Happy Saturday everyone…
Don’t forget…if you are interested in buying the Mary Poppins Dress, hat and white boots… I’m selling them on here if you are interested. It’s like an auction, only on here… I’m starting the bidding at $25, with $3.00 shipping. If you’d like to make a bid, please send me an email with your bid through the Contact Me tab up near the top of my blog post. You have until midnight, Monday evening…Central Time zone. Here are a few pictures of the dress set… Remember NO doll… just the dress, hat and boots.
Well, the moment is here… Joy finished her dolly tent and I have pictures to share. You’re going to love this, but probably not as much as her girls will! :o)
Joy took her pictures inside so you’ll have to imagine the “wild outdoors!” :o)
It’s kind of hard to tell the dimensions, but maybe Joy can fill us in with the details… I know her girls in the following pictures are 16″ dolls, so that will give you an idea of the size of it…
She’s been working SO hard at getting it just right and authentic, and I think she definitely nailed it!
Now we have Aya, Sophie Mae and Stella May ready to check it out.. only trouble is, they need to get in some camping clothes…unless they are planning on “glamping” instead! Joy made their little ruffled sets, and aren’t they adorable?
I think maybe Molly spotted a bug inside the tent and she doesn’t look too happy!
What is glamping?
Glamping is where stunning nature meets modern luxury. It’s a way to experience the untamed and completely unique parts of the world—without having to sacrifice creature comforts.
Joy, just move some beds in the tent area along with a few rugs and your girls will be set!
Well done Joy, Well done!
Oh and one more thing… my neighbor brought over some fresh peaches… so I made a peach crisp tonight. My hubby said to take a picture of it before we spooned out a piece. He said it was “blog worthy!” :o)
Have a wonderful Saturday,
See you Monday!
Blessings, Jeanne
Well done on the tent, Joy! It’s nice to see the preliminary framework, too, so we can get an idea of what is involved. It really turned out beautifully, and I know your girls are going to have a lot of fun. Their ruffled outfits are really cute, too!!
Now, glamping, I might be able to do….provided there was plumbing nearby, and someplace to plug in my sewing machine! LOL
Jeanne, your peach crisp looks wonderful. Yup, George was right–definitely blog-worthy!
By the way, Barbara, to find a picture of Jasmin, look for the “Dianna Effner Little Darling and Boneka Dolls” group on FB. Ricky Rich is the administrator, and a few days ago he posted a link with several new dolls he had coming in. He only got one Jasmin, so didn’t do a separate post about her, but if you look for his post from August 7th, and look thru the pictures, Jasmin is the 7th picture, right after the girl with the hat. Hope that helps!
Thanks for the tent and outfit compliments. I bought a Boneka from Ricky awhile back. He is so thoughtful and ships quickly.
You’re welcome.
My new girl was waiting in the post office today–but I couldn’t get her yet as the window service had already ended for the day! Boo hoo…..have to wait until Monday now!
I bought my Bella (RR FF) from Ricky, too. He’s very nice to deal with.
Excellent job, Joy! As I saw the tent coming together in the pictures, I immediately thought of Molly’s AG tent, which is a close copy , or maybe it’s the other way around! Molly has a WW II tent, and it is large enough to sleep two 18 inch dolls in. It’s 19″ high, 17 1/2 x 21″. It is very much like your tent! It carried a hefty price tag too, for the late 80’s, $72, and if you can find one on Ebay it is still expensive! I think one of the problems with it was it collapsed too much when played with, so would work out more for a display piece. I certainly don’t have one, but it would be a fun camp set up. Is yours permanent, or can it be taken apart?
Your peach crumble looks so good, Jeanne! I always made peach kuchen, so I wonder what the difference is? My problem is that I can make it but have no one to eat it, except me, and I’m certainly not going to let that go to waste! What is really good is to put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! Yummm!
Charlotte, don’t you have to be a member of that doll group on FB to be able to see anything? I have tried, but since I am not a member, I can’t get anywhere!
