Hi everyone and Happy Friday!
It seems like yesterday was Friday…and yet, here it is again!
I had a mission I was trying to accomplish. As you may have seen… last Saturday evening, when Yu Ping’s little pink dress and hat set ended, there was no buyer! :o( I chalked it up to being the night before Easter Sunday and tried to let it go. So, I set Yu Ping and all the accessories with it in a box and out of the way… But her head was peeking out of the box as she was sitting it and I kept staring at her trying to figure out what was wrong. Was it really just because it was on Easter Eve? Was everyone busy? Was it priced too high? Were there not enough ladies who have Yu Ping that might want it? These were the questions going around in my mind, so yesterday I got her out of the box and tried looking at her again… I dressed her up and put that pink boat style hat on her and just studied her.
What was it about this picture…
…and this picture that I didn’t like? Is her head too long from the top of her wig to her eyes… is her wig too fluffy? Maybe I need to try the hat on her with this wig off…
…and why did I think this picture was adorable…
…and this one too?
I decided it MUST be the hat!!
I already mentioned it seemed a little big on her and looked like it was just setting on her head…
So I decided to look around my house for something to use as a mold to make her a new hat… a measuring cup? a tea cup? a bottle cap? I couldn’t find ANYTHING until I saw this… an old fence insulator… It had the curved top that flared out just a bit…maybe?
There was only one way to tell if it would work… to make a hat from it and see if it fit…
Well, it sort of worked… it fit the top part of her head, but was too short… it looked like THIS ONE was TOO SMALL! Good grief!
I didn’t even take a picture of it that way, but just added some more braid to the edge and worked my way down about 1/2″ or so. Then I added the ruching around the bottom edge and thought MAYBE it would work… I put it on her and it seemed to be better than the first hat, so I decorated it and it looked even better, but something was still missing… I made a tie and put it up inside the hat, sort of like an oriental pointed straw hat I have seen. Somehow this seemed better when I pulled the ties down by her face…
I might be in La La Land, but let me know what you think… I still have to figure out how I’m going to finish the way it closes…
My pictures aren’t great either… I had to cull half of them because they were all blurry… but see if you can make some sort of sense from them… you won’t hurt my feelings either if you don’t like it…
Part of the problem is my pictures are NOT AT ALL THE RIGHT COLORS… it is a pretty pink and magenta or hot pink… not like my pictures. I think I may have to take a trip outside to see if I can get some better pictures.
Oh, and I decided to pass on the little white sweater. I don’t think it was adding anything to the set… and I did change the candy to Starburst…
Well, I was planning to get that new hat made, it would be lovely, I could get some new pictures taken, get it listed on Ebay and see what happened… but NOT TODAY! :o/
I will welcome all comments and see you Monday!
Blessings, Jeanne
The new hat is Much better, Jeanne! It’s so cute on Yu Ping, and looks like a “little girl” hat should look. I love the ribbon tied under her chin like that, and the flowers are really cute, too.
I did like the little sweater, but I think the problem was, it was too white. If it had been a pale pink, it might have looked more like it “belonged” with the set. Oh, well, you can always use the white sweater with some other outfit in the future!
I went to sewing guild today, and showed my quilt that I finally finished a couple of weeks ago. I will try to get some pictures to send you soon.
Oh yes, Jeanne, that newer version of the hat is just perfect! It actually looks like a “fancy” version of a Chinese coolie hat! I really like it tied under her chin, after all, Haow is a little girl supposed to keep her hat on? I always had some sort of elastic band on my hats when small, or a tie. Little girls can get “fidgety” a lot!
Taki g the sweater away is fine, with the way the weather is going now. Mid 80’s for us today with high humidity! I can’t even look at a sweater when days like that happen!
I guess you do understand that not many people have dolls that size, and if they do, do they really change their outfits, no matter how cute they are?
YES, the hat is much sweeter! I do imagine that sending her outfit the day before Easter was not a good time. I hope it will work for you this time, it is so cute!
I hope to hear that George is getting better???
We are heading for the Y, and after we get out of the pool we go to one of Peyton’s doc’s then to the grocery store. This week is the BIG Blessing of the Fleet here in McIntosh County. Saturday and Sunday is a fun time for all. On Saturday our church has a Shrimp Creole dinner and lots of cakes to buy. I am making a Strawberry cake. On Sunday afternoon the shrimp boats, all decorated, will go to the bridge where a couple of Priests will sprinkle Holy water on them and send a prayer for a good year. Thousands of people are here in our small town to enjoy the fun. Come on down!!
It sounds like your blessing of the fleet is a lot of fun. Houston is having Fleet Week at the moment. I think the first time ever. It’s a long way from me so we won’t be going even though I would love to have the experience. But tons of people are taking advantage of the opportunity.
Oh Jeanne, Perhaps it was the timing.
YuPing is such a very cute doll. And you did have alternate views on a slightly taller doll,if I remember. The dress and the hat are stunning. The sweater was also very cute!
Perhaps it is the economy as well. Everything is expensive now and lots of people just do not have the extra cash. The new hat is very cute. I liked the first one too, It kind of floated on her head, sort of how mine did when I was little.
Well, I have been invited out for coffee with a new friend, so I will do that today.
We were going to walk since it is just a mile away, but I will text her and tell her I will drive.
Yesterday I went to the old house to go through boxes and kind of made a mess going through Lizzie’s boxes (estranged daughter). I left the old house about two hours later, with only a few accomplishments.
When I got home, hubbs suggested we bring all of Elizabeth’s things to this house and just go through them and pare them down. We can do that. … and less anxiety for me.
