Today was another one of those days where there wasn’t too much time for me to sew. I did however manage to get the dress completely finished…I just have to get the “other parts” to this set finished before I can list it. Several ladies were concerned that the bows on the front might be too over powering… and it made me second guess my choice of decorating. However, I looked back at the other dresses I have made like this and decided they looked okay enough to me to move forward with the ribbon bows on the front. I hope that’s the right decision… I guess we’ll know at the end of the auction… eep!
I got the idea for the bows from the Marie-Grace and Cecile Paper dolls… I had them and this drawing of a dress for Marie-Grace was my inspiration…
Here are a few pictures of the other ones I’ve made…
…and one with Cecile’s bonnet…
…and one for Elizabeth..
Now, here are a few shots of the latest version… I’m thinking of calling it “Blue Ribbon Valentine!”
Rebecca got the necklace made for the dress and it’s very sweet!
Here’s the back…
…and tiny little bows on the sleeves…
…and one last shot…
All I have to do is “all the rest of the set!” *sigh*
P.S. Please do let me know what you think of this dress. Just because it worked before doesn’t necessarily mean it works for this one. You won’t hurt my feelings by what you say…
Thanks for taking a peek… I’ll hurry!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Much better, Jeanne! I see that you have moved the bows farther apart, which helped a lot, and made them smaller. It all works now and Addy is just adorable! I actually have that dress you modeled the bows from for Cecile, and it is really a cute dress!
The necklace Rebecca made for it is perfect, just what she needed for some added sparkle around her neck! Love it!
Maybe you could add a blue bow for her hair in the back where the two braids come together? She is so cute, and I keep wondering why I didn’t get an Addy for myself!
HI Linda,
Yay…I’m glad you’re feeling better about Addy’s dress today. I found myself wondering about things all day yesterday…I think I am going to make a few changes though…if everyone can stand one more day of talking about this dress…
Last week we had the metamorphosis of Kit’s lips… I guess this week we’ll have the metamorphosis of Addy’s dress! :o)
I was planning on a bow for her hair… and I think you SHOULD get an Addy…everyone needs one of her.
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
You made the right decision! They are all absolutely adorable! Love the color combos! We must think alike, I have a similar style dress ready to make for my model, altho mine will be more the regency style and floor length. Thanks for letting me see how well it will turn out! I enjoy your posts! If I ever find enough time, I’d like to start one myself! Gotta go clean off my cutting table and do some orders, have a great day!
HI Marla,
Thanks for your compliments on Addy’s Valentine dress. It’s turning out to be one that takes more time than I would have liked, but some are just like that.
I hope you found time to get your sewing finished…
Blessings, Jeanne
Good morning!
First, congrats on getting an Addy again, and she is a sweetie!
Jeanne, your fabric choices are just lovely here, and I do love the ribbons on the skirt. ( I get a kick out of seeing some of my lucky purchases from you on your blogs from time to time, and reminds me it’s time to change clothes on the little ladies! ) My two cents, however, as I am more often a “less is more” kind of gal, is that the gingham ruffles on the sleeves is enough adornment for the sleeves, that the added bows and flowers are really, really not needed at all. Just my two cents, as I said. This is another humdinger outfit, though, whatever happens in the end! :~) Love your blogs and pics even if I don’t write more than once in a blue moon.
Have a super day and give that foot some rest if you can.
HI Sally,
Thanks for your comments…and yes, it’s wonderful having Addy back with my girls again! She is a much needed model for me…
As I’ve looked over the dress, I’m in agreement with you about the little bows on the sleeves and I think I’ll be removing them. I think, like you, it’s a little over the top… when there are 2 bows on the front, then 2 bows on the sleeves and probably a bow in her hair…that’s too many… so I think I’ll do a little changing up things…
I’m just glad you are enjoying reading each day, Sally… I know how busy you are… thanks so much for your thoughts…
Blessings, Jeanne
The dress is just darling on Addy. I wonder if the difference in her dress is that the fabric for the bows is not of the dominant color of the dress as they are in the similar dresses. All of the dresses are really beautiful. Love seeing the extras and hair accessories you always include to pull things together so beautifully.
I’m so new to sewing again and to making doll clothes in particular that I forgot that grommets aren’t really made for woven fabric but are suitable for leather, felt and plastic, but certainly not satin. Thanks, Joy, for the suggestion of tutorials and the eyelet attachment. It works fine. I should remember to view tutorials instead of asking questions. I’m with you, Laura, on preferring the older furniture and accessories. They’re becoming my downfall on eBay.
Hi Susette,
Just curious which historical doll(s) you are collecting for on eBay? I am always interested in which dolls people choose. Jeanne, for example, has every doll my daughter does except Nellie, but we only have Felicity in common between us, that is, until I can get an Addy of my own. I could have saved myself time, money and effort if I had only bought for myself when I bought for my daughter starting in the early 1990’s. It took me too many years to believe adults could have dolls that weren’t childhood ones.At least I can swear off of eBay now that I have everything collection-wise I want for Samantha, Felicity and the parts of Addy’s that I wanted for my Civil War girls. The few elusive pieces have finally been found at a acceptable price -what a relief after three plus years. I’ve bought nothing dolly related all of January * pats self on back* and I think i’ll be good until AG gets out of the 20th century.
HI Laura,
If you are “finished” with ebay, where will your find your Addy doll?
Congrats on not spending any money on doll things in January! Double Congrats!
Blessings, Jeanne
Whoops, clarification needed. 🙂 What I meant is I am finished with eBay for PC doll clothing and accessories. You’re right that Addy will have to come from Ebay. It will be a few months before I can save to have one since there are real life expenses and house improvements that are needed first. I am not going to look at eBay until I have the funds. It would be so disappointing to see the right Addy and not be able to buy.
