…and you never know WHO might get it! This one surprised me and I think it will you too!
Our very own Laura succumbed to the Ruby Red Fashion Friends dolls and got Anaelle! I’ll let her tell you how it happened…
Hi Jeanne,
Well, I didn’t think it would happen, but I fell under the Ruby Red spell also. The Anaelle doll captured me with the two dolly things that do it, unusual eyes, especially when they have green in them and ringlets/tendrils/pincurls. I love her smiling face! Her outfit is also perfect as my bedroom furniture has painted peach roses with sprays of other color flowers on each piece. It’s from 1920, so it’s officially an antique this year.
I actually debated/justified getting her for a few days, so I was surprised I received a rather low edition number. Like the majority of my dolls, she is renamed… Requiem Celestia Hope Idlewilde. Requiem is an act or token of remembrance and Celestia is heavenly. I waited to share her until the violin arrived. Now she only needs a tiny black kitty to keep her company.
*best sarcastic voice* Some of the sofa sisters are a very bad influence. *big smile*
Here she is playing “Spring” from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”, one of my favorite classical pieces.
Now didn’t that just make your day? Congratulations Laura… May you enjoy her with all your heart!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Congratulations, Laura!! She is beautiful! And very talented, too, if she is already playing Vivaldi!! (I love “The Four Seasons”, too.)
Thank you so much, Charlotte! Glad you like “The Four Seasons” as well.
Laura!!! You DID surprise me! You are so conservative and cautious with your doll collecting, and only buy what you absolutely love, so I had no idea that you would succumb to another doll! She is beautiful and will fit right in with your excellent collection! Look at her, already playing the violin to a classical number!
Congratulations!
Thank you so much, Linda! I figured you would be the most surprised of all. I do buy only what I absolutely love and I found myself looking at this doll a number of times over those three days. I knew I would regret not getting her as once she was sold out and on ebay the prices would be too high. I felt safe with purchasing her because unless AG makes a decal eyed doll can’t resist or a face mold or hairstyle (less likely to get me than a decal eye color, but never say never), with my Milargros (fka Josefina) I’m probably finished with AG dolls. I’ve purchased absolutely everything I always wanted from the historical collections (and the handful of the retired AGOT items to “fit”) that I love and I’ve bought absolutely nothing from AG (except Courtney’s Pac – Man) since Caroline archived. All my PC/AG dolls are archived as well as my collecting eras. AG would have to “go back to the 1800’s” with collections like Kirsten’s, Addy’s, and Josefina’s originals. The historical line doesn’t seem to be their focus any longer.which is sad since that is what made PC/AG unique. I have plenty to enjoy though and there’s always the possibility of a piece from elsewhere as I have found already and crafting/ and perhaps someday finding time to sew my own items. The dress the RRFF came in is perfect for the foreseeable future.
Laura, she truly is a beautiful doll. I certainly see why you couldn’t resist her! She looks so cute playing her violin. I love her hair style and her eyes. You chose a lovely one.
Did you have trouble getting her out of her box? If it weren’t for Jeanne’s help, my two RRFF’s would still be in their boxes!! Oops, did I just write that! Lol. ( I couldn’t resist purposely saying that!)
Hello, Paula,
I know what you mean about getting the dolls out from the boxes. I thought Maya, Kayla and Stella were bad enough until I got my one and only Siblie and the factory had a thin plastic line going from the back of the box into the back of the doll’s head!! Horrible. When I started getting the special editions, I found that they are VERY easy to remove from the boxes. But you are so right. Those other boxes are nasty! Glad Jeanne could help you with their “liberation” and hope you are having a ball with them.
Hugs,
Sally
I was so upset because not only could I barely get the doll out of her box, but I couldn’t remove my doll’s hat because of a plastic tab going into her head. I eventually got it removed but also
ended up cutting a chunk of her hair off with the plastic prong!!! A new doll with hair missing!!! I was livid and wrote a complaint to the company. “ They’re working on the problem.” was the reply. I was not happy!
Hugs to you Sally😊
Paula, three cheers for you to write a complaint. Keep us posted what they say. There is ZERO reason to have that connection going into the head. Zero! I managed to not lose any hair, but it was a pointless problem.
