Happy Holidays!

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

May the season be merry and bright!

Definitely Winter

I took this picture at the lake literally one day after the others.

As you can see, the lake surface froze the rest of the way overnight. It makes for a very different photo.

There is even an ice fisherman out there!

Anne wants to know why I didn't put a coat on her, and that is a really fair question.

It's definitely winter!

Winter is here

Jess is my most photogenic doll. I had to get some pictures of her all dressed up for the colder weather!

Santa Dress

The Santa Dress was last year's Purchase with Purchase at American Girl last year.

I bought it at the Madison Children's Museum Benefit.

I waited to review it until the holiday season was here!

Snow Good to See You Outfit

The Snow Good to See You Outfit is the current Purchase with Purchase online at American Girl.

Winter Doll Photography

I have posted about this at American Girl Collectors, but I still feel like talking about it.

Taking doll pictures this time of year is really tough for me.

My apartment is really dark. Even if it's around noon and I have all the lights on, it's still too dark to take doll pictures.

If I drag lots of lamps over, I get very stark shadows.

I get pictures like this one:

Or this one:

And I guess they are adequate, but I want to take good pictures, and I don't want to wait until April!

I can't take pictures outside. The ground is covered in half-melted snow. It is not lovely.

I probably need to invest in some photography lamps and reflectors. Several have been recommended to me, and I just don't know what to get. Plus, I don't want to spend too much money.

So that is one reason the blog is currently quiet!

Kaya's Makeover in Progress

My second Kaya, that I got from a garage sale, is looking pretty good.

Here she is now:

Here she is when I got her:

The braid spray did a GREAT job on her hair. It feels much softer now. You'd never know it was the same doll. It's the biggest improvement I have seen from using braid spray.

The wig is still cut, though, in the back. You can't really see it unless you lift up her wig and look.

But I know it's there, and besides, I already have a classic Kaya.

I keep telling myself this, because I hesitate to alter a doll that looks this good.

I want to give her a different wig. I want one with dark hair, that is short, and preferably one that has bangs. I don't always like bangs, but I feel that the bangs will make her look very different from Classic Kaya.

I really kind of want Ivy's wig, but Ivy is retired, and the only Ivy wig I've seen for sale was cut.

I also like Monique's Stephanie wig, but it is no longer available in dark brown. I am not sure what the light brown wig would look like on Kaya.

Chrissa's wig would look great on her, but with no bangs, I feel it'll just look like she has a haircut.

So I am really conflicted and just looking out for the perfect wig to fall into my lap.

Girls in white Dresses with blue satin Sashes

Okay, you got me, I am a huge Sound of Music fan.

I saw a dress made by Traci at Isn't She Dovely. It was white with a blue sash, using the Aspen Party Dress by Liberty Jane.

Girl Scouts, Growing Strong!

One of my dear friends just sent me this off-brand Girl Scout Juniors uniform.

I am so excited! I already had the official American Girl Juniors uniform. Now I can have a Girl Scout troop of two!

It looks so cute on Ellie!
The tab is held on with velcro over a white fabric tab sewn onto the shirt, so you can remove the tab and use it with another outfit.
The shoes did not come with it, they are Kit's.
I think some of the the insignia on the sash are in the wrong order (on the bottom half), but I haven't read a Girl Scout manual in a few years. Maybe it changed.
The skirt even has pockets!

I think she's prepared. For what? Anything!

My friend bought this off of Amazon, and the packaging said Emily Rose.

I think this is a great outfit, and am so pleased to own it!

Meet Ellie!

Meet Ellie, short for Elena. I really thought about giving her a Chinese or Korean name, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't pronounce it right, and my hearing loss makes it hard for me to learn pronunciations.

I am so happy with her! She came wearing this all-blue outfit (I added the shoes) and I am a sucker for dolls dressed in blue. She has the newer style of bangs. That makes me happy, because Anne has pie bangs, and this differentiates them in addition to their mold.

She has a dot under one eye, and I am calling it a birth mark.

Her hair is a little dry, but I will fix that as soon as I find my braid spray. I like the wave that her hair has. I love her!

Renaissance dress, part 2

I finally finished reworking this skirt so that it fits better! What a big relief!

You can see my post about sewing this outfit here.

Happy Election Day!

Happy Election Day!

Everyone who qualifies, get out there and vote!

Here are some pictures of a new doll quilt I made with 1930s repro fabrics. Very American!

Zia likes the quilt!

New American Girl Simplicity patterns!

Sorry I haven't been posting. My laptop is broken, so that is a pretty significant problem in updating the blog.


American Girl brand is releasing new patterns through Simplicity! Yay!

Pattern 8281 has pajamas!  I am so happy for the pajamas! I have been saying that there are few doll pajama patterns out there that I like. The robe with the cat ears are adorable!

 Pattern 8282 has really cute separates!

This one, 8280, has really cute holiday clothes! Squee!

The holiday clothes pattern has matching patterns for girls. This is a new idea and I think it's great. I would have loved matching clothes with my doll as a kid. I drooled over the girl-sized Felicity and Samantha dresses.

Keeper's Dolly Duds is also coming out with a pattern for '60s doll clothes, and it's amazing.
This release is a solid win for American Girl!

Thanks to Nethilia at American Girl Outsider for finding out about these patterns!

Patterns for Sewing Doll Costumes

I thought it would be fun to do a list of patterns of costumes that your doll can wear to cons, for Halloween, costume parties, or other fun events!

