A Haven for Vee

Monday, February 22, 2016

Of Dollies and Such


First allow me to apologize for discussing Shirley again so soon. I've been under the weather and my thinking abilities are failing me. This should teach me to have a post or two at the ready for such eventualities.





This product is what I am trying for making the fussy, fiddly clothes. It helps some, though I think that there has to be an easier way!


This is a photo of Shirley and my mother's doll. I wrongly thought that my mother's doll was also a Shirley Temple doll. She's not, she is an Effanbee Anne-Shirley doll. So interesting. Both dolls are 15 inch dolls, but have very different body types. They will not be able to share clothes.





These are Anne-Shirley's shoes and socks. Unlikely that they are original because they are so clean. Anne-Shirley has seen better days, most specifically her mohair hairdo.


Some of Shirley's clothing is very shoddily constructed. I hope to make my dolly's clothing very easy to use with open backs and snap closures. If I get good at this, John has lots of great-grandgirlies.

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This is the fabric I hope to make Shirley a simple dress with. It seems to be the right scale and I do love yellow and the dainty rosebuds.


The little cap sleeves ready to set in.


I don't know...I may have to quit this dress and start over, which reminds me of what Lord Grantham said of Edith, "I know, but for poor old Edith, who couldn't make her dolls do what she wanted! It is rather wonderful." And I do hope he is right! Edith deserves some happiness; Mary does, too; Tom does as well. Suppose that Mr. Fellowes will marry everyone off this final season?

Piglet and Friends in a pile...

I'll be back when I have some blogging fodder and am feeling better. Have a great week!



31 comments:

  1. I love doll clothes and have made a ton of them in my time. Not sure my hands can do those tiny things any more! I am enjoying your Shirley posts!!!! Back to back or scattered around!! I'll take the any way I can!
    I am still in Galveston tonight but I did have the forethought to call Louis Dean and ask him to record Downton Abbey for me!!

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  2. All I know is...my husband was yelling at the TV last night at Lady Mary---calling her a real bad name-- (grinning)---she better fix things, that's all I am saying, LOL.

    Your dollies are really cute and I loveeeeeeeee Piglet...many happy Blessings to you friend.

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  3. That aqua dress looks great from a distance. Wonderful quote from DA to go with your post! Feel better soon.

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  4. How special to have a Shirley Temple doll. My sisters name is Shirley and she had quite the collection of Shirley dolls. Also to have a doll from your mother; sew extra special. Good luck with the dolls dresses. I do hope you will be feeling all better soon. Love the sharing of DA moments. Love, love, love that show.

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  5. Looks like you have a great start to your dolly projects! Feel better soon ....

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  6. What a happy, comforting post this was to read. Shirley and Anne Shirley are lucky gals to have you caring for them so lovingly. How neat to have your mom's doll. Piglet and his friends look so cute in a pile. The guy on the bottom is especially adorable. Am now wondering what his history is.
    I hope you are feeling better real soon.

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  7. I give you much credit for sewing such wee pieces! Hope you feel better soon.

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  8. Oh I do hope you're feeling better soon. You're mighty ambitious for one under the weather. Cute doll. Is that Anne Shirley as in Anne of Green Gables? I'm sure she is ever grateful for the lovely clothes. I didn't comment on your refrigerator cloth post only because it had never occurred to me before that my refrigerator even had a top. I hope I can be forgiven, for I had a cupboard installed that comes down to within the 3 inches from the top of the refrigerator and goes all the way from back to front. The 3 inches is to allow dust to accumulate. Now I suppose I have to go check it out. Your cleanliness is next to Godliness is making me feel guilty. Feel better soon! Isn't Downton going splendidly!!! xoxo

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  9. Hope you feel better soon. It's never nice to be "under the weather". ~ The yellow fabric is perfect for her dress. Looking forward to seeing your creation. I'll bet that your step-great grand girls will love having new doll clothes. I'm wondering. . .do they have baby dolls or is everything American Girl now?

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  10. Sorry you've been unwell. I completely sympathize!

    How interesting that your mother's doll is an Anne Shirley doll. That is very special, even if she is not in good shape.

    I have made doll clothes over the years and they are challenging. Same details as regular clothes in teeny tiny sizes! Oi!

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  11. Good morning! Well for me baby clothes can be "fiddly" enough without going even smaller. Sooo hard getting around those tiny seams, lol. You have my complete admiration on this project. Sorry you are under the weather...soo many nasty viruses going around. Hope you feel better soon and have a good week!

