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Is that a rewigged JLY #4 in the group shot?? So cool, I feel like I never see that. Loving Tags’ physical (and emotional) transformation so far 🦋

Good morning friends! I thought I’d take this time to introduce myself a bit more, and my journey with American Girl dolls.

By the time I was granted permission to pick a doll in my pre-teen years, Kit had just been released so I decided to get her (I no longer remember which doll I wanted before that). In a strange twist, AG accidentally sent me a Samantha. This was still back when things were communicated via calling and ordering through the catalogs so after some back and forth, my parents arranged for a Kit to be sent and Samantha was carefully repacked and taken away. What I didn’t know was that my parents actually kept Samantha and gave her back to me at Christmas that year so I had two dolls. I felt like the luckiest kid ever.

Since then my interest in AG has waxed and waned. I have had probably over 100 dolls since then. Right now I have at least 35-40. Many are dolls I find at thrift stores. I LOVE finding beat up and worn dolls to fix up and give a nice retirement home to.

My first “rescued” thrift store doll was named Tinka (I have one photo that I will find someday). I sold her many years ago in one of my cool periods where I wasn’t super into AG. I do wish I still had her but I like to think that she helped pave the way for my interest in fixing up rough dolls.

I hope this blog provides some doll related entertainment to you all!

Some photos from over the years. You’ll have to forgive how they’re dressed in the big group photo! Clothing has always been scarce and strange here.

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Not me just accidentally texting this picture to my therapist 😶

From 1 to 10 Mollies, 1 Molly being the worst, and 10 Mollies being the best, how would you rate your mood today?

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Found this shop while looking for Native American doll clothes.

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FaceBook Marketplace Find

*Awkwardly waves hi*

Been super inactive in terms of posting on here but I’m always consistently lurking and getting a lot of joy from other people’s creativity while I put a lot of things on hold for my education basically. Anyway, I was really excited about this so I just wanted to put it out into the world. Will probably delete later.

Picking up this little lady tomorrow from the tried and true FB Marketplace. Magic Attic Doll Rose Hopkins! I’ve been interested in this line for the last year or so, especially because of their connection to the Tonner Doll Company.

That’s not all—the seller listed her for FREE!!! I thought it was one of those things where they list an item for “free” just to pull you in and then get their asking price but I think it’s the real, bonafide, true blue (in this case green) deal. I’m also looking to get my hands on her books at some point so we can get better acquainted.

The cutest bio about her from the 1998 catalogue!

A lot of info here, actually—her family is Cheyenne (I don’t believe the tribe is specified, however, so that’ll be up to me), she’s really close to her grandfather, and her interests include soccer and working with technology.

Hoping against all hopes I meet you tomorrow, “Little Flower!”

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Instead of a costume, Jessamy is getting into the autumnal spirit with the pumpkin-hued jacket from the First Day Outfit (1996).

And she looks so goddamn cute she puts all my other dolls to shame (sorry, girls).

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Jamie and Mei’s Library Trip

Jamie, Mei, and Chester the beagle made it to the library bright and early this morning to stock up for the weekend. After a long month of grey skies with only the barest teasings of sunlight to be had, they were happy to take the long way back on the bridge to soak up all of the Vitamin D.

Jamie picked up another Nancy Drew mystery for Emily, “The Quest of the Missing Map.” She also snagged a copy of “Robin Hood” that she’s planning to buddy-read with Kit. Mei has more of a tendency to enjoy non-fiction, especially paired with audiobooks. She grabbed a book on astrology because Christine (TM #23) informed her that Mei is a triple Scorpio and she needs to know what she’s in for.

As there have been more and more challenges to the intellectual freedom of public libraries in recent years, they also made sure to put in book purchase requests while they were there for minority voices typically targeted by conservative groups according to the American Library Association. Jamie requested “Abeni’s Song” by P. Djèlí Clark and “A Bit of Earth” by Karuna Riazi. Mei ordered “Skating on Mars” by Caroline Huntoon and “We Are Your Children Too” by P. O’Connell Pearson. This can be especially fun to do throughout Black History Month when reading lists are plentiful. Chester didn’t request anything but he did promise not to eat any books that looked especially tasty.

The public library is a place for all voices. Jamie and Mei plan to do their part to keep it that way.

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Tulah inviting you to evening tea—a perfect end to a snowy weekend.

Looks like some cookies managed to sneak their way in. If that’s what it takes to make it through the next week, we’ll take it.

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Emily’s New Bike

Emily got a new bike that she was excited to try, but Jamie (TM #37) and Mei (TM #40) could see that she was a little nervous, too. They pulled out the skateboard and rollerblades to show her it didn’t have to be all that scary.

