I did the best I could on these two American Girl dolls, but I really need to move on, so I am listing them together on Ebay. Their biggest problem was how dirty they were. Well, then there was their gummy hair… Oh, and don’t forget those shine marks, scribbled marks, and those wiped away freckles. Oh… and that blue hair on Julie… Maybe the dirt on them was really the minor thing to be addressed.
Well, this is what I did… I wiped them down first with a disinfecting cloth…actually SEVERAL of them. That way I could see better what was left in the way of spots or scrapes or shine marks. Then I used a wet Magic Eraser on their arms and legs and foreheads and chins and necks. You have to be careful around their eyebrows and their cheeks or you can take off the paint.
Let’s start with Julie first… there was that blue patch in the middle of her head. I shampooed her hair and it became lighter… so I shampooed it again and it became even lighter… but I quit at two washings. I trimmed the very bottom of her hair (only about 1/4″) as it was scraggly… I used my ceramic flat iron on it wet to make the ends lay flat. They did for the most part, but there are some of those little fuzzies still showing. Her hair is now silky smooth and very soft. I added a braid at the side.
It looked like this…
…and now it’s like this… yes, the blue is very faint though… not as noticeable as it appears in my pictures.
I used my micro mesh and smoothed out some spots but the ones that are pink around her eyes and ears are deeper and it needs an Oxy Treatment I think. Her face looks much better now…and she almost looks normal. When I take pictures of her about 2 feet away, she looks like any other Julie doll… you don’t see her imperfections like you do when you are looking at her close up.
Here both dolls are with their hair washed and waiting for their turn at the salon! I found a pair of tiny scissors that I could use to trim their hair without it hurting my thumb too much.
The strawberry blonde doll was a little more of a challenge. I wiped her face down and it did look better than I thought it would… I decided to just clean the dolls up, like Joy suggested, and then let the new owner do more if they wanted to. I for sure wanted to get the hair clean…and her hair turned out so pretty with a few snips and some shampoo and conditioner…
This was before… it was stiff and stuck together in globs… and felt terrible to the touch…
…not any more! :o)
I was able to get the word HOPE on her wrist off… and I got their fingernails clean. I scrubbed and scrubbed with a Magic Eraser to get the blue stains off her legs and it was lighter, but not completely off…
This is what her face looks like now… not too bad with some of the freckles missing… She does have blue-ish spots on her cheekbones and I’m not sure what it is… it’s like a bruise on us… deep under the skin… it’s also on her right shoulder (the cloth part) and on the middle of her chest… there is a spot.
So here they were before…
…and now after…
I found some partial American Girl outfits to put on them… the purple set on Julie is American Girl, but the jeans aren’t.
On the Strawberry Blonde doll, she’s wearing a Pleasant Company outfit that came on the Just Like Me dolls back in something like 2006!
I’m going to list them on Ebay Wednesday evening, and will put their pictures at the right side bar with links to the listings.
NOW, DON’T MISS TOMORROW… because you’re going to see some dolls in really pretty dresses! You’ll be smiling! :o)
Thanks everyone,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, what a difference, Jeanne!! Well done, on both of them!!
Karen said something about advice for raising boys. There is an excellent book, Bringing Up Boys, by James Dobson, that might be helpful. I don’t know if it’s still in print but there are still copies available, including some used ones in the $5 range. I wish that had been around when we were raising our son!!
Joy, I ordered some outfits on the RR sale, also; looks like mine is due on Saturday!
You know, Conni, I think these dolls are getting so beat up because they are being given to girls who are too young for them. When they first came out, American Girl dolls were meant for girls about 9-10 years and up; they said that when the girl was able to read the books, she was ready for the doll. And those early dolls did have some really wonderful, well-made accessories you could buy (Addie’s ice cream freezer springs to mind). Since Mattel bought the company, it seems like they gear the dolls for younger ages, and they simply aren’t ready for them! That’s my theory anyway.
We had a really nice visit with Ron’s sister today. I almost didn’t recognize her because she has gotten rather stooped over–and, of course, we are almost 20 years older than the last time! I gave her about an hour before I went to see Ron, and then we three went out for dinner together, and more visiting back in his room again. It was a good day.
How fun that you were able to order some items from the Nashville sale. My order says coming today, but that was before it was dropped off at the post office by UPS. So, now not sure when my package will arrive. Crazy mail.
Glad Ron had a fun day seeing his sister. You too.
