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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Sept 10, 2006 13:09:45 GMT -5
I do like this dress - especially because the hat is actually a buckram frame covered in the eyelet material, instead of just being a mob-cap. But somehow the version I have is extremely yellow. Not the soft off-white of everyone else's. I might think about exchanging it.
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Sept 10, 2006 22:08:36 GMT -5
Sam's accessories were the first thing I bought as an adult. (And so an obsession game back to life.) I love the entire outfit. The new sets don't have the real Indianhead penny, but they do have the pictures of Sam's parents to cut out and paste in the locket.
Has anyone else noticed that the hat goes with Sam's talent show outfit? I love mixing and matching!
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Jan 6, 2007 13:18:08 GMT -5
I just got the trunk! The PC version with the original brass plaque. I love it!
As a collector's peice, it's beautiful. There is plenty of room in the drawers and the shelves for Sam's small things. Under the dresses is a great place for the shoes and large items like umbrellas and croquet set.
However, the dress will not hold all of her things - period. Too many dresses, too many hats. So for storage it's not so great.
It is quite sturdy and it's so great to open it up and see all her stuff! Just like that old-fashioned trunk that 'inspired' the American Girls in the first place...
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Dec 13, 2006 23:33:48 GMT -5
The body is a little loose if it's over her Christmas or any other dress that's tight in the bodice, but the sleeves are very tight over the sleeves, especially when I run the mitten cord through them.
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Dec 11, 2006 23:40:22 GMT -5
I like the coat better than I did two years ago, when it came out. For some reason it seems to fit better. However, like most American Girl outerwear, they seem to have forgotten that an outfit would be worn underneath it, and it is tight over all her outfits. The mittens are a nice touch and the fur trim is very nice.
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Dec 11, 2006 23:45:50 GMT -5
I got this off of ebay. Mine is the later version with five (larger) tubes of paint. Even after all these years, the paint was still good! (I had meant to bid on the six-tube version, bu missed it.) This is a marvelous set and well worth buying, even at inflated ebay prices. The pack basket isn't part of the set, it was just there to prop it up.
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Jan 14, 2007 23:15:44 GMT -5
The dress can be worn with either her Meet hat or her Bird-Watching hat. It also works with her Party Shoes and Socks. Finally something somewhat versatile!
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Sept 10, 2006 13:26:36 GMT -5
I love this dress; it looks like the dresses in some of the photos in the "Peek into the Past" sections. The tucking detail on the dress, under the Bertha, is a nice touch.
However, the material is extremely thin - thinner even than the white material on Nellie's Meet dress - and apparently always has been. I compared my version to a friend's pre-Mattel. I think I need to get Sam's lacey whites so that she doesn't outrage modesty!
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Jan 14, 2007 18:26:48 GMT -5
I just bought this outfit today and I think they have changed the fabric. The stripes on mine are solid when viewed close up. I also think the lace is different on the sleeves and pinafore. I'm a little disappointed. However, I was able to clip the stich holding the circlet on the card. I'm almost certain you're supposed to. Now it can be tied.
Overall I still prefer the one my mother made for me when I was little.
B
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Jan 6, 2007 0:40:00 GMT -5
I do adore this outfit - so sporty! I love that it is such a different color from the rest of her collection. The blouse has tucking detail on the collar and has a 'pouter pigeon' front - so fashionable in the early 1900's! Although others have said the bloomers were skimpy, I think mine are actually a little on the too-big side. My only objection to the set is that the elastic on the hat is white. It should be a dark color, like Sam's hair, so that it could be hidden. I took it off and colored it with a Sharpie, then sewed it back on. You could also replace the elastic with a new dark colored one if it bothers you. Edit: I finally have pictures! Since I first posted this, I've noticed a problem with the spats - they stretch out of shape if not handled carefully. Still love the outfit, though.
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Mar 3, 2007 22:25:50 GMT -5
Aside from the original furniture, this is one of THE best peices in Sam's collection. It's mostly metal, with a rubbery seat and wheels. The basket on the front is adorable, as are the flowers. SA did a great job describing it, so the only thing I have to add are some pictures. As you can see, it's pretty tall. But Sam sits on it perfectly. I usually only use one of the pedal straps, and it holds her on well enough. Just a side view.
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Dec 27, 2007 13:05:50 GMT -5
I got this outfit for Christmas. I love it! The fabric is actually woven, not printed, and the embroidery is well done. My one problem is the problem I have will all AG shawls - it's too small! Overall, a very worthwhile dress. A-
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Jan 3, 2008 19:02:57 GMT -5
My candles are rubbery. I am a little irritated because they are angled inward, and I have to shove the wreath pretty far down on Kirsten's head to get them to stand up straight. But the wreath is very nice, and such a great accessory! A+
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Jul 7, 2007 18:23:35 GMT -5
Kaya's Doll and Cradleboard was released in 2002 and retired in 2015. Kaya's Doll (without the cradleboard) was reintroduced in 2019.
Kaya borrows this doll from her sister Speaking Rain after they’re taken captive. It comes with a cradleboard, which kept a baby snug and secure while its mother worked, walked, or rode her horse.
