Pastime with Pleasant Company

American Girl doll fan, historical fashion nerd and seamstress

[futuristicsaladparadise]

Paradise Elementary Yearbook Fall 2025

It's been awhile since I updated my dolly headshots, and since my save file of the photos I was working on months ago somehow got eaten by the cloud, I took a quick snapshot of everyone today and am hoping this one saves. Some of them are not in their final forms, and may have wig or eye (and maybe name) changes in the future, but for now, this is how all my girls look.

[futuristicsaladparadise]

My latest TLC patients, Caroline and Kaya, all cleaned up and in new outfits.

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New (old) Kirsten stuff!

So I got the Kirsten on the right a month or so ago and ended up buying her some PC shoes because her Pleasant Company feet were too large for the AG shoes I had. I then immediately fell down the rabbit hole of finding PC-era clothing for her to wear. I decided I wanted to get her red boots because I always liked them, and while looking for that, I found a great deal on her immigrant outfit that included her two-tone boots.

I found her baking outfit (one of my grail outfits) that I never thought I would be able to own for a good deal, so I got that too. 🫣

Finally, I was considering buying a new Kirsten from AG because I wanted her to have her whole meet outfit and accessories. I don't like the look of the new-new Kirsten dolls though, so I went back to eBay to see if they had an older version that was intact. To my shock, someone had posted a 1994 PC Kirsten that had only been displayed. Aside from some faded face paint, she is perfect. Her hair is still in the factory braids; her clothes are still stiff and like new. Even her shoes are in perfect condition. On top of all that, all her accessories were still being stored in their original box!

Mini Kirsten with glass eyes was included with Big Kirsten, so now I have 5 Kirsten dolls, 3 big, 2 mini, and I am not entirely sure what I'm going to do with them all. I may have to rename my well-loved girl, since I don't plan to keep her in 19th century clothing all the time.

[fairyforestdolls]

The best girls👒🌿☀️🌲🦋

[americangirlstar]

Samantha Parkington and Nellie O'Malley - Semi-Complete Costume Collection

do not ask me how long this took. do not ask me how many outfits this loser has. do not

American Girl Costume Collections, 8/?

[futuristicsaladparadise]

Kirsten and Kirsten

One is 4 (from the AG doll hospital), the other is about 34. They are both sweet and perfect in their own ways, and though I never was a Kirsten fan, I plan to keep both.

I might need to touch up the elderly one’s face paint but I don’t want to overdo it, and I’m surprised at the hair color difference.

[futuristicsaladparadise]

My take in the “modern” Kirsten outfit

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Once upon a time, there was a very grubby, orphaned, Kirsten doll. She had been beloved by her owner, shared many adventures (look at that dirty face! And that hair!) but was still in good shape. Her brown lashes were still long and soft, her hair uncut and her soft vinyl amazingly intact. In search of a project, she was adopted by a fairy godmother who wanted to help her feel better.

First, a shampoo. Her hair, which was probably the worst part of her, was just as grubby as the rest of her, magically turning the water gray when it was rinsed. Kirsten immediately felt better after the warm water washed away the grime.

Next came the detangling. "Well, I wanted a good project!" her fairy godmother thought as the end of the second hour of hair straightening and steaming approached.

At long, long last, her hair was finished and Kirsten was beautifully clean.

She still has a "chipped" tooth as a reminder of her past adventures, but she's feeling worlds better now!

[futuristicsaladparadise]

Siana and Diana are all dressed up for Easter

[americangirlstar]

American Girl releases 25 Trading Cards for their 40th Anniversary

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I never expected to like Melissa (TM 125) as much as I do. In fact, I bought this doll to customize and use for parts. Instead, after multiple eye swaps and hair changes, she is back to her original form, and I spent almost an hour restoring her curls. Anyway, here she is in all her glory. I think it might be fun to dress her as a combination of Kira and Julie.

