Sorry about the technical problems…and a new reticule…

If you’ve been trying to read my blog yesterday or today, you may have found it was offline more than online… Let me tell you, you weren’t the only ones frustrated. You should be the “administrator” of a website and not be able to navigate it…very frustrating! I was on the phone with Tech Support for my server so much I had them on speed dial! :o)
The whole deal started when I found out I needed to add a plugin (a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer program.) When I called about getting the plugin added in, they discovered I needed something to make my blog more secure for my subscribers. I want to add an online store eventually and want it to be as safe as possible so I decided to go ahead and add the extra security. It was supposed to be activated in the middle of the night, but when I woke up this morning it was still messed up. I called several times and they did a little bit each time. Then I had to wait for 4 hours for it to be activated again… when it came back on, it looked nothing like my website… the writing was teeny tiny and the banner at the top had all the words piled on top of each other. I was just sick. So I called again and this time the guy stayed on the phone with me until it was all straightened out. I THINK and pray that it’s all over now. I sure hope so… for my sake and yours!

I wanted to let you know… if you missed the blog post from yesterday (or any other day) and wanted to see what it was, all you have to do is click on the word BLOG underneath the banner with “I Dream of Jeanne Marie” on it. That will pull up the current blog and if you scroll down it will show you yesterday’s blog with the comments and then underneath that one will be the one from the day before, etc…

Okay… new subject!

I wanted to let you know I did get Elizabeth’s new Regency dress all finished and listed on eBay this evening. You can see it HERE or you can click on the picture of it at the right side bar. If you check out the listing you’ll see I made another reticule for her. Some of the pictures turned out pretty nice when I took them last night, so I went ahead and used them, but when I made the new reticule, I added some pictures of her with it…

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I googled Regency reticule’s and then looked at some images… and the majority of them were sort of diamond shaped or rounded on the corners. Well, that’s all it took for me to decide I wanted to try again… and I also have this thing with things being symmetrical… I wanted both sides of her purse front to match. So… I came up with a new design and it closes better too. I ran one strand of my silk ribbon so it came out one side of the purse and then I threaded the second handle so it came out the other side of the purse. It pulls up very nicely now and stays shut. I like the looks of it better too.

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Here is the square one…

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Is it just me, or don’t you all like the diamond shaped one better?

Okay, let’s see what else on this Saturday morning…One of my subscribers, Linda, has been working on a church dress for Felicity and she got it all finished. I’m so proud of her for sticking with it… because it was no easy task. She picked a hard fabric to work with… a slippery satiny fabric. She sent me some pictures of the dress and I hope they are right side up when you see them. They were sideways when she sent them to me, but I rotated them and hope they are right for you to see this sweet dress on Felicity. I love the hat she chose to put with the dress too.

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Isn’t it darling?

Well, I’ve been sitting at this computer long enough today and need to get to bed. I have to make a cake tomorrow for a baby shower and put the finishing touches on a game we are playing, plus round up all my baby decorations… Busy Saturday for me… I hope you have a good one!

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

24 thoughts on “Sorry about the technical problems…and a new reticule…”

  1. Everything is right with the world now, Jeanne Marie’s blog is in my mailbox again!! It really worried me that you didn’t have a blog yesterday, that I got hold of Laura and bothered her all day wondering what was going on! Sorry about that, Laura!

    Oh, I do like the second reticule better too! I think the shape is more elegant, and I love the way you embellished it. I thought the squarish look of the first one made it look more informal, and this is a very formal dress. Love it!

    Oh gosh, you have Felicity’s dress featured today!! Thank you very much! I know the background is a bit busy to really show off the dress properly, but that’s where she stands, and I’m for sure not selling the dress! It is NOT up to Jeanne Marie standards, for sure! I guess it looks OK in pictures, but it’s a good thing you are in Carbondale and I am in St. Louis!!

    1. Oh, Linda, that’s no problem. I enjoyed chattering with you and I’m glad you introduced yourself to me over on AGPT months ago. It’s nice to know someone in two places.
      Felicity looks stunning in brown! I see you embellished Elizabeth Riding Habit hat for her. Very pretty!

    2. Hi Linda,
      Yes, everything’s right again… even my ipad that was messed up ever since I took that blog class and the instructor deleted a few things on my website, is straightened up now. Ever since I met that lady and she did those things, all my pictures were random sizes…sometimes when I opened up my ipad the pictures were 1 inch by 1 inch, some were 3 x 3 and some were the full size as the width of the ipad… all in the same post, but NOW… miraculously, they are all the full size and just like they were when I started my blog! YAY… it was worth the few days troubles just for this change alone!

