How to make an American Girl quilt

American Girl

Momma and I are both Quite Pleased that American Girl is giving the BeForever girls some long overdue attention. Not only are new items being added, but old items are being freshened up.

In particular, my doppelgänger's Bed and Bedding.

Once Addy and her family move into the boarding house, she has a bed of her own for the very first time. It features:

• A sturdy wooden bedframe with an authentic “fly-specked” finish
• A checkered pillow trimmed in ruffles
• A muslin mattress that’s supported by woven rope instead of bedsprings, as was typical in Addy’s day
• A beautifully detailed quilt—inspired by a Civil War era design—with nine squares depicting Addy’s family album

 

They kept the quilt! They kept the rope bed! The pillow has been changed from the realistic plain muslin to one with ruffles, but I don't care.

 

They kept the quilt!

 

 

American Girl Scottsdale: Soft Opening

What a day!

After an Exhausting couple of months with a job change for Momma and a month of illness for Grandmomma (including six surgeries!) we took a day for ourselves on Wednesday, August 19 and went to the Soft Opening for the new American Girl Scottsdale store!

The Grand Opening was Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23, but they quietly opened the store three days earlier for friends, family, and the media ... and for the new staff to get used to the computers and software before the hoards descend Saturday morning.

Whee! Talk about a kid in the proverbial candy store!

Momma and I met Susan, an American Girl public relations person who flew in from Wisconsin that morning. She asked if we had ever been to an American Girl store (yes, AGPLA), and gave us a tour of the new 12,000 square foot facility.

We were both Very Pleased to find the BeForever section at the very front of the store. Heading clockwise you got to see each doll displayed with her collection. Some were in cases but some were out for people to touch and feel.

The bistro was closed to the public, but the staff was serving the family and friends of employees for experience. (When Momma returned later with my Big Sister it was empty.) The bistro does include a teeny-tiny private dining room for parties - how fun!

The rest room has the doll hangers in both the stalls and by the sink. Momma insisted she take my photo there. How rude.

We checked out the Hair Salon where my Dear Friend Emily was getting her hair done, and saw the Creativi-Tees area. I want the "Stand Tall" T-shirt!

Can I tell you how much I want the Bride of Frankenstein costume wig?! It was even better in person!

We checked out Girl of the Year Grace. Grace's Pâtisserie is to die for, and Grace and BonBon will definitely be joining us later this year.

Having the new store Finally Open was exciting, but we could not wait for the Grand Opening and to meet Maryellen!

American Girl Scottsdale: Grand Opening to come!

There's a place for us

Ooh, the excitement is palpable around here!

American Girl Scottsdale is scheduled to open in 44 days!

Momma and my Big Sister and I went by the new location earlier today, but sadly, there was nothing to see other than construction workers going about their business.

However, since the new store is only 20 minutes away, Momma and I shall go by weekly and keep you, My Faithful Subjects, well informed.

We were excited to see the Scottsdale store map online. I thoroughly approve of the layout so far.

American Girl Place Los Angeles has the books and Girl of the Year as the primary focus when you first walk in. You have to go upstairs and search for the historic (Be Forever) sections. American Girl Scottsdale will have the Be Forever section front and center!

I hope my doppelgänger Addy is the Very First One to see!

 

Winona and her friends

We also have Betsy-Tacy and Tib's friend Winona, but she's an unaltered American Girl #25 wearing Addy's stilting outfit.

(Winona's a bit smug that she's the only unaltered girl in the group.) 

The dress is a bit long for the period but since Winona's a tomboy and loves bright colors such as red and purple so it seems appropriate for her. 

Momma got Winona a little pug to be her faithful companion, Toodles.

Betsy-Tacy and Tib

Momma has been Frightfully Busy lately and I have been Terribly Ignored, so Momma told me to publish some back stories.

Here are my dear friends Betsy-Tacy, and Tib - dolls Momma created, based upon the wonderful books by Maud Hart Lovelace.

.

Momma used this illustration from Betsy-Tacy Go Downtown as a basis for the three girls: Betsy got Samantha's Middy Dress with Tam, Tacy got Samantha's Play Dress, and Tib got Sam's Spring Party Dress. All three got Samantha's Lacy Whites, as well as Addy's black Meet stockings, and either Addy's or Kirsten's black lace-up boots.

Oh, and you'll love this. The real-life girls that inspired Betsy, Tacy and Tib went to Pleasant Grove School!

Dress like your doll

Okay, I have to admit it. Momma and I both really, really, really like the new Ribbon Trim Sundress for Girls.

This pretty sundress is inspired by Addy. The royal-blue print dress has a black waistband and trim, and cute black bows on the shoulders. It has a gathered bodice, and hidden pockets at the side seams of the full skirt. Above-knee length. Cotton. Imported. Blue. Sizes 6-16. 

