Meet Arista!

Arista Micallef | Custom American Girl Doll (My American Girl #53 with Grace Thomas wig and hand-painted freckles)

I am so excited to be making this post. For the past year, I’ve watched in awe as other American Girl collectors have swapped wigs and eyeballs, added paint and custom clothes to create one-of-a-kind dolls. I decided a few months ago that I wanted to try my hand at it and ordered a #53 with the intention of turning her into my mini me.

Today, she’s finally complete!

Arista Micallef and some of her favorite things

I’d like you to meet my very first custom, Arista Micallef. “Arista” is the name I usually go by on different American Girl forums, so I thought it’d be perfect for my mini me. “Micallef” comes from my grandma’s family (and sounded the best with “Arista”).

Arista – fan of Final Fantasy, Disney, American Girl, roses, and other way too many other things…

I considered lots of options when I decided to create this custom. Arista could’ve easily started life as a Rebecca or a Marie-Grace… but, I decided I wasn’t too keen on the idea of pouring boiling water into a doll’s head and popping her eyes out, so I went with #53 and her lovely dark brown eyes instead. Finding a wig was also a bit daunting. I realized Rebecca’s and Marie-Grace’s wigs were a bit too light (not to mention hard to find on their own – for me, anyway), so I decided to go with a Ruby Red Galleria Wavy Brunette Parting Wig. While I was waiting impatiently for it to arrive, Grace Thomas leaked.

Her variegated brown hair and side bangs were a lot closer to mine than the wig I’d just ordered (and was no longer able to cancel… crap). And if it was hard enough to find a separate Rebecca or Marie-Grace wig, how tough was finding Grace’s going to be? I figured I should just stick with the one I ordered – whenever it decided to show up.

Then on my birthday, my husband took me to American Girl Place… and Grace’s hair was so darn close, and her face was so sweet, and I had gift cards to use, that I decided I’d get her, take her wig for my mini me, give her another wig, and make two custom dolls. Easy! …Or so I thought!

I started by removing #53’s wig with an old dessert spoon my mom had. Sure, it took a little elbow grease in some of the more heavily glued sections, but overall, it wasn’t too difficult. I think it took less than an hour.

Arista and Tutu

And then there was Grace’s wig… To put it in video game terms, if #53’s wig was a random encounter in a beginner area, Grace’s wig was the hardcore optional boss that required all characters to be at max level with ultimate weapons equipped. Her wig was practically FUSED to her head! I’m sure a lot of it had to do with the fact that she’s a brand new doll (my #53 could have been sitting around in a storeroom for awhile, who knows), but EVERY. CENTIMETER. was a slow and painful process. My fingers are seriously ripped from the rough fragments of clue around the wig’s edge. There was even a point halfway through where I didn’t think I could get the rest off and I started to wonder if I’d made a huge mistake even attempting this. After two and a half hours, I somehow managed to get the wig free, though unfortunately losing some hair and making a hole in the wig cap in the process.

I brushed out the wig to see how stable it was (I was SO afraid that after all that, it would completely fall apart), but thankfully everything seemed intact. I patched up the hole with some tacky glue and scrap fabric, then glued the wig to #53’s head – which may have been the most daunting part of this whole thing. After all that, if I didn’t get the wig placed on correctly, I was going to cry haha… I didn’t have anything to keep pressure with either, so I ended up winding a thin ribbon around the wig edges – which seemed to work!

Faint freckles (and a furry creature)

Then I decided she needed one more thing – a couple of faint freckles on her cheeks to match mine. I mixed some leftover acrylic paint I had with some fabric medium and very carefully painted on a few freckles with a toothpick – dabbing at some to make them more faint.

Finally, she was complete. I am so happy with how she turned out – especially for her being my first custom. She’s not perfect (you should see the hot mess her wig cap is), but luckily all of her less-than-perfect areas are pretty well hidden.

And now it’s formerly-Grace’s turn to be transformed! Her new auburn wig should be coming today!

Kanani – Girl of the Year 2011

Kanani Akina, Girl of the Year 2011 | American Girl

Kanani could’ve very easily been my first American Girl doll… if I hadn’t been saving up for something much, much more important at the time – my wedding! But… three years later…

She’s MINE!

I finally bit the bullet and bought Kanani. She’s even prettier in person!

Kanani is my first “Jess mold” doll (first created for Japanese/Scottish-Irish 2006 Girl of the Year Jess McConnell). Although the mold is known for issues with uneven eyes, my Kanani’s eyes are perfect!

Kanani, fresh from her box

Her “meet” outfit is really sweet! Her sky blue dress goes well with her hair and skin tone, and it also has some hidden sequins scattered throughout. Her beaded necklace and hair flower are a nice touch, too. Her sandals aren’t too amazing… in fact, they’re pretty loose. I can see why she came with clear bands attaching them to her feet.

Marie-Grace Gardner and Kanani Akina

Kanani’s wig is VERY long and silky – maybe a little longer than Marie-Grace’s – but definitely thinner (which probably helps keep her from falling over). I kept her hair down for awhile, but finally decided to put it into braids, which she still looks very cute in. Her skin tone is slightly darker and redder compared to MG’s more yellow tones, and her hair is slightly lighter than MG’s, but has more red to it. Kanani’s hazel eyes also seem like a unique shade. They’re darker and less green than Isabelle’s.

