HI everyone,
I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s post, filled with dresses and outfits Marilyn has bought from me since 2009! She has quite the collection and if you missed yesterday’s post, you can see it HERE.
Today we are starting in 2014 and it just so happens this dress is shown in my VERY FIRST blog post I did back on August 1st, 2014!
Here are a few pictures of the dress.
In November, 2014, Marilyn decided she wanted Molly’s red DEBUT dress and puppy for her collection.
I need to use that pattern again… it made a really cute dress for Molly!
I guess Molly told Marilyn to buy more because she did… this was Molly’s first day of school dress and it was made in August, 2015.
Marilyn bought slips from me in 2015 and then when I put my first Julie up for sale, she bought her… I didn’t want to send her a doll without a coat in the winter, so I made this fur coat for her.
Next was a Christmas dress for Molly, made in December of 2015… and bought by Marilyn! Thanks so much for buying from me!
Who remembers my Red, White and Blue Sisters Set… back in January, 2016? I guess I was getting a head start on The 4th of July dresses!
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED how sweet these dresses turned out.
Oh, I remember now, how much fun it was when I made these 2 dresses. I think they turned out just perfect!!! I don’t say that very often!
“Timeless in Turquoise” was another one that had me racing to get it listed. Laura gave me the story line for it, “make it like the Easter Egg Hunt at the White House” but I realized to get it listed when I needed to, it wasn’t going to be possible, so I just scattered some Easter Eggs on the ground and “told” the story about what was happening. I remember I had worked most of the day getting things ready for the listing to go on that night. I had my listing all done, except my main pictures that featured the necklace, and was hoping against hope that “my” Rebecca wouldn’t be too late getting home from work.. She was a little bit late and I was on pins and needles. I’ve learned…”you can’t rush the jewelry artist!” Not a good thing… She finally emerged from her room with a pretty necklace and I was off to get the rest of my pictures taken, edited, and added to my listing… I love how she used an oval charm to mimic the ovals in the eyelet down the front of her dress. Yes, Marilyn won this one too!
We are now up to 2017 and this is “Victorian Elegance” on Nora, who has since flown the coop! This turned out to be a very pretty dress and I loved this pattern.
Next is another dress set that was fun to make. (is there any other kind???) I’m trying to remember the name of this one… “Apple Butter something, I think… anyway, I even made a little jar of apple butter for it… It was just like an Art class. I had to to look it up… it was called “Apple Butter Sweet.”
I sold my Wellie Wishers doll, Willa, back in 2018 and had made a slip to go with her, and Marilyn bought it for her niece, (I think).
Actually Marilyn bought quite a few slips and necklaces, but I don’t have written down enough information to know which ones they were.
In September, 2018, Marilyn bought “Autumn Splendor” to add to her Civil War collection.
And… the last dress I have on my sheet is “Prairie Rose” for Kirsten. Marilyn bought it in October, 2018.
That is the end of the dresses I had written down for Marilyn’s Slide show. She may have bought more since that last one I wrote down, but I think this will be fine for now. As I look back over them, I am reminded of how it broke my heart when I was emailed about how sick Marilyn was and she wasn’t expected to live. I remember crying for 3 solid days, and I’d never even met her. It didn’t matter… she was someone who had touched my heart and many of yours too! I’m so grateful and thankful the Lord spared her life because she had LOTS more to give to others!
Everyone has a story to tell and we now know just a small portion of Marilyn’s. I didn’t single Marilyn out because I think she’s the most special, because ALL of you are special to me. This slideshow I’ve shown for her was something I’ve had written down on a piece of paper since 2009. It was about time I got it finished! I hope you enjoyed it Marilyn! We all love you!
Each of the dresses I make have a story too, that goes with them. Sometimes it’s smooth sailing when I make a dress and sometimes I have to rip things out and practically start over. I remember those stories and the feelings I had when the dresses were being made and it’s been a nice trip down “Memory Dolly Lane” for me too… looking at all the dresses I’ve made and how I was able to bless one person. When I think of ALL the ladies who have bought “anything” from me, I am so humbled and blessed! Thank you Marilyn, and ALL who have helped me grow my doll dress business to what it is today! I think I’m feeling a little nostalgic as I look back over these 10 years of Marilyn’s dresses.
Thank you and hope you enjoyed seeing the many dresses!
I’ll see you Monday,
Blessings, Jeanne
Lots more pretties today!
The blue of that first dress is certainly vibrant!! I am not sure that I saw that original post–I know I joined shortly after you started your blog, Jeanne, but maybe not quite That soon!
Anyway, some things that strike me:
I do remember that fur coat on Julie–how elegant!–and the sisters dresses, which I think really Are “perfect”. I love the hat on Nora (Victorian Elegance)–such a nice touch. And the necklaces that Rebecca made to go with some of the outfits. But for some reason, my favorite of all these is the last one on Kirsten; it is just so sweet, and suits her so very well.