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  12. My mother used to make clothes for my dolls including my Barbies. I can't even imagine sewing such tiny items. Take care of yourself Vee. Spring is just around the corner.

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  13. Vee, your mother's Anne Shirley doll is so sweet! I imagine she is from Anne of Green Gables as Judy mentioned. You certainly have a lot of patience to sew such tiny outfits. I love the anchor buttons on your Shirley doll's dress. I do hope you are feeling better. So much illness seems to be circulating these days. Take care. ♥

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  14. Nice to see Shirley in some clothes. : )
    I had a doll called, Karen the Answer Doll. She had two buttons on her body. One made her head go up and down and the other side to side. My gramma crocheted clothes for her. Wish I still had that doll. My mom gave all my stuff away.
    Hope your feeling better soon.

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  15. I hope you feel well soon. I love the fabric that you chose for the dress, and I hope it works out. Hobby Lobby had all Simplicity patterns 99 cents last week. I wonder if it still going on? I picked up two barbie doll clothes patterns for my daughter, and saw that there were other dolls as well. I don't know if any would fit your doll. xoxo Su

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  16. An Anne Shirley doll -- so interesting! She must be, as others have speculated, THE Anne Shirley from Green Gables, right? What fun to make doll clothes. Over the years I've made many, some for Barbies and many for American Girls. I tend to take some shortcuts. Many of the older AG doll patterns call for Velcro, too, which definitely helps. I have plans to make some AG doll clothes for March and April birthdays, but we will see!

    Feel better soon, Vee!

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  17. So sorry you are feeling bad Vee. Me too finally got to take care of my UTI today. I don't care what you blog about I love your blog. This weather changes and such is enough to make anyone sick. Hubby has bronchitis. Perk up this week.

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  18. Aren't you having fun! I wouldn't have the patience for sewing or the talent to make small clothes. I think it is wonderful you still have those dolls. I am sorry that you aren't feeling very well and hope you will be on the mend soon. Have a good week ahead Vee.

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  19. Hi Vee~

    I'm so sorry that you aren't feeling well, I hope you get well very soon. There are a lot of bugs going around . . . tis' the season.

    I just love that you are making dresses and clothing for those sweet dolls. I don't thing we ever get over being a kid again, especially when the dolls are your own. I love the yellow fabric, and the adhesive spray will be just the ticket for holding those tiny pieces together.

    Get well soon!

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  20. Oh Vee, I do hope you'll be feeling better soon and up to more sewing. What sweet fabric for the dollies outfit. I hope you're right about everyone getting married off in DA. I'm pulling for Edith, and hoping that Bertie has a change of heart.

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  21. Hope you are feeling much better very soon! xx

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  22. Oh yes that quote about Edith and her dolls was really something. Poor dear Edith! That dainty fabric is very sweet. Shirley's hair is looking real nice! I do hope you are tip top very very soon.

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  23. We are coughing and carrying on over here. Sorry you've been under the weather as well. Piglet looks cute with everybody else!

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  24. Hello Vee, I hope you soon feel better. Your dollies remind me of my childhood, although I never had a Shirley doll of any sort. The yellow fabric is very pretty for a spring dress.

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  25. There were no Shirley dolls in my past either...though I had a doll that looked much like that. I wish I still had it...but all the sisters that came after me 'did her in'. :) I think you are having way too much over there...making a 'Shirley wardrobe'!

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  26. Oh, so sorry to hear that you're under the weather!! Hope you're soon back on your feet...or back at your sewing machine making doll clothes for these poor girls whose wardrobes need updating!

    Can Downton really be almost over? Sigh...

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  27. I'm sorry you've not been feeling good. You have given me ideas for the granddaughters for next Christmas.
    I do hope they all find happiness at Downton Abbey.

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  28. I'm sorry to hear you have been under the weather, Vee. I love the yellow fabric and think it will make an adorable dress. Looking forward to seeing your lovely creation! That line in DA that you were referring struck a chord in me too...poor Edith. I do see happiness in her future though. It was a wonderful episode...watched it again last night :)

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  29. Those tiny clothes aren't easy to make! The "girls" will certainly appreciate it, I'm sure. Nobody likes to wear the same thing years on end!

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  30. I love that little blue dress. I hope you feel better.

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  31. You have a lot of patience to be working on such small doll dresses, Vee! Dreading the end of Downton Abby, but it does seem like it will end on a happy note--I hope!

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