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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Sept 3, 2010 18:01:09 GMT -5
I ordered this set in August 2010 when the Felicity/Elizabeth archival was announced. If I could describe this purchase in two words it would be epic fail. Upon opening the box you are greeted with the shine of plastic. Everything is plastic except for the feed bags and cardboard backdrop. Even though the cardboard backdrop is a little short, it does appear to be somewhat durable and has a wooden board print on the back which could double as a backdrop for Kirsten's cabin which is a bonus. I should have heeded EofA's review and not got my hopes up as a collector, but unfortunately I did. All of the good items went away after this set was revised. Overall rating: D.
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Jan 5, 2010 22:07:07 GMT -5
The mano and metate in the current set are different than the ones that were included in the Cocina Set. The current ones definitely seem plastic, versus my old set that felt heavier and more like stone. The reason I purchased this set was for the oven - which I missed the first time around and don't think I have the skill to make it myself. The other things that come with the set I could probably live without.
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on May 20, 2009 18:28:22 GMT -5
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Jun 6, 2008 0:33:43 GMT -5
This piece took the place of Felicity's Clothes Press in 2005. It retired with Felicity's archival in 2010.AG description: Colonial homes didn’t have closets, so people often stored clothes in a clothes press. This wooden trunk features elegant brass hardware, and can hold up to two dolls inside. Store clothing and accessories with the three hooks and two toilé boxes. W: 15", H: 26", D: 8".Overall Grade: A-I am a fan of the first clothes press and was not crazy about this piece when it first came out in the catalog. It grew on me after time and my opinion of it went up when I saw it in person. It is made of sturdy wood and is the equivalent in quality to some PM furniture that I've seen in person. I do wish that it had drawers or shelves inside, which is the reason for the A-. It is a nice piece that will last for years as part of a collection or used in play. Many thanks to my grandmother for letting me take pictures of her clothes press. She would give this piece an A, and says that it all depends on what time period you wish to use the furniture for. She is very pleased with it, and it is just the right size for her collection.
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| Original AG Description: Colonial homes didn’t have closets, so people often stored clothes in a clothes press. This wooden trunk features elegant brass hardware, and can hold up to two dolls inside. Store clothing and accessories with the three hooks and two toilé boxes. W: 15", H: 26", D: 8". $175 XT | You don't realize how large this piece of furniture is until you see it in person. Josefina and Samantha standing next to it put it somewhat into perspective. If you plan on ordering this, be sure you have a good place to put it. It is made of wood, but it not too heavy to move around...just a little awkward to carry due to size. |
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| I love the details on this piece. The carvings and darker wood make this look different from the original clothes press. | The top scrolls are reinforced with this triangular piece of wood on the back. |
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| Closeup view of the decoration on both sides of the top front. | Closeup view of the bottom "feet" of the clothes press. Even sitting on carpet, it was very sturdy and not likely to fall over. |
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| The good thing is that the hardware is all metal. There are a bunch of these on the front, so you can pick which one you want to use to open the door. My disappointment with this clothes press version is that it doesn't have drawers like it falsely appears to have on the outside. | The door is securely held in place with this magnet. If this piece has to have a big door on the front, this is a good way to secure it. The magnet is the perfect strength - strong enough to stay closed but not so strong that the door is difficult to open. |
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| The door is attached with a sturdy metal hinge. It easily swings open. | The hinge does show on the outside of the clothes press. |
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| There are three knobs on the inside of the clothes press. As you can see here, it is possible to hang garments and hats without hangers. The garments will stay, but the velcro on the back made it hard to keep the dress on the knob since it is rather rigid. | My grandma's method for storing clothes on hangers seems to work best. You can fit approximately two hangers on each knob without the clothes falling off. |
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| The larger end of the knob keeps the hangers and clothes from falling off. | I wish the clothes press was slightly larger on each side. The hangers on the end do not have enough room to hang straight and are at an angle. I don't see this as a major issue. |
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| Two dolls definitely fit in the clothes press, but do not leave much room for anything else to be stored inside at the same time. | The toile boxes are rather large and are made of a sturdy cardboard (I think) that is covered with slick paper. I'm not sure if these are historically accurate or not, but they at least look cute sitting out. |
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| You can store quite a bit of stuff in the boxes. They are very good for coralling outfit accessories, such as shoes and hats, that do not fit on a hanger. | AG was clever with the design of the boxes. They are blue to match Elizabeth's bed, but have a similar pattern to Felicity's bedding. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Apr 28, 2008 15:41:55 GMT -5
Overall Grade: AFelicity's bed is a great piece of furniture, but it is huge and requires ample space to store and display. My bed was purchased during the early part of the Mattel transition period and is very sturdy wood. It comes with a little wrench and is easy to put together. There is a solid panel of wood that you set the mattress on top of - as you can see in the last picture, it is removable. The top canopy frame is also removable and sits on top of the bed with pegs. The bedding comes with a mattress (the same one that comes with Samantha's bed) and a pillow. The bedspread has a pretty pattern and is cut so that it fits around the bedposts. It is very disappointing that there were no sheets with this set! The canopy covers have strings sewn at various intervals and are tied to the top canopy frame. Included are 4 side panels, a front panel, and a back panel. The top has a canopy cover that is placed over all the tied panels.