Ah ha, caught me. I did indeed model the tent after Molly’s. However, the one here is much larger. My Meadow girls are 16″ and the tent is 25″ so there is also room for the big 18″ girls to stand too. Molly’s tent isn’t big enough for the 18″ girls to stand and they tower next to it. 🙂 Believe me, this one won’t collapse and it easily comes apart. I didn’t glue the pvc pieces. I forgot to get a pic of the sides, but they roll up so the whole inside is accessible. I plan to use it for fall with a harvest/apple/pumpkin patch theme sales room maybe. And then for a Christmas bazaar and tree sales theme. Maybe a ski warming hut or ice skate/ski rental? We’ll see. I did everything myself except cutting the pvc pipe pieces which other person volunteered to do. I gave him the measurements. 🙂
Hi Linda,
Kuchen has a cake-like base, while a crisp has the fruit under a flour/oat/sugar/spice topping.
My Nanny (grandmother) always made a plum kuchen (plum cake) in the summer. It was basically just her recipe for hot rolls as the base with damson plums sliced across the top and a gorgeous sprinkling of sugar and spices. It was an afternoon snack with tea. Even though my grandparents were german, tea, not coffee was the choice. I like coffee ice cream, coffee candy, and iced coffee, but I dislike it hot, even with sugar and cream.
Here’s a comparison of fruit desserts I found quickly
https://www.thespruceeats.com/berry-dessert-differences-305508
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/crisp-crumble-cobbler-whats-difference-29174#:~:text=Both%20contain%20fresh%20fruit%20and,oats%2C%20whereas%20crisp%20toppings%20do.&text=Brown%20Betty%3A%20A%20Brown%20Betty,in%20its%20buttery%20crumb%20topping.
Should be German. Always make a typo when typing too fast.
Yum, Laura! I got hungry just reading aabout those! Thank you very much! Both of my grandmothers were German, and I always heard the term kuchen an awful lot!
You probably do, but as I recall it’s really easy to join. (Or I can send Jeanne the pictures I saved from there….) Even if you don’t necessarily “follow” a particular group, you can always join it so you can see the pictures!
The tent is darling and so authentic. I can see it took a lot of thought to get it right. Thanks for sharing it. The dolls’ clothes are adorable as usual in Joy’s pictures.
My mother always made peach cobbler, so that’s another nice memory spurred by the blog. I remember going to the steep brick levee on the Mississippi River in St. Louis to buy flats of fruits and vegetables to be canned, and after home freezers became available, frozen. I’m sure revealing my age now. I can still conjure up the sights and smells of the outdoor wholesale market.
Thanks on the tent and outfits. You are too kind. 🙂 Great market memories. My mom and her family lived in St. Louis when she was a child, way before your time. In the 1920’s. I wonder if they visited the market? I bet it was in the same location.
Hi Susette,
Not so odd to remember an outdoor wholesale market. We used to go to Findlay Market in Cincinnati when I was a child and that was the 1970’s. My grandmother canned and froze things, When I spent weeks there each summer I would help slice things up and put them in those softer plastic freezer containers with the blue lids and then blanch ears of corn for the deep freezer.
I see there are 6 bids on the cute Boneka outfits this morning. Great. And what a wonderful holiday dress the white/red one will make for some lucky person. Would work for Christmas as well as an adorable Valentine outfit. 🙂
It ended up being 105 yesterday, 90 inside. Cooled off overnight and now it is only 77 inside. Another scorcher today though. 🙂
Dear Joy, I love the camp tent. It is so pretty. Your girls are adorable in their outfits. Your girls are always well dressed.
I love the photo of Molly. I think I would be inside with Molly to avoid bugs.
When I was younger and we had family picnics at my aunt’s house, I would be the one sitting at the kitchen table looking out of the screen door at the family sitting on a picnic bench or folding chairs. No bugs for me (laugh). I so could not have been a pioneer on a wagon train (smile).
Joy, you’ve outdone yourself !! Your tent is fabulous. Building the frame and then making the tent so realistic looking is incredible- from the tan color with its green ties. And your girls will have so much fun in it. As well as you- Can’t wait to see your stagings. You did a great job in
creating this tent. Plus the girls’ adorable outfits.
It’s going to be fun at Joy’s house!
Jeanne, your dessert looks scrumptious!! Even though it’s not apples, reminds me of my mother’s apple crisp she always made in the fall.
