It’s time to move onto new outfits for the dolls, so today will be the last day of showing my Easter dresses from past years. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing them. It’s been fun for me too, to see them all in one place.
Thank you for your kind comments about our visit to Tennessee. It was long overdue and we just had to find time to get there. Thanks for hanging around and chatting with each other.
Sissy, I pray Peyton’s hand is getting better each day. Infections can be very scary, especially when YOU are the nurse!
Joy, Reuben is SO petrified of the storms…he just wants to be held by my hubby. I suggested a Thunder shirt but that was nixed as he said he knew it wouldn’t work for Reuben. He really needs a soundproof room, I think! The trip to Tennessee was about 5 hours. Not terribly long but still a drive. My hubby was supposed to stop every hour and get out and stretch his legs, but that didn’t happen… we may have stopped 2 times. He has his last surgery this week. YAY! No more trips to Mount Vernon, although I have found a few thrift shops that are REALLY nice! Oh well..
We better get started on the last of my Easter dresses.
This is a sweet lavender dress made back in 2010 for Janie. I wanted her to wear a blonde wig for this and this was the only blonde wig I had… it was pretty short and little for her, but we managed with pigtails. :o)
Sara is modeling another Easter dress… this time in 2023 and in blue and white. Oh, and the purse and matching shoes! :o)
Next is a sweet, sweet dress on Emmie. It was made from a blue and white floral print fabric and was pretty with her blue eyes!
Next is Emmie in another dress that was so pretty on her….turquoise and a touch of pink… She is ONE gorgeous doll!!!
Eden has a pretty Easter dress from 2016 to show you… I loved this color on her…periwinkle!
I found another one for Ten Ping…
Ellowyne even has one to show you…
Here’s Emmie again in a blue Liberty of London floral print dress! This fabric was MADE FOR HER! Isn’t she pretty?
Here is Emmie in another blue dress for Easter. She’s a blonde in this set from 2020.
I hope I didn’t show this one already… it’s about as Eastery as you can get… Eden wore this so well!
Well, I know I could find more, but I would be up all night, and I really should get to bed! I hope you enjoyed all these sweet Easter dresses from the past. I didn’t even include the latest ones I made… Thanks for letting me share my love of sewing with you! I truly do love it when I’m in my sewing room!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
First of all, Rosemary, before I forget: you Should try smocking! It’s basically embroidery over pleats. The fabric can be pleated on a smocking pleater, or you can get iron-on dots, and then pick up the dots with a hand-sewing needle and thread, and pull up the pleats. I believe SAGA (Smocking Arts Guild of America) has some tutorials and such on their website (smocking.org), and may have some links to places that carry smocking supplies and perhaps offer classes, too. (I am a member of SAGA.)
Sissy, I’ll continue to keep Peyton (and you) in prayer. That red and peeling look is pretty normal, I think, when healing from something like that, but if you’re concerned, don’t be afraid to contact the doctor’s office and ask.
Jeanne, I am wondering how George “knows” a thunder shirt won’t work for Ruben!!
I’m so glad to hear that George’s last surgery is almost upon him and will soon be over!! It’s been quite a spring for you two!
I love Janie’s outfit, and I don’t remember seeing it before. Maybe that was before I joined the blog? Or I may just be getting old…..
Emmie is certainly photogenic, and blue is definitely “her” color! I think I like that last outfit of hers the best; it’s old-fashioned and just lovely.
Oh, I did love those shoes and purse of Sarah’s! I remember when you made them. So cute, as is Ten Ping’s outfit. Love that lilac jacket and hat!
I had forgotten you’d had an Ellowyne. Definitely a good style on her.
And Eden’s outfit….I am not sure if I saw that one before or not. I especially love her purse with the silk ribbon embroidery.
Thank you for the prayers, Charlotte. We really appreciate it. We see the hand Doctor on Friday. Will let you know.
Update on tariffs by RRFF: There is very sad news. After April 25th they will no longer be shipping to the United States! There is an attempt by our government to require the sending entity to collect the tariff. There has never before in history been an attempt to throw the collection of tariffs arriving in a country onto the seller. The collection of tariffs does not benefit the seller of the item nor the government of that country. We, the customers of RRFF, are the ones being charged the fees by our government. This has been a crude attempt to make it look like the tariffs were charged by and benefit the seller. The charges are a tax on the American people, a crude attempt to get us not to buy goods from China. Yes, billions of dollars will flow into the Treasury if we do buy goods from CHINA, but they will be dollars FROM the American people going TO Othe United States government.
So sad to hear the news about the RRFF dolls. Need I say more? At least those of us that have one or more, have them!
I do remember a lot of those dresses, Jeanne! While I don’t recall the first one, it certainly is a cute set!
Ten Ping continues to delight us with her outfits and sweet face! So you were making straw bonnets also years ago? And I spy this fingerless lace gloves you used to make! I have several pairs of them, which work so well with dolls that represent earlier times in fashion.
Yes, Emmie is a beautiful doll, and if I ever would get a doll that is not smiling, she would be the one! Blue certainly is her color, bur she looks sweet in everything!
Jeanne, you showed us a few dolls that you no longer have. Do you regret selling any of them?
I am sorry for sad visits with George’s family in TN. Praying for healing for all of you.
My color theme for summer is blue. I love every one of these dresses and the dolls that wear them. Which brings to mind a previous question and point. The online marketplace is a great source for collectible dolls, outfits, and accessories. You can find all types of new, vintage, and antique. For me part of the fun in collecting is the hunt. One day I will find Ten Ping. 🥰
The doll shops also have a supply of RRFF just waiting for a buyer.
