Hi everyone,
Thanks for being so chatty with each other. It makes me smile as I see you doing this…
I remembered something Dorothy from PA and the World said the other day, so I went back to find it… I copied it so I would quote it just the way she said.
“Jeanne, you know you don’t have to worry about us here on the sofa if you don’t have a topic. All you have to say is “talk among yourselves” and we surely will. It is always like that when friends gather.”
It’s going to be one of those weeks when my time is limited as our Annual Fall Festival/Taste of America for church, is this weekend. I am, once again doing the Caramel Apples station and there is lots to do… unwrap 9 bags of caramels, chop up the big container of roasted peanuts (I tried using my Nutri Bullet, but even when I try to pulse them, they get too fine), so I end up using my Pampered Chef hand chopper and doing a handful of the nuts at a time to get them the right size for dipping the caramel apples in.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know if I seem a bit preoccupied, I am… but this too, shall pass. :o)
Okay, so I found some time this evening and got the sleeves added to Rebecca’s Civil War dress. I loved Laura’s description of the color of the dress…she called it Amber… is that a better color definition than the pumpkin I was calling it? Dorothy said it reminded her of an Pumpkin Pie dessert… I guess that’s what I was thinking too… Then Paula mentioned she liked Banana Nut Muffins and Boston Cream Pie and I was having a hunger attack… I love both of those, but I can never get enough of Boston Cream Pie! It’s SO SO good. I once had a special dessert treat called a Boston Cream Angel Food Cake and it was out of this world. I’ve never found a recipe for it anywhere.
Oh wait, we were supposed to be talking about the dress, weren’t we? I was going to surprise you, but decided to go ahead and show you the pattern I am using for this dress. It’s the same one as the dress Nora modeled and apparently it stole Marilyn’s heart, because she bought it several years ago.
I like this pattern because it’s very flattering on the American Girl dolls. Sometimes because of their boxy bodies, they can look a bit bulky in things, but not this pattern… it’s very slimming.
Here are the sleeves in place without any gathers on the top (smooth!) :o) and all finished on the inside. The trim is Venise and it reminds me of teardrops… it’s a bit shiny looking, but not too much.
I LOVE the peplum on the bodice… it’s a two piece set…
The back of the peplum has a pleat on each side… sorry, my picture of the back was all blurry when I got ready to write this post, so I’ll show it another time…
I couldn’t wait to see how I might decorate this dress, so I got in my ribbons, and bows and vintage buttons and did a little playing around… not sure exactly how I’ll add them…and they are JUST PINNED ON RIGHT NOW.
You can see the trim close up in this picture…isn’t it pretty?
These were some vintage buttons I have in my stash, but they need to be washed. The middle of them has a lot of dust in the crevices.
So, this is what it looks like just playing around and pinning the buttons and bows on…
Just testing you to see your reaction… :o)
Marilyn sent me some links to a few things… Since I didn’t have much to show today, I’ll give you the links to these two. Can you imagine a doll house costing as much as a real house… check this out!
Here is a link to information on the doll house and the link to tour it is below this one..
Information about the Doll House
This is the actual tour OF the Dollhouse…
Did you find the only surviving doll in the doll house? There used to be 27, but this little baby is the only doll left.
Oh, I forgot to mention… Marilyn, that pink rose bush you have is the most beautiful shade of pink!!!
Well, I better get to bed…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
You are making good progress on that dress, Jeanne. Yes, I think amber is the right color to call it. I do like the buttons on the bodice (once you’ve washed them, they should be fabulous!), but not such a fan of the bows. Just my opinion.
I read the article about the museum; will have to go back and “take the tour” tomorrow because I was falling asleep sitting up! I’m off to bed now, later than usual because of that. I had three phone calls this morning, the first one Way too early, at 7:50, and then two more before 10, so I was short on sleep, plus my son is staying with me for the moment, so we were busy and I didn’t get a nap, either.
Wow, that doll house is beautiful, and nothing like my two! I love how I. The one room all the linens are stacked on the shelves, and yes, I see the one remaining doll reclining on a char. You have to take the house tour with the woman who speaks English! Thank you Marilyn, for sending that!
Well, now the beginnings of the dress! I love what you have done so far and unlike Charlotte, I think the bows look perfect with the dress, and the buttons too! Now I am looking forward to seeing what the skirt will be like, ruffles or not? I hope so!
How fun for you to have your fall festival , Jeanne! I sure hope it isn’t on a day like today! The weekend does look pretty good so far, so I hope it holds out for you.
I started the doll house tour, but have to save it for later. We have our Wednesday gathering with our priest at 10 at my neighbors house, so have to get ready. I can’t wait to watch it all, what little I saw it just …..well, no words!! Marilyn you find the most wonderful things for us to see! Thank you!
Jeanne, I am with Linda on the doll dress trims, the buttons and bows! Ha, anyone remember that song? The pattern shows how lovely it will be when finished.