$42

Once upon a time, Pleasant Company and American Girl both offered girl-sized versions of the dolls' various outfits. While very nice, maybe it wasn't as practical.

Addy's girl-sized outfit was sold as the "Striped Pink Dress" for $75, but was discontinued in 2000.

The new alternative is not only less expensive, but girls can wear the outfits daily now instead of saving them for special occasions and make believe.

Well done, American Girl. Well done.

Finding Freedom

Well, BeForever launched last night and (I never thought I'd say this) I miss the original cinnamon pink dress My doppelgänger came with.

Courageous Addy Walker has deep-brown eyes that open and close, golden hoop earrings, and thick black hair. She comes in an authentic 1864 outfit:

• A royal-blue print dress trimmed with black ribbon, with black bows atop short bell sleeves
• Lacy white pantalettes
• White stockings
• Black boots
• Two blue ribbons for her hair

The 18" Addy doll has a huggable cloth body, and her movable head and limbs are made of smooth vinyl. Includes the paperback book Finding Freedom, the first novel-length volume of Addy’s classic series.

The new Addy is very pretty (I love her hair!) and I like the blue dress, but it does not look like the first dress a runaway would receive or wear.

 

Times change. Girls are forever.

BeForever, the new American Girl line, launches on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, and I'm still not sure what to make of it.

Our new BeForever books feature our beloved historical characters in a new format designed to appeal to girls who like high adventure and contemporary fiction. We also have fun new puzzle and craft books, plus Bitty Baby activity books for little girls!

It appears the original six books for each character are now condensed into two:

Finding Freedom: An Addy Classic Volume 1 
by Connie Porter

Addy Walker’s family is planning a dangerous escape from slavery during the summer of 1864. But before they can leave, the most terrible thing Addy can imagine happens--her Poppa and her brother, Sam, are sold! Addy and her Momma decide they must head out on their own. Although the road to freedom is difficult, Addy’s new life brings new friends, school, and even the opportunity to help others. But when will her family be reunited? 

A Heart Full of Hope: An Addy Classic Volume 2
by Connie Porter

Having Poppa home fills Addy’s heart with happiness, and moving to a boarding house brings a new special friend--one who encourages Addy to always stay hopeful for the future. Then Addy enjoys the victory of having her idea chosen for a fair fundraiser, where a friendship is born, and the answer to a riddle brings a wonderful surprise. But will the rest of Addy’s family be reunited before the New Year?

And finally, each set has a third volume inviting the reader to time travel?

A New Beginning: My Journey with Addy

by Denise Lewis Patrick

What would it be like for a girl to suddenly find herself in Addy Walker’s world in the middle of the Civil War? How would she feel facing new freedoms and unexpected limits? In this book, readers can join Addy on adventures to outrun a slave catcher, raise money for soldiers, and search for Addy’s family. Their journey back in time can take whatever twists and turns they choose, as they select from a variety of exciting options in this multiple-ending story.

I have not seen any of the new Addy items other than the book covers and a gray market photo of the new Addy in her new blue Meet dress. However, my Dear Friend Samantha Parkington is shedding her Archived Status, and it appears she has a nifty new Ice Cream Parlor.

I can only hope my doppelgänger fares as well.

Birthday suit

Greta Garb-oh!

Shh, I now know Queen Victoria's secret.

Under her austere widow's weeds and resting on top of her birthday suit, lurked a lively Lolo Lobster Tail Bustle!

(Yes, Momma is having way too much fun making these!)

Momma has three of these lively Lolo Lobster Tail Bustles in her Etsy shop, but hopes to add more soon.

Speaking of birthday suits, today is My birthday!

Happy birthday to Me and my doppelgänger, Addy Walker.

To celebrate, today you can receive 10 percent off in Momma's Etsy shop. Just use code BIRTHDAY2014.

But hurry, this offer expires April 10th!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me....

The finishing touch

americangirl.com

When I heard new items for the Historicals had been released at American Girl, including my doppelgänger Addy, I raced to their website to take a gander.

While some of the new items are awesome, I was sadly disappointed by Addy's addition: Addy's Hairstyling Set.

Seriously? That's ALL?

For $22 "your girl can create a fancy hairstyle for Addy with this set! It includes:

• A snood that fits perfectly over her hair
• A pink cameo & bow
• A double-braid hairpiece for the finishing touch"

I think my snoods are better (Thanks Mama Lisa!) and so are my hose-clamp headbands.

americangirl.com

At least Betsy is excited. She hates her stick-straight hair and can't wait to get Rebecca's Hairstyling Set, which includes a pretend curling iron with a handle that opens and closes.

