Today L&L has the privilege of featuring the lovely,
historical outfits from Jenny Wren’s Dress Shop, created by Tayler McCrery. She
has very generously provided a beautiful outfit for a giveaway to go along with
the feature.
The interview is first, followed by a review of the giveaway
dress, with the giveaway details at the end of the post.
JW = Jenny Wren’s Dress Shop
~Interview with Tayler McCrery of Jenny Wren's Dress Shop~
Sam: Hello everyone! Please join us in welcoming Ms. Tayler
McCrery!
Cecile: Ms. McCrery sews beautiful historical outfits,
focusing on the adult collector who appreciates the details and technical skill
that goes into each outfit, though this certainly does not exclude younger fans
from appreciating her outfits for their dolls as well.
Sam: Absolutely Cecile! And now let us hear it from Ms.
McCrery herself!
Sam: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions
Ms. McCrery. I will get us started with the first question. Where
does the name Jenny Wren come from?
JW: Jenny Wren -
also known as “the dolls' dressmaker” - is a character in Charles Dickens'
novel, Our Mutual Friend. She's a poor young girl who supports herself and her
father with her sewing. She ventures out late in the evening to see what all
the rich ladies are wearing as they leave their parties and balls, and then
goes home and recreates the fashions to fit her dolls. Since all the clothes I
make are designed off of visual images (rather than existing patterns) - a la
Jenny Wren - and because I adore classic literature, I thought that using her
name for my shop was very appropriate.
Cecile: J’adore Charles Dickens, mais I have never read Out
Mutual Friend. We must get this book Samantha.
Sam: Yes, I shall put it on our Big Person’s shopping list!
To think, a doll dress maker in Mr. Dickens’ book!
Cecile: Ms. McCrery, why did you choose to create historical
clothing?
JW: So many
historical fashions are absolutely beautiful, polished, and utterly feminine. I
will totally admit to wearing sweatpants and an old hoodie, but the idea of
living in an era where everyone made the effort on a daily basis to look
presentable and put-together sounds fabulous. The concept of constant corset
wearing, on the other hand, doesn't sound quite as nice. :) In creating
historical outfits, I can relish the gorgeous decades that I wasn't able to
experience first hand.
Cecile: It is never too late Ms. McCrery! You can still don
a corset and eye patch now!
Sam: Oh dear Cecile, you have pirates mixed up with ladies.
Cecile: Could she not be a lady pirate?
Sam: Well, I suppose there is nothing to prevent her from
doing so. Ms. McCrery, you sew from a variety of time periods but do
you have a favorite time period to sew from?
JW: Hmmm. That's
a tough one! May I pick three? :) I love looking at photos from the 1950's,
because the basic silhouette is universally flattering, and I almost always
come away with new design inspiration. Plus, I think AG dolls look especially
adorable in 50's apparel. Civil War/Victorian fashion pulls me because I love
fabric prints from that era – almost all of my designs for that time period
have been spurred on by a single piece of fabric. And finally, I'm physically
unable to read a Jane Austen novel, or watch one of the movie adaptations
without itching to pull out the sewing machine and make a tiny Regency outfit.
:)
Sam: How lovely! I do love Regency era clothing myself! So
feminine and elegant!
Cecile: Oui, but I prefer the big ball gowns from the Civil
War era. Such large hoops! You can hide so much underneath the skirt.
Sam: Why, what are you hiding under your skirts Cecile?
Cecile: C’est un secret. Ms. McCrery, how did you get involved with
sewing & designing? Surely not since Mr. Dickens novel was
published?
JW: I'm a
self-taught seamstress. I love learning and trying new things, and sewing was
something I decided to experiment with at a young age. I think my first project
was a hand-sewn, nine-patch quilt block – inspired by Laura and Mary Ingalls in
the Little House books. :) I stuck with hand sewing for a long time and it
wasn't until my late teens that I did much with an actual sewing machine. I found
my enjoyment of designing quite unexpectedly. I never actually owned an AG doll
growing up. My first encounter with them was my best friend's collection – we
spent hours and hours (and days and days...) playing with them. My parents
always thought that the price was a little exorbitant for a doll (which I can
easily understand!), but one year, they bought a knock-off 18 inch doll for my
little sister's birthday. I knew about the present, and decided to try and make
some dresses to give to her at the same time. I fell in love with creating
historically inspired outfits for that size, bought several AG dolls for
myself, and have never looked back. :)
Cecile: It seems books play an important role in your life
Ms. McCrery! First Charles Dickens and now the Little House series.
