*Interview* Camille's Doll Spa

 Camille specializes in doll repair and unique outfits for American Girl dolls, sourced from environmentally responsible fabrics. Here's her story.

I learned to repair dolls I bought at garage sales for my young daughters. Their hair was always a mess, and they often had other problems. I thought it was better to start with a nice toy than a broken one, because my children would value and take better care of a nice toy. Then my friends started bringing me dolls with problem hair, stains, broken limbs etc. As I conquered these challenges, I realized I should offer my services to others as well. I hope that my doll repair services enable people to salvage quality dolls with a few issues and restore them for another generation to love.

I've been sewing doll clothes since I got my first Samantha doll in the late 80s, and Pleasant Company published patterns for the original historical dolls. First I sewed all the patterns and combined them in different ways, and then I started designing my own doll outfits. I learned my sewing skills from my mom and perfected them with my 4-H projects. (In fact, I am still learning new things all the time.) Now that I have two little girls of my own who are also into dolls, I enjoy making doll outfits for them. I'm bringing the best of those designs to this shop. They are all limited edition or one of a kind, with material sourced from thrifted and recycled clothing. Since the material has usually been washed already, it has a unique softness and will not transfer dye to the doll's skin. (Just to be extra careful, I always pre-wash dark colored fabric in hot water, vinegar and detergent.) I look for high-quality fiber content (wool, silk, cashmere, lightweight and performance stretch knits such as cannot be found in fabric shops), and garments with an authentic worn distressed character. You will also find knits in my shop that have been deconstructed from sweaters and stockings with interesting patterns and quality fiber content. I love to repurpose and reinvent quality used items, so it's not surprising that I also restore American Girl dolls.

Instagram camilles doll spa 

 

*RESOURCE* Sister's Doll Hospital

Cherie Gorden is renowned as an expert in restoring and repairing fine porcelain and antique dolls. She is a frequent lecturer and speaker at events and shows where she tells the stories of the origins of antique dolls and delights her listeners with tales
of the beautiful dolls she saves.

Sisters Doll Hospital is the most unique of places with scraps of velvets, laces and silks, doll wigs and replacement parts. Cherie and  assistant, Liz Brown are busy practicing the delicate techniques taught originally to Cherie by her "Aunt Gertrude Zigler".

Sisters Doll Hospital takes patients on a limited basis and by appointment only.

"We cannot estimate the cost on repairs over the phone or by
e-mail. Please call us at 405-260-2345 for an appointment
to bring your doll to Guthrie and we will be glad to give you
an estimate of cost and a time frame for the repair."

*REVIEW* AG Doll Hospital - Molly's New Eyes

 

My WBPC Molly came back from A hospital with new eyes. She had silver eye so to prevent my family from fear of how scary she was starting to look to them, I had to get them replaced. 

I did everything I could to request PC eyes with long brown lashes, but they said only stiff black ones would be put on my doll. I also asked that they not redo her hair or cut it. They honored my request and just placed pink ribbons in her hair instead. They did a great job! 

Here are the comparisons between lashes. GT 9 aka Molly look a like doll has short soft brown lashes. 1990 Samantha has long soft brown lashes and now my WBPC Molly has stiff black lashes. 

Original three back together WBPC Molly, Kirsten and Samantha! We are all happy to just have Molly back...stiff black lashes and all, she is beautiful again!

icia

*Reader Photos* Addy Home from AG Hospital

 

My Daughter will scream when She comes home from school today. OUR ORIGINAL AMERICAN GIRL DOLL ADDY WALKER FROM 1993 IS HOME WITH A NEW SET OF EYES AND TIGHT LIMBS And perfectly clean. 

 

Doctor Mimi said She is perfect and still needs to rest for 1 week week in bed. We purchased her a new Dress last Friday at The American Girl Doll Place Houston Meet Up.  It is Her Very own Christmas Dress. So excited it is hard to express. 

Thank you to Cara at American Girl Doll Place Houston Houston for handling to process that allowed for Addy to receive a transplant of new Eyes. What a blessing. What a wonderful Christmas Story.

My American Girl Doll Place Houston Doll Hospital experience I rate a 100 for exceptional service and experience.

-Maxine 

Help For Doll Repairs - Custom and Boy Dolls

If you have custom American Girl dolls or boy dolls, you may already know that they will not be admitted into the AG Hospital.