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Apr 21, 2008 20:54:45 GMT -5
Collector Grade: A, Playability Grade: C+My grade for this set depends on the way in which it will be used. If you are going to add it to an adult collection or give it to a careful older child, it gets an A. The pieces are relevant to Felicity's story and are absolutely beautiful. However, the fragility of some items is what gives this set a C for playability. I don't think it would stand up to a young child very well. I would be afraid that they would accidentally break the bottle or get frustrated with the fragility of some pieces. | | Felicity loved the long summer days on Grandfather’s plantation. She played shuttlecock and battledore with Nan and William and blew bubbles at the river’s edge with a shell and reed. They all waited for a bird to nest in the bird bottle, which turned out to be the secret hiding place where Ben left the note and signal whistle that started Felicity on her dangerous summer adventure. $22 EAAS Retired | The bottle and bird are my favorite parts of this set! Unfortunately, they are the most fragile. My bottle has a slight crack on the top (I think I may have dropped it when little) and the paint has crazed. Beautiful, but better suited to display than play. | | | The bottom of the bottle has a "tab" to hold the wooden perch in place and keep everything from rolling over sideways. The perch goes back into the bottle via a little hole and is visible inside the bottle all the way to the back. | The back view. Nothing special, but it shows how the wooden perch extends all the way back. | | | I'm not sure what the bird is made of, but it is a soft material. If you tried to make a mark with your fingernail, the indentation would stay. | There are feathers on each side of the bird. A plastic tube with a slit in it is glued to the underside of the bird. It's the perfect size and the flexibility makes it easy to place the bird on its perch. | | | The shell is no different than anything you would find on the beach. The reed seems a little bit fragile. | The set comes with directions. If you wanted to try to blow bubbles on your own but didn't want to use the reed, a coffee straw could be a good substitute. | | | The battledore is simply a ball of cork with feathers stuck in. It comes in a box for protection, as it is rather fragile. The other review mentioned having problems with disintegration. My set is about 10 years old and there are no signs of this yet. (knock on wood!) | My set only came with one shuttlecock. I have no complaints with this - it is real wood and strung with a string like material. Great for play and doesn't get damaged if dropped. | | | The whistle is made of wood and is strung on a leather cord. It it a great addition to Felicity's summer ensemble and really works. | The letter Ben left for Felicity. It fits perfectly in the bird bottle. I have had no problems with this unraveling, but keep it in the plastic sleeve it came in most of the time just in case. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Apr 17, 2008 13:05:50 GMT -5
This set is associated with the book Happy Birthday, Molly! It was sold as Molly's China Tea Set by both Pleasant Company and Mattel from its introduction in 1987 until its retirement in 2010. In 2011, the birthday cake from Molly's Party Treats got included into the set, and it was renamed Molly's Birthday Set. This set was retired with Molly's archival in December 2013. When Molly was rereleased in June 2022, the birthday cake was sold as part of Molly's Birthday Accessories.China Tea Set description: Molly thought a proper English tea party was a wonderful way to celebrate her tenth birthday. You can set the table for Molly’s party with china just like the McIntires had. The red and white set with its cheery flower pattern was derived from one found in a 1944 mail-order catalog. The complete tea set includes a teapot, a sugar bowl, a creamer, two cups and saucers, two plates, two ceramic-handled knives, forks, and spoons, a striped-border table cloth, and two red-print napkins. Help Molly put the kettle on and you’ll all have tea!Birthday Set description: Molly thought a proper English tea party was the perfect way to celebrate her birthday. This set comes with a pretend chocolate cake with ten candles, a china teapot, and pairs of cups, saucers, plates, knives, forks, spoons, and napkins.Overall Grade: B+ (Mattel Version, 2007) This is a darling set that coordinates well with Molly's Party Treats. It gets a B+ because it does not seem very unique to me. The design does not differ from other standard doll tea sets you could get at Target or Walmart. I have no complaints about the quality. | | The complete tea set includes a teapot, a sugar bowl, a creamer, two cups and saucers, two plates, two ceramic-handled knives, forks, and spoons, a striped-border table cloth, and two red-print napkins. Help Molly put the kettle on and you’ll all have tea! $54 MBAC; Code Change Late 2006: $54 F5429 | All