Hi everyone,
Well, I’m another year older but I’m not sure the “wiser” part has kicked in yet. Hope it does! I could use all the wisdom I can get!
My hubby and I had a wonderful time Friday in Paducah, Kentucky, celebrating my birthday! We did get caught 2 times in road construction, but it was only about 20 minutes each time. It had been a few years since we had been shopping there and even found lots of places closed, but new ones opened in their place. We mostly hit the thrift and consignment shops… so nothing too exciting for us.
I found 2 pair of shoes, a new dress, a sweater, some new exact-o blades for my leather knife and I think that was it. It was fun to look though. I didn’t even go to Hancock’s (the largest fabric store in America) because I had just gotten all those Civil War fabrics. (I have to keep reminding myself, I’m supposed to be weeding out!) This Hancock’s store is not the same one as the former national Hancock’s Fabric chain that were around in many towns. This is a big 60,000 square foot store and boasts of having the world’s largest selection of premium cotton fabrics. You can believe that’s true when you walk into the store. I used to go to it EVERY TIME we went to Paducah. It was fun for me, but not so much for my hubby. They had rocking chairs and benches on the front porch… for the husbands! :o)
We had dinner at a Chinese restaurant and then headed home. It had been a 10-hour day for us. It was really nice to get away and just play and shop! :o)
Saturday I worked on some bloomers for Mae’s dress and decided to go with the tan checked fabric like the collar. I used a larger doll pattern that had some bloomers and reduced it down to what I thought might work for Mae and was happy with how they fit her. I didn’t want to take time to ask everyone if this was the kind of bloomers they had in mind… hope they were. Her ruffled dress isn’t much longer than those bloomers, and I really didn’t want them peeking out below her dress.
I made the thigh highs from a fabric I had in my stash that was nice to work with. It wasn’t a microfiber but was really stretchy and made a sweet pair for Mae.
I had to get the hat decorated so I visited Hobby Lobby and they had ONE package of blue paper flowers… one large flower and two smaller ones. Whew! I was SO glad Dorothy L mentioned about the blue/gray flowers and maybe picking up that color to use in the hat. I found a sprig of silk flowers with just the right color of light blue… I had a few tan and cream flowers to finish the hat with.
Then I had to find a ribbon for Mae’s braids that would match the bow on the front of her dress. I found, again, ONE reel of ribbon in a slightly different shade of blue that went well! Whew again!
I had to finish sewing the snaps on the bottom part of Mae’s dress and get my pictures taken. Then I was ready to get it listed on Ebay. I had 36 pictures and didn’t really want to cull any of them, so… I used them all. EEK!
I hope you’ll take a look and see if this is what you had in mind when the whole set was finished. You can see the listing by clicking the picture on the right side bar or you can click HERE to be taken to the listing on Ebay.
Happy Monday, and I’ll see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Sounds like you had a really nice birthday outing, Jeanne. It has been quite a few years since I was last in Paducah. My son was living in KY at the time, and I can’t remember if it was before his first son was born, or after. But Ron and I went to the National Quilt Museum there, which was wonderful, and then we found a darling fabric shop in an old house not too far from the museum. Didn’t get to Hancock’s though–for which Ron was probably grateful!! 😂
Mae’s outfit turned out to be just perfect. Everything coordinates so well, and the pictures are wonderful. She certainly is photogenic! I do have one comment: I noticed at one point the caption reads that she can wear the shoes without the socks, but the picture that follows is a closeup of the shoes With socks. Had you intended to put another photo there instead? I think all the pictures that show her shoes have her wearing socks, too.
My current doll project is just about done; I had started a set of four dolls from an old Elinor Peace Bailey pattern some time ago (like, 15 years or more) and had gotten partway thru, and put it aside. I had to finish and put together the first three dolls, and then make the 4th one. As of tonight, he is finished except for hair! Actually, they all need hair, but I will do that all at once, since it involve a glue gun. Plus, we need to see which color of hair suits which doll the best!
Morning Charlotte,
We really enjoyed our day in Paducah… I know of the house by the Museum you mentioned… It was called Quilter’s Alley… it’s not there anymore! I loved going in there and got my silk ribbon from her.
Yes, I had gotten my listing for Ebay finished, when I noticed I had the wrong picture for the shoes by themselves. I was already a little behind in getting the set listed, timewise, and didn’t want to take a chance messing something up and having to start over, so I let that slide. I think I might be able to add the picture I meant to, but it would just be in the small thumb print pictures and not in the actual listing.
I’m glad you like Mae’s outfit. It is very pretty on her… I wish everyone could see this one in person. Everything turned out just as I was hoping it would.
