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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 6, 2013 23:27:11 GMT -5
Kirsten needs a carpetbag to haul things around! The bag is thick and fairly large. It has leather-looking handles and top. The "clasp" is just a flap from the back side that slides into a slot on the front. The flower motif is very pretty. The bag expands to hold quite a bit of things. As you can see, I like to keep Kirsten's St. Lucia tray and pieces in there, but it actually can fit quite a bit more than that. Note, my carpetbag is *not* lined. I give the carpetbag a B. It's very pretty and can hold quite a bit, but Kirsten can't really hold it easily and otherwise it kind of seems a little out of place when I display it. It's a beautiful piece, don't get me wrong... it's just hard to figure out what to do with it sometimes.
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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 6, 2013 23:18:19 GMT -5
Kirsten needs some entertainment if she's going to get through those long winters!! Her past-times set comes with a little paper thaumatrope toy. On one side is a picture of a cage, and on the other side is a little bird. There is red string attached to either side of the disk, and if you pull it taut with both fingers and twirl the red string, it looks like the bird is in the cage. I love Kirsten's paper dolls. It comes with a little white envelope which holds the doll, four hats and four outfits. It's very easy to lose these little pieces, so I always keep them in the envelope. Her paper accessories are fun to play with, but very fragile and easily lost. I can't believe I still have all of the pieces from my childhood. Kirsten's snowshoes are the main draw of this set, which were later sold without the paper toys. They are also very fragile, but detailed and so awesome. There is a leather strap that can be unbuckled, but I usually leave it buckled and slide it over the top of Kirsten's boots. There are two wooden pieces going across the snowshoe which are the exact width of Kirsten's boots (her red ones and probably her two-tone and black boots as well). As a result, her feet sort of "snap" into the snowshoes, but they don't always stay there too well. For display purposes, it's just fine, but play can prove a little aggravating. She stands really well in them, though. I give this set an A. I always love paper dolls, and fun little accessories. The snowshoes are just awesome. It is probably hard to find the paper items intact now, but I'm sure there are scans of them somewhere so you can print your own if you need to have them. Otherwise, the snowshoes themselves are totally worth it.
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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 6, 2013 23:04:10 GMT -5
There are so many great reviews of this set already, but I thought I'd add my own pictures anyway. Kirsten's mittens are attached by a long string that goes through her sweater so she doesn't lose them. The underside is a checkerboard pattern and the top of the mitten has a picture of a girl. There are no thumbs in these mittens. They are so cute and cozy-looking. Like everything else I put on Kirsten's head, her hat pushes her bangs into her eyes. It looks so warm, and I love the huge black yarn pompom! The pattern of the sweater is so beautiful. Her fingers like to get caught in the loops on the inside when you try to put the sleeves on, so be careful! When closed, you can't see the beautiful waist detail on her winter skirt, which is kind of sad. She looks snug as a bug in a rug, though!! I give this set an A+! It goes beautifully with the rest of Kirsten's winter gear, and I would love to have a set of my own! It is so sweet, and has so much detail.
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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 6, 2013 21:58:09 GMT -5
Kirsten's ready for Winter in Minnesota! The blouse is white, with a little keyhole opening at the neck with a button at the top. The button is just for show- it doesn't actually open and close the neck. The blouse has no other remarkable features. It's good that the top is plain-- it helps bring focus to the details of the other pieces of the outfit. (Note: The white you see below the keyhole opening in the picture below is from her underwear set. Otherwise, you'd see the color of her body fabric showing through.) The two hair ribbons are beyond adorable. They are black with a white border and beautiful embroidered red and white flowers. These are my favorite hair ribbons for Kirsten, and by far the most detailed. The skirt is the best part of all. It is black and thick with a beautiful embroidered waist. It is so colorful and shows beautiful flowers. It gives homage to her Swedish background. The waist on the skirt alone gives so much character to this outfit! The bottom of the skirt has one green and one red stripe to tie in with the color scheme of the ribbons and waist detail. The one bad thing about the skirt is that it attracts lint like nobody's business! I give this outfit an absolute A+!!! It is so gorgeous with bright details. It especially looks good paired with Kirsten's red boots, as was shown in the catalogs. I say definitely get it if you can acquire it for a reasonable price. It is beautiful and so very Kirsten!
