Hi everyone,
I know you are anxious to see the winners of the Doll Dresses, but I have to show you something first. It happened yesterday and I know you’ll be cheering him on!
I’m not sure when or where I got it, but I found a sling in my sewing room and guess I thought maybe someday we could use it for something. Well, it turned out to be a wonderful and easy way to help Reuben with his walking without being too confining or hard to put on. It’s just a 2-foot-long piece of fleece fabric with some handles on each end. We put it under Reuben’s belly and he walked in the house across the living room. We did it a few days and then this morning, my hubby took him outside… this was the first video of Reuben walking outside with the sling… almost just for a little support…
Then my hubby took the sling off and look what happened! Oh happy day!! He gets tired easily, and plops down, but if we don’t overwork him, he will build up the muscles he’s lost, and get stronger every day! It’s been 2 months since he hurt himself and was paralyzed. He still has a ways to go as he can’t get up on all four feet if he’s sitting down, but he’s trying…
Okay, now I guess you’ll want to know the winners of the 2025 Doll Dress Year in Review! Thank you for all who voted and the comments many of you made. It makes me smile when I read some of the things you mention!
In Third Place…We have a three-way tie… I forgot that might happen, and it did!
The three dresses that tied with 5 votes each were… Summer’s End on American Girl, Rebecca… Mini Bailey in Pint Size Patriot… and American Girl Molly in Picnic Fun… Here are a few pictures of those 3 third place winners…
In Second Place… with 6 votes, the winner was Rebecca, in Holiday Helper. Here are some more pictures of that dress again…
In FIRST PLACE , with 7 votes, the winner was Natasha in Christmas Charm! Here she is again… with some extra pictures. I hope you can see why she won first place.
Well, that’s what happened around here in 2025… I only hope I can make just as many dresses in 2026 and hope you will love them just as much! Thank you to everyone who reads my blog and buys my dresses and compliments me on my workmanship and learns a few new things along the way!
I guess I better get started on 2026 while it’s early in January.
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, Jeanne, what a WONDERFUL thing to see, Reuben walking on his own again!! Truly a miracle! I’m so glad you didn’t just give up on him. I can tell you and George have been working with him, his muscles and nerves are relearning (or remembering) how to walk, and seeing those first steps he took on his own, well, it was just too wonderful! So happy for you all! (I trust you let Rebecca know right away!)
Congratulations to all the winners. Interesting that there was a 3-way tie for third! My Dazzle thinks it’s pretty cool that her outfit was one of those winners!
And I can certainly see why Christmas Charm was the 1st place winner! That is a fabulous outfit!
Oh, how wonderful to see little Reuben actually WALKING again, and even non-assisted! A true miracle, and all because of the care and love you and George gave him! He certainly doesn’t know what a lucky little dog he is! He looks so chipper and like his old self again! I am so happy for him,……..and you!
Oh my, all the beautiful dresses that you had us try to pick from! I can honestly tell you that I don’t think I can even remember what I picked, even though none of them won, but who’s checking? They ALL were wonderful! Thank you for a wonderful walk down Memory Lane!
C’est un plaisir de voir Reuben,marcher à nouveau. Bientôt il remarchera tout seul. Ici ,il neige et quand il neige à Paris,c’est la pagaille… Pourtant,il neige tous les hivers ! Chez moi ,c’est encore pire,pas de bus,pas d’école …La vie s’arrête. Mais le paysage est magnifique et mon sapin de Noël a retrouvé sa jeunesse pour quelques jours. Amitiés à vous toutes. Georgina.
It must be beautiful there in the snow, Georgina! Yes, life somewhat stops here too, especially when there is ice involved, which happened last year, and that was REALLY a mess! Cars were frozen in the streets, you could not shovel anything because it was ice. I hope you don’t get that, but Paris is beautiful no matter what season!