When Kaya and her sister Speaking Rain are captured by another tribe, Kaya escapes to go find help. She carries her sister’s doll with her—and later uses the doll to find her sister with the help of her dog, Tatlo. The faux-suede doll has a hand-beaded faux-leather dress, printed face, and long braids.
Grade: A+ for idea, C for execution. Includes: Doll, cradleboard, wrap and "sinew" tie.
This is, hands down, my favorite AG doll. I took it out of the box and instantly fell in love with her pretty face. She is a great size for Kaya.
The doll's face and the cradelboard designs are painted on, but very nicely done. The doll's face is particularly nice; I'm sorry I couldn't get a good close-up. She is sweet! Her hair is made from the same material as Kaya's, but I would NOT recommend taking it out. There isn't much of it. She has ear shells and her dress is decorated, and she even had tiny moccasins!
However. It is incredibly difficult to get the doll back into the cradleboard. First, you have to wrap her back up into the leather blanket; but the "sinew" to tie it together is too short. The blanket is a little too small, but that does make it easier to tuck her back into the board.
Next problem is that the laces to hold the doll in is a peice of easily frayed embroidery-weight floss. You have to pull it out completely to get the doll back in, and lacing it back into the loops (also made of thread) is not easy. I plan to replace the floss with an actual leather thong.
Also, I could not figure out how Kaya would possibly wear the board. There's only one thong on the back. It's too short to hang well from her forehead, and it won't fit over her head to go around her neck or shoulders.
All of these issues aside, the doll is wonderfull. There are great details. Another hearily rcommendd product (although more for display or a very patient child!)
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Jul 7, 2007 18:12:00 GMT -5
Kaya's Adorned Deerskin Dress was introduced in 2002. It was later sold as Kaya's Deerskin Outfit, and it retired in 2018. This outfit is worn by Kaya in some of her books.
Kaya saves this deerskin dress for special occasions. It’s trimmed with a row of dyed porcupine quills, plus pretty trade beads and elk’s teeth. The better the hunters in a girl’s family, the more teeth she would have on her dress. Kaya’s dress comes with matching moccasins and a woven belt.
Grade: A Includes: Dress, moccassins, and belt. This dress is lovely. The paler brown of the leather suits Kaya much better than the yellow-brown of her Meet dress. The details are very nice: The shoulder has three rows of "porcupine quills" in red, white and blue. There are long fringes on the front of the dress that hold pairs of "elk teeth" and trade beads in red and blue. There are also teeth and beads on the skirt of the dress, hung singly instead of in pairs. The belt is a woven design mounted on brown webbing and closing with velcro. The moccasins are the same as her Meet outfit, maybe a little nicer. My biggest problem with this dress is the belt. It is very tight, even after I played around with the fringe on the sides of the dress. Poor Kaya is squished. Also, I don't like that it was mounted on webbing; I would have preferred just the wove design. Also, like most AG outfits, the detail on the collar doesn't go all the way around. However, this dress is a "must" for Kaya!
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on May 19, 2007 14:13:32 GMT -5
This set is great! The hat is so nice when it is put on Kaya properly (like in the picture above.) Historical problem: the hat would likely not have been lined. There's a reason it looks like a basket - it could be used as one! And most functional baskets aren't lined. The feathers on the leather trim is a great touch.
The bracelet is kind of an eh; it's plastic and definitely feels like it.
The parfleche is awful. You can put, maybe, her bag and belt pouch in it. It's supposed to hold her adorned dress, and certainly doesn't! Plus it just looks cheap.
So, hat: A+. Bracelet: B. Parfleche: D. Overall, a B-.
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on May 19, 2007 14:07:00 GMT -5
I have finally started to play with my Kaya. I give her an A.
I do not see the problems with her hair that others do. Yes, it's long and yes it seems a little dry, but brushing and braiding it doesn't seem that problematic. Once I finally got over the sadness at losing the perfectly-straight ends of the braids (which, face it, aren't realistic), I loved doing her hair. It's so long, soft and wavy!
I like her meet outfit. It's comfortable and the details are nice. The only reason Kay gets an A and not an A+ is that I think it's chintzy that the neck beading doesn't go all the way around her shoulders - it's just in front. I was very surprised the dress was real leather, but I appreciate the authenticity.
No problems with the moccasins.
My Kaya's cheeks and lips are rosy, and I like her!
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on Oct 21, 2007 16:46:33 GMT -5
Original Tepee:
After reading the description several times, I have realized that the teepee is not supposed to be full-sized. It's a model. One of Kaya's books talks about how girls used to practice building teepees for their dolls, or as mini-clubhouse kind of things. So it's not meant to be completely full-sized, although I do think it's bit big if it's supposed to be a model! (And yes, it's definitely weird that it's made out of leather rather than the tule mats she would have really used.)
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Post by C.I.Fairfield on May 19, 2007 14:10:22 GMT -5
This is the second accessory I bought for Kaya. The hood and cape just make her look so cozy! I agree there are some issues with hood fitting, especially when she is wearing her hair shells. I also have never cared for AG mittens, but these fit better than some others.
And, this is a small quibble, but - the different leathers actually seem to 'clash' with Kaya's meet dress. I don't think she'd be wearing her adorned dress for Traveling. I wish they'd done a better job making things match. Although that probably wouldn't have been a real concern for Kaya!
Overall, a B.
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