Great Doll Finds for American Girl or other 18 inch dolls

My granddaughter's birthday is coming up and she has requested several items for me to get her for presents.  She and her sister both have American Girl dolls and are starting to play more with them than the Barbie dolls.  I took them both to Walmart and Toys R Us last week to give me some ideas on what they want.  (I always buy for both even though it is only one of them birthday's....yeah GiGi spoils them LOL).  So today I went and purchased several items.  At Wal-Mart they have the collections of My Life as Doll and I purchased each of them the Playing in the Rain Set.

 

 

It is adorable.  Comes with rain coat with hood, boots, black and white striped leggings, umbrella, stuffed  French Bulldog with leash with it's own rain coat (dog Poncho)  and dog hat. It sells for 14.97.  I so badly want to open the box and try it out myself...LOL. I just may have to go and get one for GiGi's house - of course for the granddaughters to play with when they are here. I just love the red and white polka dots.  (bought two)

 

At Toys R Us they picked out several Journey Girl items. 

 

 This is the Travel Set.  Comes with rolling suit case, duffle bag, hair brush,  sunglasses, camera, ipod - tablet, passport, airline tickets, travel roll up bags for washcloths (contains 3) - tooth brush (not included) and tube of lotion and stickers. (purchased two - so they wouldn't fight over it)

 This is the back of the box showing the suitcase with wheels and the other items being used.  Once again - I want to open the box and look at items.  This sells for $16.99

Below are two fashion accessories.  The one on the left contains hat, with flower made from shimmering tulle, has braided ribbon bracelet,  purse, gladiator shoes, cell phone, and money, credit card, and ID.

The box on the right is the workout fashion accessories - contains items for gym -  duffle bag, water bottle, cell phone, velour jacket, and pink tennis shoes. These sell for $9.99 each.  I purchased these so they each could have their own cell phone - but they will have to share the other items in the box - I didn't buy two each of these.

 

 

Her birthday party theme will be Hello Kitty.  I have been buying fabric with Hello Kitty and today I made her an outfit (working on other designs too and will post in a separate blog later) from the pink heart Hello Kitty.  I used Liberty Jane Clothing - Bandeau top pattern and I used Rosie's Capri pattern but I altered the pattern by adding length instead of adding the accent band. 

 As you can see, she is playing with Hello Kitty.  I purchased this toy awhile back and I thought I would use it for my photo shoot since I am displaying the Hello Kitty outfit I made.

 

Feel free to comment and tell about your doll finds and accessories for the dolls or children to play with.

 

Thanks for stopping - hope you enjoyed.

 

GiGi

 

 

Featured on Doll Diaries Spotlight - March

OMG - I was on Pinterest and seen my picture pinned of my tutorial for my spa wrap here on my blog and the title for the pin said Spotlight 2013. 

So I clicked on it and it took me to this page (site below) on Doll Diaries Spotlight Site for March http://dolldiaries.com/spotlight-sites-march-2013/

I was # 3 for the spotlight site.  I cannot believe I missed this.  I follow Doll Diaries closely, but looking back in March was a very busy tight month for me. 

Once again - very humbled and honored to have been chosen - Thank you Doll Diaries - Char.

GiGi

American Girl Doll Sleeping Bag Tutorial

My granddaughter asked me to make a sleeping bag for a birthday present for  her friend's doll Julie.  I knew Julie loved items from the 70's and I had some bandana's that I had purchased a while back with 70's designs on them. 

So I took the two bandana's and placed a layer of cotton batting in between the fabric.  I used pink thread and for the bobbin I used green thread since the bandana's already had that same color zig zagged around the edges.

 After sewing a straight seem around the fabric, I then zig zag with same color of thread pink for the top of fabric and green from the bottom(in bobbin).

 I then folded in half and used a wider zig zag to close the bottom and the sides.

The sleeping bag is reversible.

I made a pink pillow and appliqued name of the doll - Julie on it.  I used Winston font #181 from Jolsons Embroidery Designs.  I took my applique scissors and cut around the applique (peace signs is the fabric I used) to give it the "Raggy affect". I used hot pink embroidery thread.

