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Post by Wickfield on Dec 11, 2017 17:20:08 GMT -5
I like how Kaya's hat, bracelet, and parfleche set are really specific to Kaya's region and culture. They help keep her offerings from being a generic "Indian" theme, since not all Indians wore the special "basket-style" hat worn by the Plateau Indians! The hat is the best part, it is kind of odd that it is woven of like a twine material, but I think it is meant to represent the hempen "cord" Speaking Rain made in the books. It is lined to prevent Kaya's hair from snagging and is edged with the same leather as her adorned dress. I love the little tassels with feathers and beads! The beads are also the same as those used on her adorned dress, a perfect match. The bracelet is a cool accessory, I like the idea of it being etched bone, but it looks quite plasticky. The prototype shown on the pamphlet seems to be a thicker plastic, and I think that looked better and more like bone. I really don't like the closure used for the bracelet. I appreciate the authenticity, but it is hard to tie that tiny thong. I would have preferred the bracelet were a bangle, or if they wanted to keep the appearance of the realistic closure, I would have liked a notch to slide the knotted cord into instead of having to thread and tie it every time. I'm conflicted on the parfleche. It is cool to look at and I love that it was included in her collection, but I don't love its looks. It is made of leather, but coated in this weird beige vinyl which has the "painted design" printed on top. The design looks fake and is very pale compared to the catalog images as well as realistic extant parfleches, which have much brighter, solid designs. On the plus side, I was able to fit her adorned dress and moccasins inside, just like in the book! I'm not sure why other reviewers were unable to fit things in theirs, all I did was fold the dress up and it fit just fine. Despite a few issues I would still recommend this set for Kaya collectors if just for the hat alone! I will give the entire set a B+.
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 11, 2017 17:02:18 GMT -5
I bought this as part of a lot from a fellow board member who had several early-edition Kaya items. My adorned dress is the straight-shouldered version, but I didn't find it very difficult to arrange the dress nicely. The beadwork on this outfit is AMAZING. I can't believe AG originally went to the trouble of adding three stitched rows of different colored beads, as well as two different shapes for the red and blue beads. The elk-teeth make this dress so unique and authentic! I was kind of surprised by the color of the dress material. The books and pamphlets describe it as "almost white" which it clearly is not, but I was expecting a lighter, cooler brown color based on magazine and board member photos - more like the leather of the cradleboard in my pics below. In person, it has more of a silver-green cast. It's interesting, and evidently the correct color since it matches the band on her hat perfectly, but it wasn't the color I was anticipating. The moccasins are the exact color of the dress. Personally, I don't think it matches very well with her winter accessories, which tend to go better with her meet outfit. As for the belt, it is one of the few official AG items I decided to alter. It was SO TIGHT on my doll I was afraid I would damage the dress, the belt, the doll, or all three! The belt is kind of an odd nylon material like a backpack strap, so it was easy to remove the velcro and reposition it for a looser fit. Now it is snug but wearable, and it won't threaten to split poor Kaya in half! Overall, I would rate this dress A-.
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 11, 2017 16:55:42 GMT -5
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 11, 2017 16:52:40 GMT -5
I got this mini to use as a "Samantha doll" for my 18" AG. I originally had one of the early-ish painted-eye minis from 2004, and this doll is cuter, she has a brighter skin tone and better facial screening. The two Samantha dolls were the same height unlike my 2 Josefinas, where the holiday mini was a half inch taller. While I like this more festive version, it's not like the cranberry dress is exactly a stunner. I agree with the previous reviewer that the dress is a bit too long in this scale. Still I'm glad to have her, she's a great prop for holiday photos of Amanda. I'd rate her a B+
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 11, 2017 16:48:12 GMT -5
Wow, I can't believe I was the last person to review this...8 years ago! Here are some new photos from this year of Amanda wearing the outfit with the correct shoes:
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 11, 2017 16:45:51 GMT -5
A new photo from this year of Josefina and Nina in their matching dresses! You can see the slight color difference here, Nina's dress is a bit brighter:
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 11, 2017 16:44:30 GMT -5
A new photo from this year, I've had this outfit for 13 years now and it's still going strong! I love the yellow color, Josefina glows like a candle when she wears it.
