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Post by SarahL on Jan 3, 2013 10:29:39 GMT -5
I was excited about the idea of a doll-sized hot air balloon as soon as I heard they were in her books. I give this set an A+. Hot Air Balloon Set $150 Includes balloon, basket, pair of binoculars, map, log book, camera, and bag.The item is small/light enough to come in a nice box and not a pre-packaged shipping box. My only disappointment was that the log book came a bit curled. But that can be flattened. The binoculars are movable and the grey grip is rubbery. Saige showing off the basket. The hook on the door can be used to hang her bag, which has a small handle on it. The light ropes at the top and bottom are real rope. Everything else is molded plastic. i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/ssharlit/55E93808-CE02-44ED-B49F-079339AF4264-7962-000007F29F8C4527.jpgThis gives you a decent look at the underside of the balloon, The nylon is attached to this plastic base which snaps into the poles of the basket. It is solid with some detailing to look like a burner. I wish I had an air compressor. I'm 5'5"; you can start to see how big this thing is. The valve is connected to the piece that holds the air. It's the same material is a beach ball. Covers up nicely. Side one of four. The whole item is light enough that I'd be able to hold it in one hand if I could balance it just right, doll included. I have no plans to hang it. Fortunately the cats aren't very interested in it. Mod edit to remove oversized, embedded image
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Post by SarahL on Sept 18, 2009 18:40:47 GMT -5
I got the dress at AGPC. They didn't put any effort into cutting the bodice, so some look nicer than others depending on where the pattern in the fabric fell. I would recommend picking this out in person if at all possible.
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Post by SarahL on Jul 28, 2009 17:15:20 GMT -5
This jacket was only available at AGPC. It is tagged Pleasant Company. It has black leather sleeves and is quilted inside. Grade: A
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Post by SarahL on Feb 18, 2009 16:39:14 GMT -5
Grade: B+
I have had this outfit for about 10 days and Chrissa has been wearing it while in her stand on my desk. I came home today and found the goggles on the floor. The strap ripped where it went through the buckle. I'm concerned the rubber isn't made to stand up to periods of wear more than a few hours. There seems to be a weakness in the rubber at both buckles.
I took off the straps and was trying the goggles on other face molds. They snapped at the nose bridge! The goggles are really cute and look like perfect miniatures of real ones. They fit Chrissa's face perfectly and are ok on Addy's mold. They just don't seal completely. On the classic mold, they look a little big. Those are the only molds I could try them on before they broke. So super cute piece, but I'd say display only!
The other part of the outfit I'm less-than-pleased about is the towel. It's just a cheap piece of cloth and not very towel-like at all.
The swimsuit is great. It velcroes up the back, but I didn't have any problems with snagging while putting it on. The swim cap is made out of bathing suit material as well and fits nicely, though I don't think it's possible to get all her hair under it. I do like the material choice since a more rubbery material would snag her hair.
The kick board is cute and seems pretty sturdy. It's made of a more solid foam than kick boards I'm familiar with.
The stickers are cute, but I haven't put them on my doll, so I don't know how well they work.
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Post by SarahL on Feb 13, 2009 5:44:13 GMT -5
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Post by SarahL on Nov 19, 2008 22:36:17 GMT -5
Grade: A- I got Samantha for Christmas 1989. She is really a lovely doll, but has definitely seen a lot of play. She has held up remarkably well. The only problem I had with her was her elastic in her joints giving out. The only downside with her is putting her in newer outfits that expose the cloth body. She looks like she has an undershirt sticking out. All the outfits that were available when she was sold don't have this problem. My Samantha has lost a lot of her curl and needs to be recurled regularly to keep the curl. In these pictures you can sort of see the extra tuft of hair that is part of her bangs but has a tendancy to do it's own thing and not stay up with the bangs. Samantha's vinyl is a lot darker than later vinyls. It took me several years to realize Samantha wasn't supposed to have darker skin than the other girls. When the AGoTs came out, I thought #2 looked the most like my Samantha.
