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Post by jennycarlsen on Apr 5, 2011 22:52:38 GMT -5
Kanani is really a beautiful doll, she really was a spur of the moment purchase on my part...I just had to take advantage of the free shipping. Anyway I purchased her and her accessories. She has so much hair and I just love her darker complexion ad well as the face mold. She seems smaller than all my other dolls for some reason...I'm not sure why. It may just be that she is my youngest doll at the moment. Regardless, I love her dress, its so soft and I love the minimal detailing. The beads and flower are a nice touch but I wish the flower was made out of a more realistic looking medium like silk. Her shoes are cute and really up to date with todays fashion. I really think she is one of the prettiest dolls of today American Girl has ever made. Grade: A
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 16, 2011 16:18:51 GMT -5
My Jess doll was given to me as a gift for Christmas/Chanukah 2008...ouch. I never got her when she came out, and I regret that because when i finally decided I did in fact want to continue collecting these dolls, she cost 250$ not including shipping....double ouch. I love her though, she is incredibly pretty and her face mold is so unique, the goldish tint her coloring has is amazing and makes her look even more beautiful. I love the braided pig tails!! I only wish she had a second book as well like the other dolls...it's to bad really. Grade: A
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 16, 2011 15:14:00 GMT -5
There is something about Nicki that I like, i'm not sure what it is exactly but I know that I could never part with her. I genuinely love the country western feel her outfit and story brings to my collections, her sandy blond hair and blue eyes go so well with her outfit; its just amazing. Her light dusting of freckles are just so unique and different than Kits, or Lindsey's, they really make her look adorable. Its to bad I never got her when she first came out, I ended up paying $250 for her to be BNIB, ugh. Never again, from now on I'm going to purchase each GOTY just to be safe. Grade: A
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 16, 2011 14:47:47 GMT -5
Lanie is what I like to refer to as a "beautiful" doll, not pretty, not cute, but beautiful. There aren't many dolls I would put in that category, frankly the only other would be Kailey, and thats only a maybe. Lanie floored me when I received her, she is my FAVORITE doll of any of them, aesthetically speaking. I love the nature theme and I could find a single flaw in her outfit, she was just gorgeous. She is more of a display doll IMO than a doll one would play with, I would be to afraid to ruin her hair if I brushed it to ever consider doing so! Grade: A+
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 16, 2011 14:37:40 GMT -5
Mia is my second favorite doll of any that I own/are made. I love her, her hair is beautiful, her meet outfit is my favorite of any of the dolls ever made, I just love her. I love the lesson that her stories taught, as I believe it is a lesson that to few people know, and that even fewer can manage. I wanted Mia the moment I saw her and I finally received her for Christmas of 2008, I have never taken her out of the box because she looks so perfect as is! I honestly think she is the best GOTY they have made thus far. Grade: A+
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 16, 2011 14:30:00 GMT -5
Chrissa really is "cute" however she isn't anything special or particularly memorable IMO. While I love the Josefina face mold, Chrissa just doesn't pull it off. It makes her appear much to plain. Her meet outfit on the other hand is adorable! I love the shoes and the dress although I feel as though the bracelet was an unnecessary and "cheap" touch, it did little to complete the outfit. She really did have a good story, and is most likely more manageable for younger girls than some of the other dolls AMG has made sue to her short hair. Grade: A-
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 16, 2011 14:23:49 GMT -5
I was so excited when I learned that AMG had finally made an Indian doll! Her skin color is just so different than any of the other dark-skinned dolls, and her hair is so long and silky! I adore her, I much prefer she and Gwen to Chrissa who just didn't make the cut with me. I received Sonali as a 17th birthday gift from my little brother who still cant comprehend my continued obsession with these dolls. None the less I appreciated the gesture. She looks so cute in the different shades of blue and green and I love the concept of her wearing a pull over top as it truly is a modern type of clothing. Grade: A
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 16, 2011 14:18:44 GMT -5
Gwen Thompson is my favorite doll of the three friends, she is just magnificent! I received her, Chrissa and Sonali for my 17th birthday back in 2009 and I have to say she made me disappointed in Chrissa who IMO is not as pretty. I love her hair the style is just adorable! Her dress is absolutely beautiful and I love that her belt is convertible. Her sandals while they are like Jess's the braiding is a different color so as to better match her outfit. My Gwen doll actually has one eye lash that is longer than the other, however I simply never bothered to return her, honestly I have never before had an issue when purchasing american girl dolls, however lately it seems as though AMG is having more and more product control issues. Grade: A+
