Hi everyone and welcome to January 1st, 2026! This may have been the fastest year I ever remember. It seemed to just whiz by! I’m hoping 2026 is a little slower! What’s the first thing you’re going to do this new year?
I had a busy day and am just now sitting down to my computer to write my blog for tomorrow. It’s 11:49 p.m. and I’ve only been in my sewing room to fix a shirt for my hubby…sorry!
So, I was looking on my phone for something to make a post from. I found some pretty little bonnets I had taken screen shots of a while back and thought they were so cute. I think my first doll dress of the new year just might have to have a bonnet. These are TOO pretty not to try and copy!
Well, this one is clearly NOT a bonnet, but it was such a cute look, I had to screen shot it.
It’s 12:30 now and I guess I’ve managed to stay awake till the new year arrived. It’s here, so I’m going to bed!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Happy New Year everyone! The first thing I’m going to do in this new year is go to bed! Yup, I’m still up, but I think I’m the night owl of the group, so that’s not too unusual.
Cute bonnets, Jeanne, and some inspiration for you. Haven’t you actually done a bonnet similar to that straw one with the green bows? It looks familiar.
And that last one, a very classic heirloom type bonnet, where you can put together strips of lace to get the width you need. I believe, if memory serves, it’s called a T-shaped bonnet, as when you untie all the bows and lay it flat, it forms a T.
I read everyone’s comments on the Jacquie Lawson calendar, etc., and will add a couple of responses.
Thanks, Rosemary, for the link to the freecell game. I will check it out!
Several people mentioned the Paris calendar, which must have been last year’s, and I didn’t get that one for some reason. But Marilyn mentioned that some of them are still available on the JL site, so tomorrow I will check that out–thanks!!
I played the Santa Claus game again last night, and I think I’m getting the hang of it. You have to combine two like ornaments or balls by dropping one close enough to another so they “click” and converge and become the next bigger size. So, for example, two jingle bells become a peppermint candy. When you get to the bigger ones, sometimes you can strategically drop a smaller one near it so the bigger one will move enough to touch another one of the same thing (penguin, for instance), and then they will merge.
I feel so badly for Dionne, Barbara, and am thankful that Sean is there for her and willing to help her. What a blessing!
Dorothy in PA and the World, this year’s scene has a man outside the coffee shop modeling one of the sweaters we design, too! I spotted him last night, went in and designed a new sweater, and next time I looked he was wearing the first one I had designed! What fun!
Sissy, so thankful you got a good report on your arm! That is an answer to prayer.
Okay, I’m off to bed!
I like this particular Freecell site because you can pause to think, answer the door, get the potatoes off of the burner…. and it does not close out the view.
Yes Charlotte it IS called a T-Bonnet, and DOES lie flat if the ribbons are untied.
I couldn’t agree more that the year went WAY too fast!
Dear Charlotte, I am glad you saw the sweater guy. He must represent someone as he was there in 2024. However, in 2024, he sat kind of in the back. He was not interactive. He just sat.
I am thinking that the next time you see the 2025 guy he will have on the new shirt design. I think it takes a while for the program to change things. I didn’t realize he was wearing my sweater until a few days after I created it.
Thanks for explaining the Santa drop game. I could not figure it out.
My favorite game is the one on the far right on the ottoman (I think) where the cards are. It has the little “marbles” in a box. You have to line them up in a grid up and down. I don’t know what the came is called. It was part of the program last year.
I liked the Paris Advent calendar. I feel like there were more things to do.
Happy New Year from me and your namesake little Miss Charlotte Noelle. So far she is on Santa’s “Nice” list, as she hasn’t started an argument with her sister Selah, but, of course, it’s still early in the day (smile).
Your right about more things to see and do in the Paris apartment. When I got my new computer I downloaded that one to my new computer. I had to unwrap all the gifts again because the things in the home didn’t transfer. It was fun seeing all the things again and watching what they do, like pouring the champagne and the tea/’coffee, etc.
I’m not sure what that game is called, either, Dorothy–I have always thought of it as the jewel game because the pieces look like jewels (rubies, amethysts, etc.) to me!
Tell little Charlotte Noelle that I am pleased she is still on the “nice” list!!
