Well, I listened to those of you who mentioned adding buttons down the front of the dress, so see what you think…
They show up better in person, but here is a shot of the bodice of the dress with the new buttons added…
Can you see them?
I think they do add a little more detail to the dress. It’s a busy print, but I don’t think the buttons make it any more busy looking…
Here it is with the sash… I decided to keep it this way… it can’t just be turned over…it’s like a boomerang shape and sticks out if you try and point the tip upward. I should have shown a picture of trying it.
Here is the back of the sash…
Because every girl can’t have enough “sashes,” I decided to make another one… as Joy suggested… a pleated one… I used the same ribbon as in her hairbow and this is how it turned out…
…and one final picture…
Well, I’ll see how that goes over and get this listed if possible.
Thanks everyone,
Blessings, Jeanne
Yes, I can see the buttons–you squarely placed them in the center of the design, so it makes that part of the design look darker. Looks very nice.
The narrower pleated sash is nice, too, but think I prefer the original one.
Thanks to Dorothy for sharing that article about Elizabeth Keckley. I have read Jennifer Chiaverini’s book about her, and her relationship with the former first lady, and found it very interesting. The article filled in some blanks for me, though. (If the name Jennifer Chiaverini sounds familiar, she is also the author of The Elm Creek Quilters series of novels, which I also enjoyed reading. Probably haven’t read them all yet–there are probably quite a few in the series by now. Guess I’ll have to see what the library has next time I go in.
I too, see the buttons very well, Jeanne, and think they add to the interest of the dress. I had thought the front of the dress seemed a bit plain without them, so this fills it in nicely.
I also think the original piece around the waist is a better option than the second one, which is a bit more plain, at least to me. However, the first one can be worn for fancier occasions , giving the dress two options. Very nicely done, and that petticoat is a knockout!
Brrr! It is biting cold today, so what’s better to do than stay in and decorate the tree?
The buttons are a nice touch. You chose the perfect size to add interest without overwhelming. I love how they fit into the space of the pattern.
Barbara-I’m like you. I never minded ironing, but I know we’re a small club. : )
I hope I didn’t oversell myself. For almost 20 years I did work as a costumer for a nearby university. We usually did two shows a year, and sometimes one in the summer. During the two months of production for each show, I was very busy, but there wasn’t enough work for it to be full-time. For my “day job,” I worked as an elementary school teacher in the district where I live. I continued to costume after I left teaching, and those were the years of hours of sewing for weeks on end. I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time (and know the right people) when I was hired, and I absolutely loved the work. I briefly considered enrolling in a program to get an MFA for costuming but ultimately decided against it. I was already doing the job for a very easygoing director who pretty much let me do what I wanted in terms of design. I couldn’t have imagined a better situation.
Hi Sasha,
What an amazing career you had. I absolutely love period clothing and wish that many things were still in vogue today. I would have enjoyed being a re-enactor part-time and wearing all the gorgeous outfits.
Ah ha, another elementary teacher to add to the group. There are quite a few of us here, most retired.
yes! it looks great.
This dress is so beautiful. The fabric is just perfect.
So, it snowed a little last night, it was not in the forecast, but this morning I went out to put a letter in the mailbox, and noticed the remnants of bits of snow that had not melted. It was not below freezing for that many hours, but the wind is fierce today and it is sunny.
I am going to get some chores done, then do some sewing projects.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday
Oh, I do like the buttons. Gives the top more detail, I think. The new belt is exactly what I imagined. What a feat to do those pleats too. Looks perfect with the print. And for those that like a fancier look, the alternative can be used to spice things up. Thanks for adding another look. I love the last photo. Maybe Rebecca needs to be holding a sprig of holly or a string of popcorn to decorate the tree? I picture her by the candle lit tree on a snowy winter’s night. Perhaps reading The Christmas Carol, although, I’m unsure when it was written and don’t want to lose my comment looking it up. 🙂
We actually got some painting done on those pesky railings yesterday. Also, shopped at Etsy, and found some cute glasses of pink punch and some cupcakes. They are supposed to be the right size for the Ruby Reds. We’ll see whenever they arrive. Wish I knew how they make that tiny stuff. 🙂
Hi Joy, Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol” in December 1843, so Rebecca could certainly be reading it.
Thanks so much Laura!
Ohhhh, now the dress is finished! The black buttons also tone down the red in the center squares and give focus to the center front. Love it! Both belts look good but the v-shaped belt echos the fashion plates in the historical article on Elizabeth Keckley. It’s really a lovely outfit.
Add me to the not minding ironing club. My daughter’s Sunday dresses were cotton that required ironing as well as some of mine. My grandmother ironed sheets and dish towels.
Rebecca’s dress is lovely. The buttons look very nice. I prefer the first sash, but the second one is nice as well.
Bitterly cold here with high winds last night and a heavy dusting of snow.
I learned to iron by ironing pillowcases and tea towels. I used to sew dresses for my granddaughter when she was small. They were cotton and one Sunday at church I noticed Jaiden’s dress looked like she slept in it. I mentioned that it could have used the touch of an iron to which my daughter-in-law replied, “I gave my (actually Sean’s) ironing board away. I was shocked. A home without an ironing board?! Well I lived next door to her so I said just bring me Jaiden’s dresses and I will iron them for you. It never happened. I get along great with my daughter-in-law but taking care of clothes so everyone looks nice is definitely a bone of contention between us. Now Jaiden is nearly 13 and everything is blue jeans and t-shirts (preferably Anime) even for church. Actually for church she wears t-shirts with inspirational words on them like her Dad does. In the interest of my blood pressure I gave up on this one.
Same here, Barbara. I learned to iron on pillowcases (or as my grandparent’s and mom call them and I do sometimes also -pillowslips) and cloth napkins. My mom sewed things for my daughter in cotton and I opted for cotton fabric when buying. Some things required ironing pleats back in and of course the sleeves needed creases. I wouldn’t have been caught in high school with sleeve creases. Along with our ironing board we also had my grandmother’s sleeve ironing board which my daughter loved to play with as a child with her metal pretend iron and doll clothes.
should have been without sleeve creases.
Dear Jeanne, I like the new sash as well. I also love how you have styled this doll’s hair.
It is freezing here. We had snow flurries (the big gloppy snowflake kind). I am already over Winter.
There are only 147 days until May! I am definitely counting (smile).
I love the buttons down the front. Even if you can’t see them too well in the pictures the effect is there when you look at the whole dress. The new sash is nice for everyday wear but I really like the “v” shaped belt. It looks very dressy.
No strong, cold winds for us. At the moment our weather is like a roller coaster. Today it will be 62 tomorrow 55. Then the temps go up and down from day to day. David said we are supposed to have temps in the 30s before Christmas. I finally broke down and turned on the heat the other day because our nights were quite chilly and it was overcast, so the house was not warming up at all. While I was switching out my closets, I left it off because I knew I would feel warm from the task, but once I was finished I wanted to sit in my recliner with a blanket over me. But I wanted to sew so I turned on the heat. Some of the upcoming days will be in the 70s so I imagine I will need to turn on the A/C for those days. Having a 1945 house in southeast Texas means it’s not insulated so whatever the weather is outside is what it is inside without the help of either heat or A/C.
My choral group sang at the local bank yesterday for their Christmas open house. We do it each year. Last year I finished up singing from a chair. Yesterday I was delighted to make it through the event (three familiar carols and four concert pieces) without a problem so I was standing for nearly an hour counting the time I stood around before we started performing. Since our concerts usually last about an hour I think I’m good to go for our concert next Friday. Evidently my trips to the chiropractor are showing positive results. Yay!!!
It’s just beautiful!