Unfortunately if it gets cold and we have precipitation here it’s rarely snow but ice. And everything closes down in order to save lives since there are some that still drive like it’s a sunny summer day. Our freeways are elevated so they ice up quite quickly but we do have trucks that go out and try to minimize the damage. So far this year we’ve had none of that but we’re not through February yet and that is the month where it most likely happens.
I look at Paris weather every morning and saw that it was snowing! I’ll bet that it really is a sight to behold. 🙂
Chère Georgina, cela fait au moins 20 ans que je ne suis pas allée à Paris. Je trouve que c’est une ville magnifique en toute saison. J’imagine qu’elle est encore plus charmante sous la neige. Profitez bien de votre séjour !
Dear Georgina, it has been at least 20 years since I was in Paris. I believe it is beautiful all year long. I can imagine it is ever more charming with snow. Enjoy!
I had no trouble picturing Paris in the snow. I just went back and looked at my Jacquie Lawson Advent calendar from last year. It’s become one of my favorites. The detail is incredible. Stay safe in your snow but if you would like an early spring, I’ll send you our weather. My son is outside mowing the lawn right now. While we had the Christmas lights up around our yard so couldn’t mow, the grass just kept on growing. And the flies and mosquitos think it’s spring. Even a little winter here would be nice. The temps this weekend will be in the 50s. They call that winter here in Texas. Where I came from in Pennsylvania that was late fall or early spring.
It is wonderful to see Reuben walking, my daughter had a kitty, that one day she could not find in the yard. Adventurely. she did find him and he could not stand like Reuben. She took him to the vet’s but they wants many dollars to do more tests. She brought him home, I went on the internet and found that animals can have strokes. With care and rest they can come back. Lynn cat did and maybe that was the problem with Reuben.Look it up, it is very interesting. I was busy yesterday and did not vote but I agree with the girls picks, they are winners. Have a good day! We are having an inch of snow every night! Oh happy winter!
Happy New Year All! I love your year in review parade Jeanne and am looking forward to the offerings in 2026. I was happy to see my pics in the finals. I was thinking about the winners. Your artistry is on display in the outfits for the AG girls, more details, beautiful fabrics. Those dresses remind me of the clothing worn by the European antiques of the late 1800’s and the Madame Alexanders of the mid 1900’s when craftsmanship for dolls was at their peak. The outfits for Little Darlings seem to finish strong and command high prices from the artists. I have some thoughts on that as I am a Little Darling collector and tend to overspend on their clothes. My conclusion is that these dolls for the most part arrive undressed where as the other categories have manufactured clothing available and come dressed, such as the RRFF. In the words of hubby, (who has no idea how much a Little Darling costs!) “If you have a nice doll, you want a nice dress.”
I like your hubby’s philosophy on dressing dolls. My hubby feels the same way only he thinks they should all be made by me. It’s hard to convince him that sometimes there is an accessory (like shoes or a hat) that I want and an outfit that I would prefer someone else make.
I forgot to applaud Reuben! Keeping him and the other doggies in my life in my prayers.
Oh my, it is SO NICE to see Reuben walking along. Gosh, what a great effort to recovery, I know this home care required both of your close attention, and that is really mentally straining at times. You have had to be the inspiring coach and the care giver. Reuben looks so pleased. He will improve daily! He really looks happy.
Well, the results of the doll dresses are great! I had a difficult time “voting” really, almost treachery 😆😂😫😂 however, good exercise for our brains… you know “careful analysis” and all of that.
I am sure you have a few good plans already floating around on your work table.
The weather has been quite nice for January in Northern Virginia 35 miles west of the swamp. It is going up to 60º today I think, and the important factor is not much wind.
So I might bundle up and take a walk in the fresh air.
I did not go to the doctor because I felt like I was clearing out nicely yesterday afternoon. So I hope that was the right path, and I can continue to clear this virus out on my own.
