Pattern Review: KDD Sweet Summer Days

 I need to start sewing again!

I started with Keepers Dolly Duds Sweet Summer Days.

Yes, I consider it a hilarious and wonderful joke that after I sewed all of the Keepers Dolly Duds patterns, three more were released.

I am happy to have more wonderful patterns to sew!

I made this dress in yellow gingham. Having learned my lesson the last time I sewed this dress, I lined the skirt so that it wouldn't be see-though.

Nanea gets to wear the dress. It looks great on her! I was sewing this on a rainy day, and the dress was like a drop of sunshine.

If you are not into the midriff gap, Forever 18 Inches Country Diva is a pretty similar pattern.

I'm excited to be sewing again! I'm less excited about winter approaching, but oh well.

Meet Rapunzel

 My first Disney princess doll is Rapunzel.

She may well be my last Disney princess doll as well. My favorite Disney PRINCESS is Belle, with steep competition from Moana and Merida. But I didn't care as much for the limited edition Belle doll.

I have thus far resisted all of the Limited Edition American girl dolls.

But I digress! I am more likely to buy a doll if I think it is a unique combination of features that uses one of my favorite face molds. (Which, for the record, are classic, Jess, Joss and Marie Grace.)

I really liked Limited Edition Rapunzel. But I wasn't going to pay the price they were asking. I also didn't like the crystals, glitter eye make up, and the extra long hair.

When play line Rapunzel came out, all of those concerns were addressed!

A friend gave me her expiring rewards, and Rapunzel came home to me.

For the record, I was REALLY tempted by play line Tiana. But I can't tell Tiana and Claudie apart unless they are in the same picture. Since I am TRYING to limit the size of my collection and I already have Claudie, I did not get Tiana.

Rapunzel's hair has a lovely "swish" to it. It musses easily, and falls back in place easily.

I have not actually seen Tangled, and I may give Rapunzel a new personality. I think she is a lovely doll, and I am so happy to have her.

Ruby Red Siblies Minnie

 I won the Ruby Red Fashion Friends July photo contest!

This was the photo of Maya that I won with!

I was super excited.

My prize arrived on a day when I was really feeling down, and I appreciated the pick-me-up.

I won Siblies doll Minnie, and two outfits! It's a very generous prize.

I am very happy. I didn't have Minnie yet.

Here's Minnie! She's very cute. I love the curls around her forehead.

I did not realize that Minnie has purple streaks in her hair. It doesn't show in many photos, as you can only see it from behind.

Here's a look at the purple streaks of hair:

I will be taking pictures of the outfits that I received as well.

Many thanks to Ruby Red Fashion Friends for the generous prizes!

Frieda Fun!

 Frieda is one of my favorite Ruby red dolls. I love her braid, her pincurls, her sunny smile.

My only complains is that her braid is falling apart with very minimal handling.

She poses like a dream.

Here are some recent Frieda photos!

New Hat!

 Erin is modelling a new hat! 

I was thrilled to find a bag of AG hats at the thrift store. Sadly, I did not find any outfits that went with the hats. But it was a great find!

So Erin got to wear this hat. A friend identified it for me as being from the Glitter Jeans Outfit in 2003.

It's made of this fabric that feels like suede. I miss when American Girl used nice fabrics like that. Sigh.

The Revenge Doll

 Lanie was at the thrift store a week ago, and my mom gave me a "don't even think about it " look.

I went again this Saturday. She was still there, so I bought her just because I was mad at Mom.

I bet no one's ever bought a revenge doll before, have you?

My therapist thinks this is very funny...

This is a "before" picture. You can see the price tag is still on her leg. I have since brushed her hair and she looks much better now.

Dolls at the Lake

 I took three dolls to the lake to get some pictures this weekend.

First up is American Girl Girl of the Year 2020.

Joss is happy to be at the lake, even if she couldn't go surfing.

Next is Ruby Red Fashion Friends Stella. She looks cute as always.

Then there is Ruby Red Create Your Dream Doll Jeanette. I just got her, as the dolls are on sale this month.

I love Jeannette's face. She has less pose-ability than other Ruby Red Fashion Friends, but that is reflected in the lower price point.

Her skin tone is a little odd. She looks very grey when she is next to other Ruby Red dolls.

It doesn't look that bad when she is on her own.

She is a little grey-ish here.

She looks fine in this picture!

Her clothes are all printed on cheap fabric, but again, I expected that from the low price point.