Hi everyone and Happy First Day of Autumn, or Fall, whichever you call it. I’m fairly certain Fall is my favorite time of the year. I always wish it would just last longer than it does.
I wanted to sneak in a picture here from Joy. Remember all the comments she’s been making about her deck; the boards being replaced, the scraping, the scrubbing, the hard work, the hot weather? Well, the other person snapped a few shots of her scrubbing ALL those rails… and I thought I’d share them, just so you can see this wasn’t some 4′ x 8′ deck! It’s HUGE! Everyone give Joy a great big hand for doing such a good job!!! :o)
How about a great big POOL for the girls down in Texas, at Barbara’s house! You’re going to love this!
Barbara will narrate:
This is the promised end of summer Labor Day swim. It is actually a swim party for the Artistic Swimmer team. The first pictures are of Ashlynn and Alora doing their duet swim. They have been doing Artistic Swimming since they were in kindergarten and were the only ones who wanted to do a solo or duet swim.
Their coach is Miss Anaelle (wearing swimwear from the I Dream of Jeanne Marie collection). All the other swimsuits are from the Concoction Creations collection (that would be me with a huge help from a pattern by Magalie Dawson). I couldn’t have done it without her.
All the team swimmers are Dianna Effner L’il Dreamers. You can see in one of the pictures that one of the girls had been sitting on the side of the pool and lost her balance falling backwards into the pool. Jovi is still sitting on the side and chiding her cousin Jane Elizabeth for not holding on as she told her to.
Kayci is not swimming today because she just had her hair done to be a junior bridesmaid in her aunt’s wedding that evening. But she is still having a great time with her friends.
With the exception of the duet swim by Ashlynn and Alora (sisters, fraternal twins actually) the rest of the day was stress free with free swim and lots of relaxed enjoyment. Since most of the time the girls are together is spent in practice, they have little time to just kick back and have fun together. Thus, their coach throwing them a swim party to end the summer and the competition season.
Enjoy, Barbara
Wonderful, Barbara,
Now doesn’t everyone feel nice and cool from being ringside at the pool! Thank you so much Barbara! I know that was a LOT to set up, but it sure made cute pictures and your story was great!
See you tomorrow with some more WONDERFUL pictures from Elizabeth and what she made for her 10 year old granddaughter! You won’t want to miss this either!
Then MORE dolls showing off on Wednesday!
See you all tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, what a fun post today!!
Joy, you are much braver than I am. No way would I get on a ladder that high unless I had a wall next to me to hang onto! Probably not even then. I get nervous just getting on the bottom step of a small stepladder. I don’t do heights well.
Barbara, your pictures are wonderful! Such fun poses. I love the synchronized swim photos–good job, Ashlynn and Alora! Miss Anaelle must be so proud of you!
And the other pool pictures are wonderful, too. Using the decorative shredded paper for the water was a wonderful idea; it helps support the dolls and nobody get’s truly wet!
Thanks, both of you, for sharing!
Thanks, Charlotte. I loved posing the girls but I really wish I could have pointed their toes. They have no articulation so I really had to use my imagination. I wanted the first picture to look like a sideways dive into the pool. It worked better than I hoped because they are actually hanging on the side of the pool by one arm. I was worried they would fall either forward or backward but surprisingly they didn’t. I started using the shredded cellophane made for gift bags for a Barbie pool once but can’t seem to find that anymore and I needed a bunch of it for this pool. I did a search on the internet and finally found this in the quantity I needed.
Today’s blog brought a smile on my face! Well, those first two pictures did give me a scare for a minute though! Joy, you are very brave, is all I can say! I have trouble just going two steps up on a ladder! I see why you are so trim and slim though!
Barbara, what fun to see your girls having fun! How cute to see the different poses, and you certainly do have an imagination! You did a wonderful job with all those darling swimsuits too! Amazing how those two girls on the synchronized swimming team got their hair looking so good after their underwater exercises!😊
Did you also make the pool? The shredded paper water looks so real, good job!
Thanks so much Linda. The girls won’t tell me how they keep their hair so perfect while going underwater. I’ll keep working on that. The swimsuits came out better than I hoped but I’m not sure after making nine of them I want to make another. Problem is no one else is making them for that size doll so I had to go for it. Yes I did make the pool. Rather it was a collaboration of me, my hubby and grandson Skyy. The guys did the frame and I made the liner. We also did one for granddaughter Jaiden at the same time. And I do have an imagination which caused me problems in school. My mind was always somewhere else creating scenarios. When called on by the teacher it was kinda “Huh, what?”