[futuristicsaladparadise]

We’re ready for Jammie January!

[futuristicsaladparadise]

It’s too cold for party dresses, so Siana and Maren are going to be welcoming the new year a bit more warmly.

[thelonesomediaries]

Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!!!!

[rosiewalks]

Dolly Questionnaire

Prompt 2, to help resist buying new things from big corps! Especially as they try to tempt us with black friday sales.

Thirteen doll-related questions for your answering enjoyment! I'll put my answers after the cut. (Thirteen Qs, because Monster High is one of my favorite franchises.)

1. What's your best doll memory from this year? 2. Which doll is the most spoiled? (gets the most photos, wears the best outfits, has the most lore...) 3. Do you have any dolls from childhood still? Who are they? 4. What's the strangest place you've ever taken a doll photo? 5. Imagine you get to design your perfect doll: tell us about them! 6. Which platform do you most like to use to share and meet other collectors? 7. What's your storage situation like? How about display? Do you want to change either? 8. Do you have stories/lore for your dolls or are they just pretty to look at? 9. Anyone in your crew in a relationship? 10. Have you had any fun doll interactions "in the wild"? 11. Would you ever go to a meet-up or convention? What would you want that to include? 12. What's a customizing skill you want to get better at in 2026? 13. Tell us something about yourself, not related to dolls!

1. What's your best memory from this year in hobbyland?

So many! My mom gave me Addy's school outfit as well as Claudie. I had a great time learning how to use a lightbox setup to photograph the glass coffin crew. It was fun and rewarding to customize a doll for my SIL; I don't have any local meetups or irl dolly friends, so the fact that she was excited to get a doll was really meaningful to me. I also had a thoroughly delightful time thinking up punny names for the LOLer derby team. And it was so special that R. A. Consell asked me to do a Cover Model for his book!

2. Which doll is the most spoiled? (gets the most photos, wears the best outfits, has the most lore...)

Lala and Frankie get the most attention :) I have 3 Frankies and 2 Lalas, and they definitely have the most photos, the most lore, and the most restyles.

3. Do you have any dolls from childhood still? Who are they? Yep! AG Felicity and Abigale, GOML Isabel, and my baby doll Anna. I also still have my (now contraband) Sky Dancers.

4. What's the strangest place you've ever taken a doll photo?

Maybe the gumball machines at the semi-abandoned mall? Or the middle of the road. Or a graveyard.

5. Imagine you get to design your perfect doll: tell us about them!

Look, I know I wrote these prompts but I really don't have an answer for this one atm. She would definitely have long, rooted hair in a nice fiber; double jointed knees and neck tilt; pretty, interchangeable hands that are actually in scale with the doll; and maybe roller skates. But my ability to do visual imagery is quite bad so I'm not really sure beyond that.

6. Which platform do you most like to use to share and meet other dolly people?

Instagram was my favorite, but I quit it for a variety of reasons. Still miss it but it's for the best that I'm off that platform. I use tumblr, discord, and memoa now. Memoa is great for cataloging my collection, but doesn't lead to many interactions. Discord is alright, though I find it hard to keep up with conversations and posts. I like tumblr for blogging, and hope to grow a lil community here. 7. What's your storage situation like? How about display? Do you want to change either?

The pictures below are my main storage and display spaces, located in my bedroom. As you can see in the first pic, part of the trofast is my nightstand ha. Dolls are stored in the pink bins, with clothes in the rainbow cart, and accessories and shoes in the cases under Lala and Frankie. I display dolls on those top two shelves, rearranged pretty regularly as the mood strikes me.

The second pic is my "studio," located at the end of my bed. I actually just switched out the end table that was there, for a sideboard from my stepdad. I take most of my pictures here, and in the drawers are lights, backdrops, and props. My 18" dolls are standing underneath.

Please ignore my laundry basket

My bedroom has more dolls and craft supplies stashed in various places: half my dresser drawers are project dolls, craft supplies, and restyling tools. One of the drawers under my bed has random doll bits and bobs in it. I have Felicity's furniture in my closet.

