autistickirstenlarson - Tumblr blog

[autistickirstenlarson]

I found this today

We've got another mildly weird listing to add to the collection

[autistickirstenlarson]

I cannot stress enough that this might be the most important doll I've posted about.

Meet Jafra, the Palestinian fashion doll.

Information on her took a bit of digging, but as far as I can tell she debuted in either December 2015 or January 2016. She was initially available for purchase through her website, and after a year began to be (and still is as) sold at Hamleys in Jordan, UAE, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. In 2021 the Palestine Museum began selling her for $49.99 each, and is now completely sold out.

Each doll wears a detailed thobe, the longer one in front for their bridal collection. The thobe is a traditional Palestinian dress with tatreez (embroidery) which uses color to indicate what region the wearer is from. During the First Intifada in the 80s, it became a symbol of resistance against Israeli Apartheid, and of Palestinians' connection to their land. (Credit to Handmade Palestine and @nickysfacts for this information)

As far as I can tell based on discrepancy in stock photos, the dolls with embroidered thobes were considered collectors items with a higher price. Meanwhile the details might have been printed for playline/budget releases, likely to lower the price for better availability.

Jafra's dream is to "empower all the beautiful girls from the Middle East". She lives away from her homeland, but hopes to design and build her own house in Palestine. She grows Chamomile and Thyme in her garden, studies architectural design in college, and always tries to volunteer and help others. Her thobe binds her to her home country, passed down from her ancestors.

"Jafra is beyond a doll... beyond an idea. It's a deep-rooted tradition mixed with history and memories"

I hope I have made it abundantly clear that I do and always will support Palestine, and encourage anyone who considers this genocide a "war against Hamas" to unfollow and block me immediately. You have been given every opportunity to educate yourself and sympathize with the innocent Palestinians suffering at the hands of Israel, and your ignorance does not deserve a listening ear over them.

To my followers, I implore you to do your daily click. Contact your representatives. Attend protests. Donate or buy an e-sim if you can. We need to let our government know we are not going to fucking stand for this, and support Palestinians however remotely possible.

A ceasefire WILL be reached. Palestine WILL be free. No matter what actions Israel and its disgusting supporters commit Palestine WILL NEVER DIE.

Ramadan Kareem, and Free Palestine.

[autistickirstenlarson]

I was noticing how Julie often looks a little startled.

[autistickirstenlarson]

Spring has Sprung photo challenge Week 1: Reading

Courtney is my newest doll and I'm having so much fun with her. I couldn't resist posing her like the covers of the early Pleasant Company catalogs, with girls reading to their dolls. My Courtney has Kirsten until we obtain a mini Molly.

[autistickirstenlarson]

I just spent the last 2 weeks of my life on the search to get the full American Girl story collection set.

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[autistickirstenlarson]

Happy International Women's Day!

This photo represents my account. I look to the past like Samantha to learn the stories of women and girls who inspire me. I look to the future like Nellie, full of hope for a happy, safe, and peaceful world for women and girls. They are posed in front of my drafting paper, representing the ongoing work of women's rights movements and the work yet to come, as well as female artists.

[autistickirstenlarson]

nothing against the dolls themselves but the disney collection becoming a permanent “core line” for american girl seems… not great. disney has their own doll lines and using a whole ag line for another company’s characters instead of actually trying to develop, create, and expand on their own unique ones is a weird decision. i know it’s just to make money and appeal to kids who recognize the princesses but imo this is not really the reason people like american girl or what makes the brand interesting.

[autistickirstenlarson]

Mod British Birds doll, 60's inspired (1999)

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Kit Kittredge from the American Girl Historical Series 🥹 Instagram

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New dolls, outfits, and accessories were just released by Our Generation! They're really delivering the good stuff with this release! I love the tent and the firepit set. The last picture shows the latest mystery bags--cute little doll sized-backpacks with surprises inside.

[autistickirstenlarson]

I hate this… the tags…… leave Maryellen out of this

this annoying ass coquette blog who superimposes annoying ass coquette sayings over pics of american girl dolls......do Not drag that fictional 9 year old into ur waifish bullshit

[autistickirstenlarson]

its actually kind of incredible how american girl doll has made 22 girl of the year characters and more than half of them are basically indistinguishable from one another. ur telling me ag made another white girl with a traditional, well-off family who has an expensive hobby?? i know i harp on it a lot, but u have a new chance EVERY YEAR to create a character that thousands of little kids will see and read about and nearly every single time u squander it to continue pandering to ur white, wealthy demographic and ensuring that ur dolls look pretty and perfect on the shelf. theyre not inspirational at this point, theyre aspirational

[autistickirstenlarson]

When the end finally comes for the terrible yellow fever epidemic that swept through New Orleans in 1853, Cécile and Marie-Grace help put together la célébration of the end of the sad times and the return of normal life. The two girls get to work making paper flowers to decorate the theater and give to the audience! 

For the happy occasion, I made this dress for ma fille précieuse Cécile, based on the book illustration! I spent a long time looking for the right fabric, until I finally found this green floral print at JoAnn Fabrics. For the smaller details (since I’m overflowing on fabric and notions), I tried to stick to using stuff that I already had in my sewing stash, including this green silk ribbon, lace trim, tiny buttons, and antique cherub charm that I used instead of what looks like a cameo brooch. 

Cécile’s green dress actually makes only one appearance in her series, but it also shows up in some promo images. For the first illustration, the one that shows the majority of her dress, I think it was meant to be a half-page book illustration, but at some point the decision was made for the books to have only a few full-page illustrations instead. 

This is one of my favorite of Cecile’s dresses, even with just a small glimpse of it. Unfortunately, like most of the clothes seen in her series, very few of them were actually produced by American Girl. 

[autistickirstenlarson]

Could not resist AG’s Cinderella dresses. They are adorable! Caroline is modeling since I did not buy the Cinderella doll. I have included a few items from Chrissa’s craft studio

[autistickirstenlarson]

where is the 90s American Girl doll who volunteers at her local museum because she's obsessed with AG

her name is Alyssa and her favorite outfit is the little [insert museum era here] dress her single, gay-coded aunt made her for living history events. the dress has wild inaccuracies and is made of quilting cotton, natch, but she loves it anyway

in the Learns a Lesson book, she discovers that the town's favorite historical Girlboss used child labor in her economy-revitalizing Widget Factory and has to decide whether she'll speak up about this at The Big Heritage Festival even though people wouldn't like it. she does, obviously

this would do numbers with female historians, archivists, museum professionals, etc. who got their start reading AG books and/or playing with the dolls (back when they didn't suck) and who now have kids

Mattel, hire me

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