~ Toodles Escapes ~ Dress set for 13″ Little Darlings ~

Well, did you guess what might be happening in my pictures from a few days ago? I probably didn’t give you enough to go on, did I?
Yes, Isabelle let her pet parakeet, Toodles, escape from his cage and her mother was not very happy with her. Fortunately this time Toodles was a good boy and came back to Isabelle after just a short bout of being naughty!

Here’s the story in a nutshell using just pictures…

[If you click on any picture it will enlarge.]

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Get it?

Now here’s just a few extra pictures of Isabelle in her dress, just because I thought she looks so sweet!

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You can read all about what happened in the Ebay listing HERE.

One more thing… Joy, one of my readers, sent me this picture of herself with her pet parakeet, Pretty Boy. This picture was taken back in 1955 and she said it was the only known picture of her with Pretty Boy. What a couple of sweeties, don’t you agree? Thanks Joy!

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Well, that’s it for today. I worked for another 3 hours tonight on the yard sale and will be glad when it’s Sunday… That means it will be over!
It’s just so hot…that’s what makes it so miserable. We were sorting things in boxes down in the basement and I told Angel, “I’m about ready to lay down on this concrete floor!” The heat index was 97 when we were working! That’s just TOO hot to suit me.

Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

25 thoughts on “~ Toodles Escapes ~ Dress set for 13″ Little Darlings ~”

  1. The yard sale sounds like a huge project. I hope you take pictures for us. How hot is it supposed to be this weekend, during the sale? I know that yard sale people will brave any weather for a good sale, but I hope you won’t roast.
    Isabelle’s dress is perfect for her and the story is sweet. You have her posed perfectly. Where on earth did you find the parakeet, which exactly the right size?
    I’m so glad Joy sent her picture at exactly the right time for this post. There was one year when we wore cardigans like this backwards, buttoned down the back. I wonder if that was a local fad or if it was national. We felt very up-to-date wearing them that way. It was one more style that required a sister’s help getting dressed.

    1. HI Marilyn,
      The yard sale IS a big project… it seems like George and I usually end up as front runner helpers.. but there are some perks…getting to see everything first. We are praying that the rain that is forecast moves on to Sunday… we had enough of the rain at last years sale! :o(
      It’s pouring outside right now… so I hope it gets out of here soon… tomorrow we set up and then begin on Friday…
      I think I found Toodles at a farm store here in town…and I might go back and see if they have another one.. he just goes so cute with the story. If I do find another one, I might include it.
      I’ve heard from someone else about the sweaters being turned backwards and buttoned up. It must have been a fad… we’ll see if anyone else did it…
      Thanks Marilyn,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. What a darling story and pictures to boot! Isabelle looks so sweet and innocent, surely SHE had nothing to do with Tootles getting out!! Her outfit is adorable and the slip holds the dress out perfectly! Love the little purse too—things like that make your outfits stand out, Jeanne!
    Joy looked so cute in that picture with her pet parakeet! I had one too, Georgie, when I was a bout 12, but we have no pictures, sadly. People didn’t go around snapping pictures of everything like they do now! Georgie was green and yellow, but my sister had a blue and white one, and we each had them in our room, which we shared. So, two girls and two parakeets in the same room! We each had a cage to clean out and take care of. I still have a little bunch of Georgies’s feathers.

    Oh, you poor thing, to have to be working in this heat! Yesterday was terribly humid! I hope it gets better for you!

    Marilyn, I think I remember the sweater thing! Sounds crazy now, doesn’t it?

    1. HI Linda,
      Thanks for the compliments on Isabelle’s dress. I know it’s just a simple little thing, but it sure looks sweet on her in person. I think I’ve only had her in aqua once before… my mistake!

      Yes, isn’t that picture of Joy adorable… you can see the love she has for Pretty Boy! You and your sister must have had a lot of fun with your birds too…awww Georgie… :o) (I’ve got one of those!!!)
      I’m taking the day off today… we start setting up tomorrow… oh boy!

