Waiting for Grace: Paris & Patisserie Colors

With images publicly accessible (though yet to be linked to AG's store front) we now know the predominant colors of Grace's whole world--her outfits, accessories, and furniture pieces.

For the past several GOTYs the AG design team seems to have lined up the collection with Pantone's Fashion Color Report for that year. The colors seen on the fashion runways were also the colors showing up in the GOTY. But for GOTY 2015 there is a marked break from the fashion colors and American Girl instead chose a bold and unique color palette to brand Grace Thomas and her Paris & Patisserie world.

The infographic below allows comparison of the two color schemes.

There is absolutely no correlation between Pantone's colors and Grace's color palette--AG has gone bold with frothy candy colors paired with even more bold accent colors. In many ways, Grace's color palette reminds me of neapolitan colors but with a kick. 

AG also pairs or groups the colors in Grace's outfits and accessories for maximum impact. Teal and black. Pink and black. Red, teal, and black. 

In other words, there is no mistaking the look of Grace's world--this new color scheme is unique to her.

Are you excited by this dramatic change up in colors and design direction for GOTY 2015?

Waiting for Grace: An Isabelle Christmas

After a lot of thought--twelve long months of thought--Isabelle's Studio finally came home with us. I picked up the huge box from AGPSF last week when it was about to sell out both online and in the stores and kept it wrapped up until Christmas.

The studio armoire is quite impressive in full display. There is plenty of interior storage and the sewing table can be stored upright when not in use or the armoire is closed.

The studio comes with three plastic purple hangers, though there is probably room for up to six outfits without squishing if they are not poofy--though considering the amount of tulle in Isabelle's wardrobe that could be an issue. Six leotards or tshirts, yes. But only three tulle skirts.

The drawers are generous sized and can hold the hangers without problem or other clothing and accessories.

The dress form is so much fun. I want about five more to be able to display favorite dresses now.

The sewing machine is very smartly designed. The body of the machine is a sturdy plastic which has a glitter infused appearance (this was difficult to capture with the camera) and the spindle, sewing foot and plate are made of metal. The best part is that the pieces move--the spindle is spring loaded and retracts, the stitch selector knob twists and makes a clicking noise, and best off all, the sewing machine (two triple-A batteries not included) can be switched on! The light comes on and the sewing foots rises and falls as if it is sewing fabric--there is even a mechanical whirring sound as it works! A+, AG!

The studio comes also with a sewing basket for storing notions and supplies. The basket is made of plastic, but I appreciate the simulated wicker weave--it reminds me of my grandmother's sewing basket which I inherited from her and simply love.

The scissors scissor! Yay, AG. No, they do not actually cut material, but I love how they functionally operate like real scissors. The spools are plastic with textured surface to approximate the look of thread (so cute--why only three? I want more!) and as a bonus, they fit perfectly on the spindle of the sewing machine.

The measuring tape is just ribbon with printing and the pincushion is excessively hard and lumpy with a huge manufacturing tag (I let it drape off to the side for the picture). These two accessories I am less fond of but they will suffice.

Sketchbook with sketches already inside is very cute--I did not want to bend or crease the spine, so just this photo for now. It is perched on top of the included hatbox.

The hatbox works perfectly as a way to store the three lengths of fabric that come with Isabelle's Studio.

At first I was surprised at how synthetic the materials were, but after draping them for awhile, I realized that these fabrics will resist excessive wrinkling and thus will look nicer for a longer time, especially if subjected to heavy play.

I would also like to introduce Isabelle's Kitten, named Tutu. Tutu does not come with the studio, but she came home with me the same day. I had all but given up on Tutu, primarily because I thought she was the grumpiest looking cat ever made by AG. But the store was quiet and I had some leisure time and spent about 15 minutes simply opening up about a dozen boxes of kittens to examine their faces before I found a quite agreeable and charming Tutu. 

