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Post by Catlin on Sept 4, 2012 21:08:29 GMT -5
LOVE her accessories. The cats and I have been playing with her top most of the evening. Her purse is just lovely, and with all it's colors can easily go with all her outfits. Her bonnet is very high quality and matches her travel gown as well. A+
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Post by Catlin on Sept 4, 2012 21:07:35 GMT -5
I love these accessories. The boots were a pain to get on the first time, I had to unlace them pretty far. The skates were very easy to strap on, however. They looked so cute with the gloves and coat set. And Caroline can stand on her own while wearing her skates. A for the boots being a pain.
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Post by Catlin on Sept 4, 2012 21:06:05 GMT -5
This is my favorite outfit of Caroline's. I found that her meet bonnet and shoes also go well with the dress. She looks stunning in the coral and red. The boots are easy to get in and look so cute. A+
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Post by Catlin on Sept 4, 2012 21:04:58 GMT -5
There is only one word for this dress: gorgeous! I didn't want to take her out of it. The shoes and gloves were a bit of a pain to get on, but hopefully they have stretched out. I give the dress an A.
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Post by Catlin on Sept 4, 2012 20:59:54 GMT -5
The material is a little thin, and of course there are the decals, but I still think it is a lovely dress. It looks fantastic on Caroline, and her shoes are adorable. B+ because of the decals.
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Post by Catlin on Sept 4, 2012 20:58:54 GMT -5
Caroline has three of my least favorite features: classic mold, blonde hair, curly hair. But I saw her in person and had to get her. She is GORGEOUS. Her curls were easy to get in order, and her eyes are the prettiest shade of seafoam green. It's about the same shade as Lakes Michigan and Huron around the Straits. She has the lovely short hairs so hairstyles can be done with her not exposing her wig cap  A+ |
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Post by Vyxen on Sept 4, 2012 20:21:15 GMT -5
LOVE her accessories. I'm not expert, but I think the quality of her bonnet is something. Make it bigger and you could put it on a child... Now there's a thought. You can actually play with her little top, which was more fun than I thought possible for such a simple toy. Her little purse reminds me of Felicity's, only better since it's big enough to hold her top and has her name on it. Just a beautiful set.
Rating: A+++
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Post by Vyxen on Sept 4, 2012 20:18:11 GMT -5
So my doll came today and I couldn't be happier with her. I really thought I wasn't going to like her since my first reaction to confirmed pictures of her was, "Oh lucky me, another blonde!" I pre-ordered her last week and now I'm so glad I did besides the obvious reason of free shipping. Those eyes are plain striking. I also read her story and I couldn't be more engrossed, makes me wish it was significantly longer. Overall, the HIGHEST grade possible is warranted here. Here's my Caroline:  Uploaded with ImageShack.us |
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Post by scarlettbegonia on Sept 4, 2012 15:18:37 GMT -5
I saw it today at the ATL store today & honestly it's small. It's absolutely adorable but too small IMO.
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ladoyle
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Post by ladoyle on Sept 4, 2012 13:35:27 GMT -5
I saw it in person today, and much to my surprise, it is kind of cute, especially with the fire going. It is nowhere near the quality of the Parlor, but is made of a thickish fiberboard or particleboard with the design printed on, not wood like the Parlor, and has a curved floor, not a square floor like I was thinking, which makes it a tad larger. It has moveable shutters so that the windows can be closed. Of course the whole front is exposed, but it is cute and I think most little girls would love to have it, even though it seems limited in what you can do with it.
The more I think of it, it reminds me of my daughter's Barbie's Country House or something!! A gaggle of Barbie's would fit in here!!!