I really hadn’t paid much attention to the sweater thing until Dorothy mentioned it and you did too. So I went back and clicked on another sweater and sure enough the man was now wearing that sweater. So many details it’s hard to see everything the first time.
What sweet bonnets, Jeanne! I don’t think people have children wear bonnets now, as much as back when we were small, same with hats. I love all the ruffles and bows, and yes, you must make a bonnet the next dress you make. That last bonnet made with lace strips is just gorgeous, but probably a baby bonnet, maybe for a christening outfit.
The straw hat towards the end was something like my Easter bonnet I had as a little girl, but it had a bit of a brim, and sugared berries on it, but was just like that, tying around my face. And the flowered band with pretty white ribbons, is just like the one that my granddaughter wore for her First Communion!
It does look like it will be a dreary day, but I guess we will have the Rose Bowl parade on, and will head to church shortly.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Good morning and Happy New Year! Yes 2025 was a quickie and I did not like that.
It makes me wonder…. is the time going faster because I am really going slower and I can’t keep up? 😱🧐 What is your analysis of that?
Jeanne, these bonnets are adorable. Thank you for sharing these little sweeties. Oh my.
I wonder if I could make some like this that would be more modern for my grandgirls dolls.
They are absolutely cutie cute.
This year I am going to strive to be zippy.
As usual, I am going to make a list of daily goals and see how far I can get.
These are mainly health goals, hydration, fresh air, treadmilling and other strengthening exercises. And then the other stuff…. finishing… etc….🙄😬 Most years that list does not hold up more than a few months, but hopefully I can maintain the important aspects.
I wish all of you the very best this new year! Everything GOOD.
I hope all of you have sunshine today!
About the time going faster, it reminds me something I have read, “The longer the toilet paper goes down the faster it goes”. Life seems like that the older we get.
Seeing Jeanne’s bonnet photo collection was fun. Maybe the first one could go along with a romper for summer on a modern girl? I see some lovely lace there on others too. The pic of the flower ring with the bows down the back reminds me of the 70’s. Anyone actually make a flower wreath with ribbons at the back? I did and used to wear one with a long flowered dress occasionally. You know, running through a flower filled meadow! Ha ha.
Neither of us here made it to midnight. Other person spent the afternoon putting together a new office chair that had so many screws that it came with a special tool kit. I was too tired after making that lasagna, which turned out pretty well. The new oven made it interesting though. However, the cake I made with lemon from the bush at the other house was a hit especially with the raspberry sauce I made for the ice cream. 🙂
It rained all night, but Callie Cat was awaiting her breakfast as usual this morning. Hope we have some clearing so we can get in a walk. Definitely need to after eating way too much yesterday.
As to the new year, I guess my modus operandi should be, organize the dolls! We’ll see. 🙂
We are packing to leave tomorrow, 2 weeks in Helen, GA up in the mountains. Our car is small and will be packed to the ceiling, with clothes and food. I hope we will eat the food we brought and any we buy so we won’t have to take it home. Oh, yes, don’t forget my sewing machine and the box of patterns, fabric for Valentines and 2 sized of dolls. It will be fun to be sewing again. We also take a big piece of cardboard. We put it out on the table on the balcony and feed the birds. It doesn’t take them long to find it.
Tonight is the Sugar Bowl Game in New Orleans, and our wonderful GA Bull Dawgs are playing against Ole Miss. The game doesn’t start until 8:00 tonight so we will have to take naps today since we have to get up early to hit the road tomorrow.
Jeanne, when I heard about bonnets I was hoping that is what you were giving away! We are leaving town tomorrow and I hope I will have time to see your giveaways before we leave. I LOVE the bonnets you showed us. Looking forward to seeing some of you sewing soon.
Have a wonderful vacation. Hope you can take some pics to share. 🙂
Love the bonnets….especially the T-shaped bonnet! A lacey bonnet would be fun to create and display on a doll that is wearing a fancy dress or an old-fashioned look. Such sweet inspiration to start the new year!
What adorable bonnets. I wore a straw hat with a navy band with ribbons down the back. My coat was cream and navy check. I loved the whole outfit.
Jeanne, you always make adorable hats and bonnets – it’ll be interesting to see who your next model might be wearing either.
