unique!
Rebecca looks ready for Christmas, decorating her tree in her beautiful dress. I do love that little star tree topper. But, truthfully, I love all tiny things. And, I like Linda’s red bead cranberry garland idea. : )
We’re having a bake sale at church to benefit a local shelter that serves families, so today I’m making cookies, bars, and fudge. I do enjoy baking (less than sewing, but more than ironing, ha!), so I’m looking forward to it.
Have a good weekend!
Dear Jeanne, I think the Christmas tree is so sweet. She looks very content as she goes about the task of decorating the tree.
I love the pic of Rebecca decorating the tree. Looks so realistic. What no mini lights on the tree? Now, that would make it sparkle. But, as it is, very sweet. Love it. I’m sure Rebecca, will miss this dress. It’s so festive.
As to ironing, here, I own nothing that needs ironing. But, I do iron a teeny tiny bit everyday usually, when I’m sewing little garments for the dolls here. 🙂
Thanks Charlotte, for the miniature info. Sad your friend is no longer alive, but her gift to you sounds so cute. I’m not exactly sure how they make little things like doll sized drinks. They may use resin? Not sure. And I guess treats like cookies/cupcakes are made from the clay everyone uses now. Everything looks so real and are a 1/3 scale I think.
I’m not sure yet, but it looks like my FedEx package from HK, will arrive today. It’s currently on it’s way here from Oakland, after a stop in Japan, and hopefully will make a truck for delivery at some point. This is going to be another dicey delivery.
Such a busy time of year. Hope everyone has a moment to enjoy the festivities. Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
This picture of Rebecca in her beautiful dress with her Christmas tree is adorable. I love it. interesting about the belt.
I did not read over yesterdays comments on ironing.
Probably like Jeanne, my iron is my tool. I seldom iron collars flat, or the front of a shirt or blouse, but I iron a lot of fabric bits and blocks and flattening stuff.
It is really cold here, but very sunny in Northern Virginia 35 miles west of the swamp. I hope everyone has a super fun week-end
I can’t believe it, I am turning 70 on Sunday. Don’t tell anyone
Well, happy birthday on Sunday! But you’re just a kid. I’m 75. Ha ha
I win this one! I’ll be 78 the day after Christmas. Where does the time go?
Happy birthday Rosemary! You are just a kid! I will be 79 in January. That means one of those “big” birthdays is only a little over a year away!
Like Joy, I iron when I make doll clothes! Also, Joy, I hope all goes well with your box arrival.
The dress and tree are so sweet you could frame it as a Christmas picture on your wall or mantle, Jeanne!
I am working on some Christmas outfits for the Meadow dolls. Plan to get our tree soon, there is a tree farm in our county. We are into “small tree on the table” size now.
Sweet little tree. I have some of those straw balls and other straw ornaments that usually go on the “natural elements” tree in the sun room. Love the sleeve detail and the sash on Rebecca’s dress. The hairbow is very much like the ones I used to make for my daughter’s dresses. Sometime I added tails. Plan to watch the 1949 and 1994 Little Women movies sometime this Christmas season or during the winter.
One more comment on ironing. My mom ironed anything that needed to be, but even in high school I would have thought nothing of whipping out the iron to put creases in my blouse sleeves. I wouldn’t have gone to school without sleeve creases. I don`t like ironing as much as baking or handwork (crochet, embroidery etc,), but I certainly don’t mind it. better than looking like a ragamuffin like my grandmother would have said to un-ironed clothing.
I forgot to wish everyone a Happy St. Nicholas Day. A German tradition and also popular in the Victorian era.
Thanks for the movie list. I’ll have to see if we can get them on YouTube TV. 🙂
I’m not a fan of ironing, my clothes mostly don’t look any different after I have worn them for 1/2 an hour but my ironing board is set up permanently in my workroom and I would never sew without pressing as I go. With my patchwork I do have a roller tool that I won in a raffle at guild which works very well when sewing small seams for a quick fix, I haven’t tried it on dolly seams but I imagine it might work for them as well but it isn’t intended to replace pressing.
Rebecca does indeed look charming in her lovely dress while decorating her sweet little tree. I have a small tree for my dolls and found some small ornaments especially for it somewhere a few years ago.
I will be putting up my tree Monday. I love that it is pre-lit so I can just plug it in and start putting on the ornaments without having to mess with lights. Hopefully I will get the ornaments on Monday and then can start putting up my village the next day. I’m trying to get as much done as possible the first three days of next week since I have concert dress rehearsal Thursday and the concert Friday evening and i don’t want to do much on those two days. Once the concert is over I can hit the ground running with wrapping gifts and finishing up some other things like my Christmas letter and Christmas cards. Most of the gifts are on their way thanks to Amazon and wish lists. I’m not much for walking the malls these days so this works for me. Nice day here. In the 50s with the sun shining brightly.