Speaking of which, thank you for the links yesterday, Marilyn, on the life-size “Kirsten” outfit and all that went into making it (she even had her own fabric printed for the dress!) and the other costumes she has made. I could spend Lots of time on her web site, reading about all the costumes, the research she did, etc. Fascinating!!
Dear Jeanne, wow, just wow! What a wonderful parade of dresses. They are all lovely.
Dear Marilyn, I am putting my note here because you have not yet left a comment. I am so happy for you and for your dolly children. They are fortunate to have such a caring Mama who buys them only the best outfits. I am guessing they have their own closet and dressing room (smile). Wishing you the most exquisite dolly fun, this day and always!
Oh, more beautiful and cute dresses to see! Of course, Molly’s dresses are always my favorite, since she was my first AG doll and closest to my heart, as she is from my time! She always looks cute in no matter what she is wearing, as long as it evokes the 40’s!
Elizabeth’s beautiful blue dress matches her eyes, and that dress must be perfectly stunning on whoever wears it at Marilyn’s house! And I remember so well those sister dresses, so sweet and with matching petticoats! And Apple Butter Sweet! I certainly DO remember that one because I am the one who suggested that name!
Rebecca’s beautiful necklaces always were the “cherry on top”of the outfits and made them extra special! Is she still doing that?
Yes, Kirsten is just the perfect little prairie girl in her dress that shows her sweet personality, which is the best way to show a doll outfit!
All these outfits couldn’t go to a sweeter, more deserving person, our own Marilyn!
We are so fortunate that Marilyn survived the extended stay at the rehab facility. Thanks to the attendants for seeing her through the time of Covid! Marilyn’s Comments are always appreciated because as a librarian, she knows where to find the best information on a subject of interest.
What a marvelous collection Marilyn has been accumulated. It’s truly a retrospective of Jeanne’s career. I hope Jeanne remembers that we sometimes have encouraged her to publish a book of her creations with the stories included. Best seller for Christmas! I’m thinking maybe some of those ensembles have been birthday and Christmas presents for Marilyn’s beautiful grandniece.
Thank you again for researching them all, Jeanne!
Loved seeing Part 2 of Marilyn’s wonderful collection today. So fun. I think Molly’s Christmas plaid dress is an all time favorite. Something similar but in a Ruby Red size would be a perfect holiday outfit with a current take. 🙂 I definitely remember the two 4th of July outfits as I had the same fabric and made a much smaller outfit for one of my Meadow girls. I always have loved how Jeanne added the star burst button display. And the brownish apple butter dress would be perfect for any fall activity should Jeanne, try to recreate it in a different size. Great call on the Apple Butter title, Linda. 🙂 Lots of fun dresses to see today. So glad that Marilyn has them for her girls.
Well, yesterday late, other person was out on the deck putting down more paint. I had fed Callie Cat and was inside doing whatever. Next time I checked, other person said that he looked up and Callie Cat had taken a few steps into the wet paint, which was sticky, I guess, and she was kind of lifting up her paws and looking very confused. No way to keep her contained, but I think she will be more careful today. 🙂 We’ll be trying to get some more paint on flat surfaces today as it looks like we have some rain coming in soon. But, we also need to reinforce a beam that has developed a problem. That isn’t going to be fun.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Good afternoon dear ones, Happy Friday.
The dresses today are stunning Jeanne, you have done everything! and everything you have done turned out perfectly. I do understand the emotional struggles too. You have the idea and the vision, and the “powers that be” are not having it 😀 but your knowledge and persistence is what gives you the vision… same with your adorable shoes, bags and the cute hats and all of the dear extra details you devote to each dress!
Thank you for sharing these dresses. Some time ago, I thought of going back to the beginning of your blogging and reading through…. but never had the time, honestly <3
This morning hubbs and I had to roll out of bed extra early. The builder representatives came early.. about 8:00 and fixed our doors, both were loose and leaky. they also put some parts on the toilet that were missing! 😛 and also the HVAC company came to adjust the system,. I am hoping the upstairs can maintain temperature. Just this summer it was miserable hot upstairs.
Anyway, all of that was done and completed by 10:30 and I was really really ready to go back to bed!
I will tough it out. I am upstairs working on a new (yet another) sewing project.
Now here is where I join the “dress party” I remember all of these. I like the one on Elizabeth. I also recall an all white one you made. Actually, that was you first dress I saw since it came up in my search for Felicity’s summer gown, hat, and brocade slippers which were to be my first for me doll clothing purchase after joining the doll boards. “Timeless in Turquoise” is just lovely. I also love “Victorian Elegance”, “Apple Butter Sweet”, and “Autumn Splendor”. If it’s Edwardian or Civil War style I will more than likely love it. Kirsten’s dress is super sweet as well.
Jeanne….I love your site! SO much fun to scroll through photos of beautiful doll fashions! I had to scroll through twice to really see all of the detail that went into these dresses. The fabric and lace choices for the old-fashioned dresses and bonnets was perfect. And the fourth of July dresses are very special with the fabric colors “reversed” for the skirts!
