Nautical Dress for Melody

 I love nautical dresses, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, you name it.

I found this fabric at Joann's Black Friday Sale. It looked 1960-ish to me, and I immediately wanted to make Melody a dress with it.

I used the Keepers Dolly Duds Town and Country pattern. I have used this pattern before, but I always used the view that had a ruffle.

This time, I used the tab view with the collar.

I found three small metal buttons in a button collection that I got from my mom. They were perfect for what I wanted!

I was really happy with how the dress turned out.

When it's on Melody though, I feel like the round collar makes her look like she has no chin. 

I have noticed the same thing with the collar on the Eden Ava Couture 1930s Vintage Dress. I just feel that this collar is not flattering on AG dolls.

Overall, I am happy with this dress. If I make this view of this pattern again, I think I will leave teh collar off.

Melody's Christmas Dress

 I am a huge fan of Keepers Dolly Duds. Once I master one of her patterns, I want to use it over and over again.

So it is not surprising that I made a new dress for Melody and used the Keepers Dolly Duds Town and Country dress pattern. I have used it before.

AG has a lovely Christmas dress for Melody, but her grandparents technically give that to her for her birthday, which is New Year's. So I really see that one as more of a New Year's dress, and this one is more Christmassy.

I added long sleeves to the pattern and used the ones from the Keepers Dolly Duds Downtown 1920s dress. Melody lives in Detroit, so it's cold in December! Three quarter length sleeves might have been more trendy for the 1960s, but warmth is important too.

The funny thing to me is that the red ruffle blends right in with the stripes in this fabric.

I am really happy with this dress.

I love that Addy and Melody now have Christmas dresses that match, but are also appropriate for their respective historical eras.

Here is a link to a different version that I made of this same pattern.

More Doll of Color Month Pictures

 Here are a few more pictures that I have taken this month.

My Asian and Pacific Islander dolls

Kaya

Melody

I didn't realize that Josefina's notebook has writing in it, in both Spanish and English. It's so special!

I really should have looked at it more closely before now.

I can't decide which picture of Josefina at her loom I like better. I wish I could have taken this picture inside, though. That would have made better sense.

They are all such pretty girls. I am loving these pictures.

Melody's Wardrobe: Melody's Daisy Outfit

 I was really pleased to get Melody's Daisy Outfit. It's one of my favorite outfits from her collection.

It's even cuter in person!

The dress is very nicely made. I was really pleased to see that the yellow centers of the daisies are embroidered. I had kind of expected plastic.

The pleats are nicely done.

I was also surprised to see that it has a sash that ties in the back. It's seriously cute. I hadn't seen that in online pictures.

The dress comes with knee high socks and matching T-strap Mary Janes. I was happy to see knee socks rather than tights. They are easier to take on and off. Of course, you need to be organized to not lose one.

Not to worry, I have a box dedicated to Melody's clothes and only Melody's clothes. It has all the tiny accessories in it as well, so I don't lose anything.

The color looks great on Melody. 

At $28, this dress is less expensive than many current historical AG outfits, and it's worth every penny.

More Christmas pictures!

 Here are some Christmas pictures of Addy, Melody and Samantha!

Melody

Addy

Samantha

Melody's Bingo Set

 I bought Melody's Bingo set a while back. This is the first that I have taken pictures with it.

Bingo is an important tradition in my family. My cousin has a bingo set that was bought by my great-grandmother in the 1930s, and we play a game with it every year.

That made me want this set every much, so that melody can enjoy the fun with her family and friends!

Here is Melody with the Bingo wheel and a Bingo card. This set really works, and it feels so heavy and real. 

There are lots of small pieces, and I was afraid I was going to lose one in the grass!

The set also comes with some doll food. I probably would have preferred that the food be sold separately, but I don't have much doll food, so it it is good to have some.

Melody is enjoying a cherry pie and ginger ale while listening to the radio in this picture. 

The radio is from her bedroom accessories set.

I thought that this is a really cute set, and it was well made. I am very happy to have it.

I was also very pleased with the pictures that I was able to get.

Here is a bonus picture of Melody on a bike!

Doll of Color Month

 September is Doll of Color Month on Instagram.

There is a new topic every day to encourage you to show off your dolls of color.

I am not going to follow every prompt, but I did try to follow some of them.

This led to taking some group pictures, which are very hard to do!

I am not totally happy with these pictures,but they do show the dolls I wanted to show!

All my dolls of color

Summer

Here are some pictures of the dolls enjoying summer!

Kit

Melody

Anne

Danielle

Laura

Addy

Aurelie

Pattern Review: Simplicity 8314

This is not the first dress I have made from this pattern, and it will not be the last.

This is the first version of this particular design that I have made.

The pattern comes from Simplicity 8314, which is designed by the ever wonderful Keepers Dolly Duds.

It looks complicated, but it was very simple!

I timed myself and it took me 40 minutes to sew this dress. That does not include the time that it took to cut out the fabric and iron it.

I don't usually time myself, but it was close to bedtime.

The fabrics in these dresses are probably not very authentic to the 1960s. I just wanted to make something for my cousins and use what I had on hand, and not use my more expensive fabrics, either.

I used two different color combinations so that the sisters can tell their dresses apart.

I like the purple one best; my best friend likes the pink one best. Something for everyone!

I was pleased with how cute and easy this dress is.

The other dress that I have made from this pattern was my Wednesday Addams dress.

Sewing doll clothes is such fun for me, and I can't wait to see how my cousins like the dresses!

Spring pictures

I got some very cute spring pictures that I am happy to share!

Anne

Tamsin

Stella

Melody

Merry Christmas!

Melody and Bo would like to wish you a merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Anne got mini Luciana for Christmas!

I definitely think that mini Luciana is one of the cutest mini dolls. Anne is completely smitten.

Merry Christmas!

Ready for the Holidays

Are you ready for the holidays?

Melody and Bo are!

Melody should get under the covers, her bare legs look chilly!

Christmas Tree pictures

Here are some pictures of some of my girls in their holiday garb in front of the Christmas tree!