Sunday, August 4, 2019

Best Friends Club Dolls

BFC ink doll review from 2010. These dolls
 have been retired but you may still find them at resale,
 auction and on Amazon.

       The Best Friends Club were originally sold by Target but now are available at Amazon or second hand markets like Ebay. All of the dolls come in both 18" and 11" sizes. The following descriptions belong to the 18" versions:
  1. Kaitlin - has light blond hair with green acrylic eyes.
  2. Addison - has light brown hair and dark blue eyes.
  3. Calista - has wavy dark hair and dark eyes. She is the African American doll of this series.
  4. Aliesha - has very dark brown hair and brown eyes. She is the twin sister to Noelle and a Latino doll.
  5. Noelle - has very dark brunette hair and eyes. She is the identical twin sister to Aliesha and a Latino doll
  6. Gianna - has super dark auburn hair, dark blue eyes and freckles. 
  7. CJ - has hazel to blue acrylic eye color and dirty blond hair . He is the only BFC boy doll. He love sports and keeping busy.
  8. Yuko -  has long black hair and dark eyes. She is the Asian American doll of this series.
  9. Carmen - has green eyes and reddish auburn hair. BFC doll was the Hispanic pen pal doll from Mexico. (2010)
       "The Best Friends Club (BFC, Ink) helps girls deal with the real life challenges facing them today. It's about self-development, and the importance of friendship. 
       Through the lives of its diverse young characters, girls gain insight to relevant issues, from helping the local community and environment to dealing with friendship fallouts, family issues, bullying and first crushes. 
       BFC, Ink teaches our daughters about teamwork and friendship as well as giving them the joy that comes from belonging to a group of amazing friends." quotes from former website 

Every 18" doll shares common body features and accessories:
  • 15 points of articulation
  • rooted hair
  • pierced ears
  • acrylic open eyes
  • painted lips, eye-brows and eye-lashes
  • painted on underwear
  • a journal with a lock and key
  • two changes of clothes
Doll Clothes Patterns for BFC Dolls: Because BFC dolls have very thin body types and their clothing cannot be shared with other 18" dolls made by Mattel or Alexander Doll Companies. There are also 11'' doll versions of the BFC Ink Club Dolls that have painted features and far less articulation. 
Best Friends Club Doll Fan Videos:

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Learn About Information Technology With Lindsey Bergman

"Lindsey" by Chryssa Atkinson
       Described as a girl "who is eager to help", Lindsey's self-titled book details the difficulties her impulsive attempts at helping with causes. The character is Jewish and the book references her brother's Bar Mitzvah experience and party plans. A small collection consisting of a scooter set and laptop accompanied her release. She is the first girl of the year released in 2001 and retired in 2002.
Our Artifacts for The Lindsey Bergman Doll:
Online Research for Related Themes in Lindsey Bergman Books:
Teaching Children to Use Technology Safely:
Scooter Safety for Kids: 
Lindsey's Dog is A Dachshund:
Fan Video for The Lindsey Bergman Doll:
Review about Lindsey doll by xCanadensis.
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The Long Ago Doll

THE LONG AGO DOLL
Way up in Grandma's attic where
Some little dusty shadows creep,
I found my mother's Mandy Claire
Inside a trunk asleep.

Her yellow dress was trimmed with lace,
Her hair was very black and thin,
And camphor balls were in the place
That she was dreaming in.

And long ago - and long ago -
A little girl that used to be
Left Mandy Claire a-sleeping so -
Before there was a me.

So Mandy Claire, is waiting till -
But I got sort of lonesome then
And while she slept there very still
I tiptoed out again.

by Marjorie Barrows, 1837
 
A Long Ago Doll and Grandmother's antiques.

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Learn About Life on A Ranch With Nicki Fleming

"Nicki" and "Thanks to Nicki" books by Howard Creel.
       Nicki Fleming is an animal lover living on her family's Colorado ranch who volunteers to train a service dog named Sprocket when her mother cannot fulfill this responsibility due to a pregnancy. Nicki also faces friendship difficulties which test her loyalties. Nicki was the first Girl of the Year to have two books: Nicki and Thanks to Nicki, both by Ann Howard Creel.
Online Research About Themes Found in Nicki Fleming Books:
Ranch Life in Colorado:
Artifacts Here Related to Nicki Fleming Doll:
FFA - Future Farmers of America
Training Service Dogs:
Books about American Girl Character Nicki Fleming:
  • Nicki
  • Thanks to Nicki
Fan Video for American Girl Doll, Nicki Fleming:
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Learning History With Josefina Montoya

