Well, that certainly was fun for me…seeing which dress you thought I might like best from my 4th of July dresses. But what was more fun for me was seeing which ones you all liked the best. Everyone likes different ones for different reasons. Some of you almost guessed right…but a few were “spot on!” I had 6 ladies who commented or emailed me and picked the one I would have chosen…It was Lian’s dress. I had a lot of fun making that one and always think of it when I think of patriotic dresses. I put the ladies names in a drawing…
and drew out a winner… 
Congratulations, Susette! I’ll get your prize out right away…
I did a post on Lian’s dress and the making of it on June 19, 2015 and called it “Minnie and Me in Red, White and Blue.” I’ll copy it here so you can see how I did it… everyone always asks me about those stars.
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I did it! I got a Fourth of July dress made for one of my dolls! I’m thrilled and hope you will be too!
Every so often I do a set with one of my “mini” Minnie Mouses and I decided to put her with this very patriotic dress set for the Dianna Effner, 13″ Little Darling dolls. It was so much fun creating this one but it took me f-o-r-e-v-e-r to decide how to do the “flag” design on the bodice. I’m serious…we’re probably talking 2 1/2 hours trying different ways with the buttons… a firework exploding, a flag straight across, a conglomeration of the various sized stars, a star using the stars, a spray with the stars, random stars just dropped on the bodice. I even got Rebecca involved in helping me figure it out. I should have taken pictures of all the various ways I tried them. In the end, this is what I ended up with. 28 buttons…yes…count them…t-w-e-n-t-y e-i-g-h-t! I hope I got it right! I think I did!
When I finally decided to put the stars across the bodice in rows like a flag, I had to figure out some way to make them straight. It was too tedious to stitch them on freehand and get them even. I decided to run a row of basting stitches across the bodice in a wavy pattern parallel to each other…then I sewed them on just above the stitching line. When I was done I gently removed the basting stitches. I think it’s pretty cute.
The bodice is made from the vintage navy dotted Swiss fabric that I got at the yard sale. It’s nice and soft and is lined with white fabric on the inside. The buttons on the bodice were actually an afterthought, so the threads do show on the inside, if that matters to you. I tried to be as neat as possible though. Tiny red buttons close the back and are covering hidden snaps.
Lian’s skirt is made from a red and white striped cotton and white eyelet peeks out from underneath the hem.
A little tam was what Lian wanted to wear with this set…I like it cocked a little bit sideways, don’t you?
The tiniest little Minnie Mouse is being clutched very tightly by Lian…it’s my last red one and I’m SO sad!
Don’t you think YOUR doll needs this for her 4th of July dress?
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
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So that was the post about Lian’s dress. I hope you enjoyed it a second time… :o)
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow! I’m thrilled to have won. I love Lian and this dress. I’m going to use the gift from Jeanne to inspire some more sewing. I have to admit that I got somewhat discouraged with my sewing when I got my Little Darling Riya doll. The stitches were so tiny and perfect on the outfit she came in that I felt my own sewing didn’t match up. But then yesterday I remembered sewing the matching dresses for Riya, Molly and Ten Ping and maybe I didn’t do too badly. I can’t wait for the mail to arrive. Thanks, Jeanne.
Thanks also for showing us how to do the stars. You are so creative and resourceful. So many different techniques and solutions! My first reaction was to bid on the dress, but then I remembered this was a retrospective! Thanks for thinking of us and posting when you are tending to so many things. Take care.
Hi Susette and again, congratulations on winning. I just mailed off your “prize!” I’ll keep it a secret until you get it!
Please don’t be so hard on yourself… insecurities come…even for someone who sews as much as I do! I see something spectacular and I find myself scrutinizing the outfit, trying to figure out how they did this and what did they use for that…just learn from anything that challenges you! If you enjoy what you do, it won’t be work, but fun and play!!!
Blessings, Jeanne
Congrats to Susette. She/you made a good choice in what is a favorite.
Thanks for including us in on all of your pretty “patriotic” dresses, Jeanne. I know your life is busy but you are so kind to include us most days in on what goes on. You are a true friend.
Blessings.
Hi Becky,
Even when life is busy and sometimes uncertain, I still find myself on my sewing room. It’s not “who” I am necessarily, but “what” I enjoy doing!