Hugs,
Sally
Anaelle was the ONLY RRFF I have (and I have 5 and a Siblie) that was released from her cardboard prison easily.
Thank you so much, Paula! No, as Sally said, the RRFF “Exclusives” are a piece of cake to remove. She had a cardboard “frame” around her face that I just lift up and out. The there was a piece of thin foam to protect her neck and plastic sleeves on her arms. They were all very east to remove. Her accessories were in plastic bags taped to the sides of the box.
Ah ha, another Ruby Red fan. Love it! Anaelle aka Celestia. Can’t believe that she is playing so well at her young age. Great violin. Interesting about her number as I believe I was one of the first to order. The Annaelle here has number 99. Maybe they assigned the boxes backwards? Don’t know. 🙂 Anyway, She is absolutely lovely, and so happy she has gone to such a wonderful mommy. 🙂
Thank you so much, Joy. I think you were probably the first to order. I ended up ordering her on August 1st (National Doll Day) although I didn’t know is was National Day Doll. I bought her from Happily Ever After because, unlike Samantha’s, there was no tax or shipping charged which certainly made the price a little easier to swallow..
Hmmm. My Alice will be coming from Samantha’s and it will be interesting to see about the tax. I thought everyone selling these dolls include shipping in the price. What I DID like was that both Samantha’s and Ed allowed for a down payment on preorders rather than the full price.
I ordered my Anaelle within 20 minutes of first seeing her shown. Mine is #26. I think my Rebecca is 88.
Congratulations, Laura! She is beautiful! I love Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” as well! Enjoy her 🙂
Thank you so much, Karen! I love that she smiles and looks so happy.
Hello, everyone.
Laura, good for you! I am especially fond of Anaelle myself because she is close to a spitting image of our oldest granddaughter, named Eleanor, Elle for short. For the time being at least, I intend to keep mine in this outfit as I think it is lovely, and your idea of a violin is darling. She looks great and congratulations! Perhaps I will see if I can find a cello for mine, and Vivaldi! What’s not to love??
Again, congrats. I do think if you have only one of these dolls, you have picked a most wonderful one. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Hugs,
Sally
Thank you so much, Sally! She is my favorite of the RRFF, even more than Valentina who I originally favored before she came out. I found myself going back to look at her over and over again.
I love the violin as well. I have the AG one and now this. It was basicaly a necessity . My daughter took lessons and played for 16 years. She still does occasionally, but had some shoulder problems after a while. Her first teacher who had played/performed for years (she was in her early 30’s) even switched from violin to viola because of should problems. It’s a rather awkward instrument. My grandfather played when he was a boy/ teen in Germany and brought his violin with him on the ship. My daughter played that one for years and that’s the one she still does when she is able. I treasure that connection.
Yes, Requiem (fka Anaelle) may be my one and only unless RRFF makes a gray eyed version and then I may be done for.
Wonderful stories and connections, Laura. You chose so wisely!
Dear Jeanne, what a treat!
Laura, your little sweetie is adorable. I love her outfit and her names.
She is truly an accomplished violinist if she can play Vivaldi!
She will bring you so much joy. I look forward to reading about more of her adventures, especially when her new kitty arrives.
Did she come from Happily Ever After? Ed will be proud to know that he is the “godfather” of such a talented young lady (smile).
Thank you so much, Dorothy! I love Vivaldi and my daughter played his Concerto in A minor for one of her recitals. She took violin lessons for 16 years using the Sukuki books with supplemental materials.
I have to find a tiny black kitty first. I’m hoping one of those faux fur Christmas ornaments will work size wise.
Yes, I did get her from happily Ever After. The no taxes and free shipping beat Samantha’s price. Btw, I ended up ordering her on August 1st (National Doll Day). I don’t think I knew it at the time, but I think you mentioned it the next day.
I ordered her around 10:30 that night and the next day she was gone off of Ed’s site as well as Samantha’s unless they restocked some later. Wow!
Dear Laura, I bet you are still smiling.
Actually I didn’t know about National Doll Day. I commented on World Doll Day, established by Mildred Seeley. It takes place on the second Saturday in June.
We will have two dates on which to celebrate our dolls next year! I am sure that they won’t mind at all (laugh).