the china pieces in this set have a cute pattern. It reminds me of flowers in pots sitting on stairs. All of the big items (plates, teapot) have three and the smaller items (cups, creamer, sugar) have the two flowers. | | | The teapot is similar to something that comes with any china tea set. | The lid is removable and goes far enough into the teapot so that it does not easily fall out. | | | The sugar bowl and creamer. Two essential items to add to tea. | The teacup and the saucer. The saucer does not have a flower pattern on it - just red paint around the outside edge. | | | Molly's flatware is unique from any of the other birthday sets - I think the white handles were a good choice. | Back in the past, the napkins used to be red when the set included a tablecloth. I like how these incorporate the three colors in Molly's birthday dress. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Apr 17, 2008 12:33:54 GMT -5
Overall Grade: A (Mattel Version, 2007) If you have Molly's china tea set, then this is a necessity for your collection! How can you have an English tea without food to eat? The only disappointments were the fake look of the candy cups and the missing blowouts in my set. | | Molly wanted all the regular American party trimmings even though she was having a proper English tea for her tenth birthday. And that meant a great big chocolate cake with fancy frosting and removable candles, as well as four shiny poppers with surprise sayings inside, four polka-dotted blow outs, two candy cups filled with little colored hearts, and a bright yellow balloon with a special acrylic holder. To make the party table especially pretty, Molly added the bright red geranium for a centerpiece. “Happy birthday, dear Molly…” $25 MBAP, Price and Code Change Winter 2006: $29 F5435 | I know PM and some Mattel sets come with the plastic holder, but mine didn't. Molly can hold the balloon without any trouble. It is a little bit heavy for her to hold so you may have to work a little bit to properly position her arm. | | | The balloon is made of a plastic material. It is not so thin that you have to treat it carefully and be afraid of dents. However, I'm not sure what would happen if it fell off a high shelf. | The "string" is made of sturdy metal and fits around Molly's hand. | | | The cake has changed slightly throughout the years. My version was purchased from AG in 2007 and has a different style of writing from the PM versions. The cake has 10 identations to hold the candles. | I like how the cake is decorated on the side too. The only thing I dislike about the cake is the paper doily that is underneath the cake and on top of the plastic plate. This can get torn up easily and looks out of place underneath the cake. | | | Molly has two candles in each of these colors: red, blue, green, yellow, and white. The flames of the candles are painted a browish color and do not look very realistic. They fit in the slots on the top of the cake, but are not very snug. In previous versions, the candles were made out of wood. | The party poppers are made of tissue paper and a shiny heavier weight paper. I'm not sure if anything is inside or not. Unfortunately, my set did not come with the blowouts I guess the recode version means they charge you more and you get less. | | | The sides of the candy cups remind me of miniature silicone baking cups. The candy cups are all one piece and very sturdy. | As you can see here, the candy still looks like hearts, but the effect is fake and ugly. These were a big disappointment. I expected something more like the individual pieces that came with Kit's set. | | | The geranium pot looks darling and can be used in scenes beyond the kitchen table. They look nice at school or on Molly's bedside table. The pot seems to be real ceramic. You may be able to replicate this piece yourself if you can find a pot in the right size. | The flowers are typical AG. I think they are made of polyester with plastic stems. Nothing too special, but an overall pleasing look. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Apr 8, 2008 18:16:05 GMT -5
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 26, 2008 22:34:18 GMT -5
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 26, 2008 21:47:14 GMT -5
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 26, 2008 0:58:53 GMT -5
This set is associated with the book, Changes for Molly. It was introduced in 1990 and substantially revamped in 1997, at which point the Miss Victory Costume (later called the Tap Outfit) was removed (and later sold separately), and several other items (including the clock, poster, ear drops, and tissues) were added. The set was retired in 1999.Original version: Molly had plenty of after-school activities to do all winter long. When it was too cold outside, she played with her kaleidoscope or with her set of army-nurse paper dolls. But she especially loved to go to tap-dance class so she could wear her sparkly Miss Victory costume with its matching pants and sparkly star headband!
