Hi everyone,
I wanted to show the glue I used on the snaps… It’s just Aleene’s tacky glue, but I’m sure most any glue would work.
Even when it’s dolly dresses it still takes time to even things up and get them straight. This fabric isn’t a cotton but a rayon (Viscose) and it’s a bit slinky… It looks like cotton but it drapes like a very fluid fabric. By the time I got the rest of the snaps on the back of the dress, one side was 1/2″ longer than the other, so I had to work at getting it straightened up around the bottom. Mae isn’t the easiest doll to measure a hem on. When she doesn’t have shoes on, she is VERY wobbly in her bare feet, so I had to hold her up with one hand and straighten and pull things into place with the other. Her head is heavier than her legs, so she has a tendency to fall forward… it about takes my breath away when she does that! I like to take pictures of her when she’s “safely seated” on her bottom!
I decided to hem the dress by hand, so I serged the bottom edge and turned up about 3/8″, pressed it, and them hemmed it. Teeny tiny stitches all the way around.
You can see my snaps here if you enlarge the picture.
I do plan on making her a slip to hold the dress out…
You may have wondered what these were in the picture I showed a couple days ago… They are the tulle sleeve headers in Mae’s short puffy sleeves that make them stand out so nicely…
The 2 silk ribbons I have pinned on the front are there just to show you the colors I’ve chosen. I was going to put them slightly to one side on the diagonal, but I think I’m just going to keep them in the middle.
I looked at hat braid I have and haven’t decided if I’m going to make a hat or not.
I also was looking at my leather and haven’t decided on a pair of shoes either.
Back in December, it was so touch and go with Rueben and he took up so much of our time, I only managed to get one Christmas dress made! I was really sad.
Then after the first of the year, I was planning on making some Valentine dresses, but Rueben was STILL taking up our time… then I got sick for almost 3 weeks and I’m pretty sure Mae’s dress is going to be my only Valentine dress. I’m sad again.
My hubby is having another surgery next week and then another one the end of February… SO… my sewing time isn’t the most important thing on my agenda right now, but I wish it could be.
I will keep sewing and showing up when I can and when I can’t it most likely be kept going by questions or by YOU!
I will see you tomorrow and hopefully have time to work on Mae’s outfit some more… She looks very sweet sitting in her chair (that still needs to be painted.) My hubby did get the top part cut off.
See you then,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m not at all surprised that you used Alene’s Tacky Glue. It’s the best, and I’ve kept it around here for many years! However, when I’m glue-basting trims in place, etc., I use Roxanne’s Glue-Baste-It, which is a bit thinner and comes in an applicator with a very fine point, so you can just get the tiniest dabs, which is all you need for that.
Jeanne, I am wondering if a saddle-style stand might work to help keep more stable when she is standing? I believe DollsParts carries them, and probably other places, as well. The stand has a sort of U-shaped “saddle” and the doll kind of straddles that. I think it might work better than the regular type of doll stand, which has a part that goes around the doll’s waist. That could possibly harm her resin, I don’t know. It just seemed a saddle stand might work to stabilize Mae when you stand her up.
Mae’s dress has turned up very cute, and I do like the two colors of silk ribbon you’ve chosen. I do like them in the center of the collar, as you have them. Wise choice.
I am sorry to hear that George has to have more surgeries. Will be keeping you both in prayer about that.
Tonight I finished the prototype of my twinsie challenge little purse. I think it will work fine for using at Expo (for “real life” I need a bigger one!). Will try to get a picture or two soon. And then it’s time to cut into the “good” fabric!!
Your purse is getting more exciting Charlotte!
Thank you, Rosemary! I took a picture today, but my camera is downstairs with my sewing supplies at the moment. Will load the picture on the computer tomorrow, hopefully.
Those big brown eyes are so captivating on Mae, Jeanne! And I do like her braids too, so don’t know what to think about you saying something about changing her wig.
