Hi everyone,
I’ll give you the answer in a minute, but just wanted to show you what I decided on Felicity’s dress. I was only thinking white laces or trims would work, but duh… what about Rick Rack? I laid it around Felicity’s neckline, and it brightened up the dress and I thought it was another option. It looked SO nice, I decided to just go with it. (I was leaning toward the vintage lace…) but I looked it up just to make sure Rick Rack (or Ric Rac… either way is acceptable), was used in the Colonial Days.
Oh great! I’ve just discovered something as I was writing this… and it’s not good! When I Googled “Rick Rack” earlier in the day, being used on dresses in Colonial times, I ACCIDENTALLY put in Civil War era, not Colonial… I didn’t catch my mistake until I just now typed that paragraph above. I was so excited to show you the machine that actually made the rick rack and how they called it “Wavy lace braid.” I had pictures.
Oh dear… When I typed it again on Google; this time asking if rick rack was used in Colonial times, it said “NO. Rick Rack was not used on dresses until the mid-to-late 1800’s making it a distinctly Victorian and 20th Century trim.” How did I not know that?
So now, what do I do… just go ahead with what I was planning, or pick out all the stitching on the rick rack, which I stitched on using extra tiny stitches to make sure my stitching stayed on the middle of the rick rack? I am just sick. I was so excited to show you how I was going to make it and how the red brightened up the dress. I won’t go any further until I hear from what you all say. And it was VINTAGE RICK RACK TOO! :o(
I’ll show you my pictures anyway…
Now, let’s see if I can get Marilyn’s story straight… Remember the pictures from Marilyn’s sister, Janeane and her husband, a few days ago? Well, they must be moving across Europe and now here are some new pictures she sent to Marilyn, who thought we all might like to see. I had no idea there was such a thing as a Royal Yacht… I guess it’s like the President’s Air Force One plane.
These are some photos from the Royal Yacht, the “Brittanica.” She served the royal family for 44 years and has sailed over a million miles.
The first interior picture is of the Queenās bedroom. The wall covering above the bed matched the bed covering. It is a pretty pattern.
The next photo is a sunroom that looked out over the front of the ship. It was very open and airy with nice views. It was one of the Queenās favorite rooms. She usually had breakfast and afternoon tea there.
The telephone in the next photo was the same phone system used at Buckingham palace.
All of the clocks on the yacht read 3:01. That is the time Queen Elizabeth departed the yacht the last time.
The last photo is of the laundry that ran 24/7. The crew of 250 had to change uniform up to 6 times a day so there was a lot of laundry. They were expected to be pristine. The machinery was from 1954ā note the clock.
Very interesting! I never knew about it, and it was neat to see the insides. A little part of history tucked away on a big ship! Who says you can’t learn new things on this blog??? :o)
Thanks Marilyn and thank Janeane for the pictures. I’m sure everyone will love looking at them.
See everyone tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, Jeanne, I do like the red color with the print, but no, the rickrack just doesn’t look “right” to me for Felicity. Now, if you were to change the dress’s style a bit and make it a little more correct as to the era for rickrack, that might be a solution, but then it would have to be for someone else. So, yeah, I’d take the rickrack off. (Do you use fabric glue [Roxanne’s Glue-Baste-It] to “baste” your rickrack in place? That’s what I do–apply tiny dots of the glue, and press the trim in place, stab-pin into the ironing board pad until the glue is dry, then carefully remove the pins and sew the trim on.)
Do you maybe have some very narrow ribbon in the right color that you could use instead?
Marilyn, thanks so much for sharing your sister’s photos. So interesting! I was aware of the yacht, but don’t recall seeing pictures of its interior. What a touching tribute, to have the clocks set at the time she last disembarked.
Oh dear, Jeanne, the color of the Rick rack looks so good on that fabric, but no, I think of rick rack as a ā40ās thing, for some reason. If you were just making a generic doll dress, the rick rack would be a cute idea, but not for Felicity! Do you have any ivory lace, or something not as white that you could use for trim? I still do like the second lace you had shown, the one that looks like little pineappleās.
Love Marilynās sisterās pictures. What a wonderful time they must be having! Thank you, Marilyn for sending them in, and Jeanne for showing them.
Sissy, I hope Peyton is getting better. I remember my bout with a 24 hour virus a week or so ago, and it was not fun. It just came out of the blue and no idea where I got it. I didnāt go to anyplace with a potluck either. Take good care of him, because sometimes it takes a few days to get back to normal.
Thank you, Linda, he is feeling much better and wants to go to the Y morrow, but we shall see.
Debbie in North Carolina had a brilliant idea: a self fabric ruffle.
I did not know the history of rick rack either. I do not know why I did not know that either!
The rick rack looks really pretty but too plain for Felicity at the neck line.
Oh I love Felicity, I am so glad I have her, even though she belongs to my daughter.
She has no time for dolls now, she has 4 live ones.
