Snowy Days (and random pictures)

Finally, some snow pictures! There has been a huge amount of snow where I live for the last week or so, but I'm just now finding the time to take pictures. And these photos are horrible. I cannot find my camera so I had to use an old one that is broken, but still sort of works, haha! Anyways, this is Elizabeth in the woods. She's wearing Felicity's holiday gown, but I always thought AG messed up and switched Elizabeth and Felicity's dresses around. (Elizabeth looks better in blue, and Felicity looks better in green. Just my opinion. :/)

Now for the random pictures part! Insert random inspirational pictures here! I'm too lazy to make a separate post... :P

Happy Holidays,
-Brooke

Felicity & Elizabeth

"Elizabeth?" the redhead asked, looking over to the girl doing her sewing.

"Yes, Felicity?" she responded, setting down her needle and thread and looking towards her friend.

"It's a wonderful day, we should go outside," Felicity proposed, a smile spreading across her face. She loved to run around the field, picking flowers and climbing trees. The warm sunny day was especially inviting, and she did not want to be stuffed up indoors.

"That sounds nice," Elizabeth said. "Just let me get my bonnet and shoes and I'll be right out."

"Lizzie, you don't need those! No one is watching," Felicity said, eager to get outside. She gave the blond a pleading look.

"Oh, all right." Elizabeth gave in after a bit of thought and followed Felicity out the door and into the fresh air. Lissie could always end up convincing her. She really was a bad influence, breaking most of the rules set forth, but the two always wound up having a good time and nothing else seemed to matter.

Outside, the girls were free to do as they wish. Running around barefoot with the sun on their cheeks, because they were in their own world having fun where nothing was expected of them.{A short tribute of sorts to these two lovely ladies. Word on the street is they're being archived. D': I didn't want to do the usual "OMG they're gone!" post, but something that embraces the dolls' characters and history, etc. and does not focus on the archival, but the dolls themselves. If that makes any sense. Something tells me I've put too much thought into this. -Brooke}

Evening Sun

Is there nothing better than the lighting at early morning or late evening? Nope! :) This was really an impulse photo shoot. I saw the great light when I got home and scrambled to get some pictures taken! You know you're a little obsessed when you can't pass up an opportunity to photograph your dolls. :/

Elizabeth and Ruthie time traveled for this photo shoot! If you haven't noticed already, I'm not very strict about keeping my dolls in their time periods. I do try, but they always end up in colonial gowns or a t-shirt and jeans at some point.

They're both wearing dresses made by Heritage Dolls Fashions. Elizabeth has a recreation of Samantha's icecream dress, which was seen in book illustrations. The red dress Ruthie is wearing is called the Toy Soldier. It's not explicitly made for the 1904 time period, but I thought it fit well enough.

Even the colors were nice in these; with Elizabeth's bright blue eyes, Ruthie's stunning red dress, and the black-eyed susan's in the background, I decided to put the photos in a sepia tone with a dark brown vignette. That's another one of my "obsessions" black and white/sepia photography. I just love old time feel.So Elizabeth and Ruthie ran around outside while I snapped pictures of their excursion. I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out, actually. I've kind of been looking in to getting a DSLR camera of some sort, but the price is scaring me a little, even though I know it would be a good investment. But my little Kodak digital camera seems to be doing just fine, even though it will act up on occasion.

I'd also like to thank everyone for all the super-nice comments I've been getting lately. I'm glad you guys like the descriptive stories that sometimes accompany my photos. I was thinking that it might be a little too much, but it seems I'm wrong! Sorry that I couldn't have one of those stories for this post as well, my muse is rather low at the moment.

Ranting aside, I hope you enjoy the post! Yeah, I've posted three times within the week! Unbelievable, right? I guess I've been re-bitten by the blogging bug.

-Brooke

Liz in The Garden

There has been surprisingly wonderful weather here in Yorkshire as of late, just the kind we enjoy. Warm and sunny, with a bright blue sky dotted with puffs of white clouds, and just the slightest hint of a cool breeze. Doesn't that paint of lovely picture?