What a great way to start the week and the Fall!
First, Joy! I am floored by that Deck, it is nothing like what I imagined!
I kept wondering how she could get under the boards! Now we see, but what a job! Joy you are truly amazing!
Barbara, you girls’ tricks brought me back to my collage days and our Swim group. We worked on different swim programs every year and put on a show for the parents weekend. I can almost feel my legs sticking up just like your girls. I love all the suits and the beautiful dolls. What a lot of work you did, and the cute pool, with the great water! You really gave us a fun show! Thank you for showing it, I wish my granddaughter were here to see it.
Hi, Sissy. Thanks, glad you enjoyed the pictures. The suits came out well but there were times I was tempted to give up until I developed a technique that worked. The Dianna Effner L’il Dreamers are lovely dolls. I like the pool water too. Easy clean-up and it can stay with the pool when not in use. So you were a swimmer. Not me. I didn’t take my feet off the bottom of the pool till I was a sophomore in high school. It might be because I almost drowned when I was little but I was so small I wouldn’t have thought I remembered that. Our school had a pool and swimming was sophomore PE so I had to take the class. But we were divided by expertise (we had to wear bathing caps back then). The white daps were Red Cross trained, the red caps were people who absolutely could not swim so had to be watched and the blue caps were all the others. I didn’t qualify for a white cap and there was no way I was going to wear one of those ridiculous looking red caps so I jumped in the pool and swam the full length. I guess motivation is everything.
How fun it was to see Joy and Barbara’s pictures!
Joy, so this balcony is where we get to see your girls posing for pictures! It’s huge and now I can see why it’s a project cleaning it! That’s not an easy job for sure! You look great up there on that ladder tackling it though!
And Barbara, what fun the girls are having. You have good imagination. The shredded material is great for water – clever!
After all the girls working hard on their swimming feats, it’s great their instructor gave them a party at the pool.
Thanks for sharing these pictures, Joy, Barbara and Jeanne. Looking forward to more tomorrow.
Thanks, Paula, so glad you enjoyed the pictures. Yes the girls have worked very hard on their routines for several months now and, even though they continue swimming throughout the year, they love a chance to just swim for fun. I love sharing my enjoyment of doing these photo shoots with my sofa sisters.
Well, I lost my post and didn’t save it. All because I went back to enlarge the pool pics. I guess that is happening again. So, I’ll have to remember to look first and then post. 🙂
I so enjoyed Barbara’s Artistic Swim Team photos. The girls look great in their suits. Can’t believe how cute they turned out. That tiny sewing is amazing. And Ellaelle’s suit by Jeanne is sweet too. So fun to see the girls all enjoying their well deserved party. And Barbara’s pool is also an artistic feat. Such perfect workwomanship. Love the design too. When I saw it last, I really wanted to make one, but hasn’t happened. Now, I’ve been encouraged again. Thanks for sharing the photos Barbara and Jeanne. Gave me a big smile.
Well, yesterday, I finally finished with scrubbing the deck railings and decking so I can stop talking about it. Yay, they are all saying! I don’t think we’re going to get in much painting the next couple of days as we’re supposed to be in the 90’s, but I think we’ll get back to that wood pile on the side of the house as there will be shade this morning there. Always something to work on around here.
And what a shock to see the chimney sticking up there in the deck photos. It is really high up there, and I have only been on the roof once in almost 50 years. When I was done with the deck work yesterday, other person heard Callie Cat meowing. I looked around the deck, yard, garage, etc. but we couldn’t find her. More meows. Coming back up the steps, I happened to look up. I guess that she had been on the roll out shade cover meowing at us. Probably saying, “look at me”, but we didn’t see her except that she was on that two story roof. You know, like the cats stuck in trees. So, how to get her down? She is a clever cat, and we knew that she had gotten up there somehow. Figured out that she had to jump from the side fence so went around and saw her now on the edge of the roof. Also saw that she was eyeing the other chimney, we have two. After a few calls, she looked over the edge of the roof, jumped down easily to the chimney flange and then to the top of the fence. So, that running around on the roof at night that I thought was a racoon, was probably Callie Cat. 🙂
Happy Monday, everyone!