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Post by SarahL on Oct 24, 2008 0:14:34 GMT -5
LOL I was playing with Ivy and having trouble with her beret, so I opened this thread to see what others were doing with it. I guess we're all having trouble. So I took some pictures. There's definitely a problem with her hair being too slick for it to stay put. When I am trying to get it on her, if it doesn't come off, it ends up like this: With the edge folded under, I was able to get to do this, which stayed on through light shaking and being turned upside down and looks decent, I think: With the edge rolled back down, this is the closest I could get to AG's style, but it's not near as cute -- too poofy: So I gave up and went with it. Ivy's a muffin for Halloween: What Bean said on the rest of the accessories. But Ivy's hair falls over her ears so I don't get to see her earrings much. That's a bummer. Overall rating: B+
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Post by SarahL on Sept 16, 2008 17:23:32 GMT -5
I really like this dress, and I agree that it's better than Nellie's Spring party dress. I got it the day it came out at AGPC (December 26, 2004) and have had no trouble with discoloration as others have. I must admit I've never put it on my Samantha. I have other dolls that wear it. I put it on #6 and was very impressed with the dress on her! Her green eyes really bring out the rosebud stems. This just seems like a classic doll dress to me, and any doll looks cute in it. Grade: A
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Post by SarahL on Sept 8, 2008 15:36:38 GMT -5
The stand that pops into the base is removable. I put the base between my legs and pulled on the stand and it popped out. There is no sign of damage, and the stand went back in securely.
The stage is rather heavy; don't drop it on your bare foot. I have a rather nasty bruise forming.
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Post by SarahL on Sept 3, 2008 19:20:51 GMT -5
Grade: A This outfit is very cute, and fits my 1991 Molly! I think the fact that the skirt is elastic really helps that. However, it's still slightly tight on her and I can see some pulling on the front just under the belt. The shirt and skirt are made of a nice light-weight denim material. However, the detailing on the shirt makes it a very thick item! It is embroidered with flowers, and edged with piping. The buttons really work. The skirt is elastic and the belt is only on the front half of the skirt. I am impressed with the detailing considering this would be more of a costume for Molly. The canteen is plastic with a rubber strap. I wish it was metal and leather, which I expect is more accurate for the time. But the nice thing about the rubber strap is that it's a bit grippy and makes it easier for the dolls to hold. The cap comes off and you could actually fill the canteen if you wanted to.
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Post by SarahL on Sept 3, 2008 19:07:07 GMT -5
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Post by SarahL on Aug 27, 2008 14:11:55 GMT -5
Here is a picture of my Addy wearing this outfit (minus the necklace): The headwrap seems confusing at first, but it really isn't that bad. I like the pretty simplicity of this outfit. However, the sandals can fall off since there is no backstrap to help them stay on. A-
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Post by SarahL on May 21, 2008 17:08:43 GMT -5
Original Tepee: Grade: A- The scale is a bit small, and the material isn't actually accurate, but it's still such a cute item that I really enjoy it. I love assembling it! It's pretty sturdy for me. The poles that pop out of their holes the most often when the tepee is moved are the flap supports, and those aren't structurally important. I can drag the tepee all over the carpet. If a couple pegs do pop out of their holes, the tepee doesn't collapse. I can just pop them back in and keep playing. Kaya with her tepee. She is standing on the tepee base. The mat on the left slipped. Oops. The mats can be placed inside the tepee as sitting spots. Back view: The opening is a bit small and a tight fit for Kaya to get through. You pretty much have to shove her through laying down. Here are pictures of her crawling out: Kaya can sit inside the tepee. However, there isn't room for another doll. I guess a good AG excuse for not making Speaking Rain. Kaya's head is touching a pole. I adore how the fire pit looks turned on. I tried to get a picture without the flash so you could get an idea of what it looks like. It's even better in a darker room: The fire pit is made of plastic. It has a button built into one of the rocks for a power switch. The inside of the logs are painted to look like they're burning. A size comparison of Kaya and the fire pit. It's right next to her feet. I took this close-up of the bulbs in the fire pit in hopes that you can see what they look like. They are half the size of Christmas lights that are normally shaped liked this. There are 3 orange ones in a triangular pattern with a yellow one in the middle as well as a yellow one attached to the top of the sticks. The two yellow bulbs flicker giving it a great glowing fire effect. The bummer is the bulbs don't look replacable once they burn out. This close-up allows you to see the texture and wooden pins (they're plastic). The pattern on the hide is pretty obviously printed on. You can see some pixeling. The hide spread over the other poles but not attached (you can see the holes for the pins): This is what the tepee looks like with its structural supports in place. Includes my foot for size comparison (and EofA): Here's Kaya sitting inside for a better look at how she fits: Also, Kaya laying down: Here is the base folded up and ready to put away. Kaya is folded up next to it for a size comparison:
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Post by SarahL on May 20, 2008 23:53:57 GMT -5
I went to the High Desert Museum in Bend, OR. They have an exhibit on Indian Nations of the Columbia River Plateau, which the Nez Perce is one of. At the entrance, they had this tule tepee on display, which is closer to what Kaya would have used than the AG product: Original Tepee: Here is a picture of Kaya's tepee with her other items:
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Post by SarahL on May 20, 2008 23:28:19 GMT -5
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Post by SarahL on Mar 27, 2008 19:00:53 GMT -5
Grade: A I think this saddle looks more realistic than anything else I've seen for this scale, so the fact that it's not 100% accurate is forgivable. It is fun to saddle the horse, and Kaya sits well in it. The saddle blanket comes with Steps High, reviewed elsewhere. The sheepskin has a very fake back, but looks nice on when you can only see the fur. The saddle has a faux leather strap that goes under the horse's belly to hold the saddle on. It is firmly knotted on one side. After it's brought under the horse, you tie it to the other side of the saddle. The saddle pad. All saddled up!
