Happy New Year! Thoughts and Wishes!

Happy New Year from Poppets & Posies!

Ingrid and Astrid are posing in their new stunning outfits from Elite Doll World for evening time celebrations.

The rest of us are waiting out the clock for the exciting GOTY 2018 launch of Luciana. While we wait we are watching broadcasts of brrrrrrrr-freezing cold weather reports, eating cookies, and organizing our new poppet clothing and accessories which are overflowing in my home office area. Overall, a good problem to have!

We are also grateful for our newest poppet--a boy poppet!

He fits in like he has been here for years.

Astrid poses with our newest family member!

Wishing everyone a comfy and cozy evening and a new year of friendship, love, and wonderful surprises!

Where's the Wow?

Today I received a small package from Ebay--a replacement for Isabelle's Legwarmers Set. I opened the package and I GASPED!

A small little BOX! TISSUE PAPER! I totally forgot I had bought the set NIB. 

The tissue paper crinkled quietly as I touched it reverently. I was astonished and excited all over again like a little kid.

I totally forgot I had bought the legwarmers and tights set NIB. 

I can't believe how quickly I have come to really miss the old AG style boxes for GOTY and how excited I was to handle one of what will now be known as the "classic" little boxes.

As beautiful as Gabriela the poppet is with her sublime Sonali mold face and her lux curly wig, as interesting and as lauded a story she has to share (I have only read a synopsis so far), it has become viscerally real to me how the "Whole World" collection experience for GOTY 2017 is truly missing the Wow.

Today I rotated my Isabelle collection into play and simply re-opening her Studio was magical even four years later.

Large mirrored armoire doors that open, two little drawers for storage, the little sewing basket and hat box, the drop arm sewing surface, pockets and ribbon holders in the inside doors, cubby holes, a place to hang things, and a sewing machine that whirs and moves! Truly magical.

The special debut day giveaway tee celebrating the girl and the year, even more special now.

And a quick pix of my super cranky Tutu with her glam collar who doesn't look like any cat before her or since.

Detail. Quality. Uniqueness. Designed for Wow every step of the way.

And it all begins with a little box and some crinkly tissue.

I really think AG messed this one up...

A Lori Case: Isabelle's World in Miniature?

My poppets love the new LORI line of 6" dolls and accessories and we continue to be surprised and delighted by the constant stream of new releases. The new LORI case with accessories is sweet and sophisticated and basically irresistible!

On the shelves pictured above is partial view of the ballet studio with a grand piano that has been on the shelves since late summer. Maybe I should have seen the connection before today, but much of the LORI line dance clothing and accessories evoke American Girl's GOTY Isabelle (2014) and her ballet theme.

The dance case is pretty much a dead ringer for GOTY Isabelle's Dance Case. The case is somewhat smaller and comes with different accessories than Isabelle's Dance Case, but it is impossible to see the Lori Case and not think of Isabelle!

The LORI line offers the choice between a darker salmon-pink colored case or a lighter blush-pink case.

The accessories for the 6" Lori dolls that come with the case include 2 pairs of glasses, 1 pair of sunglasses, 1 bracelet, 2 rubber band bracelet set, 2 headbands, a necklace and a hair bow.

Interior of the salmon colored case--there is a pocket sleeve on one side of the interior for accessories and glittery elastic band that can secure a 6" doll inside for travel or storage.

The vinyl case is subtly and elegantly embossed with the LORI logo.

The interior of the blush-pink case is sheer bliss. The case appears sturdy and well constructed with a metallic closing clasp and the carry handle is riveted in place.

Maybe the best part of this Lori case with all these included accessories is the price:  $16.99. I know! These should rightly fly off the shelves!

Three LORI dolls in their dance clothes show off the new accessories from the case. Thank you to the kind friend who allowed me to share her photos of this terrific find so that we could all enjoy a quick peek together of the new LORI case!

Summer Fun: Flamingo Beach Dress

More fun beach-and-summer wear from the Truly Me debut! 

