Hi everyone,
Mae’s dress, or actually ANY 15″ MOPPETS dress ends this evening on Ebay! Mae has been out of the dress for a few days and has been sleeping in the dolly cabinet. I hope she’s still sleeping when it sells, so when she wakes up, I can tell her it has already been shipped to some other little Moppet, and they were SO happy to win it! I hope she’ll understand. If you’d like to take one last look at the auction on Ebay, you can click the picture at the right side bar or you can click HERE.
A friend asked me to go with her to pick out some new glasses (and hit a few shops while we were out.) She found the cutest pair and then we decided to celebrate by having lunch! We had the best burgers and then hit this one new place we hadn’t been to before. She found this tee shirt for me and said I “HAD” to get it. I think it sums me up pretty well… I’m not ALL about fabric, but I do think about fabric a lot… what might look good on which doll, how it feels, how it drapes, how does the scale work for the size doll I’m making it for, how clear are the colors, how will the fabric photograph, and so I guess I DO think about fabric a lot! Oh well, here’s my new tee shirt…
I received this email from Rosemary and wanted to share it with everyone. It makes a really cute tote bag… and could be resized for whatever size doll you wanted.
Hi everybody! I got a cool bag!
This is the pdf for a bag I got for free on Sew can She. com
This is pretty close to how I made the bag, the main construction. I did not have this pattern with me when I examined the Vera Bradley bag (from Target) two weeks ago to make a copy, but with the skills learned from making the clutch bag from Noodlehead, it was simple, just a tiny course. I dug around and found some “junky” test fabrics to make this first bag.
Here is the link to the Noodlehead tutorial: https://blog.noodle-head.com/2010/04/gathered-clutch-tutorial.html This is a pattern to make a small bag with a zipper. The installation of the zipper is the key skill to take from this tutorial
I had to do some unsewing a few times to add the handles because I was initially just focused on getting the layers right. Another annoyance is that this zipper is an old Coats and Clark and very tight and hard to budge! I got some YKK zippers at Hobby Lobby. (super cheap $1.40?)
Here is the PDF file Rosemary sent… with complete directions…
Tiny-Bag-Pattern-Optimized-for-Printing-kufilg
The VB bag has the outer side and lining each as one piece of fabric, which results in no way to hide the inside seams. The vera Bradley seams are just connected, sewn together using thick bias tape.
Perhaps that was a chunky feature they were aiming for.
As with Noodlehead’s pattern, I understand that construction process and could have finished the inner seams. I did not do that with this prototype because I wanted to share the result -seam at the lining at the bottom or not – however with a seam in the lining (at the bottom), you are able to sew together the sides and the boxed corners before turning it all right side out. I hope you like the pictures. I plan to make more. This is a really fun bag to make.
This is the machine I use at present. It is straight stitch Singer 301A. I cannot explain why I have my rotary cutter sitting at my machine!
Love, Rosemary
Here is a picture of me, next to my beloved… carrot cake 🥕😄
Thank you Rosemary! It was so fun to see your face… now we’ll have a picture in our heads of what you look like when you are chatting with us. That is a really cute little tote bag and great that you sent the directions along with your pictures!
Thanks so much!
See everyone tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I just love Mae’s dress, and keep wishing I had a doll it would fit! But…I don’t.
Yes, Jeanne, that t-shirt is absolutely perfect for you! Well, it would be perfect for a few of us on this list, I think–including me! Haha….
Rosemary, thank you for sending the link to the PDF instructions for the little tote. I will try to remember to get it printed off soon, It was so good to see your smiling face, too!
By the way, I did reply to two or three comments on yesterday’s blog.
I think I have the fabrics chosen for sashing and the first border on the quilt blocks I’m going to try to assemble into a top. I had several choices from within my stash. Stay tuned!
Good for you Charlotte, you are making terrific progress on your UFOs. I am very happy for you. As for backing, do you usually just find one large piece of fabric sewn at the seams for length? or do you do pieced backings? I am so happy you are making progress!
Hi Rosemary, thus far my quilts have been small enough to fit on the width of the fabric with excess to spare. But this time, I will need to seam the backing, as my quilt is 47″ wide (and I already have the backing fabric purchased). So, I will have to seam it. I recently read some tips for doing so that others had shared, which gives me a little more confidence!
What a cute tee shirt that is perfect for you, Jeanne! If you decide you don’t want to wear it or want to risk it fading when being washed, you could always frame the picture part.
Cute little bag there, Rosemary! You look cute too! How old is your Singer? I have a Singer Touch &Sew from the early 60’s, and is still sewing very well for me.
Good luck Jeanne, on Mae’s dress!
My 301A machine I purchased in in around 2014. I found it on Craigs list locally. I really love it. I think this particular Singer is from 1956? according to the serial #
I have my mother’s old Singer that was purchased brand new in Germany in 1954, a Singer 316G. That machine has cams and does many cute stitches. I love both of my machines so much.
The mechanical machines are the best! I am glad you have a really good machine too!
Happy Wednesday dear ones!