Joy, how talented and creative you are and so fun! I have found so much JOY in having and dressing myAmerican Girl Dolls. This magnificent obsession began in my later years of life and is still ongoing. I am blessed to ave ten grandchildren, 7 boys and 3 girls. Two of my granddaughters are 4 1/2 and 6. I bought each of them Bitty Baby for Christmas. Now I am beginning to think that before to long, I should give them my dolls. Problem is that many of the clothing I have were intended for Doll Collectors and not for play. I do enjoy dressing them each month. So what am I to do??? Jeanne, the peach cobbler looks so yummy, I know that I would love it. Also love your new doll; I like the face, eyes and lips. Is it hard to find a doll like that and if I look on Ebay how would I search. Like you, I would want something not too expensive. Great Blog today, enjoyed
My granddaughter was my inspiration to start collecting AG things for myself. She outgrew the dolls by the time she was eight! I kept going. Dressing the dolls is difficult for adults, let alone children. Maybe keep the more complicated outfits at your house. Children can get overwhelmed with too much at one time. Just a thought. Have fun.
Hi Laureen,
If you want a doll like that, the best option is to search eBay by American Girl customized doll and put in the doll you want as the base doll, is this case, Chrissa. You can also try very specific “American Girl customized Chrissa doll with green eyes and Rebecca wig” for example and see if there’s a hit. There are lots of sellers who make them. This is a listing for a custom from jodybo (on AGPT). I know she has done tons of unique customs. She just sold a Marie-Grace face with Tenney body. I would love that combination with Ruthie’s eyes and wig like #69, but a bit longer. That’s my embroiderer/ seamstress/ violist vision, only made better if there were decal gray eyes. available. I also believe she will make any combination you wish if you pay accordingly. Obviously, if the doll parts are retired (Ruthie, MG, Kirsten, Caroline, etc. it will cost more)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BEAUTIFUL-Custom-American-Girl-Doll-BLAIRE-Caroline-BROWN-eyes-OOAK-jodybo/283927096551?hash=item421b5face7:g:H2oAAOSwprte9PMo
Here you can scroll through her completed listing and see a few past customs she made
https://www.ebay.com/sch/jctrwecc/m.html?item=283927096551&hash=item421b5face7%3Ag%3AH2oAAOSwprte9PMo&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2046732.m1684
Hi Laureen,
I sent you a whole note on finding a customized doll. I wonder because it had eBay links it went to moderation. In case it doesn’t show back up, just type in American girl customized doll and see what appears for a start. I’ll repost the links another time.
Oh, and don’t give your granddaughters your dolls, buy them their own so you can play together!
That tent is adorable, and those little coordinating outfits on the dolls are even more adorable!
I love Joy’s sweet little outfits she made for her girls. And what a wonderful tent!! I’m sure if my girls see it they will want one too. We used to go camping all the time when the kids were growing up. Usually we did wilderness camping with just a pit toilet and a water spigot available. I didn’t mind camping anywhere as long as I had access to water. David said that was because I didn’t have to go yards to fill up water bottles and bring them back. For our camping convenience David took a haul trailer and pick-up tool boxes and created the neatest kitchen set up where I had storage for dishes and food on each side. The traveling top when removed was two boards that attached to the toolboxes on either side to make tables. Then he put a pipe frame around the inside of the trailer and we hung shower curtains on the pipes and it made a really cool bathroom. We had a sun shower bag that David filled with warm water for each of us and we could shower. I have to be able to stay clean. Even in the wilderness. Glamping would be the way we’d have to go these days. The old body can’t do the sleep on the ground with air mattresses and a sleeping bag anymore. Oh for the good old days.
I like Dorothy’s idea of dressing your doll to celebrate the 19th Amendment. Dorothy is the best at keeping us up with important historical events so our dolls and we can celebrate.
I can relate to Joy’s hot weather. Right now I’m rarely going out except to water some plants in the evening. It’s been in the high 90s here but our heat indexes have been well over 100. Is it late fall yet? That’s the soonest we can anticipate a break.
As for TV quarantines. Whenever I would see a show with that subject I would always be glad I lived today. After all who quarantines today? Guess I thought too soon. I do have a lot of the old shows on while I sew or do paperwork. I enjoy them more than the new stuff during the day. The other day on Bonanza they had a story about prejudice from the school teacher. One of the young men he refused to teach was Albert Michelson. He was a Jewish boy who was working on the measurement of light. A true story and he did live in Virginia City, Nevada. At the end they were going to fire the teacher but Michelson’s parents stood up for him when he was determined to change his ways. Amazing show.