The Flamingo Beach Dress consists of a cotton halter top dress, sandals and a bracelet. The fabric for the dress features a design with flamingos, shells, and starfish.

The fabric also has tiny gold flecks (like glitter) on the surface of the fabric that is noticeable only up close. In fact, I don't think I noticed the gold flecks when viewing the dress in the store. It was only after I was home and was able to handle the dress in my hands that I noticed this fabric detail.

The bracelet consists of plastic beads and a starfish strung simply on a band of elastic.

The sandals were simple enough to slip on, but I am not a fan of the white elastic. I imagine the white elastic could look dingy and dirty in short order. Additionally the dark bronze color of the plastic, non-functional side buckle seems cheap and out of place with this shoe.

The halter top fastens behind the neck with velcro tabs. This dress reveals a lot of the cloth portion of the doll's shoulders and torso which for some customers is a downside to realistically designed summer wear, but I enjoy the greater range of design options this allows.

Astrid is cool and casual in the Flamingo Beach Dress. The dress is smart and tilts toward sophisticated with the halter top design, but the sandals are a design miss. A-

Poppet Poses: Seaside Fun Outfit

The Seaside Fun outfit is a limited summer release, so if this casual beach outfit is your style, bring it home soon before it sells out.

My poppet Ingrid, one of my Isabelle twins, is modeling the Seaside Fun ensemble which consists of a striped pullover hoodie, shorts and sandals. The orange and peach of the sweater is a unique combination and the bright blue sandals a terrific contrast. However, the outfit is rather simple and yet still manages to be priced two dollars higher than the other two new Truly Me summertime outfits.

My first thought before dressing my poppet in the pullover hoodie was "Welp, there goes her original hair twists." But to my surprise, the neck opening was sufficiently large and the pullover slipped over her head easily. Additionally, the back of the pullover is a full neck-to-bottom velcro closure, so no awkward jamming of arms or dislocating of shoulders to get the arms into the sleeves, either!

A super cute detail from this Truly Me summertime release is the unifying detail of the flamingo, which shows up on several of the outfits and items released on May 21st. The flamingo on her pullover is a decal and not embroidered.

The shorts are super cute lightweight denim with frayed hems and a front velcro closure. I love the doodle embroidery on these shorts and all the doodle flourishes on recent offerings in the TM line. The Seaside Fun shorts will endure gentle play, but with the frayed hems, any adventurous play would be sure to show. 

Cute shoes, standard sandals with velcro back heel strap. They slip on easily. Oddly fancy shoes for a day at the beach, though perfect for shopping at the boardwalk or lunch at a seaside cafe.

I was on the fence about purchasing this outfit because of its price for a simple, though sweet, ensemble. However, the pullover hoodie is so comfy and the outfit will be here and gone quickly (prediction only) so I decided to take the leap. I imagine this outfit being claimed by more than one of my poppets in due course. Overall grade: A-

AGPSF Flash: Searching for Isabelle

I had a few exchanges to do this year before Isabelle stock disappeared completely and headed up to AGPSF this afternoon. The store was doing brisk business, both in sales and returns/exchanges. My main objective was to exchange my recently purchased Metallic Dress since it had a long run in the lavender tights straight out of the box.

As I suspected, there were no more Isabelle dolls on the shelves anywhere. But surprisingly, there was a reasonable number of outfits available, and for the savvy shopper--all on sale.

On the left side of the back wall display was plenty of the Metallic Dress, so the exchange went smoothly. 

And on the right side of the back wall was plenty of the Sparkle Dress.

But no Isabelle dolls! Normally, the bottom shelf was full.

And no Isabelle dolls under the dvd display.

And around the corner where Isabelle's Studio used to be displayed, there are no Isabelle dolls on the top shelf anymore.

However, quite a few of Isabelle's items were still on the shelves, including

Isabelle's Accessories

Purple Leotard

Scrunch Pants

Funky Leggings

Performance Outfit

Metallic Dress

Sparkle Dress

Makeup Box

The girl sized clothing and accessories were down to just a few handfuls in random sizes--and I saw quite a few moms with the girl sized clothing in their hands waiting to check out. 