Now, imagine a blonde girl with shiny golden pin curls framing her face, in a butter yellow summer dress. She's running about the garden in her bare feet, her fair skin turning red from the sun. Her blue eyes are filled with wonder as she roams about the colourful flowers. A dream-like atmosphere ensues, with only the slightest of sound and a blur of beautiful scenery.

I'm feeling rather descriptive today, can you tell? (:

-Brooke

Best Friends

Felicity and Elizabeth:


Ruthie and Kit:


Finally a 'real' post!
Some updates: I gave Erin to my cousin. I'm not sure if said cousin will keep her or not. She said that she was going to 'borrow' Erin for a while.
I feel absolutely horrible because I'm not spending very much time with my AG's. Like Kirsten; I just got her a few months ago and I've barely done anything with her... I feel terrible about it. It's the same story with a lot of my other dolls, too.
I feel like I might be 'growing out' of them again, like I did in 2007. :'( I guess it's just because I'm so busy.
-Brooke

Project: Felicity and Elizabeth's bed

A week or two ago, I found Felicity's bed at a garage sale for only $1! (I also got her Windsor writing chair and side table for $1 each)
It was missing a lot of things, like the board that goes at the bottom of the bed, the frame where the curtains attach to, mattress, pillows, and bedding.

Here is the before picture of the bed, as you can see, it is basically just the frame.


I made the bottom support out of cardboard, and the frame out of dowel rods.
After getting my sewing machine repaired (I've been meaning to do this for a while...) I started to make the bedding. I started with the mattress, made a few pillows, and a sheet. Then I made a comforter out of dark blue fabric. For the curtains I chose this fabric, which I've had laying around forever.

I think it looks very colonial and old fashioned. It's a pretty blue floral pattern. I made the curtains with a "pocket" to they could slip onto the dowel rods instead of being tied to the frame (this is how AG had it). Then, I made the canopy out of the same dark blue as the comforter/blanket. And, ta da! Here are some pictures of the finished product!









I think it turned out extremely well for someone who barely knows how to work a sewing machine! :) The only thing I think I messed up on was that the curtains should have went to the floor, but they're a little shorter than that.

Felicity and Elizabeth are very happy with their new bed! I'm even happier because it only cost me $1 for the bed, and about $5 for supplies, because all I needed was the blue fabric and dowel rods.

-Brooke ♥

Elizabeth II

Experimenting with photography.


This picture is of Elizabeth in her riding habit. Enjoy!

There's not much else to say, so I leave you with these quotes:


"Photography does not create eternity, as art does; it embalms time, rescuing it simply from its proper corruption."
- André Bazin


"Life is like a good black and white photograph, there's black, there's white, and lots of shades in between."
-Karl Heiner


"Photography concentrates one's eye on the superficial. For that reason it obscures the hidden life which glimmers through the outlines of things like a play of light and shade. One can't catch that even with the sharpest lens."
-Franz Kafka


Interpret them how you like, although they may be a little too mature for a doll blog :P


-Brooke

Elizabeth

Elizabeth came 2 days ago, but we've just got around to posting pictures of her!

She is really beautiful, but keeps to herself. She is exactly what I thought a colonial girl would be like: very proper, polite, shy, timid, quiet, sweet, but absolutely stunning! Felicity is a lot more fun and outgoing.

Anyways, Elizabeth is from England. She has a British accent, drinks tea, and everything like that. Her hair is blond and wavy, and there are 2 little pin curls on each side of her head. She is really, really pretty.

I don't know much about her. She's only talked to Felicity since she got here. I hope she can warm up and talk to everyone else. Elizabeth's nice enough though, she lets us call her Liz.

Brooke's trying to make a bedroom for Felicity and Elizabeth. A few posts back I talked about how we found Felicity's bed, side table, and chair at a garage sale ($3 for it all!) The bed is missing the top frame where the bedding would attach to it, it didn't come with all the curtains, and is missing the canopy, mattress, and pillow, etc.

So, Brooke is going to make some curtains for the bed and fix it up! As of now, the side curtains and canopy are going to be a beautiful blue and white floral fabric. The bedspread will be dark blue with white, blue floral, and teal/green accent pillows.