I’m another who couldn’t resist beautiful Anaelle…. I also ordered very early (or so I thought) and mine is number 0135, so not sure there is any rhyme nor reason to the number you get. So glad I got her, but I must stop…. I must stop… I must stop…. (I’m running out of room. And money.) 🙂
Very interesting about the numbers. Who knows, maybe they just say they are only selling X number of dolls when there are actually more. ?? Doesn’t matter to me though. Love my RRFF kids. 🙂
Thank you so much, Teresa! So glad you have her as well. No, I doubt there is an rhyme or reason to the numbers. You must have a nice collection of the RRFF. I think I can be content with one or perhaps two. I already know what a second one must look like, so that makes things a little easier.
I’d love to see a photo of your collection;
Laura – Anaelle is only my third RRFF, after Hannah and Rozen. But I have several Effner Little Darlings, even more Kaye Wiggs bjds… Oh and then there are the Kish dolls, and the Tonners… And several different vinyl artist dolls from the 1980s and 90s… And I started my doll collection with antique German bisque… So THAT’s why I’m running out of room!! lol
I just love reading this!! Grinning from ear to ear. ❤️👏
Definitely can commiserate as I am out of dolly room too. 🙂
Laura, true confessions from many here I see. I couldn’t resist Anaelle either. Your Celestia is so lovely playing her violin. She is quite accomplished for such a young lady. I love Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” also.
I have Anaelle and she is still in the lovely dress she came in. But, while I loved her shoes I did not love them with that dress so I bought her some pretty shoes that look very nice with such a dainty dress. I’m going to make her a more casual outfit for the shoes she came in because they are very cute as all the RRFF’s shoes are.
Theresa in Indiana, good luck on “stopping”, especially with the RRFFs. Every time I think I’ve bought my last one they come out with others that are irresistible. I’m running out of room also, but the fact that the dolls are so affordable makes resisting their purchase way harder.
I agree that the shoes are cute, but seem to be an odd choice with such a feminine dress. One of these days I’ll dig through my stash and see if I have something more appropriate.
And you are right about “stopping”… I ordered Anaelle shortly after finding Baby Blue Rozen on ebay for an “impossible to pass up” price… she was supposed to be my last one… hah!!
Thank you so much, Barbara! Seems a number of the sofa sisters have Anaelle.
I do agree about her shoes. I was immensely pleased that they have real buckles as a couple of pairs of off brand shoes I have for my PC/AG girls do.
I will probably look for some more delicate mary jane style shoes for her in the future.
I’d love to see a photo of all your RRFFs as well since I know you sew for them.
Hi, Laura,
I have heard a number of comments about Anaelle’s shoes not being appropriate. I just love them..they remind of ballet slippers and the dress is like a ballerina gown. It’s quite fun how we all see the same things differently!
Hugs,
Sally
Oh, Barbara, you are so right; for many of us here on the sofa these dolls are addictive. 😎🥰
This group does love their Ruby Red Fashion dolls. I bought Bella when I first saw her too. Good for you Laura! Congratulations! and the photo of her with the violin is absolutely precious. Did you have it ? The size is perfect and her arms fit it like she is taking lessons☺️
Looking forward to seeing her kitty😉
Thank you so much, Kathie! No, I didn’t have the violin. I have the American Girl one, but it was too large. I commented up above that my grandfather played as well as my daughter, so a violin is a natural choice of an instrument to me. for dolls.
I have to find a black kitty for her.
Laura, She is the perfect compliment to your antique furniture. Anaelle could be the featured violinist at the symphony. That is the ideal prop in my mind. Enjoy, Enjoy!
: ) Debbie
Thank you so much, Debbie! I am enjoying her. She seems so delicate.
Sally, Just read your reply from yesterday (Monday). Crazy here too, we just purchased a new home in a neighboring state where our children live. Our home in Tennessee goes on the market in two weeks! When we moved here 10 years ago my doll collecting had been on hiatus for 20 years. When we finally emptied our home in Louisiana three years ago (we always assumed we would move back there) the remains of my previous doll collection came to this home. They were mostly Madame Alexander’s and Ginny’s that were easy to find before the internet. I cleaned them out except for Allyson’s Kirsten. All those empty closet shelves and Kirsten’s sweet face ignited a spark and the shelves are full and we are moving again!