      Thanks Linda,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. Lovely photo shoot, Jeanne and dear story in photos. All’s well, and beautiful.

    Do take care in the heat/humidity. I went to college south of Springfield, IL…at one time I went to St Louis…it was so hot and humid there…so, you being even further south! I trust you are taking water breaks and have shade to work in.

    Thanks for taking time to talk to us, despite your busy days.

    1. HI Becky,
      I’m glad you enjoyed the story of Isabelle and Toodles and my pictures. Thanks so much!

      We have been working mostly in a garage sorting things and taking them to the basement to organize them in categories…(there was no room in the garage to keep them organized…) Tomorrow we’ll haul them up from the basement and set them on tables in the driveway and cover them up till Friday.
      Tomorrow’s heat index is supposed to be 105! I’m not looking forward to that! I’m ready to move the yard sale to April! :o)
      Thanks Becky,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. Isabelle looks darling in her summery dress and hat. I had two parakeets as a child, Susie was blue/white and Dickie was green/yellow. I then I had a Red Factor canary, Mandarin, when I was a teen. My little Yorkie use to like to listen to him sing He sang beautifully. Joy looks cute with her parakeet. They really are fun pets.
    My mom remembers the sweater thing with cardigans buttoned up the back as well for a few years, not as comfortable, but an in style item.
    I could not get my comment to post yesterday, even after three tries. It’s nice Magalie is painting the LD’s and the first one she sold was adorable. It is amazing how different only three sculpts can become, but, then again, I think my PC West German Felicity and PC German Samantha look different from my AG Caroline even though they are all classic molds. The German girls have a underglow to the vinyl, but I fell in love with Caroline’s unique eyes. I have a thing for the decal ones..:-)
    Are you getting the smiling face LD? I loved the one I saw on Cindy’s website.

    1. Thanks Laura,
      I think Isabelle looks sweet in her new summery dress too. I should do aqua for her more often. It’s really a pretty color on her.
      Lots of ladies on here had parakeets as pets when they were younger. I think we had one but it’s a vague memory and I couldn’t tell you a thing about the bird… but it seems like I do remember cleaning out the cage. I’ll have to ask my brother and sisters and see if they remember.
      Aha… so the sweater buttoned up backwards was a fad… :o)
      I’m not sure what is happening about the comments… I’m still having my webmaster work on it…
      No, my Little Darling is going to be a little brown eyed cutie… I have this thing for brown eyes I guess. Maybe I should have gotten a blue eyed one…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. Isabelle is so sweet looking in her adorable dress. I love the material and her hat is so cute. Her parakeet story is precious. You always have good stories, Jeanne!!
    My family had two parakeets. We came home from some function and found their cage door open and only feathers…our sweet little kitty was very bad that night.
    By the way, I had a pet turtle named “Toodles.”
    I love Joy’s picture. Joy you are too cute. Just seeing your picture makes me love that era even more. I noticed the rooster wall paper. My mom had some rooster decorations in her 50’s- 60’s kitchen too.
    And Becky, I know there are a lot of colleges south of Springfield, Il. It wouldn’t be Blackburn College in Carlinville, Il by any chance?
    And Jeanne, I was bidding on Felicity’s dress and I went higher on the bid according to what the bid was and Ebay interrupted and told me my bid was invalid? I would have been the highest over what the outfit went for. That Ebay reply has never happened before and I didn’t understand it. I was so stunned, my reaction made me miss that last few seconds of the bidding. I may not have won anyway depending on other hidden bids. I guess it just wasn’t meant for me to win. That’s okay. I know I will fall in love with your new outfits coming up. : )

