Happy Halloween!

We are having an unusual Halloween today. We got a lot of snow!

Naturally, the dolls had to check it out.

Anne looks a little disappointed that it snowed.

Or maybe she is just distracted by that snowflake landing on her nose!

Saige didn't have a coat, but she put on a jacket and headed outside.

This is Danielle, and she has only been here for two days! I will be posting more about her later!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!

American Girl doll pictures

I just wanted to share some more doll pictures.

I really love this picture of Samantha. I think it's easy to forget that Samantha also loved to climb trees!
This is her play dress, which I love. It annoys me when people put her dress collar outside of the apron, though.

There is no reason that Felicity should only play her mandolin when wearing her birthday dress.
She can play music in the fall too, so here she is!

Addy playing with Ida Bean.

Here is Anne!
When this outfit was released, I loved the shirt, but hated the jacket.
I bought the outfit in spite of the jacket, not because of it.
I am still not crazy about it, but decided to put it on Anne just for something different.

Jun Planning Ai doll Hyacinth

I have always been uncomfortable with having Jun Planning Ai doll Hyacinth lying on her back.

To me, it looks uncomfortable and posed.

I finally posed her the way I sleep- on her side, clutching her teddy bear.

Yes, she looks much more comfortable and happier now!

I have put her on display like this.

She almost looks like a fairy tale character.

Kaya and Steps High

Just a few pictures of Kaya and Steps High enjoying the fall weather.

More Beach Pictures

I took these pictures in August, then got sick and didn't post them.

Samantha at Piney Point.

Ellie is looking for fossils!

Felicity and Penny

Felicity always has my heart. I am glad that she has Penny to ride now.

 I just got her hat from the newest version of her meet accessories.
I feel that it goes very well with her summer dress. It's a slightly different shade of blue, bu it works.

Felicity is happy to have the sun off her face.

She looks like a perfect lady.

Karate Uniform for Dolls

My mom's friend bought two naked Madame Alexander dolls at a thrift store for her granddaughters, and asked me to sew some clothes for them, reflecting their different interests.

One of the outfits I made was a karate uniform.

Mara is my model here. I didn't tie the belt very tightly so it wouldn't wrinkle.

I didn't want to buy a pattern, and I managed to make the uniform from patterns that I already owned.

The granddaughter in question is an orange belt.

I used an orange ribbon for that, easy.

The top of the karate uniform is made from Thimbles and Acorns' Minoan Wrap Skirt and Blouse pattern. All I did was length the sleeves.

I have made this pattern before, to be Minoan rather than modern, ha.
You can see that sewing project here on my blog.

I made the pants from the QT Pie Painter Pants. I did simplify the pattern so that the front and back of the pants were one piece each.

You can see where I sewed this pattern before here on my blog.

Anyway, I was pleased to not have to buy a pattern, and I hope that this will make a little girl happy on Christmas.

Nanea at the Beach Again

 I am trying very hard to bond with Nanea, now that she has her new eyes.

That means dressing her up and taking pictures- and where else would I take them, but at the beach?

I had a great-uncle at Pearl Harbor, so Nanea's story is special to me.

In her swimsuit

I am very happy with how these pictures turned out.

Nanea's face mold is still different enough from other American Girl dolls, or something, that I don't feel bonded with her yet.

In the school dress

I think my next step in bonding-with-Nanea will be to sew her something. 

I might have to take a picture of it inside, though, because pretty soon it will be too cold for the beach!

Ready to swim!

In the mean time, she is living the good life at the beach!

Lori doll Swing Set

Some time ago, I bought the Lori doll swing set.

I thought it would be great to display small dolls that aren't always steady on their own feet.

As it was the middle of winter, I waited to open it, and I just now got around to taking pictures.

Here is a picture of the packaging.

Here are Jun Planning Ai dolls Lawn Daisy and King Protea on the swing.

And Lawn Daisy enjoying the swing by herself.

It also fits the American Girl mini dolls!

Yup, I really like this swing and am happy to have it in my collection.

It really swings, and it came with some cute mini doll-sized lemonade in a cup and pitcher.
Perfect for hot summer days!

Kit's Beach Photography

You know that if you took Kit to the beach, she would be snapping pictures and look for a news story. 

I know my Kit did!

Laura

Here are some recent pictures of Laura Ingalls in appropriately historical settings!

I gotta get the last fall pictures in before winter comes!

I took these pictures at Old World Wisconsin. This is am amazing site with many historic buildings.

The site tells the tale of immigrants to the United States, and Wisconsin in particular, and the struggles they faced.

Old World Wisconsin is huge. The buildings are spread out over the site, and it really feels like you traveled back in time.

The site includes, not just the buildings, but also period- appropriate furnishings, heritage plants and animals, beautiful gardens, and wonderful interpreters, who dress in historical garb and demonstrate skills such as cooking, animal husbandry and more.

It's a wonderful place, and much more than just a backdrop for photos!

It does, however, make a wonderful backdrop for photos as well. Ha.

Kathleen Ernst and lack of Caroline Abbot news

I went to a book signing by Kathleen Ernst this weekend.

Kathleen Ernst with my Felicity at a book signing last year

She was promoting her new book, Fiddlin' With Fate. It's part of her Chloe Ellefson mystery series. I love this series and always learn something new from reading it.

After she signed a copy of Fiddlin' with Fate for me, I pulkled out two Caroline books and asked if she could sign them for me.

She let out an audible "Awww."

I asked her if the Caroline books were going to be reissued with illustrations.

She said that she would love that because the illustrations were so beautiful, but that she had not heard anything.

 She had also not known that some of the other historical books had been reissued with illustrations.

So my guess is that we will have a long wait for more illustrated American Girl historical books.