My Dolls And Fixes

My goal here is to post my own dolls and maybe some customs/tlc dolls that I’ll hopefully donate or sell at some point!

[thriftdoll]

Basics:

Call me Ainley!

I’m a student

She/they

English and Español, a little French

Will follow/like from @theinternetismywilltolive

[enby-dollhouse]

AG Lot Score!

I got super lucky this week and these four AG dolls came home with me, all for free! A family friend was giving them away and I couldn’t say no. We have a Truly Me 24, 27, 76, and a Beforever Samantha. They are all in about equal, used condition, and are in need of a good scrub, hairbrush, and limb tightening. Aside from that, 27 has a few small pen marks on her legs which should be easy enough to remove, and 76 has a few shine marks on his face.

24 will be staying with me, 27 is going to @queer-nanea-mitchell​, and I think 76 and Samantha I will sell. 

They also came with this pile of AG clothes! In buying AG lots online I’ve acquired a lot of random pieces (parts of outfits, single accessories, pairs of shoes, etc), does anyone have any advice on selling AG things that are not full outfits/complete sets? I might end up just posting about them here in case I have the missing piece to a set someone wants, and mail for the price of shipping.

[enby-dollhouse]

While 27 and 76 are getting stain treatments, 24 and Samantha put on their pyjamas for a spa day!

[adventuresindolls]

Now I'm kind of wondering if some collectors who started during the pandemic or as a cool influencer thing got bored because there's a lot listed (with less good deals) on Mercari too

[adventuresindolls]

Clearly not everyone is done though because mercari also still has those aggravating customized dolls with all the makeup

[adventuresindolls]

And some listings are still like "she's stained with a huge tear on her torso and no clothes. $75"

[desertdollranch]

My favorite is when someone’s little kid scribbles all over their doll’s face with marker or paint, and then the doll is sold as “one of a kind”. 

[thriftdoll]

Oh I always laugh a bit at those. Tend to tell myself it’s an adult with just…interesting taste in makeup bc it’s funnier that way lol

[addywalkerstan]

the dress vs the inspiration

i designed adrienne's dress off of this adorable historical piece from etsy!

[dashing-darlings]

Your re-creation is absolutely stunning!

[desertdollranch]

I am FUMING right now. So my neighbors got a puppy a few months ago. For most of the day they ignore the puppy and let her roam free around the neighborhood. Sometimes she’ll come over into my yard looking for trouble. It wasn’t a big deal when she was small, but now she’s bigger, not trained or socialized at all, and she’s becoming a nuisance. She has chewed up one of my hiking boots that I left on the patio because it got muddy, pulled my clean laundry off the clothesline and torn it apart, and she carries trash from other people’s yards and brings it here to rip it up leaving a huge mess that I have to spend a few hours every week cleaning up.  But today she did something much, much worse.  She got to my dolls.

This evening I was out in the back of the house picking dandelions, admiring the lilacs and clipping some to put in the house, and watching the little hummingbird moths that pollinate the flowers. I had the front door open but the screen door shut so I could get the nice breeze going through the house. For the fifteen minutes I was out there, the puppy clawed through the screen in the door, came into my house, and went straight to my doll displays, dragging a bunch of things outside to chew on them there. She took Kaya, ripped off her head, ripped her dress and belt and necklace off, chewed on her face, took both of Kaya’s dogs, ripped apart the puppy Tatlo that my sister needle felted for me, took Caroline’s calf, took Josefina’s baby goat, and ripped Josefina’s sheepskin into pieces. I caught her right when she was dragging my big life-sized stuffed dog outside, so luckily there’s not much damage to it.

Worst of all. She took both of Kirsten’s cats and completely obliterated them. There’s no way to put them back together. They’re destroyed. My Kirsten’s cats were the original Pleasant Company ones that were made of rabbit fur. They were special to me because I’ve had them since I first got Kirsten when I was eight.  Kaya can probably be fixed, since it looks like mostly just scratches rather than chewed bits. But I’m still so upset that I can’t look extensively at her or any of this right now. Her necklace is unbroken, her shoes are still on her feet, and her belt is okay. Her deerskin dress is mostly intact, but is missing one of the bead/elk tooth decorations. I might have heard it fall on the kitchen floor when I brought everything in, but I’ll have better luck looking for tomorrow when I’m less upset and have some daylight. Caroline’s calf is filthy and probably just needs cleaning. 

While I was trying to pick up all the stuff off the ground, the puppy kept lunging at my face and biting my hands and trying to grab all of it from my arms, and in doing so she got a lock onto my upper arm and yanked it hard. Didn’t break the skin but will probably be badly bruised tomorrow. I forgive her since she’s just a puppy and it’s not her fault that she isn’t given attention and training that she needs. So of course I was gentle when I escorted her off of my property. I’m far more angry at the people who aren’t doing anything to teach her good dog manners. This really is inexcusable. 

