Wickfield
Historical Dreamer
Best Costume 2012
Posts: 2,538
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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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Post by Christie0316 on Sept 2, 2012 6:38:15 GMT -5
I got Caroline yesterday and am very happy. I haven't taken mine out of the box yet, but my sister-in-law opened hers immediately and her hair is silky smooth. Her curls are so bouncy and beautiful- they look just perfect draped over her shoulders. Her eyes are also a really gorgeous unique light pastel greenish color. I am not normally into blonde dolls, but her curls and eyes are so lovely I just had to have Caroline. I like her lighter eye brows as well. I love that she comes with pantalets and stockings similar to Marie-Grace's. Her little pink ballet flats are a bit plain, but they match her dress. Once I can bring myself to remove her from her box I will take more pictures. Here she is still in her box:   |
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Post by nararabbit on Sept 1, 2012 21:03:23 GMT -5
This dress looks adorable on Rosalie ( Cécile ) as well! I love the sheer accent of the top, and the color is just perfection! :^)   |
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Post by nararabbit on Sept 1, 2012 17:56:34 GMT -5
Caroline's travel basket is a very well-made little basket, sturdy and solid and could stand up to play (though maybe not "throw it in the toilet or on the floor then step on it play!) The two little apples are cute, with a sweet blush to them - they look like Pink Lady apples, instead of bright red "traditional" apples. The gingerbread cookies look like blah little round brown discs, I'd like to see either a piece of cheese added down the road, or at least a bit of accent paint on the cookies. The real star of the show is the embroidered map included. I know some folks were wondering why the heck this should cost what it does. Behold:  The entire thing is embroidered, and could not be sweeter! You can actually read the stitched letters. I love it, and kind of want a second one to frame or put in a tiny embroidery hoop! |
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Post by nararabbit on Sept 1, 2012 17:52:51 GMT -5
Caroline's Party Dishes are well worth the asking price, IMHO. The dishes, cutlery, and cups are heavy metal, very solid feeling and I doubt easily broken, unlike some of the glass and china sets! The jug has a sailing ship printed on it for a nautical flair, the napkins are a good size with crocheted edges, and the apple cake comes "sliced" in two pieces so dolls can share. The apple cake was a let-down - it has a plastic wedge bottom, similar in shape to a Trivial Pursuit piece. It's really ugly and cheap looking, I don't know why they felt the need to add that! The apples on top are also very poorly painted, and look more like apple shaped mashed potatoes than apples! The cake itself, however, looks like real cake! They also have a sku number printed directly in large numbers on the back of each fork and knife. You better want only one side of your utensil to show, because it looks really ugly otherwise.    Ugly apple top:  Cheap plastic bottom of cake "slice":  Fork with sku:  |
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Post by nararabbit on Sept 1, 2012 17:47:07 GMT -5
I keep calling this cat Inkblot and Inkpot. Either one of those would be cuter! This cat is okay, (s)he's very soft, more stuffed animal like than the other AG pets that are hard. Those seams though, it makes for a bigger cat - Inkspot is more the size of a dog than a cat! Or possibly a very fat cat. If you have Licorice, the two are very similar so you don't have to have both unless you're completist. I also like that he has the "real" eyes instead of those incredibly creepy embroidered eyes (a la Rebecca's kittens.)  |
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Post by nararabbit on Sept 1, 2012 17:44:40 GMT -5
Caroline's Birthday Dress was my least favorite of her pieces. The fabric is very thin, with a strange texture to it, sort of like those nubby t-shirts from Old Navy. The "decal" design on it looks pretty cheap IMHO, though as it's been pointed out on the forums, one could merely use it as a GUIDE and embroider on top. It is very detailed, so I imagine that it would be expensive to embroider, but I'd rather pay $6 more for that! The neckline on the dress is extremely cute, it does show the doll's body fabric for those who don't like that. The shoes it comes with are darling and the main reason I won't be returning it. They're shades of blue with a very low heel.  |
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Post by nararabbit on Sept 1, 2012 17:40:09 GMT -5
Caroline's Holiday dress took me by surprise! Well, kinda. Her gloves are ugly and I won't be using them - they're shiny satin and just look weird. Her dress is actually a gorgeous woven jacquard type fabric, with alternating bands of plum and light plum, and roses woven in between. The satiny neckline is wide and ruffly, very cute! The buckle is heavy, pretty sure it's plastic but it could pass for metal (so a good plastic!) I've attached a close-up, as the stock photo makes it look quite cheap and really it uses nice material. (the close-up will be back, it for some reason keeps posting as HUGE, in the meantime it's available in the same album!)  And the shoes, for good measure:  |