(You might recall in Betsy was a Junior by Maud Hart Lovelace that Betsy burned her bangs with a curling iron while getting ready for a dance.)

At least Rebecca got an costume, too.

 

Reading brings us unknown friends

I, of course, am (very) loosely based upon the American Girl Addy Walker books. But did you know my Dear Friends, Betsy, Tacy, Tib and Naifi, are based upon the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace?

National Reading Day is an annual event which celebrates and encourages reading by younger children. National Reading Day is celebrated in thousands of schools all around the United States. This literacy event is designed to help Pre-K through Third Grade students develop the literacy foundation they need to become lifelong learners. Schools, libraries, nonprofit groups, and parents participate in a variety of activities with younger readers on National Reading Day. Join in with the hundreds of thousands of other young readers who will celebrate National Reading Day on Jan. 23, 2014.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

― C.S. Lewis

“She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain.”

― Louisa May Alcott

 

Resistance is futile

Steampunk Uhura

Woo hoo!

Steampunk Uhura has arrived and begun her transformation!

Remember how Nichelle Nichols, the original Uhura from Star Trek: The Original Series, met Phoebe and me at Phoenix Comicon and wanted her very own version of Moi?

Surprisingly, Momma found an Addy Walker on eBay that looks remarkably like me - complete with tiny braids in her hair and the beginnings of silver-eye in her right eye.

Awesome!

In the meantime, Momma has been assembling Steampunk Uhura a duplicate outfit:

• red uniform: Enchanted Designer
• black fishnet tights: Cupcake Cutie Pie
• black lace mitts: I Dream of Jeanne Marie 
• black snood: Darling Dolly
• black boots: eBay
• chain belt and lock: hardware store
• headband: hardware store

I am (of course) one of a kind, but it is flattering to watch the creation of My Twin for none other than the fabulous Nichelle Nichols.

A Tale of Two Addies

You say it's your birthday,
It's my birthday too, yeah.

They say it's your birthday,
We're gonna have a good time.

I'm glad it's your birthday,
Happy birthday to you.

Major apologies to The Beatles.

Gonna party like it's 1899

Happy birthday to me!

Yes, it's my birthday!

To celebrate, I hope you will go over to the wildly popular Doll Diaries to read my Honorary Birthday Guest Post.

Yes, you read that right! Char asked me, Steampunk Addie, to write a Guest Post for Doll Diaries!

(I told you she liked me.)

Meanwhile, Clementine and I will be Delicately Nibbling on my birthday cake, tea, and cookies, and playing Pin the Rudder on the Dirigible.

We're gonna have a good time!

One in a million

I went off to find my friend Ivy after leaving the indignity of the restroom.

Harumph.

I found her hanging out with our friend Julie in 1974.

Ivy was greatly astonished to find several doppelgängers of herself standing around. I comforted her by saying there was an opportunity to be found in clones.

I demonstrated by taking her into the 1864 room (I think of AGPLA as one, giant TARDIS) and tried to waken my doppelgängers from their stasis.

Mwahaha. 

Dozens, nay hundreds, of Addys at my command!

Too bad it didn't work.

Momma said it took more than my half-dime to wake them from their slumber.

So now I am saving up. In the meantime, my Big Sister's Addy is amenable to my plans.

One down....

 

Bluestocking? No. Blackstocking? Yes!

Inquiring minds have been asking about the status of my library in the sky.

So far I have mini copies of:

• Meet Kaya
• Meet Felicity
• Felicity's Surprise
• Very Funny, Elizabeth
• Meet Caroline
• Meet Josefina
• Josefina's Surprise
• Meet Kirsten
• Kirsten's Surprise
• Meet Marie-Grace
• Meet Cécile
• Meet Addy
• Addy's Surprise
• Meet Samantha
• Samantha's Surprise
• Nellie's Promise
• Meet Rebecca
• Meet Kit
• Really Truly Ruthie
• Meet Molly
• Molly's Surprise
• Brave Emily
• Meet Julie

I also have nice little copies of:

• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• A Christmas Carol
• Horton Hears a Who
• It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
• Mother Goose in Hieroglyphics
• The Night Before Christmas
• Olivia Saves the Circus
• Peter Parley’s Book of Fables
• The Quest of the Missing Map
• Robin Hood
• The Tales of Peter Rabbit
• The Wizard of Oz
• Woodworth's Cabinet Library

Please let me know if you have any mini suggestions - or donations!

An embroidered tale

You people just don't appreciate what a wonderful age you live in.

Back in my day, we had to do our embroidery by hand.

