The Doll People

A place for all of my dolls! I love history. Historical American Girl dolls and others will be featured here.

[lschmidtartblog]

A very American Girl holiday! Probably my last major art for the year so I returned to something familiar and comforting to me. This year has been weird and long but I'm still kicking somehow.

[thedollpeople]

I found these boots at the thrift store today! I knew they must be Wellie Wishers, and sure enough! These were at a completely different store than my Camille, but they just so happen to be hers!

So happy to be able to reunite Camille with part of her Meet Outfit! The boots look just so adorable on her!

[thedollpeople]

I realized that I never posted Meg’s makeover! This is how my girl cleaned up!

Her arm mostly cleaned up, and what remained isn’t too bad.

Her face cleaned up well, too! Those bangs definitely are a *look*, but I think they’re not too awful. We can hide it a little bit with the rest of her hair.

[thedollpeople]

I found my first Wellie Wishers doll at the thrift store today! She was in a bag with a ton of Our Generation clothes, marked $8. Of course I couldn’t leave her there for that, so Camille came home with me.

I adore her eyes and the little freckle on her cheek! She is just such an adorable little thing! And Camille is a mermaid-lover, like me, and we share many personality traits, so this was a perfect find!

None of Camille’s original clothing came with her, and it was nowhere to be found in the rest of the store, but I love how this little white dress looks on her, especially during the Christmas season!

I wasn’t planning on collecting the Wellie Wishers as they came out after I was grown, but they’re just too adorable to resist!

[writingdollworlds]

I took Jess down to the creek today! When I got this kayak my dad said I should take a photo with it, so I did just that! This is undoubtedly my favorite doll photo ever ^^

I've had this shot in my head for months, and to see it realized is so amazing. And it was so easy! I thought for sure the kayak wouldn't be stable, or I'd have to tie the oar to her hand but nope. I was in n' out and thoroughly caked in mud in less than fifteen minutes!

[starriors]

ordered some crutches for maryellen during the mid-year sale. i was going to paint them a more historically accurate colour, buuuut my airbrush unfortunately broke and i need to order a new part for it. in the meantime, she gets to enjoy them blue.

also des painted a little canvas of her while over <3

[runawayorphantrain]

After three days, I have finished my attempt at recreating Samantha’s New York City school uniform from Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004).

For the dress, I used the Simplicity 7998 sewing patterns (dress D). I couldn’t find the correct color of plaid fabric, so I just picked up a flannel shirt from Walmart to cut up and called that close enough.

The pinafore in the picture is from Samantha’s play dress and pinafore outfit, but maybe I’ll make one specifically to go with this outfit at some point.

[laurenillustrated]

American Girls! ★

I drew 10 of the original historical American Girls in my style! This was a fun little fan art series in between my other illustrations 🤭

In order: Felicity and Josefina, Kirsten and Kaya, Molly and Kit, Addy and Samantha, Julie and Rebecca.

[thedollpeople]

Meet my newest additions to the family, Millie Keith and Violet Travilla! I found these two for a great deal on Mercari. Millie even had her bonnet, and Violet was wearing Elsie’s tea dress, which is one of my favorite outfits. It was obvious that they needed to come join the family.

I just think these doll are the most beautiful things! I love Millie’s presentation outfit.

First order of business was getting Elsie into her tea outfit. I just love how detailed these outfits are!

Then I got Violet into something similar to her presentation outfit. I was sad because I just missed out on her presentation dress and Millie’s party dress in a different lot from this seller for only $20! But this does the job for now until I can stitch something up.

I’m so thrilled to have all three of these girls!

[thedollpeople]

Please welcome my newest addition to the family, Meg (Margaret)! I found her at a local thrift store for $15. I noticed she was a bit of a fixer right away, but I didn’t realize how much until we got home. Still, I knew she needed love, and I wanted to give her a nice home!

I noticed the yellow nail polish right away, but that’s an easy fix. What I didn’t notice until a bit later is that Meg is missing part of her right pointer finger. The cut is very clean, and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone had cut it off deliberately.

Somehow, Meg’s lip and teeth color have come off. Her eyelid paint is also coming off. I think perhaps someone gave her a makeover at one point and tried to take it off? I’m also suspecting a haircut with those bangs as some of them are just a little too short.

In addition, her left arm is a little loose, so I’m going to attempt to tighten it.

Her ears are pierced, so if I ever find earrings, I’ll finally have a doll who can wear them!

I’m not exactly sure any details about her. She has an AG stamp on her neck, but unfortunately her tag was cut off.

Overall, I’m excited to take on cleaning her up! I think Meg will be a special addition to the family. Stay tuned for her post-cleanup photos!

[thedollpeople]

I recently found one of my most wanted dolls! This is Miss Elsie Dinsmore, part of the A Life of Faith collection.

I’d wanted Elsie for a long time, probably about 15 years. I read the Life of Faith books in middle school, and they honestly saved me from a really deep depression. Since then, these characters have come to mean so much to me.

I originally saw Elsie on Ebay. Of course, she wasn’t wearing her iconic yellow dress, but she had her blue Merino coat and boots that I’d always adored from the paper doll set (which is a little faded but still GORGEOUS). She also had her locket, which was a MUST. I knew almost instantly that she was the one, but she was out of my price range. I told myself that if she came down below $50, I would buy her.