I am very appreciative that the sales associates allowed me to do this undisturbed. I can imagine at some times at some stores or with some associates (and with some customers) that the practice of opening and examining contents is discouraged. My tips for doing this is to open just one box at a time, to be extremely delicate with both the box lid and the tissue paper, and to carefully tuck the item/items neatly back in the box. 

I would love to have a Personal Shopper from AG to assist me with these kinds of mini quests, but there never seems to be one free when I am at AGPSF and so for now the mysteries of the AG PS elude me!

One of the secrets to cheering up Tutu's appearance is to make sure the fur is out of her eyes (so she doesn't look like she just woke up from a nap).

Tutu is lounging on the included lavender stool or ottoman. The AG website describes this as an "upholstered stool," but that is far too elevated language for this piece of plastic and gauze. I have to say that the stool is my biggest disappointment and the biggest miss by AG in the studio. 

First, the stool underneath is hard plastic that is hollow inside--which makes me immediately think "more storage space!!!" But after lifting the gauzy covering (which is hardly anything close to anything resembling upholstery) it is just one solid unending piece of plastic. It would have been so simple to have the plastic underneath have a lid! Additionally, while I would grant that the fabric covering does have a rather nice quilted top detail, it is not padded enough to really give this piece any warmth. 

Were I have a tad more time on my hands, the stool is the one piece I would remake myself with a lid that could be removed and I would use more padding on the quilted top.

The detail on Tutu's collar is cute, though hard to see under all that plushy fur. I do recommend Tutu as she is very different from most the other cats and pets offered by AG. I have come to enjoy her reclining pose, especially when draping her paws over the edge of furniture.

Astrid (my Isabelle II) poses with her Christmas surprise. She is wearing her new Metallic Dress and has placed her pancake tutu from her Mix & Match collection on the doll form. We also tried out some new carpeting and wallpaper for her bedroom and while we love the wallpaper, we are not certain it photographs very well in terms of its big and bold pattern next to the smaller details of many doll items. Annika can hardly wait to meet Grace and looks forward to learning about all of her hobbies and interests.

In closing, my reasoning for finally bringing Isabelle's Studio home was primarily that I don't think we will see this particular style of an armoire for some years--white, french country, with pale soft colors on the interior. AG has made armoires in the past, including Felicity's Clothes Press (dark wood, colonial style), the 2002 Star Armoire (pale blue, modern styling) and the 2003 Flower Armoire (pale buttercup yellow, modern styling). However, this studio armoire for Isabelle fits all my design preferences and while there is some chance that AG will produce something similar for the MyAG line soon, it is more likely that this piece will remain rather unique. A+

Waiting for Grace: Santa's Helpers

Santa's helpers are busy all over the globe tonight and Lilja and Coconut are lending a hand! 

Lilja is wearing Santa's Helper outfit from 2007, a red velour dress with white faux-fur cuffs, a matching Santa hat, plaid scarf, and finished off with shiny black boots.

The bottom of the flared skirt is embroidered in a gold thread and the waist is trimmed with a black belt and silver-tone buckle. The belt is not removable as it is secured to the back of the dress and also tacked in front at the buckle. The belt, interestingly enough, is actually made of a black elastic which has held up well so far.

Assisting Lilja is Coconut, who is wearing the Holiday Accessories from 2003. Coconut is sporting his own little Santa hat secured by an elastic band and is pulling a sleigh with a tiny present perched inside. This set also comes with a small magnetic snowman that Coconut can carry in his mouth (not pictured).

The boots for this outfit are outstanding. They have a velvet-like strap and a buckle detail at the calf. They secure in the back with velcro. I have paired these boots with modern outfits (usually short skirts) with great results.

Coconut pulls his little sleigh, the red velvet reigns attaching to him by a red collar with gold trim and decorative jingle bells.

I just love this little fellow, his facial expressions are so winsome.

Lilja's Santa hat is snug but not too snug and the faux-fur is full and plush. The plaid scarf is secured around her neck by feeding one end of the scarf through a buttonhole near the other end of the scarf. 

