A Concert in the Tuileries
Maddie was recently invited to an outdoor concert at the Tuileries. Since the Emperor isn't currently in Paris, his private area of the gardens is open to the public, which is always...
AW
Desperately Seeking Frosting (and Sprinkles!)
Maddie's red sprigged summer dress has been nicknamed "the cupcake dress", for obvious reasons. I had to explain to the girls what cupcakes are. Now they all want me to stop sewing...
The Devil is NOT in the Details
You often hear the phrase, "the devil is in the details", which means imagining something wonderful is easier than actually making it happen. But - however benign this reference to satan may...
By the Skin of My Teeth
I need to get better at predicting how much fabric one of these enfantine dresses is going to take. Especially when ruffles are involved. Because what you see above is all that's...
Life at a Snail’s Pace
Yesterday I spent seven hours cutting out one piece of Maddie's next dress. Clearly, my expectations that it would be finished by Monday were way off base. C'est la Vie. Sometimes, drafting...
Maddie’s Cotton Play Dress
While I diligently stitched tucks into Felicity's drawers, Maddie harumphed around the sewing room grumbling about priorities. It's summer. She wants to run and play, and up until a week ago she...
Maddie in the Garden
Dear little Maddie! She recently read about Chiffonnette's disastrous adventures in the countryside, and took all the good lessons to heart. She insisted that I make her an appropriate dress for play,...
Chiffonnette Learns a Lesson
In the June, 1864 issue of La Poupée Modèle, Chiffonnette writes to Lily from the countryside, where she's visiting with her friend, Bleuette. You may want to read this translated version to...
A Hybrid Process for Setting in Sleeves
Chemisettes are the "pâtisserie" of the enfantine trousseau. They're delicate and frothy and packed full of details no right-minded person would ever attempt in miniature. Of course, I think we all know...
Something Old, Something New. . .
. . .something borrowed, something blue; and a sixpence in her shoe. This famous wedding day rhyme is said to have started in the mid-1800's, after Queen Victoria broke with the tradition...