Meet Josephina, An American Girl

       Josefina Montoya is a young Mexican girl living in New Mexico with her extended family. She and her family (including her oldest sister, Ana who is married to Tomas and has two sons, and her two other sisters, vain and headstrong Francisca and practical and sensible Clara) must adapt following the death of their mother before the books and the introduction of their mother's sister, Tía Dolores (who later marries Josefina's widowed father), to the family circle. 
       Josefina dreams of becoming a healer like her grandmother and is taught in this by her aunt, Magdalena, her father's sister. Josefina has a pet goat named Sombrita. Themes include adjustment to loss, day-to-day life of the Mexican people, and the cultural and societal changes and influences that occurred once Mexico opened trade routes with the US. Josefina's family speaks Spanish and there are Spanish words and phrases in her books which are defined in the glossary.
Our artifacts for the Josefina Montoya doll:
Crafting In the Past: What crafts were popular in 1894?
Research Based On Themes Found in Josefina's Books:
Online Learning About Mexican American Culture and History:
Heritage New Mexico.
Santa Fe Then and Now:
American Girl Doll, Josefina Montoya's Books:
  • Meet Josefina
  • Josefina Learns a Lesson
  • Josefina's Surprise
  • Happy Birthday, Josefina!
  • Josefina Saves The Day
  • Changes for Josefina
  • Secrets in the Hills
  • The Glowing Heart
  • Josefina's Song
  • Thanks to Josefina
  • Again, Josefina!
  • A Reward for Josefina
Fan Video's About Josefina Montoya Doll:
Advanced Reading: Historical Fiction about young women living in Colonial Latin America:
  • A Line in The Sand: The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence: Gonzales, Texas, 1836
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Thursday, July 25, 2019

A Valentine for Old Dolls

1852 daguerreotype of a black rag doll.

 
A VALENTINE FOR OLD DOLLS 
by Rachel Field
Let others sing of cooing doves,
Of beating hearts and new-found loves,
These my poor rhymes shall tell the graces
Of china, wax or wooden faces;
The charm of curls or painted braids,
Oh, sweet, perennially cheerful maids.
Your smiles shall last though nations fall,
And the young hands that dressed you all
In flowered flounce and ribbons gay,
Long since to dust be laid away.
Your years you wear like faint perfume
Of rose-leaves in a quiet room,
When winter at the threshold knocks;
Like some old tune a music-box
Tinkles as soft as phantom rain
Falling beyond a window pane.
And so, where'er you be to-day-
On parlor shelf; packed snug away
In attic camphor--still I'll praise
Your stiff-set limbs, your timeless gaze,
Knowing full well when I am gone
Thus you will sit and thus smile on.
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Saturday, July 20, 2019

Learn About the Musical World of Tenney and Logan

"You're the Music In Me" original song for Tenney's character.

        Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Tenney Grant is an aspiring young songwriter who dreams to express herself through music. The eponymous first book in the series by Kellen Hertz focuses on her efforts at songwriting and the opportunity to perform at the famed Bluebird Cafe. Unlike dolls from the Girl of the Year line, Tenney, along with Logan Everett, are marketed as regular characters to be sold for an extended period of time than as limited edition dolls sold only for a year before being discontinued.
       Tenney's sidekick and bandmate, Logan Everett is, in a break from series tradition, the first 18-inch boy doll from American Girl. Released alongside the main character, he is depicted as a drummer for Tenney's band, and as with Tenney, the Logan doll also comes with a modified hand to hold musical instruments.
Our Artifact/Accessories for The Tenney and Logan Dolls:
Online Research Into Themes Found in Tenney Grant Books:
Showcase Tenney's Songs:
Nashville, Tennessee Music & Fun:
American Girl Tenney Grant Books:
  • Tenney
  • Tenney in the Key of Friendship
  • Tenney Shares the Stage
  • A Song for the Season
More Fan Video About Tenney and Logan Dolls:
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Friday, July 19, 2019

Learn About Baking and Business With Grace Thomas

 "Grace Stirs Up Success" movie

       Grace Thomas is the thirteenth Girl Of The Year, released in 2015. An avid baker from the fictional town of Bentwick, Massachusetts, her story centers around her dreams of being an aspiring entrepreneur, with her trip to Paris as a key plot point. Grace made her debut on Good Morning America on January 1, 2015.
       The Grace doll has light skin with freckles across the bridge of her nose, light blue eyes, and medium brown hair with side bangs. She comes with a white print T-shirt with "Paris, Je T'aime" written in cursive script, a pink skirt with a black bow, and dark gray boots with bows. Her face mold is the Josefina mold. Some of her unique features are highlights, side bangs and permanent lip gloss. Tying in with the Grace doll is a television film based on her stories entitled Grace Stirs Up Success, starring Olivia Rodrigo as the title character, and the mobile app Grace's Sweet Shop for iOS and Android.
The City of Paris:
It's Good for Business!
Kids Can Cook:
American Girl Books About Grace Thomas:
  • Grace
  • Grace Stirs It Up
  • Grace Makes It Great
  • Grace and Sylvie: A Recipe for Family
Fan Video/Crafts for American Girl Doll Grace Thomas:
Advancing The Read: 
  • Clean Romance for Teens by Sandra Byrd - all about love and cake: Let Them Eat Cake, Bon Appetit, Piece de Resistance
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DIY American Girl Doll Potting Bench

Above is my finished version of an American Girl doll potting bench.

