Over the past few days I have been frantically working on Christmas presents and the Embroidered Christmas Quilt. Work has temporarily stopped on hand quilting the Antique Album Quilt and piecing the Grandmother’s Flower Garden Star. It’s crunch time now.
Here are two new dresses for my sister’s Shirley Temple doll made from scraps of vintage organdy I purchased on ebay. The long party dress is made with a turquoise flocked dot fabric — the color is beautiful, it was nice and stiff, and the dots are raised on both sides of the fabric. The petticoat and lining are a pale sea green color. The sash ribbon is wired, which I thought might be weird, but the color was so perfect I bought it anyway, and I really like the way it turned out. My older sister, Sally, originally made Mary a party dress for Shirley from this pattern, but it’s looking pretty shabby after almost 50 years. Shirley deserved a new fancy dress . . . and I just realized I need to make a pink rose hairbow.
The second dress would probably also be considered a party dress, but it’s a little less formal. This fabric was a bit softer, so I used some liquid starch to give it a little more body. the lining/petticoat for this dress are made from a piece of vintage yellow cotton.
Now I need to find some shoes for Shirley — a black pair and a white pair. I managed to find a red pair when I made her other clothes, but red shoes are not looking good with these outfits. My plan is to make a wool coat and hat, as well as a Halloween dress that I am sort of making up. I just hope I manage to finish them (and the other presents I’m making, and the Embroidered Christmas Quilt) in time for Christmas.
Oh Martha, the dresses are wonderful, and the Shirley doll is so lovely.
Same here, I have a lot of other work and christmas gifts to make, so I have to neglect the hexagon quilt a bit. It´s a busy time of year!
I purchased a Shirley Temple doll a long time ago. She did not come with an original outfit. I ended up giving it to a doll collector friend of my SIL as a thank you for something nice that she did. I find it interesting that you are using vintage fabrics to make outfits for the doll. A nice Christmas present. I am not a doll collector but would have liked to be.
Beautiful dresses! I’m sure your handmade presents are going to be welcomed!
Those are BEAUTIFUL dresses Martha! I always enjoy seeing the detail you add to your projects, and on these dresses the ribbon and flower accents are PERFECT. What size shoe does Shirley wear? Is it possible to find original shoes for her or do you have to shop for new?
Martha, the party dresses you stitched for the doll are so beautiful! Your attention to detail is amazing! I hope you found the shoes you are looking for.
Happy holiday crafting 🙂
These are absolutely wonderful! I loved seeing your Shirley Temple doll (I had one and may still but if I do she’s packed away somewhere1)
Both are wonderful!
At last I’m allowed to look and see the Shirley Temple outfits online! The vintage fabrics are so beautiful and appropriate they look so adorable on her! She is proudly wearing the party dress at this moment and positively beaming as she gazes at the Christmas tree.