Hi everyone,
It was so fun to hear about what you all would have loved to do if you had a totally free day with no responsibilities. I hope some of you got to do what you hoped for! I received an email from Katie who said she’d LOVE to go antique shopping; hitting all the shops in Billing’s Montana. I told her I would love to have gone if I lived closer!
I did manage to get a few things done on my “hope” list. One was to get ALL, I mean ALL, my paper patterns and started leather shoes organized and sorted out. I have HUNDREDS, and I’m not exaggerating, of paper patterns of shoes I’ve made, then tweaked, then tweaked some more until I couldn’t remember which patterns I liked and which ones were the “tweaked” ones.
I’ve gotten a little smarter about it now. When I make some shoes or boots, I write down the date and the color of leather on the pattern pieces. Then I can go to my blog and search for “Aqua or Orange shoes for Mae,” or “Purple or Green boots for the Ruby Red Fashion Friends,” or “Olive green or Lime green Mary Janes for the Little Darlings” and look at the pictures on my blog post when I was showing them and see which ones fit best. Then I can look at my patterns and see which ones had the best fit. You might not understand what I mean, but I do. I eliminated a small trash can full of “culls!”
Then I grouped what I had left into bags… and labeled them. I still need to go through each bag and see which ones I truly like best, but for today I was happy with what I got done.
Here are some pictures of my pattern pieces and shoes started but not finished! They were EVERYWHERE and I mean that… I was being overrun with pattern pieces.
I think I definitely get an A+ for trying SO HARD to be a good dolly shoe cobbler!! :o)
Then I had to turn my attention to Lavender and trying to get her jumper set finished. I worked on her green and white dotted blouse and can now say it’s finished.
I turned out to be on the short side. In fact, I’m going to lengthen the pattern… by the time it’s turned under for a hem, it barely covers her waist. I decided to add a small ruffle to add a little bit of length to it. Then I just used the straight sleeve pattern instead of the one with the cuff. It looked too cutsie with this jumper.
Snaps were added and then some tiny buttons down the front.
The collar can be turned up if your doll likes that look.
Here is a full length picture of Lavender…
A few close up pictures…
One more picture of this sweet set… now to make an accessory to go with it…
Thanks everyone,
Hope to see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, Jeanne, you really did have a lot of shoe patterns! I know it felt good to get them all sorted and the nonusable ones culled out of the bunch. You cobbling should go a little easier now!!
I totally understand because I have been going thru my stash of Stretch & Sew patterns, trying to put them into order and filing them in the two-drawer filing cabinet. Years ago, when I was a S&S instructor, we instructors were allowed to trace the “store” pattern (we had one of each pattern in the back room for use in classes, which were kept separate from the ones for sale in the store) in our size and photocopy the instructions. Well, I pulled all of those I don’t have the original pattern for, because they are all traced in the smallest size, and I sure don’t fit That any more!! So those are all gone. I still need to get to the bottom drawer and remove some patterns (such as the square dance ones, which also came in those big envelopes–it’s been probably 25 years since I last danced) and donate them, which will make room for more of my S&S patterns. I’m pretty sure what I have of just that brand will now completely fill both drawers!
That little blouse sure turned out cute, and Lavender can wear it with a skirt or slacks, too. Still wish it was a darker color from the print, as it’s really not “talking” to me with the jumper, even though it really is very cute. Just not with the jumper. But…I guess that’s just me.
I sent you some pictures last night; please let me know if you didn’t get them.
HI Charlotte,
Just a quick note to let you know I did receive your email with the doll pictures… thanks
Good for you, Jeanne, to clean up the shoe patterns, so you can see more clearly what you have and where to find them! Isn’t it easy for things to get out of hand?
Well, I just love the little ruffle at the bottom of the blouse! I was worried at first that it would create a slight bulge when the jumper was put over it, but as far as I can see, there is none! However, I wish you would have added a ruffle to the bottom of the sleeves too, in fact, they could have been a tad longer so that the ruffle would hide the joints on her arms. I just think that the print of the jumper calls for a little bit more than what the current sleeves have, but I love the pattern and color of the blouse.
It’s your call, Jeanne, and I am just one person!😊
Good morning dear ones!
I love reading your comments, I do not always get back to them.
Jeanne, this dress is sweet and the blouse is nice, I like how it adds a bit of puffiness to the dress. That blouse needs a casual pair of velveteen pants… or something 🙂
You have a lot of shoe patterns and they are nice and neatly sorted now.
Do you sew any of your shoes on a machine, or all by hand, right?
Today has been described as a “soupy” day by the weather guessers.
