Arabian nights with Cissy!

I have been working on an middle eastern outfit for Madam Alexander's 21" Cissy. This outfit is for a good friend of mine in Florida, and I am happy to share my talents with her. 

  As I work though the design I decided to share it with you here on my blog. Along with all the other things I have been making lately, this promises to be beautiful, when done. And you know how " being done " is now playing in this household. I have finished so many things this short summer, that I really can't believe it all has happened. Like painting that porch! I really did it, but only for this one time. I will never do that again.

  Anyway, back to the nights of Arabia. Belly dance in miniature and Cissy goes far east. Take a look and tell me what you think? It's a work in progress. So far so good.

Bare feet

I do hope to be able to make this little gal some appropriate shoes very soon. I have been concentrating on the clothes for now. So don't think I've forgotten about that, She will get some soon.

And she has a hat!

This little purple stripe dress turned out so cute. It actually is a skirt and a white blouse, with an overdress/apron combination.

The skirt is a three tone purple and white stripe cotton blend. The blouse is a very fine white lawn with many tucks across the front and back. The long sleeves end in cuffs. 

The purple lawn overdress/apron is decorated with a purple velvet ribbon and a lighter purple satin ribbon It has short sleeves with little cuffs that are also decorated satin ribbon.

The confection on her head is the cutest little white straw hat, decorated with flowers and purple satin ribbon. Making a straw hat is not an easy thing to do, but if you have patience then you can make one also. It didn't take me long at all and it's perfect for this outfit to go strolling with mom, in the park. I like this one too.

And a little bit of green.

This dress is similar to the previous ones with a bit of different decoration. Full, lined skirt, and the bodice with a very thin cream silk gathered across the front opening. The jacket has three quarter sleeves, with velveteen cuffs. A short collar of velveteen decorates the top of the jacket. It stops short of being a sailer collar. The velveteen also trims the top of the skirt. It really doesn't button. Those are decoration only. The back of the jacket has a full drape in this era's style. The jacket is attached with snaps at the lower front to help keep it closed. I like the way this dress turned out. Do you?

I love this little dress!

I think it's the best so far. A long purple lace over the skirt fabric, and a nice white fine gathered cotton fabric in the center section on the bodice. The side pieces are attached and they are of a very tiny purple and cherry flowers on a fine lawn cotton. The sleeves are decorated with lace. There are "panniers" draped on each side, and a drape over the back section. The panniers are trimmed with lace. Both bodice and jacket open in the back.

  Have you noticed how short the skirts are? That is the time period of these style clothes for little girls, which of course Patience comes from. The 1880's is an interesting time frame and I am enjoying making her clothes. But I just love this little dress. The cream dress with the double layer of lace in the skirt is a close match, with some differences. She looks so cute in this dress. Don't you think?

A Lingerie dress?

But thats what it's called. I think because of all the tiny pleats down the front and back of the bodice. It flares out at hip then then tucks up for the skirt which is also pleated around and so far down. Little ribbon roses decorate the neck and skirt. A little lace trims the sleeves and skirt.

 I think this one was intended for play as well as other times. It's a darling dress, and another different style for this era.

A taste of wine and roses.

This little wine and chocolate brown dress is the very different style that was so common in this era. The pleated skirt, attached to the bodice, and the separate jacket. This outfit was a bit more involved then it looks. Bodice of chocolate brocade, and skirt of wine fabric, with a pleated "belt" at hip level. The jacket has wine red velvet cuffs, body of chocolate brocade and one set of collars in wine fabric same as the skirt and the other collar set of velvet.

The skirt/bodice closes in the back the jacket closes in the front.

Doesn't she look grown up?