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 22:57:03 GMT -5
There ins't much I can say about Ivy other than that she is beautiful, frankly speaking I prefer her to Julie a sI find her character more interesting as she is of a vastly different heritage than we have previously seen. I love her ultra straight hair and adore her bangs. Her clothes are just so retro that they are irresistible. Ivy is near the top of my favorite doll list simply because she is so unique. I am not sure why so many people complain about her, her clothes may be difficult to put on but she is perfect. Grade: A- (clothing Issue)
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 22:53:18 GMT -5
I once swore to myself I would never get Julie and Ivy because they weren't "real" historical characters like the others. To me it's to recent to hold the same appeal as the other characters, none the less I ordered both of them and their accessories. Julie really is a beautiful doll, much more so than I previously realized, in many ways she appears similar to Kailey but not quite. She grew on me the moment I saw her and to be honest, I am quite glad I decided to purchase her, she was well worth it and well made. Grade: A
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 22:40:54 GMT -5
I was honestly surprised at how much I ended up loving my Emily doll, at first I didn't think I would like her but i ended up falling in love with her. The only draw back was that when I received her, her hair was already falling out of its hairnet! That was a big problem for me because I collect them in their boxes. None the less, I managed to wrangle her hair back in and have found myself admiring the contrast between her skin hair and eyes, it's just startling the contrast I mean. She really is a beautiful doll and a great doll for young children because of her short hair! Grade: A
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 22:19:54 GMT -5
Rebecca is one of the few dolls that truly garnered an "OMG" reaction from me. I love her, her dress is the most beautiful shade of crimson (also my favorite color!) and her boots are so adorable! She has a lovely complexion and the most delicate curls and soft hazel eyes. She just looks so sweet I don't know what I would do if she wasn't part of my collection! I got her a week after she came out, I simply couldn't wait for my birthday or a holiday, she was to beautiful (the first time I have ever not been able to wait!!!) Grade: A+
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 21:52:05 GMT -5
Addy is an absolutely gorgeous doll. Her hair although frizzy is amazing and fun to style. Her outfits are incredibly realistic and her background story is heartening. I have long heard the complaints that the only African American historical character should not be a run-away slave, however the under ground rail road is paramount to black history and Addy exemplifies that. Addy was the third doll I ever received way back in 1997, however she remains one of my favorites and has since been replaced after years of play so that I can keep her BNIB for my collection. Grade: A
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 21:09:12 GMT -5
I have owned six Josefina dolls in my 18 years of life...not because I collect them but because they have never lasted, granted some of the time I was at fault. The first Josefina I bought took a dip in the pool and the heavy chlorine caused her leg to snap off, my second had powder put in her hair, her nails painted and tattoos courtesy of my sharpie collection. The third I lost while whale watching, the fourth had her hair chopped off and the fifth I sold three weeks ago to purchase one NIB. Needless to say I have owned my fair share of this doll. I have always loved Josefina however her hair bothers me a lot. It is impossible to re-braid or style because it becomes so dry and frizzy. And I distinctly remembering struggling to get her shoes on and off. Regardless she is a beautiful doll who represents a significant staple in my collection. Grade: A- (her hair really bothers me)
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 15:16:59 GMT -5
I received my Ruthie in October of 2009 along with her best friend Kit as a present from my boyfriend. I love Ruthie, she is just perfect, and the purple dress looks absolutely stunning on her! Her eyes are the oddest and most beautiful shade of grey/green, and are my favorite of any american girl doll made thus far. Her dark hair is gorgeous, I sometimes wish they had made her hair darker actually to an almost black. Her dress while beautiful, is very flimsy and snags easily however according to my grand-mother dresses were often made of thin material during the 30's so I guess it is at least authentic. None-the-less, a very beautiful doll who has successfully made my top 3. Grade: A (I still can't get past how flimsy the dress is!)
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 15:04:50 GMT -5
Kaya is a great doll for collectors not so much for children. If you take her hair out of her braids you'll have a real workout getting them back in and they will NEVER look the same. I don't like the newer Kaya doll as much, her face looks much more somber and not stoic like it should. She looked much more authentic when I first bought her in 2002. I do love her outfit though its very real looking and accurate. I am impressed AMG pulled off making an authentic Native American Doll without offending anyone. Grade: A- (Her hair is popping out even though I never removed her from the box!)