    1. HI Paula,
      Thanks so much for your sweet compliments on Isabelle’s dress set. It was another fun set to do… thanks for liking my story too!
      Oh, what a naughty kitty you had…at least for that one day… Toodles the turtle… thats’ sweet!
      Joy mentioned the rooster wallpaper but I wanted to see if anyone else noticed it too… isn’t it sort of fun looking? I wonder if it was brightly colored?
      I know Blackburn College in Carlinville too, Paula…
      I went back and looked at the bidding history and my guess is the winner had a bid that was higher than yours that was placed earlier than yours. The bid that was placed earliest take precedence over the others. If your bid isn’t higher than the highest bid, you WILL get that invalid bid reply from ebay. I’m sorry you lost out on it, but as you said…there will be others.
      Thanks Paula,
      Have a wonderful Wednesday.
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. I don’t think little Isabelle could ever be naughty! The door simply must have come open. Love the dress and story.
    Here I thought you were just attending a sale, not putting on the sale. Should have known you would have been working on it. Perhaps, there is an old working fan in the piles of items that you might employ to cool off the workers tonight? Will the sale be held outside? Covered area in case of rain? Just thinking that buyers prefer cool shade and make more purchases then. Coming from a estate/garage sale veteran.
    Thanks for the nice comments on Pretty Boy from everyone. Doesn’t the old kitchen reek of 50’s. Rooster wallpaper and all. Great memories in a little two bedroom 1 bath house. Times were a lot different then. I can just imagine Linda’s two birds and cages in their bedroom. My husband had one too in his room. It’s name was Pig.

    1. HI Joy,
      I got interrupted when I got to your comments, so I had to wait until now to do them.
      I’m sure you might be right about Toodle’s door… it surely must have swung open on its own. I’m glad you liked the story line for this one…
      No, it was a big yard sale for Missions for our church. We put one on every year and it seems my hubby and I end up being some of the main people helping… There was no fan anywhere…believe me I looked… we just drank lots of ice cold water. The sale is usually outside with a few minor things under a shade tree… But…as it turns out we are going to cancel the yard sale for 2 weeks now. Rain and thunderstorms are predicted for the next 2-3 days and there really isn’t much point of going to so much work to have only a few people come to it… This is a MAJOR yard sale all done by donations. Last year we made $4300 and something for it. Every year it grows! The area knows about it and are very gracious in their giving. So we want it to be nice weather for it.
      I think the roosters wallpaper was neat looking… do you remember if it was brightly colored or was it in browns and maybe yellows?
      I think everyone enjoyed your picture of you and Pretty Boy! It was perfect timing when you shared it…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  7. What a cute picture of Joy! We didn’t take many photos “back then.” Glad you have it.
    The dress and accessories are just darling. For Laura: The smiling-faced doll on Cindy’s site is the happiest doll I’ve ever seen and made me smile. I’ll leave it up to my granddaughter Riya’s mother to decide which one. I think #1 of Magalie’s choices looks more like Riya.

    About your weather, Jeanne, I’m watching the Tour de France on NBCSN for three weeks and they are describing 75 degrees as being “hot” and it may melt part of the road in the Massif Central. All is relative. I’m afraid your weather will be much hotter this weekend, Jeanne, but hopefully not in the 90s. I watch it for the travelogue but have learned a lot about cycling.

    1. HI Susette,
      I’m so glad Joy sent me the picture of her and Pretty Boy…it was perfect timing for my blog post.
      It will be interesting to see if Riya’s mom picks a doll she loves the most or if she’ll pick one to look like Riya… I guess you’ll see …
      We have decided to postpone our yard sale for 2 weeks. It is SO much work and requires an enormous amount of work as it’s HUGE… and it’s just awful to think of the work you put in and then to be shortchanged by the weather… it’s not a nice thought. This will give us 2 extra weeks to sort and work on organizing things and maybe getting some bigger tarps for weather problems…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. Thank you all so much for the compliments on Lucy; she’s blushing like crazy right now. I fell in love with her the second I saw her on ebay. Helen sure created a darling of a Little Darling. I was SO happy (and lucky) to have won her in the auction!
    Joy, your photo with your parakeet is adorable. You were a cutie pie little one! I, too, love parakeets. I think I’ve always had at least one for the past 30 years. We have one now who loves our chihuahua, but the chihuahua snarls at him. Our delicate puppy must have gotten pecked at one too many times. If we leave the cage door open Daffodil comes and goes as he pleases; he seems to love his home.
    Jeanne, your photo story is charming. Toodles playing peek a boo under Isabelle’s hat is too cute! I love this summery ensemble you created for the Little Darlings. It reminds me of beautiful blue sky days in the garden. Hope you’re not too hot at the sale today.
    Everyone, have a nice day!