So…..to answer your question, Rebecca, Rozen, and Anaelle are NRFB : ) Sara was finally freed with wire cutters and placed in Rozen’s outer carton. The American Girls are lined up like soldiers in their boxes although all have seen the light at some time. And I am back to selling Madame Alexanders on ebay – when will I ever learn?
I took one look at Rebecca and almost fainted. I hope you become a master at wigging and can share the technique. If that is Charlotte’s face I will be very happy.
The sofa sisters are my guilty pleasure when I should be “decluttering”. I don’t think realtors are doll collectors…..
: ) Debbie
One more comment, Debbie, yes, those PC/AG girls will get you with their sweet faces and amazing collections. the historical clothing and accessories are a complete downfall. There is someone on AGPT that showed how many of the accessories look just fine with the RRFF. She had Kayla dressed as Meg March with Felicity’s Reading and Writing lesson and it looked fine. I need to drag it out and see how it looks with my doll as well.
Laura, I am in agreement with your passion for the historical PC/AG girls. When I bought Kirsten for my daughter in 1991, adding as many outfits and accessories as I could afford, I told my doll collector friend “these dolls are going to be very collectable one day”. I was always more interested in them than my daughter so I carefully packed away every outfit, accessory, and piece of furniture. I sent her doll to the hospital for the original braids to be restored. She sits on my closet shelf in her maroon box with the PC/AG girls I have collected for my enjoyment. When Felicity was issued in 1991 I fell in love with her and her stories but I stayed true to Kirsten’s collection for Allyson. Two years ago I started collecting for myself, all ebay purchases because the originals are so much better than anything that followed PC. My favorite century is the 1800’s also. I turned to the RRFF because there just wasn’t anything from mattel that I wanted. I tried to like the modern AG girls but just ended up returning every one of them. I did buy 35th anniversary Samantha for my daughter because she always wanted her when she was young. I think you will enjoy blending your Anaelle in with your other “girls”.
Debbie
Ha-ha! Realtors surely are not collectors of any sort, I suppose. They want homes to show like hospital rooms. Sterile, void of anything of personal interest. Uffda.
Where will your new home be? I am not looking forward to dragging all my dolls and clothes back to NH in a couple years. Good luck. Hope your house sells quickly if that is what you are wanting. In this town, houses sell before realtors can get a sign up. All my best to you. Not an easy time so we will be thinking of you.
Hugs,
Sally
Nor do they read or cook. I boxed at least 25 framed family photos this weekend and the dolls I have for sale. I am planning on filling the back of my vehicle with all things doll related. I just don’t want any of them in a moving van. Both of our children ended up in the Raleigh, North Carolina area – great job market. We are going to be an hour west of them but much closer than the 6 hours we are now. Houses here get offers in one day so we are hoping for a one weekend showing. Moving is sooo hard. Thank you for your well wishes.
I am happy to have a Charlotte look a like. I did not know what a RRFF was when she was released. I just remembered the two dolls I have on order, the Alice and the one from Magalie. That is it for this year!
: ) Debbie
Hi Debbie,
Yes, Rebecca has the exact same face and eyes as my Charlotte with the added charm of freckles! 👍🥰
Laura, your Anaelle/Requiem is lovely and so clever. They are lovely dolls. I can see why AG concentrate on the more modern dolls, Their market is mainly to little girls and they tend to want dolls like themselves or at least the doll manufacturers think they do. Our generation dolls are exclusively for girls, not collectors, only sad people like me use them as clothes horses for historical outfits (because I don’t like paying the exorbitant shipping costs for anything else).