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 14:22:56 GMT -5
Elizabeth is probably one of the most important dolls in my collection, not because of her story or how she looks, but because I received her as a Christmas/Chanukah gift from my grand-mother who was my second mother as I lived with her all my life. The day after receiving her she had a stroke and passed away five days later on the 31st. Elizabeth isn't my favorite doll nor is she incredibly beautiful IMO, however she was the last gift I received from my grandmother and therefore she is the third most important doll in my collection. I can't even begin to describe the happy and bittersweet memories this doll invokes, she really was the perfect last gift. Grade: A
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 13:59:05 GMT -5
I absolutely adore Kirsten! I am 100% Norwegian so to me her story is really interesting despite the fact that she is Swedish. I love her long blonde hair and blue eyes, her braids are just adorable. She really does have beautiful coloring and hasn't changed as much as the other historical dolls since Mattel bought Pleasant company, which makes me happy. I love her story but it really is very sad IMO. Her meet outfit is very fitting for the time/culture in which she was raised. Kirsten never used to appeal to me as much as the other dolls which is surprising given my heritage but now I have a greater appreciation for her and even though she isn't one of my top 5, she is still a beautiful doll. Grade: A (the plus is reserved for my absolute favorites!)
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 12:39:49 GMT -5
Kit Kittredge is the perfect American girl doll for a young girl, she is easier to take care of because of her hair and her story is really quite moving especially when taken in context. I received my Kit in October of 2009 as a gift from my boyfriend (he got me both Kit and Ruthie simultaneously). I have to say I was surprised because I though he would assume it was childish to collect dolls, his reaction was quite the opposite he saw them as not only a good investment but encouraged me to further my collection because he could tell I loved these dolls. Needless to say Kit and Ruthie hold a very special place in my heart, because they were given as a gift from someone special and because I learned that collecting dolls as an adult and playing with dolls as a child truly are two separate entities (and yes we are still together). Grade: A (I reserve the + for my absolute favorites)
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 12:20:27 GMT -5
I received my Felicity doll this past Chanukah, as a gift from my mother. I have owned Felicity dolls before and to be honest much preferred the old Rose Garden Dress as her meet outfit, simply because it seemed to fit the time period more appropriately. This new dress is made of wind-breaker like material and IMO isn't as pretty. Unfortunately I have been on a "kick" these past couple of years, and my obsession has been owning all 26 dolls NIB. Thus, I had to trade up for the New Felicity doll, and could only afford her by selling my old one. (There are 26 dolls some of which are discontinued! I'm not made of money!!). It's to bad because before mattel took over these dolls used to be $84 a piece and much more affordable! None the less the doll is beautiful, and I lover her hair and pin curls! Her eyes are my favorite feature though, I love how bright green they are. Grade:A (can't give the + because of the gown)
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 11:42:40 GMT -5
Samantha has and always will be my favorite doll! She was the first one I got and the only one who I "collect" for. I have the WG version of her from 1986 NIB, and one other pre-mattel white bodied Samantha who I still play "dress-up" with. Her hair is just so beautiful and I really sympathize with her story as she and I were raised under similar circumstances. I thought her meet outfit was beautiful and suited her beautifully. I like the simplicity of her outfit but I did notice some changed in her appearance or more specifically her meet dresses appearance. The fabric is thinner and the checkered pattern is more pronounced, I much preferred the way it used to be, also their are obvious changes to her face mold and the newest version has an almost "Jess like" look. It's to bad really, she was much prettier IMO before Mattel changed her appearance. Grade:A+
Mod edit to remove broken image link
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Post by jennycarlsen on Mar 15, 2011 1:15:50 GMT -5
I got Lindsey back in 2001 when I was 10, and the first thing I did was tear her out of her box and her box to shreds. Lindsey took the brunt of my abuse IMO. I painted her nails, coated her eyes in nail polish to make them "shiny", and drew on her. It got so bad that I sent her to the doll hospital for a new head and am now selling her. I recently purchased a NIB Lindsey off craigslist for $100 *A steal*. She really did considering everything I put her through hold up really well. When I first got her, I didn't think she was pretty, and I honestly didn't like her, now she is in my top 5. She really grew on me, I love her auburn hair and beautiful blue eyes and her freckles are just adorable! It took a long ten years, but Lindsey and I have finally bonded! Grade A- (Because the hair is already dried out even though she is BNIB!)
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