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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 3, 2013 12:22:24 GMT -5
Kirsten needs to be cozy and warm, especially if she's going to go get herself stuck in snowstorms! The top is very long, going to just above her knees. It's soft and crisp white. There is some plain loopy trim going around the arms and neck. The top closes with a little button in the back, instead of the usual velcro. This is a nice touch. The slit in the back is long enough that there's not too much problem getting it onto the doll. The set comes with socks that are exactly the same thickness, feel, and design as her summer socks, except that these are black/gray. Maybe that keeps her warmer? I would think the socks that come with her meet outfit would be more substantial for winter weather. Maybe they're meant to go under a heavier pair of socks. The skirt is also soft and crisp white. It has a bulky elastic waist that just slides up over the top. I love underwear sets, but as usual, it makes any over-clothes fit quite a bit more tightly. When she's in her full winter gear, the poor thing can hardly move... but that's typical of real-life, too isn't it? The bottom of the skirt is quilted. It's not any thicker, but it does provide a little interesting detail to an otherwise very plain set. I give the underwear set a B-. It's not really necessary-- it doesn't make her Winter outfit look any different (except for a tighter fit) and it obviously can't be seen when she's wearing it under other things. New socks are nice, but kind of impractical-- they do match her Winter outfit and sweater colors, though. It's pretty plain, but I'm sure that's true to what Kirsten would have worn.
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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 2, 2013 23:37:23 GMT -5
Kirsten gets a tray of St. Lucia buns ready to bring to the family bright and early. I love this little tray. Mine is the raised handle version. Kirsten can't hold it unless you use clear elastic ties or something, which is a bit of a bummer, but I just display it on her washstand in front of her. The little candle and heart base is very simple, but cute. The candle is removable from the base, and is very similar to the wooden candles that come with some versions of her St. Lucia wreath. It is painted wood with a red tip. It has two hard-plastic buns. They look pretty good, but certainly not real. It has a little sprig of greenery to spruce up the tray that matches her wreath, with a red ribbon and berries. The tray itself is a lightweight wood, painted blue. It has kind of a rustic look to it, as the paint isn't even or shiny. The cloth is a plain red and white gingham with frayed edges. Mine does not like to lay nicely, but it's very pretty against the blue tray. All told, the tray is a good play and display piece, but I can't help but feel like it's missing something. A small mug of coffee maybe, like in the book? Secondary market prices are really high on this set for what comes with it, but Kirsten isn't St. Lucia without her tray! I give the set a B. I would look into making a set of your own, which wouldn't be too hard to do, unless you want official AG items only.
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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 2, 2013 23:12:52 GMT -5
Kirsten works really hard to make a St. Lucia wreath in time for St. Lucia Day! I love that the St. Lucia theme brings some of Kirsten's Swedish heritage to her collection. The version I have is with the wooden candles, that are removable. There are tiny little plastic holders in the base of the wreath that are kind of hard to find, and hold the candles. Not very firmly, but it does the job. It is such a beautiful and festive piece... and very large! There are little berries and red ribbons all over it. The tips of my candles are red, which is better than the brown that others have shared pictures of, but the wooden candles have their own problems, too. The paint has scratched and cracked over the years, and it takes a little work to get them all in the wreath and to stay there. This is just fine for display, but for play it might prove a little difficult to keep the candles in. The bulky wreath stays on Kirsten's head pretty well, but has the tendency to push her bangs down into her eyes. Mine, despite having the wooden-candle version, also has the problem of the candles all bending slightly inwards. This is kind of annoying to me, I have to admit. Overall, the wreath is a vital piece of her St. Lucia outfit. The dress really needs the wreath to look complete. It has its flaws, but makes for a great holiday display piece for Kirsten. It is unique and beautiful. I give it a B.
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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 2, 2013 22:54:27 GMT -5
Kirsten is so anxious to have her doll back in time for the holidays! "] My Sari is the Mattel version. I love how different all of the Saris have looked, and she is such a sweet little doll. I love how she looks just like Kirsten. She has the sweetest little sewn-on face. I think some of the pre-mattel faces show a little more character, but I love this one, too. I love the multiple types of fabric used. It gives Sari more of a "homemade and well-loved" feel to her. Her blue dress echoes Kirsten's meet dress, and her little pink feet are so darling. None of her pieces come off, but this type of doll I don't believe is really made to be a fashion doll, but a huggable personal companion (which she pulls off really well). I give Sari an A-. She is very important to Kirsten in the books, and is vital to her collection. If only the newer historical girls had their dolls, I would be so happy- but that's another topic for another thread. If you can find her for a good price, I would say get her. Otherwise you could probably make a just-as-adorable one from scraps.
