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Post by Kirsten Collector on Aug 7, 2012 2:35:10 GMT -5
I got a pre-loved nightie for my Kirsten in an eBay lot. I believe it is from the mid or late 90s, at least, maybe older. It had been previously washed but when I got it, there were some stains, so it got an oxy soak in the kitchen sink in some fairly warm water. It came out nice and soft and white, and it dried with less wrinkles and with the yarn nice and flat. However, after a few days of my doll wearing it with her housecoat and sockor, and me taking her out and putting her away several times, it has already gotten dirty. I guess it is to be expected with flannel; it is just a dirt magnet. I feel like my nightgown is a little too short on my Kirsten... I don't know if it is a design choice, if the length has changed at all over the years, or (more likely) if my gown has experienced a lot of hot water shrinkage. The sleeves still come to her wrists just fine, but I am disappointed when clothing is not preshrunk, especially if it is going to have to be washed a lot like children's toys, and especially if it is white! I just wish the nightgown came down farther to her ankles.
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Trunk
Jul 29, 2012 4:20:09 GMT -5
Post by Kirsten Collector on Jul 29, 2012 4:20:09 GMT -5
I have a Pleasant Company trunk. I got it from PC in (I think) 1997. The colors on the design resemble the "AG" version posted by dclmom, but on mine they are clearly hand-painted or hand-stenciled.
Ever since I got the trunk, my Kirsten has lived in it when I'm not playing with her. In fact, She probably came out of the trunk only 5 or 6 times, to be inspected, since I "grew out of" playing with dolls. I always cared for her, but she (and her things) have basically been in storage for at least 12 years. The trunk is sturdy, and I could lift it even as a younger girl. It has done a great job protecting the doll and items.
I recently cleaned out all the dust gathered in the corners and gave it a good scrub. There was a stain inside for a long time, and paper towels with a little non-toxic Method cleaner took it right off, without any change to the trunk at all. It cleans up very well. I have been careful not the scratch the outside too badly... and I admit that there is some blue paint transfer on my closet shelf where the feet have been resting for the last 3 years.
Inside, I stored Kirsten's entire meet outfit and accessories, the doll cleaning kit, hairbrush, Sari, hospital gown and bracelet, plus a bunch of junk and knickknacks that I was playing with for her last, at I guess about age 10 or 11 (pretty sure the weird puckery expandable Walmart top she was wearing, meant for real girls but doll sized when removed, was a fad circa 2000). Also inside were her paperback boxed set of core books, the Kirsten paper dolls set (still un-cut out), and her book of crafts. (And again, flashback alert, a bag full of hair accessories including those tiny plastic butterfly clips and blue and green hair mascara from the dollar store! Score!) With all this in the trunk, and Kirsten on top, there was still TONS of room.
I recently began collecting for her, and so far have added her birthday outfit with wreath, school dress with shawl, housecoat and sockor, and friendship quilt and kit. No surprise, there is still a huge amount of room in the trunk that I look forward to someday filling.
I love this trunk and am glad I chose it as my Star Wars bribe, instead of another doll like my sister did (though her Addy was such a great choice... she was a 6 year old with good taste). If you like to have the furniture in your collection, or to keep each doll's thing separate, I think it's a good storage solution if you have a sensible place to put the trunk. It fits nicely under a tall bed, and like I mentioned earlier, mine goes horizontally on the shelf in the top of my closet.
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Post by Kirsten Collector on Jul 29, 2012 3:54:02 GMT -5
I got this outfit from a nice family off of Craigslist. The dress came to them from an older cousin so they though it might be mid or late 90s era. It's in lovely condition, as well as the apron. They didn't have the socks.
But the flower wreath was included and the flowers look kind of... dead. All shriveled, and it looks like the glue that holds the assembly of the flowers (like, holds the middle to the petals, and the petals to the green hips) has turned brown.
Has anyone else seen this before? Any idea what causes it or how I can clean it up a little? I might just try to wet the flowers down and reshape them, and use either some sort of solvent or whitener on the glue.
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