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Parlor
Sept 3, 2012 19:17:00 GMT -5
Post by SaltySeaDogFarley on Sept 3, 2012 19:17:00 GMT -5
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Post by SaltySeaDogFarley on Sept 3, 2012 18:44:18 GMT -5
The table and chair set is beautiful, no question in my mind about that. I cannot see how it could be any better, and give it an A +. After seeing this I do feel it is highest quality and worth the cost of (gulp) $140. The set appears to be made of solid fine grain wood, with brass color knobs on the two table drawers, and a two tone silky looking blue fabric on the chair seats. The wood finish is glossy without being really shiny, and a nice rich medium to darkish brown color. The table is 9 3/4 " high, and and the top is an oval shape of 11 by 14 1/2 inches. The top has a slight bevel going around the edge of it and all edges are finished smoothly. The four table legs are decorated with a gold color stylized design going down the outside. The legs curve attractively and angle inwards. There is a space of about 6 " between all four legs, just enough room to fit a chair. The chair backs are 12 1/4 high. The seats are 5 " high and 6 " across. Dolls sit easily on the chair as the fabric on the seat provides some friction. The wood and finish of the chairs is just slightly darker than that of the table, and the chair backs appear carved in an attractive way so there are four vertical openings and one horizontal near the seat. There is a gold decoration at the inside top of the chair back. I wish my dining room set was half as nice as this one !        |
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Post by EofA on Sept 3, 2012 15:09:06 GMT -5
Like other reviewers, I've never been able to wrap myself around this dress as one that suits Kirsten. I think it's a darling dress with very pretty details, though definitely made of a thin cotton. Kirsten wears her flannel underskirt beneath it for modesty's sake!.    I was happy to learn that it was probably inspired by a child's dress from the period that's in the online Children's Clothing Collection of the Wisconsin Historical Museum:  But it simply doesn't fit Kirsten's character, so I've rarely used it.  Then, AG made the NOLA characters from 1853, with this illustration of Marie-Grace from Makes a Difference. Note the dress.  The dress was rendered this way in the paper doll set:  Now AG hasn't actually made this dress for Marie-Grace but hey, AG doesn't have to because we have Kirsten's Midsummer Dress. What's old is new again only in multi-colored clown polka dots instead of purple (really, it's just as well AG never made the dress pictured above). So now we know: this dress was meant for Marie-Grace!   The dress needs an underskirt because it's of such a thin fabric, and doubly so if you want to try to squash the NOLA cage crinoline under it. That stupid pink contraption doesn't fit well under the more narrowly cut skirt of this dress, and the color shows through as you can see in the bottom tier on this photo.  Still, the cage gives a nice shape to the dress. My antebellum characters always wear white underslips over their cages and that does help with the sheerness of this fabric, but it's tough shoving all that fabric under this dress. Be that as it may, I like the dress SO much more for Marie-Grace than for Kirsten. Because it was retired in 2006, this outfit tends to be high priced on the secondary market especially if it is complete with the flowers, basket, bouquet and hair clip. I don't have the latter so can't include them in this review, but my dress is definitely an authentic AG one. I mention that because there are many knock-off non-AG copies of this dress available (which we don't review here) so FYI and beware of them if you covet the real dress made by AG. Dress Grades: A- in general (pretty but too sheer), D for Kirsten, B for Marie-Grace! |
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Pajamas
Sept 2, 2012 20:06:19 GMT -5
Post by jaball1860 on Sept 2, 2012 20:06:19 GMT -5
The pajamas are very soft. They work well as a set of winter PJ's for modern girls. Grade A
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Post by EofA on Sept 2, 2012 20:01:36 GMT -5
Delicious desserts for dolls, inspired by New Orleans! This set includes pretend treats for two:
A trio of beignets, faux pastries dusted with powdered sugar
A ceramic plate decorated with an authentic design from the 1850s
A footed glass bowl filled with pieces of faux fruit: peach and apple, pear and lemon, a pineapple, and a bunch of bananas
A delicate glass pitcher with a genuine flower motif, along with two matching drink glasses
I agree that at original retail of $68 this set is spendy, but the cost is consistent with AG's other dish/food set pricing. Whatever your feelings about 'clumped' food pieces, this set is of high overall quality and it is a charming addition for casual or outdoor scenes. As with much of the rest of the NOLA collection, I would not recommend this set for very young or accident-prone children (or adults!) due to the fragility of the glass pieces. And echoing previous comments, be sure to examine your set carefully since the glasses can often be of different sizes! Mine are ever so slightly different but not enough to bug me, but YMMV and the set is notorious for these inconsistencies. Great photos have been posted above showing all the details, so I'll just add a few more to show the set in the context of a scene:    This set debuted with several other items in this collection that were marked 'limited edition' and there has been some confusion as to whether the Glassware and Treats are also available for a limited time only. As of this writing, AG has not specified a retirement date for this set.
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Post by jaball1860 on Sept 2, 2012 20:01:09 GMT -5
I bought his last year. On my dress the berries are attached to the dress and not a separate pin. The dress is very well made. The hat is cute, but will not stay on my #57's head.