I remember after we had our daughter and her personality started emerging we could see that she might be a force to be reckoned with. We bought Dr. James Dobson’s book “The Strong Willed Child”. With our son I thought often of Dr. Dobson saying be patient with your child while they are trying to find themselves – even if it appears they are not looking. I don’t attribute my children’s personalities to being a girl or a boy. Just them being them. Andrea was an achiever. Sean was content to sit back and let her take center stage on that. He was not a non-achiever per se, he just didn’t have the drive she did. But as adults I would say they both are willing to work hard for what they want. Andrea and her husband have 30 acres in Maine where they live with our grandson Anderson. They are planning to turn their property into a retreat center. At the moment they have built a nice cabin on their property that is listed on Airbnb. Sean is married, has three lovely children and owns his own A/C business. He and David have formed a company to develop our property into residential housing. Sean’s A/C company will, of course, do the A/C work for the houses. The building company will eventually become Sean’s as hopefully David will finally retire, but I’m not holding my breath on him ever retiring. Judging from his recent trip to the doctor he is in excellent health and he is having way too much fun with all this.
Interesting, thanks Barbara!
Thank you, Charlotte! I have heard of a Dr. Dobson before. Maybe he is the same guy.
I’m sure he is, Karen. He used to (may still) have a radio program called “Focus on the Family.” He’s written a number of helpful books.
Thank you, Charlotte! I have heard of a Dr. Dobson before. Maybe he is the same guy!
You did your wonders on those two dolls, Jeanne! Any little girl would be very happy to have one that comes directly from the Jeanne Marie Salon! I keep wondering why so many American Girl dolls get trashed! It must be because younger girls are getting them, and have no idea of how to care for them, or what they cost! Of course, that falls on the parents, but I think too many parents feel that if they can afford something, that’s all it takes to give them to their children, without considering their ages or showing them how to care for their toys. I remember getting only one doll a year, and that was for Christmas, so you can be sure I took care of them so that I could ask for another one the following Christmas!
I love both of those outfits you have dressed the dolls in. I have both of them, except not the jeans, and I must say the outfits alone are worth the money!
As far as raising boys, I do come from a family of four girls, and all four of us have boys. Really there is no big difference in boys and girls at young ages, and I do say myself, that boys raised with an older sister or sisters, are a bit more “civilized” to put it mildly!! Karen has nothing to worry about! 😊
That is comforting. Thanks, Linda!
Hmmm maybe the former home where Julie lived, there were some blue haired humans and she somehow got into it. What a sad mess, but not unusual. I have heard these stories before. You did a stupendous job cleaning her up. I suppose you would have to disclose the former condition when you sell or what? I am sure both of these beauties will have new lovely homes. Well done.
I am happy you are keeping busy whilst being on your “alternate plans” for your injury recovery.
Keep going!!
So nice to see the girls all clean and hair washed and styled. Remarkable job Jeanne. I’m sure the new owner will enjoy them. After seeing your Julie, I’m thinking that one doll I have is also Julie. Good to know. And also glad to hear that your small scissors are working for that hair trimming. The doll I have has hair that seems kind of gummy. Is there a special shampoo and conditioner that you use for their hair? I might be able to swing a hair wash here. Hope the brace is helping and you are resting your thumb regularly. 🙂
The girls’ new hairdos are lovely. They look very pretty now. And you did an amazing job on cleaning up their faces and bodies. The outfits are great too. I’m sure they will find loving homes soon.
I think one of the reasons for so many girls getting American Girl Dolls so young is that it seems girls today don’t play with dolls for very long so the parents buy the dolls sooner than they should. When I was growing up no one thought of you outgrowing dolls until you reached your teens. Now it seems that 9-10 is the top age for playing with dolls. Very sad indeed.
The spa visit was very successful. Buying two dolls and their shipping can be intimidating for some buyers, especially if auntie or grandma is wanting to share or sew for them. But I understand wanting to move on.
Again, you tackled a tougher job of renewing the AMG Dollie’s! I’m sure THEY feel better and happy someone helped them! Glad you managed some smaller scissors for trimming. Their hair looks a lot better.
I don’t understand the blue spots on the dolls. I have a perfectly unplayed AMG doll that I changed her wig. She had a blue spot like a bruise on the top of her bald head. Go figure?
I agree with everyone about how some little girls, who are too young, aren’t as careful with their AMG’s.
Charlotte, how nice you and Ron’s sister had a good day with him.
Thank you Paula!
Dear Jeanne, the girls look good after visiting Jeanne’s Hair Salon and Spa.
I am glad that you found scissors that work for you.
I sent you an email. Please check. Thanks.