Sam: Although you explained that you started sewing on the
18 inch scale for your little sister at first, why did you pick AG dolls in
particular to design and sew for?
JW: I think that
18 inch dolls lend themselves to the perfect amount of detail when it comes to
clothing - not frustratingly tiny, or overwhelmingly large. AG's quality is the
best I've come across, and they just so happen to also produce the cutest faces
EVER.
Cecile: Oui, I cannot deny that! You focus your attention on
sewing for the adult collector, but can you please explain to us how
sewing for the adult collector is different than for a mom buying an outfit for
her child?
JW: When I
started my Etsy shop, I had to make a decision about who to market my doll
clothing to. There are many wonderful sellers who choose to make less
time-intensive outfits that are perfect for little girls who are mostly
interested in the big picture. I lean toward the perfectionist end of the
personality spectrum, and I love details, so it made sense to put in the extra
time toward things like precise, well-finished seams and using metal snaps
instead of velcro (which is easier for little hands to manage, but inevitably
does a number on your dolls' hair). Some of my designs are also a bit more
fitted than they would be if I were trying to accommodate a child's developing
motor skills as they dressed their doll.
Cecile: Ah! Très bon! I love it when a seamstress uses snaps
instead of velco. It is so much kinder to mes cheveux.
Sam: I find I must agree Cecile. Velcro gets caught in
everything so easily it is quite the nuisance. Ms. McCrery, can you share with
us what
is your favorite part of what you do? Least favorite?
JW: I dearly love
looking at the finished product! :) I also enjoy flipping through historical
fashion books and scrolling through Pinterest, soaking up the images, and then
attempting to put all the elements I like into a newly drafted pattern. My
least favorite part would be cutting out the fabric... Or trying out a new
pattern for the first time and finding that I need to make adjustments. That's
my sister's favorite though, because it's normally still perfectly usable, and
it means that she gets it free and clear – no longing looks, or begging,
necessary. ;)
Cecile: Your sister is very fortunate! Her dolls must be
very well dressed. About how much time on average goes into an
outfit or design? Could you briefly explain the process?
JW: If I already
have a pattern that I'm working from, it takes about 4-5 hours to complete a
dress – from cutting out the fabric, to finishing the last seam. I usually let
a couple outfits pile up, and then sew on the snaps (and decorative buttons, if
applicable) while watching a movie. If I'm designing a new pattern, I turn on
an audiobook (most vital things, first!), try to sketch out my ideas, draft the
pattern, pick out a fabric that will look good if it turns out (but not feel
like a total waste if it doesn't!), sew it up, critique the outcome, and hopefully
like it!
And her final favorite period to sew from is the 1950s. This 1950s Red Floral Dress is perfect for the rumored new historical character coming out this fall.
Sam: My! So you draft your own patterns as well! They are
all so lovely, if you do not mind me asking, what or who inspires your
creativity when sewing and designing patterns?
JW: I have a
weakness for books of all kinds (my overloaded shelves will attest to that),
and I particularly like my collection of fashion history books – so much pretty
in one place! Paintings, Illustrated fashion plates, photos of dresses from
museums, and especially historical images of people wearing their own,
real-life clothing are especially inspiring to me. My thirteen year old sister,
Trinity, is also great for bouncing ideas off of. She has a fabulous innate
sense of what looks good (and historically correct), and advises on everything
from ruffles and buttons, to fabrics and trim color.
Cecile: Ms. McCrery, truly you are a seamstress after my own
heart! What I would not give for a library of fashion history books!
Sam: And your younger sister sounds like the perfect
assistant as well. Together the pair of you make quite the talented team.
Cecile: With so many books to draw inspiration from, do
you ever get a creative block? If so, how do you overcome it?
JW: I haven't had
too much trouble with creative block, but if I do, Pinterest is the quickest
way solve that problem! I have boards for different eras, and if I get stuck,
I'll usually scroll for a little while and come up with plenty of new ideas. I
also find it helpful to frequently switch time periods so that I can avoid
burn-out. If I get bogged down in anything, it usually means that I need to
move on to something completely different. If nothing else, I can usually fall
back on some sort of fantasy/quasi-medieval outfit (no real fashion rules!) and
come up with something that I can happily add to my own collection.
Sam: This has been quite the captivating interview! I’m
afraid we are running out of time so before we end, is there anything you would
like to share with the readers? Any advice?
JW: I think that
everyone should try sewing at least one outfit for their dolls! You never know
if it'll become your new favorite hobby. :) I did it the hard way (no pattern,
LOTS of adjustments - but also tons of fun :), but there are so many patterns
out there to choose from. Pick a fashion era that you love, find a pattern, and
see what happens.
