Hi everyone,
It’s Friday and we’ve all made it through the week… and now there’s the weekend to look forward to! At least I’m hoping you are!
Yay! I’ve now sold 6 swimsuits for the Ruby Red Fashion Friend dolls. I’m happy… as the swimming season is probably about over in most places. So, I thank you if you were one of those who purchased one. :o)
Maybe next summer I can make some for the Little Darlings and even the tiny dolls, like Navi and Bailey! You might ask, “why doesn’t she make any swim suits for the American Girl dolls?” To be honest, there are quite a few seamstresses making them for the AG dolls, but because of the cloth body and the vinyl arms attached the way they are, I really haven’t seen a suit that has caught my eye… I think they look a bit strange, and even when the straps are set way apart to cover the arm-to-vinyl body seam, I still am not fond of them. It’s hard to make something you aren’t crazy about.
(sheepishly…she admits): I did make 2 more swimsuits today! I think I’m addicted to making them. The way I see it, the more I make, the more practice I’ll get sewing the Spandex! I hope Charlotte is proud of me for attempting to make the swimsuits! As a Stretch and Sew instructor years ago, she’s probably a wiz at sewing these Spandex and 4-way stretch fabrics. … I’ve learned a lot as I’ve been making them!
I finally figured out what to call this design in the fabric…my hubby told me… it’s replicating “fish scales!” I think he’s right! Stella is modeling this fun blue to copper iridescent swimsuit. There are 2 tiny copper colored buttons on the front.
… Lavender wanted to show off this one because she said she was a “Winter”, meaning she looked wonderful in those jewel toned colors. Well, I think it totally agree with her… This is a bright aqua, pink and black with a splash of neon green around on the back. It has a belt sewn into the sides with a pewter buckle. This was a child’s Spandex swimsuit, and I thought the colors were unusual.
These 2 new suits will be added to my Etsy shop as soon as I get my post written.
You can see the ones left by clicking this link…
NOW… let’s see some UFDC (The United Federation of Doll Club) pictures Dorothy in PA and the World sent me.
She’ll do the narrating of the pictures she took. I’m so excited… I haven’t looked at the pictures yet… I wanted to be surprised! :o)
Dear Jeanne and Sofa Sisters,
The United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC) convention was held July 21 to July 27 in Norfolk, Virginia. It celebrated the 76th anniversary of the founding of UFDC!
As is the usual format, there were meal events (some with a doll as the souvenir), Seminars, Workshops, Programs and a gala Banquet at the end.
There was a salesroom, a Helper Room (think raffles), and the UFDC boutique.
There is still some information about this convention on the UFDC website. If you are interested, you can learn a little about the 2025 convention before the posting gets replaced with the 2026 information.
The primary reason for the convention is for the organization to host its annual business meeting. However, we members know that it’s all about the dolls (laugh)!
The convention next year will be in July in New Orleans, Louisiana. Registration will begin in October.
I will share here, a few of the photos I took in Norfolk. The theme was Dolls & All That Jazz.
The first photo is of my two travel dolls Safiah (with the red hair) and Akaya (with the pink ribbons) posing in front of one of the theme signs. They created this little backdrop just so the dolls could have their own photo op.
There are always side trips available before convention begins. Some of us went to the Barry Art Museum. There was an exhibit there entitled, Barbie Out of the Box.
After we stepped through the Barbie dream house, we got to see an array of Barbies throughout the ages. The most stunning one was a Barbie #1 in a beautiful wedding dress.
There were many gorgeous antique dolls at the Barry. Here is a photo of two of them.
Friends and I found a lovely tearoom in which to take Afternoon Tea. In the fifth and six photos, you can see our travel dolls who came with us, of course, gathered for a group photo. You can also see the patisserie stand with the delicious food that awaits us.
In the sixth and final photo, you can see Akaya (pink ribbons) with her friend Betsy (who is the travel doll of one of my friends) making plans for next year’s convention!
If you would like to see more photos, you can log onto the UFDC’s Facebook page. I don’t have FB so I can’t show you any of the photos there.
If you have the opportunity to attend a doll convention be it United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC), or Madame Alexander Doll Club (MADC), or Modern Doll Collectors Convention (MDCC), where Sissy is heading next week, or any of the other wonderful conventions, do not hesitate to go.
Attending a doll convention is a doll collectors dream come true. You will meet so many marvelous people, learn about the history of various dolls, enjoy amazing food, tour the local sites, and well, as you know, it’s all about the dolls!
Thank you SO much Dorothy! You make it sound like SO much fun and I’m sure it is!!! Maybe one of these days I’ll make it to a convention! Are any other Sofa Sister’s headed to MDCC next week, or maybe some other convention?