I’m SURE I could find some projects around here that need finishing. Probably 20 or more! EEK! Hope you get your dolls finished and then let us see them…
Blessings, Jeanne
Those little bloomers are a sweet touch to the outfit, and that darling hat is the cherry on top! No doubt whoever gets this dress is going to be very happy with it! I don’t have a Mae, so I won’t be able to see it firsthand, but oh my, those colors are just perfect for fall! In fact Jeanne, looking at the past outfits you have made, the colors you choose are so elegant and “normal”, and not so much as those horrid neon colors that are more appealing to children. If only American Girl could take a few tips from you!
So nice that you had a good birthday! You did what worked for you, and no doubt you enjoyed it and the nice weather too!
Happy Labor Day everyone!
completely agree with you about the doll clothes of today.
Is it just me or do all of the clothes now just look like the “Saturday clothes” we used to wear but now they are such loud fabrics.
I was amazed to see the jeans with holes in them for dolls now. I’ve even seen patterns to make them. We all grew up at a time when holes in our clothes meant our family was destitute. Today it’s considered high fashion.
Thank you Linda, for your kind words about Mae’s outfit. She does look pretty sweet in it, I have to admit!
I had to laugh at your description of the fabrics I’ve chosen lately… “Normal” that made me smile.
Now to find something “normal” for the next girl who will be up!
Don’t know who she is yet, but I better decide!
The weather is wonderful right now… I love it when it’s in the upper 60’s and 70’s… AHHHH… :o)
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Good morning dear ones
Monday already! Such a happy lovely birthday you had Jeanne. I am very
pleased to hear of your adventurous day and ending with chinese food my favorite!
Well, Mae’s outfit turned out just adorable. I love all of the photos you shared on ebay, well done! this was a perfect week-end for outdoor photos too.
Everything about this outfit is done so perfectly, the epitome of sweetness.
Has everyone had chilly weather? This has to be the coldest end of Summer that I can remember for a long time. I like it, but it is chilly and I can not put a sweater on my cornish rex kittygirl, so it is really cold for her!!
I hope all of you have a productive day.
HI Rosemary,
I even had some leftovers of my Chinese dinner for lunch Saturday! It was just as good heated up the second time around.
Thank you for liking Mae’s outfit. It was certainly a labor of love. Lots of little details on this one that took more time than usual….ruffles, hand hemming, collars, the shoes, making the hat, then decorating it, etc.
I hope my day is productive too… gotta get ready for my sister, Cindy, who is coming soon, and then Karn and Rebecca… Yikes, so much to do!
Thanks Rosemary,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well Mae, is absolutely a dream in her special new outfit. The bloomers are exactly as I imagined. So cute.
So glad that Jeanne had a fun trip and shopping experience in Paducah, and Chinese food to boot.
Another sizzling day here today is expected. But, supposed to be the last. Then, hopefully, we can get back to that deck project. Just too hot after 7:30AM to do anything constructive out there. Even Callie Cat was hiding out yesterday under the lower deck in a cool location. So unlike her usually peppy self.
I think I have the pleats finally figured out on that mess of a Sew Along project I’ve been working on. I made a larger sleeve pattern and a collar so we’ll see if I can actually sew something instead of fiddle with my ruler and pleats that should have been very simple. Not.
Have a fun Labor Day everyone. 🙂
Thanks Joy,
Whew… I got the bloomers right… they are pretty cute, aren’t they? I wrote her name on the pattern I made them from, so I’d know to use it again for other bloomers.
I think the weather is calming down around here… and hope yours will too, soon!
Can I find a picture of the Sew Along project you are working on? I’d love to see what you are making this time. Don’t forget pictures for us to see!
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Very sweet outfit for Mae. I’m in total agreement with Joy that the bloomers turned just as I pictured also. In the pictures the gingham trim and bloomers with the hat look so nice together, perfect choice. I do wish we could have seen a pic with a little of the bloomers showing, you know how toddlers hold up the dress hem sometimes.
So glad your birthday was fun and the weather enjoyable.
Take care all.
I took another look at the listing and something is wrong with what I can see. There’s only about a one inch of the pictures that show when scrolling, but I did see a pic with her holding her dress up a bit, I always think those are so cute and natural looking. Just wanted to “correct my previous comment”
HI Dorothy,
I looked at my listing on Ebay to make sure something wasn’t missing and the picture of Mae holding up her dress is the second to last picture in the listing. It just shows her pulling up the side of her dress to show the bloomers underneath.
You might need to refresh your page to get the full view of the dress with the bloomers underneath. I just checked and the picture is fine.
I’m glad you like the whole set… Mae does too… and thinks it’s hers to keep… yikes… better start bribing her with some cookies! :o)
Thank you Dorothy,
blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, it sounds like you had a fun birthday. I would love to visit the Hancock’s fabric store. When I lived in Wilmington, DE, and Bancroft Mills was still in operation and had their mill store it was fun to spend time in there looking at all the fabrics. I had a friend that loved to sew too and it was fun to share the experience.