Revised version: Being sick with a fever and an earache was no fun for Molly. Give her the pretend eardrops three times a day and keep the tissues nearby to wipe her runny nose. At least the kaleidoscope and army nurse paper dolls will pass the time as it ticks away on the working bedside alarm clock. Keep the patriotic “Hurray for the U.S.A.” poster nearby to remind Molly that she needs to get better in time for the show—but will she? Clock battery is included and replaceable.Overall Grade: A-This set includes pieces that will have lots of play value for acting out scenes in Molly's books and treating sick dolls. The set receives an A- because several of the pieces are made of cardboard and the tissue box is poorly made. Other than that, a great addition for your Molly collection! The winter activities set originally came with Molly's Miss Victory Costume, paper dolls, and kaleidoscope. It was modified in the late 90's to include the accessories seen here. After it's retirement, the Miss Victory Costume was sold by itself.Original Description: Being sick with a fever and an earache was no fun for Molly. Give her the pretend eardrops three times a day and keep the tissues nearby to wipe her runny nose. At least the kaleidoscope and army nurse paper dolls will pass the time as it ticks away on the working bedside alarm clock. Keep the patriotic “Hurray for the U.S.A.” poster nearby to remind Molly that she needs to get better in time for the show—but will she? $20 MWAA, Retired 1999? | Molly's paper dolls are the same quality as those that come in Kirsten and Samantha's sets - made out of slick paper with a medium thickness. Molly has one male doll and two females. The dolls have a patriotic theme and can choose between five different outfits. The dolls are perforated and can be punched out of the card. The kaleidoscope is made out of plastic and really works. | | The tissue box is made out of cardboard and contains real tissues inside. The box isn't that sturdy and is a little cheap in my opinion. Mine was a little crushed when it came and does not hold it's shape very well. There appear to be several tissues inside the box, but I haven't tried to remove them. Molly's medicine bottle is plastic with a special label just for her. The stopper on top is soft and rubbery. These look cute on her nightstand. | | The clock is my favorite part of this set. It is well made, heavy, and durable. You can adjust the time on the back of the clock - it really works when you add a battery! | | The poster is nothing special. It is printed on standard cardboard and is blank on the back. If you have the stage and theater set, it could be used as an "advertisement" for the show. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 25, 2008 23:21:38 GMT -5
*This outfit was worn by Molly in the book Meet Molly*Pleasant Company version (retired) Overall Grade: C I would not purchase this set unless you can find it for a good price on ebay. Several of the pieces are made of crepe paper and way too fragile in my opinion. The updated version of this set seems to have taken care of this problem and looks cuter in my opinion. | Original Description: Molly and her friends wanted to be glamorous hula dancers for Halloween, so they made their own costumes. Molly’s outfit included a green paper hula skirt and a big red sweater. She wore a fluffy yellow Hawaiian lei around her neck with a matching wristlet and flower for her hair. She decorated a sack for her treats and wore a mask to trick the neighbors.
$20 MXO Released 1989, Retired 2004 | | The hula accessories are all made of crepe paper, probably similar to what Molly's really looked like based upon the book descriptions. The bracelet gets crushed a little bit when worn on a doll's hand. | | The flower can be attached to Molly's hair via velcro. This makes the flower lie smoothly in Molly's hair and is easy to insert with her hair still in pigtails. | | Your standard crepe paper lei. It is an exact replica of the ones they make for humans. |
- The sweater is made of thick material and is the best piece of this outfit. It fits similar to the one in Molly's meet outfit.
- The black mask is similar to the ones included in the AGOT Halloween outfits in the late 90's. I think it is a little cheaply made and question it's durability.
- The treat bag is made out of a standard brown bag you could purchase at Michael's. I like how the bag looks homemade and has Molly's name on the top.
- The skirt is extremely fragile and made out of crepe paper with a ribbon sewn on the waistband. I haven't taken it out of it's plastic package for fear of ruining it. If I had gotten this when I was little, it would not have remained in good condition for long.
I thought I had taken close up pictures of the rest of the outfit components, but can't find them...I'll update with additional pics when I return home from school this summer.