Jeanne, the dress is so cute, I certainly hope Mae has forgotten all about it and she is admiring those swim suits and all of that beach activity. The dress is so perfect though, sweetest fabric ever!
I hope your back is improving and you are feeling less twinges and pain!!
You are such a great friend to go out and help find the perfect glasses with your dear friend. Glasses need careful consideration – not too nerdy, not to bossy! I love the t-shirt! Wow, I showed it to hubbs and he said Oh gosh, that is YOU!… and I replied… well sort of. Jeanne, you can wear this proudly 😄 It looks like that soft t-shirt fabric. very comfy!
Thank you for posting the tiny bag link pattern! Yay, thank you!
It looks like the only photo that did not transfer over to the blog would be the first one with my 14″ girl dolly carrying the tote on her shoulder at the top of the post so that you could compare the size. I can send that again if you need it.
If you are interested in making the pattern, and have any questions about the size adjustment and construction. I made my tiny bag to be the exact same size as the tiny Vera Bradley bag. You start with a piece of fabric 6 and 1/2″ x 4 and 3/4 inches.
It was a lot of fun to make.
We have some rain today, not pouring but it is nice to see it.
I am going to try to be perky today.
Oops, Rosemary… I missed getting that dolly picture in the lineup! I just added it… what a great size. Thank you again,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thank you Jeanne. I am glad you could add it. Thank you so much for sharing my sewing escapades
Well, I certainly hope that a buyer appears today for Mae’s adorable outfit. I believe that right now many are just trying to put gas in their tanks. Trader Joe’s has raised their prices because of the cost of fuel to deliver, as well as other stores. Tight times, it appears.
I’m so happy to see Rosemary’s doll sized bag today and her smiling face. I too have my old Singer from HS that needs the gears replaced, but I also have my mother’s Singer at the other house. It works perfectly. Wish that I had room here to have a sewing room. I could quickly fill it. I think that I have six machines. 🙂 I have big plans to make some little bags for some of the dolls here. We’ll see if I can unearth a zipper to use. I’m so visual that Rosemary’s great pics will definitely help in my quest. Thanks Jeanne and Rosemary for sharing.
It looks like it’s going to start warming up today. So, I’ll have to get back to the yard after the rain break. At least the weeds/brush should have loosened up and be easier to pull. 🙂
Jeanne, your Tee is so perfect on you! Someone put YOU on that tee.
As for Mae, you have 2 bids as of now.
We are back from our Wednesday gathering. We were busy yesterday watching one of the guys that comes to help us, not the tree slicing guy, another one who does other yard work. I had sold an expensive Meadow doll from MDCC and had enough money to have some of the branches of our big Live Oak removed. They were creeping over to our neighbor’s house, getting way to close and they had been complaining about it. (These are the same people whose tree fell in our yard.) Our yard guy, Chris., brought the biggest ladder I have ever seen, put it against the tree and up he went, tied himself to the tree branch so he didn’t fall and chopped of 2 large branches. Then he came lower and chopped one more. He couldn’t get all the mess and the huge ladder in his truck, so is coming back today with a trailer. The neighbors wife was already fussing about the branches in her yard. This is someone we thought was a friend, but she has something bothering her lately, I think, she is not the same. Guess I better pray for her.
Hope y’all have a good day, I missed my work upstairs yesterday, so heading up now.
I am happy that you could get the branches cleaned up.
Your poor neighbor. She must be suffering, yes, prayer is needed and I will contribute to that effort as well.
Yes, everything is very very expensive! We just forked over $6K for a new fence. Very expensive. I believe 20 years ago we paid less than $2K. Crazy. It will help sell the house. I hope you get your upstairs projects accomplished today. I have a very long list of duties, but I am upstairs making my second tiny bag. Hopefully I can squeeze in some obligations.
I bet your yard looks better and feels more secure.
Interesting about your tree trimming because of a complaint and now she isn’t happy. I’m sure when the branches are cleaned up, she might be happier. Sad situation. Good luck with your upstairs work. I should be doing the same here. 🙂
Good morning all.
Ugh, My clock was flashing so I pressed a few buttons without looking at the time. When I did look it was nearly 6 am so I knew I wouldn’t go back to sleep. I got up at 6.30, fed the animals, made coffee and breakfast and turned on the computer. WHAT, it wasn’t even 6!!! I must have moved the time on an hour. I might have to have a nanna-nap this afternoon!!!
I love the t shirt Jeanne. A couple of years ago Sam bought me a bag which said “”I am not easily distracted….ooh look, fabric!”
Your tiny bag is cute Rosemary and it was great seeing a photo of you. I meant to take photos at our dinner the other night but completely forgot. I think you look a lot like my friend Helen but I don’t have a photo to send.
We have a nor-wester today so it feels much warmer. I think the weatherman said it would be 24C. It is already 18C and it is still dark. Unfortunately, at this time of the year the nor-west wind has a southerly following it (you have to think the opposite of your hemisphere) and this evening it is going to change and be very cold. maybe some rain, though most of it has fallen on the West Coast.
Have a lovely day everyone
brrrr. Enjoy the little bit of warm.
