A Garden of Virtues

A few weeks ago,  I visited the Montgomery Street Antique Mall in Fort Worth for the first time in quite a while. They had some wonderful fashion dolls and fashion doll clothing for sale. I had so much fun wandering through the store and picking a few items, which included these three doll dresses and a (human) sewing pattern.  The dresses were only a dollar or two apiece, and each required some fixing-up. Today, I finally took the time to mend and iron the dresses, and take photos in the beautiful summer weather. The yellow sheath dress with brown dots is definitely a hand-made creation, and I believe the long, yellow evening gown is hand-made as well. The white sheath dress appears to be company-made, but I could be wrong. I thought this yellow evening gown looked so beautiful on Gertrude (Tropical Miko, 1985). I have had Gertrude since 2011. The gathering at the back had come loose and unraveled. I used a lot of Fray Check today! I covered every edge. Ironing the dress (car...

I'm so happy with how Leslie's stocking turned out. Tomorrow, I'll make Josette's. Santa has already brought their presents over, but they'll have to wait till Yule to open them.

It was 1940 ... Before Josette came to the Beast's castle, she was a nurse. Though isolated from the world by the Beast's enchanted forest, Josette still heard of the war beyond his kingdom's boundaries, and her heart ached. The Beast knew Josette longed to aid in the war effort as she had before she had come to him to save her father's life. He allowed Josette to leave for Paris to work in the hospital as long as she promised to return to him. Little did he suspect how torn Josette felt at the thought of leaving him. She knew her life would be in danger, and that she might never see him again. The fact that he was willing to allow her to break her promise to serve as a nurse for a time gave her even more reason to care about him.

Today I sewed a wrap-around skirt from start to finish. At least the package didn't say anything about it being a two-hour project. It took me all day. After dinner I sat and hand-stitched the hem. I love it! For the first time, I truly love one of my projects. It is a full skirt made in lustrous metallic-shot pink fabric, the pattern from the 1970's. I bought it with the intention of making this skirt and also a doll princess dress. However I may have enough to make another dress for myself before starting on the doll clothes. Violette has been very quiet today. I must say that I think she looks fetching in her new underthings. They've grown on me. I was a little sore yesterday about them not turning out the way I wanted. In addition, I made another sale, possibly two, giving a possible $80 to my doll fund. What should I do with this money? My mind has been working at it all morning. I don't really want to buy clothes for my dolls anymore, because it just isn't f...

I spent all day making these! I guess I shouldn't admit that. Oh, my gosh, Violette, do you have any idea how I toiled for you? I burned my finger on the iron while pleating the yellow lace, I sewed the wrong side to the right side, I had to re-make the drawers entirely after cutting them down too short at the crotch. Violette is 14" high and this pattern was made for a 14" doll, so why was it so huge? Was there something wrong with me for believing that I could make Violette clothes from this pattern? Well, reader, I was very frustrated. I am not a good doll seamstress, and I toil because it makes me feel tender to see my dollies wearing clothes I have made for them.    I like the color combination I picked in truth. The yellow lace and beige fabric actually matches her coloring well.   I think my pleating idea executed well. My intention was to try to learn to make doll clothing from scrap fabrics and trim, giving them a certain randomness. However what I wanted...