Dear Joy, well my goodness you are so talented. I think you could open up a deck repair shop.
And I think you could engage Callie Cat in your doll capers. She could easily create a distraction for Other Person as you gather up the secret boxes on the front porch (smile).
Seriously though, great job for all of your work. The Sofa Sisters are so talented!
My talent on a flat surface with a paint brush. Ha ha. And good idea about Callie Cat next time a delivery arrives. 🙂
Joy, so glad you enjoyed my pictures. You were actually a motivating factor in getting it done. You enjoyed the one last year and wanted a sequel and mentioned that. It was my jumping off point. Then I just had to decide what dolls I wanted to use and the scenario. I got the pool pattern from Pixie Faire but it’s no longer on there. The woman who did it went solo. If you want to know her site I will look it up for you since I can’t remember offhand. She has other things like pool toys, a lifeguard station, etc.
Thank you! That’s also great to know about the pool pattern. It will have to be a winter project as we still have lots to do before winter around here. 🙂
The pool pattern is from Matilda Jo. Here’s the link https://clubmatilda.com/shop/pvc-projects/pvc-plans-pool-party-collection-oval-swimming-pool.
Oh, thanks Dena. 🙂
Dear Jeanne, yes, the Sofa Sisters are amazing! I left a message for Joy. Barbara hasn’t posted yet so I will leave a message for her here.
Barbara, I love your swim team girls. They are such great little swimmers. And they have a wonderful instructor. The swimsuits are adorable.
I know it is the first day of Autumn but I wish I could click my heels and go back to May. I miss May!
Thanks, Dorothy, Glad you liked the suits. They did turn out better than I had hoped. Anaelle is an excellent instructor. She is so patient and loves working with the girls. Ashlynn and Alora actually have a backyard swimming pool that can be heated so they can swim comfortably all year. How do I know that. Because I used my Architectural Design program to create a house and backyard for them. It has a pool wizard too. I have actually created houses for several of my dolls. It adds to the reality and encompasses several of my hobbies.
Dear Barbara, please share more about the houses. Are they 3 D or did you create them out of cardboard or wood or another substance?
I remember when I was in art class (in 8th grade?) we were give an 8 x 8 tile and a pile of small wooden blocks. Our assignment was to create a house and grounds. I think we had cotton for tree tops. I am by no way an artist but I thought I did a really good job! I wish I had held on to the project.
Wow, Joy!! You are an extremely industrious person as well as brave. I have trouble going up and down stairs let alone a high ladder. Obviously I’m feeling my age more than you are. I loved seeing the pictures. I was going to ask if you could take some so we could get a real idea of what all you do. Your deck is lovely. I miss living in a place that actually has different terrain. I lived in Pottsville and Bethlehem, PA, and both places have lots of different kinds of houses depending on where they’re built. Here if the facades aren’t different, all the houses would be basically the same. No basements, slab on grade and usually one level. Sorry about your hot weather slowing you down. I can definitely relate to that.
Thanks, Jeanne, for posting my pictures. Aside from the time it took to make the swimsuits it didn’t take as long to get the pictures done and sent as I thought it would. Mostly it was just a matter of taking time to do it. But I still hold to the fact that making swimwear is not my thing, especially for smaller dolls. I guess it’s now on to back-to-school sewing. Actually looking forward to that.
Happy First day of Autumn!
What a happy fun post today. First of all, Joy, your deck is beautiful! Please be careful on that ladder!!!!!!! ….!!!!!
The deck is just lovely. I know there will be happy memories made on that fancy outdoor space!
Barbara, this is the cutest post ever! I love synchro swimming too. (I could probably never do it, myself) The dedication and effort is so impressive. These two girls are exceptional, AND a pool party afterward, what fun! All of these girls are having the best time! I love the dolls, all of them are super pretty, and the suits are wonderful!!
Thank you for your nice comments, Rosemary. Most of my dolls indulge in the things I love best like music, dance and drama. But with so many dolls I needed to find different creative outlets for them and I chose artistic swimming for Ashlynn and Alora (don’t ask me how I came to that, I’m not sure). Once I did that the other L’il Dreamers followed suit. My new Little Darling Julia and her sister L’il Dreamer Lynzi are rhythmic gymnasts. Betsy and Barbara McCall dance and skate. That’s just a few of the many talents my dolls possess. The L’il Dreamer dolls are adorable and they now have more than one sculpt. I keep saying I’m not buying any more and then they come out with one I can’t resist. I don’t have all of them, just most.