A big surprise dear friends, – Elizabeth called me yesterday on my phone! Well, I have to admit, last week, I was at the old house doing something and called and left a message telling her I loved her.
So, this was a nice phone visit, and near the end, she connected with video and I could see her adorable silly 2 year old adopted boy from Korea, they named Asher! He is the sweetest most cheerful little guy. Of course, these calls take me by surprise, but I try to stay calm and not panic. I do not know if I shared this before, perhaps I was not ready to say it, but I feel all of this estrangement is my fault. in 2022 after 10 years of taking care of my parents (in their late 90s, and loss of mom in 2016) I kind of had a mental breakdown. Looking back, I was just so exhausted from taking criticism from my siblings, my brother’s wife was esp vulgar, and just everyone’s demands. My father was also expecting a lot from me. Anyway, I never “lost it” with my father, even though we had disagreements on so many topics and beliefs. I did not realize that he was coping with his own confusion of events of the day at age 98 (esp covid and the politics of hate)
Anyway, I would have my little meltdowns as home with hubbs to comfort me, and help me reset. blah blah blah. life has drama. I had a tantrum. I do not like writing about this.
I am so interested in looking at everyone’s sewing progress. Please share your projects if you like. I am making little bags and little hexies. I have several plans on two quilts with no pattern in mind.
Sissy, I hope Peyton is improving. Be sure he is hydrated. Men! My hubbs likes weird snacks too. He likes Cheese-its crackers, which taste like cardboard to me.
Anne, I am so glad you have a new cooker – is this what we call a stove top and also an oven? Well, this is a great new appliance. It is good to get started working on all of the features so you can find and challenges…. really put it through it’s paces so to speak.
Sorry for the eczema. I have it too, but never knew what it is from. How disappointing the lemon cake is the culprit. Well, good I guess because you are prevented from eating it all up š
My main diversion this week, with all of the rain and also to avoid doing cleaning chores, is hanging closet maid wire shelving in the upstairs closet. I am almost done, then I can just put everything back in the closet on shelves and the space up there will really not look any different…. because I have way too much stuff, which I will deal with a bit at a time.
Jeanne, I hope this week is a week of more improvement for George. I hope he is feeling good and how are the chickens doing? Is he allowed to mow now?
I am gonna run off now. Take good care of yourselves. — please do not be lead into temptation š
Oh yes, I forgot the Queens cool yacht. How fancy!
Thank you for sharing these lovely pictures!
Thank you, Rosemary, and yes he hydrates, and is feeling better. He wants to go to the Y tomorrow, but we shall see.
Thank you Rosemary. I do think a fabric or lace ruffle is more in align with the time period.
Owning our mistakes is part of acceptance. Give yourself some grace.
I understand some of what you were experiencing. Both of my children married and both of my parents died within 11 months. I do not know how I survived but I do think it took a toll on my relationship with my daughter. I blame it on the pandemic but if I am totally honest it was my bossy behavior during the planning of her wedding.
I am still working on grace and forgiving myself.
I will keep you in my prayers, Debbie.
I am not a perfect person. I do strive for perfection…. but less so as I get older I guess.
Like you, I never expected others to be perfect either. I still can not figure out what exactly created such a break down. I feel like it is mostly my little brother and his wife that gave me the most anxiety, combined with the stress of taking care of my “kind of demanding” father. I was always trying to please him.
Meh, we need to just love our own life and be content. Bless you dear friend
Yes, I have one of those siblings to throw in the mix. Bless you as well.
Well, I’m liking the fabric even more today. Perhaps, there is some way to save the day with the rick rack. Would it be possible to sew some ribbon over the top of the rr? Hopefully, some similar small sized velvet to cover up the rr? I would try that rather than removing the rr. If not, and you have enough extra fabric, make another top and try again with some narrow velvet ribbon or that black lace I’d like to see. Then, the original top could be used to make a dress for Molly or another welcoming girl. Right now, it does scream 40’s to me.
The pics by Marilyn’s sis are so interesting. Thanks Marilyn and Jeanne, for sharing. I was more interested in the laundry room than anything and amazed at the number of changes the crew was expected to make daily to look spotless.
Yesterday, we headed to Trader Joe’s, and then headed to the other house. We tackled the front and back and it looks much better now. Way too many dandelions to my liking. I did start in on pruning the lemon bush which is huge, but still need to do more. We filled the big yard can and then lifted the lawn mower back into the truck and packed up. We didn’t find any time to even get in a walk, but I think that we did enough.
It’s clear and cold this morning, so we’ll get in a walk and then hopefully, tackle the list. Lots to do including filling out our ballots.
Marilyn, the photos are a treat, thank you and your sister, and also Jeanne for showing it to us.
Jeanne, taking out the rick rack would such a pain and might make the fabric look bad. Can’t you just set it aside for another doll and start over?
Also we would like to hear how George is doing.