Thanks for stopping and browsing.  Comments are always welcomed.  I will be listing American Girl Doll sleeping bags onto my Etsy store soon :)

GiGi

Free Doll Shorts pattern for American Girl

I came across a pin for American Girl doll shorts on Pinterest.

Below is the link for the pattern.


 link below

http://www.18inchdollclothesz.com/blog/easy-shorts-pattern-for-american-girl-dolls.html#comment-2656 for free pattern and tutorial for shorts from Sew Adollable.  I love this pattern. Give in a 10.  I do not follow the tutorial exactly as photos show.  I learned a new sewing technique from Rosie from Rosie's Doll clothes where you sew your elastic seam first then use straight bodkin to pull elastic through and then sew the elastic and back seam together.  I hate threading elastic through a tight seam.  It is so much quicker this way.  If you want a photo explaining this technique let me know and I will insert one.  I also hem the shorts before sewing the inner seam, faster and easier.

Here are some of the doll shorts I have made.

 I just love how they fit so well.  Not to baggy.  They fit the legs perfect.

 

I had tried a shorts pattern from McCalls  but only made one pair because they were  huge on the doll.  My 4 year old granddaughter looked at them and made a sad face and said "those are not shorts...they don't fit".  So, I haven't made anymore from that pattern.  Will need to taylor it down. 

 

UPDATE - here is a photo of using the bodkin

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and browsing.  I will be listing new short set's with shoulder bag purse to match very soon.

 

GiGi

Bandeau Pattern from Liberty Jane Clothing

I recently purchased the Bandeau Top pattern from Liberty Jane Clothing.  I have made several tops using this pattern.  I changed up the color variation  on my summer collection - lots of dots instead of a solid color. 

I really love this pattern.  It was easy to sew. You can make a dress with ruffle if you want to.  For this pattern purchase you get two outfits from the pattern. http://www.libertyjanepatterns.com/2011/03/bandeau-top-and-dress-for-ag-dolls.html

Here are my 4 designs for Summer Collection - Lots of Dots  - each outfit listed on my Etsy store.  I wanted the top to coordinate/accent the capris.

 

Here are some 4th of July prints

 

Patriotic Set - listed on Etsy

Thanks for viewing. Comments or suggestions always welcomed

GiGi

 

Patriotic American Girl Doll Outfit

I was in need of some "cotton therapy" and I started early this morning sewing.  I had purchased several doll patterns this past week from Liberty Jane clothing and I decided to make the Bandeau top. 


With the 4th of July coming up I decided to make two outfits to list on my Etsy store.  https://www.etsy.com/listing/153459900/patriotic-outfit-for-18-inch-american

I purchased a fat quarter patriotic bundle from Hobby Lobby and I made the top using one of the fat quarters - red with white and blue stars.

 

I made a simple skirt and used the red/white/blue ribbon to accent the colors of the top.  I used white cotton for the skirt material.

 

I love the Bandeau top pattern.  It was easy and the photo and instructions were easy to follow. Will be making some more of these.

 

Here is the back view - with dolls hair down ( I just love my dolls long hair).  Wishing now I hadn't cut 20 inches off of my own.....

I used dark blue material for the straps to accent the top as well.

 

Back view with dolls hair up.

 

 

Having fun taking photos - I wonder what my neighbors think of me when they see me outside taking photos of the dolls....LOL

 

 

Thanks for stopping. As always comments are welcomed.

GiGi

 

Featured Again on Liberty Jane Clothing (LJC) - Harajuka skirt

I was featured again on Liberty Janes Clothing weekly newsletter :)
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=pxignedab&v=001vuCdHl1qDg7H2N2eHoDCI3XnIUURIsrka6tRibR8PCkKanhbevdYRBaTt3DOP4c7fBxMirGIiXnbnoHfoujGnxEqDUAkl-yTZdv8GIM9728zoUHdTxCvdBxqF6tTVoIo

Not sure if this link will work.  The outfit I was featured was one I of the Harajuka Station skirts I just posted on Etsy this week https://www.etsy.com/listing/152903781/denim-ruffled-skirt-for-18-inch-American

Once again feel so humbled and honored to have been chosen once again.  I love making this skirt.  I purchased some new fabric and tulle to make some new skirts.  Be watching for them soon :)

Thanks for stopping by.
GiGi