I hope you’ll be thrilled to learn that Ellowyne is up next!

I have two things to share with you today. Both of them are unfinished, but I’m still showing you. I have to… you might think I have forgotten how to sew! It’s been a few days since I was in my sewing room… life…you know! Anyway, I was able to get a dress started for my sweet Ellowyne. I got out my Ebay notebook and counted backwards marking down each doll I had sewn for since April of 2015. Ten Ping had the most dresses made…NINE! Next with the most was Patsy with SIX! Well, I did split up my Little Darlings… altogether Lian, Isabelle and Janie had ELEVEN between them. I guess they actually won. Well, somebody was a loser… not having a single dress made in that length of time… and that poor soul was my dearest Ellowyne. I didn’t go back to see WHEN the last dress was made for her… I just knew it was time for another.

So I did. I cut one out Monday night and started working on it. I’m not finished, but I’m going to go ahead and show you… It’s a pattern that I used before and loved how it fit Ellowyne. My fabric is a rayon so it’s pretty soft and drapey. I don’t have the snaps all the way sewn down the inside of the front and it’s not hemmed either. It sort of hung sideways because there were no snaps to hold it straight, so I put a little piece of netting around her hips to hold it out just a bit. It makes her look somewhat hippy but she’s not. I tied a silk ribbon in Ellowyne’s hair, but I’m not sure what I’ll be doing since I don’t have any hats that fit her size head. I wish I had tried one of my straw hats that I made for my Effner girls on her. A pretty little straw hat would look so cute, I think. I did have a pair of minty green shoes that picked up the green in her dress.

Okay, ready to see some pictures?

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Do you like it?

Okay, now for my second “unfinished” project… as you all know, I’ve just redone my sewing room… MAJORLY!!! It has been a work in progress…and I have a few things left to do before I’d call it finished and can show you the “finished” room. One of the things I wanted was a new cutting table. I sold my white melamine one with the table skirt around it on Craigslist. I bought this dresser in an auction here in town and it has this middle section that is lower, sort of like a vanity.

13 drawer dresser in oak

Well, I’m pretty sure it was my sister, Cindy, who thought of the idea of having a fold down table…sort of like how a Murphy bed folds down. The table part will sandwich between the two taller sections of the dresser and be attached to the wall by hinges. Then it will fold up as I’m going to use that same section for taking my pictures for my Ebay listings. My hubby cut the wood today and rounded the edges so I won’t bang into sharp corners. I have been spackling the “imperfections” on both sides of the wood. It’s a little bit closer to being done than it was yesterday!

Here’s a shot of what the wood piece looks like…It’s pretty big… 29″ wide by 40″ deep and 3/4″ thick.

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Well, that’s it for me today…

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

17 thoughts on “I hope you’ll be thrilled to learn that Ellowyne is up next!”

  1. Jeanne, what a trip down memory lane! My mother had what was called a hostess gown, made almost exactly like that in the early 50’s, for when you entertained! I immediately thought of that when I first saw the picture. Hers was also long, but I guess you will be making this shorter. It certainly has a 50’s vibe! Ellowyne is a beautiful doll, and I meant to mention that in previous blogs, but it didn’t get in. I also think a pretty straw hat would be just perfect! Perhaps she would be meeting friends for an afternoon at an outdoor dining spot.

    And so the makeover of your sewing room continues! Would you believe my hubby is making over his workbench and is using the same kind of wood? That’s a good size for cutting and will be nice when it gets done. How is going to stay upright when you aren’t using it? I know for a fact that is a heavy piece of wood, but I’m sure George has it figured out!

    1. Thank you Linda,
      I don’t know that I’ve ever heard of a hostess dress, but it was fun to read about it.
      Ellowyne’s dress calls for a 1″ hem but since it’s rayon I need to straighten it up a little bit, so I’m not sure what length it will end up.

      I’m planning to have some bracket like things on the wall and when the table is up it will be held in place with my rod across the board with the rod in the brackets. I hope it comes together like I’m hoping it will…
      Thanks Linda,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. Ellowyne was the lovely doll I was inquiring about in my comment yesterday. So she is three different dolls. Please let us know if one goes up on eBay. I saw a Wren doll go for $194 on eBay yesterday. I did order the American Girl book from Amazon. Thanks for the tip, Joy. I’m glad Ellowyne is up for a dress even though I don’t have that doll.

    The fold-down cutting table is exactly what I suggested in an email when I saw the lower level portion of the dresser except I suggested clear plastic. I’m sure wood is more practical. It occurred to me when I saw the glass cutting table in the post about the beautiful sewing and craft rooms. George probably had that in mind before I suggested it. It will be a wonderful setup.

    1. It would be neat to have fold-up sections covered in light fabric or paper to use as a light box in the recessed section of the dresser with lights set on the upper portion of the dresser. Have fun with it!

    2. Hi Susette,
      I sent you an email….check it out…
      I’m going to Sam’s on Friday and want to see if they have the book there. I also want t o check out Kohl’s to see if they have anything there…doll wise.
      I remember your email about the table…guess I missed answering that one…sorry…
      When I get my table set up I’d like to figure out the lighting…
      Thanks Susette,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. Ellowyne is such a pretty doll. I am not familiar with her but will now be…such pretty eyes.