C for the hat
A for the dress
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Settee
Sept 2, 2012 19:29:04 GMT -5
Post by EofA on Sept 2, 2012 19:29:04 GMT -5
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sailormolly
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Parlor
Sept 2, 2012 19:25:55 GMT -5
Post by sailormolly on Sept 2, 2012 19:25:55 GMT -5
I received Cécile's Caroline's Parlor on Sat. First I want to warn anybody that's thinking about buying this set, the shipping box is HUGE!!!!! How huge? It measures 25 inches tall by 18 inches wide by 26 inches long. I wish I could have weighed the box before I opened it. But our bathroom scale doesn't like to weigh anything that isn't a human being.   You open the big box only to find three more boxes!  Each one of these boxes has one section in it. The Fireplace  The Shelf Unit  The Window Seat  Inside the window there is a smaller box. That box has all the accessories in it.   The window has a card with the scenery on it that's reversible. The card measures 9 3/4 inches by 13 1/2 inches. "Sunny day" side  "Stormy day" side  Or you can leave the card out and have a window that you can see through. The fire shield is wood with an embroidered design. 10 inches tall (about) by 3 inches wide.   The shield is also adjustable.  Sailor's Valentine  The shells are just a picture printed on paper and put in the frame. The frame is wood. I don't know if this is true on all of them, but on mine the hinge is really loose. Each half is 2 1/2 inches across by 2 1/2 inches tall. Horse and Candle  The horse is hard plastic. He's 2 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches tall. I don't know why they couldn't have used plaster or something like that..... The candle is plastic, but the candle holder is metal. The candle is 2 1/4 inches tall and the base is about 1 3/4 inches across. Model Ship  The ship is plastic with cloth sails. It's 5 inches long and 4 1/2 inches tall. Mirror/Painting combo There is a hole in the wall above the fireplace.  That is where the mirror hangs. The mirror has a peg on it's frame that goes in that hole.  The piece with the peg on it turns around so you can change the mirror into a painting.   The logs in the fireplace are plastic and molded onto the log rack. The logs light up as if the fireplace was lit. It takes 3 AAA batteries and you need a screwdriver to get the cover off. The button to turn the "fire" on is on the bottom and has an automatic shutoff. The whole piece is 4 3/4 inches long by 3 1/4 inches wide by 4 1/2 inches tall. The window seat  My only real complaint with this set is that the window seat is rather small. I wanted to sit Cécile sideways so she could put her feet up on the seat. But the seat is too short. It would need to be about 2 in longer for that. And the seat really isn't deep enough for her to sit with her legs sticking out. It took me quite a while to get her balanced just right. I think I will be using the window seat to display pet or accessories. Overall I give the set an A-. The minus is for the window seat being too small. This is a beautiful set and is well worth the $300 price tag. The rest of my photos can be seen here. s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/sailorstitch/American%20Girl/Parlor%20Playset/?start=allSailorMolly |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 17:16:25 GMT -5
I have not put this on a doll yet, so see the above review for fit. I think the color is just stunning, and would look good on any doll. The coat and hat are made of a thick wool. The hat has velvet and faux fur trim, and the coat has velvet trim. I am very impressed with the quality of both pieces. |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 17:12:29 GMT -5
The colors of this dress are what make it so beautiful, IMO. I love the light and dark coral colors together. The dress is lovely alone, but when combined with the spencer and bonnet (sold separately), the total outfit is gorgeous!! I love the colors on Caroline, but I also love them on the darker complexions, like Cécile. I am a big fan of the boots, I think they are just sweet, and the detailing on the inside of the boot is cute. Overall, A+ |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 17:07:47 GMT -5
This set is the star of Caroline's collection, IMO! The basket is sturdy and well made, and I can see it having lots of uses in play. The apples and gingerbread cookies are fine, I just wish the cookies were more interesting. Maybe different shapes or some icing? The apples are a pretty color, not just bright red. I agree some cheese or bread loaves would have been a nice addition. The napkin is nice, but the embroidered map is STUNNING!!! That right there is worth the price of admission, folks. I may buy another set just so I can have another one to make into a firescreen. I just wish they had embroidered the 3 x's on this map, like Caroline did. Would have made it truly incorporated into the storyline. I give this set a big A+++++. |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 16:58:46 GMT -5
This set is so pretty! The spencer is a nice, thick wool, and very well made. It does have a hefty feel at the shoulders, but looks appropriate when on. The bonnet is gorgeous. The traveling outfit with this spencer and bonnet is amazing! A+ |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 16:54:59 GMT -5
Oh, Inkpot, where did AG go wrong with you?! First of all, let me say that he is very soft and I appreciate that, unlike those darn hard bodied wanna-be pets. But there the positive ends. Inkpot does have real eyes...perpetually widened, surprised, demonically possessed looking eyes. His overall look to me is just cheap. And what is up with those string whiskers that just want to flop down instead of standing out?! I am keeping him, only because Caroline is very attached to him. But I secretly think he was an extra in the movie Pet Cemetery. D |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 16:48:18 GMT -5
