Hi everyone,
Barbara, I’m so sorry about what your family must be going through. I too am hoping like some, that your daughter-in-law will come to her senses… and her friend needs to take a hike! (Sorry!) I’ve seen this happen too many times!
Charlotte, I’m happy to hear that Daniel is doing better too. Nothing like MOM being close by! I’m glad of that and I bet he is too!
Okay, now for the doll dress… My hubby was putting in a washing machine for someone today, so I didn’t have anyone to bounce my ideas off of, except for you all. I didn’t want to be swayed and hoped I was making the right decision by just following my gut.
When my hubby got in and had a minute to sit down and rest, I showed him the dress on Rebecca and asked him what he thought. He said, “Oh, that’s a really pretty Civil War dress!” He did! He guessed the right era! Then he said, “I love the blue fabric and she looks very pretty and stylish!” That was enough for me!
So now comes the scary part… sharing it with you. I’m not going to make any excuses, but I’ll tell you my thought processes as I show you the pictures.
First of all, I took the majority of my pictures outside as I hoped it would give a better read of the fabric color and I think it did!
The fabric colors are a pretty blue, (I’ve searched and searched for the right color of blue and can’t find it, but it’s not navy) a deep burgundy (not red) and a tan all mingled together. It’s a bright print, but not bold… It’s a very “clear and precise” printed fabric. I still love it very much! I looked on the selvage and it’s called Vicksburg by Marcus fabrics.
Okay, this is what I had in mind… to use the blue button…because it really goes nicely with the fabric; picking up the blue in the fabric and the tan as well, (I didn’t read the comments until I had decided which button I was going to use!)…make a little burgundy tie for the neck and add piping at the waist. So let me show you what I mean…
I used my 3 rows of basting for adding the skirt on. It was thick because I had the layers of fabric from the piping, but my tiny gathers turned out super nice! I hope you can see them.
After the skirt was added and I was pressing the hem, I stopped for a minute and took this picture. I’m not kidding, this fabric color combination is absolutely stunning, in my opinion!
Here is a close up too.
You can see in my pictures how I made the little burgundy bow and then positioned the blue button in place. I actually did like the long slender button, but if you could see this in person, you would have picked the blue one too… (I think)
I decided to go outside and take some pictures hoping I could capture the color better…
I don’t know WHY, but when I put my girls on the fountain, they just seem to come alive!
The cucumbers have gotten out of hand and have decided they like the bricks we have stacked up, to climb on… I had to move them out of the way to get this picture of Rebecca.
Here are a few more pictures showing you the dress close up…
This one really captured Rebecca’s green eyes… I think she’s such a pretty doll.
I only have these few scraps left from the 1/2 yard I started with… I think her bonnet will have to be made from something else…
So that’s what I accomplished today! The snaps are all sewn to the back and the dress has been hemmed by hand. Now to come up with a bonnet. Oh, I just now remembered, I made a crinoline for her… forgot to take any pictures of it.
I’ll see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thank you, Jeanne; Daniel sees his doctor on Thursday, and tonight we talked and I wrote down some questions he can ask. Men aren’t usually too good at thinking of medical questions to ask when they see the doctor! And not great at taking mom’s advice about using his oxygen a little more often, either!! 😂 We won’t know until then about whether he’ll need to keep using his oxygen or not; he’s just using it part of the time now–they told him “when you’re walking and stuff”.
I’m really glad you chose the burgundy rather than the tan for your contrast, and I love the piping at the waistline of this dress–it ties in so nicely with the sleeve trim and bow.. I think the button looks like it’s floating above the bow, though! In the first picture, where you just have them pinned together to try, I think it’s a better placement for the button. Just my opinion….
I see what you mean about the fabric’s colors, etc., in natural light. While it will never be my personal choice (I’m not a brown/beige person at all), it really is very pretty in this gown, and on Elizabeth.
Beautiful job, Jeanne! However, I did think “something” was amiss when I saw that closeup of the bodice with the added little piece of burgundy and the button,( which I was happy you chose ) , but what was it that didn’t look right to me? I think Charlotte hit the nail on the heard when she mentioned that the button was “floating” on top of the bow! I thought too much of the bow was showing, and the button should be down farther, to cover more of the bow. That’s the only thing I can think of.
I love the piping at the waist and sleeves! The colors show up so well when you take it outside. This is just a beautiful dress and I can’t wait to see the rest.
Incredibly beautiful, Jeanne.