Aloha, Kanani – the book introducing Kanani

Her introductory story, Aloha, Kanani, is surprisingly good! After reading Isabelle’s, I honestly didn’t have high expectations for Kanani’s. (And yes, I realize I’m not the target audience, but c’mon, really? “Wah, I’m attending an exclusive performing arts academy, but I worry I’m not good enough!” Exactly how many kids can relate? I know with my watch-PBS-and-try-to-imitate-the-ballerinas method of “learning” ballet as a kid, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to. Anyway!)

Aside from the GORGEOUS pictures by Sarah Davis, there are so many elements of Kanani’s book that I love. The theme of “family” is especially relatable for me. The Hawaiian culture is similar to Maltese in that family is number one – and not everyone has to be blood-related to be family. I love the conversations between Kanani and her “aunts” (they remind me a lot of my own aunts), and that she easily falls into the role of host when visitors arrive (that’s usually my role, too). I also really like that her parents aren’t just magically wealthy – you can tell that it’s taken a lot of hard work to keep and build their family business. In short, I liked the first book so much, I got the second one.

I’m really happy I was able to add Kanani to my collection. She’s a fantastic doll based on a relatable, fun character. I hope American Girl will continue to make more characters like Kanani – she’s definitely one of my favorites. ♥

Pinata Invitation Holder

FAVORITE FINDS: OBJECTS

Pinata Invitation Holder |  found at work

It’s party time!

You never know what you’re going to find at work!

My department sometimes receives some pretty nice invitations – from square cards in vellum paper to shimmery cardstock and embossed lettering. The most unique invitation I’ve ever seen was one for a Cinco de Mayo-themed event last year. Inside a bag filled with foam western-shaped confetti was a mini pinata. And jammed into the poor pinata’s throat was a rolled up scroll with the event details. After a quick invite-ectomy, I patched up the hole using a piece of Post-It Note, and she was good as new!

The most unique invitation holder I’ve ever seen!

For months, this pinata had been keeping me company, sitting on my desk at work. But once I was bitten by the American Girl bug, I began to see objects in a new light. When I realized how perfect of a prop this pinata would be, I brought it home, and it’s been decorating Kit’s table and chairs since. Now I just need mini carne asada and fried ice cream… mmm…

Sewing Project: Isabelle’s Party Dress

PROJECT: A dress for Isabelle, using the Pleasant Company pattern for Samantha’s Party Dress

TIME: 2 days

MATERIALS: coral pink Casa satin, pink lace, pink ribbon, cameo button, notions

My first American Girl doll and my first American Girl sewing project

Before I get into this project, allow me to share a little backstory.

I got my first American Girl doll at the age of 30. And I was freaking ecstatic.

When I was the target age for American Girl dolls, they really weren’t affordable for my family. I used to flip through the catalogs and daydream about being able to order anything and everything on the pages – especially the girl-sized outfits.

A few years later, I got my Magic Attic Club Megan doll. I absolutely loved her. I’d save up gift and allowance money to buy her clothes and accessories, and I was even able to buy a few American Girl things that (although they were much bigger) seemed to fit her okay.

Flash forward a few more years.

My mom had only one doll growing up. When her doll’s plastic body started to disintegrate with age, she began a quest to find a replacement. I’m not sure how long this quest had gone on, but I think it lasted at least ten years. Just before she finally found a donor body, she looked at American Girl dolls (which ended up being too small). To make an already long story short, she took one look at Saige, the American Girl of the Year at the time, and decided she was too cute to resist.

My husband and I decided to surprise her with Saige for Christmas. But, as I probably should’ve guessed given my genetics, I was pretty taken with Saige, too. I kept thinking, “Wow, American Girl dolls are even nicer in person!” Still, I was nearly 30 – I could resist an American Girl doll at this point. I had already resisted when Samantha, the American Girl doll I liked best growing up, was retired. I resisted the urge to buy Kanani (which, I’m kinda kicking myself about now). And as cute as Saige was, my mom was already getting her.

I was doing pretty well resisting… until Isabelle was released.

She loved to dance. Her mom had taught her how to sew. She liked to design costumes. She liked cats. Her whole freaking collection was coral pink and purple and white and gold.

And… well…

NEED. PLZ. KTHNX.

A few weeks later, I had my very first American Girl doll. And no sh*ts were given that day. (Or any day since then).

Izzy Arrives

While I was waiting for Izzy to arrive, I discovered that American Girl dolls used to come with historical clothing patterns. I found the scans online, thanks to American Girl Playthings, and decided that if I couldn’t have Samantha, I could at least have her clothes for Izzy to wear.

PATTERN

I didn’t realize there was a difference between American Girl dolls. The earlier “Pleasant Company” (PC) dolls are more plump, so these patterns are slightly larger than the newer “Mattel” dolls. That said, this dress still fit well. I kept trying the dress on as I went along, to make sure everything was turning out correctly. The hardest part of the pattern for me was sewing the sleeves. I had to redo one of them completely (I forget why, but there was no real way to salvage it).