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 4, 2017 16:39:31 GMT -5
I didn't know much about Kaya's collection prior to getting the doll this year, but I know most of the early Mattel items, despite not being officially PC, are much nicer than the later Mattel released items (usually tagged with the star in the logo). This is true of Kaya's doll and cradleboard as well. At the moment I have 2 versions of her doll, one sold to me as a "first edition" (evidently from 2002) and another tagged 2012, so I wanted to get some photos to compare the two since I didn't realize this item had changed over its production run. Both dolls are the same size and shape, but the doll on the left (2002) is made from rougher suede in a lighter, more rosy color. (The color difference is not as clear in photos, the newer cradleboard has almost a greenish cast.) The 2012 doll's face is a bit different, her pupils are smaller and her nose is narrower, but her face seems smaller in comparison to her head. The beading is different in both sets. Most noticeably, the little beads hanging from the newer cradleboard are just seed beads and bugle beads, while the older cradleboard has more unique, "shell-like" beads, with each dangle having a different pattern. The two dolls hair shells and dress are also different, particularly the new doll has more uniform, whiter beads, while the earlier doll has more off-white beads and also more organically shaped beads. Lastly, the painted design on the newer cradleboard looks more obviously "printed", while the earlier cradleboard has a design that seems painted. The older cradleboard also has paler, more pleasing colors. I would recommend either doll, they are both well made and amazingly intricate, but if you have the choice definitely go for the earlier doll, she is just that much better! I'd give her an A!
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Post by Wickfield on Oct 26, 2017 17:25:14 GMT -5
Those socks are supposed to be knee socks, it seems.Kit is wearing them up to her knees. Cute! I didn't think they looked right as a 60s outfit when they were pulled up so I scrunched them intentionally. Knee socks were pretty typical for 60s outfits and 30s outfits, but they definitely look cute scrunched!
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Post by Wickfield on Sept 8, 2017 18:55:44 GMT -5
I think this outfit looks great on my #14!
~mod edit to remove dead image link-
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Post by Wickfield on Jul 18, 2017 11:54:48 GMT -5
Love this playset and all the adorable details! The scale is a little small compared to the dolls, but correctly scaled to the furniture (which is typically on the smaller side) so I understand the discrepancy. I'm amazed that it works after all these years! Definitely an A+
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Post by Wickfield on Jul 18, 2017 11:47:17 GMT -5
I've finally started acquiring some of Josefina's rarest sets in an effort to complete my collection, and my most recent score has been the coveted toy farm! I agree with the others, the quality does not at all warrant the high Ebay prices, but the rarity does, since it was only available for a few years. Plus this was such a pivotal item in her stories (it was even mentioned in her latest mystery of all things) that I totally had to have it. It feels very fragile, made of thin wood, glue, and paint that seems easily cracked - I'm terrified I will drop a piece! I honestly wish it was made of the sturdier wood of some of the earlier Mattel accessory sets (like the difference between Kirsten's PM and Mattel tine). I think I could breathe a little easier handling it. It is so cute though, Josefina looks almost happy when she's playing with it! I'd give it a B+.
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Post by Wickfield on Jul 1, 2017 9:55:09 GMT -5
It's not often that I buy a set newly released from AG, but I've been wanting a hamster for years, so when I saw AG had remade McKenna's in different colors I knew I had to have it right away! Obviously $24 is too much to pay for a small, entirely plastic playset but hey, in AG-land that cost is downright cheap! The set includes the plastic habitat with attached water bottle and plastic "bedding", a hamster wheel that really spins, a food dish with molded hamster food, the plastic flocked hamster, and a booklet on hamster care. Like many AG accessories, the habitat is too small to be to scale, there's not much room for the hamster to move! I like the addition of the hamster "bedding" even though it is molded plastic as McKenna's cage seemed very deep and bare without some wood shavings for the hamster to sit on. The shavings don't look exactly realistic though, and I already had some shredded paper from another project which I added into my cage to create some more texture instead. I was surprised the lid just sits on top of the cage, it doesn't click into place so it is easily removed (which can be a good or bad thing). The colors of this cage are more subdued than McKenna's - the bottom is a fuchsia/magenta color, while the lid is a light periwinkle blue. The hamster wheel is a lot of fun, it fits the hamster nicely and is transparent turquoise-colored plastic. The food dish is the same as McKenna's hamster but in a light purple color, with molded hamster food which doesn't look exactly appetizing. The booklet is very basic and boring, I was hoping for a more believable mini book but it is more like a mini magazine with a few random pictures and hamster facts inside - I think it was only added to justify the cost. As for the hamster, he is also a little small to be correct scale and his tiny beady eyes are a little creepy! Online he looked kind of grayish but in real life he has some warmth in his coloring like a typical hamster would have. I like that he is flocked because it adds a little more dimension, so he isn't just another chunk of plastic in the set! Realistically this set is overpriced and it might be worth waiting for it to go on sale in the neighborhood of $14-16 or so. But I'm glad to see AG producing some more small pets other than cats and dogs, hopefully if he sells well we will see more of this trend soon!