The pictures are excellent. I love photos in the natural light. This dress is so well done! The red “piping” is such a perfect choice, and the bow and that cool button that looks kind of like a piece of jewelry as well!
Marcus makes excellent fabrics. … now please do not go looking at their webpage haha I do not want to encourage haha. Seriously and kidding too
Barbara, I just went bk and read the distress with your dear son. I am so sorry.
Forget the gyn consult. I think a counselor is the best way to set them back on track.
Do they go to church?
Charlotte, so glad that Daniel is improving. Very odd instructions “when you are walking and stuff” I guess that means when you are walking and stuff. 🫤 I pray that tomorrows doc visit will show much improvement. Recovery is always slow and steady.
I hope everyone has a good day today. I got a lot done yesterday (chores here at the new house) and also ordered some beautiful flowers for my Uncle Jan’s service which is this Friday at 4.
Today i guess I should go to the old house and pack some stuff. … Finally finish the china cabinet? I use smaller boxes and lots of packing material – the boxes are lighter and that is okay with me.
Weather predicted today is sunshine, but I do not see it yet.
The dress is a very dear one. I love the trim. Although, I chose the ball button first yesterday, then changed my mind to the long one, today, I would probably want neither on top of the fabric trim piece. I don’t like the look of the floating ball so close to Rebecca’s chin at all. I think a smaller flat button would look much nicer on the contrast fabric. The outdoor photos really bring out the beige in the fabric which I love. The dress is exquisite and workmanship superior. Perhaps, with some piecing, a small bonnet of some kind might be made from the scraps? Can’t wait to see what comes next. I’m sure that she needs a purse too. 🙂
So jealous of George’s cucumbers. We had a huge crop last year, but this year they are a flop. Next year on the rotation they will go back to the other bed and hopefully do much better.
Here, a hot one is proceeding. Already warming up. Hope to get in a walk and get back to do the watering early. I don’t think any deck work can happen today. It will be way too toasty out there.
Keep cool everyone. 🙂
Stunning, Jeanne, as usual!! I love the commentary on your thought processes 💕
Charlotte, I am so glad you wrote down some questions for Daniel! I always go in with Peyton to the doc so I can ask questions. The only time I can’t is when we both go to our regular doc as the take us both at once, in different places. I often find that I miss things I should have known the doc told him. I went to my pain doc on Monday with my list, it was helpful.
Jeanne, as Joy said, maybe you could find a way to add the scraps of the fabric with help from other fabric with it, maybe the burgundy? I do love the dress and the burgundy adds so much to it. As every one as said the button needs to be on the burgundy boy.
The outfit is so lovely I almost want to make a similar one on my new Ruby Red.
I will send photos to you soon.
Breathtaking!!!! That’s my take on the dress. I love the fabric and how appropriate it is called “Vicksburg”. Definitely fabric just right for a Civil War Dress. I agree about the button and I’m glad you chose that one. Perfect for the dress. Rebecca is a beautiful doll and wears the dress well. I really love the lace embellishment.
Perimenopause. Yay for us. Dionne had an appointment with her OB/GYN the other day and that is the conclusion. She is starting at an early age (40). We’re all buckling our seatbelts and getting ready for a wild ride because Dionne never has an emotion she doesn’t share even under normal circumstances. But we will be there for her. When I went through menopause my children were grown and gone from home. I can’t imagine going through this with two teenagers and a child barely passed toddler stage. But Dionne is blessed with amazing children who will rise to the occasion. This past weekend when we were at their house hanging out with them, Skyy pretty much took care of Azure and he was amazing at it. They have a great relationship in spite of their vast difference in age – or maybe because of it. I was glad for Skyy’s help because it had been a long time since I had to ride herd on a little one. But Azure is pretty tame for a 4 1/2 year old. He was amazing in church on Sunday. He is used to going to church and often sits with his dad while Dionne does one of the classes, but our service is very different, and he sat through it very well.
Dionne has had a difficult life with her mother leaving when she was very little (drug addict) and her Dad dumping her and her brother off on whatever family member would take them. And he had no clue how to raise a girl at all. As far as he was concerned she was there to keep house, cook the meals and clean up after while he and his son went outside and threw the football around. Then she married young and her first mother-in-law broke up the marriage and put her out on the street. You can imagine how difficult it was for me to gain her trust. Once again she had to find a family member to take her in. Sean told me yesterday he will be there for her no matter what and the rest he’s putting in God’s hands. I just hope she can handle the support she’ll have from all of us. But she really does need to find a better friend for sure. The one she’s got is pretty much the dregs and the woman hasn’t changed since I’ve known her.