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 17, 2008 20:04:59 GMT -5
Overall Grade: AI don't have any complaints about Molly's radio. Mine is several years old and is still in great working order. It looks nice and can be displayed throughout the year in versatile scenes - bedroom, desk, kitchen, etc. | Original Description: There were few televisions in 1944, so families gathered around the radio for news and entertainment. You can listen in just like the McIntires did on Christmas Day. Press the red button to hear snippets from actual World War Two era shows. There’s even a special message from Captain McIntire!
$20 MCAR Introduced 1994, Retired 2005 | | This is one of the accessories that does not look cheaply made despite being made of plastic. The exterior is a marbled brown. The left dial controls the radio volume. The red button will play the message. The station tuner and right dial are just for show. | | The speaker and battery case are located on the back of the radio. The radio is about 1 1/4 inches deep, 2 1/2 inches high, and 3 1/4 inches long. | | The radio comes with a pamphlet that talks about radio in the 1940's and suggests specific programs to check out at the library. The inside of the pamplet contains a diagram that explains how to use Molly's radio. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 14, 2008 20:10:43 GMT -5
This set is associated with the book, Molly Saves the Day. It was introduced in 1987 as the Capture the Flag Gear, and retired in 2001. After its retirement, the whistle was briefly sold with Molly's Camp Gowonagin Uniform. At Molly's rerelease in June 2022, the other pieces from this set were recombined with the sit-upon from her retired Camping Equipment, and together they were sold as Molly's Camp Gowonagin Accessories.Capture the Flag Gear description: Molly wore a blue armband the day her team set out the capture the 48-star flag. With whistle and canoe paddle in hand, she led the Blue Team, wearing her armband, on a sneak attack to a secret beach where they could surprise the Red Team. You’ll know why she had a bean can full of creepy crawlers only if you read the book. As she said in her letter to Dad when she sent him a picture of the winning moment. “it’s a long story…”Camp Gowonagin Accessories description: Molly’s days at summer camp are full of activities like swimming and canoeing in the lake, archery, singalongs, playing Capture the Flag, and trying to scare each other with creepy crawly things! Her summer camp accessories include: A U.S. flag with 48 stars attached to a plastic pole, A wooden canoe paddle with the Camp Gowonagin logo, A blue armband for playing Capture the Flag, A set of realistic plastic bugs including three black ants, three brown ants, and two crickets, Five creepy-crawly plastic worms, A vinyl pouch with the Camp Gowonagin logo that can be turned into a sit-upon by threading the red gimp (plastic string) through the holes as outlined in the included instructions, A metal bean can for holding bugs, A letter in an envelope from Molly to her dad that features the Camp Gowonagin logo, A picture of Molly that she sends to her father after winning capture the flag.Overall Grade: AI love how each part of this set is mentioned in the book Molly Saves the Day and has significance. All of these pieces can be played with (outside of the letter) and look nice with Molly's camp outfit. A great addition to any collection! | Original Description: Molly wore a blue armband the day her team set out the capture the 48-star flag. With whistle and canoe paddle in hand, she led the Blue Team, wearing her armband, on a sneak attack to a secret beach where they could surprise the Red Team. You’ll know why she had a bean can full of creepy crawlers only if you read the book. As she said in her letter to Dad when she sent him a picture of the winning moment. “it’s a long story…” $18 MAAS | | | The paddle is one of my favorite parts of this set! It is made of real wood with the Camp Gowonagin logo on the front. All the decorations on the front of the paddle are painted on - no decals. | The armband is a durable, thick material. The tie in the front is sewn on, with a velcro closure in the back. The whistle is metal with a red elastic cord. Since this set has been retired, the whistle is available with Molly's Camp Outfit. | | | The set comes with an envelope addressed to Molly's father. It is made of regular envelope material and not too durable. The picture is printed on cardstock and is similar to the one in Molly's book. | Molly's letter to her father is printed on regular paper. The handwriting looks realistic, which is a plus in my book! | | | | The can and creepy crawlers play an important part in Molly's story - I'm glad that they were included here. The can has a cute label on the outside. The ants are a firm plastic and the rest of the creepy crawlers are made from a rubbery material. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 14, 2008 0:34:28 GMT -5
Overall Grade: B+I recommend getting this set if you have the First Day outfit. If you don't have the outfit, the pieces appear to be a little dated and are so distinct that it is easy to get tired of them quickly. | These accessories match the First Day outfit and ensure that your doll has everything she needs for a day at school. The Set Includes:- Velvet Hat