Mei: And it DOESN’T, providing you’re equipped with the proper safety equipment, and Jamie, you are not. I’m getting you something for that noggin ASAP.

Emily: What about me?! I don’t even get a modern seatbelt until 1959, forget a bike helmet!

Jamie: From what I’ve read, your hair ribbons will protect you.

(This is neither here nor there and Emily’s magical hair ribbons notwithstanding, a lid is recommended. Ideally decorated with stickers. Emily felt better about her situation though.)

Emily hung back behind Jamie and Mei. Mei reminded her that she wasn’t going to be perfect right away—and why would she ever want to be perfect in the first place? If she were perfect, what would be the fun of learning or doing ANYTHING in life?

Emily closes her eyes for a second, nods her head, and pushes off the ground. There are more than a few wobbles, and some spills here and there, but at the end of the day Emily is a tiny bit more comfortable trying new things, and looking forward to riding her bike with her friends by her side the rest of the summer.

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Introducing Sugar, Daisy, and Ruby

I was inspired by a recent post from @concentrated-oj to finally introduce a sampling of my Tonner reproduction Tiny Betsy McCalls! They have been waiting very patiently. I think their essential adorableness speaks for itself.

I have not delved into the world of extremely tiny accessories yet, so here’s Sugar, Daisy, and Ruby looking too fabulous for their own good in the garden. I can only aspire to emulate such a high standard of summer style in my own life. They enjoyed a lovely weekend, and hope that you did as well!

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Happy Birthday, Kit!

Any well-versed doll collector could tell you that Kit’s birthday is May 19. Well, as a child, a well-versed doll collector I was not. Kit being my very first doll that made for a very memorable birthday, I decided that we would share June 26th and celebrate together every year. So, she could technically have two birthdays now, but to me today will always be her “true” birthday. And for me personally it’s very comforting to bring my dolls into my own new year, and whatever challenges and triumphs that year will present.

Kit gathered friends new and old to celebrate (while I wasn’t feeling thee most celebratory due to the week’s past events, dolls never fail to cheer me up). This year she requested devil’s food cake with marshmallow frosting. Emily and Amara made the cake while Rebecca and Mei made a lot of well-intentioned suggestions and happened to score a lot of extra frosting.

(Rebecca: Are we truly that transparent, Mei?

Mei: Oh, absolutely.)

Happy Birthday, Kit! Here’s to 20 years and counting.

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Happy Midsummer from Savannah Doll House! I don’t have Kirsten’s mid summer dress, so instead, she borrowed one from Lea to play around and help in our fairy garden!

We picked some tomatoes together.

And she helped put the clock tower we found at Goodwill in its spot in the rock fairy garden.

Of course, she had to take a break to climb the mandevilla’s trellis!

And lastly before we went in out of the heat, she picked her favorite succulent that we bought from Lowes to put out for Tinkerbell and her friends!

I gotta say, I LOVE how perfect her hair is!!!!

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Happy Pride

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Neill-Cochran House Museum is a small museum in Austin that I really admire because of the important interpretation work they're doing (such as recently hosting Joe McGillis of the Slave Dwelling Project). The museum also hosts community events, and for me, that's helped me start feeling comfortable on the grounds instead of just coming once and being done. Last weekend they hosted a fun tie-dyeing event. I tie-dyed an old tee shirt that I later sewed into a couple of doll tee shirts, including this one that Melody is modeling.

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Welcome Back, Kit!

A couple of friends gathered this past week for a laidback garden picnic celebrating the kickoff of summer.

Emily relaxed in the sun while rereading Nancy Drew. Mei (JLY #40) sampled from the desserts and fruit, but most of her attention was focused on catching up with her newest friend, Amara (JLY #26).

Amara (with Coconut) was just finishing up reading Kit’s latest missive, her newsletter from her travels. Amara is still slowly settling in and getting to know everyone, and it takes her a while to open up to people, so she really liked getting to know Kit a bit better through her writing before officially meeting her in person.

Pausing in conversation with Mei, Amara notices someone off in the distance.

Amara: “Hey everyone, it’s Kit!” (Having not seen Kit in person up until this point, Amara bases this assumption upon the fact that she doesn’t believe anyone else could possibly rock overalls as well as the girl approaching manages to)

Kit is weary but very comforted by coming home to this lovely scene of friends spending their afternoon in the garden.

Kit: I’m so excited to see you all, especially you, Amara! I hope you received my newsletter alright?

Mei: Yes, we got every one! It helped us with missing you a little less.

Emily: But we definitely still missed you.

Kit: Well I was thinking about you the whole time! In fact, I brought back a little something, too!

She gave Mei a jellyfish charm from DC and for Emily, stamps from the National Postal Museum.

