As we head into the holiday shopping season, I think this quote is a great one to keep in mind.
When I look at the cost of the new AG items and Caroline's collection coupled with the increased cost in the items in the new American Girl Catalog I am reminded of how many families will have to say "no" this holiday season. I think it is important to keep the above quote in mind and share it with others.In the coming weeks I hope to provide you with alternative ideas and ways you can make your child's holiday season a wonderful one. If you are thinking of making some of your doll play gifts please check out the sections at the top of this blog or click on these highlighted words Karen's Doll Crafts, Brandy's Creations, and Madelon's Fun finds to help get you creating! While I love every item that American Girl Makes and sells, I am happy to share with you all ways you can add to your American Girl Store bought items with items you can make, purchase from other 18 inch doll play companies or that are handmade and sold in the Etsy Market. Helping you to build a doll play collection that is something you can be very proud of.
I would like to think I can speak for Brandy and Madelon, when I say that we are very dedicated to sharing with our readers ways to expand your doll play collections with out going over your already stretched budgets and giving you ideas and options that will inspire and expand your doll play collection.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com
Your blog is a treasure for that reason. This year has been a hard hitting one in terms of big ticket releases at AG and while it is exciting and wonderful, it can make one feel very poor. Many of us in the United States are very poor, struggling to meet the basics in life. While the dolls have Cars and Warming Chalets and clothes that cost more than such people can afford for themselves.
ReplyDeleteBut a little bit can go a long way, and by seeing these things should not be making us feel worse but should give us something that we can use as examples. Yes, they are just toys, but as toys teach so should they. When we adults see the BMWs,and beautifully decorated homes and sumptuous feasts, that we cannot afford, we learn to us them as some things we can try to have on our own scale and can even better. So it is is with most thing in life. We look and take from it what we want and get for ourselves as our abilities and imaginations provide for us within our means.
The warming cabin is a wonderful example of what I feel someone can make and do BETTER than what AG can do. I'd love to see what people do to make a much better one than AG did for much less.
I appreciate what you, Brandy and Madelon are doing. Thank you.
You know, it's funny...I was looking in my AG catalog, and while I don't have kids of my own, I was imagining that very conversation:
ReplyDelete"Mommy can we get that pretty AG purple party dress?" (for $36)
"No honey, but there's another one from Springfield Collection I think we can afford." (w/ tights and shoes, $21) And during the past year that I have gotten into modern 18 inch dolls, it's made me very creative and crafty. I don't envy folks who can afford AG. I simply choose not to spend that much. I really love this blog and sites like Doll Diaries, and people like My Froggy Stuff who come up w/ creative ways to make doll play what it's supposed to be; FUN, not a status symbol. So thanks you guys!
The above comments are wonderful. Couldn't have said it any better myself. Thanks Karen for a great post!
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Ladies you have made my day yet again and thank you for agreeing with me! I love sharing with all of you. Thank you for returning time and time again!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen! I tried to post yesterday, but it didn't work. I want to tell you that I agree. I think even when we can spend that kind of money, it's important to tell our girls that most of those items are not worth the price tag. My eight year old gets that other than the dolls, we make more than we buy. We both loved the holiday outfits, but with the prices they are charging, we know that we will be buying a holiday dress for my daughter at a local big box store and together we will make one for her doll so that they can go to the Nutcracker together. Every year we make a gingerbread house and I was heartbroken when the AG price tag for that set was so high. I couldn't bring myself to spend it. But yesterday I was able to find some great items at Joann's to make our own version. My daughter won't have the AG label on her set, but we will have the memory of making it together and be instilling in her the idea that she can create something herself and have pride of accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteAnd Karen, it goes beyond our own homes. We live in an affluent suburb. Her friends used to be disappointed if their parents gave them non-AG brand items, and now they ask to see what we've made and love playing with everything no matter it came from. They love coming here to make doll crafts of their own and have also started thinking beyond the catalogue. Their creativity has taken over and it's wonderful to see. Keep up the good work!
I really appreciate you sending out this out. It is an excellent reminder. I have 3 lovely ladies in our home all of whom adore dolls with me. And, we have quite a collection hardly any of which we have bought from AG. They do have AG dolls that have been gifts, but most of our collection is from knock offs like Springfield, Our Generation, Journey Girls, etc. We love every one of our dolls. And, they have a huge collection of accessories and even a dollhouse made from a converted over computer table. Most of which we made. We love websites like yours and Doll Diaries because they have learned that dolls don't have to cost an arm and a leg and they can still be great and be loved! And, thanks to these great websites, they have learned to be creative and most things that they see they like in the catalog, we have learned to make our own version. I am a sewer and have a vast collection of patterns that we tweek and turn into many cute AG like items. So, thank you for the reminder. Thank you for all your hard work and your website. You are an inspriration to many! God bless!
ReplyDeletethank you so much for writing here and sharing your thoughts, I am thrilled to hear your thoughts and am thankfull and honnored you choose to read and comment on my blog
ReplyDeletethank you so much for writing here and sharing your thoughts, I am thrilled to hear your thoughts and am thankfull and honnored you choose to read and comment on my blog
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