- AG Pendant
- Wallet Purse
- 3 Pretend Dollars
- Lunch Tickets
- Library Card
- Mini Magazine
- 10 Stick-on Mini Grin Pins
$20 GMAB | | | The pendant is metal and has the old AGOT logo on the front. This necklace is versatile and looks nice with other outfits. | The hat is velvet with a felt bow on the front. The beads in front of the bow look wooden. I loved this hat when I first purchased the outfit, but it seems a little dated today - I can't see it coordinating with many of the JLY outfits for sale. However, it is a necessity for the first day outfit. | | | The mini mag comes already assembled if I remember correctly. It is nothing special and is similar to the mini mags that AG continues to send out today. The scrunchie is actually a part of the outfit, but has just the right amount of elastic to be used as a bracelet. | The purse material looks like real leather and has a long strap. It is very plain on the outside and has an old AGOT logo on the front. It is exactly the same as Meet Accessories I, except for the purple inside. | | The three dollar bills look like exact replicas - even down to the signatures on the front. The paper they are made of is not very thick. You could probably replicate these with a scanner, image editing program, and printer... The school lunch card has two tickets left on it. The ticket is made of cardstock and has perforations between the tickets. Detail at that level is impressive! The library card fits in the pocket on the right of the wallet and is protected by a plastic covering. This is also made of cardstock and has a space for you to write your doll's name on the card. The mini grin pins are simply stickers with different designs/sayings. You could get the same effect by purchasing stickers at a teacher or scrapbook store. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 13, 2008 23:20:35 GMT -5
Overall Grade: B+The components of this outfit are well made and I feel like I got my money's worth for this outfit. ($20 on sale) It is definitely not my favorite outfit for Samantha and think the design is a little tacky (conservative Grandmary would probably agree!). I'm on the fence about this outfit - get it if you are a completist, but Sam has some other outfits that look nicer on her. | | As others mentioned before, the dress is definitely thicker than other satin materials Mattel uses. The elastic on the cuffs makes it difficult to get the dress over Samantha's hands. The purple is a pretty color- the last four photos are a better indication of the real life color of the dress. | The bouquet is made of silk flowers. There are even a few flowers attached to the ribbons hanging down from the bouquet. I don't think that is very realistic, but it looks nice. | | | Finally, help to hold accessories! The bouquet has a strap of elastic that can easily be slipped over a doll's hand. The doily on the bottom of the bouquet is made of similar material as the one on Molly's birthday cake and Sam's party treats. | There are two different types of lace on this outfit. The ruffles on the front of the dress are a smaller pattern and cross over the front. The larger lace on the shoulders is the same as the lace that lines the bottom of the dress. | | | The dress has a white underskirt that goes all the way up to the waistband of the dress and it is sewn there. This was a welcome surprise and is much nicer than simply having the lace attached to the bottom of the dress. | This is my least favorite part of the outfit. The hat is well made and sturdy. The rose and silk band match the rest of the dress nicely. I do not care for the veil. I'm not sure about the historical accuracy of this, but I think it looks absolutely awful and causes the hat to fall backwards off Sam's head. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 13, 2008 22:20:24 GMT -5
Overall Grade: A-This outfit is true to the illustrations in the book Happy Birthday Samantha, which is a plus in my book. The pinafore and dress complement each other nicely. The only disappointment is the circlet, which does not stay in place. | | AG Description: Frilly and fanciful, Samantha’s birthday dress is a rose- and white-striped taffeta. It’s covered with a crisp white pinafore that has ruffled lace “bretelles” and a wide sash that ties into a huge bow. There are even party stockings to go with it. But the crowning glory of this outfit is Grandmary’s gift, the old-fashioned circlet of rosebuds that once belonged to Samantha’s mother. Tie it around Samantha’s head and let the soft ribbons float on her dark curls. $22 Original Code SBO, 2007 ReCode D7933 | Back view of the outfit. Samantha's hair covers the back of her pinafore, but it truly does tie in a big bow like the description says. Her stockings have a knitted pattern all around the front, but have a solid line up the back. The circlet has a bow in the back, but it is stitched shut and cannot be retied. | | | I love the intricate pattern of the lace on this outfit. The lace on the pinafore and the sleeve match. It does not seem to be very delicate and can stand up to play. The rest of the pinafore is made from a thin material. You can see through it if there is a dark material underneath. | As other people mentioned before, the dress is not very flattering without the pinafore. It is very plain and looks incomplete. | | | The rosebud circlet looks beautiful on Samantha and has significance in the book Happy Birthday Samantha. It does not stay on her head very well since it cannot be retied and must be carefully positioned. This was a disappointment when I got this outfit, since Felicity's allows you to tie the ribbon yourself. | The eight rosebuds on the circlet are made from a silky ribbon and are in four different colors. They are safely secured to the ribbon with thread. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 13, 2008 20:45:08 GMT -5
