Monday, April 7, 2014
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
Who is this Mysterious 1950s Prototype?
Books are currently being written by Valerie Tripp.
- When Samantha (1904) archived in Dec 2008, that left room for Rebecca (1914) to debut May 2009.
- In 2009 Kirsten (1854) was archived so that the Best Friends Collection NOLA girls, Cécile and Marie Grace (1853) could debut 2011. (what appeared to be behind schedule).
- Next Felicity (1774) archived 2011, making room for Caroline (1812) debut Sept 2012.
- Last year we saw Molly (1944) one of the original historical characters archive 2013, making room (possibly) for a 1950s character.
Lets face it...who doesn't LOVE the 50s?? My mom was born 1951 and my dad was in elementary school. My favorite singer Elvis Presley was all the rage in 1956.
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| Retro Waste |
I decided to look up the 1954 - 1956 in wikipedia to see what major historical events happened.
--1954--
President: Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican)
Vice President: Richard Nixon (Republican)
February 23 – The first mass vaccination of children against polio begins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
March 1 – U.S. officials announce that a hydrogen bomb test has been conducted on Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
May 17 – Brown v. Board of Education (347 US 483 1954): The United States Supreme Court rules that segregated schools are unconstitutional.
September 3 – The last new episode of The Lone Ranger is aired on radio, after 2,956 episodes over a period of 21 years.
September 11 – The Miss America Pageant is broadcast on television for the first time.
--1955--
July 18 – The Disneyland Theme Park opens to the public in Anaheim, California.
December 1 – Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person, and the national civil rights movement begins.
--1956--
September 9 – Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.
November 13 – The United States Supreme Court declares Alabama and Montgomery, Alabama laws requiring segregated buses illegal, thus ending the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
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All of these events would make for an interesting book series.
What are your thoughts??
Thursday, April 3, 2014
TBT - Happy Birthday Angeline
Today would have been my maternal Grandmother's 109th birthday. She collected dolls of all size and material, she had a "doll room" and restored dolls that she rescued from thrift shops and yard sales. I wish I had pictures of her doll room, but I don't.
Here is a photo from Easter when I was five years old. We are standing in front of my life size doll house.
And here is another photo of me standing in front of her porch with one of her Playpal dolls.
I'm the only grandchild who shares her love of dolls. I like to think that she passed the torch onto me and I can do that for my grandchildren one day.
*Reader Photos* DIY Doll Bed
Linda sent photos of this awesome bunk bed she and her husband made and I just LOVE it!
"Here are pictures of the bed and bedding that my husband made for
our granddaughter. My son brought it back as she outgrew it, but her sister is seven and can play with it."
"It came back
without one roll pillow and three throw pillows. I had started to make
Julie’s canopy bed and decided to make bunk beds instead so more dolls
would have a place to sleep. We used stuff we had around the house to
make the beds and bedding."
Total cost $5 -$8 dollars to make. I hand sewed the quilt and pillows."
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I found this idea on Pinterest. It stores all of your doll clothes and accessories inside and sleeps one doll comfortably.
Throwback Thursday - Doll Display
Wow has my collection changed!
This is how I used to store/ display my 15 dolls.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
*News* AG Replacement Parts (Be Forever)
Blog reader Jessica sent an email about meet outfit replacements:
"I called AG and asked about meet outfits for historical dolls. As I mentioned before, when I bought Molly, they quoted me $48 for her entire meet ensemble. I asked them about Kit because if they change the line before we can get Kit, I want to be able to get her original meet outfit. They told me if we have the doll *(I have no idea how they would know if we have the doll or not), we can get the meet outfit. The price quotes they gave me was as follows:
Meet outfit (Includes skirt, shirt, sweater jacket) - $20
Kit's sandals - $10
Kit's underwear - $8 (wow! Just for a pair of bloomers!)
Kit's barrette - $2
The total for her complete meet ensemble is $40 (a little cheaper than Molly's).
Kit's sandals - $10
Kit's underwear - $8 (wow! Just for a pair of bloomers!)
Kit's barrette - $2
The total for her complete meet ensemble is $40 (a little cheaper than Molly's).
Again, I asked if we could get the meet outfit for all historical dolls and the representative told me "As long as you have the doll". I told her we got Kit at the Goodwill (same as we did with Molly) and she was willing to sell us the outfit.
I asked if she had Ruthie's hair bow as a replacement part and they do at $4. Individual pieces they sell as replacement parts, but this gives you an idea of how much they cost.
For the 'Meet Outfit' it will vary I guess; for dolls with dresses, it will only be their dress (no shoes, underwear). It does make me wonder after Samantha's re-introduction, if you will be able to get a meet outfit as a 'replacement part'. Something to think about."
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*Note: It's been reported AG is requiring sales receipts for return exchanges and maintaining stricter rules about replacements. All purchases are in their database proving a customer purchased the doll in question needing the replacement part.
My friends and I chat often about Be Forever and AG in general. We believe, all of this is to combat secondary market purchases. Example: Customer buys an AG doll from Goodwill or yard sale for under $15 or on eBay 70% the retail price then sends the doll to AG hospital for a new head ($44) or eyes (silver eye free) and has a new doll for less than retail ($110).
This is also possibly why the revamp of the historical characters. If you go to eBay or Craigslist there are oodles of AG listings. SEVEN of my 15 dolls were purchased from eBay. Eight were purchased from AG. If you consider how many dolls have been re-sold on the secondary market versus retail, you will understand why AG (Mattel) had to come up with a strategy to curb this pesky problem. Sure we as doll collectors LOVE this option and enjoy "scoring" a doll for less, but it is bad for business.
AG DOES make money, but if the secondary market is saturated with dolls for less, then AG can't move inventory out their doors = increase in clothing, accessories and furniture costs. If the furniture is being phased out (slowly) that leaves books, clothes and accessories. Expect to pay more (LE sets $64) as a result of buying used dolls.
Historical revamp + minor changes to doll = eyebrow changes and new meets.
Now AG can track purchases via database or with receipt. Eventually you will still be able to buy the revamped dolls on eBay, but you will no longer have proof to buy replacements or hospital visits. We have seen the new Samantha's sold on ebay, along with no AG proof of purchase.
*On Location* Skating Rink - Julie & Ivy!
Julie and Ivy had a GREAT time skating at the local rink. . They took a few spills....
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
*Readers Photos* OG Tent $16.99
Currently the AG Great Outdoors Tent is on sale $35 (reg $75)
If you want a backup tent or don't want to pay for shipping Our Generation has Camping Tent Sets $16.99 at Target.
Jessica bought one and sent these photos
I saw the Our
Generation tent at Target this weekend and just had to get it. My
daughter has always eyed the AG tent, but even at it's current price,
with shipping, it's not worth it to me just yet.
It does indeed fit two dolls nicely. Ruthie and McKenna fit snug in there. Plus it came with a sleeping bag, which was not bad quality, and cute accessories. The lantern apparently works. What I love about it, is that it was only $16.99! The tent itself was easy to put together. Of course sets are buy as soon as you see them at Target and I only saw two at mine. It may be on the Target website.
AG Haul - Closer View (Videos)
Here are the photos of my AG Haul. I thought maybe it would be nice to post closer photos.
To see Kit's table set:
To see Kit's birthday set and bed:
To see Caroline and Julie's items:
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