Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful year and that 2018 brings you joy, health, and prosperity!
This was definitely an unusual year for me! With all of the changes happening to the American Girl doll line, I added way more dolls to my collection than I ever anticipated! And now at the end of the year, with even more cost-cutting changes in quality coming to light, I am SO glad that I did. I think from now on I’ll likely be adding more clothes and accessories, but probably not dolls.
So before the year is out, here’s a quick look at everyone who joined my collection this year!
J A N U A R Y
Noelle Kealoha joined my doll crew! I was so happy to get Truly Me #62 from my parents for my birthday this year! She’s even more GORGEOUS in person!
F E B R U A R Y
I was finally able to add Cécile Rey to my collection! It was a bit of an adventure, too! She barely missed being delivered in a heavy rainstorm and her eyebrows were off, so she needed a little (nerve-wracking) paint touch up. I’m so glad I have her!
Not long after, word of “permapanties,” new body fabric, and squishy vinyl spread. Hoping to get an “older-style” doll without some of these issues for one more custom, I used a gift card I’d been saving to get a Rebecca.
M A R C H
Rebecca got a new wig and became Talia Leighton. She also makes a pretty good double for Rapunzel… 😉 (Honestly, I kinda wish I had just kept her hair in these braids and flowers even after Easter. She looked so cute in them!)
A P R I L
My mom and I went to check out a nearby Toys ‘R’ Us that had begun selling Truly Me dolls and accessories – just to take a look. Then we found out that most of these dolls were older stock with neck strings and old body fabric, and we decided if there was anyone else we wanted to add, now was the time to do it. That led to…
M A Y
…getting a Truly Me #64 as an early 5th wedding anniversary present from my husband and turning her into a custom I’ve been wanting to make since I first learned customization was even possible – Yuna (Uematsu), based on Yuna from FINAL FANTASY X!
Truly Me #64 was so cute as is, I ended up getting a second one, but she didn’t get customized until a little later…
J U N E
I took Yuna with me to the American Girl store (which I was extremely nervous about doing), but the employees loved her! I was able to get her ears pierced, too, which I didn’t think would be possible since I customized her.
J U L Y
My second Truly Me #64 finally got her new wig and became Anne Mizukawa (though I didn’t finalize her story and introduce her here until September).
A U G U S T
The Create Your Own line was finally introduced! As part two of my anniversary present, I got to order a mini me that I hoped would be even closer than I had been able to create with Arista.
S E P T E M B E R
The wait was over! My mini-me arrived and she was pretty close to how I pictured she’d be! She had slightly off eyebrows, so I tweaked them with paint just as I’d done with Cécile’s. She has some slight imperfections, but overall I’m really happy with how she turned out. I named her Mia Heatherly.
O C T O B E R
I started planning my next Create Your Own doll. I wanted to make an American Girl version of the first 18″ doll I’d had, Megan Ryder from the Magic Attic Club series.
N O V E M B E R
I decided to order Megan early to both beat the holiday rush and try to take advantage of a 20% off deal.
D E C E M B E R
Unfortunately, this second Create Your Own doll didn’t turn out as nicely as the first. Her eye sockets were two noticeably different sizes, her eyes pointed in opposite directions, and her vinyl was an almost orange color. I attempted to move her eyes into position, but they reverted to their wonky formation. I tried to see if I could send her to the Doll Hospital for a new head, but that wasn’t possible. So, I took the customer service rep’s advice and returned her.
Instead of re-ordering, I went on eBay and found a doll I’d been wanting to add for years – who finally had come down in price – Mia St.Claire, who will be my Megan Ryder.
And not really a doll addition, but more of a re-configuring – Sienna finally got a wig that suited her, but she looked so different, she needed a new name and backstory. She became Emma Petersen. I’m still working on her backstory, though.
Whew! I think that’s everyone!
So, as you can imagine, one of my first goals for next year is to update my About section with all of these new additions (I think I got up to Talia). And, like I said, because I added way more than I expected, I don’t think I’ll be adding any more dolls anytime soon – which might not be such a bad thing if the changes in quality continue as they have been. I’m very happy to have the dolls I do have, and I think next year I’m going to work on fleshing out all of their backstories.
I hope you all have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and a safe and fun start to the new year! See you in 2018!
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