We had rain all day.
I hope you got caught up on sleep.
My bedside clock got all crazy last week. I must have touched a button on top and put it in a different time zone.
Today is probably a good day for a nap!
I made an attempt to make another tiny bag today, I spent way too much time on it and the process was still a lot of unsewing. I am going to make 6 bags, and I am sure by the 6th one I will be a pro!!!
Jeanne….I love the tee-shirt saying! I would wear that in a heartbeat! And Rosemary…thank you for sharing the tote bag info…I might need to try a Velcroed flap since I don’t have tiny zippers and I don’t get out to the stores often. My online shopping has almost been nil now since shipping is more expensive and the cost of groceries is higher than ever. I do enjoy purchasing a new Pixie Faire doll pattern from time to time because it comes right away as a PDF! (Just need to keep printer paper and ink on hand!) And I love receiving Better World Books gift cards from my daughters….and BWB doesn’t have a shipping fee. (I think it’s built into the cost of the used books as their prices have increased some)
My daughter has a 45 minute drive to her job M-F, from our home, and that’s with decent traffic in the Austin area, heading downtown. She even leaves super early to avoid the school buses. With the increase of gas prices we really don’t drive anywhere to shop since she has that job commute. We’ve been ordering Walmart groceries and used to always count on delivery when we requested a time. But in the last six months, our delivered items have been left at someone else’s home and my daughter would receive a photo of the porch and the address where our order was dropped off, so she gets in her car and goes to pick our sacks up. Twice now, orders were left one street over…once at a home with our address numbers. Orders have been left at the house next door, and several times at the EMPTY-house-for-sale, on the other side of us! We even have provided to Walmart delivery online, a good description of our one-story, ecru house color, peach colored front door, patio furniture with aqua cushions on the front porch….plus my daughter added another house number sign in the garden area out front. My daughters said the delivery people probably don’t understand English! Then how in the world did they manage to get a driver’s license? Has anyone else had problems with their deliveries going to different houses? Daughter’s Amazon orders seem to make it to our porch okay and she orders from Temu from time to time and those always make it to our address. And I’ve ordered from Chewy pet foods and those always come to our porch.
Daughter has been stopping at Aldi’s more often since it is on her way home from work, and the prices are better than most places. And we found larger black house numbers with a white background rectangle, to attach to our front porch post which is black, and only came with 3 inch tall, narrow, white address numbers. Might make a difference.
I feel like I’ve come full-circle, living as tight as we did when my daughters were little and I was raising them on my own. At least I have the experience of living within a tight budget! My outings now seem to revolve around doctor visits or when lab work is requested! We might stop at Kohl’s or Hobby Lobby if the doctor office is nearby.
Thank goodness for computers, sewing machines, fabric stashes, books and TV movies!
As to deliveries, we have often arrived at our other house and found an unordered package on the porch. The address is correct. I’ve found that someone at the sending company who makes the labels must have dyslexia, because when the numbers are changed around the address is that of a neighbor a few houses down the hill. I’ve walked their deliveries down there a number of times and told them to change the address with the company to no avail. Glad that your other deliveries are getting through.
I am sure the delivery problem is with the driver.
We live in a pretty developed area, and there are a lot of bright humans doing delivery jobs, but every now and then we get a humdinger. Twice, totally smashed bread.
Today my milk bottle was crushed. I have not tried to uncrush it, I just washed the bottle and put it in the fridge.
Full circle indeed. Somehow I think living on a tighter budget is something I easily get comfortable with. Maybe we just know where to cut the corners. We do not drive much either. My favorite place it home.
Good luck on the sale, Jeanne!! 🩵❤️💛
Good morning everyone
Well done, Sissy, winning the Mae Day outfit. Mae really is a pretty little doll.
Jeanne, your swimsuits are so pretty. I am sure the beach scene will help the sales. it looks so realistic.
I found out why my clock was wrong yesterday morning. A lamp in Ashers room blew and tripped the fuse. Sam had to get a ladder to reach the fuse box and switch it on again. I was already asleep so she didn’t want to wake me trying to fix the clock. It turned out it was 45 mins fast. I’m an ‘early to bed, early to rise’ kinda gal but I usually refuse to get up before 6am. The cats and dog didn’t mind getting fed early though, lol!
Gas prices are an issue here too. You are paying about US$4 a gallon, is that right? We pay nearly that per litre which is about NZ$12 per gallon! We also have the added problem of not producing any oil ourselves so if the supply is disrupted (as it is at the moment) we could actually run out of fuel altogether. Every night on the news they tell us how many days of petrol, diesel and jet fuel we have in the country or on the way, currently we have about 47 days. If it goes down significantly we will be rationed so that supply is available for emergency services and food delivery. Thank goodness for the electric car.
I started quilting some of my blocks but I have run out of batting to finish cutting out, plus I have more quilts to do. The penalty of living at the bottom of the world is that everything is more expensive when it has to be imported and shipped, I may have to think outside the square and look at using recycled batting for the two small ones anyway!
Have a good day everyone.