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Congrats, Susette!! You are the lucky one this time around and I’m very happy about that! I was thinking to myself, wow, Susette is going to love getting this dress for her Riya doll, then remembered it was something you already sold, Jeanne. I do and did love that dress, and can understand why it was a favorite of yours. I love the simplicity of it, and that, of course means that it has to be sewn perfectly—-which it was!
I echo Susette in saying thank you for thinking of us and posting when you have so many things to tend to. You are just about the sweetest person I happen to know, and so unselfish too!
Awww, Linda, Thank you for your sweet comments. I just love to see and sharing what I love makes doing this blog fun for me. I’m glad you enjoy it that much.
I love fancy things as much as the next guy, but sometimes it’s fun to see if you can do something really simple but get heads to turn. That’s a challenge I love!
Thanks again Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Congratulations, Susette!!
Hi Charlotte,
Thanks for being a kind sport and congratulating Susette! Someday you’ll be a winner… :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Congratulations Suzette ! Jeanne’s prizes are always so neat. We are lucky girls.
Lian’s dress post was fun to read again. The wave of the flag is so genius on the bodice and the whole design is a good patriotic balance the way Jeanne designed it.
Thank you also for writing such a fun and wonderful blog. We know you’re a busy gal with many things going on, so we appreciate them and YOU!!
Thank you Paula,
I wish I had gotten at least one Patriotic dress made this year. 😮 ( I can only look for ward to next year I guess.
I’m so glad you enjoy the blog posts too, Paula. In just a little bit I’ll be celwbrating my 3rd year anniversary! It doesn’t seem possible.
Thank you for your kind words, Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
A surprise prize! Congrats Susette.
Thank you Jeanne for providing the fun.
Such a busy week before the 4th. Almost like the December holidays.
I’m about to finish up a little outfit for the LD’s and trying to figure out pleats. Haven’t done them in years.
Thinking of you.
Hi Joy,
Yes, it is a busy week and mine is only getting busier… I’m baking a cake right now for Bithar’s hubby. Today is his birthday.
Did you get those pleats figured out? Hope so…
Blessings, Jeanne
Like Susette, I wanted to bid on the dress. I’m so glad you showed us the post about it. I hadn’t noticed that the middle star on the hat was larger, and only this time did I pay attention to the way the star were sewed on. Notice that the holes in the stars are lined up to follow the overall swoop. Once again, it’s Jeanne paying attention to details.
Congratulations, Susette, on your surprise prize.
Jeanne, what did you have for supper? You said someone was bringing it. What did they bring?
Thank you Marilyn, for noticing all the little details on my dresses….and hats!
Fortunately, the stars were all molded the exact same way so when I lined up the holes in them, I knew they’d be straight.
What was for dinner?
Our friends from Korea brought over Bolgogi and rice. It’s a beef dish that is just slightly sweet but loaded with garlic. It’s a good thing we “both” ate it, or there would have been no good night kisses between us! :o)
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Loved Lians dress and especially the pics on how to do the buttons so they are straight.
Lucky Suzette…Congratulations!
It’s not hard to see why Lian’s was your favorite…and that Minnie…honestly it is adorable too.
Thanks for keeping us interested in new and old creations.
Hi Kathie,
I wish I had gone to every store and bought up all the little Minnie Mouse dolls back when they first came out. They truly are the cutest things ever.
It’s a good thing I have some “old” things to fall back on occasionally.
Thank you Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Congratulations, Susette, for your “prize-winning” vote! Please do share pictures of how your “surprise prize” inspires your sewing. “Inquiring minds want to know!”
Lian’s striking “All American” ensemble has always been a favorite of mine, Jeanne. Now I know it’s your patriotic favorite, too, and we can definitely see why. The love you put into designing it certainly shows, as the overall effect of this spirited red, white, and blue star-spangled creation is so festive and charming.
Thanks again for another fun contest, Jeanne, and congratulations to you, too, on your superpatriotic, one-of-a-kind work of art. Your talents are always inspiring, and Lian’s ensemble is an inspiration of celebration!
Thank you Anne,
I’m glad you enjoyed the contest. ..and glad YOU liked Lian’s dress too! Should have stuck with “your” favorite…then you could have been in the running!
I’m glad you are part of my little blog family too…thank you for your compliments.
I got your email but just haven’t answered it…
Blessings, Jeanne