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Post by SarahL on Mar 27, 2008 18:54:36 GMT -5
Grade: A- As many people point out, AG's horses are not to scale. I prefer this, because it allows the dolls to sit on the horse without looking very weird. If the horse was any large, the doll would be doing the splits to sit on top of it or the horse would be deformed where the doll sat (like a slot to put the doll in). Steps High's coloring is very pretty. She is dark brown with light cream spots and a black mane and tail. She comes with her saddle blanket. Here is a picture of her with her saddle, reviewed elsewhere: I think Kaya looks very cute riding her mare. The rope reins fit in the doll's fingers allowing her to hold on to them. The only problem I have is that the feet easily scuff. I've barely even played with mine. As an adult, I like the size of Steps High. I think she is fun to play with on her own.
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Post by SarahL on Mar 22, 2008 19:17:24 GMT -5
Grade: A+ This girl's dark hair and light eyes make a stunning combination. I also like the thickness of the original banged GT wig, which she has. I got this doll on ebay and sent her to the AG hospital for a new head in September of 2006. 19 is the second from the right. You can compare her hair to other hair colors here. 19 is on the left.
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Post by SarahL on Mar 22, 2008 18:56:01 GMT -5
Grade A- The retired version of 18 is just like 1 except her eyes are light brown instead of dark. Here is a comparison picture: 18 is on the left, 1 is on the right. I got my 18 from ebay and sent her to the hospital for a new head in December of 2006. She returned with the scrunchy that went with the Meet Outfit that was in use when she was last available. Her hair is the same as 1 and 15. They have two lengths. One comes out of the fake skin part of the wig at the top. This section comes in a braid. The other section is all the same length and is in the lower layers of the wig. This section is very sparse and looks terrible from the back when she has her hair in separate braids. As far as hair playability, I like the current 18's hair better. This doll is beautiful. My only complaint is her wig. There are still things that can be done with it, though. *better picture of her wig will go here when I restyle her hair again*
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Post by SarahL on Mar 13, 2008 19:16:41 GMT -5
Grade: A I recently got this outfit complete off of ebay for close to the original price it sold for from AG. I think it is worth this price. The shirt is made of a very stretchy material that will allow it to fit any doll no matter how chubby. It pulls on over the head like a human shirt. Its wide elastic neckline makes this very easy. The vest is a cheap fake suede that fits the concept of a Halloween costume. It holds its shape on the doll well. The pants are denim material. They were a bit big on Nicki. They are really made to fit the chubbier mid-90's girls. They velcro at the fly. The sandals are great quality! They're held on with an elastic backstrap. Their look is versatile enough to go with other outfits. The glasses are fun with their multi-colored lenses. They come with a grey slip-case to keep them safe. The daisy chain fits nicely on the doll's head and stays in place well. The necklace stays on well with a lobster clasp. The metal on the peace sign had turned a bit by the time I got it. The two daisies for her hair are just on short stems and so are supposed to stick in the hair. They'd be easily lost in play; however, they're not difficult to get to stay in curly hair like Nicki's. The ghost bucket is the final touch to get a doll ready for trick-or-treating. Its handle is soft plastic which helps with getting a doll to hold it.
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Post by SarahL on Nov 20, 2007 18:33:07 GMT -5
Grade: A+ This is a perfect basic shirt. I think it is worth the $7 or so AG charges for a t-shirt. It's made of a stretchy cotton knit and well-finished. It has regular velcro going up almost the entire back. The logo is screen-printed. The doll modeling is a chubbier doll, so the logo may be at less of a curve on a thinner doll. Thanks to the stretch in the shirt, it can fit all AG dolls.
