Yellow Silk Brocade Cocktail for Gene

 

Sold.  Thanks!

I'm not even sure which Gene this is as I bought her nude because I really liked her hair.  So I dressed her in fine silks for cocktails.  The sheath dress is yellow silk charmeuse with a self belt with a sparkly rhinestone buckle.  The coat is a reproduction of a vintage design of gorgeous silk brocade fabric from Frenchfashions.net and also features rhinestone buttons.  The coat does close with a hook and thread loop if desired.  The dress has a snap back closure.  All are fully lined in silk/cotton.  I made a little turquoise lambskin envelope clutch with a rhinestone embellishment just to give it a pop of color.  The outfit also fits Poppy Parker and Tulabelle dolls.  I just acquired my first Tulabelle so she was able to model for me.  The set is available for $140.00 plus $6.00 shipping in the US.  Email nwickman@chartermi.net.  

 

Blue Checked Dress and Bolero

 

Here's one I forgot to post.  I originally made the little bolero to go with the Norell dress but it didn't need it.  So I made a simple sheath dress out of the same checked cotton lawn material, added a matching bow to the bolero, and created a little hat of the same fabric.  The sheath and bolero are fully lined in silk/cotton.  The bolero closes with a hook and thread loop, and the dress with snaps in the back.  The hat is wired inside to shape to the head.  The sheath, bolero and hat are available for $85.00 plus $6.00 shipping to the US.  

One for the scrap heap

 

I haven't felt much like sewing lately.  I do have a chronic auto-immune disease that has me feeling pretty much out of gas lately and there is probably a surgery in my future that will help a lot.  But I have been messing around drafting new patterns, probably a dozen at least.  So I had a burst of energy yesterday and decided to try one.  This just shows that things that work on paper don't always work in real life.  It should have worked but the dart points are too high, the waist is too short, and it won't close in the back.  This after spending several hours and setting in four sleeves.  Oh, well.  Thank goodness I didn't cut out a skirt.   The question now is do I like it enough to want to do it again.  I still like the idea but I don't think it works with this cotton fabric.  It's a tad too heavy for the gathers.  There is a perfect fabric for it though--the peace silk sold by annegeorges.com  

Update On Green Plaid Dior Repro

 

I was always ambivalent about the proportions of this outfit, specifically the length of the jacket.  Finally, it bothered me enough that I took it apart and shortened it.  I also added the topstitching around the jacket as the original has.  I originally left it off because my thread wasn't a great match so I ordered some to match.  In case you're wondering why I don't just go to Joann and get thread, my preference for sewing doll clothes is 60 weight thread.  It just looks less clunky on some fabrics.  I use Mettler 60 weight silk finish cotton that I order from Uncommonthread.com.  I'm much happier with the jacket now.  I'll post the inspiration pic at the end and you can judge for yourself.  Still available.  Contact me at nwickman@chartermi.net.  

Garden Party Linen Floral Dress for Gene

 

SOLD Thanks!  A shawl-collared garden party dress inspired by a vintage design made from a gorgeous super lightweight linen in a watercolor floral print.  It features a tiny pink faux leather belt with a gold buckle and pearl "buttons" down the front.  The dress actually closes with snaps in the back.  It comes with a separate tulle petticoat.  

Dress and petticoat are available for $115.00 plus $6.00 shipping in the US.  Email nwickman@chartermi.net.  

Green Plaid Dior for Gene

 

I believe I bought this absolutely weightless green silk plaid from Silks Unlimited with no idea what I was going to do with it, as usual.  The inspiration for this came from an illustration of a Dior design that a client sent me but then decided on something different.  It looked like the original had some kind of solid color sheer drape at the neck which I couldn't recreate.  But after finishing the dress, I decided it did need something at the neck so I handstitched a drape of sorts to it.  The only thing matching that I had for the shawl-collared jacket was some peppered cotton.  I did try to topstitch the jacket as in the illustration but because my thread wasn't an exact match, it didn't look good so I took it out.  Lacking that detail, I decided to put some pocket welts on it.  Got them made up and pressed and left them on my cutting mat.  When I went back for them, they had disappeared.  After crawling around on the floor with a flashlight for a while, I remembered that I had disposed of some scraps left over from cutting out the hat.  Sure enough, I found the flaps in the trash can--undamaged.  

The dress and jacket is lined in light green silk/cotton.  The belt is black faux leather with a black buckle and the coolie hat is the green cotton lined with the plaid silk.  Outfit is available for $140.00 plus $6.00 shipping in the US.  Email nwickman@chartermi.net

Norman Norell Repro for Gene

 

SOLD Thanks!

This is my version of a Norman Norell 1955 dress that resides in the Met Museum.  I can't post the inspiration pics because of copyrights but I can give you the link to see the original.  https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/159441   Since the pics can't be enlarged, it was hard to see the details but this is the way I imagined them.  The original was made in silk but I had this tiny checked cotton lawn that is so nice it has a very silky feel to it.  The back detail is adorable with the straps ending with a bow.  

The dress is available for $85.00 plus $6.00 shipping in the US.  Email nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

I couldn't sleep Friday night so I got up and sewed up this little jacket because the fabric coordinates with the check so well.  But I don't think this dress needs it and I have another idea for using this jacket with the checked fabric in another outfit so maybe that's my project for today.

Vintage Inspired Ruffled Party Dress

 

The inspiration for this flirty dress came from a vintage pattern book circa 1960, I think.  Scroll to the end for the inspiration picture.  The illustration seems to represent a satin fabric but I wanted to try this out first in a less challenging fabric so I used a floral printed ramie and it turned out so fun.  Instead of the flowers at the hip, I wanted a fun giant bow.  The dress is fully lined in a light lavender silk/cotton voile and closes with snaps in the back.   Although it's snug in the hips, this dress also fits 16" FR Poppy Parker or Tulabelle.  

Dress is available for $105.00 plus $6.00 shipping in the US.  Email nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.