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Post by nararabbit on Sept 1, 2012 17:36:57 GMT -5
Caroline's coat is a deep sapphire color, with velvet accents and tiny metal-look (but made of plastic) buttons. The top straps and belt close with velcro in addition to the coat itself. The only thing that bugs me is that the buttons used have a fairly "deep" back on them, and thus tend to wiggle or hang down like a loose tooth. There's also a bit of black thread holding them onto their straps, and it protrudes on the back side and looks messy. Otherwise it's so, so darling! I had a hard time getting the coat over another outfit, so shamefully, my doll went commando underneath! The coat is long though, so no one will ever know. The hat is also cute, with a miniature velvet box surrounding the faux fur brim. It actually fits ONTO the doll's head, unlike Rebecca's funky hat! Rosalie with nothing under coat:  Quilla with MyAG angora sweater and skirt Hanukkah set underneath (could barely close it):  |
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Post by nararabbit on Sept 1, 2012 17:33:03 GMT -5
Caroline's Spencer Jacket, while adorable, was more than a little tight on my chubby MG, though it fit Rosalie (Cécile) just fine! Because of the style, the shoulders of any doll tend to look like a Linebacker... oh well! The peachy rose fabric is trimmed with a darker rosy red, very flattering and pretty. The fabric itself is thick, fuzzy woven material - like real suiting instead of cheap thin cotton. Yeah! The hat is a tour de force! The style is so darling and looks especially cute with curls peeking out underneath. I personally think this set is worth buying just for her hat! It's just that cute! It's also quite firm, similar to the fabric in Ruthie's Play Outfit hat, I could see it getting crushed pretty easily so I'd recommend storing it safely when not in use.   |
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Post by nararabbit on Sept 1, 2012 17:28:52 GMT -5
This dress is so adorable, and the peachy-rose color is universally flattering! It has a grosgrain ribbon waist (a bit tight on my chubby MG doll) and there's not a lot of room in the torso, so I don't think a slip would fit, but pantalons would if you felt like including them. The stretchy neck makes for easier fitting as well. Her red boots are cute enough, but they are a little plain. At least they fit the first time with a minimum of fussing and stretching! Note: the hat is not included, and is sold with the Spencer Jacket set.   |
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Post by EofA on Aug 30, 2012 20:30:42 GMT -5
Even in the warmth of a Williamsburg summer, Elizabeth stays cool in this outfit: A satin gown with a quilted mock petticoat that peeks out from under her skirt....A satin-covered hat to tie underneath her ponytail...Heeled slippers for an afternoon stroll in the colonial countryside  I've always been ambivalent about this dress from the standpoint of historical accuracy, which is so important to me. Usually I pass on an item if it doesn't make that cut, but I'm a sucker for a green dress and so this one is one of the few things I have that is probably more historically 'inspired' than period accurate. In terms of historical accuracy, I can live with the color being unusual for its era but the trim and quilting are more problematic. As noted above, and so far as I've been able to learn to date, the eyelet trim is not accurate. Certainly whitework embroidery gained popularity in America in the late 18th century but did so after this era. Plus, that embroidery was far more delicate and not as, well, modern-looking as the trim on this dress is. I suspect AG was going for something like the trim on THIS dress, but didn't quite get there. I think the sleeve and bodice trim should have been either plain ruffles, gauze, or lace for fancy.  Quilted petticoats (colonial petticoats being skirts worn under open jackets or gowns, not underwear!) were certainly worn for both warmth and fashion like THIS one. But this item was marketed as a summer dress, and so I've always been puzzled why AG chose quilting for the petticoat. Imagine poor Elizabeth fainting "in the warmth of a Williamsburg summer!" I also wish that the dress came in two pieces, with the petticoat separate as it would have been in that era. AG moved toward making its colonial outfits all of one piece when the collection was revised in 2005, and historical accuracy was a casualty as a result. Still, despite all that, I do like this outfit. The hat is especially appealing, representing the height of colonial fashion with its shallow, flat crown, wide brim, and fancy decorations. It was not uncommon for straw hats of well-to-do ladies to be entirely covered with fabric like this one is. Our Elizabeth ALWAYS wears a cap under it, as the ladies and girls in Williamsburg of the era would have done, and ties it at the nape of her neck.  Why AG made "heeled slippers for an afternoon stroll in the colonial countryside" is a mystery to me. If she's not fainting in her quilted petticoat, Elizabeth is likely to turn an ankle! Still, the slippers are dear, although we add to this outfit by making sure Elizabeth has her stockings on because she's far too well bred to be running around bare-ankled! AG did not sell separate stockings for its colonial girls when the collection expanded in 2005 and the expectation was that | |