The ribbons are perfect, but kind of long. Are you cutting them? I just know this dress is going to be one of the cutest you have made for Mae! And shoes! Maybe some Mary Jane’s would look cute! Of course, Mae herself just adds to the cuteness!
So another surgery for George next week. At least I can say the weather will be a lot better than it has been lately! I will be praying for good outcomes!
Good morning everyone!! Wednesday again!!
Jeanne, I knew this fabric was thinner and different, Viscose is shifty and wiggly, wow, perfect print too. (Also your photos are absolutely precise too, very sharp!)
Yes, I hand bind quilts but I do not have to be perfectly neat and tidy. This little dress, I know your fine stitches are important. It looks well done!
This dress is really really cute.
The bottoms of little Mae’s feet are so cute!
I hope you are still improving from this dumb annoying virus! It sounds like you have a lot of pots boiling over the next few weeks (is that an analogy or not?) I hope you and George can manage it all, best wishes for George, I hope the surgeries are simple with easy recovery. It is good to get some preparations in place to make it easier each day,
I hope we do not get any more snow storms. Ours was messy, but I suppose I should be grateful I do not live in the UP of Michigan or Duluth Minnesota…
Today is the last day of our little warm up of two degrees above freezing.
Rex (hubbs) and I cleared the driveway completely and that was really kind of fun! The wild part is that we have a slippery roof over our front door and the snow… after two weeks frozen solid, is sliding off in huge chunks. The first avalanche was yesterday morning , it sounded like the house was falling apart.
Anyway, we had four more of those loud crashes through out the day. I just stay away from it, but gosh, today hopefully I can clean up the sidewalk part of that.
I am sure All of us can create some blog posts for you on your crazy days just to keep us all connected!- sharing escapades and questioning each others choices haha ….hmm
I have some quilts I can show, finished quilts, finished quilts not quilted, sort of finished quilts that the end progress is undecided, many many quilts on design walls, quilts on large pool noodle hangers, quilt blocks in zip lock bags …😂😂😂 loose quilt blocks 🥳
I am creating a pile of fabrics suitable for making some doll dresses. I have not made doll clothes in probably a year!
I hope everyone has a happy day with some sunshine. I should venture out and get some milk… getting outside a bit is really good. Especially since we have a few days of no wind. I do hope all of you are coping.
I absolutely love the photo of Mae standing on the chair that shows her full length dress. Her little hands are so cutely posed and seeing the adorable high waisted dress and flared skirt is memorable. It was absolutely worth it to hem that rayon fabric too. Looks perfect. I remember those rayon Hawaiian shirts. So comfortable to wear but if you washed and dried, they always shrunk a lot and also wrinkled. I don’t see much rayon fabric any more. I have always loved the rich colors in which it was available. Mae’s outfit is going to be an auction thriller. 🙂
We went to Dollar Tree yesterday, to pick up some Valentine cards. I ended up finding some Zinnia seeds. Can’t beat the price there. I was looking at seeds the other day and couldn’t believe how much the prices have jumped. Even the major seed catalogues have gone up a lot. Anyway, I also found some lovely roses that I’ll be taking to the cemetery soon. Couldn’t believe the St. Patrick’s Day and Easter decor. Now, I wish that I had picked up a metal rabbit thingy, but it was five dollars. I know, their prices have gone up from a dollar. Even the thrift stores are heading up as well.
I’m sure that Jeanne, will be readying some projects to work on during George’s surgeries. I’ll be sending positive thoughts their way next week. And so very glad that Jeanne is feeling like her old self again. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be here when you have time to check in.
I actually cooked a small roast last night. You know, the old school kind with little potatoes and carrots and Lipton Onion Soup. It was amazingly delicious. We’ll be having roast beef sandwiches for lunch. 🙂
yummy, roast beef!!!
I have not been to dollar store in probably a year. I should have zipped in today when I went to the lazy US post office in that shopping center. Good reminder!
Just got back from our Wednesday service down the street. It is still too cold to walk down there. I will be making the cookies I make every week for tomorrow’s Church lunch. They and bit of a rest and then more cleaning out for Good Will.