I am also working with my much younger cousin in Austria (the son of my mother’s younger sister) to literally translate the diary my father kept while he was a POW in Northern Germany, as he was taken up in a razzia in 1944 from Rotterdam Netherlands (the Germans were running out of men) My dad wrote a diary that is about 230 pages. I can read dutch but my fathers writing is just too scribbly.
My other cousin, the son of my mother’s brother… I love him. He is my favorite cousin but he was sort of raised up with the idea that after my parents married in the Netherlands, my father decided they would come to the US and “abandon the family” and mom’s brother always had a bit of resentment about that, Uncle Jan did not like America.
Anyway, cousin Lex’s translation of the pages if quite reduced to a few sentences, and very concise. I am enjoying both versions. Fortunately, my father endured a life traumatizing event that for him turned out okay.
I hope everyone has a really productive day!
That must be an interesting read and so personal for you. We have so much to learn from the past generations. If only we will listen.
Just south of you we are also having glorious spring like weather. We are on our way to Raleigh for car service and the sky is blue from end to end.
I hope these warm temps put an end to your misery. You surely have built up immunity to all germs by now. 🙂
The translation sounds like a very interesting project. You might be interested in The Bitter Road to Freedom: A New History of the Liberation of Europe
https://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Road-Freedom-History-Liberation/dp/0743273818/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2N9XQFYA79LU9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.poYQV7BhxPxwdk2XbvJNNnUcETGcTLYOerSCDOWsIu7y5R6l3aFl7c8GoQQpUyodwDmDNDKyMKDmwqtxWMAkP02rX6_7eU0dAqBLZ2eo8QM.of12jm_-VWqm1iflmbv_6cfNAlVQeGvxiILXuruhljo&dib_tag=se&keywords=william+hitchcock&qid=1767801866&s=books&sprefix=william+hitchcock%2Cstripbooks%2C211&sr=1-3
There’s a nice section on The Netherlands. People think, “The war was over, now everything is back to normal.” Starvation was a big problem in The Netherlands; the Allies had to keep moving on to complete the war in Germany, leaving destruction behind them, and no food — people were willing to work but didn’t have the strength — people died in the streets. Great book if you want to know about life in the immediate post-war world.
Peyton worked in the Atlanta summer Olympics and became friends with some German and Dutch guys in his group. One, who was Dutch ended up later in visited the US and where we lived because he was needed to teach various skill sets for our police here. He was here several times and visited with us as well. We became very close friends. 4 years ago this year he and his wife to be came here to marry and we were the Matron of Honor and Best Man. We have had so many times here with them but since the wedding they have no been able to come. We communicate but only online. When their Decoration Day arrives our friends and many others there put flowers in the American Cemetery. Our friends always put their flowers on the graves of those from Georgia.
Yay for Reuben! So glad he is on the mend.
Well, none of my choices won, but it was hard to choose only three. If I could have picked ten, I’m sure at least one of my choices would have been among the winners. 🙂
Looking forward to what you come up with in 2026.
Running late. I’ve been helping a distant cousin try to locate his birth family. Not to do anything except know the information. I’m pretty sure that with DNA, we’ve figured it out. Exciting. Found yearbook pics for him too.
What a fabulous day!! Seeing little Reuben taking a stroll after all that he has been through is astounding. Congrats to Jeanne and George for their patience and excellent care of their pup.
I’m so happy that Holiday Helper came in second. I love that outfit. I didn’t think that it would even make the scene as there were so few votes yesterday, but yay it came in. 🙂
Some lovely rays of sun are peeking in. Better get moving.
Dear Jeanne, how wonderful for Reuben! You can add Dog Medical Equipment to your list of offerings.
Thanks for showing us the winning dresses. I guessed one correctly. I liked that three different dolls won!
Oh, the dresses you will make in 2026! I can’t wait to see.
Congratulations to Reuben, and to you and George for giving him a chance to recover.
So — I chose 2 out of 3 winners. The outfits we didn’t choose — the overall outfits — deserve some recognition. Maybe we need a “prettiest” category, a “cutest” category, and a “one I most want to take home” category. Of course, “Christmas Charm” might have won all 3.
