Hi everyone,
Today I’m sharing a few extra things besides Charlotte’s pictures. We’ll get to those in a minute…
Update on Ruby: If you remember 8 days ago, Ruby, (the 13 year old daughter of my friend Sarah, who is my webmaster for this blog) was hit by a truck and had several serious injuries. She was flown to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and it turned out she had a brain bleed, her lungs weren’t working right, she was kept sedated to keep her brain from working so she could just rest, she was on oxygen, she had a fractured elbow and most serious, her femur bone was broken. Well, glorious news this evening, she was discharged to go home! I’m sure they are home by now… and she was ready to go! A friend of ours who is a doctor in St. Louis, has been giving us updates that we can all understand and know what is happening. The doctors and nurses are amazed at how quickly she has recovered. Thank you for your prayers but she could still use some each day as she navigates with her leg in a cast, using her “granny walker” (as she calls it!) Thank you Lord!
Update on Jean and Bithar’s Visa situation of staying in the U.S. instead of being deported to Haiti. They have received notification that an extension on their Visa has been granted until February. They are still working on trying to get Bithar’s green card sooner. That is all I know right now…
And… I received some pictures and an email from the Ebay winner of Mae’s recent dress. She just received her first My Meadow Moppet doll, Mae, a few days before she won the dress, so she was super excited to have won. These pictures are so adorable… it’s fun to see the dress set I made on a different doll than mine.
Dear Jeanne,
The outfit arrived today – it was such a treat to unbox! Thank you for the handwritten notes and the chocolate! The ensemble is gorgeous, so much attention to detail! It is a perfect fit for my Mae and easy to put on. Mae loves her new look and she could not wait to show off to her big sister Masha! 🙂
Thank you again for creating this wonder!
Okay, NOW it’s time for Charlotte’s pictures. She’ll narrate…
Hi Jeanne,
As promised, I did take some pictures of the dolls I made, and here they are.
These dolls are from the pattern, “DeeDee and Howard and Olive and Stan”, by Elinor Peace Bailey, who passed away some months ago. I’ve made up a number of her doll patterns and actually took a couple of classes from her about 25 years ago. She was a hoot!
I started making these dolls a number of years ago–maybe 10 or 15? –and finally got around to finishing the three I’d started and making Howard completely this year.
The first picture shows all four dolls–from left, DeeDee, Olive, Stan, and Howard. They are what are called “stump dolls” because they don’t have legs. They do have feet under the bottom end of the “stump”, however. They don’t stand up very well, though–I have them leaning against a pillow on my sofa (which is covered with a piece of fabric).
The next picture shows Stan and Howard. For their hair, I used the “braided” mohair (which is long mohair fibers twisted around string–you just pull on the fibers and they come away from the string) but applied them differently. Stan’s hair is mostly from front to back, so the ends look like he has hair brushed down over his forehead, and the other end comes down towards his neck (but is shorter than that), while Howard’s hair sort of runs side to side. Had to emphasize that deep wave, you know!! You put a little hot glue (I use the low-temp kind) on the head and carefully arrange the hair how you want it. For their clothes, the pants fabric is actually appliqued over the jacket fabric (that is, the entire body piece is cut out of the jacket fabric first), and then zigzagged in place, as is the shirt fabric. Stan’s jacket is trimmed with narrow braid, and he has a black bow tie made of ribbon. Howard has a collar/lapel piece that is constructed first and then hand stitched on top of the body after it’s stuffed and put together. Elinor really didn’t say How to do it, and I had tried to do the lapel on Stan’s jacket and couldn’t make it look right, so we went with the braid. By the time I got to Howard’s, my brain had kind of figured out how to do it.
The third picture shows DeeDee and Olive. Olive’s hair is done rather like Stan’s, only longer. It’s a gray/brown mohair, and, poor dear, it’s getting a little thin, but she does the best she can with it. DeeDee, on the other hand, has hair made from “curly” yarn. I used hot glue, a bit at a time, and just spiraled the yarn around and around, and went back to fill in here and there, until it looked like I wanted it. Both ladies are wearing lace-trimmed dresses (the lace is hand stitched in place after they are stuffed) and brooches, which are vintage buttons from my collection–DeeDee’s is a light blue shell shape, of tinted mother-of-pearl, and Olive’s is coral colored.