Jeanne, I am so glad you are able to squeeze in some sewing and Mae’s dress is just so sweet and lovely. Looking forward to the rest.
Do you ever use real Ultra Suede for small shoes or other things for your dolls? I have al lot of colors. The pieces are about 50″ by 4 1/2″. I can send you a photo of the colors and would be happy to send you any you want.
Dear Jeanne, taking care of your family (human and canine) is the most important thing. I am continuing to pray for you all.
Don’t worry about making a certain number of dresses this month. We can always celebrate Valentine’s Day in March or April. We can cherish our loved ones (including our dolls) during every month of the year, says the Sofa Sister who created Maypril (laugh).
Well my wonderful trip to Shen Yun seems to have netted me a cold so I didn’t check out the blog yesterday just vegged in my recliner all day. Today I took a shower and washed my hair and am in the process of washing my sheets and emptying trash cans in the hope of minimizing germs. Thankfully it doesn’t seem to be a bad cold just not something I needed when I finally feel better physically and was hoping to finally catch up with some things that have been lagging for a while.
I’m still feeling a little punk but I wanted to share a story about dognapping. When we first moved to Sealy we had a Brittany Spaniel. We had a mobile home next to us some people were renting and they moved out shortly after we moved in. We noticed our dog was missing. Several weeks later he returned several pounds thinner and dying of thirst. They had stolen our dog and we had no idea how far he had traveled. But how strange that he found his way back to us since we had just moved there and it was miles away from where we lived previously.
I am so glad that your doggie found his way back. What a marvelous miracle.
Your story is very sad and I know it happens too many dog and kitty owners.
I support several animal groups because it just seems like there are so many sad stories out there.
Hope you feel better, Barbara.
Oh no, a dognapping. But, with a happy ending. Poor pup, but so glad that he returned to you.
I love the last picture of Little Mae.
she looks adorable in her dress and the way she’s sitting there looking at the camera, she has a sweet little smile on her face. A little mischievous even. She’s probably very pleased with how she looks in her new dress.
Jeannie, it sounds like you’re going to be busy in the next couple of weeks. Just take care of yourself and George. Praying everything goes well.
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Try again.
It’s time to give up being sad and remember to take pride in your resilience. Besides, I recently discovered Tu B’Shevat — the New Year’s of the Trees (when they stop being dormant). I was reading The Cook and the Rabbi (Simon and Zak), about Jewish holidays. My sister lost her husband and her younger son in different Januarys. Her birthday is Feb. 2, which is a cross day (halfway to the next season), which is also, by my calculation, Tu B’Shevat. For anyone whose year has been off to a rough start, here’s your fresh start and New Year. We’re half way to spring, a time of celebration.
Something else that I’m starting to see is expressions of “for the common good.” It was a founding principle for the United States, and something I find exemplified in this blog and the Sofa Sisters concept, as we support each other. It undoubted extends into the rest of our lives, but maybe we could be more conscious about what we are doing. I’m thinking of Anne in NZ, who sent an encouraging, informative, friendly email in addition to Kit’s new sweater. I’m thinking of the staff in the nursing home where I was 6 years ago — I had read that I should lead a holy life but that was beyond me, so I decided to try courtesy. It worked. Within 3 days, I heard staff members in the hall saying “Thank you” and “You’re welcome.” Good ideas spread easily.
Within 30 seconds everyone here can think of some of the good things each of us have managed to share. Jeanne and George have helped endless people in endless ways — all of us remember some of heir projects. I remember a giant slide (I think — whatever it was was was probably mostly blue) as well as endless repairs/remodeling projects. Remembering what you’ve done and can do erases sadness.
Dear Marilyn, what a great idea!
I remember how kind Jeanne was to a young lady named Sarah. She and her family were from another country and just living in the US for a little while. (I think I got that right. If I didn’t, Jeanne, please jump in).
Jeanne talked with Sarah about cooking and sewing. She spent time with the little girl and I am sure that Sarah really appreciated it.