This is not going to be a complete list, because that could go on forever!
Instead, it's a list of patterns that I really like!

Sewing Native American Doll Clothes

Sewing for Kaya is very difficult. Respect needs to be shown for Kaya's Nimiipuu tribe. They are a real people with history and culture. You cannot just sew a lot of fringe on something and call it Native. The tribal clothing has meaning.

Respect, respect, respect. I can't repeat this too many times.

Different tribes have different attitudes towards their clothing. Some tribes are happy to show others how to make non-ceremonial clothing.

Other tribes consider their clothing to be sacred. Therefore, it is considered blasphemous for someone not of that tribe to wear or manufacture their clothing.

Moreover, it is illegal under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act to market anything, such as a pattern, an outfit or other craft, with the name of a specific tribe unless you have permission from the tribe to do so.

Product Review: Our Generation It Seams Perfect

One of my favorite Our Generation sets is It Seams Perfect. A doll sized sewing machine! Yay!

This is a much more affordable set than Isabelle's Sewing Studio, AND it doesn't take up so much space.

Julie at the Lake

Julie got to visit the lake! It was grey and windy, but it reminded her of the Pacific Ocean.

Addy's Wardrobe: Cape Island Dress

Addy's Cape Island dress is a beautiful, limited edition dress based on a real, historical dress owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

It's no wonder that everyone wants a doll sized version of this lovely dress!

More postcards!

Kanani enjoys the postcards, too!

Many of the postcards are from members of American Girl Collectors.

This postcard is from Boomdiada's dolls, the AGGiK.

This one is from Nethilia's doll Cinnamon!

Mini Melody wanted to read a postcard, too!

It's fun to get mail from friends!

Again, you can see pictures of all of the postcards here on Lissie & Lilly's website.

Polly Pocket Dollhouse

The Ai dolls went shopping and found something interesting today.

 What could it be?

Addy's Wardrobe: Undergarments

I love historical doll underwear. It's really fascinating to me. I was so excited when leewesvic helped me get Addy's Crinoline and Chemise!

This is the underwear that Addy comes with. It's basically a pair of pantalettes and stockings.

New doll quilt

I made another doll quilt. Zia gets to model it!

It's a mix of colors. It's made from Moda fabric. It was sold already cut up in these nice small squares! That made for a quick and easy quilt.

I had trouble deciding what color to make the borders. I think it worked out well.

Zia likes it! She's ready to read Melody's book before going to sleep.

Meet mini Melody!

Mini Melody Ellison is so adorable. I'm in love!

Anne and Zia got to unbox her.

Postcard Exchange Pictures

The girls were SO excited to get all these postcards!

There are postcards from friends all over the world! Many of them are from friends at American Girl Collectors.

Lilly Maiden's Summer Post Card Exchange

LillyMaiden, of Lissie & Lilly's blog, put together a postcard exchange for dolls this summer.

Anne was very excited to show off one of the places she has been traveling to.

Our postcard features Delavan, Wisconsin, one of my favorite towns. The stamp used on our postcard is also associated with Delavan! It shows the famous clown Lou Jacobs, and was the first stamp to show a living person. The artwork was done by Delavan artist Elmer Gauger, and the stamp was first issued from Delavan on May 2, 1966.

There is even a mural about this stamp!

Here is our postcard!

You can see more pictures of Anne in Delavan here.

I am going to post the pictures of the postcards we received in a separate post, because there are a lot.
For now, in this picture, Saige can't believe that Anne has her picture on a postcard!

You can see all of the postcards from the exchange here.

Budding Equestrian

Amelia just met Steps High, and immediately decided she was going to be an Olympic-level equestrian.

Unfortunately, she refused to take lessons from Kaya or Saige. It turns out that it is not that easy to ride a horse!

Keep at it, Amelia! Practice makes perfect!

Gnomes at the Lake

What are the gnomes up to?

My Birgitte Frigast gnomes recently visited the lake.

Mads found a seashell to play with.

Ella's not sure what to collect in her basket, but she doesn't want any of that slimy seaweed!

It's always nice to visit a new location.

Addy's Wardrobe: Addy Learns a Lesson

When Addy joined my doll family, she had a pretty extensive doll wardrobe waiting for her already.
I've decided to do a series on the blog featuring her various dresses.

This is the perfect time of year to feature Addy's school dress! School is very important to Addy's books. Momma made her a special dress to wear to school. Poppa cried when he discovered that Addy could read. Education was an important part of freedom!

A Girl needs her dolls

My work schedule the past two weeks has left me too tired to update the blog.

However, Jess has decided that mini Addy is hers. She claims that their dresses even match.

She has a point!

Sewing Mojo

I fell bad, but I haven't done any sewing in about two months. But I have been enjoying a great summer with friends and family! I've been canoeing and swimming every weekend. I've really been happy. 

I don't want summer to end, but I want more free time to sew without cutting into my summer activities!

But anyway, here are some pretty doll pictures!

Welcome Addy Walker!

Meet Addy!

Back to School

Depending on where you live, the new school year may be beginning soon, or it may not.

The school where my mom works starts this week, so Anne decided to get ready.

She has a desk and an apple, so she thinks she's ready.

This may be the most realistic doll food you'll ever see, because it is real. It's a tiny apple from a tree that my grandmother planted!

I thought it was perfect for a dolly photo shoot.