I also have a small display of Freak du Chic in the living room, and another shelf in a bookcase in the guest room with both the reel drama ghouls and my Girls of Many Lands.

8. Do you have stories/lore for your dolls or are they just pretty to look at?

Some of them have a little bit of lore -- Lala is my chronic illness buddy, and Dru is a socially anxious vampire. But a lot of my collection is an artistic medium; some people use paints to express themselves, some people sculpt or crochet or draw. I use dolls.

9. Anyone in your crew in a relationship?

G3 Frankie & Gooliope, Venus and Abbey, Drusilla and Bubbles!

10. Have you had any fun doll interactions "in the wild"?

No, not really. I did meet someone in-person from an online group for a trade, and that was fun! I traded some clothes and stuff for their Skulltimate Secrets Abbey.

11. Would you ever go to a meet-up or convention? What would you want that to include?

I've haven't been to either yet, but I plan to go to some in-person dolly things in 2026. I'd love to have some props/scenes around for people to take doll photos with, and of course yummy snacks.

12. What's a customizing skill you want to get better at in 2026?

I want to get better and more confident at painting.

13. Tell us something about yourself, not related to dolls!

My favorite song is Let Me Drown by Orville Peck.

[luciana-vega]

The Chrissa revolution of 2025! My friend group all thought "Chrissa Stands Strong" was iconic when we watched it as my movie club pick, and since then, I watched it a couple more times with my gf. I have completed my Chrissa trio collection, bringing Chrissa back and finding a perfect Gwen. My gf and I will be doing a read-aloud of the books when she gets here for the break, and we'll be taking Gwissa to the AG place for Holiday Tea!

I'm not sure I have one that's the MOST spoiled, but Raquel was the first one I designed a collection and made a 6-book arc for, and I am now working on piecing together that collection from the secondary market.

Only one, my Lucy (JLY 28). She's been with me since 2006 and will be my constant companion.

Under a giant rocket at the Space and Rocket Center!

That's basically Raquel! I wish she were a real AG character, but maybe she's better in my hands. Other than that, it would be fun to have a true mini-me. Lila is closest, but she's not quite it.

Tumblr and Discord!

Not great. I have a shoe rack that's like a quadruple bunk bed, and a couple of AG boxes under my bed. I display them on top of some storage cubicles. Once I'm somewhere I know I'll be living for a while, I'll be getting shelves where I can store and display them at the same time.

They all have lore, although some more developed than others (the Wellies least of all, but they do have it!)

Luci and Valu (my Lea) were my first pairing - STEM girlies! Next came Ivy and Sonali, marching band gfs. Finally, there's Chrissa and Gwen, who are in a pre/early relationship phase.

My 24th birthday visit to AG was super fun!

I would love to! It would be fun if we did some of the crafts from the pastimes/magazines.

I'd like to finally try recurling my Kanani's dead hair! I've had her for several years now and still have never tried.

I had a random economics bowl phase?

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1. What's your best doll memory from this year? Finally finding my mini-me and dressing her like I dressed as a kid.

2. Which doll is the most spoiled? (gets the most photos, wears the best outfits, has the most lore...) For the last 6ish months it's been a three-way tie: my mini-me, Marta (lightly customized 24), and Shamsa (TM62).

3. Do you have any dolls from childhood still? Who are they? Yes, but not AG. They are a couple of baby dolls I got when I was about 8.

4. What's the strangest place you've ever taken a doll photo? The middle of a horse pasture. Keeping my doll from being stepped on by curious horses was challenging.

5. Imagine you get to design your perfect doll: tell us about them! 18 inches with articulated elbows and knees, maybe wrists and ankles, medium-toned skin, blue eyes, dark curly hair, and blue eyes with a Jess mold (to look like the neolithic peoples from the middle and near east).