And finally, I have to confess I succumbed to dolly fever once again – big time. I followed the link for the Boneka dolls. I started scrolling down and darn if I didn’t find a sweet face I could not live without. Her name is Mary-Ellen and she is a Boneka Monday’s Child. She should be joining the family any day now. I may have to sneak this one in. Every time I intend to tell Hubby, my jaw locks up. He knows two more are coming this year and, while he’s pretty good at handling the addition of dolly children to the household, he does sometimes think I’m a little too enthusiastic about taking in dolls needing a home. But he doesn’t give me any real grief, and for that I’m very thankful. So I keep on keeping on.
Got to head in to get ready for company today. Sean and family are coming out for a visit. Usually it’s just Sean and the kids but they decided to do it on a Saturday so Dionne could come. Should be a fun day.
Congrats on your Monday’s Child, Barbara. I hope you’ll share a photo when she comes. Well, they’re small enough to sneek in and if you have a larger group, one more won’t be noticed. I’m guessing you have a large group. I know better than to look at doll links. no point looking at what I can’t possibly have. Getting my PC Felicity, PC Samantha and the must-haves of their collections was a dream come true plus getting three more historicals and various other historical collection pieces was icing on the cake, so I can’t complain. 😉
I like Dorothy’s idea as well. I saw how to make a “Votes for Women” sash for Samantha using ribbon and vinyl letters. I want to make that.
Your sash sounds great. Hope to see a picture of that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og5IjsDXkE0
Here’s the link I found, Barbara. I can’t make it yet because I don’t have vinyl letters and haven’t had the time to go to the craft store to get some.
Sounds like your camping set up was wonderful. I would have loved a solar shower. Any pics tucked away of the set up? Would love to see it.
Aha! Dolly fever seems to be contagious! Congrats on your Mary-Ellen, Barbara! I seriously looked at her, too, but I do love red (or even reddish) hair, so decided on Jasmin.
I wonder if masks protect us from catching dolly fever?!
Dear Jeanne, the peach dessert looks yummy. There was a peach tree in my yard when I was growing up so I have always been partial to peaches.
My dad would make homemade peach ice cream. I wouldn’t eat it though. I liked the Dolly Madison brand and would walk to the local drugstore to get a cone. Geez, that was a gazillion years ago. I cannot imagine a Rite Aid with a soda fountain.
Hi Dorothy,
I’m just full of comments today. Feeling a lot stressed and using Jeanne’s blog as one of my escapist’s means
Not familiar with Dolly Madison ice cream. Our brands of choice were Breyer’s ( my grandmother and I loved their peach) and Graeter’s, macaroon and pistachio were the best.
Where I lived as a teen in the 1980’s, the Woolworth’s still had a soda fountain and where I moved for college in 1986 (and still live), the Rexall drugstore had one as well. We have a diner still in business from 1932, but our oldest continually run restaurant is from 1864 !
Isn’t that amazing?
Dear Laura, hello. I think we are all a bit stressed. I am so happy that we have Jeanne’s sofa to come to and drink tea/coffee and chat.
I remember Breyer’s ice cream. I was a chocolate lover but I cannot eat it now. I can’t eat ice cream either but I sure had my share when I was younger.
Yes, Woolworth’s and McCroy’s! I had so much fun in those five and dimes. I remember getting PF Fliers or was it US Keds? Whichever, I loved those sneakers.
It is amazing that you have a restaurant from before the end of the Civil War that is still in operation. We did a program at our local preservation society program last year on the kinds of foods people at in restaurants over the years. I am glad I was born when I was because some of the food folks ate 100 or so years ago would not be something I might want to eat.
My parents used to make homemade peach ice cream. I loved it. I do remember Dolly Madison ice cream and Breyer’s too. When I came to Texas I couldn’t stand their ice cream. It had a weird texture and not the clean refreshing taste of the ice creams I was used to. Then I found Blue Bell. Even though it’s made near here most stores did not carry it back in 1970 when I moved here. Now it’s everywhere but I rarely buy it because I look at it and gain five pounds. I do remember the days of the drugs store soda fountains and Woolworth’s. I used to go to the Woolworth’s lunch counter every day for lunch when I was working in downtown Wilmington, DE. Really miss those days.