But it's not all seriousness and history at Jenny Wren's Dress Shop! If your doll is feeling particularly hobbity, be sure to take a look at this Medieval Fantasy Hobbit Outfit.
Cecile: That advice is excellent! We will let our Big Person
know she must sew some dresses for us.
Sam: Oh dear, I nearly forgot Lissie’s favorite question!
Ms. McCrery, please excuse our forwardness, your 1 Word Bonus is Blueberries or
Bacon?
JW: Agh. This is
cruel. I suppose... bacon. If necessary, I could substitute raspberries or
blackberries for the blueberries, but there is NOTHING to substitute for bacon.
Cecile: Merci beaucoup, thank you very much Ms. McCrery, for
visiting us today and answering our questions!
Sam: If you would like to visit Jenny Wren’s Dress Shop, you
can do so at the link below.
Cecile: Let us have one more round of applause for Ms.
McCrery! Now we will go to Lydia Charlotte et Marie-Grace, who will review the
outfit we are giving away.
~Review~
MG: Merci Cecile et Samantha! Lydia Charlotte and I are very excited to review this beautiful 1950s Mint Green Dress from Jenny Wren's Dress Shop. Lydia Charlotte is modeling the dress for us.
Lydia: The color and design is perfect for spring! After all these cloudy, gloomy winter days I'm ready for spring's colors to appear again.
MG: There is a row of 6 decorative buttons down the front of the dress, tightly sewn on.
Lydia: The crisp white collar lays flat on the dress, perfectly symmetrically, framing the first button.
MG: C'est belle! Look at those cuffs! Is any part of the dress uncomfortable or tight Lydia Charlotte?
Lydia: Not at all, it fits wonderfully!
MG: Ah, thank you for turning around Lydia Charlotte. Now we can see the back of the dress.
Lydia: It closes with snaps in the back so it's easy enough for anyone to manage without causing any hair tangling.
MG: Would you take the dress off now and let us have a closer look?
Lydia: Well... if I must... I do so like wearing it though Marie-Grace.
MG: You can see that the front of the bodice is pleated to give a better shape and fit to the dress.
Lydia: The back of the dress is very neatly sewn, and you can't tell where the snaps are at all.
MG: Only 3 snaps? Incroyable! No wonder why it looks so smooth from the back. Did it feel like the dress was secure with only 3 snaps?
Lydia: Oh yes indeed! Any more and it would have taken a day and a half to put on. 3 is more than enough for modesty and keeping the dress secure.
Lydia: You can see the inside of the bodice is lined as well, and even the inner lining is pleated like the front of the dress.
MG: Oui, and look at the tiny stitches holding the buttons to the front. Ms. McCrery is very skillful!
Lydia: Goodness those stitches are so neatly done!
MG: Did you know? Jenny Wren's Dress Shop uses reproduction fabric to give all their historical outfits more realism.
Lydia: I can certainly see why they have such an excellent reputation!
MG: Even the insides of the sleeves where they attach is beautifully sewn.
Lydia: All the edges are finished to prevent fraying and the inside is as neat as can be.
MG: Now that you have seen this beautiful dress up close and personal, we'll have Lissie and Lilly explain how you can enter for your chance to win this outfit!
~Giveaway~
Lissie: Alright! It's finally our time to shine Lilly! I hate being at the end.
Lilly: But isn't the giveaway the most exciting part?
Lissie: Your logic won't fool me, even if it's true!
Lilly: That's enough raving for now Lissie. We've got to tell people how they can enter to win this beautiful 1950s Mint Green Dress.
Lilly: Yes, there's no purchase necessary, and anyone can enter, though if you are younger than 13, you must ask your parents to enter for you.
Lissie: But... can't we extort everyone for chocolate and sugar galore?
Lilly: Diabetes is difficult to manage, even in dolls Lissie. Absolutely not. Be sure to remind everyone to include their name with their comment.
Lissie: Who would forget to put down their name? If you don't know how you can select the "Name/URL" option when commenting and leave the URL part blank.
Lilly: Hmmm... I think that's about it Lissie. Thank you again so much to Ms. McCrery for providing such a beautiful outfit for the giveaway! Good luck everyone!
Lissie: *whispers* And if you want to discreetly bribe me with some truffles, just leave them in the comment!
The giveaway will run from Mar. 23 - Apr. 2 (midnight Central USA time).
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*max 6 additional entries*
The winners will be announced in 2 weeks on Friday, April 3rd on this post, so check back then! ^_^
- This giveaway has ended. Winner announced here. -