Kit: Last but not least, it’s nice to meet you, Amara! I know it can be hard getting to know a lot of new people at once, but I’m looking forward to spending more time with you! Of course I brought something for you as well.

Amara: Is this something from Longwood Gardens? How did you know I love plants?

Kit: I might’ve gotten a few letters along with sending mine. It’s a tillandsia, an air plant!

Amara already knew what a tillandsia was, and she was able to explain to Kit how she planned to care for it. Kit said she would love to learn more, and Mei and Emily enthusiastically agreed. Amara thought that maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

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Welcoming the almost-summer sunshine with Zoe ☀️

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Kit Visits Longwood Gardens

Longwood was the final stop of Kit’s vacation. Like the Hagley Museum that Kit visited previously, Longwood Gardens has the Du Pont stamp on it, but in Pennsylvania this time.

Kit: You can’t talk about Longwood without talking about Pierre S. Du Pont. As a kid in the late 19th century, he did a lot of traveling and quickly developed a budding obsession with both gardens and fountains (we’ll get to the fountains shortly). After mucking about in corporate America and solidifying his reputation and fortune, etcetera, etcetera, at the age of 36 he bought the land that would become Longwood Gardens. Shout out to all of the expert gardeners and volunteers we spoke to throughout the day who were working hard to make Longwood what it is now!

Kit: Now on to my favorite part. As I mentioned, the fountains. Based on the marvel of the water pumps at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the fountains found throughout the entirety of the gardens were finished in the late 1930s, just in time for me to see them! They performed water shows throughout the morning, afternoon, and night, which was especially nice on such a scorching day.

Kit’s last memory from Longwood is of the Idea Garden amongst the poppies and the blue cornflowers. In France the blue cornflower commemorates the 11 November 1918 armistice, and can be a general symbol for veterans. We think that’s why they were cultivated in this garden with the red poppies, or Remembrance Poppies in the UK and Canada.

Before Kit left Longwood, she made sure to pick up something special for someone waiting patiently at home. They’ll be introduced when Kit returns.

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That’s History, Kit

Kit and I went back in time to visit the Hagley Museum and Library in the Brandywine Valley of Delaware. Hagley marks the very beginning for the start of the French Du Pont family in the US, wherein they owned and lived on a black powder manufacturing site from 1802 to 1921 (totally get if you’re not into that—we were very skeptical), and made a great deal of money whilst doing so.

Kit wouldn’t actually have been able to visit Hagley until much later in her time. The museum opened in the 1950’s, long after the operation shut down in the 1920’s due to the overwhelming popularity of that newfangled technology, dynamite (good old nitroglycerin. I believe one Lammot Du Pont actually died in an explosion after setting up his own high explosives plant in 1884. He got lost in the sauce, which I guess is a reference to Zola even though that line didn’t even end up in the movie somehow?! I digress).

Kit: I walked through the Upper Banks first, where all the workers lived with their families. Right here I’m in front of a spring house—which would’ve been of course set over a spring—where they could store food in a cool, stable place.

Hagley is pretty idyllic now, covered with languishing overgrowth, much greenery, and rolling hills, which is a far cry from its origins. In its heyday it strikes me that it would be a very dangerous place and I would not let Kit anywhere near it. Apparently 42% of the gunpowder for the North was produced here during the Civil War. Now we’re free to tour the grounds as we please.

Kit and I were fascinated by this garden, which the museum aptly described as a “ruin within a ruin within a ruin”.

Kit: This garden was designed by the great-granddaughter of the original founder of this whole place. His name was E.I. Du Pont, and her name was Louise E. Du Pont Crowninshield. She wanted it to look kinda decrepit after seeing the ruins in Italy. I gotta say, rich people sure are interesting sometimes. They spent a whole boatload of money just to make things look super OLD! Pretty funny!

We stopped to check out the Brandywine River, which was the whole reason the Du Ponts chose to base their operations here. They needed water power to make any of the manpower worthwhile.

Kit: I really liked this yellow boxcar. It didn’t connect to any larger rail networks and was just used for transporting black powder and its ingredients. You’re still important to me though, little boxcar.

We kind of did the tour backwards, ending up at the ancestral house last. Five generations of Du Ponts lived in this Georgian-style home.

Kit: It was a little shadier by the First Office, so I strayed over there. This was built in 1837, because the new president (Boss Henry, who turned the company around following the passing of E.I.) was tired of working from home. I don’t know if Boss Henry got it right with that one, I know plenty of people who love working at home. Finally I got a taste of the Du Pont’s preference in gardens, but I’ll be finding out even more when I head to the Longwood Gardens for my next adventure! See ya, and Happy Pride everyone!