Thoughts on Maryellen

I bet most of your doll blog feed the past few days is full of Maryellen this and Maryellen that, and that is exactly what this post is about! So, if you are interested in reading my thoughts on the most recent release, click on the link to take you to this post :)   
Maryellen Larkin $115  
Accessories $24

 

image credit American Girl 

Here she is! The doll herself. When I originally saw the released photos I recognized how similar she looked to Mia! Same (almost) hazel eyes, face mold, light skin and strawberry blonde wig. Just add freckles, a different hairstyle and you have my Mia! The embroidered "M" can even pass for Mia. I really love her dress, I have a weakness for anything mint and the candy striped dress with adorable bows and dainty pearls is a hit. Of course the doll is cute, the doll wouldn't have made it past the prototype stage is she wasn't, although there isn't anything amazingly special about her. (Ok, I guess that is why in her book she wants to stand out,but!) IF I ever bought her she would probably be Mia's twin, but, I am happy to have Mia as my stand in Maryellen for now.  

Maryellen's Pajamas $24  

Maryellen's Hairstyling Set $20

 

image credit American Girl 

The pajamas are not my favorite, she looks kind of like a mushroom top but at least they are not as terrible as the purple/pink atrocity that is Rebecca's new pajamas.(Sorry if I sound really harsh, her pajamas were just a big disappointment to me) I do like the print and the green!  

The hairstyling set is unique and fun, I always love doll sized replicas of what they used in the era. I want to know if it actually works! It's also fun that the set is interactive, you actually get to do something with the hair and can be used with other curly haired dolls! The price is reasonable and compared to other Beforever sets (i.e. Caroline's Hairstyling Set) you get your moneys worth.   

Maryellen's Sofa Bed Set $150

 

image credit American Girl  

I think it's really cool how you get the bed and couch in one, something different than the typical bedroom set (not that I don't like a pricey bed!) It gives me hope that AG will branch out and give us more historical kitchen sets. The couch is great for space saving, not enough room for another bed in the dollhouse but desperately need a doll couch? Sofa bed to the rescue. I think the colors are a bit obnoxious, definitely not great for a modern living room setup but cute and realistic to the era.  

Maryellen's Dog Scooter $22

  

 

image credit American Girl  

I think $22 is a somewhat reasonable price although I admit I was disappointed in how he looks, I wish his eyes were not embroidered but other than that a great accessory to her collection, I just wish we had more options of cats.   

Maryellen's Living Room Set $58 

 

image credit American Girl  

A great addition to the collection but I wish it came with more, 5 pieces in a $58 set which contains mainly plastic and paper just doesn't seem worth the price. I have to agree, I first thought the poodle was wearing a batman mask!  

Maryellen's Television Console $85

 

image credit American Girl 

I really like how interactive this set it is, which makes it a lot more fun and creative than just watching the same pre-set shows over and over again. What I don't like is how plastic everything is! From pictures it looks to be made out of plastic, although I might be wrong. I also hate how the encyclopedias can't even come out and are set into the tv! The bonsai tree has very little detail but I love the record players!  

Maryellen's Poodle Skirt Outfit $36

 

image credit American Girl 

My first thought was, of course! but I realized how cute it is! I never thought she would look great in pink but she does! I also have a weakness for circle skirts, and doll sized ones make it even more tempting. Very cute and well executed but it makes me wonder what it would look like if it were only blue...  

Maryellen's Diner Set $275

 

image credit American Girl  

I love how versatile and easily storeable this set is. The details on it are so cute and a great addition. I just love how you can move it around so it can fit where you want it to. The detail in the food, however, is lacking. I do like how the burger is not clumped together (something you would not want in a diner, where a girl actually wants to "cook" the dolls food the way they want it) and yet the pancakes, egg and sausage is clumped. I would really like to get this, someday if it goes on sale! 

Maryellen's Jukebox $90 

 

image credit American Girl 

I like the jukebox and how interactive it is, definitely an incentive to check out songs from that era! And have fun while playing dolls or taking pictures! I really like how it lights up.   