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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 2, 2013 22:33:50 GMT -5
Kirsten is ready to be St. Lucia in her re-purposed white nightgown! The dress itself is fairly plain, but that's just fine because it's not supposed to be frilly or complicated. The red woven sash is sewed into the back of the dress, and you bring it around and tie it in the front. The sleeves are wide and open at the bottom, with a plain trim that is the same as found around the neck. Her hair ribbons are the same woven material and same shade as the sash. The outfit does not have shoes, but does come with red and white striped socks that are about the same thickness and feel as her summer socks... maybe a little thicker. Overall, it's a very pretty dress. this is not one that I owned as a child, because my mother thought it was very plain and looked like a nightgown (which it was supposed to, according to the books). It is all red and white, and without the wreath is nothing special, but Kirsten looks adorable in just about anything! Overall, I give the dress a B. It is a beautiful holiday display outfit, but is best with the wreath.
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Post by 12kizuna on Sept 7, 2010 13:17:22 GMT -5
I broke down last year and bought Felicity's Table and chairs from AG. I have admired it for a long time in the old magazines, and it was my first piece of AG furniture. The table is a gorgeous wood piece, stained a dark cherry color. The chairs are stained to match. Please ignore the uneven surface the table is standing on (it's actually my bed... ) The edge of the table is scalloped, making it very fancy! The table locks in place on the bottom, and the tabs can be moved so the top can tilt (hence, a "tilt-top" table). Be warned that this furniture set is a DUST MAGNET. I have to dust it very often while on display to keep it looking nice. Maybe it's the dark color of the stain or something, I don't know. It had been dusted before taking this picture, though, but you know how cameras make everything look like it hasn't been dusted. The tilt-top makes the table much easier to store. The chairs are a gorgeous design. While the covering on the chairs seem to be a bit slippery, I've never had much problem getting Felicity to sit on them. Especially if the doll is tucked into the table, they tend to sit fine for me. I think the blue is a great color for Lissie. Lissie sitting at the table to emphasize my point. Overall: This furniture set is gorgeous and timeless. It's unique and stores well. Felicity's tea set and treats look very pretty set up on the table, also. Dust it well and dust it often, and you're golden. Grade: A+
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Post by 12kizuna on Aug 4, 2010 10:30:21 GMT -5
Kirsten's meet accessories are just precious for her and round out her meet outfit perfectly. Her checkered bonnet is thin and made of an adorable gingham print, and ties under her chin. Her spoon bag is just as sweet with her initials embroidered on and the year. It ties around her waist. The spoon itself is wooden and pretty plain, which is just perfect for a little pioneer girl. The handkerchief is embroidered around the edge and not printed, which gets a big A+ from me. It folds up perfectly to fit in her little apron pocket where it is available whenever she needs to use it! Her necklace is on a delicate brown ribbon, and the heart is plastic. I lost mine long ago and had to buy a replacement. It completes her look, and reminds Kirsten of her grandmother in Sweden, so it's important for her to wear! Overall: Kirsten is not complete without her accessories! This is one accessory set that is definitely worth the money, and comes with quite a few adorable and well-made things. Even if you have to buy it on e-bay, I say go for it! Grade: A+++++++
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Post by 12kizuna on Aug 2, 2010 10:55:37 GMT -5
Felicity was once my sister's, but I have since adopted her. Felicity has the gorgeous red hair of PM dolls, and I love her dearly. My sister regularly played with her hair and over the years it has dried out, and she has lost about half of her pincurls. I have yet to re-do them. her eyes are bright green, and can be a little odd close up, but are really gorgeous with her red hair. I really love her meet dress, much more so than the purple travel gown that has replaced it. It is classic and sweet, and really is perfect for the time period. Her cream hair ribbon is very darling, also. Felicity's shoes fit either foot, as is true of the time period. I can't remember if her buckles were shiny when new or not, it seems they've dulled over time. I can't remember, though. Felicity's stockings are thick and stay up very well on their own, without the garters from her meet accessories. Her shift is thin and could serve as a nightie, and fits under any clothing (with some adjustment so it doesn't show). The low, wide neck has elastic and the sleeves are short. Overall: Though old, she has held up well over time, despite dry hair. Be careful of her pincurls, as they are easily lost while styling, but also easily found again and can be recurled. I absolutely love her red hair and she will always hold a very dear, special place in my collection as the first American Girl doll I was ever exposed to. Grade: A+++++++