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Post by Wickfield on May 5, 2017 11:13:06 GMT -5
I like to pair the Heirloom Accessories with Josefina's Dress and Vest set. I think it looks even better with the red skirt than her turquoise birthday outfit!
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Post by Wickfield on May 5, 2017 11:11:48 GMT -5
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 9, 2016 16:33:12 GMT -5
Here is a photo of the dress on Josefina. It is still not then accurate color of the dress, it's that blue-violet shade that a camera likes to read as pure blue but it definitely has a violet cast in person. I think I would have actually been disappointed had I bought this for my Josefina. She is a slightly tall Mattel girl and the dress hits at her mid-calf, much too high for this style. I tried to put her original Christmas undergarment over it but the dress still hit about 3/4 inch above the ruffle and the extra material made the dress tight across the chest. The color is nice but I still prefer her yellow dress and will be using this for Caroline.
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 9, 2016 15:49:26 GMT -5
I sought out the original wooden violin on Ebay to stand in as Papa's violin in my Josefina collection. I got the wooden one because the chinrest is removable which is how historic violins were used. However I have to say I agree with the reviews above, I'm not all that impressed: It's a cute enough prop, and nicely detailed (the bow has real fibers and the violin wires are actually wires). But in my opinion it seems to be easily damaged. It slips around easily because of how the doll has to hold it and although one time it basically bounced across the floor without damage, when I was taking this photo I dropped it a few inches on the table and dinged the finish. I'd already had to touch up some chips in the finish from the previous owner. Honestly if it wasn't for the attached chinrest I would have rather had the plastic version as it seems to be a lot sturdier. I'd give this one a D.
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 9, 2016 15:45:04 GMT -5
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 9, 2016 15:41:26 GMT -5
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 9, 2016 15:38:37 GMT -5
Here are some pictures of my Lydia wearing the dress - she uses it more than Josefina these days as I think it as a bit more of an English/European look.
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Post by Wickfield on Oct 14, 2016 9:29:11 GMT -5
As soon as the Purple Sparkle Jumper showed up on the gray market I knew I wanted it for Amanda - that metallic headband, rib-knit shirt, and zippered jumper just screamed 1990s, perfect for her character! In fact it seems like a much more realistic rendition of the 1999 AGT "Year 2000 Outfit," so a lovely board member agreed to pick it up for me when she went to an AG store. As I told her, this is the best $14 I ever spent on AG! All three pieces are nicely made, and because they are stretchy they are a fine fit on my PM doll. The shirt is a subdued light lilac color, while the jumper has shades of lilac, magenta, and turquoise with periwinkle trim. The headband is closer in shade to the magenta in the jumper, and the plastic is relatively flexible although I would still be careful with it because anytime you flex plastic it has a potential to break. Interestingly, it is much shorter than some of my old AGT headbands. This actually provides an ok fit as it doesn't try to cover Amanda's ears. However, it does have an annoying tendency to catch strands of hair when you move the doll, which probably won't annoy others as much as it annoys me. Since it is a PWP the outfit doesn't come with shoes and I haven't yet found a pair from my variety of chunky black 90s shoes that are a very good match. Right now I have it paired with the old AGT Doc Martens but they seem rather heavy for the outfit. Dressier shoes, however, seemed too dressy for the outfit's sporty cut. I think something "dressy-casual" like metallic sneakers in a lighter color might be best if you could find them. Lastly, I was excited to find that this set coordinates wonderfully with the AGT "Year 2000 Accessories" - although most of you probably don't plan on having a New Year's Celebration for Y2K, I'm guessing. I'd give this set an A+
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Post by Wickfield on Sept 11, 2016 22:01:43 GMT -5
Jsoefina's Festival Outfit is a very pretty outfit based on the "china poblana" folk costume, and although many people questioned its accuracy at first, like most of Josefina's collection it is a lovely blend of historic and folk styles, right down to the pink shoes. And don't doubt that striking lime green shawl, it is a good match for the Regency color Pomona green - so I was sold right away! I like all the colors in this outfit, it is a very beautiful costume to look at. At first when I took it out of the package it looked rather skimpy to me, like AG was trying to save on fabric, and when I put it on Josefina the skirt looked distressingly short, but when I compared it to other pieces to Josefina's collection it is not actually all that different. I think the skirt just looked short combined with the white socks and flats instead of