      I like the second reticule much better too… I should have googled it first… I’ll know next time to do that.

      Linda, you are too hard on yourself… it’s fine and I think it looks wonderful on Felicity! She looks very nice in the brown… try another one…only not in satin this time!

      I’m glad you and Laura got to chatting with each other and enjoyed yourselves… I should be here every day unless I’m out of power or something equally as bad… :o)
      Thanks Linda,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. What a lovely dress Linda made for Felicity. Thanks for sharing it.

    I like the new reticule even better. It’s a great thing to make with handkerchiefs. It is such a beautiful ensemble. Were the heirloom laces you bought in Paducah vintage or reproductions? I can’t seem to find River Silks ribbons in other than large sets on Amazon or eBay. I haven’t seen them in the stores here to buy individual colors. Any suggestions for where to find them or do I have to wait for the next quilt show?

    1. Thank you Susette,
      Yes, Linda’s dress is nice, isn’t it? I always like to share what others have made… and need to check my emails to make sure I haven’t overlooked anyone. I’m sure I probably have…

      The laces I bought were new laces… but I’m always on the hunt for vintage ones…. for my “older” girls… you know… Civil War and Colonial things…

      If you type in Silk Ribbon on Ebay you can find some in assorted colors for a pretty good price. Look for the ones that have long strands hanging down in the pictures. There are all different brands of silk ribbons…it doesn’t have to be River Silks… that’s just the brand that Quilter’s Alley carries…
      Thanks so much Susette,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. Jeanne, your dress and Linda’s dress are both beautiful. I too prefer the diamond shaped reticule that you came up with….just so pretty.

    I’m sorry you had to have so many challenges with your site. But, it does look like all is well from my viewpoint. Thanks for sticking with us!

    Take care.

    1. HI Becky,
      Thanks for the compliments to me and Linda for our dresses! We both appreciate them, don’t we Linda?
      Yes, it was a couple of challenging days, but hopefully all is behind us now! It’s going to take more than some computer glitches to get to stop writing to you all…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. Technology! We’ve become joined at the hip and get out of sorts when it doesn’t work the way it should! I’m glad you have tech support to get you all up and running again.

    I LOVE the new riticule shape! It is so pretty, and the added flower and bead embellishments are perfect! Good luck with your sale!

    Linda, you did an awesome job on Felicity’s church dress. Satin is very difficult to sew with, and you conquered it like a pro! Great job!!

    1. HI Karen,
      Like I always say about computers and phones and techy things.. I know just enough to get me in trouble. The problems I had were WAY beyond my scope of figuring out. I’d love to take a class on “troubleshooting” and actually learn something…

      I’m glad everyone is liking the new reticule this time… I do too…

      Thanks so much Karen,
      Linda and I are appreciative of your sweet comments about our dresses.
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. Hello Jeanne,

    I was really worried yesterday when I didn’t see a notification for your blog post in my email! I finally Googled you and was taken to your post. I’m glad all is well now!

    I read somewhere else that the AG dolls out today are smaller than their older Pleasant Company sisters and that made it hard to sew for them with todays patterns. Have you found that to be true?

    PS- The pictures of Linda’s Felicity are sideways…I’m on a PC desk top.

    1. HI Jane,
      I’m back up and running and it seems like everything is in order now… I’m so happy!

      Yes, the AG dolls made today ARE smaller in the body than the older Pleasant Company ones… and even smaller than some of the first Mattel ones that came out. Whenever I’m making a dress for a doll that has been retired, like a Felicity doll or an Elizabeth doll, I use my Elizabeth doll for trying the dress on, as she’s my fattest bodied doll I have. My Kirsten is pretty fat too. I figure if it fits them, it will fit most anyone’s doll. If it’s something that can have a belt to cinch up any fabric I put a belt on it too.

      I’m sorry Linda’s pictures are sideways on your desk top. They are straight up on my desk top… strange isn’t it?
      Thanks for your thoughts Jane,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. Glad you got all the things running correctly on your blog site. It is so aggravating when the computers act up or don’t act at all. Mine stalled all the time…I couldn’t close it to even get myself out of it. Our computer guy had to come several times before it was fixed. Anyway, glad we got you back.

    Linda, your dress for Felicity is very pretty. I love the lace you used and the brown material is luscious. I admire all of you who sew. What a talent to have. Beautiful outfit.

    Jeanne, the new riticule is more appealing. So sweet and just what Elizabeth needs to carry her needful things!