Well, I need to go… I’ve still got to list those 2 swimsuits on Etsy… then to bed…
Have a wonderful weekend!
I’ll see you Monday!
Blessings, Jeanne
How wonderful that you’ve already sold six of those swimsuits! I know there will be some happy dollies on the beach!
I love the new ones you made, too. That blue/copper fabric is really beautiful, I think. The shape is similar to that of gingko biloba leaves. You can see some here: https://tinyurl.com/2v556pbe
Lavender is right; that print looks wonderful on her!
Dorothy, thanks for sharing the pictures of the convention!! It’s so much fun to look at them. Safiah and Akaya look so cute in their pretty dresses. I have three Madame Alexander dolls that I have used as travel dolls myself. One of them even went to Africa with me in 1999! They have huge wardrobes and many toys. Talk about spoiled!!
I actually own that red suit (it’s called “Busy Gal”) that is on the large banner in one of your pictures. It came with “six fashion sketches” (actually three per sheet, printed on rice paper the size of large postage stamps) and their portfolio with the Barbie insignia on it. I bought it with my own money when I was 16 (I was almost 15 when I got my Barbie–I only wanted two things for Christmas that year, one of which was moving back to Michigan (didn’t happen) and the other was a Barbie. I got Barbie. Mom decided since she was a teenager doll, it would be okay for me to have her. I sewed and knitted lots of clothes for her, and had a lot of fun with her in that way. I’m so glad you found a place to take tea; those goodies look delicious!! Thanks for sharing your pictures.
I have replied to I think three comments on yesterday’s blog.
Sarah is doing very well–she’s anxious to get back home again! She posted a picture this morning, and she looks wonderful.
And now…it’s Daniel’s turn! I found out this morning that my son spent the night in ER and has been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia! He’s on antibiotics, breathing treatments, etc. The nurse said he will probably be there 2-4 days. I’ll go to see him after lunch.
When I got to IHOP tonight, I told them no one else is allowed to get sick or require surgery for a while!!
Today Leah and I went shopping and she got fabric for a skirt, which is her next project. She’s very eager, and loves sewing!
Dear Charlotte, oh my goodness, Daniel is sick. I hope that he will be on a fast road to recovery. I will add his name to my prayer list.
I am glad you liked the UFDC Convention photos I sent to Jeanne. Safiah has been to many conventions with me. Akaya has just come to live with me.
I would love to see photos of your little Alexanders. Maybe we can have a travel doll day.
Sissy will be off to the MDCC Convention soon.
Thank you so much, Dorothy; we appreciate the prayers. And I’m sorry I put the wrong name in my comment; I have also been emailing with Sissy about her peaches and meringue dessert lately!
I think a travel doll day would be fun! Mine are packed away at the moment, but I know right where they are, so if Jeanne decides she wants to do that, I could easily get them out and take pictures.
(Charlotte…I changed it from Sissy to Dorothy… Sissy goes next week to a convention)
Thank you. I think I had just sent Sissy an email, which is probably why I goofed!
Prayers for Daniel that he will be on his feet quickly. Sounds like he’s in good hands.
Thank you, Barbara.
What a turn of events. Glad Sarah is doing well, and certainly hope that the antibiotics work quickly for Daniel. Take care of yourself.
Thank you, Joy.
Charlotte, I am sure you were stamping your foot at your friends at IHOP! How awful for Daniel, more prayers going up! So good to hear about Sarah. Hope she can go home soon.
By the way, it is Dorothy who went to UFDC. I will be heading for MDCC on Tuesday. I, too, will send Jeanne photos for y’all.
Thanks, Sissy. Well, I don’t usually stamp my foot (it would hurt my bad knee!), but our waitress had had a heart attack a few weeks ago (is back at work now), so I thought I’d better let them know I didn’t want anything more to happen!!
Dorothy, I love your photos, the littles are so sweet! Your tea time looked so yummy. It is lovely to have friends to go with at the convention. I do miss UFDC.
The few I attended were so much fun! I do miss the friends I made there. I have also seen the photos on FB, and I have sold most of my doll sewing and other sales through FB, and made many friends through the doll groups there.
Thank you for showing your photos, and I hope you we could meet at MDCC next year. I will let you know where it is as soon as I find out.
Dear Sissy, thanks for your kind words. Tea time was wonderful. It is so elegant to take Afternoon Tea with friends. Usually we don’t all dressed up (no fascinators or hats), we just show up and have a lovely time chatting and enjoying the delicious repast.
Enjoy your time at MDCC. A few folks from my local club have attended that Convention in the past. I don’t think that anyone is going this year though.
Jeanne, my head is spinning with all the lovely colors on your swim suits! You are like a factory these days, and the are so very lovely!
