Category Archives: Ruby Red Fashion Friend

Spring Sewing for Bella

My Ruby Red Fashion Friend Bella has a new spring ensemble to show you. Even if the weather is not cooperating I am still developing spring fever. I love spring!!!

Hello to you! I hope you have had a very nice week. This past week I managed to spend quite a few mornings in my sewing room which made me very happy. I finished up a spring ensemble for Patience and made a new dress for my Boneka Rose doll. So, Patience is ‘patiently’ waiting for her photo shoot and Rose is waiting for me to embroider her cardigan and then complete the rest of the pieces for her new spring ensemble.

But, today it is all about Bella. I finished “Delicate Flower” a couple of weeks ago. Since then Bella has been modeling it in the sewing room and making all the other girls quite envious. I think she looks pretty darned cute–that sweet face…*sigh*

The rose print I chose for Bella’s dress depicts floral motifs with roses in warm pinks and lavender colored blossoms sprinkled here and there on a very pastel mint green ground. A coordinating rayon ribbon ties around the dress’s waist. The same ribbon is turned into two billowy hair ribbons which tie in place using crocheted ties. The dress’s skirt is embellished with fine cotton lace snugged underneath a tuck. The dress is completely lined with cotton lawn. All raw edges are encased within the lining and dress fabric.

Bella’s cozy cardigan is made with very soft merino wool which I hand dyed to a tonal pink. It features ribbed edgings and glass pearl beads for the buttons. I embroidered floral motifs to coordinate with the dress print.

Bella’s anklets are made with off white cotton knit. Her fresh water pearl bracelet is strung on stretchy jewelry cord with a matching pink heart dangle. The tiny wicker basket is embellished with a bow (hand sewn) made with the cardigan’s yarn. Three colors of blossoms are tucked inside. All are loose and can be rearranged in the basket or given to Bella to hold.

So, spring has begun in my sewing room and the girls are very excited. I think they chat amongst themselves wondering who will be next to receive something new to wear. So far, it is Bella, Patience, and Rose receiving new spring ensembles. Hmm, wonder who will be next…

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! ❤️ Enjoy! Oh, and Bella would love to know if you like her new spring ensemble…🌹

Holly is Feeling Oh So Lovely

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Hi there from bitterly cold northern Illinois. However, I am cozy inside with a fire going in our fireplace. The Olympics are on and I have a snoring chihuahua wrapped up in a blanket next to me. Life is good!

Holly and I had a little photo shoot yesterday afternoon. (The lighting wasn’t great, but either I am busy or it is cloudy; I got tired of waiting for the perfect time.) Anyway, I think you’ll get the idea.

Holly is dressed and ready for Valentine’s Day 2022. Holly’s dress is made out of a peach striped cotton fabric which is sprinkled with red and yellow roses. Her red wool cardigan is keeping her cozy and warm and is embroidered in colors to coordinate with her dress.

Holly has been busy addressing valentines to her doll room friends. She loves the vintage ones the best. Even though she is the ‘new doll’ everyone in the doll room loves her very much. She is happy to have had such a warm welcome when she arrived on Christmas Day.

What is happening by you this weekend? I hope the rest of your weekend is perfect in every way! Enjoy! Sending you virtual hugs from all of us in the doll room! 🤗

My New Christmas Doll

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Happy New Year! Sorry, I know it’s a little late; the days in this new year are already full and flying by. I am trying to catch them before they’re gone…

Big news! I have a new Christmas doll. She is the Ruby Red Fashion Friends 2020 Holiday Stella, and I’ve been wanting her in my collection since I saw her over a year ago. Stella is the holiday doll from 2020, so she is pretty much sold out everywhere, however, she was found for me at FAO Schwarz, and I am so happy she was! She has such a sweet face! I LOVE her!!! She is a most special gift!

I think I was drawn to her because she reminded me of Holly in one of my favorite stories, “Holly and Ivy”. Therefore, I am renaming Stella. She is now Holly. This is a first; I don’t think I’ve ever renamed a doll that has come to me named, but she is definitely Holly.

Maybe for Christmas 2022 Holly will be dressed as Barbara Cooney, the book’s illustrator, envisioned her.

Last year I took some video paging through this book on Christmas night. Here is a link to that video. It’s 1:32 into the video. I first came across this charming story at our local library when my daughter was young. That book was the 1985 version with Barbara Cooney’s illustrations. (This story, text only, was originally published in Ladies’ Home Journal in 1957.)

After checking the book out a few years in a row it had become an absolute favorite of mine. I found the illustrations cozy and charming, and the story heartwarming–perfect for Christmastime. I was thrilled to find the book on Amazon in 2009. “The Story of Holly and Ivy” had been republished in 2006. Now, over 10 years later I still look through, or read, this story every year.

Holly looks so sweet in her Christmas fancies, but I am currently working on something a little more for every day, and warmer, for Holly. I’ll show you soon.

I hope you are starting off the new year healthy and happy. Sending you a big hug for 2022. 🤗