Makes me want to sew for my AG doll again…and go through my AG and Wellie Wisher patterns for inspiration. But now I’ve collected a lot of Ruby Red doll patterns and of course, some Siblie doll patterns! Never a dull moment around here between sewing for the dolls and painting the artwork I manage to do for family Birthday’s! And now I have two new baby Great-Granddaughters, Chloe and Abby, besides 10 year old Delilah, and I hope God has plans to keep me around for a while so I can do wardrobes for the new girls when they are a little bit older!!!
Thank you for your site and the online camaraderie of the sofa sisters!!
Loved seeing the dolly memory lane. I, too, am grateful that Marilyn survived her illness or I would never have had the pleasure of knowing her, albeit virtually. I think I joined in 2019.
I think I have to do some sewing today, nothing else planned. Joy, there is a lot to do around here and every time I read your comments you make me feel guilty. You are indefatigable, or so it seems. Well done.
Love the new word of the day for me! Indefatigable! Ha ha. Getting ready to head up to the other house to water and play with the kitty there. Then, back home as I want to see if I can get some Bondo into a few cracks on the deck railings. Yet another project. 🙂
Wow! So many beautiful, modest dresses! I love them! Thank you so much for sharing and making them! Great taste, Marilyn!
Blue Regency
I bought this before I had Elizabeth, but when it began to look like I’d live, I promised myself Elizabeth as a reward, as Felicity was my reward for surviving cancer. Now if I only had Jeanne’s gift for arranging hair.
Molly’s red dress
I don’t have Molly, but brown haired Lindsay looks great in this. I think of red as belonging with brown hair, possibly because red was the favorite color of my brown-haired sister.
Green jumper
Nellie thinks this is her favorite outfit ever. She wears it with tights. I especially love the embroidered blouse fabric. Typical Jeanne — nothing is ever plain — there’s always a special detail. And her red and green do not equal Christmas.
Julie’s coat
I was looking for Ivy to be my Asian doll when I realized it was really Julie I wanted. I remembered that Jeanne had one she had been selling and her dolls are always clean and in great shape, so I wrote to see if she was still available. Jeanne sent me a truckload of pictures and described in detail anything that could pass for a flaw. Her Julie was by far the best I’d seen, and I was happy to get her.
She was mailed on a very cold day — we were both having freezing weather, and Jeanne didn’t want Julie in the cold with no clothes, so she made her a fur coat. Poor Julie kept getting stuck in cold distribution centers, while we hovered over our computers, sending each other worried emails. We thought she’d freeze or be lost forever, but she did get here and was quickly dressed in a wool skirt, a white turtleneck, boots, and her coat and hat. I was considering renaming her, but she looked so much like Julie Christie that she stayed Julie.
Plaid skirt/black vest
I wanted this outfit so much that when I was outbid, I asked for a duplicate, and Jeanne made me one. Have you ever seen a nicer Christmas dress?
Sisters set
I gave my goddaughter Isabella Isabelle, the blond dancer, and her grandmother gave her Josefina, so this set was perfect for her and she loved it. I loved the beautiful way it was packed — it looked like a treasure.
Turquoise
It’s hard to beat this one. It’s as pretty as Blue Diamonds on Day 1. Some things are extra special, and this, and the next one, qualify.
Victorian Elegance
Samantha usually wears the turquoise dress. To my surprise, it’s Julie who looks stunning in this dress. I gave her a second braid and use the headpiece to join them, and groovy Julia becomes elegant Julia. She’s very convincing.
Apple Butter
Anyone would love this dress, and everyone wants it. Cecile usually gets it, but Samantha grabs it whenever she can. Neither seem like “brown girls” — I think it’s the white that makes it suit them so well.
Willa
I did, in fact, buy Willa, now called Willow, for my great niece, who looks remarkably like her and is a truly remarkable young woman — pretty, smart, talented, thoughtful, and kind. She came with a purple and white print Jeanne Marie dress and stayed with my sister until her owner was old enough to appreciate her. We joked that my niece would be the first paleontologist fashion-designer in the Senate. She’s outgrown dinosaurs, but I’m teaching her costume history.
So now we know one dress that’s missing.
Autumn Splendor
Before the 1920s, sleeveless dresses did not exist, at least for day wear. Evening dresses were designed to display shoulders, but not the upper part of the upper arm. In about 1890, formal evening dresses had fairly wide decorative straps, but court etiquette still demanded bare shoulders, so ladies just temporarily moved the straps to off shoulder. Jeanne added the pretty sleeves so that Marie Grace stayed in fashion.
You will notice that I like brown.
Prairie Rose
Another brown dress. I don’t have Kirsten, but Kit and Lindsay both time travel to wear this dress, which looks nice with both brown and blond hair. I have liked all of Jeanne’s Kirsten outfits and would have happily had all of them, but there’s something about the autumn colors of this one that especially appealed to me. I was right — it is beautiful on every doll I’ve tried it on.
A missing dress
We’re missing what I think of as Elizabeth’s watercolor dress — white and peach Regency. I think it was one of your favorite fabrics.