We had a nice visit with many of Peyton’s family yesterday, adults and kids.
The weather was cooler than usual so we were comfortable on the porch in the rocking chairs. Peyton’s younger son loves to cook out, he even has a show on Youtube. He made some great barbecue with a light touch of pineapple in it.
We ate our full and then drove home under a full moon.
We are heading for the pool so will check on Y’all when I get back.
Jeanne, how cute the new swimsuits are! I don’t think we will be putting away swimsuits any time soon with this 90 something degree days we are having, and will be having for awhile! Congrats on selling six suits already! And then there is
the one that I won, which I hope might come today or tomorrow!
Dorothy, I loved your pictures from the UFDC that you shared with us. What fun you must have had and that tea party looks delicious! Akaya looks so pretty in her pink dress! Did you make that for her? Thank you so much for sharing and Jeanne for showing!
Oh no, Charlotte! I hope Daniel gets better and out of the hospital soon! Your comments are starting to sound like scenes from “General Hospital”! 🥲. I hope everyone gets well, and no more sickness to deal with!
Dear Linda, thank you for your nice words. I had so much fun at Convention this year. It is amazing to be around so many doll folks. I love learning about dolls. The Barbie exhibit at the Barry Museum was well put together and informative.
Akaya says thank you Auntie Linda for liking her dress. No I did not make it. I am a confirmed non-sewer. The last time I tried to make something (maybe 30 years ago) it turned out very badly. It looked like beavers were playing with material (laugh). One of my friends, a wonderful seamstress, in my local doll club made it.
Dorothy, you are hilarious! Love your humor!❤️
Dear Linda, thanks! I think I am funny but no one agrees with me. My family members roll their eyes. My students would give me a dead pan face. My dolls might think I am funny but they just kind of stare.
I love the “dry” humor of the Bob Newart show. I really loved him with Suzanne Pleshette. One of my other favorite characters was Gracie. I would have loved to write scripts for that show!
I’ve been watching the St. Louis, weather and boy it has been hot for you guys. Seems like more hot weather than usual. We’re joining you today although it is only 91 at the moment. Keep cool. 🙂
Thank you, Linda.
Dear Jeanne, thanks for sharing my photos. Safiah and Akaya just can’t stop smiling. I told them that Hollywood would not be knocking on their door and to make up their beds (laugh).
Oh some more cute swimsuits. I think that they can blend right into the warm fall weather with the addition of a little skirt or shorts. I’d love to see someone try that. 🙂
Thanks Dorothy, for all of the interesting details from The United Federation of Doll Club Convention. I loved seeing the Barbie display at the museum. I didn’t have a Barbie as they came out at the end of my doll playing days. Well, the kid days anyway. 🙂 I wonder if Charlotte has the black cat eye glasses that go with that red suit outfit she has? I always liked those. I love the pic of Dorothy’s travel dolls with the convention poster. So cute. Thanks so much for sharing the convention with us, Dorothy and Jeanne. I really enjoyed it.
Here, not much happening. Too hot to do any outside work, but I am keeping the vegetables damp during the heat. The tomatoes are popular with our neighbors, but no one likes zucchini. Go figure. 🙂 We discussed all of the ways to drop it off on doorsteps in the dark of night. Personally, we like zukes but only within my special zucchini/jack casserole. So much for the garden report.
Another hot day today, but we will be heading to Target to replenish cat food. For whatever reason, the kitties keep appearing at meal time. Ha ha
I so wish you were my neighbor. I would take a bunch of the zukes off your hands. We love them breaded and fried, but mostly coated with olive oil and grilled. We didn’t plant any this year and the ones in the store look wimpy. I never had a Barbie either but my younger sisters did. Wish they still had them. They were some of the first ones.
Oh, I wish you were a neighbor too. We love them grilled. In fact, I just picked a couple more while out in the heat watering.
Dear Joy, I am glad you enjoyed seeing the photos. The Barry Art Museum exhibit was amazing. The museum is going to close for 18 months to undergo an expansion.
I just saw that Rachel Hoffman, of the Virtual Doll Convention, taped a YouTube show at the Museum! I am going to place the link in a separate box below. Now the Sofa Sisters will get to see more of the wonderful dolls.
Yes, Joy, I have the glasses. Also the portfolio with fashion sketches, and her belt and hat. The “blouse” is actually what we used to call a body suit, where the bottom of the blouse is actually sort of like the bottom of a swimsuit. I remember having a body suit years ago, and it kept the blouse part nicely tucked in, but you had to unsnap the crotch any time you wanted to use the bathroom! Such a nuisance!
I would take some zucchini, Joy! Wish we lived closer! I like to slice it and cook it in stewed tomatoes; gives a nice flavor. I also like to grate it and stick it in the freezer for use in zucchini bread, etc.