Speaking of anxiety, when I went to the house yesterday, I thought I would just phone call Elizabeth (estranged daughter) and it was a nice phone visit, but now I am wondering if I rambled on about some things. She must think I am tiresome. Sometimes I wonder if I want to feel like this all the time… by making efforts. Or if I should just move on. Yes, it makes “mental”. I am tired of “cleaning up this house of treasures”
One very funny thing… as I was finishing up my duties over there, talking on my cell phone with Elizabeth, I was also, with one hand putting things in my car…. just preparing to go.. At last I took a scan around the kitchen checking for any forgotten things, and thought, where is my cell phone? I went to the car and searched through my junky purse. Then I realized I was taking on my phone. duh.😂
Is this a mowing day Jeanne? How are things going with you and George? How are the girls in the pen doing?
Are all of you having to cope with this heat? I believe today is the last day. … well, for a while.
I do not like very warm weather, and I do not like bugs, spiders and bees. I do not like sweating, hot skin or itching!
I wish we could all get together and play with dolls and sew and look at each others projects.
I hope all of you have a happy week-end doing fun things.
Sissy, your week-end sounds so very happy. You know, one day I might just drive down.
What is it, just about 8 hours away? 😁
Yes, every one please send Jeanne some photos of your escapades and diversions.
I have a quilt (kind of a chain design) on my wall upstairs. It is kind of big now, the blocks are not sewn together. When Christina (older daughter) came on Tuesday, I showed it to her, she said it was nice but it was not her favorite quilt, which usually means she does not really like it.
Love to all of you
Well, I think the hat problem is not the hat so much as the wig. The wig, although the style is nice, seems too well, puffy to wear any hat except a beanie. To me, the first hat seemed too small and kind of just sat on top of YuPing’s head. The new hat, although sweet, looks way too wide for her head/face. Have you tried taking off the wig and putting on the hat? That may help figure this out. I am no expert for sure on this stuff, but the new hat does look much more her style, but I’m not sure that I like the tie strap coming out from underneath. Perhaps, if it were tied to the side? Have you tried the hats on your Meadow tiny doll? I’d like to see that as well. I know that people are busy during holidays so, that may account for no sales. Did you ever consider that the shoes might look a little large on her? Do you have any original shoes to compare how they look? The white edging really makes them look larger than they probably are, I think. And perhaps she needs a little simple shirt under the dress or some lace added around the arms? I know, not what you want to hear, but wanted to put out a few ideas.
Well, here, we had high winds yesterday. And offshore, which is not desirable at all. That means that the wind blows down off the hills and creates sort of a wind storm. Almost like the big fire weather we had some time back. And we had three fires in the county yesterday. Fortunately all were jumped on and controlled. One over the hill from us and directly in the path of major fires of the past. It was burning in dry grass. With the recent rains and green hills still, who would have thought. But, apparently, there is dry grass out there too which contributed to the flames. Must double down and get the rest of the weeds out of here for sure.
I forgot, what about a tiny lid/bowl for the pup of doggie treats instead of the candy? Or a tiny box of candy just Yu’s size?
I think the timing of the listing was not optimal. I like to think that people were busy that week with Easter Prep and celebrations, maybe Spring Break.
I like the newer hat better, but I think I more dainty ribbon rather than the fabric tie might be a better scale.
I didn’t follow the construction of this dress, but my initial reaction is that it lacked the “JeanneMarie” magic touch. I love to see what you do with lace and trims and buttons on the dresses you make. I watch the progress and think things look pretty, then you add some trim or button or whatnot and Wow! That clever touch makes the dress so much more interesting and attractive. This dress is sweet, but it’s not anything special. Sorry.
I will enjoy watching the revision of this set. Good luck!
Everyone has so much going on, I feel like a real slug! I’m doing yard maintenance things like resetting parts of my brick sidewalk, elevating settled pavers over the new french drain, all the while itching to be sewing for my little ladies.
I really like the second hat, with it tied to the side like Joy said. For the first hat I wonder what it would look like tipped forward and down in the front and a puff of flowers or feathers under the brim in back? Sorta like a “Kentucky Derby” fascinated hat. What little girl doesn’t like dress up. Since there isn’t any white in the dress’s print the white didn’t click for me. The same with the shoes as Joy mentioned. I thought they had the look of felt not the yummie leather they are. Could you do a tan bottom and no flower buckle more like the blue ones. Perfect in Pink had too much white to me.
Rosemary, I’m praying communication between you and your daughter remains open even if in tiny bits. I have a daughter that I’ve never been able to have a close relationship with so I can understand your heart. God will bless you.
Have a great weekend all.
That was supposed to be fascinater! Darn that auto correct, it’s like an ex-husband who thinks he knows what you’re thinking! Lol
Thank you beautiful Dorothy. All of us could use prayers for each other. Thank you so much. Lizzie lives only 30 minutes away, and has 4 adorable kiddos.
Her husband is angry with me.
They live in a very small very packed townhouse. She would be encouraged to throw away anything I gave her so I will pare the contents down to the actual “treasures” things especially from my mom and dad and hopefully fill a box or two and just put them in a closet over here. I can do that.
We used to be very very close. in 2022 I had a mental meltdown. A lot of personal conflicts and beliefs, and her husband pulled me right in to a few awful situations. Hard to describe. I know that relationship we had will never be again. I am coping quite well now. I miss horsing around with the grand kids, I am very immature, but it is okay.
Again, thank you for your sensitive perception and response. You are a dear.
Happy Week-end
I think not having money to waste on doll things is a lot of the problem. I’ve seen lots of doll listings sit for weeks now. Personally, I haven’t bought a single doll thing this year. If I hadn’t collected when I did I certainly wouldn’t be doing it now.
I also think that a doll that size isn’t as common. I also have to agree that mostly the original set looked very plain and unfinished without any special trims on the dress, sweater, or even a flower on the first hat for the price. Sorry.