Dolls! Trousseau Doll Boxes

I have been looking at doll boxes or trunks on some of the great doll blogs on the internet, and got inspired to try one of my own.  My Virga doll will be the first lucky recipient. Using Simplicity 2775, she will add to her trousseau with a wedding dress. I might do the petticoat, jumper and dress after that.

Here is the Virga doll's trousseau so far:

Some of the boxes I have looked at on the internet have dividers to make compartments for the doll and their outfits and accessories. They are made to look gorgeous with vintage style papers and lace or braid along the top of each compartment. Not sure I can do that with this box as it is in an old fashioned trunk style.

I could do it with this box which is for these two plastic baby dolls. What a pity I can't crotchet as they would make great subjects for outfits made this way.

Have a happy sewing and dollie week!



Dolls! Pretty Party Dress for my 1950's Virga Doll - Simplicity 2775

Here is my Virga doll in her pure silk tafetta party dress from pattern Simplicity 2775.  All the details about the dress are here.  I just love how you can style the tafetta so that is sticks out, exactly as it does in the drawing on the envelope cover.

I used vintage flowers from the 1950's, which gives the outfit added authenticity.

You might notice that the bodice is a bit low on her but I had so much trouble with the tulle straps. Even though I anchored the gathering threads, they still wanted to stretch out again. If I made this dress again, I would probably just use ribbon straps which would be just as nice.

I even made the bag which I think is so cute with it's ribbon handles.

Just for fun, here is an 'everyone in' photo of some of the dolls I have wearing pink, or close to it.

I like this pattern and I am thinking of making some of the other outfits from it and placing them and the doll in the box I have used as a background in these photos. I have seen some other people make these on the internet, and I think they look fantastic.

Happy sewing!

Dolls! Starting On My Virga Doll's Pretty Party Dress With Some Help From Nellie Bird.

Sewing has started on my Virga doll's pretty party dress. Nellie Bird, my latest acquisition from a doll auction I went to recently is such a fashionable little thing and has stepped in to help sew up the dress.

The box she came in is numbered 176 and has the following words printed on a silver label on the side 'Nellie Bird, Nellie Bird, Light the fires and feed the herd, Sweep the kitchen, bake the bread, You'll get through in time for bed'.  Sounds like she is a hard worker. And with that fashion sense, she should create a dream dress for the Virga doll.

Nellie is a Nancy Ann Story Book Doll and I think she was made in the 1940's. She is the frozen legs version.

Dolls! New Project : A Pretty Party Dress for my 1950's Virga Doll

I bought this darling doll from ebay several months ago, and she has only had her birthday suit to wear in all that time. So I thought I would make her an outfit and have chosen style B from Simplicity 2775 which is a reproduction of an old 1950's doll pattern. I will have to make sure it fits her as they do not list the dolls the pattern was made for.

According to the ebay seller and the photos in my Diane Zillner book 'Dolls & accessories of the 1950's' she is a Virga doll, although I can't see any markings on her. Virga dolls were make by Beehler Arts Ltd of New York City. The ebay seller said she has a mohair wig, and I really think it is as it definitely is not synthetic. I believe these dolls were made to get some of the market of the popular Vogue Ginny dolls, although Virga dolls were mostly not as well made. As I do not have a Ginny doll, I can't make a comparison for myself.

This is the pattern I am using, and I am making the yellow dress, style B. I am going to attempt to make the little bag as well.

I bought some soft shell pink taffeta from Tessuti's half price bin to make the dress and I already had the pink tulle. I will delve into my stash of vintage flowers to put on the dress.

This week I would like to thank Northstar62 and Serenata for becoming followers. Read about Peggy Sue, Owen and others on Serenata's blog which is linked to mine; How Many Dolls.

Happy Sewing Everyone!

Dolls! Madame Alexander Coquette Jacqui

Today I thought I would show you my Madame Alexander Coquette Jacqui doll. I think she was modelled on that famous first lady Jackie Kennedy. I love the sculpt of the face - I would like to know more about the talented people who sculpt these dolls for the large doll making companies. She is a little over 10 inches tall and I think that who ever sculpted her face has done an excellent job on a relatively small scale.

Photo from Wikipedia

I think there is some resemblance, don't you?

Her clothes are beautifully made; the dress is lined with a fine white cotton and has the Madame Alexander tag in it. The dress has fine pink piping in the skirt seams. The photo below shows the detail of the cardigan. The flowers she is holding didn't come with the doll but are vintage. According to the tag she was made in 2005 in a limited edition of 1000 dolls.

View of the dress

The only part that I do not think was well done are the shoes. They are chunky shaped but she does not have a chunky foot. I don't know why they made such ugly shoes.

These are the tags that she came with.

I have not worn my 'muumuu top' yet, but I left it on a hanger on the door of my wardrobe during the week and I have decided that I like it. I am just deciding which fabric I will use to make another top in the same style.

Hope you have enjoyed looking at this adorable doll and happy sewing everyone.