Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for all your lovely compliments and comments on the dresses I’ve been showing the last few days! As you can tell, I love sewing, and just like some of you, I’d have a hard time picking a favorite too!
Okay, so Easter is over, ALL the dresses have been shown, so it’s time for a new dress to be made. Several of you commented on Molly, so I decided Molly would be next. Buttttt… I decided ahead of time I would make her a straw hat and that would go with lots of my fabrics…
I had picked up this glass dish and thought it would work for a pretty shaped hat…it had a slightly “layered” kind of look to the glass, but I didn’t think it would make too much of a difference when the hat braid was over all the layers.
So I started and finished it with the scalloped edging, but you don’t “really” know for sure how it’s going to fit (making them with a glass piece) until it’s finished and you try it on the dolls head.
Well… I tried it on Molly but it looked “kind of smallish” or too narrow of a brim…
So I tried it on Stella to see how it looked on her. The opening where it was supposed to fit on her head was too big and the hat just rocked on her head. Hmmm… what to do…
I convinced myself maybe a few more rows of hat straw might make the hat look better on Molly’s head… so I added a few rows, but since the original edge of the hat was already sort of curved down, and I was just holding it with my hands and gluing it round and round, it had a tendence to curve downward. I have seen some hats shaped like this, but not sure if Molly is the girl to wear this hat…
As I found this picture on Ebay, I do see the crown is different… so maybe my hat isn’t worth messing with…
So… I’m asking for opinions… any???
Moving on…
I received some pictures from Joy and thought I’d show them. Here’s what she said about them…
Here’s some yard pictures I took yesterday. The apple tree is in bloom and there’s a few Iris’s amongst the weeds. So many weeds. 🙂
Joy
I LOVE those dark purple Iris’s and that Crow?? or Blackbird looks like he is really enjoying himself!
Thanks Joy, for adding some “color” to today’s post!
I’ll see everyone one tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
First of all, two replies to yesterday’s comments: Barbara, isn’t it something how just the smallest thing (like that sash) can finish an outfit so nicely? I’ve found that true quite often when sewing for my dolls, especially.
Rosemary, yes, I do remember your telling me about your mother. How wonderful that you have all those books to peruse and drool over!!
Jeanne, I see what you mean about that hat. In the first picture, it looks more like something that would have been worn kind of pinned to the back of the head, many years ago (Victorian? Edwardian? I get those eras mixed up) and covered with flowers and veiling, perhaps.
In the last picture of her wearing it, I get the impression she has too much hair for it to fit her properly. Perhaps one of your AG dolls has less “poufy” hair? I’m thinking, hair like Kit’s, which is shorter, and straight, and pretty flat to her head.
Joy, thanks for sharing pictures! When I was growing up, we had an ancient apple tree in our side yard; didn’t do much as far as apples (small and green and hard!) but the apple blossoms were so lovely.
And your iris are gorgeous. When I was growing up, we called them “flags”, and one can see why! My 5th grade teacher grew them in her yard, and the last time I went to see her (about 30 years ago, I think; she has since died) they were all in bloom and she had many colors! She was my favorite teacher, and we stayed in touch thru the years. June and I went to see her whenever we were up in that area, and I think one time she even had our 3rd grade teacher over for a visit, too!
Thanks Charlotte. Our apple tree is a golden delicious and produces great apples. The one at the other house is a gravenstein which is a terrific pie maker. 🙂
Bonjour. C’est fantastique de venir chez vous !Nous sommes à des milliers de kilomètres et j’ai les mêmes iris et le même pommier ,dans mon jardin …et aussi ,les mêmes mauvaises herbes ..! Le chapeau a ,certainement ,besoin de quelques rangs supplémentaires,pour l’agrandir un peu. Amitiés pour vous toutes . Georgina.
Yes, I’ve found that from photos from friends in France, that we seem to share the same growing season. How fun that we have the same plants. 🙂
Good morning,everyone! Since I am usually one of the first to comment, I can’t get into the discussion as much as I would like. I never mentioned to Sissy how sorry to hear about Peyton’s hand, but I see that things have improved and yes, I am praying that he fully recovers.
Joy, your Iris are beautiful! My father loved Iris and had one of every variety, I think, and their yard was beautiful in the spring! I have a few of his, mainly white and purple, and I think so often of him when they are blooming.
Now the hat. Well, that kind is more of a tailored style that would be better for a suit, or something similar. Maybe a pleated skirt and a little blouse and jacket to go with it? Not a full spring dress or anything like that. If that is what you have in mind, I would use another hat, and save this one for a different kind of outfit. I certainly wouldn’t just pitch it!