We also have Felicity's Windsor Writing Chair. It is missing the desk and drawer that goes underneath, but we might just keep it as is, or try to fix it up.

The side table is in great condition, nothing is missing.

It is a nice start to their bedroom. We'll try to find a cheap trunk for their clothes, and maybe get or make a table and chairs set.

~Avery~

The 1950's!

Today I threw together a 1950's outfit. Everything is handmade, but I think it turned out really cute. The skirt is just a really simple piece I've had forever. I found a poodle applique picture online and traced it (by putting the paper on the computer screen and lightly writing over the lines). Then, I cut it out and used scrap booking "zots" (little clear sticky dots) to attach it to the skirt. The tank top and cover up are hand made, and the scarf is just a scrap of black fabric.

Also, Elizabeth came today! She was back ordered, but is here now. She's very pretty, and I love her dress and earrings.

Brooke likes a lot of couture, and we need more fall wardrobe pieces. But right now she's trying to get JLY #14, #5, and #21. She has a plan, and she'll most likely be able to get them all, but they will be gifts to herself for a few holidays.

~Avery~

Felicity's here, but no Elizabeth?

A package arrived on our doorstep this morning. And it was from QVC! Brooke opened it up to find... Felicity! But no Elizabeth? Brooke tried to check her order status, but QVC.com won't "let her in", saying her password/pin is wrong. People on the doll boards have said the Elizabeth is now shown as back ordered with no definite shipment date. But at least Felicity made it home safe and sound!

I feel so bad for her though. I thought that at least she'd have Elizabeth when she came, but alas, Lizzie has not shown up.

A lot of the dolls here, especially the Girl of the Year "clique" have been giving Felicity a really rough time. Right as she walked in, I could hear them groan. When she's around, they'll all whisper just loud enough so she can hear that they're talking about her. They [the GOTY's] make fun of her colonial era clothes and red hair. They told her that, "Pin curls are so last century! Duh!" I hate how they're all so preppy. I don't know how else to describe them except your pretty, mean girls which every school seems to have.

The other historical girls can't even give her the time of day, and the rest of us modern dolls aren't getting involved.
I saw Felicity go up to Julie and say hi. Julie just gave her a funny look and walked away.
When she came to dinner it looked like she had been crying. I feel so bad for her! I would talk to her, but no one else is. I know I should, I just haven't got around to it.
I really hope Elizabeth comes soon. Then she'll at least have a friend.
~Avery~

A letter from Lissie and Lizzie

Most of the dolls here at Mondale aren't particularly thrilled that Felicity and Elizabeth are coming. I guess we're just jealous. It's this way anytime a new doll comes. Everyone, except maybe a few, give them the cold shoulder. After a while everyone forgets and just moves on. I'm not sure if it's going to be that simple this time.

All of the Girl of the Year dolls here are really upset that 2 full blown historical dolls, just about as historical as you can get, are coming to live here. Those LE girls really don't like historic dolls, and would be much happier with Chrissa, Gwen, or even a modern Just Like You coming instead.
I overheard Jess and Nicki talking, and I'm pretty sure they're planning pranks and are going to try to get Felicity and Elizabeth to leave.
They've given them the pet name of "Lissie and Lizzie", which they all say in a snobby British accent. Lissie and Lizzie will probably find it most annoying when they get here when everyone goes around calling them that. Wait a minute: "Find it most annoying..." I'm starting to talk like them! :O
I'm not sure if all the GOTY's feel the same way though. But if one of them doesn't like the new girls, they all don't like the new girls. Maybe they think that they're in an elite club, and I guess they stick together and are true to each other that way or something...

Then, even the historical dolls here aren't excited that they're coming! That's just weird. You'd think that they would want them to come, so that historicals can finally dominate, I mean "out number", the modern girls. But no, most really don't want Felicity and Elizabeth here, or don't care either way.

There's 3 groups currently at Mondale:

1. Anti Lissie and Lizzie
2. Don't care either way and not getting involved
   
3. Support Lissie and Lizzie

A few of us, like Nellie, Sierra, Ruthie, Emily, and I are intent on making them feel welcome.