I like your idea of categories. I loved those little overall outfits but the competition with the amazing dress ensembles was hard to overcome.
Wonderful that Reuben is walking again, but even if he hadn’t there are plenty of dogs and kitties that have wheelchairs. It’s an issue that luckily can be fixed.
Well, I voted for two of the three winners and while I did like Christmas Charm I liked Kirsten blue and white better. I love blue!
The votes also show you should sew for the PC/AG girls more as the second place and two of the three winners were on them.
Although I would never bid on the PC/AG period outfits (I only have one 18″ AG doll and she’s modern), I do love seeing them. And since so many have those dolls and the outfits for them often come in strong in the competition, I agree with the idea that I Dream of Jeanne Marie should sew for them more often.
Jeanne, Am I the only one without an AG? I love your photos of them but I am glad you also have dolls that are the same as mine. I knew I was choosing mostly by my dolls. All the dresses are true Jeanne loveliness and it was so fun to see them all again.
YAY, for Reuben and for you and George to work so hard to get him back to him self. Y’all are the greatest!
We have a busy day up here in Helen, having to do some stuff on the computer. What happened to rest? The weather is sunny and warmer, but still no birds on the feeder. Very strange. I will send photos from up here soon when I get a chance.
Dear Sissy, I only have one AG. I have an original Addy and I am not going to re-dress her.
I have several other 18-inch dolls though. I have 2 Gotz Happy Kidz, Kidz N Kats, Magic Attic Meghan, and a Kaye Wiggs Holly, now called Caroline.
Are you going to any conventions this year?
You’re not the only one without an AG, Sissy, I don’t have one, either. Even though Jeanne makes some beautiful outfits for them, the dolls have just never appealed to me. And I have plenty of others! 🙂
I had tears in my eyes seeing the wonderful videos of Reuben walking on his own. I can only imagine how you feel and I’m sure the whole family is over the moon at his miraculous recovery. Now he just needs more rehab to regain his strength and confidence. Keeping on day after day when you don’t know if you are making a difference is tough but you did it and soon Reuben will be back to his fully normal self.
Christmas Charm was one of my picks. I kept moving it around and can’t remember exactly how I placed it in my comment, but I just knew it was a winner from the moment it was finished. I would love to see the same dress done for Easter. I love the style.
Thank You, Lord, for helping Rueben get better. And thank you Jeanne and George for helping him too! This news made my entire week! I am so happy for all of you!
I chose all 3 winners, with choosing “Picnic Fun” as part of the 3 way tie. Maybe I should go get a lottery ticket now, ha ha.
Jeanne, I’m like all the others, I can’t wait to see what you make this year! You always design the best outfits, whether you are making formal dresses, play clothes, or darling little party dresses. We love them all!
How wonderful that Rueben is walking on his own, even if only a few steps. That is such an improvement. Well done you and George for persevering.
I think only one of my picks made it into the first three. They were all so lovely and I do love the Little Darlings, they are just too expensive for me, the postage is as much as the doll.
Summer has returned but it means the garden has to be watered every day, still it is worth it to see the flowers. Did you get my photos of Christmas Day in NZ Jeanne? My pots and baskets were at their best that day but they need a bit of attention now.
I have been working very hard on a quilt I started in 2011! I had put the top together but couldn’t face dealing with quilting a large quilt so I unpicked it and am making it into a quilt as you go quilt. Unfortunately my skills were not great then and I had to unpick several blocks and remake them because they didn’t measure correctly. I’m about halfway through quilting the blocks and still have to do the borders. I’m determined to finish it. I haven’t counted how many UFO’s I have but I am determined to get through at least some of them this year.
Have a lovely day everyone
Well, that’s great on the quilt. I have some fabric that I was going to make a quilt of sorts from years ago. Guess I should dig it out and see if I can remember how it goes together. 🙂