Really like the new suits. I think your hubby is on the right track, not fish but mermaids.
Have a great weekend all.
No, I’m not fond of swimsuits on PC/AG either. The only two of mine who could logically wear one are my Edwardian girl and my rewigged time traveler Nellie in her 1930’s and 1980s eras. I do have a very sweet Edwardian bathing costume pattern I found recently. Maybe a winter project I can convince my mom to help me make..
Thank you for all the wonderful photos, Dorothy. I love your two travel dolls!! Always nice to see you enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea as well. Fun to live vicariously through you. Maybe in will be in Ohio again when I can attend.
I think an Edwardian swimsuit would be perfect on one of your girls. I’ve also seen a couple of 40’s patterns, I think, with more of a shorts bottom and modest to the waist top that is very cute on the AG’s. 🙂
Dear Laura, thanks for your nice words. The 2027 Convention will be in Chicago. I don’t know where it will be after that. I am rooting for Pennsylvania though (smile).
Love the two new bathing suits. I meant to comment on the picture of the Wellie in a swimsuit. I love the Wellie Figure. They tend to look athletic and look wonderful in swimsuits. I agree about the swimsuits on the 18″ AG dolls. It’s a shame that the body/arms is done like it is. My MA 18″ dolls actually were vinyl all the way and I made some things for them with bare midriffs, etc. I no longer have my MA 18″ dolls. There legs got funky and there was no way to fix them so they went to Goodwill. Now I have an 18″ AG doll but the clothes I made for my MA dolls do not look good on my doll with the fabric body. Kathy at Kathy Anne Designs did a pretty little summer dress she calls Bow Shoulder Dress. I have the pattern in several different sizes and asked her why she didn’t do one for he 18″ dolls (I still had my MA dolls). She said the dress would not look good on the AG 18″ dolls because of the fabric bodies so she never did a pattern for them.
Thanks Dorothy In PA and the World for the wonderful pictures of the convention. Thanks so much to Jeanne for posting them. I may give attending the convention in New Orleans next year some thought, but probably only if David will go with me. It’s a straight shot east on I-10 for us. If I were younger I would make the trip myself but these days I’d rather not. I once went to a convention of another kind in Atlanta by myself and never thought a thing of it. That was probably 20 years ago and times have changed for me and my body. I really wish they would have one in Houston. I could definitely do that one myself and possibly would even consider San Antonio or Dallas but traveling out-of-state by myself seems overwhelming these days.
Dear Barbara, thanks for your kind words. You should definitely think about attending Convention next year. There will be many people there from Pennsylvania with whom you can connect.
Dear Jeanne and Sofa Sisters, I just saw that Rachel Hoffman, of the Virtual Doll Convention, taped a tour of the dolls in The Barry Art Museum. Now you will be able to see, not just the Barbie collection, but many other wonderful dolls. Below is the link:
Dear Jeanne, oops! I thought it would just be a link. I didn’t know it would be a box. If the box is too big, please feel free to delete it. Sorry.
Dorothy, this is amazing!!
Thank you so much for sharing this. Youtube is the BEST
Just realized we are coming up on Saturday so no blog today, so I will post updates here.
1–Daniel is still in the hospital. In addition to pneumonia, he might have the start of COPD. He was breathing pretty heavily and fast today, but the nurse said that could be partly anxiety, and he had admitted to me that he was scared. (He started to cry after he saw me there, and I asked….) On his white board they had written his projected dismissal date as Sunday, but I think he’ll be there another day or two after that, even.
2–Got word from my sister-in-law that her husband has gone downhill rapidly, including a heart attack Wed., and she is not expecting him to live much longer. He’s 84, I think, and has been in poor health for some time.
3–SARAH IS HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL!!! I am so so thankful, and grateful for all your prayers.
Today is Saturday! How did that happen?
Well, I can say “I had too many tabs open in my browser”
Could we say that 15 years ago ??
I will just come right out and admit, hubbs and I got tangled up in a lot of things
at the old house. Oh gosh. no disasters, thankfully but I decided to do a DIY repair on a very heavy set of wood blinds. Thank you God for youtube videos.
So I am glad to see Dorothy’s photos from her adventure to UFDC. Fantastic and I am sure anyone that would go on this trip would learn a lot and be amazed.
Jeanne, your swim suits are beautiful. The possibilities are endless, especially when you, through so much practice now, have become more adept.
Kind of like a dolly swimsuit sweatshop going on here haha just kidding
Probably no one will read this comment, but I hope all of you are having a lovely week-end. Stay cool and comfy
Dear Rosemary, thanks for your nice words. It was an amazing trip. My friends and I are still talking about it!