It does predict 90% humidity. I will stay inside and clean house.
…maybe sneak in a little sewing.
have a happy day all of you
Well, good for Jeanne on the shoe pattern clean up. Love her organization. I actually started cleaning off the dining room table the other day after I knocked over my glass of milk. Ugh. But, only got as far as throwing all of the placemats into the washer/dryer. Stacked them up in the middle and told other person that he had until the next day to remove all of the stuff on his end of the table. Well, guess what? His piles are still there and my unfinished projects too. But the placemats look nice neatly piled right in the middle. 🙂 Must get to that soon. 🙂
As to Lavender’s blouse, I too haven’t been a fan, but it is cute with the ruffle and worn with a pair of shorts would be fun. I know that the plunging neckline is to match that of the jumper, but I just don’t like it on a young doll. I was wondering if the blouse could be buttoned higher up? Then, I’d be much more enthused. But, that is just me. I do like the jumper a lot. 🙂
Was awakened early this morning by the sound of cats calling. Well, growling exactly. I knew who it was. Our front door cat and our deck cat. Got out of bed and to the front door, opened it in the mostly still darkness. Oh yes, there was Charlotte on the mat who apparently spent the night outside and Callie Cat some yards away. Callie Cat knows she is not supposed to be in front and took off around the side of the house. While I was on the steps, Charlotte decided to let herself inside. She knows she isn’t allowed inside. So here I am in the darkness wrangling cats. Got Charlotte back outside who was eyeing the couch for a nap, filled two bowls with cat food and put them outside. One in front for Charlotte, and one on the deck for Callie, who had quickly rounded the house, hopped the fence, and was waiting at the slider for her breakfast as well. Not sure how Laura does this, but I was not a happy camper that early. Grrrr!
In reply to your comment yesterday, I’m hoping to have a swimming pool photo shoot soon. I’m giving it the title “Celebrating the end of summer with a Labor Day swim”. I hoped to get these suits finished sooner but it took me longer than expected to make them. The first two took me about four days with one ending up in the trash. Now I can make one in about an hour or so but can’t do more than one a day because of other things that take my time.
I’m shocked that you can make a swimsuit in just over an hour. Around here, I’d be at it for days. Looking forward to that Swim Party. 🙂
Well, my note didn’t show up, probably because I was in a hurry and may have forgotten to hit the button.
We just got back from our neighbor’s house. Our priest comes every Wednesday to give us a healing and Eucharist service because we live 35 miles from our church. We have others from our neighborhood that don’t attend church but like to come to our Wednesday service. Some have actually joined the church because of this.
I will be busy today making jam from scuppernong and muscadine grapes. They are only grown in the South.
Jeanne, I LOVE the ruffle on the blouse and it really needs to have some pants or shorts to show it off. I agree with Joy about the blouse needing a button to make it less plunging.
Yay for you on the cleaning up. I really need to get going on it but the jam is first on my list.
Have a good day y”all.
Our church is a little better than 35 miles from us and so far we are able to make the trip. But if not the best we can do is watch online. But a good thing that came out of COVID was churches having online services. It’s nice if you can’t make it to your own church physically you can at least watch the service. Before all you could do was watch whatever church service was on TV. Recently one of our members fell and broke her collar bone and was unable to drive for a few weeks. She said the online service was invaluable to her. Our priest did visit her to administer communion during the week but she said watching every one on Sunday made her feel less lonely.
Well, I have a bowl of concord grapes sitting here. I’m wondering if I can make jam with them? How many do you need to make some? Our vine had quite a few this year. I did give some to our neighbor though. Any help appreciated. 🙂
I sent you an email about the grapes.
Dear Jeanne, the outfit is lovely. I think the colors go well with her eyes.
Prayers continue for Ruby and Arianna.
I hope that Bithar and her family are alright now.
I am looking forward to hearing about your sister time adventures.
I’m not trying to be teacher’s pet (LOL) but I’m okay with the outfit as it stands. The collar seems to work well with the “v” of the jumper. I love the ruffle on the blouse an am glad it does not show a bulge when put with the jumper. But I too think it should have something like pants to go with the adorable blouse. A complete fall wardrobe – almost. I like the sleeves of the blouse. I was shocked seeing a close-up of the blouse fabric. I thought it was gingham but it’s not.
I love the addition of the peplum to the blouse. I love ruffles on girl’s clothing so no surprise there. Now it could be worn over a skirt or pants as well. I also like the sleeves.
Yes, the blouse is a little low cut , but I know it is so it lines up with the v of the jumper. I’d prefer it higher as well, but not sure anything can be done about it.