I’ll jump into the ice cream discussion, too! Out here in the Seattle area we have Breyer’s ice cream, and Dreyer’s, and Blue Bunny, but our favorite is Tillamook, from Tillamook, Oregon. It’s very creamy!! They also make other dairy products, and we toured the cheese factory when we were in Tillamook a few years ago. Very interesting! They also have a wonderful gift shop, and a restaurant and ice cream area where you can buy any flavor they make,by the dish or the cone. I was rather miffed at them a few years ago when they discontinued my favorite flavor, peppermint-candy ice cream! (And if you add hot fudge sauce….Mmmmmmmm!!!) Other companies make similar flavors at Christmas, but our own Seattle Dick’s Drive-in carries peppermint ice cream All. The. Time!!! Not Quite as good as Tillamook, but it’ll do!
Hi Joy, Your darling little ruffled set are the sweetest things. I love Molly’s expression, simply adorable. What an absolutely fantastic job you did on the tent. It really looks like a miniature replica of a real one. Yes, the girls are glamping. Not sure if it was coined by her or not, but I read a magazine called “Mary Jane’s Farm” and she actually provides a glamping experience for those who visit her B&B. That peach crisp looks good and I’m sure it tasted even better. Still waiting for the store to get in the Red Haven peaches to make my grandmother’s version of peach pie.
I saw your question about Chrissa’s time period, Jeanne, and I think she might be more modern looking with the shiny lips and extra lashes. I think the shiny lips most of all. Although I still find it difficult to think of the 1980’s as historical, it being my teen years, I think Chrissa might fit there. I never wore mascara, being blessed with thick, long, dark eyelashes, but most girls wore it and the shiny lips made me think of Lip Smacker or even more of Maybelline’s Kissing Potion. She doesn’t look out of place in what she has on though either. Too bad you just sold the Civil War and Regency outfits before you got a chance to try those on her just to see how she would look in those eras.
Joy, your tent is amazing! So realistic. Your doll babies (doll toddlers?) are adorable! I am fascinated by jointed dolls for their posability. I expected AG would have had a crack at it again. I don’t think the hopscotch hill girls were cute. Homely cute maybe. Then you said it was 90 inside your house?!? I think I’d be standing in front of my open refrigerator doors all day!
Love the tent! Very impressed with the potential uses, never gave a thought to how else it can used. But they will need sleeping bags! LOL
It’s a wonderful tent, well worth the wait. I’m glad it will work for the 18″ girls as well as the smaller dolls and that it will have a variety of uses. Now all you need is to avoid fires when the girls go camping. We’re having fires here in Colorado too, but currently none ate nearby.
Speaking of smaller dolls, here’s a link to some of the Bonekas. https://www.happily.com/Dianna-Effner-for-Boneka-Ann-Marie-p/effnerannmarie.htm
Take a look at Ann-Marie’s beautiful outfit and braid, then scroll down for links to 8 more dolls.
And here is a link to Jasmin! https://www.happily.com/Dianna-Effner-for-Boneka-Jasmin-p/effnerjasmin.htm
Joy….what a great Tent! Making a tent was always a fun activity as a kid but never had one for dolls. It is so clever and those Meadow dolls just couldn’t be cuter in it ! They will have so much fun in that tent! Beautiful finishing touches😉
Peaches this time of year are so yummy! Thanks for the reminder…I have some to use😊
Glad the auction has bids…they are so cute together..that was a good idea!
Have a fun Sunday☺️
Finally cooling down a bit. Was 103 today, a few degrees lower than yesterday. Was all I could do to water the plants and come back inside such as it was. We had fans going, but didn’t help much. Usually, if we have heat, after a couple of days the fog rolls in and cools us off, but this is going to be hanging around all week. And on top of the heat, we have a Red Flag Warning of dry lightning tonight. Extreme fire danger. And power shut downs because everyone is using too much electricity running their air conditioners. Can’t blame us for that since we don’t have one.
Thank you everyone for your kind comments on the tent. Hoping to get some scenes done, but not until it cools of a bit.
Who made the dolls that are enjoying your tent? They are SO cute. LOve their ruffly outfits too!!
it’s been a while since a new dolly came to my house and I’m thinking it mite have to be one of those.
Hi Teri,
The dolls are Joy’s and are My Meadow dolls. If you type in meadow Dolls Fan Club on Facebook. That should get you to them…people are always selling dolls on this forum. You will need to join though…
I have little Navi. Who is 6″ and Bailey, who is 11″ but Joy’s dolls in the picture are 16″.
Hope this helps!! Sounds like you have a bad case of dolly fever.
Blessings, Jeanne