Loved the Easter parade. So many lovely dresses with exciting details.
Very glad that Jeanne and George made it home safely. That is a very long drive. And I’m sure Reuben is so happy to have you both home.
As to the tariffs, things keep changing. Driving me nuts. With Ruby Red, the cut off date for mailing for them is the 27th of May, however, with the time difference, they suggest that you have your order in by the 26th. There are still lots of dolls available for immediate purchase at standard prices on their site and outfits too if anyone is interested. If your order is in by the 26th, it will arrive a few days later. It looks like FedEx will be able to collect tariffs in the future. If an order comes in to an airport here, FedEx would hold the package and send you a notice which you pay and then they release the package and it continues shipping to you. Of course, the amount might be huge. But, you can still get a doll if you so choose after the 27th. Only Ruby Red can’t send by the USPS. They are going to do a pause on any shipping until things calm down and they know exactly what their government decides as well. But, all of this may change and the amount could become more reasonable or even higher. No one knows. There are also doll shops here in the U.S. who have lots of Ruby Red dolls in stock and for sale right now. Like Happily.com So, all is not lost in the doll world, but it is just changing. Hoping for the best solutions.
And on to a sunny spring day. More weeds to pull. 🙂
ModaVationDesigns. I found the pattern I was sure I had. It is for RRFF and WW. Since the pattern I have says T.D.D. Tatyana’s Doll Designs, I wondered if it was one of the Russian shops that no longer exist so I went into my “purchases” and found the pattern, clicked on the link and it’s still there but called ModaVationDesigns now. I always have trouble finding things on Etsy when I’m specifically looking for something but you usually seem to do pretty well. When you find the shop finding the dress pattern is easy. I noticed they have a two-dress bundle that includes this dress and another I also have. Hope this helps.
Dear Jeanne, 8 – I am in count down mode. There are only 8 more days until May! Yeaaa!
About the tariffs, we, in the US, cannot be surprised, as this is what we were told would happen. It is sad, especially for those of us in the doll world.
I am enjoying seeing the dresses and the lovely doll models. They have such beautiful faces.
I love watching you make new creations, but I do enjoy it when you retrieve previous ensembles from the archives. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last few days and all the beautiful wearing apparel that went before. I don’t think there was one repeat. It was amazing how you managed that.
I love all the frocks on Emmie and blue is definitely her color. And you really have to love that Liberty of London Tana Lawn. It’s the best fabric ever. I love working with it and am so glad French Fashions sells smaller pieces of this fabric for doll clothes. It’s hard for me to cut out a doll dress from several yards of Tana Lawn that I bought for me. I was going to make a top for Easter from the one piece and bought a pattern perfect for this fabric. but I was in the middle of revamping my sewing room and never got to it. But it is a summer top so I have time, it just won’t be for Easter this year.
The purple outfit on Janie is very interesting. I’ve never seen this one before or even one like it. Very pretty. Sara’s shoes and purse are lovely. As usual Ten Ping is just adorable in anything you make her. The outfits for the 18″ girls are so perfect for the season.
I did manage to finish the dress for Hannah Gotz in time for Easter. She was over the moon. But as she stood on the coffee table in the living room it seemed like something was missing. I did not embellish the dress because I was afraid it would overpower the delicate print on the fabric (dark pink flowers sparsely placed on a light pink background), but it definitely needed something. I asked David what he thought, and we both decided it needed a sash. But one that tied in the back would barely be noticed with the see-through ribbon I planned to use, so I tied it in a bow in the front. It wasn’t much but it was just what the dress needed.
Happy Tuesday dear sweet chums
Sorry so late today!! I have been doing “Bank stuff” — ugh, “Trust stuff.”
Jeanne, these dresses and scenes are beautiful, Wow, I am overwhelmed with these, the details are exquisite, the fabrics, the laces, the purses, the adorable shoes, the dollies look so happily obliging to wear these dresses to celebrate Spring
I can NOT pick a favorite. Ellowyne looks like a fancy model! Her dress is stunning.
Emmie’s aqua dress and ensemble is so cute. Jeanne, you are such a perfect seamstress, the details of each of these, the finishes, are perfect!
I am going to forward your blog to my older daughter because she loves dolls and her girls love dolls too, she might enjoy sharing these with her girls.
Charlotte, thank you for the encouragement. I know I have several books on smocking that were my mom’s. She did EVERY thing! I am sure I described it all to you, if you remember my mom was incredible <3 and she was born with her right hand missing, so her right arm was normal and just ended just below the carpel bones (kind of cool) She did everything.
she could not knit or crochet very well, she did do some but, in the 70's she taught my father's mother how to knit and crochet. Both of my parents were from Holland and came to the US in 1947. She made all of our clothes, made curtains, coats, cushions, LACE!!
I have a lot of her lace, and she did other activities like cross country skiing and raising 4 spoiled children.
Now I have to run off and make more phone calls.
It is delightful outside today. I hope all of you are enjoying pretty weather too
Thank you, Jeanne for caring about Peyton’s hand. We will see the hand doctor on Friday. Will let y’all know.
I pray that GEorge’s last leg work will be so successful he will never have to have
another. Same goes for you.
Once again your dolls look perfect. I love Janie’s wig, so cute. Emmie’s blue outfit and the straw bonnet, all so lovely. Eden’s dress and purse, so cute, and of course, Tin Ping, so sweet. All are lovely
I know you miss sewing new ones and we will a love to see them.