Maryellen's Birthday Dress $34

 

image credit American Girl  

With all of the gorgeous 50's dresses I have pinned to my fashion board this dress seems drab in comparison. I feel like the fabric they chose makes it look "cheap" and not worth the price. The color does look nice on her and hey, more green! Too bad I won't buy it.  

Maryellen's School Outfit $32

 

image credit American Girl 

I really do like how Maryellen has variation within her collection, not all just one color! (Rebecca!) but after seeing 5hensandacockatiels (link!)  school outfit she made for Maryellen this dress doesn't hold a candle to it.  

Maryellen's Classroom Set $40

 

image credit American Girl 

More plastic, more paper. I wish the easel was wood! I think it's cute if you want to set up a classroom for your one and only student Maryellen but I would rather have cute school accessories for her! Maryellen's Play Outfit $28  

 

image credit American Girl 

I think the outfit is cute! I don't really have anything else to say but everything goes really well together.  

Maryellen's Ice Skating Outfit $36 

Maryellen's Ice Skating Accessories $24

  

image credit American Girl 

Hmm... so Maryellen and Mia also have something else in common, they love to ice skate! Also I find it funny Mia's bedroom set was also something out of the ordinary, her bed could turn into a couch, coincidence? I may have to buy this for Mia! The ice skates are too precious. I love the hat, I think the dress looks great with the accessories, they really complete the outfit.   

Maryellen's Crinoline $16

 

image credit American Girl 

I always love when they add something like this to a dolls collection, that adds detail. A great addition for those of us who don't want to sew rows of gathered tulle to make a dress retain it's shape.  

This was going to be a combined post with the Truly Me release but I ran out of time! 

Thanks for looking!, 

The Wall of Ivy?

I found this really cute ivy wall (It's not ivy but it looks like it! Kind of.. Plus I don't know the technical term) inspired by the background of dark green I tried finding a similar colored outfit for Libby. Sorry for all of the pictures of Libby, she is one of the four dolls that I currently have and she was right there. Plus Mia and TM #61 traveled in a suitcase which left black marks all over their arms and they had to sit in the sun with 10% benzoyl peroxide for a while :)  

  

Every doll I have tried this shirt on looks amazing in it, one of the only green shirts I have by AG and all of my dolls look great in it? Not even a pink shirt I have looks great on every doll.. I finished reading Grace's first book and I love her personality, Mary Casanova is one of my favorite American Girl authors, her style of writing is so fun to read.  

Thanks for looking!, 

Libby Travels

Finally a time to post! I know, it's been almost a week and unfortunately for the next week or so posts are still going to be sparse. I have a goal of 2 posts on here and 1 post on Seven Bloggers and Their Dolls but no promises! While on the drive out and after I managed to take a few pictures of Libby and uploaded them. Trying to find nice places to take pictures is going to be an adventure, one that will hopefully be a success! 

  

She is such a photogenic doll,really. I wish I had bought her sooner! Looking through everyone's pictures of different hairstyles on her really makes me want to take her braid out,  I think I will keep it in for now but I want to try a few!   

Favorite picture?

Thanks for looking!,   

Sewing Sunday

Hi! This weeks project was another pair of shorts using a remnant of fabric I bought at Joann's back in January and finally I am using it! The reason why I bought the fabric was because it is so unique! The texture is almost snakeskin and feels like fake leather. TM #61 is modeling the shorts along with Grace's Pajama top. I finally added her missing freckles! Now to finish the bottom half of her face :)

 

How could my dolls never have shorts? They are my new favorite clothing piece, so many mix -and-match possibilities! Also here are a few updates- 

My family is moving, this week we are packing up a truck and driving (for a few days!) to our new house so posting will be sparse this week and next week, I will try to post when I can but just a heads up ;) 

Yesterday (as a very early birthday present) I picked out Grace at the AG store. I looked at maybe 10 dolls and most of the dolls had crazy bangs and the doll I was going to go with one of her eyes looked off to the side slightly so instead I picked out this one- 

  

She has a slight head tilt which I think gives her such a unique facial expression and I love how adorable she is! Her name will be Libby Grace Thomas. Her earrings are darling too.  

Thanks for looking,