moccasins which gave the illusion of more leg. So you don't need to be as worried as I was. The camisa is probably the prettiest part, the design is actually machine embroidered and is very intricate. I like the unusual square neckline and lace trim, although I suspect AG reused the pattern for Josefina's new nightgown instead of constructing anything new. The sash is a recolor of both her new blue and original brown meet sash, and is the third red sash in Josefina's collection but I can forgive this as the others (school and Harvest outfits) have been retired, and I really can't think what other color they would have used anyway. I also think it is a little tiring for Josefina to have so many red skirts, but at least this one is nicely done. The skirt is just as intricate as the shirt and I like it because of its detail which is very similar to museum pieces. I do wish the yellow portion at the top had been extended, it seems like it needs to be longer relative to the red portion. The stockings are a good thickness and go a bit above her knee. They are a lot like Caroline's meet stockings. The shoes are also a lot like Caroline's meet shoes, with the addition of little "leather" bows. They don't really match anything in the outfit, but I added the red ribbon and pink flowers from the BF hairstyling set to tie it all together. (In this photo Josefina is also wearing her new mantilla from her Navidad Outfit.) The rebozo was the most controversial bit of this outfit, but I actually like it! The shiny satin adds a nice texture so the outfit is not just a wall of solid cotton. I think some fringe or something would have been a nice addition. Like her Weaving Outfit rebozo, it is on the short side, and hard to wrap around her, so I tend to drape it over her shoulders. Interestingly, I found that all the pieces of this outfit and her original birthday outfit mix-and-match beautifully, so extra points for that! Overall I would give it A-, but I would still recommend it as it comes with lots of playable, versatile pieces.
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Post by Wickfield on Sept 11, 2016 21:48:04 GMT -5
Released in 2016 for $34, retired in 2019. Replaced the earlier Christmas Dress & Mantilla (Holiday Outfit).When Tía Dolores gives Josefina a gift of elegant fabric, she chooses a stylish dress pattern and sews every stitch herself! Celebrate her town’s most blessed holiday, Navidad (Christmas) with this special outfit that features: An empire-waist dress with pretty ribbon details on the sleeves and bodice. White stockings and black shoes. A fine lace mantilla, a veil held in place by a fancy comb.Josefina's Navidad Outfit came out in 2016 as a replacement for her original yellow Christmas dress. Even though I collect for Josefina, I actually bought this outfit for my Caroline doll. After all, it was based off an American dress from museum in NC, so I thought it would work just as well for her Regency collection. The set includes the mantilla with attached comb, the dress, a pair of stockings, and Josefina's FOURTH pair of black flats! (Although I can forgive the flats a little bit, since most people aren't completionists and this outfit has come out when some of the other offenders have already been retired.) The shoes are almost the same as her original Christmas shoes, but they cover a bit more of the top of her foot. The stockings are not ribbed like the originals and they are shorter knee-sock length like most BF stockings. They still feel thick and substantial, however. This time, Josefina's mantilla is white and I believe that, unlike the previous black veil, white is actually the correct color for a young girl. The white veil is the same width as the black one, but it does not scoop down as low in the back (this doesn't make much of a difference when on). It contrasts nicely with Josefina's hair and I find it mix-and-matches much better with the rest of her collection, so she can wear it with her more traditional Mexican outfits as in my pictures here. The comb is basically the same although the prongs are thinner, and instead of transparent brown plastic like my 2004 mantilla, this has a darker brown color swirled in. I think it is supposed to imitate tortoiseshell although it looks more marbled to me. Everything works for Caroline except the mantilla, which is culture-specific. I have to admit that this isn't a very creative dress, considering it is basically just a recolor like many things in Josefina's Beforever collection. The style is similar to Josefina's yellow dress though not quite as detailed, resembling Caroline's dresses a bit more in construction. The fabric is quite surprisingly nice, it feels like a quality taffeta with an interesting woven checkerboard pattern just like the inspiration dress. I would be careful to avoid snags but the dress has snag-free velcro which helps a lot. The color looks more of a royal blue in the photos but in person it has a definite violet slant. I like the navy-blue ribbons although I think they could have been stitched with a touch more care as they are a little bit wavy on the bodice. Overall I give this dress an A- with points deducted for the wonky ribbons and unoriginality. BUT despite those flaws I am still very glad to have it in my collection as it will work for many of my girls!