Now that the Peaches are coming in from GA and South Carolina I hope to make some pies today. I buy the pie crust, put in rows of sliced peaches and put blue berries in the middle. Then I pour a yummy topping over it and put it in the freezer. When it is frozen I cover it up and leave it in the freezer until I want to cook it. I make at least 6 of these and have them over the year when we want a pie. Very handy. I can send the recipe if you want it.
I also make freezer peach jam to last the year. Another recipe.
So off I go to get busy. Y’all have a great day.
Yum peaches. I have a superb very buttery recipe for a “peach cobbler”.
Yes, I think I could use crisco I think. I should try that.
Thank you for the reminder. I should get some peaches and start making some treats to freeze!
Yes, I was just about to say that while ric rac is fine/accurate for Civil War (wavy lace braid) it is certainly not historically accurate for the colonial era. I think of ric rac as a 1930’s decoration first.
Can you not just cut out a new bodice and start again?
Thank you, Marilyn, and please thank Janeane for sharing the wonderful photos. I loved seeing the Queen’s yacht and the special spaces.
Thank you, Jeanne, for the little tote I won in the drawing. I wish I could share a photo with a doll, but my phone is on the fritz. It takes the photo, but won’t let me send it to my email (or anyone else’s) I tried sending a photo to
That fabric really is beautiful. Seems the ric rac must go though. Either by removing it or recut a new bodice and use the ric rac bodice for another dress. I was looking at some dresses that are āsupposedā to be that time period and fabric neck ruffles whether of the same material or a contrasting color look very nice. So thereās my thoughts. Weāll be waiting to see your decision.
I am in agreement with the others that the rick rack is the wrong era for Felicity. I do like a colonial gown to dip a bit in the front unlike the round neckline of the mid 1800’s, and a less gathered skirt as hoops were not in style in the 1700’s. Sorry for the history lesson but it was my trade for many years.
Marilyn I am looking at your sister’s photos many times. I showed them to my husband and he said “let’s go!” He loves all boats large and small. I was surprised at the simplicity of the Queen’s bedroom and sitting room. The bed looks so small for a Queen but I am sure it was just right. I think we could visit the ship then head out to the countryside of villages and sheep.
I am wondering-did they go on a tour or is their trip self guided?
Speaking of boats, we have watched every episode of Great Canal Journeys that is streaming on a free channel because the show is 10 years old. Very relaxing in the evening. I was completely unaware of the vast canal system in Britain that facilitated the industrial revolution.
I finally bought a cordless stick vacuum today. It is a big step from my regular upright but I will try anything to avoid a cleaning service that never comes on the right day and requires picking up all my messes. I hope this is one of the solutions. Cooking 3 meals a day is still an issue and I read every one’s solutions, I am just not there yet.
Debbie, if the programme is the one with Prunell Scales and Timothy West I watched that too. They carried on until Prunella’s Alzheimer’s was so severe she needed to be hospitalised. They have both died since. He was so lovely to her, they had been married for over 50 years.
That is the one! I did search them last night and read that they were both gone but just in the last 2 years. I loved their journeys on the canals and their relationship. It was interesting to note that their oldest son, Sam, plays Siegfried in All Creatures Great and Small.
Thank you Debbie for telling us about this program. Now I am going to look it up. This is something perfect for me while puttering around, I have a few boxes I need to go through and it can be tedious. I am absolutely going to look it up. Thanks for clarifying this too Anne !
Debbie, I hope you find the new vacuum handy and useful!
I swiffer my floors now, and use those dust attractive cloths instead. Then I take my minivac and vacuum the cloth and go back for more. I have a mini vac with a powerful brush. Dare I say it is kind of fun? no, better not.
I hope you can get out of that annoying habit of cooking three meals a day!!! Wow! That could just keep me running all day with the kitchen duty.
For dinner, I just reheated some twirly pasta I made a few days ago, and topped it with some microwave heated ground beef I cooked a month ago, and Rao’s spaghetti sauce. My hubbs vacuumed that right up when he came home from the old house, putting some very heavy old computer desk parts out for the trash. whew, it is humid today!
Debbie, I agree about the neck line, I think.
Something less round and closer to the neck at the sides too?
I love the wider neck idea with a pretty light scarf around the neck and tucked in. I do not know what that is called…. hmmm. Well Jeanne. You are sweet to get advice from many sisters here with a good eye!
Jeanne, Britannia was a bit like Air Force one in that it was only for the Queen. On Royal Tours she would often host a banquet on the Yacht. After Britannia was retired she used a mixture of commercial charter planes and defence aircraft. Modern Royals often use normal commercial flights. Thank you Marilyn, for the photos
I haven’t weighed in on Felicity’s dress, I know very little about the colonial era and I am not sure how it equates with the fashion in UK at the time. Whatever you choose it will look wonderful because your creations always do.
Looking forward to seeing the finished result