This gown is gorgeous! The jacquard material is thick and beautifully embroidered. The ruffled neckline is gorgeous. The belt and buckle are much nicer in person than I anticipated. The buckle does look like real metal. The embroidered shoes match perfectly. The hairpiece is nice, I haven't tried it on a doll yet, but it is very pretty. I am not sure about the gloves yet. They are bright white and satiny, and while they are lovely on their own, I'm not sure how they will look with the dress. I feel like a light shade of lavender to match the dress may have been a better choice. Overall, this is a beautiful outfit. A |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 16:42:35 GMT -5
I agree that the texture of this dress is very strange. It is thin, and textured, almost like a gauze. The color is beautiful, and that is why I won't send it back. I love the shoes as well. The dress could have been done so much better, for a little more money. Instead of the cheap looking decal, real embroidery would have made it so much nicer. Overall, my least favorite outfit, but it does look lovely with Caroline's coloring. B- |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 16:37:34 GMT -5
I am head over heels for this doll! I haven't taken her out of her box yet, either, but I have checked her over head to toe. I am blown away by those eyes! They are what I would call a seafoam green color, or a light aquamarine. Definitely a combo of blue and green, but leaning more towards the green side. Her skin is a lovely creamy color, and her lip coloring is just subtly rosy. Her meet outfit is pretty. The embroidered ribbon trim is especially lovely. I think the dress is a bit on the thin side, and wonder if she needs some sort of shift under it? I give her a very strong A+++, and I am enchanted with her stories and entire collection. |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 16:30:45 GMT -5
This is the neatest set, and I can't wait to put it on Caroline! The set consists of striped fabric boots, knit mittens, and metal skates. The boots are cute, and seem to be well made. The mittens are fairly thick, and well knit...I just wish they were made from a color that would match her blue winter coat and hat. I feel like the mittens and boots are very "work day" in nature, while her blue winter coat and hat are pretty elegant. So there seems to be some incongruity with the whole outfit together. The skates are wonderful! The straps feel like leather (but could be imitation, not sure), and the blades are metal. They feel pretty hefty in your hand. I give this set an A- |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 16:25:25 GMT -5
Caroline's nightgown and slippers are lovely. The nightgown is a cream color, with blue embroidered flowers and blue ribbon. The slippers look more like shoes, but they are the same pretty shade of blue as the ribbon in the gown. The outfit is very pretty, but I'm not sure how warm Caroline would be on those cold winter nights! I'm thinking she needs something much warmer for winter. Overall, I give it an A- |
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irishnurse68
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Post by irishnurse68 on Sept 2, 2012 16:21:29 GMT -5
Caroline's meet accessories consist of a bonnet, a purse/bag, and a wooden top. The drawstring bag is made of a very thick, embroidered material with her name across the top. The toy top is real wood and very well made. The bonnet is lovely, made of straw with ribbon and silk flower trim. I give all of the accessories a big A+! |
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Wickfield
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Post by Wickfield on Sept 2, 2012 11:31:48 GMT -5
I actually have to disagree with Candace on this one - there are quite a few differences between the two sets, so I wouldn't necessarily buy the Oven and Food set as a direct replacement for the earlier set. First of all, this oven is a different color than the other set's oven. I actually prefer the color of this one, which has a more realistic pinky-clay tone compared to the more yellowish color of the original. However, it is lacking in the details of the original; the "smoke" trails are very clearly airbrushed (and they come across as purple because of the pink of the oven), and the fire inside is not painted to resemble embers like the original oven.    However, the paddle does fit in both of them without tilting it sideways. The unbaked loaves of bread are basically the same in both sets, although my earlier set has more rubbery loaves, whereas this one is harder plastic. The baked loaves are colored differently - Original bun on left, Oven and Food bun on right  As you can see, the coloring on the original is more yellow (mine actually has some damage to the top so please disregard green streaks  ) and the newer one is actually better and looks tastier. Finally the corn. Also different - the original corn has larger, more irregular kernels (I only have this sole survivor which came in a lot) and a shinier finish, and it also appears to have had a real husk stem at some point. The newer corn has plastic stems and a different kernel pattern.  I actually think this set has several strengths and it is definitely fun to play with. Even though the mano/metate are plastic now they still look realistic (and have more weight than I was expecting), the fresh chiles are a nice contrast from her dried paper chiles, and you have a chance to get the oven again. Basically, if you don't have the original this one is a fine substitute but just know that they aren't identical. |
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