Anyways, we received a letter from them today:

Dearest new friends,
We have started the long journey and we cannot wait to see you all! When we first started out, we were in a large, dark warehouse. 'Twas very frightening! Then, we were taken out, and underwent processing at someplace called "QVC". Then they packaged us up and sent us on our merry way. 'Tis quite cramped and stuffy in our boxes, but it will do for now.
We thought that we should tell you some things about us. Our names are Felicity Anne Merriman and Elizabeth Grace Cole. We come from the year 1774, the time of the American Revolution, and we lived in colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. We come from 2 different beliefs. Felicity is a patriot, who believes that America should become an independent nation, and Elizabeth is a loyalist, who is loyal to the king of England. Even though our families don't always agree, we are still best friends.
Felicity will tell you about herself:
I am very fun and spirited. I don't particularly like the things that girls were expected to do in the late 1700's, like cooking, sewing, and cleaning. I'd rather be outside running around without shoes or stockings or riding horses. 'Tisn't proper, but it is very fun!
Here's somethings about Elizabeth:
I am more refined than Felicity. My family sailed on a boat from England to America. I am shy, but very sweet. I love my dresses and like to sew. I'm really the opposite of Felicity, but we're best friends.
We hope that you learned something about us. We're very anxious to see you! We're excited to be coming to live with you in this foreign land you call "Michigan"!
See you soon, best wishes,
-Felicity Merriman
and
-Elizabeth Cole

This should be interesting. I wonder how everything will work out once they arrive...

~Avery~

Oh my! Lissie and Lizzie!

Brooke here! I've been kind of taking over Avery's blog lately. Anyways....

As many of you know (at least I think you know) American Girl was on QVC Sunday at midnight to one AM and 10 to 11 AM (Easter Time). They featured special collections with Chrissa, Felicity, Elizabeth, Josefina, Bitty Twins (blond, brunette, and African American) and the horses Penny and Patriot. Each doll came with an outfit or two, and some had accessories, for a very good price, on average about a $30 savings compared to buying from American Girl.

Of course I stayed up to watch the show at midnight! I didn't have any intent to order, but it was fun just to watch the dolls on TV. I was very excited! They really pushed Chrissa and the Bitty Twins, between the two they probably took up 45 minutes out of the hour. Josefina was also sold in the midnight show, but there was only 700 of her available and she sold out almost immediately. The people barely even began to explain her, and she was already sold out.

It was funny to watch, quite a few things amused me. First off, the host and an AG employee kept petting the dolls! They were like, stroking them, it was kind of weird... Then, when the host asked the employee to tell about Chrissa's bracelet and she said "Oh, it's just a ribbon with a flower printed on it." Then the host went, "Okayyyyy". That was hilarious! Also, there was a caller that thought that Chrissa and Rebecca, and I kept talking to the TV saying "No, that's Rebecca, not Chrissa!" But after all that I went to bed, not overly tempted by anything.

Then, I watched the morning show at 10, and it's basically the same things, except they added Felicity, Elizabeth, and their horses.

I have been very interested in Felicity and Elizabeth lately, so I caved. Yes, I'm incredibly weak! Does this count in the AG boycott, since technically I purchased from QVC, not from American Girl directly?

So, I ended up getting Felicity, her accessories, her riding habit, and her gala gown in her collection package and Elizabeth, her riding habit, and her nightgown in her special QVC package. I got some pretty nice savings! I really don't like the riding habits or the gala gown though. I have no use for the habits, since I don't have a horse or any interest in getting one and the gala gown has the ugly plastic jewels on the front. If I don't like them in person I think I'm going to sell them and get some couture outfits from Dollies' Dressmaker instead.

I was lucky since Elizabeth sold out literally right after I ordered. It was a great deal, and they had an easy payment option, where you only have to pay about $30 a month.

So anyways, Felicity Merriman and Elizabeth Cole, the new colonial girls are headed to the Mondale Preparatory Academy for Girls. I wonder how they will be received...?

By the way: Be sure to check my last post to see our couture dresses from Melody Valerie!

-Brooke

credit to AGFMB members maryellen for picture of Felicity and luvag for picture of Elizabeth.