From time to time your doll may need to have limbs tightened, require hair care for dried and tangled tresses or need a deep cleaning. I have found a great resource for you! 

THE DOLL SPA

Understand each doll is unique and requires individual attention, individual results may vary and you should not expect brand new dolls in return. Every effort will go into restoring your doll.

* Please note that doll owners are responsible for all shipping costs. Services can be paid for by personal check sent with your doll or via pay pal, by adding 5% to cover fees Services are as follows:

• hair style
• hair wash, conditioning & style
• hair wash and heat conditioning for frizzy hair
• hair wash & deep conditioning for dry hair
• hair wash and ultimate conditioning   
• freckling
• restringing 
• new stuffing
• stain removal from vinyl 
• hand wash and air dry of cloth body 
• odor removal
• replace neck string
• wig removal
• wig attachments
• wig removal and reattachment

About Silver Eye

I have had two dolls with Silver Eye. Below is an informative explanation of Silver Eye.

Silver Eye is a defect in the eye of American Girl dolls where the inner eye decal begins to detach from the eye. The eye begins to take on a silver look from the detachment. This generally happens with specific eye types, primarily the "pinwheel" decal eyes. 

 

The primary cause of silver eyes is heat exposure, such as with a blow dryer or too much sun exposure; the secondary cause is liquid exposure to eyes. This mostly manifests in older dolls, due to their age and thus greater chances of and longer time for exposure. This generally starts to appear in one eye before the other and it is quite possible for only one eye to be affected. 

American Girl considers silver eye a manufacturing defect and will fix it at no cost through the American Girl Hospital; however, new eyes with hard lashes will be used. If a person has a PM Doll, they may try an eye swap with a matching PM Doll to maintain the softer lashes. 

 American Girl wiki

American Girl Doll Hospital

After sending in Kirsten, when she returned I saw that her hair had been re-braided and cut on one side!!! This is why when I sent in Addy I specified she was Pleasant Company and not to touch her hair!

Addy Home from AG Hospital

Addy is safe and home from the AG hospital. Her silver eye has been fixed, she received a brand new set of deep brown eyes FREE and she looks wonderful!

BACK FROM AG HOSPITAL VIDEO

Ebay Standards

Just how far will people go? And would you buy? 

Note* These listings are approx $200 range. 

Pains me to see the way these poor dolls have turned out....they deserve better homes.

*Opening* Holiday Surprises from KKollect

Many of you know that I typically send my dolls to KKollect and Mr. Modelnut for repair (re-stringing, cleaning). I sent the last three of my dolls that needed help to them. Imagine my surprise when I opened this package and received three new holiday outfits + other goodies!!

First of all my (custom) Bitty Twins were a gift from KKollect and I cherish them so much. They're irresistible! But there's more to this. I only decided to begin my YouTube channel after being encouraged by KKollect. It has been so much fun and a creative outlet to connect with other doll lovers. I have made so many doll friends and shared in the joy of seeing their collections change and grow.

I was drawn to KKollect's channel because they're a close family inspiring other doll collectors to be creative. I consider this family to be my dearest friends and they are always FUN FUN FUN! 

Thank you KKollect, Mr. Modelnut and ZaZa for being the GREATEST friends to me and for all of your imaginative doll ideas and videos, but especially for being generous, caring, loving, kind people to all of your subscribers. There isn't one subscriber that hasn't been touched in some way by you. I love you and appreciate your friendship. God bless you.

OPENING VIDEO

Julie Home from Hospital

Julie's back from the hospital.

 

 Pretty girl!!!

AG Hospital Horror - Kirsten's Braids

When I sent Kirsten to AG Hospital (silver eye) end of December, she came home Jan 8th with new eyes! I was thrilled that they styled her hair back into the original braids. I left them in for quite some time but decided I would take her braids down and brush her hair for a different look (Easter). I freaked out when I saw her left braid had been cut!
 

 I called AG hospital immediately. After several calls I submitted these photos via email. AG offered two options: #1 they would replace her head or #2 their salon would even out the braids. I said NO to both. She is Pleasant Company there is no way I want a new AG head. And I can cut the end of the other braid straight across myself.

After cutting the braid even with the AG cut braid then letting her hair down, you can see NOW all of her hair is drastically uneven! It was straight before. Very disappointing.