    1. Hi Paula,
      I know you were having computer problems and you are so right… it is one of the most aggravating things you can deal with. My problem is, I’m pretty much helpless when I comes to trying to figure out what is wrong. I’m glad I got some nice guys to talk to when I called my server…

      I’m with you… I think Linda did a wonderful job on her doll dress. Someday maybe YOU can make a dress Paula… I’m sure you could…

      Thanks for the compliments on Elizabeth’s new reticule! Wonder what they did carry in their reticule’s? hmmmm…
      Thanks so much,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  7. Good morning, Jeanne,
    I’m glad you were able to get the technical problems solved. I’ve worked from home for years for my dad doing the payroll and books and there have been days that I wanted to hurl the computer through the window especially when it crashed and lost six months of work!
    Both reticules are lovely, buy, yes, I prefer the diamond one as well. It was more the style. I believe the square was more Colonial era. The beadwork and ribbon embroidery are so pretty. That’s the great thing about dolls, we can dress them in all the fashions we wish were the fashion still.
    Linda, your Felicity looks beautiful in her brown church dress. I think PC/AG missed some really stunning colors they could have used. That’s why you and others make them. I applaud Linda for finishing it. Felicity looks so elegant.

    1. HI Laura,
      I bet you did want to shoot the computer after all your work was lost… so sorry that happened to you! UGH!
      The reticule was fun to see pictures of and decide how I wanted mine to be.. lots of choices…
      Thank goodness for google!
      Yes, I applaud Linda too, for sticking with it and getting Felicity’s dress finished. I’m sure Felicity is the happiest of all!
      Thanks Laura,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. Linda, Felicity looks lovely in her new dress. Her green eyes sparkle.
    Both reticule’s (from where did that name come?) are lovely. I couldn’t choose.
    Hope you get a pic of your baby shower cake to share with us.
    Don’t work too hard today, you need a bit of a break.

      1. HI Joy,
        I’m going to look at your link on the reticule and see what I can learn!
        …and yes, you’ll see the baby shower cake… tomorrow…
        I did work hard, but it was fun too… :o)
        Thanks Joy,
        Blessings, Jeanne

  9. I looked up reticule on Wikipedia:
    Early modern Europeans wore purses for one sole purpose: to carry coins. Purses were made of soft fabric or leather and were worn by men as often as ladies; the Scottish sporran is a survival of this custom. In the 17th century, young girls were taught embroidery as a necessary skill for marriage; this also helped them make very beautiful handbags.[7] By the late 18th century, fashions in Europe were moving towards a slender shape for these accessories, inspired by the silhouettes of Ancient Greece and Rome. Women wanted purses that would not be bulky or untidy in appearance, so reticules were designed. Reticules were made of fine fabrics like silk and velvet, carried with wrist straps. First becoming popular in France, they crossed over into Britain, where they became known as “indispensables.”[8] Men, however, did not adopt the trend. They used purses and pockets, which became popular in men’s trousers.[9]

    Joy wondered where the name reticule came from. It looks like it’s French — I wondered what it meant in French — so — off to Merriam-Webster: French rĂ©ticule, from Latin reticulum small net, mesh bag, from diminutive of rete net (first known use 1738)

    And that means that the mesh quality of of the drawn thread handkerchief could not be more appropriate.

    Now I’m going to go put this on my Ebay watch list.

    1. Thank you sister Marilyn. You are a seuth!
      I saw the telescope and thought how can that become a bag? Wierdness abounds eh?
      đŸ™‚

    2. Ah… my “researcher” has made her mark again on my blog… it’s amazing how the reticule has carried down from age to age. I wonder if the fanny pack has any roots to the reticule…I know it’s not worn on the wrist, but change one letter and you have w “a” ist …who knew?
      Thanks so much for our daily lesson, Miss Marilyn!
      Blessings, Jeanne

  10. I got interested in the reticule question and looked it up on Wikipedia. Perhaps its origin is from the network of spider webs used to delineate the positions in a telescope. Reticle is used in medical terms to indicate a network which would tie in with the original reticules which were made of woven nets and only later of fabric. One of the illustrations pretty far down takes the shape of a woman’s reticule.

    1. This is my final comment. A spiders web!! That’s it. The pattern probably followed by those with no other patterns. Amazing! Love it.

      1. HI Susette and Joy,
        Who would have thought my reticule could have brought so many comments from you all? It’s all pretty interesting… thanks for enlightening us…
        Blessings, Jeanne

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