Good luck and prayers for George as he goes through his last surgery. Won’t he be happy? (and you)!
That’s wonderful that you have some of your dad’s iris. I have some from my mother and grandmother too. Love iris. 🙂
Thank you for your prayers, Linda, they are so welcome. If we hadn’t been sent to the hospital he would have died. We see the Hand Doctor on FRiday. Will send the outcome to y’all.
Good morning dear ones!
Jeanne, that hat has a formal look to it. “Sizing wise” it reminds me of some of those hats that had a bit of Tulle incorporated in the decor. I like it. It is an interesting shape to play with and I bet you can sport it up!
Joy, your tree and iris are beautiful!
Yesterday I planted some potted flowers from Home Depot, I built a fence around the tiny area to keep the bunnies out. The past few years they have been eating all of my flowers!
I hope all of you are doing fine and happy. I am doing things I do not enjoy, packing, okay, gardening is not suffering, it is still cool and fresh here, but not for long. Hubbs and I got a lot accomplished yesterday with the Trust interest payout, – my little brother is so crabby! LOL but I am learning to let that go. Reality is sinking in, we are moving soon.
Gosh Jeanne, I really enjoyed your Easter Parade over the past week+.
Everyone, enjoy this day.
Oh, that hat. Great idea with that bowl, but I agree with Linda, about a more tailored look and perhaps like Charlotte, using a doll with flatter hair. Is the glue you use water soluble? If so, maybe you can soak it and take it apart and use the braid for another hat? Just a thought. It does look best on your RR though, in my opinion. 🙂
Not sure what day George has the last surgery, but I’m sure it will go well and he will be so happy with the results.
Still progressing on the weed pulling around here and at the other house. The gathering of white iris there are about to pop. And I have the dentist this morning. Well, the hygienist. Then, off to pick up more cat food. And they are not even our cats. Crazy cat lady here. 🙂
I enjoyed your yard again, Joy. You work so hard on both yards, I don’t see how you can keep up!
Dear Joy, your yard is lovely. Seeing it made me imagine a box on your front porch, hidden from view of Other Person, just waiting for you to come and rescue it (laugh). I just love your capers.
Hi Joy,
Yep, we’re together in the Crazy Cat Lady Club. I have my own kitties’ orders at Chewy and then the outdoor kitties’ order.
Maybe the hat will find a better fit on another doll. Well worth saving for another day.
Joy, your yard looks pretty with the iris. I have some of my mother’s irises also, our inheritances we have in common. It looks like you live in the foothills or mountains with the rooftops below you in one picture? Quite a challenge to take care of but pretty. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Is it time to make a note for new subscribers to click on the light blue line at the top of the blog so they will be able to Comment and read ones from others? I forget sometimes and have to go back. We’lol be thinking of you and George. Thanks for keeping us updated.
II received a note from Ed at Happily Ever After that Evelyn the Fortune Teller has been released from captivity by the post office without tariffs being assessed, so she will be mailed on Monday. Hurray! She might be my favorite doll of all. I’ll see.
Thanks on the yard. And yes, we are in the hills. Lots of levels in the yard too. How nice that you too have heirloom iris.
And, I too have Evelyn arriving. Can’t wait. 🙂
Well Jeanne, I see that others think the hat would go with a more serious type outfit, I wonder if you have a doll that would fit that sort of outfit? Maybe you could add a handle and make it a basket? Just a thought.
We are all cheering for George and his final procedure!
I miss the Easter parade, looking forward to a new outfit.
I think the hat looks best on Stella. If it is too loose maybe add something that goes under her chin to hold it on. My sister had a “sailor” hat once for Easter and it had a cord like strap (one piece) that went under her chin and a bead that you pulled up to tighten it. Without it she would have never been able to keep the hat on her head. I like the design of the hat so you really need to keep it, but I don’t think it works for an AG doll.
Joy, looks like spring has arrived in northern California. Your apple tree and Iris are so pretty. You definitely seem to live on an incline so when you go walking you must be getting a lot of exercise going up and down hills. Here everything is so flat I’m not sure how much a body has to work to walk anywhere. Jason and Stephanie have each lost over 100 lbs. but they did it mostly with riding bikes, something Jason used to do all the time and was in great shape for years. Have no idea why he ever stopped because once he did he gained a ton of weight and his health was at risk. He’s doing so much better these days. They do watch their diet but the exercise is making things happen more quickly.