       We're setting up a play garden area on our back patio this summer, that is, as soon as the rain stops pouring and the sunshine shows it's face!

Left, craft supplies, Center, wooden drying rack, 
Right I'm testing to see if the rack will fit inside the lid of my shoebox.

The potting bench is glued
 together but not yet painted.

        A doll sized, faux wooden work bench for the little girl who loves to play at gardening, can be any size. However, I will include the exact measurements of the one pictured with this post for those of you who would like to build it with similar proportions.

Supply List:
  • decorative paper with rustic wooden motif
  • cardboard + a shoe box
  • masking tape
  • hot glue and hot glue gun
  • large wooden craft sticks (tongue depressors)
  • white school glue 
  • Mod Podge
  • slatted wooden tray insert (optional)
  • small plastic hooks
  • Sculpey or oven bake clay
  • plastic molds of garden tools, doll size
Step-by-Step Instructions:
  1. I believe that I used the lid of a shoebox to make the upper counter of this potting bench, but I may have cut it down a bit. It measures 16" x 6 1/2". Turning the lid of a cardboard shoebox over makes for an easier method, however I wanted to include the wooden drying rack on the table top, so I fit the cardboard counter for this.
  2. Cut the bottom cardboard piece the same length and width. The center shelf measures 13 1/2" x 5". The backsplash wall at the top measures 16" x 6". All three shelves and back splash were cut from of heavy cardboard.
  3. I covered the cardboard pieces with decorative paper having a rustic wooden motif using Mod Podge.
  4. Then I cut large wooden craft sticks to make the legs. I cut 12 of these to 9" in length.
  5. Next, tape the legs into triangular shapes, using three tongue depressors for each leg. 
  6. Then hot glue the legs in place supporting the top, resting on the bottom cardboard sheet. 
  7. Carefully hot glued the inner shelf in place.
  8. The backsplash was glued in place last along with two additional supports cut from tongue depressors. 
  9. After the assembly of the potting bench, you may wish to paint the wooden parts of the potting bench in a similar fashion.  
  10. Use acrylic paints that will dry fast in the sunshine, otherwise your structure could warp a bit.
  11. Add a few hooks for garden tools onto the backsplash.
  12. I also found a plastic mold for garden tools at my local hobby shop. From this mold I sculpted a pair of grass sheers, a hand shovel and a hand rake to paint and hang from those hooks.
  13. I purchased a small wooden bird house, crate, and wheelbarrow from a resale shop down the street. 
  14. The lowest shelf is perfect for our dolls to store their garden boots too! 
  15. Now our American Girl dolls can garden whenever they please on our back patio this summer!
Learn How to Make Potted Plants:
Here you can see the triangular legs for our bench made from wooden tongue depressors.

The potting bench pictured both with and without the wooden drying rack. I purchased this for two dollars at resale.
The front and backside of our glued, faux wooden planting bench.
Plastic mold for sculpting garden tools.
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Learning About Dance and Performance With Marisol Luna

 Review of Marisol by Social Studies Dolls

       Marisol Luna is a nine year old girl who aspires to be a dancer. She moves from Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood to a suburb that does not have a dance studio where she can practice her favorite ballet folklórico dances. Introduced on January 1, 2005, Marisol had an extensive collection of dance outfits and accessories. Marisol has medium skin, brown eyes, and medium brown hair. Her face mold is the Josefina Montoya mold. Marisol is the first Latina (Mexican) American Girl of the year made by American Girl.
Artifacts: Crafts, Printables Etc.. For Marisol:
Online Research Into Themes Found In American Girl Marisol Luna's Book
The City of Chicago and Their Latino Community:
 Latino Girls Have Wonderful Dreams and Goals:
 Dance Studios and Classes for Kids/Adults:
 Watch Children Perform Ballet folklorico, Jazz, Tap etc...
  1. Mexican Revolution Dance by Children
  2. Jazz Dance Kids
  3. Child Ballerinas in Costume
  4. Baile Regional "El gusto"
  5. Adorable sisters dance at home
  6. kids Hula to "I'm Your Hula Baby"
  7. Tap Dance to "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"
  • "The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayer" by Sonia Sotomayer - for ages 10 and up
  • "Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings" by Margarita Engle - 13 and up
Advanced Reading: Fiction about Latina girls and women
  • "Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble" by Anna Meriano - 8-12
  • "My Name Is Maria Isabel" by Alma Flor Ada - 7-10 years
  • "Stef Soto, Taco Queen" by Jennifer Torres - 8-11
  • "Becoming Naomi Leon" by Pam Munoz Rayan - 9-13
  • "Lucky Broken Girl" by Ruth Bhar - 10-13
  • "The House On Mango Street" by Sandra Cisnerors - 14 and up
  • "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika Sanchez - 14 and up
  • "Under the Mesquite" by Guadalupe Garcia McCall - 12 and up
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