Overall Grade: A-I love all the components of this outfit and the overall look. This costume looks good on a wide variety of dolls. The poodle skirt would be easy to make out of felt so a girl can match her doll for Halloween. The minus is because of the blouse and it's fragility. | Original Description: Your American Girl’s poodle skirt, accented with a pretty pearl belt buckle, looks sweet as can be when matched with a bubblegum pink blouse that’s trimmed in rhinestones. With her saddle shoes, bobby socks, hair scarf, and cool cat-eye glasses, she’s ready to twist the night away! Fill her treat bag with yummy snacks, too. $24 GHOF | | | The shirt is very fragile. I have seen several of these for sale on ebay where the see through sleeves have rips or are separated from the main shirt. It is easy to snag with the velcro closure and care must be used. The cat's eye glasses are sturdy plastic and have matching rhinestones on the front and side. | The back view of the outfit. The hair tie is a square of material that is the same see through material as the sleeves. It is long enough to be a ponytail tie or a headband for your doll. This picture shows one side of the treat bag. | | | The treat bag is nothing special. It is similar to something that you would purchase at Hobby Lobby- paper and rope handles. It is reversible so you can choose which design to display. This is the same bag that comes with the Sparking Mermaid and Medieval Princess costumes. | The poodle on the skirt makes this costume! It is cut out of pink felt with rhinestones on the collar and a pearl leash. The same rhinestones appear on the shirt collar and glasses. | | | The "belt" is an elastic material at the top of the skirt. My outfit is about 9 years old and the elastic is still intact. A pearl "buckle" is attached to the front middle of the belt and is sewn on similar to a button. The pearls in the buckle match the pearls in the poodle's leash. | The shoes are durable, but are a little hard to get on a doll. The socks are similar to Molly's socks. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 7, 2008 18:40:23 GMT -5
Overall Grade: AAn outfit that is both durable and beautiful. Perfect for a Halloween costume or a doll that likes princess fairy tales (Ruthie!) | Original Description: Her Majesty's sparkly dress is trimmed in velvet with jewels, bows, and a gold satin belt. A jeweled necklace, a gilded crown, and golden slippers complete her regal look. Don't forget her treat bag! $24 GHOP | | | The outfit fits PM and Mattel dolls with no problem. The length of this dress is similar to that of Felicity's gowns. | The fuschia satin material is covered with netting that contains plum sparkles. The netting is the same color as the plum velvet material found on the rest of the dress. | | | The necklace is my favorite part of the outfit. It is very detailed on the front and the jewels match the rest of the outfit. It closes with a hook and eyelet closure - easy to take on and off of a doll. | Surprisingly, the back of the necklace does not look bad and could possibly be worn backwards for another look. | | | The crown has plastic jewels sturdily secured to the front and sewn on. It is held together in the back by velcro. A very nice part of the outfit. As other members mentioned, the slippers are very flimsy. They are a shell of fabric sewn together with a thin removable plastic insert inside. Probably the most disappointing part of the outfit. | The treat bag has a different design on each side and is similar to something you could purchase at Hobby Lobby. This same bag is included with the Sock Hopper and Sparkling Mermaid costumes. Nothing special. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 7, 2008 1:29:11 GMT -5
Overall Grade: B+This outfit earns an A for looks and it's uniqueness from anything else AG has created. I can't say the same for the durability of the items - they seem better suited to careful display and probably wouldn't stand up well to extensive play. | Original Description: This princess of the deep wears a twinkly, fitted knit dress with matching fin-shaped flipper slippers and carries a treat bag. A coral crown and a fishnet wrap sprinkled with underwater sea creatures complete this ocean outfit! Your mermaid’s identity remains a mystery with a shiny green mask. $24 GHOM | | | All the pieces of this outfit come together for a stunning look. The outfit is not that difficult to put on a doll, but the zipper sometimes takes a little tugging to completely zip. The sequins appear to be well attached and none have fallen off yet. | This is the pattern on the other