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Post by 12kizuna on Mar 14, 2010 15:19:04 GMT -5
Kirsten is and always will be my favorite girl. I didn't know where to stick her as I believe her to be a transitional Kirsten. She is from the 90's, and shows signs of both PM and Mattel dolls. She has a body tag, but all of her clothes, her neckstamp, and everything I got for her around that period of time are marked Pleasant Company. I love her dearly as she was the first AG doll of my very own. I received her for Christmas when I was younger. I take her braids out of their loops regularly, but the braids are her original braids. I was meticulous about keeping her nice when I was younger, and boy am I glad I did! Her hair is not the least bit dry, except for possibly the very ends of the braids. Perhaps it is luck, or perhaps it is the cool, dry, upper NY weather. Who knows. Kirsten has gorgeous long blond hair and cool blue eyes. Everything about her is sweet. She comes in an adorable blue calico cotton dress, with a striped apron of thicker material. The apron has a little pocket. She has light blue woven hair ribbons, also. Her boots are brown and soft, though not very sturdy. Her socks are thick and go up to below her knee. She has white eyelet pantelettes, also! Overall: She is my favorite American Girl doll ever, and will always hold a dear place in my heart. She is gorgeous and I love her stories and character. I will always be the biggest Kirsten fan. Grade: A+++++++
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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 23, 2010 22:51:30 GMT -5
I just got this and love it! The Easter dress is cotton, with a sweet bunny, duck and flower print. There's two plastic pearly buttons underneath a white collar. The collar on the dress is the same material as the bonnet, which is a soft, kind of odd material. There is a satin baby blue ribbon on the bonnet that velcroes to the other side of the hat, under bitty's chin. There are various little flowers on the ribbon, too. The socks are white, scalloped-edged socks that are identical to those sold with some of Bitty's other sets. The shoes are plastic, and of the same mold typical of early bitty booties. The book with this set is called "Bitty Bear Colors Eggs", and is identical to that which is sold with the later, purple dress Easter set. The strange thing is that this set came out before the purple spring dress did, but the book cover pictures Bitty Bear wearing the purple dress. Anyways, it is a paint-with-water book. Remember those? You dip your paintbrush in water and colors magically blend together on the page. All of the pictures are of different egg designs. Bitty bear gets the CUTEST bunny ears and bow tie, both elastic, and stay in place nicely. The toy is a plastic basket with an attached duck. When you push it down it makes a squeaky noise. Very baby appropriate. Overall: This is my favorite of all bitty baby's Easter outfits, though the plastic shoes leave much to be desired. The book was a touch of nostalgia, and most of all I find the outfit to be very appropriate for a baby's first Easter. It's soft and sweet and I absolutely adore the flowers on the bonnet. For some reason, though, I can't help but feel there's something lacking in the dress. I feel like there should be thicker material in the skirt part, or some sort of bloomer underneath. Grade: A-
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Post by 12kizuna on Jan 22, 2010 14:05:23 GMT -5
This is such a sweet set for bitty! The snowsuit is nice and thick and seems very warm, with fake fur on the edges. The booties are connected to the snowsuit as a onesie-type deal. The mittens are separate but are attached to the snowsuit with strings. There's a zipper up the front, and has strings connected to the hood that tie under bitty's chin with big pom-poms on the ends. The book that comes with this set, "Bitty Bear's Frosty Fun" is a colorform book. It comes with a sheet of stick-ons that cling to the cardboard pages. It is a storybook on one side, and the other side has a winter scene onto which you can cling the stick-ons. Of course, bitty bear has to have a hood, too! I think it's just adorable. The toy that comes with the set is a jingle-toy. You push the snowbear over and it pops back up with a deep jingle very typical of baby toys. His arms can move. Overall: I adore this outfit! It's one of the early ones available for bitty, and comes with a lot of things for the price. I find the snowsuit easy to put on, but I don't typically put anything on underneath it. It looks so cozy and the soft stripe and heart pattern is so cute! The strings that tie under bitty's chin slip out of a bow easily, though, but that's nothing major. Grade: A
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