My new year hope is to loose some pounds, especially after these last two holidays ! But I’m organizer, so I want to re- organize my jewelry in this fashion: what to wear, what I love and what I don’t want ( donate or pass down to nieces). And organize any drawer that’s messy with things that don’t go in it, and because I’m having wrist surgery in January, unfortunately I need to start taking down our Christmas decorations early because I’ll have a cast on for about a month. So I wrote up a list of what I can accomplish each day according to how the Christmas boxed items fit in my wonderful garage cabinet. It was the best purchase I ever got for the Christmas decorations. It holds alot.
Those are at least the first of my goals for January.
Happy New Year to all of you and may we all have a good year!
Putting you in my prayers for you wrist, Paula! Keep us posted! I won’t be home but I will have my computer!
Same here, Paula. Please keep us posted!
So, what day is the wrist surgery? Hopefully, we will all be thinking of you that day and sending you good wishes. Sounds like you are very organized already with that cabinet you mentioned. I’d love to see a pic of it. 🙂
Happy New Year everyone. It is Jan 2nd here so the year is already half over lol. I agree with everyone else, the year has gone incredibly fast. My goal for last year was to complete some UFO’s (unfinished objects) but I don’t think I did many, if any at all! I did tell myself that I wouldn’t buy any more material since I have more than I will be able to use in two lifetimes! I did reasonably well but still couldn’t resist picking up stuff from the free table at guild and op shops (charity shops). I definitely intend to finish at least some of my UFO’s this year. I have a quilt that I started for my brother in 2011 and it is still not finished. That is first on my list.
I’ll end as I started have a very happy New Year and stay safe
Dear Anne, Happy New Year!
I have a list of projects to complete as well. I am determined to make 2026 the most productive year ever! Let’s see what happens (smile).
I can’t seem to stop buying fabric no matter how hard I try. One of my favorite fabric websites had a sale on precuts, some of them 1/2 yard cuts which are great for my bigger dolls so I bought some of them and a couple fat quarter bundles. Hopefully I will have more time to pursue my sewing interests in 2026.
Dear Jeanne, ribbons and lace and ruffles, oh my! I see that there will be beautiful bonnets and head pieces coming from Jeanne’s Doll Emporium in 2026 Yeaaa!
Happy New Year to you and to all of my Sofa Sisters.
Happy New Year Jeanne and all my Sofa Sisters. Hope it’s a great one for all of you.
I love all the pretty bonnets and can’t wait to see what magic comes from the I Dream of Jeanne Marie atelier this coming year.
I did finally find a doll I wanted. She is a Maru Mini named Tanya. I love the Maru dolls and still plan to buy one of the larger dolls at some point but they always seem to be sold out of the one I want.
We watched the Times Square ball drop at 11 p.m. our time last night and then waited until it was 12 midnight here before we went to bed. But first we went to dinner with Sean, Dionne and the grandkids early in the evening. We had a great time and made Jaiden feel special on her birthday since she competes with New Year’s Eve. Having a birthday the day after Christmas I know how important that is. They came here today for our annual New Year’s Day protein fondue (beef, chicken and shrimp). Jason and Stephanie joined us for a short while. I was going to do a veggie plate but no one seemed interested in anything else so David and I will nosh on that for the next couple days. We had a great time visiting with Sean and family while they waited to leave for dinner at the Taste of Texas. That was an annual family tradition when our kids were growing up and Sean has kept it up with his family. The restaurant decorates so beautifully for the Christmas season and it gets better every year.
Dionne set up my new phone for me. Unfortunately all my things did not transfer but I can still get them off my old phone. Doing a new computer and phone in the same timeframe was enough stress for me. Hopefully I won’t have to do either for a while.
Barbara, one of my dearest friends, Joyce’s, birthday was also on New Years Eve. Before she retired, we girlfriends would take her out to dinner; after she (and a couple of others) retired, we switched to doing birthday lunches. She and I shared an apartment for four years, and she was maid of honor at our wedding, and our son’s godmother. She entered heaven 8-1/2 years ago, and I still miss her a lot. So, you know I am always thinking of her on New Year’s Eve!
I’ve always thought it would be neat to have a birthday on a holiday like that! My mom’s younger brother was born on Christmas Day, and my dad’s mother was born on the traditional Memorial Day!