[thriftdoll]

This is awful, I’m so sorry it happened! You need to have a long and very firm discussion with your neighbors about this. The puppy should not be allowed to roam as she has if this is what she’s doing and they need to be aware so that they can make it not happen. If it were me I’d even see if I could get them to pay for damage/repairs/replacements.

[naneamitchell]

Selling some girls, wanted to put it on here first just in case I have any follows left on here who want one of them. Prices are negotiable, shipping included.

Isabel, GOTY 2014, used condition, some paint and/or makeup spots that didn't come off with a soap but otherwise pretty good condition. $60 or best offer

Melody, used condition, scuff and scratches on face and limbs. $60 or best offer.

JLY #4, repainted face and rewigged but the wig is not attached with glue. Pretty clean, no visible scratches or scuffs. $160.

[maleficentmrsofallevil-deactiva]

Doll Collector Call to Action (please RB/boost)

The US National Black Doll Museum closed their doors due to Covid-19, and they lost their physical location.

During the month of February 2022, which is Black History Month in the US, they are trying to raise $100,000 for a new physical location in Attleboro, MA (USA). Please consider donating. You do not need to choose any of the default amounts. Click "Just helping" at top right (after clicking the support button) and type in the amount you would like to give. If 8,500 people gave $10 USD each, they would meet their fundraising goal. Donations are tax-deductible charitable donations in the US.

Also - please consider reblogging/boosting.

[maleficentmrsofallevil-deactiva]

Doll Collector Call to Action (please RB/boost)

The US National Black Doll Museum closed their doors due to Covid-19, and they lost their physical location.

During the month of February 2022, which is Black History Month in the US, they are trying to raise $100,000 for a new physical location in Attleboro, MA (USA). Please consider donating. You do not need to choose any of the default amounts. Click "Just helping" at top right (after clicking the support button) and type in the amount you would like to give. If 8,500 people gave $10 USD each, they would meet their fundraising goal. Donations are tax-deductible charitable donations in the US.

Also - please consider reblogging/boosting.

[thriftdoll]

gonna sell this girl soon but here’s a wip pic <3

[futuristicsaladparadise]

Spring has sprung: Pets

Mari-Luz doesn’t have any real pets, but she is responsible for watching over and feeding this motherless lamb. 

They get along beautifully. 

Maria de la Luz de San Geronimo is an OC I’ve been working on for awhile. She is 8 years old, growing up in the 1820s at the mission at San Antonio de Bexar (of Alamo fame). She was abandoned at the mission as a newborn and no one knows who either of her parents were/are. She was therefore given the surname of de San Geronimo, as St. Jerome is the patron saint of orphans. Geronimo is the Spanish version of Jerome. She was named Maria de la Luz, as the priest who found her, Father Esteban, first saw her in a ray of sunshine on the steps of the mission chapel. When she’s not in trouble, most people call her Mari-Luz. 

She’s an ex-Kanani with a new wig, and I wanted the character to be of indeterminate parentage. I never clicked with this doll as Kanani, even with a new wig, so I decided to make her into a Texas historical OC because I love Josefina’s stories, but I’m trying not to get more dolls. (And now I have an excuse to collect Josefina’s stuff!)

I finally got around to making her camisa and skirt, so I’m making progress on my to-do list for 2022. 😊 I want to make her a drop spindle and wooden rosary, and maybe a rag doll, as accessories.

[desertdollranch]

She’s beautiful, and I love that skirt and camisa!

[seamslogical-ag]

PC Kirsten in her dress for $2 at goodwill has topped Elizabeth for $20 as my best-ever deal! Despite stains and floppy limbs, her hair and face paint are in great shape!

She has extreme silver eye but I’m going to keep it and she will be a blind character! Name and personality to follow, lol.

[desertdollranch]

You hit the jackpot for just $2! Her dress looks like it’s in good shape too. 

[desertdollranch]

@kirstenlarsonwi and I were discussing the possibility of an upcoming 1920′s historical character. And when that character is released and all the decades of the 20th century (except the 90′s) have an associated character, would American Girl ever go farther back in history and have a character that lived before Kaya in 1765?

I’m posting my answer to that question here because I’d like to hear answers from anyone else who wants to weight in. 