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Post by SarahL on Oct 15, 2006 0:03:22 GMT -5
I rate this outfit an A. It's a well-made outfit, and the dress is very pretty. The things I don't like are the high heels because the doll can't stand well, and the use of animal print (I don't like animal prints in general). Without the collar: With the collar:
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Post by SarahL on Aug 10, 2006 3:58:29 GMT -5
I give this item an A-. I love the style of these PJ's because it's a classic, basic style. They are silky and Coconut curled up on a cloud is very cute. The slippers look exactly like cheap ones you can get for people. They stay on pretty well as far as backless slippers go for dolls. Unfortunately the hair elastic is very cheap. It has a woven covering over elastic that is all secured by a metal clamp commonly seen on hair elastics. However, the elastic inside has detached from the clamp and is floating in the woven material. It's no longer an effective hair elastic. However, I don't think anyone sleeps in ponytails, anyway, so the hair elastic isn't necessary. It's a large elastic that really is suited to put all the hair into a ponytail (rather than some of the hair or to hold the bottom of a braid). The buttons on the front of the shirt are just for show, and there in a velcro strip underneath. It's the new, non-snagging kind of velcro. Doll in outfit Back side of outfit Close up of waistband Close up of slipper and top details Defective hair elastic and Slumber Party Fun! pamphlet The pamphlet is a trifold that lists different ideas for slumber parties like arranging sleeping bags in a pattern.
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Post by SarahL on Nov 17, 2007 12:46:43 GMT -5
Grade: B+ This outfit consits of a one piece jumper/blouse dress, shorts, a headband, saddle shoes, and white socks. I love the color on the outfit, and I think it's very cute. I don't like the it's all one piece. I wish the blouse was separate because I think it would make a good mix 'n' match piece. Since it is supposed to be a performance costume, I can forgive this problem. However, it being an obvious costume makes it less versatile. The material is an artificial satiny material. It's pretty soft to the touch, but it snags on the velcro very easily, even though it's the less-snag kind of velcro. I love the shoes. They are very well made and go with so many other outfits. The socks are generic and I have another pair of them that I believe came with the white tennies and socks set. The shorts. The headband is pretty with sewn-on rhinestones. It is a very small fit, but I've had this outfit for a few years and the headband has gotten easier to get on over time. I think AG overall has not mastered the doll headband.
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Post by SarahL on Nov 9, 2007 19:24:41 GMT -5
Grade: A This outfit is made of a nice, thick cotton. The pants actually have double fabric at the knees. They have an elastic waste and velcro fly. The red stripes on the outfit are a strong cord. The "4", "American Girl" star, and star on the cap are transfers. The jersey closes with the snaps on front, so the back is smooth. The hat is actually adjustable. This allows for a generous fit to get all types of hair under it. The bill is doube fabric that keeps its shape well. As you can see in the first picture, it works well. The cleats are my only disappointment with this outfit. The soles are the same ones used for the soccer cleats, so they're missing the toe cleat for softball and the cleats are soccer-shaped. Despite the inaccuracy, the shoes are nicely made. The ball has great detail; it's fake leather stitched together. It's very similar to Kit's ball except that it's a bit harder and smaller. I know I didn't mix them up. But I should probably switch them since comparatively Kit's is the softball. I adore all the detail on the glove. It's been a very long time since I've used a real one, so I can't say how accurate all the details are, but they're great! It's made of a nice fake leather. It makes a great sound if you catch the ball with it. The only thing I don't love about the glove is that the fingers barely go inside of it. Fortunately the glove stays on fine despite this. The bat is made of a lightweight wood that has visible grains to make it look nice. The American Girl logo is a sticker. The handle is fabric tape wrapped around the bat. I caught it! Contemplative batter.