Mrs. Ford gave Addy a needle book and hoop so she could help with the sewing. Addy’s first project was an apron on which she practiced making straight seams with tiny stitches. You can embroider the charming floral trim on the hem and bodice for Addy. A make-believe kerosene lamp to light their dark and drafty garret was a Christmas surprise for Addy and Momma—a glowing reminder to “let your little light shine” all year long.*

And now, just imagine, machines that embroider for you!

I have spent the last two days pouring over the Urban Threads website and all its marvelous steampunk patterns. And Urban Threads has a Spoonflower store of coordinating fabrics, too!

I certainly hope that Momma can afford a machine that embroiders soon.

Any recommendations?

*Please forgive the typos. American Girl obviously doesn't know how to spell My name correctly.

Happy birthday to us!

Addy and her parents have moved to a boarding house. There Addy meets an inspiring friend, M'dear. Like many people who grew up enslaved, Addy doesn't know when she was born, so M'dear urges Addy to claim a day for her birthday. Then M'dear falls ill. When Addy goes out to get medicine, she faces prejudice--and danger. M'dear helps Addy overcome her anger and gives her a deeper understanding of freedom. When Addy finally claims a birthday, it is a special day indeed, and the whole city celebrates.

The date Addy Walker and I chose? April 9 - the end of the Civil War.

Now that was a day to celebrate, even if no one sang "Happy Birthday to You" to either of us.

"Happy Birthday to You," also known more simply as "Happy Birthday," is a song that is traditionally sung to celebrate the anniversary of a person's birth.


According to the 1998 Guinness Book of World Records, "Happy Birthday to You" is the most recognized song in the English language, followed by "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." The song's base lyrics have been translated into at least 18 languages.

The melody of "Happy Birthday to You" comes from the song "Good Morning to All," which was written and composed by American siblings Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill in 1893. The combination of melody and lyrics in "Happy Birthday to You" first appeared in print in 1912, and probably existed even earlier. None of these early appearances included credits or copyright notices.


The Summy Company registered for copyright in 1935, crediting authors Preston Ware Orem and Mrs. R.R. Forman. In 1990, Warner Chappell purchased the company owning the copyright for $15 million, with the value of "Happy Birthday" estimated at $5 million. Based on the 1935 copyright registration, Warner claims that the United States copyright will not expire until 2030, and that unauthorized public performances of the song are technically illegal unless royalties are paid to it.

Oops! I did it again

I discovered this morning that I forgot my friend Rebecca Rubin's birthday yesterday.

Oops.

It's a good thing I can time travel. She'll never know I forgot it!

!יום הולדת שמח

Rebecca's family would likely celebrate her birthday with a mixture of Russian, Jewish and American traditions.

In Russia, birthday parties would be celebrated on or after one's birthday, not before. And never give someone birthday wishes before their birthday!

If you're Russian, you may receive a birthday pie with a birthday greeting cut into the crust instead of a cake!

Jewish boys become bar mitzvah on their 13th birthday. Jewish girls become bat mitzvah on their 12th birthday (or sometimes on their 13th birthday in Reform and Conservative Judaism). This marks the transition where they become obligated in commandments of which they were previously exempted and are counted as part of the community.

And finally, a listing of all my friends' birthdays (including mine!) so I don't forget again!

• Kaya ~ Summer, 1755
• Felicity ~ April 21, 1765
• Elizabeth ~ November 5, 1765
• Josefina ~ March 19, 1815
• Marie Grace ~ March 3, 1843
• Cécile ~ May 28, 1843
• Kirsten ~ June 8, 1845
• Addie ~ April 9, 1855
• Addy ~ April 9, 1855
• Samantha ~ May 26, 1895
• Nellie ~ October 15, 1895
• Rebecca ~ April 4, 1905
• Kit ~ May 19, 1923
• Ruthie ~ August 22, 1923
• Molly ~ April 22, 1934
• Emily ~ September 29, 1933
• Julie ~ May 1, 1966
• Ivy ~ February 28, 1966

Jumping the broom

http://storybookquilts.org/library/show-all/addys-wedding-quilt

Happy anniversary Grandmomma!

(And Grandpoppa, too!)

Momma's parents "jumped the broom" 49 years ago today. Well, they didn't actually "jump a broom" since they were married in a church. But they could have.

So where does the custom come from?

Local variations of the custom were developed in different parts of England, Scotland and Wales when gypsy couples would get married by jumping over a branch of flowering broom (shrub) or a besom made of broom. The broom was placed in an angle by the doorway and the groom jumped over first, followed by the bride.

In the United States slaves who wished to marry were sometimes only permitted to "jump the broom." (This custom has been revived by some due to to the popularity of Alex Haley's wonderful novel and miniseries Roots.)

It does not seem to have any, um, roots in African culture but may have been the only form a marriage permitted by slave owners who were familiar with "jumping the broom" from the old country.