The fourth picture is of the girls again, but DeeDee thought it was most important that I share it, too, so you can see she has shoes that match her dress!! The others just have plain black shoes, so she thought this was pretty special!!
Well, Charlotte, I’ve never heard of Stump Dolls, so this is my first time seeing them. You did a nice job on them. I learn something new all the time… and today I did! Don’t you feel good to have that “project” marked off your list? Now who knows what else you might find that you can finish! Start looking! *wink* *wink*
I have 2 more things finished for Lavender and I’m calling it quits. I may get her outfit listed, but my sister, Cindy, is coming (probably) Saturday evening, so I might not. It can wait… sister time can’t! :o)
I will see you Monday!
Have a nice weekend!
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh that is wonderful news about Ruby, Jeanne!! I’m surprised they have her on her feet already; when my son was 9, he broke his left femur, somersaulting down the little hill behind my parents’ church (he was spending the Memorial Day weekend with them). Apparently his legs didn’t stay tucked. He ended up in traction in the hospital for a couple of weeks, and then a month in a body cast at home. We had to get a hospital bed (set up in our dining room–we moved the table and chairs to the living room) for him), and after that, another month or so in a hinged cast. That was pretty much his entire summer that year!
Thanks for the update on Jean and Bithar, also; praying that the details get worked out so they can stay in the US. With so many children, making any big move like that would be difficult, to say the least.
Congrats to the winner of your lovely outfit! Your Mae looks just as cute as can be in it!
Thanks for sharing my pictures. I had heard of stump dolls before (I have read lots of doll magazines in the past, as well as books about collecting dolls, etc.) but don’t recall making them before. All of the cloth dolls I’ve made have had legs! I do think Howard turned out a little pudgier than intended, but I tend to really Stuff my dolls sometimes, and when I’m stuffing two of something (two arms, two legs), I have to be really careful and keep comparing the one I’m working on with the one I’ve finished, so we don’t end up with one arm or leg fatter than the other one!
Yes, it sure did feel good to get that project crossed off my list. It was really quite a large project, too, as each doll has six parts (head, body, two arms, two feet).
Don’t worry, I have plenty of other projects to finish! I am about 1/4 done with hand quilting a baby quilt, the top of which I constructed many years ago (25-30) when I was first starting to quilt. There are at least eight more to be finished, too!! Mostly lap sized or smaller, but one is actually a wall hanging. Some of my quilt tops were “round robins” (you make the center block, then it gets passed around, each person adding a border of some kind until the requisite number of borders is added, at which time you get it back) and some were block exchanges, but this one and at least two others were ones made only by me.
Marilyn, your comment about the scratchy crinolines reminded me, we used to wear our straight slips under our crinolines, which helped keep them from scratching our legs! Later on, in square dancing, we wore ruffled pettipants under our petticoats. Of course, in square dancing you are twirling a lot, and you do have to keep some modesty in place!! I loved square dancing, because of finally getting to wear those petticoats again!! I ended up with about 20 of them, in different colors–red, black, hot pink, yellow, you name it!! I really miss that, but we had to give up square dancing years ago, as Ron had health issues and I started having trouble with vertigo.
Charlotte, thank you for sharing those amazing dolls! I have never heard of the either, and they are so wonderfully fun! I don’t know why you waited so long to finish them, but I am glad you finally did so we good enjoy them. I love the “Stump legs” and the hair. The faces too. You did a great job! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Sissy. Well, I think I had a lot of projects between when I started them and when I finished them! Sometimes I would take them out and do a little bit, but it would be time to make a Christmas gift, or something new to wear, and they would get put away again.
Dear Charlotte, thanks for sharing photos of your Stump Dolls. I had not heard of them.
Hugs from your namesake Charlotte Noelle, who has decided that she is doing a countdown to Christmas. I have no idea why she is starting so early but one never knows what that doll child will do (smile).
Thank you Dorothy. And hugs back to Charlotte Noelle. My friend Sheila was like that–every now and then she’d remind us how long it was until Christmas, which was her favorite holiday. She was an RN on the floor I worked (as a ward clerk), and at one point we had a “debate” about whether the angel at the top of the Christmas tree was Lutheran or Catholic!! 😂
OH, and another time–about mid-November–she came around to all of us with little slips of paper, saying it was time to draw names for Christmas! So Alene and I each drew, and she asked who we got, and Alene said, “why, I got Your name, Sheila!” and I said, “What a coincidence, so did I!” Sheila giggled and waltzed out of the room. I turned to Alene and said, “I really did get her name,” and she said, “so did I”! We went to find Sheila and called her on it!! 😂🤣😂
Dear Charlotte, I can solve the angel “debate.” She was Presbyterian (smile). Wishing you a nice weekend.