    Her dress is lovely, I love the style as well as the fabric. Your romantic creations are so glorious to view each day. Perhaps Ellowyne should model the cover of any book you may do and strew flowers on the “path”…walking down memory lane…what pretty, pretty dresses/ensembles you make.

    Looking forward to seeing the cutting table creation. You are in a very creative family-so fun and inspiring to see what you all come up with each and every week! It’s a joy to read your blog.

    Blessings.

    1. Thank you Becky,
      I do love how Ellowyne can be posed…and yes, she is beautiful. There must be over 150 versions of her…just type in Ellowyne on Ebay and you’ll see many of the different looks she has.
      I can’t wait to get my table finished and try it out.
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. How funny. I was trying to remember where I had seen Ellowyne’s dress. As Linda mentioned, a 50’s hostess dress! Looks great on her. Love it. Now all she needs is a little cocktail apron and a tray of hors d’oeuvres.
    Your photo studio to be looks great. It will be so handy for you.
    I still can’t post to your blog from the other computer. Everything is the same. Name there etc. But, it never appears. Any ideas?

    1. Hi Joy,
      Thanks for your compliments on Ellowyne’s dress. A little apron would be cute…hmmmm..
      I have no idea why you wouldn’t be able to post from whatever device you wanted… maybe someone else will see this and have some ideas.
      Thank you Joy,
      Blessings, Jeanne

      1. Charlotte Trayer

        To add to Joy’s suggestion of an apron, it should be out of organdy or taffeta–something very dressy, as it’s “just for show”! And smallish, maybe with a bit of a ruffle around it (I’m thinking of a curved hem here, but if you made it rectangular, there could be a little ruffle across the bottom).

        I remember telling my husband recently about the different “levels” of aprons, from scrubbing-the-floors all the way up to pouring-tea-for-a-wedding, and he just couldn’t believe it!! But I remember….!! Mom had them all!

  5. I don’t know why but I don’t think I’ve ever seen the doll getting the next dress. Without looking at her name, I didn’t know how you spell it!
    Like Linda’s mother had a hostess dress, so did my mother. I remember it being a shimmery gray fabric with the open collar.
    I thought my mother was so glamorous in it. I vaguely remember several ladies all yakking at once- perhaps they were playing canasta?
    I’m sure your new cutting table will be do wonderful to use. Do we get to see pictures of it all once it’s done?

    1. Thank you Paula,
      It’s neat that several of you had moms who had a hostess dress… :o) what a fun memory!

      Of course I’ll share pics when I get it finished…hopefully soon. It will be fun to start my Christmas dresses with a totally revamped room!!
      Thanks Paula, Blessings, Jeanne

  6. Hi Jeanne,

    Ellowyne is an elegant fashionista, but then I am partial to Robert Tonner dolls! She must be fun to pose with so many points of articulation, adding to the realism. The floral fabric you chose is lovely, and I’ve always been fond of figure-flattering princess seams. If you can’t find a straw hat to fit, maybe you can make a little felt pillbox hat a la Jackie O. You are very clever with felt, and I think a flower-adorned pillbox (perhaps with a hint of netting) would be darling with the style of the dress. Whatever you choose, I know it will be perfect and Ellowyne will love her new Jeanne Marie original! 😉

    Your cutting table is coming along very nicely, Jeanne. Kudos to George on his woodworking skills! The table is a wonderful space-saving design and very versatile as a photo backdrop, too. I’m sure you are looking forward to its completion, and we can’t wait to see updates of your new studio!

    Excitedly awaiting tomorrow’s post, Jeanne. The thrill of opening your blog every day is a little bit like the surprise of Christmas! Happy Wednesday!

    1. Hi Anne,
      Yes, that’s what Ellowyne is called …a 19 year old fashionista! Sometimes I have a hard time sewing for her because I’m used to sewing for little girls and Ellowyne is far from a little girl.

      I’ll have to check out some hats and see what I want to do. I think I’ll know it when I see it.

      I’m very excited to see how my new sewing table is going to work out…and yes…there will be a new sewing studio reveal…
      Thank you Anne,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  7. Ellowynne is so pretty in her new dress, and like Anne, I was thinking of a 50’s retro vibe with a little pillbox hat. I’m anxious to see what you do with the dresser–you do need a cutting table, so that would work well.

    1. Thank you Carolyn,
      I’m going to have to check out some hats to see what I can come up with.
      My new cutting table can’t get finished soon enough for me…
      Thanks Carolyn,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. Charlotte Trayer

    I love Ellowyne’s new dress–it just suits her so well!!

    My mom never had a “hostess dress”–after all, she was a pastor’s wife, plus in a small farming community, I don’t think anyone did!. She had housedresses, and “good” dresses, and a suit or two, and probably one “dressy” dress to wear, say, to a wedding (although she was usually playing the organ, so maybe not).

    Then there were aprons. See my note added on to Joy’s comment above! (I have quite a few of my own, too.)

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