Eventually, my patience paid off, and she began her journey home!

Since she didn’t come with any clothes, I found a temporary dress for her to wear.

Elsie had a smudge on the bottom of her nose, but it came right off. She really didn’t need any work!

I love how articulated she is. She can stand well on her own, and I love how her head tilts and her arms pose. Elsie can even clasp her hands to pray! What a beautiful touch.

I am so glad Elsie is home! My middle-school self is thrilled, and I can’t wait to start stitching up a wardrobe based on all her original outfits!

(If anybody has any ALOF clothes/accessories they’d be willing to part with, please let me know! I’m just slightly obsessed.)

[thedollpeople]

I was recently in one of my favorite thrift stores when I spotted a familiar face. She seemed to be beaming at me directly from the pages of my beloved 2007 American Girl catalogues. This could only be one doll: Nicki, the 2007 Girl of the Year.

Nicki was dressed in an off-brand wedding gown, but her original Meet skirt was in the bag with her. She was also wearing AG underwear. When I got her home, I redressed her in her skirt and added a western-vibe AG top, bringing Nicki back to more of her original 2007 look.

Nicki is in fantastic shape. Her hair is still very neatly curled, and she has no signs of wear. She was very clean. I left the barrette in her hair as otherwise it has a tendency to fall in her eyes.

When I was younger, I remember obsessing over each catalogue that came out. 2007 was the year I got my first doll, Molly, when I turned 8. Nicki was a huge part of my life for that year as I spent a ton of time pouring over each page of every catalogue I could get my hands on.

Nicki is absolutely beautiful, and I’m so glad I could bring her home for only $40 (which also goes toward a great charity). Those little freckles are darling, and I’m excited to add another modern girl to the family.

Nicki came with a bunch of off-brand clothes and accessories, but I managed to find these two AG pieces: a scrunchie and a little bag. There were also two American Girls Collection hangers in the bag.

I’m just so thrilled to have Nicki!

[thedollpeople]

I said I would do another post featuring the early 2000s outfits that came with my $40 thrift store Julie! First up was the Chocolate Cherry Outfit featuring everything except the headband.

Next we had a soccer outfit, missing socks, shinguards, ball, towel, and bag. The shoes feature a darling little early 2000s AG logo. I’m also unsure if the hanger came with this set or a different one, but it’s too cute.

We also had the 2003 holiday limited edition coat and hangar included in the bag. I love the custom tag and the hanger. The coat also has a wonderfully 2003 feel while still being adorable today.

There was one lone mitten in the coat sleeve. I was able to get the stain off but was disappointed there was only one. No matter! I gave it to Molly to wear on the hand that isn’t in her skating muff.

Finally we have the ski trip hat. I have Samantha’s muff but not her hat, so she is currently in possession of this fluffy wonder.

Oh! I almost forgot these little stick-on earrings. So cute!

Other bags with off-brand dolls and clothes featured mini grin pins. I was sad that they separated them out as I wasn’t willing to spend more for them, but it looked as though someone got rid of their early 2000s AG collection. Just glad I could give these pieces a home for a good price!

[thedollpeople]

Here’s Miss Julie Albright, all cleaned up! We brushed her hair and put it back in her braid. We also scrubbed up her skin with magic eraser.

We’ve still got some slight “bruising” on her forehead, and the discoloration didn’t completely go away around her wrists, but overall she cleaned up well!

I truly love finding these girls secondhand, freshening them up, and giving them a good home!

[thedollpeople]

Meet Julie! My first BeForever doll!

I spotted her in my favorite thrift store for $40 (along with some early 2000s outfits which I will post separately).

I never was super into Julie or her collection, but I was 98% sure this was her. (I didn’t think there were any Truly Me dolls like Julie, but I’ve been wrong before!)

I was convinced this was Julie when I picked her up and saw the right side of her head.

The hair looked like it had once been braided in Julie’s signature style. After that, I was absolutely convinced!

Looks like she’s a 2017. (Are these her original underwear? She didn’t come with any other original clothes.)

Her hair is a little frizzy on the ends, but nothing we can’t deal with. She also has some smuts on her face and wrists that we’ll try to get off with magic eraser.

Overall she’s in excellent condition, and I’m so excited to have found a doll I never thought I’d own!

[kirsteninthesun]

This is my favorite American Girl illustration.

It communicates so much about Kirsten’s personality. She’s totally absorbed in her inner world, focused on her doll and the prospect of leaving her. She’s sad, she’s focused, she’s making the moment count. She holds her doll gently but firmly and addresses her like a real person. To her, leaving Sari is as serious as leaving behind a family member.

It’s just that that conveys the essential mission of Pleasant Company and American Girl. This portrays play as something far from trivial, rather as a part of childhood that is essential, precious, and eternal. This illustration treats girls and their dolls with the seriousness they are owed, and it says to us; dolls are real, dolls are family, dolls are loved.

[thedollpeople]

My Josefina is all cleaned up! I washed her clothes, wiped her skin, and brushed and rebraided her hair. She’s looking very fresh and absolutely lovely!

Also, I adore her hair! It’s by far the longest of any of my girls’, and it’s so rich and dark. I like how it’s very deep brown and not just straight black, which I wouldn’t have guessed!