Hi Barbara,
I didn’t get a chance to comment to you the other day, but I wondered if perimenopause was the culprit. Yes, 40 is quite early. I was quite blessed to be basically symptom free ( no hot flashes just moody sad at times which was a monthly thing for me anyway). I didn’t hit menopause until 55 years 7 months. Menopause age is somewhat genetic. Smoking and early onset of periods starts it earlier.
Sounds like Dionne has had a rough time. I’m glad to hear you will all be behind her. How sweet Skyy cares for Azure. I have two friends who have a large gap between kids. One has two daughters 11 years apart who are best friends and the other had six children, four boys bookended by two girls. There are 16 years between the girls and they were best friends as well.
Dionne did mature early and I found out she is 38. I thought she was only a couple years younger than Sean but it’s four. What I’ve been reading said perimenopause can start as early as 35 so we feel blessed for the little bit longer wait. Thankfully she doesn’t smoke. I was in my 50s when I went through menopause and had no hot flashes but night sweats and having trouble sleeping I did have. But the worst was the depression. I tend to have what we of Scottish descent call Scottish Melancholy, but this was far worse. I’ve always been very active, and I couldn’t even do the things I loved like sewing. I was like a Zombie. I relied heavily on my faith to get me through because I don’t do meds well. I actually got more depressed taking Valium one time. Sean said things are getting some better since the doctor gave Dionne some medication for mood swings and irritability. She goes to the doctor that delivered their two youngest and they have an amazing relationship so there is a lot of trust between them.
Barbara, I’m so glad there is a diagnosis, and a start on meds that will hopefully help. Poor girl, sure had a rough start. Good for Sean, for being that for her, and you, also!!
The dress is very sweet and I love that piping was added to the waist. I do however still prefer the flat bar button and don’t care for the burgundy tie at the neck as it seems to detract from the gorgeous lace. Maybe it’s just me but the tie is the first thing my eye is pulled to. Sorry, certainly don’t mean to be harsh or critical. I’m sure once a bonnet and reticule made everything will pull together nicely.
Here’s just one more funny things about how we choose things. I really like the burgundy contrast to the sleeves and waist ,yet if I were making this I would have chosen to pick up the blue in the fabric instead. 🙂
You do have a keen eye. I hadn’t thought about the accent color. I would love to see a blue tie. I also would like to see the blue ball attached in the middle of the fabric rather than at the top. 🙂
Thanks, Joy. I didn’t mean to throw a wrench in. I’m a very observant person. My mom and others have commented that to me before. I would make a super witness as I see little nuances. I can talk to someone a few minutes and walk away know the color of their eyes, hair, and what they were wearing all without trying. Also those pictures where things are different.
I once told my mom when I stopped by her work what pretty blue eyes the one professor had. Now mind you, she had worked with him for a few years at that time and didn’t know. LOL
Sounds like you have an eidetic memory. I do too. It’s kind of a joke around here how I will remember what people wore at such and such a time. Often when I see an actor in a show that I know I’ve seen on another show I can engage my memory and see the exact scene in the show or movie that involved that actor. It’s weird but it’s fun.
Oh, and I can go to a fabric store to buy a piece of fabric to go with one I have without taking the fabric with me and come home with the perfect matching or coordinating fabric. That’s useful because I usually forget to take the fabric even if I wanted to.
I could sure use both your and Laura’s memories. I cannot carry colors. I must have a swatch of what I’m trying to match with me or I’m lost. 🙂 I think that’s why the thought of ordering fabric online is so daunting.
The blue button was not my favorite, but seeing a close-up, and seeing it with the bow changed my mind. Instead of lowering it (or maybe lowering it 1/8″), what would happen if you raised the bow a little? Unlike some of us. I’ve always liked brown, and I’m really liking these colors together, though I think the cream lace makes the dress. And fond as I am of blue, I’d go with you on the piping color. It adds liveliness to the dress and makes it exactly right for fall.
You once made a headpiece that was one of my favorites. It reminds me of the lace headcovering Victoria wears in the BBC production “Disraeli” (BBC) available on Amazon Prime. With lace and your scraps, you might be able to come up with something pretty.
Speaking of pretty, I just spent several hours with my 9 year old great niece. I’m teaching her fashion history. While I was doing that, I rediscovered Mary Quant. How would the RRFFs look in Quant clothes?
Oh, that sounds like a fun idea! Mary Quant had some really cute things, back in the day!