What I think is that if BeForever hadn’t happened, then yes, I think American Girl would possibly go earlier than Kaya. But now they focus so little on historical collections, that it would be pointless. New characters are now given small collections and short books, so there won’t be that deep dive into the culture and time period that they used to do. Like with Kirsten and Kaya and all the earlier historicals had not just in their collections, but extras. Cook books, craft books, paper dolls, Welcome to ___’s World, short stories and mysteries, all that extra stuff that helped us get immersed in the time period. None of that has happened in years. 

And I think American Girl will probably stick to more recent decades, because those have a recognizable aesthetic that can be used in the marketing of the character. Like with Courtney, everyone knows what the aesthetic of the 80’s was: big hair, leggings, and geometric patterns. And with a 20′s character, she would likely get lots of stuff making use of the stereotypes of flappers, jazz, and movies. Because that’s what Americans associate with that decade, and so most of the marketing is able to use that recognition. And AG has to market historical characters aggressively since they give so little focus to them now, that people don’t know them for that anymore. Most people nowadays just know about the modern dolls, notable Girls of the Year, and expensive big-ticket items. Not many associate AG with teaching history any more. 

So without a recognizable aesthetic for most decades prior to the 20th century, American Girl won’t even touch that. After a 20′s character, they’ll probably go back to the 1930’s or 1950’s and do another character from that time period that’s a little different from Kit and Maryellen. Or even the 1900’s since Samantha is barely acknowledged any more.

[kirstenlarsonwi]

Yes! When we talked about this I brought up the possibilities of a character from Cahokia but I also feel that American Girl probably wouldn’t want to put in the work that would go with researching that time period.

I think that what @desertdollranch is saying is very true with the company today. The only problem though with sticking to the 20th century for historical characters, seems to send the message to kids that American history is only worth knowing if it happened after 1900. I hope we are all proven wrong though, and that future historical characters are from earlier in the past. (Personally I want a 1870s/80s Chinese American Girl from the railroad expansion)

[desertdollranch]

True! There’s so much history they could teach with an 1870′s or 1880′s character, and she would have a beautiful collection. But without a recognizable aesthetic for either decade, they’d actually have to dig in and do the work, do the research, instead of relying on stereotypes about that time period to sell her. And since they’re pushing the message that the 20th century is the only century worth knowing about, then of course they wouldn’t even bother putting in the effort to develop a character from the late 19th century. 

[desertdollranch]

“Put ‘em up! This town ain’t big enough for anyone taller than 18 inches!!!” 

[savannah-doll-house]

Adopted a new little lady from our neighborhood garage sale and boy did I have my work cut out for me. Her hair was a wreck!

And she had a rough spot on her nose and cheek (which I chose to leave alone for now).

But after a lot of hard work, I would love to introduce you to my new baby!

Meet Willow Sage Barnes!

Willow was born October 7th, 2006. She is my oldest doll (16 years old) and she is from my hometown of Naples, Florida. She was placed into foster care at only three weeks old and was adopted at the age of two years old by the family that fostered her.

She is my little home schooled crystal witch, who loves to read, play DND, watch movies, and most of all LOVES Disney. She struggles with depression, severe anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar II. Her favorite thing to do to cope with it, is to ride her bike down to the beach to watch the sunset and recharge her batteries.

Her mom, Natasha, is the one who home schools her, as she used to be a 1st grade teacher before Willow started showing her anxiety disorder. Her dad, James is a commercial real estate developer. She is an only child.

And that little spot on her cheek and nose? She was reading in the tree outside her second story bedroom window when she was eight and she got to a cute part in her story. She did a little happy dance and fell, hitting her face on a branch on the way down that left a very unnoticeable pair of scars and a broken arm.

Welcome to the family, Willow!

[sskyyess]

got my first ever ag doll today 🥰

[desertdollranch]

Good choice for a first doll!

[futuristicsaladparadise]

What Courtney’s collection should have looked like

These were taken from 1985 Sears Wishbook, and look more like things kids would have worn in 1986, and not 1991.

Nothing eye-searingly bright, and you could wear tights AND socks with your ballet flats. :P  And hair worn every way except naturally. Permed, teased, sticking out at unnatural angles…

Care Bears EVERYWHERE

And the most popular toys for elementary school aged girls:

Oddly enough, I couldn’t find a single Pac-Man themed item in the whole book.

[adventuresindolls]

If her collection looked like this I definitely would have gotten some of the clothes

[akinas-shave-ice]

AG is getting new audiobooks!!

Listening Library Brings American Girl to Audio

Listening Library, the children's imprint of Penguin Random House Audio, and American Girl have teamed up to publish audiobook editions of m

American Girl® Comes to Audio: More Than 50 Classic and New Titles!

Listening Library will partner with American Girl on an audiobook publishing program that will bring more than 50 classic and new American G