Have Mini will Travel

There are places that we go that I would rather my girls not take their dolls with them.  They are either just too distracting or just too large to tote along with all their accessories.  Enter: The Minis.  There are several lines of play dolls that fit into this category.  Some of our favorites are Madeline, approximately 8 inches, starring character from the much-loved line of children's books and, of course, the American Girl doll minis which stand at approximately 6.5 inches.  We currently own AG mini Kit Kittredge but are on the hunt for more!  She is made very similarly to the 18 inch version of herself, complete with soft cloth body, jointed vinyl limbs and tie string at the neck.  One negative is that her eyes are painted and I would have preferred sleep eyes on her.  To me, this lends to a facial appearance that is not nearly as sweet as the 18 inch American Girl doll.  Madeline is fully vinyl, has a great head of rooted red hair and comes complete with an adorable little scar at the bottom of her softly rounded tummy as a reminder of her famous appendectomy.  Madeline feels just right in little hands.  Her hair is easy to style and does not seem to become too ratted or disheveled with regular play.  One downside is keeping up with those tiny little shoes!  If you find yourself needing to replace them as I do, the American Girl mini dolls wear size 25mm.  These are readily available on the web.  Dolls of this size are also easy to create fun furniture and accessories for.  My girls and I have had a lot of fun creating pretty things together for the minis.  We then pack it all up in a tidy little tote and take it along wherever we go.
Speaking of accessories, let me tell you about a treasure trove of them.  These are scaled for the 18" dolls such as American Girl and really are fun play items to keep your girls busy with their dolls for hours at a time!  If you see something cute used as a photo prop in my Etsy shop it probably came from here.  I'm in love with lovvbugg and I bet if you spend any time at all looking around their store, you will be too.  Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy

My Baby's First Doll Baby

My third daughter turned two this month.  She is very interested in playing dollies and is ready to graduate from the average store-type dolly to something nicer.  She is not ready yet for the really nice dolls either, so I have been on a quest to find just the right baby for her.  Part of the reason I am looking is that she wants a baby with hair to brush.  I want to find her a doll with hair that won't get ratty and dry from my toddler's daily use and care.  The other reason is that I want her to have a baby of her own that she can hold while I am caring for her new sister that should be arriving next month.  Here is the solution that we found.  Meet Brianna, now called Baby Millie at our place.

The Melissa and Doug company carries this vanilla-scented, thumb-sucking beauty that is just right for our girl.  Her hair is rooted but full for styling and surprisingly soft.  She gets carried around by her pigtails daily and they have always brushed out nice and smooth for us so far.  It's not too long either.  Her face is of average cuteness but I must say she looks better with her thumb or pacifier in rather than out.  Her clothes are sturdy and wash clean for us.  Her body is soft and sleep-friendly.  If you are in the market for a new baby doll for your little girl who is not quite ready for her first real dolly, then consider Brianna by Melissa and Doug.  At just $15 on Amazon, she is a real bargain.  Here she is after a month at home with us.

Cuddled up with her Mama

Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy

My Cuddly Surprise

Hooray, the big day is here!  It's a good thing too because I was about to burst.  Happy Birthday to my second daughter today.  She is still in the midst of playing with baby dolls, not just having dolls as friends, so I am excited to share with you this great find that we have for her.  Remember all that sewing I did last month?  Well it was especially for this tiny, sweet doll.  Meet Madelyn, a My Twinn Cuddly Sister.  Isn't she just adorable in her petite little way?  At just 14" in length we are having a time finding clothes to fit her.  Lucky for my girl her Mama can sew!

What a head of hair she has too!  These braids are long and silky.  Could you imagine a real baby with hair this long? This doll is made with the same high-quality materials that the rest of the My Twinn doll line is.  This includes a premium wig that is soft and full for styling, gorgeous eyes full of sparkle, a full set of premium eyelashes, artist brows and face, and a snuggly-soft bean body that just calls for a little mommy to hold it.  This fabulous eBay find came with 3 pairs of shoes, 3 outfits, and her ribbon hair ties.  My sweet little girl is in love with this Cuddly cutie.

  Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy

Getting Fancy with Nancy

Ask almost any 5-7 year old girl what "bonjour" means and thanks to "Fancy Nancy" she'll be able to tell you.  Nancy is the loveable, round bellied doll that the younger set adores.  With her books and outlandish fashions how could any little girl resist her charm?  You can find Fancy Nancy and her wares adorning the toy aisles at your local T@rget.  Wait for her to go on sale or pick one up secondhand on eBay.  She will be a hit when you introduce her to her new dolly friends. 
For some reason, this doll manufacturer thought Nancy needed purple hair highlights.  My 6 year old thinks they are "yuck," but thankfully has not yet tried to cut them out!  Nancy's hair is of some concern for another reason too.  Her wig is curly.  As cute and lively as it makes for a children's storybook character, it is never as carefree in real life.  Curly doll wigs are difficult for young dolly lovers to care for as it is hard for them to resist brushing it.  Soon the pincurls and ringlets are all askew and frazzled.  If you decide to bring Nancy home to your little gal, consider yourself warned.  Take some time to visit my Dolly Hair page and pick up all the tools and tips you'll need to make life with a curly-haired doll a success.
Also note that Nancy's hair is rooted, not a wig and her body is all-vinyl.  Many girls prefer a soft-bodied doll for cuddling but Nancy is so loveable your dolly lover may not be able to resist offering her a squeeze anyway!  Her eyes are a vibrant green and are full of twinkle and charm.  At bedtime Nancy will need a sleep mask since she does not come with sleep eyes.  You will be able to trade clothes with some other 18" dolls just be careful as Nancy's hard plastic tummy is a bit round.  Shoe fit will be hit or miss as well.  All in all, the Fancy Nancy doll is a great find for the fanciful little girl in your life.  Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy 

We Welcome a Boy to our 18" Collection

I don't know why but it seems that dolls of the male variety are steeper in price than female dolls are.  Perhaps their scarcity leads to their premium price.  I don't know.  We had looked online for an 18" male doll to add to our adventures but were dissatisfied with the sparse offerings.  Providentially, a trip through our local junque store led to a remedy for this situation.  There in a booth, amidst other treasures and trinkets of varied description sat Jack.  Jack is the no-longer-in production Our Generation boy doll.  He is collected far and wide by doll enthusiasts looking to add a little male influence to their cadre.
He is definitely a play doll.  At the risk of giving him an inferiority complex I will have to compare him gently to the others.  The adequate sandy blonde wig is no real disappointment, as boys tend to make fewer trips to the hair salon anyway.  His vinyl limbs and soft-bodied trunk are not nearly the quality of My Twinn or Karito Kids dolls, but it is adequate for our purposes.  He has brought much inspiration and adventure to our play as boys tend to do.  With proper training and discipline I am sure he will fit in quite well here for years to come.  Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy

Another Karito Kid Deal

Since my last Karito Kids post I am happy to report that I have been able to track down another $29 Kid.  This time I wanted Zoe, from the USA and I had to visit two different stores to find her.  I was told that some of the more popular dolls are a little more scarce.  The Karito Kids line of dolls is experiencing a resurgence in popularity.  Their site has been relaunched and several of the dolls outfits have been refashioned.  You can view their current line here as well as many of their outfits.  They are also readily available on Amazon as of this posting.  Be prepared to pay a little more than I did for the first-issue dolls that are now on the secondary market.  The Gia doll that we own has been given a new outfit that still reveals just as much of her tremendously long legs as the former outfit.  Additionally, Karito Kids size clothing patterns and fashions are readily available for purchase online.
I would highly encourage you to add one of these unique dolls to your collection.  I believe that Ling from China has become a favorite among doll enthusiasts.  There is not an ugly girl in the entire line.  Each doll and outfit represents their country of origin beautifully.  You may not wish to have all of them but I am certain that when you hold one of these well-made dolls in your hand you will see what I mean.  They feel great, look amazing, and come with a great head of hair for styling.  Collect or play with these Karito Kids dolls, you will not be disappointed.  Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy

Meet Our Life of Faith Doll Elsie

As a young girl I would say that I played with dolls a lot.  As a Mama, I am hoping the same time will be spent by my little girls enjoying their playtime with their beloved dolls as well.  When my eldest daughter was still too young for her first real doll, I couldn't help myself when I saw this beauty.  I met Elsie Dinsmore while combing the aisles of a favorite Christian bookstore.  There she stood quietly in her box waiting to go home with some girl and help her find her way through the struggles of life.  Elsie came home with me and stayed in her box until my daughters 6th birthday.  She was allowed out, but only to be displayed.  Finally after much cajoling I gave in to allowing her to be handled and carried about the house.  Today her lovely curls are a bit displaced but mostly intact as is the rest of her outfit.  Elsie sits on her couch in all her loveliness awaiting her bedtime prayers each night.
My now 10 year old daughter would say that she is still the prettiest doll she has ever seen.  These dolls are no longer in production but can be obtained via eBay and collector sell-offs.  Some of the harder to find dolls from the Life of Faith collection sell in excess of $325 in New In Box condition.  Their clothing detail is exquisite and historically accurate for the period they are set in.  Their skin is a lovely tone and has been given life-like detail by blushing on the tops of the hands and knees.  Elsie's curls make her hair a no-no for play and styling.  I would have to say she is best left in her original clothing and hairstyle in order to preserve her beauty.  She is all-vinyl therefore not too cuddly for sleeping and hugging.  Perhaps this is the reason that this gorgeous doll line is no longer in production.
We benefited greatly from Elsie's book series as a read aloud.  It was captivating and historically rich.  She is now reading through it on her own as well.  We are even in the process of collecting the entire series from the original author just to enjoy the beautiful vocabulary.  Through their website your daughter may enjoy, as mine does, an interesting forum for growth and encouragement as a young lady of faith.  I am not certain how long they will keep this resource available so go visit while you still can!
-Whimsy

American Girl Doll for FREE, yes FREE!!

If I believed in luck, I would say my six year old is lucky.  Put her in a random drawing of any sort and she wins many times.  This time was no different.  I entered all three of the girls, even the baby, in a drawing for a Just Like You doll that the bookstore, Borders, was having.  I filled out the entry forms, looked at what we had stopped there for, and left.  At the end of the week my phone rang and the caller ID displayed Borders.  I looked at my daughter and said, " I bet you won that American Girl Doll."  I was right.  We went down there to sign a few release papers, bring home our newest dolly family member, and were dazzled!  This was our first experience with and brand new, fresh-from-the-box American Girl doll.  I believe she is known as G1940 (how cold) but we call her Maeve.  Her soft body is just right for hugging and holding, her blue eyes sparkle when she's awake and close when she's asleep.  We will spend many hours combing and styling her soft, shiny hair.  She will be right at home in this doll-loving place.  Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy

A Doll for Mama

Isn't she cute?  I play dolls with my girls alot.  Usually I am asked to be the hair-stylist but many times they just want me to play family or act out a favorite story from Little House on the Prairie with them.  Thanks to eBay I now have my own vintage American Girl doll to use when we play together.  Isn't she spunky?  This is a Pleasant Company Lindsey and she is perfect.  In fact, I can't believe how tight her limbs are for her age.  We usually buy from the historical line but Lindsey is not from that genre.  She is special because she is the first American Girl of Today doll they issued and is known as Lindsey Bergman.  I like her just because she is cute and full of spunk.  Just look at that unruly hair and the sprinkling of freckles across her tiny upturned nose.  What a doll!  No more time to post, I've got to go play!!
-Whimsy

Welcome Home, My Twinn

I have three little girls.  My youngest is just 10 weeks old and a real doll herself.  As you can imagine, we play dolls alot around here. Playing house and being "just like Mama" is a common theme.  There are alot of dolls out on the market and I am interested in finding quality play dolls that will last and become cherished heirlooms too.  Something that can be passed on to the next generation is my goal when I am out looking for a new friend to bring home.  Many dolls will meet this standard if the little girl who owns her understands there are a few dolly basics and even some rules for care that will keep her special friend in great condition for years to come.  I will offer many of those tips along the way.  You will also find them posted on my Dolly 101 Page.
One line of high-quality doll that meets this standard is the doll offered by the My Twinn company.  Though they have been through financial ups and downs, the dolls offered today are still some of the best available.  There are many factors that play into that recommendation - - hair/wig quality being one of them.  I am excited to show you our first Twinn today: Maribel.  She is the "Wendi" facemold and features brown eyes, a sun-tanned vinyl body and terrific long brown hair.  I have decided to change her wig, but more on that later.  We got her on eBay and we are please with the value of this doll!
More great doll talk to come, so stop by soon!
-Whimsy