6. Which platform do you most like to use to share and meet other collectors? Tumblr

7. What's your storage situation like? How about display? Do you want to change either? Storage totes in the closet for most things, with some vacuum sealed bags for the clothes. I'd like to have less to store, but I really like the things I have. Kit's furniture is SO cute, but I don't have space to display it, so it sits on the closet shelf.

I have a shelf on the wall and a space on my desk for display, but I don't like clutter, so I only have one or two dolls out at a time. If I had a totally spare room, I'd set up a giant dollhouse and display more there.

8. Do you have stories/lore for your dolls or are they just pretty to look at? Stories and lore galore. That's half the fun for me.

9. Anyone in your crew in a relationship? Nope. Some are friends, some are sisters. All my girls are about 10, and still into other things than relationships.

10. Have you had any fun doll interactions "in the wild"? My kid found a couple of dolls at a thrift store and was immediately like "Look! Do you want these?!"

11. Would you ever go to a meet-up or convention? What would you want that to include? Probably not. I'm perfectly happy sharing in online spaces.

12. What's a customizing skill you want to get better at in 2026? I still struggle to get lips and teeth to look just right if I have to paint them. It's something I've been working on since 2020.

13. Tell us something about yourself, not related to dolls! I recently got back into ballet, so I have been spending most of my energy on that. This is the first year I'm performing in the Nutcracker. I'm a toy soldier, a lollipop and a flower.

[americangirlstar]

Jess McConnell (2006) Wallpapers

[desertdollranch]

Today I noticed that the leaves were turning golden-green. Gabi and I tried to decide what color it was exactly--not lime green or pistachio, not really chartreuse, and not really yellow either. "There needs to be a crayon in the box called Autumn Cottonwoods," Gabi said. "There needs to be a whole different box for New Mexico!" I said. "With hardly any greens, and lots of different browns. And Sandia Pink--" "And balloon silk yellow!" Gabi added.

I took Saige and her horse Picasso out for a ride in the Bosque, the forest that grows on the Rio Grande, which flows right through the middle of Albuquerque. This is the same place she goes riding in her stories, and it really is just as beautiful as it's described in Saige Paints the Sky. The author Jessie Haas was spot-on with Saige's interpretation of the color of the foliage... most years, the leaves really do start turning yellow in early October, right around Balloon Fiesta and Saige's birthday.

A month past that time, the cottonwoods, elms, and willows have all turned this bright golden yellow you see here. This time, Saige had no trouble describing the color of the leaves. She whispered the thoughts of her heart to me as we stood overlooking the river.

It's the color of angled autumn sunshine and of October's Harvest Moon illuminating the horizon. It's the whisper of dry grass and the warm glow of a distant bonfire that you smell before you see. It's the memory of summer the trees hold deep inside their hearts to cheer them during winter's long sleep.

Both she and I were astonished at how few people had joined us in the Bosque to enjoy the perfect weather and warm sunshine. It was so quiet and still out there. There was no indication that Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico, with a population of about half a million people. Those people might as well have been a million miles away. All we could hear was the gentle sounds of the river.

The mighty Rio Grande is born in the Rocky Mountains to the north. It flows south across the border of Colorado and New Mexico, moves through the rugged highlands west of Santa Fe, and then bisects the city of Albuquerque on its way south. By the time the water arrives in this part of the state, the river is wide, slow-moving, and extremely shallow. We saw some flocks of Canada geese resting in the bend of the river. We even saw (and heard!) sandhill cranes flying to their nests along the shores. These big, beautiful cranes migrate south in the autumn and spend the winter in New Mexico and Arizona.

To the east are the Sandia Mountains, named with the Spanish word for watermelon, because of the bright pink color they turn when the sun sets. You can drive to the top or take a ski gondola up to the summit of 10,678 feet or 3,255 meters. At the top, you can stand at the scenic viewpoint and look down at the whole city below.