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Post by Wickfield on Jul 6, 2016 16:30:04 GMT -5
When the Chic Bun first came out it was my least favorite of the hairpieces, I thought it looked goofy, more like a Marie Antoinette hairstyle than a bun! But member photos looked much better than the promos, and so I decided to buy it for my custom Lydia doll. Her hair was definitely long enough to make a bun, but it had a lot of flyaways and frankly I got sick of trying to make a bun look nice on my own! I bought mine from Ebay after it was discontinued from AG for...$7 shipped! And that is a waaaaayyyy better price than the $20 AG asked. I think I would pay up to $10-12. The bun is very nicely made and easy to use. I didn't attempt the looped ponytail, I just followed the instructions in the other reviews upthread, attaching the Chic Bun over a doll's bun and adding the hairpins to help keep the piece secure. With just the combs the hairpiece does have a tendency to gape. I think AG should have "suggested" using bobby pins on the package even if they didn't include them. I bought brown, which is basically the same hair color of dolls like Molly, #7, or #23. It is a close match for my Lydia's non-AG wig, a bit shinier and a bit redder. However, it is not too much of a problem to me as even the official hairpieces for Caroline and Josefina don't match those dolls' hair exactly either. The hairpiece is sort of glued to stay in place. I would keep it away from Velcro in storage because that could easily damage the style and I don't see a good way to fix it, but otherwise it looks pretty sturdy. The braids are a nice touch and work well for a modern or historic style but I wished they crossed in an X instead of an awkward Y-shape. It looks kind of silly from the side but when I make a bun with Lydia's own hair it is about that big anyway. And it definitely doesn't look as exaggerated as on the packaging. I'm glad I took a chance on the Chic Bun, I agree with the review above that says it is totally adorable! I would give it an A-!
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Post by Wickfield on Mar 8, 2016 16:24:21 GMT -5
I just recently purchased this to go along with Amanda's AG Logo PJs. I was afraid it might be WAY too much plaid all together but it really isn't, especially when the robe is closed since it covers up most of the pants anyway. The material is a nice flannel with lots of pretty jewel tone colors! The socks are a little strange, they don't have a heel and it is hard to get them to look right with the cuff of the pajamas. But I always wore socks with my pajamas and not furry slippers so these are pretty accurate at least. I'd give this set an A!
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Post by Wickfield on Feb 9, 2016 16:33:59 GMT -5
Here's a new picture of my Bitty after she got an eyeswap from the doll hospital, I also touched up her face paint a bit: The Mattel eyes are a little different, apart from the firmer lashes they also seem to show more white in the eye, so she looks more "awake".
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Post by Wickfield on Feb 9, 2016 16:32:45 GMT -5
I wanted to share a photo of this outfit on my Bitty. It fits her perfectly and I think the pastel colors and sailor hat work great for a baby!
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Post by Wickfield on Jan 10, 2016 18:23:10 GMT -5
For those of you who own this treehouse, would Kit's desk fit in there? I have the chance to purchase one locally, and would only use it if I can make it into a little room for Kit, with her desk, chair, some accessories. Thanks! I havve this and YES, both my dds have gotten MUCH play time out of this. It will hold Kit's desk and chair quite nicely... With the desk in there, Kit could be in there as well and Ruthie could stand on the porch.
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Post by Wickfield on Jan 3, 2016 13:53:00 GMT -5
I have wanted this outfit ever since I began collecting for Josefina in 2004, and thanks to a generous board member I was finally able to bring it home for a terrific price 11 years later. Even though this is called the Weaving Outfit, I don't think Josefina would ever really do work like weaving or collecting dyestuffs in an outfit this elaborate. After all it has embroidery, ribbon trim, and lovely lace edging! It seems to me like a more authentic counterpart to her Party Dress and Spencer, so that's how I styled it. As some of the other reviewers pointed out, there are a lot of different reds in the outfit, but when they are all put together I think they look really nice. I like the additional earth tones in the skirt, and the multicolored sash keeps the whole thing from looking too monotone. One detail I never noticed until I had the outfit in hand was the zigzag stitching along the ribbon trim! I didn't actually mind the design of the rebozo like some other reviewers, although I was surprised to find it is much shorter than her meet or herb-gathering ones. You certainly can't wrap it around her head, and it is hard to make it drape nicely on her arms. Still, I'm glad it was included. It looks elegant draped over her head too. Because her sash has some blue, in the catalogs this outfit was paired with the blue hair ribbon from Josefina's meet outfit. It also looks good with the braided headband from her BF hairstyling set. Overall I definitely give this outfit an A!!!
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Post by Wickfield on Dec 19, 2015 18:45:05 GMT -5
I got this set when my Bitty had her silver eyes replaced. It is super cute, I've put her in it several times since she's come home, since it makes sense a baby would have hospital clothes. The set includes the hospital gown printed with hearts and butterflies and flowers (it velcros up the back), the pink hat with a matching embroidered heart, and a tiny Get Well Soon card. The only thing I could have wanted was a pair of socks to keep her little feet warm. A+
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