Mae’s outfit is over the moon adorable. Every piece of the ensemble is perfect. Can’t wait to see the results of this auction.
Right now I am waiting for Sean and family to arrive. David did a yummy brisket and I got the sides from our local BBQ joint. They are the best and easier on me. David baked a cake for a belated birthday celebration for Skyy. He already had one with his mom, dad, siblings and a friend but we never could find time for one with us so we decided to incorporate it in with Labor Day. I sure hope he kept his “wish list” up to date. Don’t know what I’d do without those these days.
Weather still hot here and most likely will be for at least another month. But when we get to this time of year there can be a light at the end of hot/humid tunnel. My mother used to come for her birthday every other year in early October (the 8th). We would always have a lovely front come through while she was here.
My words I wrote this morning never got there. I hope some of you will see my note, I will try again.
We just got back from our great week of all our family!! Half of them live in Chicago and the bride decided to have the wedding here on St. Simon’s Island where her grandfather lives . He is my older brother, age 90, so she knew he would not be able to make the trip. So many came from Chicago for the wedding and fun that I felt like I was in another state! It was a beautiful wedding and all the other days we gathered on my brother’s deck at the beach. Yesterday we all gathered at the larger beach. The wind was blowing at 20 miles an hour so the waves were huge! Still people we enjoying the water and kids having fun making sand castles, dripping the wet sand on the “castles”.
We stayed about 3 hours with the group and got to know some of them. Then my younger son Tommy, Peyton and me, went to a fun art show and I bought a new hat. Just family met again at my brother’s place, ate hamburgers, and I cried saying good by to all the family that was leaving. Tommy, my younger son, came back to the hotel with us for one more night and the next morning he and I went to their pool so I could show him some water aerobics moves. Then we put him on the plane and I cried again. We are home now and my older son stayed behind to help around the house for a few days.
It was a gorgeous wedding and I would love to show you a few photos. I will send some to Jeanne and she can decide if they are worth showing.
Oh, I’d love to see some wedding/scenery pics. 🙂
Sissy, it sounds like you had an absolutely marvelous trip and I definitely want to see some pictures. And when you get a chance I’d love to know what you are selling for Riley dolls. And I’m still mulling over the gingham fabric pictures you sent so I need to get back to you on that.
How lovely that your great-niece took the wedding to her grandfather, instead of his having to miss it because he can’t travel any more. And so wonderful for you to see so many family members, too. I totally understand the crying when you parted from them!!
Also I want to tell Jeanne that I just thought she could never get better with her outfits, but she did it again. That outfit with the ruffles, hat, shoes, all of is just the sweetest ever! I wanted to snatch your Mae right off my computer. She is perfection in that outfit!
I commented on Friday’s post to say I am now back home and very tired. I had a wonderful time with my family, it was hard saying goodbye. At our age we can’t guarantee it won’t be the last time we see each other. I think my brother (the fittest of the three of us) intends to be immortal but even his body is reminding him that it isn’t going to happen! I’m not sorry to leave the hills and stairs behind, though.
I have returned to spring, I have daffy’s in the garden and there is blossom on the trees. I must go to Hagley Park and photograph both there they are magnificent. Unfortunately, the downside is that it is very cold. 6C at the moment and a high of only 14C with thunderstorms this afternoon. I guess today isn’t a day to take
pictures in the park!
Mae is lovely in her outfit. I think there will be ‘tears before bedtime’ (as my mother used to say) when she has to give it up. All the colours work perfectly together.
Jeanne, I’m glad you and George had a lovely time on your birthday well done for resisting the lure of the fabric shop. I found it difficult when I went to the Festival of Quilts there were so many stalls selling so much lovely fabric and I didn’t dare buy any because I was limited in what I could bring home.
Have a great day everyone
So glad to hear that you made it home, Anne, safe and sound! That certainly was a trip to remember! So funny to hear it is springtime there, when we are getting ready for fall, colored leaves and pumpkins! What are daffy’s? You mean daffodils?
So glad to hear you made it home safely and I’m guessing your cold is now a thing of the past. Somehow that change in climate can cause problems. I couldn’t believe it when I went from Texas to visit my sister in West Virginia and got the worst cold of my life. That was three years ago and I haven’t’ had one since so I’ve decided to stay close to home these days. When I went to Europe several years ago we bought a lot of stuff including camping equipment and a coat from Carnaby Street for me. We had it all shipped back home. It worked well. Guess it’s too late now to mention that.
Mae keeps poking me saying, “When are you gonna bid? When are you gonna bid?!” Patience, Mae, patience… 🙂
Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday, Jeanne!