Jeanne, you are off again, in the middle of adding your wonderful food to a group. I know they will enjoy it. How is George?
Good morning dear ones. Is it raining where you are?
It is incredibly gloomy here in Northern Virginia 35 miles west of the cesspool known as the nations capitol 🥳 The rain is coming, probably this afternoon.
I think it is going to be heavy rain and windy too.
How are both of you doing, Jeanne? I bet you are recovered. I hope George is feeling better and taking it easy.
Boston Cream Angel Food cake? uh oh. That sounds incredible. Sorry, when you started talking about desserts my eyes glazed over haha 😂
The dress is coming along beautifully. Oooh I really like the trims so far. This fabric is so pretty, just perfect.
I have been to the Rijks museum many times as my parents are from Holland. I love this doll house, it is dreamy. I love the doors to keep the rooms just a bit dust free. What an amazing story and a treasure!
I hope all of you enjoy a happy day. Love, Rosemary
this is my leaves contribution so far on the sharing feed, but I have come a long way from this point. I will share a link later if I can get a better updated photo. https://substack.com/chat/3289560/post/0b3ba760-e790-4548-a7d7-c8412e065d16
Yesterday I completed sewing and pressing 80 1.5″ hsts for the breeze blocks.
Busy, busy at Jeanne’s place chopping those peanuts. Hope there are some pics next week of the big party. 🙂
I’m still loving this “amber” dress. Perfect call, Laura. Looks like the buttons will work, but like Charlotte, I’m not a fan of the premade bows. Maybe some other type of bows? I don’t know or even simple trim along the stitching line? And the poor girl is being stabbed to death with those pins. Horrors! Maybe some Halloween fright added in. 🙂
Haven’t seen the dollhouse tour yet, but I’ve actually seen it in person when I visited the Rijksmuseum some years ago. In fact, I remember it well as I got lost trying to figure out how to get back to the main floor. I asked a guard who didn’t speak English, for help. Finally followed people and found the stairs back up to the main level.
My latest doll has finally gotten a flight from HK to LA, so I figure delivery will probably be next week. I think the same carrier as my last twins, so it will be a surprise delivery.
Lots of leaves were blown off the roof and raked yesterday. Maybe we’ll get back to painting today. I think we’ve needed a break.
Dear Joy, it looks like there will be another dolly caper soon. I can’t wait to hear how it goes.
And oh my goodness, you got lost in a “different” language. It was a smart idea to follow folks.
Thank you, Joy!
Dear Jeanne, I think that the dress is going to be stunning. I can’t wait to see what you do with it next.
Thanks to Marilyn for sending information about the doll house. I peeked at the video and I will take the “tour” this afternoon. I am going to send the link on to my doll club friends.
By the way, did you know that in the UK they say “doll’s house” as opposed to doll house? You can hear the narrator say doll’s house and you can see it in the closed caption.
Hi Dorothy, I meant to let you know I sent a reply to you yesterday – on the subject of cake. 😊
Dear Paula, I wrote you back but maybe it was later in the evening. Here is what I said:
I like banana nut muffins also! I can’t eat coconut though. My other favorite cake is carrot cake.
The dress is going to be so beautiful. The buttons look great and the trim and fabric are gorgeous. I also am not fond of the bows. I like the idea of bows as I love touches like that, but perhaps a different type .Maybe a matte instead of satin finish.
Thank you so much, Marilyn, for the article and video on the dollhouse. I’ve seen the video on Queen’s Mary’s and will enjoy seeing this one later today. How kind they did a tour for those who can’t go in person.
The tour takes a little bit of time, but the ceiling shots are wonderful. So are the folded linens and the clothes press.
Speaking of dollhouses, the miniature rooms at the Chicago Institute of Art are splendid and worth a trip if you are close. If you are close to NYC, consider this one
https://www.amazon.com/Stettheimer-Dollhouse-Sheila-W-Clark/dp/0764948024/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2D7W5JNVRYOLG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.D518pksEmL9BiWB6IOo41u7hcTLth2VQA6AU3RCavZU.n-YB5aaqbK65NEFi05WQr64fCCS01jrwBDkSvx_gRaM&dib_tag=se&keywords=stettheimer+dollhouse&qid=1761765158&s=books&sprefix=stettheimer+dollhouse%2Cstripbooks%2C132&sr=1-1
I’m going with Linda on the bows. Are you going to call the dress “Victorian Elegance II”? Elegance in Amber?
Speaking of elegance, Here’s the preview on the new Forsyte saga.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/clips/the-forsytes-the-critics-are-raving/
The version from about 55 years ago was so popular that English churches had to schedule around it. This one’s in color and if you like clothes, you should love this.
Hi Jeanne… I’m late – I meant to write but I got real busy- the dress is just beautiful / love every bit of it.