This Christmas themed outfit is wonderful if a bit more like a costume than a holiday dress a little girl would wear to an event. Like Starry Night, I also prefer this outfit on my dolls with older personalities. But when it comes to joining in to help with Santa's other elves, it is the perfect outfit for the occasion.

Lilja signs off with wishing everyone Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, especially to Grace Thomas, the next GOTY. 

Today was a big day for Grace as AG has uploaded many images of Grace, her clothing, and accessories which are publicaly viewable online though not yet linked to their online storefront. So many images to contemplate! More on Grace's collection itself when I am able.

AGPSF Flash: 'Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas

GOTY 2014 Isabelle sold out on American Girl's website on Monday, December 21st. But how is she faring at our local American Girl Place store today?

There is simply something magical about having a husband who works a mere three miles away from an American Girl Place store. And there is something even more magical and spectacular about a husband who is willing to visit AGPSF in the middle of his work day to take pictures and notes on remaining Isabelle stock for his doll enthusiast and doll blogger wife!

The initial reports for the day before the day before Christmas is that at least for AGPSF, Isabelle and most of her stock is in plentiful supply!

Isabelle's collection is still the main attraction in the front of the store. There are a good supply of Isabelle dolls in just this picture alone.

Isabelle's dance station for taking photos is still set up.

More Isabelle dolls are tucked here under the dvds. And there is a third section of Isabelle dolls tucked around another corner (not pictured).

Perhaps most surprising is that some outfits which have been sold out online for quite some time are now finding their ways onto local shelves. Here is Isabelle's Sparkle Dress in stock!

Also in stock at AGPSF is the Metallic Dress, Scrunch Pants, Purple Leotard, and Funky Leggings, all which are sold out online. AGPSF is also well stocked in Isabelle' Accessories, Kitten (Tutu), Coral Sweater, Performance Set, Pajamas, Rosette Leotard, and Makeup Set.

Unfortunately, the Dance Barre and Studio are not available, though a sign did indicate that the Dance Barre was only "temporarily" out--so perhaps as AG shifts final merchandise around it could appear again before the 31st.

So while most folks are finished with holiday shopping, any last minute shoppers may find themselves a lucky break at AGPSF if looking for Isabelle and her world of clothing and accessories!

Waiting for Grace: Treasure Chests Galore

We are down to single digits! Only 9 more days until GOTY 2015 arrives.

Deciding to blog daily the entire month of December as part of my "Waiting for Grace" series has been both exciting and challenging. I have a new appreciation for the hard work that goes into a daily blog--I made a promise to have a post every day and the work behind the scenes to make that happen has been eye opening! What began as a lark of an idea has turned into a true labor of love.

While the "Waiting for Grace" series was created entirely for the fun and pleasure of playing with dolls and sharing it with others, I have also developed several of my skills. In the process of creating new content every day I have become even more familiar with Photoshop and InDesign and I am just beginning to scratch the surface of discovering what it takes to compose and capture the charming essence of the 18" doll so many of us adore.

I have also begun looking for new ways to pose my poppets for photoshoots and have started experimenting with making my own backdrops and sets. In service of this quest I ended up at my local craft store. And look at what I found!

I love photo boxes. I use them to store everything except photos. These Paris themed memory boxes ($3.99 each by Recollections) seem perfect for storing Grace Thomas' to-be-discovered accessories.

There are two complementary design styles, one with an ornate black and off-white design that seems to be inspired by the fleur de lys and the other which features more of the parchment and letter writing theme.

Sneak peeks of Grace Thomas' mini doll show her wearing an Eifel Tower tshirt, and considering both box lids feature the Eifel tower, one could hardly choose wrong.

Roaming the craft store I also came upon a complete treasure of treasure chests--and I was transported to being eight years old again. I wanted an Elsa or Anna doll right then and there if only to have an excuse to bring home one (or two! or five!) of their little chests.