Forgot to mention how I’m looking forward to Elizabeth’s pictures. They are always amazing. Also, when I look at my pictures the pool always seems a little small when I get the girls in it, but it really is pretty big. I have to carry it with two hands.
Thanks Jeanne and everyone for the deck comments. We redid and painted the lower deck last fall, so now, we want to get the upper deck done. All the new boards are screwed in place and it is ready to paint. We’ll get back to that later when the sun is off the area. Going to take two coats though. It’s a pretty big deck too. 🙂
What6 great photos. And another treat tomorrow! I love Elizabeths photos. Actually all you girls are so very talented.
It was great to see you Joy, with scrubbing brush in hand. What a huge deck, like some others I don’t do ladders. I have an excellent 3 step ladder with a large hand rail on top which I can lean against or hold which makes me feel safer but that is my limit. Well done you have done a great job.
Barbara your swimsuits are wonderful and so is the pool. Very well done and I loved the story.
Dorothy sorry, but I really don’t want to go back to May as far as I can tell it was a wet miserable winter here and I am looking forward to summer. It has been a horrible few days all over the country except for here! Really heavy rain and wind. We got the wind but no rain and really pleasant temps between 19 and 22 C (about 68-74F).
I’m with you Anne on not wanting to go back to May but our reasons are different. You’re not fond of the winter and I really don’t like summer here in SE Texas. Thanks for your nice comments on my swimsuits and pool. I’m going to have to think of a scenario for next summer. Maybe a swimming lesson using all my small dolls. But only if I can find ready-made swimsuits for them. I do like your pleasant temps. Maybe next month. Sigh…
Joy….that is a huge deck for sure! You will be so glad when that part of the deck job is done! I’m in the middle of Texas and I know what the heat is like…my daughter and I did manage on Sat. to wash down the walls and floor/patio area and apply her homemade vinegar, epson salts & soap mixture that kills weeds that are trying to come up through the pea-graveled back yard…and it was HOT out there but with the two of us, we got it done quickly. I want to pull weeds, trim bushes and two rose bushes out in the pea-graveled garden areas in the front yard, but am waiting on 70-80 degree temps! It’s been consistently in the 90’s! I bought “Preen” which is supposed to be applied to keep weeds from coming back but it won’t hurt the flowers and such. Has anyone used this and had success with the product?
Barbara….The dolls having a swim day is fantastic! I purposely did not make a swimsuit for the Siblie doll that went to my 10 year old Great-Granddaughter….she loves her Grandparents swimming pool and I was afraid she would take the Siblie doll into the pool! I did mention it to her and showed her how the doll is strung with elastic cord on the inside and its not meant to get wet. I wish the pool pattern was still available though…that would be perfect. I loved your blue cellophane “water”! It’s almost like having real water in the pool….but that’s not a cellophane color you see often. The swim day photos made me smile!
So glad you enjoyed my dolly swim day. The pool is still available but just not on Pixie Faire. The woman who created the pool has a separate site of her own now. I’ll do some searching and find who did it and let everyone know. I know what you mean about dolls ending up in water. It can become a big mess.
What a wonderful post today! The pool is such a great collaboration and looks so realistic. I remember you telling us about creating it last year. The “water” was worth searching for just the right color and texture of cellophane. The swimsuits are adorable, so tiny and really fashionable designs. I think I might be most impressed with your ability to tell stories that go with the pictures. So creative and imaginative! I’ll bet it really was hard to concentrate in school! Thank you for sharing the wonderful stories and pictures with us.
Joy, as someone who did medical transcription for years, the less you hear from me, the better you will sleep tonight! You certainly don’t want to hear what happened to my uncle either!
Glad you enjoyed my pictures and my story. I love creating scenarios and it’s easy when I think of my dolly girls as human, and I do. Unfortunately I can’t do what Gepetto did with Pinochio, but maybe that’s a good thing. Where would everyone sleep and they’d eat us out of house and home.
Regarding “accidents”, my mother was a nurse so as a teenager I got the stories of the people who were in motocycle accidents that she helped put back together. Scared me plenty.