*RUMOR* AG Planning New Doll

I have received several emails and reader comments about a newly trademarked name. I typically don't write posts until I have more information. However, due to the influx of questions, I decided to acknowledge everyone's curiosity. 

In July 2014, I saw on social media a person claiming to have insider knowledge state that there was a character in the planning stages who is "disabled and her grandparents live in Italy".

Recently AG Trademarked Gabriela, considered an Italian name. 

This is of course in the infant stages, characters can take a minimum of three years to plan. This is certainly the beginning of a new character, whether she is a BF character or GOTY is unclear. We will have to keep watching this character develop. 

*REVIEW* 18" Texas Girl Dolls (H-E-B)

Linda has a review of her Texas Girl doll. 

 

*Note these dolls are only available at H-E-B during the holidays.

 This is my Texas Girl Doll from H-E-B grocery store.  I bought her several years ago for my young granddaughter who wanted an American Girl Doll.  She was too young for one at the time.  I think the store sold them for $15.00 and I got a $5.00 off coupon for the doll in the mail making her only $10.00! This is her original meet outfit minus one boot that was lost. She can stand by herself, but is now a little wobbly as she has been played with a lot by a small child. 

   She has the thickest hair of any doll that I have ever seen!  It is rooted and so shiny!!!!

 

 Her hair does not look good in this picture, but it is great!  The pictures don't do her justice.

 

 Here she is beside an AG doll for comparison.  They are both 18 inch dolls.

AG dolls can wear Texas Girls Shirts and shoes, but not fitted pants.
Texas Girl had extra outfits for $8.00.  I bought the ones with elastic in the waist and they fit fine. (PJ's, Basketball outfit with shoes and ball, hiking shorts outfit) At $8.00 for shirt, shoes, scarf that all my dolls could wear and Texas Girl would wear the shorts.  I also got another cowgirl outfit.

 

 Caroline is wearing Texas Girl's other cowgirl outfit.  These boots are rubber and I had to cut them down the back.  The boots she came with are like OG boots, faux leather.  Texas Girl is wearing an AG outfit. Nikki is wearing Texas Girl's basketball outfit, ball included.  Gracie, a Jesmar doll is wearing another Texas girl outfit.

 

 This last picture is of 12" Texas Girl doll.  I saw them in the H-E-B stores Christmas 2013-2014.  I hope they are not replacing the 18" dolls.  I tried to call H-E-B headquarters in San Antonio to find out and haven't heard back from them yet.  Texas Girl dolls have sleepy eyes. The only draw back is that their heads don't turn. I would recommend this doll if all their dolls have the same type of hair that my doll has!!!!

*REVIEW* Maru and Friends

Maru and Friends 20" dolls have faces sculpted by master artist, Dianna Effner. Each doll comes with a certificate of authenticity.

I was contacted by Maru and Friends to give an honest review. Sweet Maru is living in America now, due to political discord in her country. Lucky for her she now lives with her aunt and uncle. Her hard cover book Forever Friends is written by Maritza Guiterrez, creator of Maru and Friends. Illustrated by Rhiannon Cunag. She is a Latina girl learning a new language and making new friends in America.

Her brown acrylic eyes do not close, but are framed in long curly black lashes. She has feathered brows and subtle blushing on her cheeks. Her skin is a medium beige tone.

Maru's dark hair is gorgeous, a long straight 
wig with bangs. 

She has many pieces to her "meet outfit".

Included in her meet outfit: orange knit long sleeve top, striped vest, brown corduroy pleated skirt, caramel colored tights, beige leather-like boots that velcro at the inner leg, orange knit scarf and floppy hat. She also has an added accessory, a leather-like purse.

I was surprised to find that her clothing has snap closures - very impressive.

She is all vinyl with long, lean limbs. Her face is petite and her head pivots for photographing at multiple angles. Her arms rotate 360 and can hold a pose well, she is quite sturdy and very weighted so she can stand well on her own.

I love the uniqueness of her fingers, they're positioned so you can see the different lengths of each one.

Designed and sculpted to be childlike, Maru has a very sweet face. Sculpted by a designer who often works with porcelain yet made entirely of vinyl, Maru represents the best of both. She is as smooth as porcelain AND durable and sturdy. I am impressed with the quality, concept and uniqueness of this line of dolls. 
Each doll is $120.

All opinions are my own, I am not paid to endorse products.
*Video Review*

Kit's Basset Hound, Grace - All Grown Up

I don't have any AG pets, except for Bonbon. I found this Grace look-a-like thrifty shopping.

She is a full grown Basset Hound.

I saw her in the toy bin for .99c and couldn't leave her there. She has been groomed (washing machine/dryer).

I will be using her as an older full grown Grace, not a pup.

 

TBT - Earth Girl Kaya

 Kaya is a beauty!

Her face is so sweet and she has such life in her eyes.

 

She knows the land very well.

I never really noticed it before, but Sissy looks very much like Kaya in the face with her sweet closed mouth smile, dark brown eyes and rounded face.

  And Sissy has a smaller face with line brows.

Printable Mini AG Magazines

Many of us who place AG orders acquire several of the mini doll size AG magazine cards. For international readers who want to make their own, print these templates onto card stock.

Pinterest

*REVIEW* 18" Cloth Body Jesmar Doll

Linda has a review of her Jesmar doll, Gracie.

"Although Gracie looks taller than Nikki (our American Girl doll).  I measured her and they are the same size in height."

"Gracie's hand on the left (nails painted by my daughter),  Nikki's hand on the right." 

"She is about 20 something years old.  She has rooted hair and it feels very silky and soft like some of the American Girl dolls."

"Gracie's foot on left, Nikki's on right."

"Both dolls have an eleven inch waist although Gracie's can be squeezed to seven inches because she is stuffed with softer stuffing."

"Gracie cannot stand by herself. Part of her arms and legs are cloth."

Gracie can not wear sleeveless style clothing because of her cloth upper arms.