I totally understand the weed problem. Where I came from in PA my parents had no trouble with weeds. They prepared their flower beds each spring with peat moss and cocoa bean shells and there were no weeds all summer. They walked through their vegetable garden every day and maybe picked a weed or two but there was no prolific growth of weeds like here. Skyy came out today to do some maintenance on my flower beds. Right now they are full of weeds and we are trying to decide what to do with them since nothing we tried has worked so far. We want to get rid of the weeds so we can get on with some kind of plan. I leave the weeding for Skyy because it gives him a chance to earn some money. Problem is neither he nor his Dad checked the weather forecast and he came out today to a full day of rain. Oh well, he’s pleasant to have around and there’s always next week.
Dear Jeanne, is this the “cake hat” look you are working on?
There are other 18-inch dolls which might be able to wear the hat (viz. Magic Attic, Kidz and Cats, Key To My Heart). You could try it on them if you have any of them in your collection.
7 more days!!!
Hi Dorothy, you’re counting down! Seven more days until the Merry Month of May and my birthday is a month from today!
I’ve never heard of Key To My Heart Dolls. You know so many. I’ve seen Kidz and Cats and I recall my daughter and I looking at Magic Attic as well as Life of Faith doll catalogs, but the history and wonderful clothing as well as miniature historical replica accessories of Pleasant Company is what I chose when purchasing her first doll that could have extra “stuff”. little did I know where that would eventually lead. Haha. 🙂
Praying that Peyton’s hand continues to improve, Sissy, How scary that must have been for both of you.
Your apple tree and iris look so pretty, Joy. Unfortunately we lost our apple tree last year in a storm. It was a Goldrush. Of course, the iris aren’t blooming here yet.
I like the hat on Stella best. It just needs some narrow elastic to fasten it on on from behind under her hair. Or perhaps it would look fine on another AG, although I no longer know who you have. You don’t seem to choose others often. Molly got the lion’s share of dresses last year if I recall. Perhaps that sells best though as even AG only seems to give new to the 1940’s and beyond.
Jeanne, I loved your Easter parade photos, not so many that I haven’t seen before these days, I have no ideas for you regards the hat! I think I would be with Joy, try to soak the glue off and save the straw!
Dorothy, I am not sure I am as excited about May as you are. I will be 80 on 3rd! It is an odd feeling because I know 80 is ‘old’ but in my head I am still only 40! I often get frustrated when I can’t do what I used to do and have to remember how old I really am. If I forget my body reminds me!
I do have my trip to look forward to though, I leave on 29th May. I will be staying with my brother for 6 weeks and then with my sister for the final 6 weeks, though we will see quite a lot of each other in between I am sure.
We had a very forgettable summer here and autumn is no better. It is so cold, overnight it was 1 degree C which is pretty close to freezing. At least the rain is supposed to stop today. We don’t have a dryer so getting washing dry has been a nightmare.
Barbara, like your area Canterbury is very flat. We do have the Port Hills (which my English cousin in law insisted were mountains in his world) but in the suburb I live in the speed bumps on the roads are the highest point. Where my brother and sister live in Yorkshire it is very hilly in fact my brother lives only a couple of miles from the Peak District National Park so not sure how much walking I will be doing and both live in houses with stairs which I don’t have here. I will either have expired from exhaustion or become very fit by the time I get back. I hope it is the latter.
We have another long weekend here, Friday is ANZAC day which is, I think, like your Memorial Day, though ours is strictly for veterans. There will be dawn services all over the country and a very special one in Gallipoli in Turkey where our PM will be attending then rushing to the plane to get to Rome. One of the first classes I went to when I first joined the Patchwork guild was making a wall hanging of poppies. (Poppies here, as in Europe are a symbol for WWI). Visiting my sister not long after I found she was responsible for a group in her church making banners for special occasions. My church had no such tradition so I added the words ‘We will remember them’ and offered it to her. Remembrance (poppy) day in UK is November 11th so obviously they would put it up then but I asked if they would also put it up for ANZAC day as well which they always do. The day is especially important to NZ and Australia because is started the process of being an independent country instead of a colony. The odd thing is that the Gallipoli campaign was a complete failure, in fact the only successful part of the whole campaign was the retreat. We had a population of only about 1 million then and very few families didn’t lose at least one member. Every town and village had a War Memorial, nowadays they include all the wars NZ has been involved in, of course.
The morning is racing on so had better close
Have a great day everyone