FABRIC

This color was PERFECT! It’s nearly a perfect match to Isabelle’s meet shirt – just a shade or so darker. The coral pink and baby pinks I was able to find went together very well. The Casa satin is nice and thick, without too much shine, but it does fray like crazy. I made sure to use my pinking shears anywhere I could, which seemed to help. I couldn’t find wide enough lace, so I modified the top a little (I also opted not to add some of the sleeve lace it called for). The cameo button was a lucky find, and I think it really finishes off the top well.

Progress shots and the finished dress

Although I hit a few snags along the way, I’m really happy with how this dress turned out. The fact that I had made a complete piece in roughly two days made me feel so accomplished. It’s also what spurred me on to try my hand at more clothes, and to not be so afraid to mess up (or in this case, to not be afraid to toss a sleeve that isn’t salvageable).

Someday, I might try making these dresses for all of my dolls (in different colors, with different details), but for now, they’ll all have to share this one.

Disney Treats by Stacy Morgan Studios

FAVORITE FINDS: STORES

Stacey Morgan Studios  |   staceymorganstudios.etsy.com

 

I stumbled upon Stacey Morgan’s amazing little creations a few months ago, while browsing etsy for American Girl sized Disneyana. One glance at her studio’s offerings and I was instantly hooked! I’ve never seen anything even close to these detailed and amazingly accurate treats!

Izzy and I share a love of Disney and their decadent sweets.

I wanted to buy everything Disney she’s ever made because it all looks freaking incredible! but  I purchased her Disney inspired mouse ice cream set. It looks exactly like the real thing! (Maybe even better!)

I also have one of her Disney inspired mouse chocolate dipped rice crispy treats. The attention to detail is incredible – it really looks like it’s made of tiny grains of puffed rice cereal!

Beware of treat-taking ghosts!

Just be careful if you’ve got little kiddos around – these mini foods look pretty darn realistic (my pictures don’t do them justice at all; I need better lighting)! And be sure to check back at her storefront often – Stacey Morgan Studios tends to post several creations at once, and once they’re out, they’re out! But not to worry, if you send Ms. Morgan a note, she’ll let you know when her newest grouping is available. And, if you have something specific in mind, she takes custom orders, too.

RATING

A+

The quality of these small pieces is superb! They look real and add something special to any Disney scene. And they’re not something your run of the mill American Girl etsy store offers! I know I’ll definitely be back for more treats from Stacey Morgan Studios!

Sewing Project: 1980’s Disneyland T-Shirt

PROJECT: A doll-sized replica of a 1980’s Disneyland T-shirt

TIME: 1 day

MATERIALS: red and white knit, iron-on transfer paper, digital image, notions

American Girl Isabelle Palmer, early 2014 version

I’ll be the first to admit that a lot of Disneyland’s merchandise is on the cheesy side, but I do have a favorite piece of clothing from the park. In the ’80’s, Disneyland offered a baseball t-shirt with red sleeves, white body, and a classic image of Mickey with the Disneyland logo. My parents and I all had this shirt (I think I was 4 or 5), and I’m not sure if it was the idea that I was wearing a small size of a “grown ups'” shirt (see? miniatures), or because I usually wore it to the park, or because I just liked how it looked, but I LOVED this shirt.

It became the basis for my first attempt at trompe-l’œil (“fool the eye”) painting…

From my old deviantART account. This was an assignment from one of my college art classes. We took photos wearing unique t-shirts (I stole my mom’s), then painted them from the photos.

…and most recently (i.e. a few days ago), a sewing project for my 18″ dolls.

Magic Attic Club Megan Ryder, 1996 version

This sewing project looks easy, but there were a few unexpected challenges along the way.

PATTERN

For this shirt, I used Liberty Jane’s Baseball T-Shirt pattern, found HERE. The pattern is made for American Girl dolls, but fits remarkably well on Magic Attic Club (back closure needs adjustment, but you can follow the rest of the pattern normally). I know this, because the first shirt I attempted ended up too tight for my American Girl dolls – I couldn’t even get their hands through the sleeves!

Since I had already cut out pieces for a second shirt, I used a smaller seam allowance and was able to make one that fits (albeit pretty snugly) on AG dolls.

I debated trying to shorten / widen the sleeves to make them look more like the real shirt, but I think I’ll attempt that when I’m a bit better at drafting… I did change the neckline a little, though. The original was too high-necked for my taste.

LOGO

The logo was probably the easiest part. Just some quick cleaning in Photoshop and it was good to go. I almost forgot to flip the image before printing on the iron-on transfer sheet, though… That would’ve made for an interesting shirt.

FABRIC

I’ve learned from past projects that the sturdier the knit, the less likely my machine is to eat it. The white knit I used for the body of the shirt is pretty similar to the real thing. The red is a bit thicker than I probably should have used, and even after washing, it still sheds a little, but it’s not too bad.

Overall, I’m pretty happy with how these shirts turned out! I do want to try another someday that fits a little more loosely and has the correct sleeves. First, though, I have plans to create small tickets, park maps, and other accessories from ’80’s Disneyland.