There were also only a handful of the girl sized Jewelry Box left, perhaps less than ten. The dwindling supply of all the Isabelle goods is just a reminder of the excitement just around the corner.

I plan to be in line at 10am on January 1st! Will you be going to your local American Girl Store on the 1st?

Waiting for Grace: Holiday Parties

The holidays must go on! My twin Isabelle poppets, Astrid and Ingrid have selected holiday outfits to wear for the big end of year party. Thanks to my sister's Christmas gift, we now have long winter white wool coats to pair with holiday dresses.

Ingrid (left) is wearing the 2013 Brocade Holiday Dress paired with the winter white wool coat from the 2014 Limited Edition Ruby Red Ball Gown set. Astrid is wearing the 2014 Happy Holiday Dress also paired with the same 2014 Limited Edition winter white wool coat.

The fur collar add a softness and luxurious touch to the holiday dresses.

The cream color of the brocade dress is further softened by the off-white coat. The mixing of gold and silver highlights seems to work.

The 2014 winter release from AG featured rhinestones on multiple outfits. Here the rhinestones on the coat coordinates perfectly with the rhinestone detail on the blue holiday dress.

Ingrid and Astrid pose for a selfie.

The girls are now ready for New Year's Eve activities! We hope you enjoyed this Mix & Match edition of Poppets & Posies.

What are your poppets wearing for the remainder of the holidays? Will they be dressing up and going out or dressing down and staying home?

Waiting for Grace: Isabelle Sparkles

Less than a week? I haven't even completed the Christmas whirlwinds of activity and GOTY 2015 is appearing in just five days! New photos of Grace keep showing up on social media sites and even Amazon now has the book cover images up. The more I see of Grace, the more I am enamored. Will she come home with me on January 1st?

So these are truly the waning days of GOTY 2014 Isabelle's reign. But what better way to celebrate her year than to engage in some dress up fun?

Look at what my husband picked up for me from AGPSF. I had been resigned to not getting Isabelle's Sparkle Dress, especially after it sold out online as well as in our local store. But a late restock at AGPSF had me reconsider--it was the last outfit of Isabelle's that had not made it home. My husband was a doll and he made a second trip back to the store just to put this under the Christmas tree!

Isabelle's Sparkle Dress was a late release (late spring) and initially did not catch my eye. I also thought the stretchy sequin material of the leotard construction a bit strange. But once this dress was out of its box and displayed at home, I changed my mind completely. I love it!

I think the crowning touch is the hair piece--its delicate mesh and sparkle "wings" shimmer in the right light. AG packaged this piece smartly by affixing it to a piece of cardboard for transport.

Because I still have both of my Isabelle dolls with their original hair twists, the hair piece sits easily and securely in her hair.

The outfit also comes with cotton ballet slippers trimmed with silver sequins. I could see immediately out of the box the slippers were two different sizes--a bad batch. The larger shoe slipped on easily, but the second smaller shoe was a struggle.

I was hoping it was just my imagination, but below one can see how the slipper covers the toes entirely on the one foot but not on the other. I don't think this is enough of an issue to exchange the whole outfit just for better matched slippers--but it does bother me and I do feel it falls outside of acceptable variances of manufacturing for the prices AG demands.

The dress also comes with a clear beaded bracelet on a deep salmon colored elastic ribbon with a tiny bow. The bracelet is well constructed, easy to get on and off, but is rather unremarkable.

Yet in spite of the issues I have with the slippers, I was able to set them aside when I saw how charming and happy my poppet looked in this dress. The rosy salmon pink is a delightful color against her skin and hair color. This dress on Ingrid (my Isabelle I) makes me want to learn how to set up and take better photographs so I can really capture the magic of this dress. 

Because of the questionable quality of the ballet slippers--even though I really do love the dress and hairpiece--I feel compelled to lower its review grade to an A-.

And while it may take some time and study and might not happen until well into the new year, I will revisit this outfit at some point for a new photoshoot in order to better capture its full and magical effect on my poppet.