😂🤣😂
I never heard of “stump” dolls but I can see why they are called that. You did an amazing job on not just creating the dolls but showing their personalities also. Can’t wait to see the completed of your next UFO.
Thank you so much, Barbara. At the moment I’m hand quilting a baby quilt that I pieced at least 20 years ago!! Stay tuned!
Lots to comment on today, Jeanne! What a relief that Ruby is back home and progressing so well, considering her injuries. She certainly is a brave little girl, and prayers that she continues on her way to healing.
Then the news about Bithar is about as good as it can get at this time. I’m sure these past few months have been stressful for them and here’s hoping things will work out so they can stay here. Haiti is not the place to raise children in these turbulent times.
Oh, what a nice thing that Mae’s outfit went to another sweet little Mae! Congratulations to whoever you are! You certainly do have quite a doll setup there, and what a lovely tea set you have! Thanks for sending the pictures to Jeanne!
Charlotte, you certainly did your part to finish those cute dolls! I too, have never heard of Stump dolls, but I figure they are called that because they don’t have legs. They are quite the characters with a lot of personality! Who is married to who?😊
Thank you so much, Linda.
Well, I don’t know that any of them is married to one another. There is a poem about them on the pattern, and it just says “they all get together whenever they can”. And they sing together. One of them sings flat, and another sings sharp.
Jeanne, what a lot of news today, and the best is the news of Ruby. I can imagine the joy from her family. Thank you for the update and will love to hear when all is well.
The Mae winner has some lovely dolls and little Mae seems so happy that her mom was the winner for her.
Looking forward to seeing Lavender’s finish but as you said, sister time is first.
My grape jam is finished and I start on my Kiffer pear preserves today. Again, these are pears that grow in the South. The pears are harder than apples and have a very light sweetness. Some people make pies with them but I love the preserves. They have a different taste than other pears, and I was lucky to find someone selling them since the squirrels ate all mine when they were still small.
The discussion about crinolines brought back a memory from a dance I went to in high school. My mom had made a crinoline out of a bed sheet. She starched it and it stood out really well. It closed with a big pin, and unfortunately, it was too heavy for the pin. We were doing theh “Bunny Hop” when the pin came open and the crinoline fell to the floor! I grabbed it and also grabbed my best friend and we ran to the rest room. My face was so red I looked like I had been out in the sun for hours. I did put it back on and stopped doing the “Bunny Hop”. I have never forgotten that dance!
Best story that I’ve heard in a long time. 🙂 So sorry for the supposed humiliation, but probably most didn’t even notice the dropped crinoline. Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
I’m still laughing at your crinoline story but I’m sure it was no laughing matter to you. I hope the restroom was close by. When I was in high school and wrap skirts were so popular the boys though it was funny to walk by and pull the ties so the skirts would fall. It didn’t take long for us girls to put a safety pin through the knot so that couldn’t happen.
Wrap skirts were after my high school days, but later, in my 30’s we had lots of parties and we made these skirts that were tied in the back. The boys had fun with those like your wrap skirts!
Dear Jeanne, thanks for letting us know about Sarah and Bithar, both continue to be in my prayers.
I know you and Cindy will have a wonderful sister time. I can’t wait to see photos of your adventures.
Thanks to your reader/buyer who purchased Mae’s outfit of perfection. Loved the photos. So happy that her new Mae has such a lovely outfit to welcome her home. 🙂
I wasn’t finished, but finger slip. Anyway, I’m very glad to hear that Sarah’s daughter is recovering so well. What a relief.
And also the news from Jean and Bithar is hopeful. I don’t understand why those delegated to find criminals who have entered the U.S. illegally, can’t stick to that premise and quit frightening hard working educated people following the emigration rules. It’s a crazy world.
I absolutely love Charlotte’s dolls. They are such great characters and her workwomanship is extreme. At first when I was reading what she wrote, I was trying to imagine a legless doll with shoes. But when I looked at her photos, I got it. You don’t need legs at all on these dolls. So fun. Thanks for sharing Charlotte and Jeanne.