    1. Cindy, I just looked at your website today for the first time, and can’t get over how darling everything is! You are pretty darling too!!!

      1. HI Linda,
        Yes, doesn’t Cindy have a darling website… just filled with eye candy?
        Blessings, Jeanne

    2. HI Cindy,
      I’m glad everyone took a look at Lucy and said so many sweet things about her. She is probably the cutest one I’ve seen that’s smiling… I’m not a super huge fan of the smiling ones, but Lucy was the first one I actually liked… you really did get a nice little girl in her.
      I’ve loved hearing all the stories everyone has to tell about pets and things from the past… “the good ole days!” Daffodil…what a sweet name for your dear birdie…
      Well, our yardsale has been postponed as it’s supposed to rain for the next 3 days…and even have some thunderstorms. The yard sale is just way too much work to have the rain spoil it. It will keep for 2 more weeks and then we’ll try again… it gives us extra time to sort and organize more in the meantime…
      Thanks Cindy,
      Blessings, Jeanne

    3. Daffodil, how sweet! Wouldn’t a photo of chihuahua and Daffodil sitting nearby be cute? Maybe when little guy is sleeping.

    1. Thanks so much Shara,
      It was very fun to create this set for Isabelle… I’m glad you liked it…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  9. What an adorable ensemble, Jeanne! I just love the full skirt. It stands out so nicely, thanks to your pretty “ballerina” slip. Your story is enchanting, too! You know a story really works when you can tell it without words. Toodles wasn’t too naughty, as he didn’t venture very far. Isabelle looks like she’s enjoying the game with Toodles perched on her head!

    Joy is so cute with her pet parakeet! She and Pretty Boy look like the best of friends. Her photo brings back fond memories of growing up in the 50s. Hands up – how many ladies wore bangs like that when they were little girls? I did! I don’t remember wearing cardigans backwards back then, but I can tell you that here in Ohio, everyone is doing it now! From my hairdresser, to my daughter, to my neighbor’s grand-daughter, it has been a trend here for a couple of years.

    Susette, I don’t know if NBCSN was reporting live on location for the Tour de France, but perhaps the reference to 75 degrees was a centigrade temperature (the standard measure in France), which would be approximately 167 degrees Fahrenheit. That would indeed explain the potential to melt the road!

    Your work for the church yard sale will bless many, Jeanne, but do take care in the heat. Hope your sale sets a record!

    1. Thanks so much Anne,
      I’m really happy with the way Isabelle’s dress set turned out. I think this is only the 2nd dress I’ve made for her from aqua fabric.. I think it won’t be the last!
      Thanks for liking my story too… I thought it turned out pretty cute…

      I thought the same thing of Joy and Pretty Boy…. Best Friends…
      I had bangs like that… okay, who else?

      I don’t know about the weather in France, but it’s been super duper hot here… but alas… we are being poured on right this minute and it’s supposed to be rainy and thunderstorms are expected the next few days so the yard sale has been postponed for 2 weeks… we’ll try again then and the extra time will give up time to sort and do more organizing. It’s awful to think of being rained on like we were last year. It was pretty awful and lots of things got ruined. It will be better to wait… and give me time to recuperate! :o)
      Thanks Anne,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  10. Hi Jeanne! I just love this dress! Someone was a lucky bidder! So fresh…
    I do enjoy your blog posts, don’t always leave a comment. BUT! you did get a Dolltown Award on my hiyadolly.com post (July 9)! Pop over when you have a minute, or need a break! You are a busy lady I know. Hope your husband is okay…
    Hugs, Jano

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