Hi Susette,
I think the fact that these bows were used as “accents” instead of blending in with the same color gives the dress a whole different feel. Maybe I should have used reddish colored bows… but it’s too late now… I am making a few changes though. Sometimes I just have to study my pictures and I see things that I want to change.
I forgot, but I was going to email you yesterday and tell you you could maybe make loops on the green jacket part and then lace your ribbon through them… just MY two cents…
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Addy is beautiful in this lovely gown. You are a wonderful seamstress and your choice of fabrics is just tops.
I agree with Sally…I don’t think the bows on the sleeves are necessary…there’s alot going on with the paisley print.
You’re kind to take suggestions…I would suggest a bit narrower ribbon on the skirt in the bows that you made. You’ve done a beautiful job, your previous dresses look stunning with those ribbons…I too may be a less is better type of person…so, again, my opinion, a narrower ribbon on the skirt bows/ribbon would be a suggestion I would make.
It’s just such a scrumptious dress…can’t wait to see your creativity play out with the rest of the ensemble. I highly admire your work…as well as Rebecca’s…the necklace is just lovely on Addy.
HI Becky,
I agree with Sally and you, the bows are going…there’s too many bows… and then the hair bow? too much!
I would love to find this ribbon I use in a narrower width, but it doesn’t come in anything less. I like it because it has a vintage look to it and is wired, so you can make it do what you want, shapewise! I’m going to make a few changes to the dress, though… stay tuned…
Blessings, Jeanne
The bows are growing on me. Now for the topping. Bonnet? Head piece? Hate to see her lovely hairstyle covered up though. Has been fun seeing the design evolve. You are so creative.
Hi Joy,
Well, just when the bows are growing on you, I’m taking the sleeve bows off…
I haven’t started anything for her head yet, but I think I’ll do something where her hairstyle shows a little bit, at least…
Thank you Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
That necklace is perfect for this dress. Rebecca chose exactly the right beads.
I am so glad to have the blog — now I don’t miss any of your outfits. I love some of the old ones you show and I’m sad I missed my chance at them. As we keep saying and you keep proving, there will always be another beautiful dress — and I probably have my share. As Sally said, I love seeing my lucky purchases when they show up from time to time.
I took your hint the other day (click on the name of the writer and you will go to their web page) and found Cindy’s blog. Today I realized I could do the same thing for Marla and found her shop at Etsy. What I really want is the stone cottage she uses for page, but she’s not selling it.
HI Marilyn,
Yes, Rebecca is pretty much a master at her craft. She asks for a scrap of the fabric, looks a the neckline of the dress, closes her bedroom door, and comes out with a winner every time. I like how simple this one is, but very pretty at the same time.
It’s fun for me to remember who got what dress too… I’m glad you like seeing them again…
I’ll have to check out Marla’s Etsy shop and see what you mean about the stone cottage… hmmm…
I just did… that is the cutest thing ever… I want to live there!
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
What perfect colors for Addy! I’m anxiously waiting to see what else you do….a bonnet?
When you make a skirt with two or three layers do you gather both/all layers at the waist or is there a way to do it that eliminates so much bulk at the waist?
HI Jevne,
I”m glad you like the colors. I think Addy looks exceptional in this shade of red. I haven’t thought beyond the dress, but I need to…
Whenever I do a double layer skirt, I always do the layers separately… they lay in different folds that way and it makes for a fuller skirt. You can add something like a waistband to the underskirt and make the gathering area just a little bit smaller. There is a lot less bulk doing it that way.
Thanks Jevne,
Blessings, Jeanne
Another knock out fabric on Addy…she is wonderful in that color and the other dresses you have done with that pattern are outstanding too. I could look at them all day.
Guess I have to give in and agree the ribbon is too wide…compared to the drawing.
Hope you have a good Sunday …looking forward to seeing what kind of hat this one will have!
HI Kathie,
I was looking at the Paper doll drawing and realized my ribbon was much wider than Marie-Grace’s dress, but this is my favorite ribbon, wired and sort of vintage looking, so I’ll have to make do, but I was considering making the bows a little smaller… that might help, or they might look lost… so I’ll see…
Thank you Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Addy is looking lovely in her dress. I do agree with Susette that it is because the bows are not the most prominent color in the dress that they may have looked off at first. It is so kind of you to be open to suggestions from us. In the other dresses the ribbon is more muted against the fabric. I love the first dress you modeled on Cecile, but, not meaning to be critical, I would have liked that to be long sleeved like Addy’s current one without the white eyelet on the sleeves and a little ruffle at the top like Addy’s current one in a contrasting fabric. Back to Addy’s, I also think the bows on the sleeves are maybe not needed as you will probably make a bonnet or something that will have another bow ( mind, this is coming from someone who loves the frills and finery of long ago).
The necklace Rebecca made is absolutely perfect. It picks up all the colors in the dress. Your original choice of fabric was ideal. The warm red just makes Addy glow. You also have the advantage of seeing it in person. I enjoy the Civil war dresses you create the most.
HI Laura,
Like I told someone else, maybe I should have use red bows instead of the blue, but when I laid it all out, it seemed like “coordinating” print, so I thought it would go. I like the longer sleeve too… we live and we learn… I have just not gotten that straight sleeve perfected without any gathers in the cap…it’s been a long time coming!
Don’t worry, the bows on the sleeves are going…
Thanks for your comments, Laura. I am pretty partial to the Civil War dresses too!
Blessings, Jeanne
I think too the bows need to be closer to the color of the dress. They still seem over powering to me. The necklace is perfect. Wonderful to see the development procees you go through.
HI Jan,
Well, I changed things up a bit, so I’m hoping you like it better…
Thanks for hanging in there with me…
Blessings, Jeanne