Here, I have one of my Ruby Reds all dressed and ready for a photo. Ended up way too hot outside yesterday to even try, but hopefully, today I can get to it. The outfit actually turned out better than I thought. 🙂
Have a nice weekend everyone and I can’t wait to hear about Jeanne’s, adventures with her sister.
Looking forward to seeing your Ruby Red in her new outfit.
Thank you so much Joy! Elinor Peace Bailey’s dolls are mostly what I would call “character” dolls. For example, one of the first ones of hers I made (in a class taught by her, so she did the faces for everyone as part of the class fee) was her doll, Lilly Loo Latrine, the Bathroom Fairy!!
Praise God for Ruby’s recovery. He is great! The power of prayer works!
Good morning everyone. I hope all of you enjoy a lovely Friday and week-end.
Jeannie, thank you for sharing this update on Ruby. I am thrilled to know she is experiencing a miraculous recovery. The whole ordeal is so traumatic. She is well loved.
Charlotte, your dolls are hilariously cute. Are they singing a happy quartet?
I love them. Your embroidery is so neat and tidy. Everything about this project makes me so happy!
Jeannie, your buyer sent a sweet picture of her cute doll in the dress. It looks really cute. Do you often receive photos of your dresses on buyers dolls?
So nice, really.
I hope you have a wonderful fun week-end with your sister.
Love to all of you
Thank you so much, Rosemary! Yes, they are a singing quartet (or perhaps part of a choir).
So very glad to hear Ruby is doing so well. Full recovery will take a while but it’s great to hear she will have no lasting problems. Will keep her and her family in my prayers. Years ago we had a young girl that lived on one of the rural roads outside of town. It was the day of her sister’s birthday party and she crossed the road to put balloons on the mailbox. When she was about to return there was a truck coming so she waited till it passed. Problem was it was towing a small trailer behind it and she ran smack into that. The driver stopped as quickly as he could but she suffered a terrible injury to her one leg. She was life flighted to the medical center in Houston and they managed to save her leg but then she was flown to a hospital in Dallas for what ended up being several other surgeries to repair her leg. She is grown now and married with children, but I know that day lives on in her family’s memory. We also have a young girl at church who was born blind in one eye. One day she was out playing and got a stick in her good eye. She was rushed to the hospital but it was during COVID and it took a while to get the proper doctors to the hospital for the surgery. That day they definitely experienced answered prayer because the surgery was successful and she retained her eyesight in that eye. Scary world out there.
How nice that the winner of Mae’s outfit sent you pictures. How do people find these Mae dolls to buy when they are no longer “available”? I did a search the other day but really did not know where to look. She is such an adorable doll. I probably couldn’t afford her anyway, especially as a resale, but I at least can look. I’m kicking around the idea of getting a Patti Playpal. I loved sewing for my daughter when she was little and I have a ton of patterns left from sewing for her that will fit Patti. I can’t imagine what I’m going to hear if I should decide to do that. I think I’ll have to forewarn hubby if I decide to make that happen. My L’il Dreamer Lyrica came the other day and I introduced her to her new daddy. Since so many dolly daughters have shown up lately, he is a bit shell shocked. I had to have Lyrica because I am a lyric soprano and she came with a microphone so it is a personal thing. I tried to order Mini Stella the other day but she was out of stock.
Barbara, if you go here on face book you can find many Meadow dolls for sale.
Meadow Dolls Fan Club.
That’s great to hear about all the good news! Cute pictures of Mae! I like the animals on Masha’s dress. That is neat to see the dolls that Charlotte made. Great job, Charlotte!
Thank you so much, Karen!
I commented yesterday about the crinolines but I see the blog so late! A bit different to when I was in UK and was sometimes the first to comment!
I am so glad that Ruby is home and doing well.
I am also pleased that Jean and Bithar will get to stay for a while. I will pray that his green card will come through in time.
Have a great day everyone
Sorry I should have said how wonderful Charlottes dolls were. I had never heard of stump[ dolls either but you did a wonderful job.
Have a great time with you sister Jeanne, sister time is awesome
Thank you so much, Anne! I usually make the kind of dolls with separate legs, so this was a bit of a change for me!