side of the treat bag. The treat bag is similar to something you can find at Hobby Lobby. Nothing too special about this. The same bag comes with the Medieval Princess and Sock Hopper outfits. | | | The headband is made of plastic. I have carefully put this on my dolls each time this outfit is worn (not too often) and a crack is forming in the middle of the headband. It gets an A for looks, but a C for durability. | A closeup view of the headband. The starfish and shell are similar to objects on the wrap. | | | The flippers are covered in the same pattern as the dress and point outwards to create a "fin". These are nicely made and do not require gentle handling like other pieces of this outfit. | The interior of the flippers are completely lined in a satiny material, with elastic to hold the flipper on the doll's feet. Very easy to put on and take off. | | | The mask is thin plastic and similar to those included with the other Halloween outfits. The back of the mask is solid black, allowing for an alternate look. Not very sturdy in my opinion. | The wrap has various sea creatures such as starfish, crabs, and seahorses attached to both sides of the netting. These figures are plastic and appear to be hot glued. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 6, 2008 1:03:16 GMT -5
Overall Grade: A+All of the pieces of this outfit are outstanding and high quality. The outfit can be used for Halloween or a western look. The pieces are versatile and can be mixed and matched with other components for a new look. | Original Description: Giddy up, American Girl, in this Wild West skirt and jacket. A white tank top is perfect under her jacket, and the hat, boots, and bandanna complete her getup! The costume includes a lariat, sheriff’s pin, black mask, and treat bucket for Halloween candies! $24 GHOC | | | The mask is nothing special - just a plastic mold with an elastic string that secures it to the doll's head. I'm always afraid that I will break this when putting it on the dolls. The lariat is made out of stiffened braided cord. The loops on it are adjustable - great for tying up anyone that tries to steal Halloween candy | Back view. The rickrack on the bottom of the skirt is the only decoration that continues on the back. | | | The tank top looks nice by itself and closes in the back with velcro. The skirt has real snap buttons in the front with a removable belt. | The treat bucket is made of hard plastic and is very durable. The bottom has "Pleasant Company" stamped in the plastic. The handle is flexible and is impossible to remove from the bucket due to it's construction. | | | The sheriff's star is metal with the old AGOT logo in the center. The star has a pin on the back and can be removed from the jacket. | The hat is a suede material that easily attracts fuzzies and pet fur. It is a little small for doll heads, but fits if you push it down a little bit. The white band is darling and completes the look of the outfit. | | | The boots are not real leather, but the "pleather" is sturdy with beautiful contrasting stitching on each part. The soles are thick and sturdy. A zipper is located on the back of each boot and goes all the way down to the bottom so they easily slip on. | The bandanna is a triangle of cotton fabric that is large enough to tie around the doll's neck or around her head as a headband. The fabric is a little thin, but similar to the cheap bandannas you get for under $1 at Hobby Lobby. |
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 5, 2008 16:30:38 GMT -5
Pre Mattel Version: AAs several other people mentioned above, the PreMattel version comes with a metal snap rather than velcro. The PM version appears to be a little sturdier, but the snaps are harder to put on/remove from a doll than the velcro. The shoes were a little difficult to put on at first, but slip on easily after wearing them a few times. They look beautiful with Samantha's Tea, Birthday, and Bridesmaid dresses. Pre-Mattel Shoes:
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Post by sheltiesweetie2007 on Mar 4, 2008 14:20:53 GMT -5
Overall Grade: A This is a durable outfit that can withstand lots of play. The jellies and hat look good with other AG outfits. In my opinion, it is not an essential item for your collection, but worthwhile to have should you find it for a good price on eBay. | | Original Description: Your American Girl will stay cool from head to toe in a floppy yarn hat with a blossom on the brim, and a red-hot culotte dress. Best of all, she’s got a pair of jellies—fun see-thought sandals for air-conditioned feet! $22 GBOD | The jelly shoes are flexible plastic and are not as fragile as they appear. This outfit was well played with when I was little and the shoes are still intact. The flexibility makes it easy to take the shoes on and off. They look nice with other summery outfits. | | | The outfit fits both PM and Mattel dolls. There are 5 plastic gold buttons in the front for show and a small embroidered flower on the bottom front of the outfit. The closure on the back is velcro. | The flowers on the hat are hot glued to a metal pin. A younger child could probably remove these from the hat on their own. The hat itself is very durable and well made. |
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