The three chests pictured below are part of Disney's Frozen Nested Dome Trunks and at the craft store were sold separately--but they are designed to nest. They are part of a 5-trunk bundle which includes two smaller chests (one for Sven and the tiniest one again featuring Elsa and Anna). 

For those who have been dressing up their AG dolls in Frozen inspired clothing or customizing their own Elsa, Anna, or Sven from AG dolls, these trunks are an adorable way to store their outfits and accessories.

The Frozen treasure chests are made out of very sturdy cardboard with a glossy coating. The latch is made of metal for a very solid closure.

Each chest comes with satin look-and-feel twisted rope handles which elevate the overall quality of what is essentially a fancy cardboard box.

Even the interior of each chest is lined with patterned paper.

At the craft store the prices range from $15 - $25 depending on the size. I found the entire 5-set of nesting trunks online with a bundled price averaging around $65. I consider this to be an inexpensive set of trunks for the sheer volume of storage they offer for the price and especially when comparing them to many AG storage options.

I love Frozen and will be perfectly thrilled if the popularity of the franchise continues well into next year or even into the 2015 holiday season if only to be able to enjoy both the darling official merchandise and perhaps even more the customizations of AG dolls into Frozen characters by other bloggers, collectors and doll enthusiasts. 

The trip to the craft store really inspired me to consider some new projects for Poppets & Posies well into the new year. I will be returning to the craft store soon!

Waiting for Grace: Samantha's Fancy Coat & Jip

In all the excitement about the holidays and Waiting for Grace, we forgot that Posey has a new coat from Samantha's new BeForever collection. We also decided it was the perfect excuse to try out the Winter Fun Scene that we brought home just last week. 

Samantha's Fancy Coat is meant to be worn by a Victorian girl, but the faux-fur on her hat and collar make her look like a movie starlet. I just haven't been able to place a finger on the era (a 1940s retro vibe?), but it feels much more modern than 1904.

The Fancy Coat and hat is trimmed with black velvet and spotted faux-fur. The coat has four black buttons, the top three paired with a button hole and the bottom one on the velvet belt closes with velcro. The buttons are light weight and made with plastic, so while they look perfectly acceptable they are not particularly fancy. 

The coat itself is a medium weight material that feels closer to a coarse linen than wool. It is not soft to the touch and neither is the fur, so the materials were not chosen for a luxe experience even if they do look reasonably upscale from a distance.

The mittens were probably my least favorite part of the set. They are described as "dainty white gloves" on AG's website and they certainly are only appropriate for going to an afternoon tea or a ball--there is nothing wintery about these tiny satiny sacks-for-hands.

Bonus! Posey pointed out that her new puppy, Snickerdoodles, barely got a mention in her last appearance on Poppets & Posies. Her puppy is part of Samantha's BeForever and is the reimagined Jip.

Jip is described in Samantha's books as being mixed-breed, but this new Jip II certainly looks very much like a cocker spaniel. The pup has reasonably soft fur and the body is squeezable and huggable.

The puppy's eyes, nose and mouth are embroidered.

I really like the new puppy. It looks completely different from Samantha's original dog but I think Jip II is a welcomed update. I give Jip II an A+.

Samantha's Fancy Coat is an A for design and a B for materials. Overall I will round up this outfit to an A-. 

Posey sends her warm regards to Grace and wants her to know that she shouldn't let the winter coat make her worry--it is quite warm here in California and she is certain that Grace will find the weather here to her liking!

AG Flash: Isabelle Sold Out Online

You are hearing it first here--GOTY 2014 Isabelle is marked as Sold Out on the American Girl website!

Previous online sell out dates for GOTY dolls have been

Saige - December 19
McKenna - December 2
Kanani - December 9
Lanie - (did not sell out before the new year)
Chrissa - December 11
Mia - December 22
Nicki - December 6
Jess - (did not sell out before the new year)
Marisol - December 12

December 21st seems a respectable sell out date (online orders) for a GOTY doll. Not so early as to leave holiday shoppers disappointed and not so late as to be a wee bit embarrassing for the doll herself.