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Post by SarahL on Feb 18, 2007 19:20:07 GMT -5
I give this outfit an A-. The screen-printed t-shirt, jacket, and shoes are very nice. The pants are a bit on the thin side and see-through. I don't like being able to see panties through pants. My hair clips have tarnished. I know there are tarnish-free metals, and I wish they had used that. This isn't the greatest picture, but here is Caroline (GT 24) modeling this outfit:
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Post by SarahL on Nov 22, 2007 9:25:25 GMT -5
Grade: B- I think this outfit is worth the $8 it ended up on sale, but not the $24 AG originally was asking for it. The robe is the center of this outfit, but it's the worst piece that came with it. The material is thin and not pleasant. I also am not thrilled with the fit. The robe is a little too short to me. The pockets are only on the floral print side, but you can see the stitching on the orchid side. The belt loops are pieces of ribbon sewn through holes so they can be used on either side. I do like the slippers for their color and because they're great simple slippers. They have the thick, clear elastic on them to help them stay on. They're made of a softer terry cloth than the robe is. The turbin is really cute and well-designed. I like that it has an elastic loop to put it back in, so it's not hard to make it cute. I twisted Tia's hair up and then put the turbin on in the floral-sided pictures, and tried to put the turbin up with the hair in the orchid-sided pictures. When I put the turbin up with the hair, the hair started to fall out the front a bit. The turbin is made from the same material as the slippers. I think it would also be useful to keep doll hair out of velcro, but I have not used it for that myself. I have not used the toenail stickers, so I can't really speak for them besides saying they're pretty. They're a fine sparkle that does look like real nail polish. The set also comes with a book titled Stories You'll Love. It contains two stories written by girls. They are both winners of AG magazine's writing contests. The first is titled "Finders Keepers" and it's description is "Erin finds the perfect puppy, but is it really hers to keep?" The second is "Happily Never After" and it's description is "Once upon a time, Fairy Tale Land was not a happy place. See what happens after your favorite stories end." These are cute stories, especially if you don't already have the magazines with them.
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Post by SarahL on Jan 30, 2007 15:16:52 GMT -5
Grade: A I recommend this set to anyone who enjoys gymnastics or patriotic items. The leotard looks great on the dolls. The only problem is that even with the safety velcro, the material is still easy to snag. The material is a nice thick leotard/swuimsuit material. The sequins are sewn on and the USA, stars, and flag are screen-printed. The back of the leotard is completely red with velcro running almost the length of it. The sleeves do easily ride up to three-quarters length when the doll actually tries to do gymnastics. The grips are a failry thick foam material that attach with velcro. Unfortunately the flag on the left arm is faded in this picture. The scrunchie has one blue side and one red side with sequins along the border and is made out of the same material as the leotard. Unfortunately the slick material makes it easy for the scrunchie to fall out in silky hair like Kailey's. (I haven't tried it on anyone else yet.) The shoes are made of a thin, stretchy material with thin, soft, foamy soles. The flowers come on wire stems so you can arrange the bouquet to your liking. The ribbon is a nice satin ribbon. I think it's cute than even the flowers are red, white, and blue. The medal is actually metal and comes on a woven ribbon. The ribbon velcros in the back which makes it easy to put on but a hazard to the leotard as well as itself since the velcro can snag the ribbon. The cover-up suit looks very comfortable. It is made of a windbreaker material. The white part is partially see-through, so you can see the top part of the leotard under it. The elastic seems loose around the wrists to me, but it does fit over the grips if for some reason the doll is wearing the grips and cover-up at the same time. The flag on the jacket as well as the USA and stars on the pants are screen printed. The red stripe is a satin ribbon and only on the front of the jacket. The set also comes with a mini-poster that's about 4 X 8 inches. It's cute, but since it's just a flimsy poster, it hardly seems worth including. This is the back side of the poster.
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Post by SarahL on Dec 5, 2006 1:24:43 GMT -5
Anyone have pictures of her in historical clothes, particularly Samantha's? I do, because Samantha's clothes are about all this girl wears in my house! She is my Caroline Margaret Andreson. I bought her because I dreamt about her in Samantha's movie coat. My dream was right, she does look great in it! She really is a beautiful doll, and her side part is perfect for big Victorian bows. Her wig is the same as Marisol's in length and curl; Mari's wig is different in color and parted on the other side. I think the curls get messy looking very quickly when her hair is down, but other than that, she's perfect. I give this doll an A. Caroline has Samantha's movie coat, Bridesmaid dress, and Spring party dress, and she has Nellie's pajama's and spring party dress. Her modern wear is Nellie's Irish dance outfit and the snowboarding gear.
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Post by SarahL on Nov 10, 2007 14:56:11 GMT -5
Grade: A The hat is great! Nice fleece material and cute. The jacket is harder for me to decide on. The quality is wonderful, and it's fully lined in red shiny material. However, the thick wool (or wool-like) outer material combined with the lining makes the jacket look so puffy on the dolls. The star on the hat and the "American Girl" on the jacket are embroidered. The pockets are real and are lined with the red material. The back is embroidered, with the white portion of "American Girl" being the 3-D loop kind. The hat has a sewn tag that says "American Girl" on the right side. The tassle is yarn. The jacket worn open. While I don't love the stuffed look the dolls have in it, I do like how nice and warm they look, so I think it's a great item to have for cold days. One of my girls usually has it on during the winter.
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