We moved into level 3 South of Auckland at midnight last night. Northland, which is north of Auckland has to wait for sewerage testing results to come back on Thursday, if there is no Covid in those tests they will go to Level 3 as well, on Thursday. We can now do click and collect if we need to buy anything, my best friend can now buy her favourite takeaway soy latte (and maybe even buy a new coffee machine as hers gave up the ghost last week) Sam’s son Jonathan can now have KFC for his delayed birthday dinner, my dog can go into the groomers (so he might be able to see again. He’s booked in tomorrow [Thursday]) and I can take my good sewing machine in for repair. Not much else has changed in my world except the lady who does my garden and the guy who does my lawn can come back to work.(I did go shopping yesterday but that was allowed under Level 4). We move to level 2 next Tuesday at 11.59pm assuming we have no cases. The last two days the case numbers have gone down which was very good news. As of yesterday at 1pm we had 611 cases from only 1 (known) two weeks ago! Had we not locked down the projection was that we would, by now, be having 500 cases a day! Our hospitals simply couldn’t have coped. Nearly half of the eligible population has had at least one shot and as of today anyone over 12 is eligible. It is worrying though, that 6 of those with the virus are under 1! Unfortunately as well one woman has died from having the vaccine. She died of Myocarditis which is a known possible side effect of the vaccine and of Covid itself.
So off to get ready to take my machine in. Hopefully it won’t be a serious problem and I will be able to collect it very soon. I really don’t like the one I am using.
I thought Anaelle was lovely when I first saw her on the Happily Ever After email. I’m glad you got her, Laura. And the tiny violin is so cute. Her outfit is one of the prettiest, and the back detail and hair ornament make her even more special. Here they are: https://www.samanthasdolls.com/product/anaelle/
Laura, your Anaelle is beautiful! So glad you joined the fans of RRFFs. They have happy faces and such a variety of clothes to complete the characters. You sure made your Anaelle your own with the tiny violin and the moving detail about your grandfather bringing his violin with him when he came here. Thanks so much for sharing her with us. 🥰
Hi everyone!
I also purchased Anaelle!! I debated about buying her too, as I already own Sara & Bella Blue. But her green eyes, lovely updo, and fancy peach dress got the better of me. I just may make fancy matching dresses for all my other dolls and have a bridal party!!!!
Enjoy your Anaelle, Laura. I know I will enjoy mine!!
Claudia
I too was thinking of a bridal party. I only wish that I had been able to purchase Charlotte and George as they seem to go along with Annaelle. But, I also now have Siblies Callie and Rory which would be the perfect size for flower girl and ring bearer. Interesting coming from someone who was married at the court house. Ha ha
Thought I’d check back as I was checking my email since it’s my friend’ Tina’s birthday I’m sorry I missed the extra comments
Thank you, Anne, I think the outfits you’ve made for the OG dolls are just incredible. I bookmarked the post with the bustle dress. So lovely!
Thank you Marilyn, I thought she was so pretty and feminine looking it was impossible to resist.
Thank you, Susette. I was already on Pixie Faire browsing the historical patterns.
Thank you, Claudia. She is my favorite of them all so far. A bridal party sounds lovely.
Last, but certainly not least… thank you, Jeanne, Somehow I see my first comment to you disappeared. I think I must have started one at the bottom and then replied to Charlotte which cancelled the other. I figured you and Linda would be the most surprised of all. I will certainly enjoy her. All my other girls are loving their tiny little sister.
Dear ladies, I did read all the other additional comment and I want to thank you all so very much!
Hi Jeanne,
Hope all is well with you, I’m sure your house is filled with excitement. I remember Danielle’s big day approaching like it was yesterday Everyone was here (my son, daughter in-law and my 3 grands) We all were so excited… fulled with joy and anticipation and ready for the up coming wedding.Making memories! What fun… prayers and best wishes for you and the family!
Laura, Congratulations on Anaelle! What a sweet name you choose. I think you are the best doll renamer of all the sofa sister! I think your new girl is adorable. I agree about the shoes. She needs something simple like a sweet ballet slipper. I just wanted to compliment what a beautiful piece of furniture Requiem Celestia Hope Idlewilde is posing on. It’s lovely, is it a dresser? Maple wood? The patina of the piece is lovely!
Hugs to all
Ingrid
Hi Ingrid,
Thank you so very much! I appreciate the compliment about doll renaming. I do (emphasis added) put a lot of thought behind the names I gave to them, not only the name itself, but the meaning behind the name. Some of my childhood dolls had different names at different times depending on what “adventure” I was imagining. When I draw pictures, all the children had names over them
The piece of furniture is actually my antique Victorian hall tree. It’s the same backdrop I used for my photos of Milargros, but I stepped these back a bit and you see the openwork carving over the seat. An inch higher and you would have seen the beveled mirror. I believe it is made of walnut.