your favorite historical doll and why

[Baylena]

Popsie-I agree with you in the fact of Kits and Molly's Negativity, but, as you stated, I beleive they both grew up in sometimes not so pretty times in America..I can only imagine what they witnessed and had to go through living through such tumotulous(spelling?) times in our country's history..

I also am in agreeance about the whole adopting Nelly deal in Samantha;s book..When I read it the first time as a child, I was even taken aback by it then, having read victorian based novels, the THOUGHT of adopting a lower class child wouldnt have even crossed most couples minds and while Gard and Cornelia seem to be caring people and very much modern(for the day, with Cornelia taking front stage in that department, I get the Impression Gard just kind of let Cornelia do her thing, in the Women;s rights movements and such) Im not sure they would have made the jump to adopt Nelly and her sisters...

Im interested to hear, how would you remake Samantha? I know you know much about the era, while I know about ADULT styles of the day(abit) Im clueless when it comes to childern;s styles! Id love to hear your ideas! Afew of Samantha;s outfits jumped out at me, but as a whole, the collection didnt make me go WOW! Like I did with Kits or even Kirsten;s..I like The "K" girl's outfits so much(Particularly Kirsten;s Midsummer and Kits School outfit) that I debated about coding them for Samantha(I know Taboo, guess Id better make up my mind before Thursday!)

Sarah

[acorniv]

Thanks, Doldreamer [img]smile.gif[/img] Theya re fun to think about!

We have a rule around here to never read only the Meet book. They are the most formulaic and if we'd only read some like Kaya's, we really would have a nothing feeling about the character. I don't know if, when you read only one of Kirsten's etc. you read the first or one of the others, but if you are only going to sample them, break the rule and start in the middle. You'll get a better sense of who they are, and at least you'll have a better read [img]wink.gif[/img] It's kind of odd, because the Meet book should introduce them, but until they've done something they're all fairly similar (all have a difficulty in their lives, all have problems to solve...)

Popsie

[ponydreamer]

Hmmm...this is a hard one for me!

I love my Addy, because she was my first doll, given to me by my husband 12 years ago. I also love her period in history. I always have. I have most of her collection, minus her furniture. I will probably get that some day, but I want to take my time.

I love Samantha, as well. I love everything Victorian/Edwardian. I think I actually love the Edwardian period best. I know that some of Samantha's things aren't true to her period, but some are. Her talent show dress is outstanding.

I love Nellie. I don't like the way AG hasn't kept the stories and movie the same. I think that would have upset my DD when she was little. But my Nellie was given to me by my DH for my 40th b-day, and I will always love that doll. DD and I waited 12 years for her to come along.

I love, love, love Felicity. Again, I love her time period. I think AG did a really good job with her clothing. I can't wait to see Elizabeth, and her clothing. I gave one of my nieces Felicity for Christmas last year, and she loves her as well. She is anxiously waiting for Elizabeth.

I love Kit's items, not her books. I am on the fence with Molly, and only slightly warmer with Josefina. I think Josefina has gorgeous furniture, though. I like Kirsten, but I only display her at Christmas time, in her St. Lucia gown. For some reason, I found her books to be somewhat boring.

I have never cared for Kaya. I really don't know why.

[dolllover]

Felicity, Addy, and all of the other dolls except Kaya.

[mayergirl]

Popsie, I'm not sure what you mean about Samantha's outfits being historically inaccurate. I have several pictures of family members from that time period, and I have always marvelled at how much Samantha's outfits looked like theirs. Granted, their bows were quite a bit bigger than Samantha's, but I've always been amazed otherwise. Maybe it's a regional thing? I mean, my family is from Wisconsin and so is PTR, so maybe some of these things were fashionable around that time in the midwest and not in other places, who knows, but I just thought I'd throw in my two cents!

[mom_to_an_americangirl]

I have photos of my godmother and her sisters from 1905 and the outfits they had on are just like Samantha's and we are from New York so I would love your take on Victorian fashion. I have a ton of children's books of fashion from different time periods and I think I may need to dust them off.

Molly is my favorite. My mother was born in 1940 for one reason and the other is that I looked just like her in fourth grade. My clothes, furniture and the like could have been hers- including that red bedspread! She wears glasses (yay) and other than Mrs. Beasley, I do not remember many dolls having glasses.

I know that the woman that Kit was modeled after, she is a friend of my husband's aunt and they are mutual friends of Ms. Rowland- they all went to college together. I do not sense much negativity in Kit respective of the time period she was living in plus I think it must have been tough to go from Upper middle class to lower middle class seemingly overnight. I acutally think Kit (both real and doll) held up well and kept her spirits. I also love her sense of adventure and fearlessness, and wish I had more of that in my own spirit.

Addy is also a favorite because of her stories and strength. I also like her ethnicity and the lessons I can teach my daughter from her stories. My husband, who is Boston Brahmin, went to school in the South and is a Civil War buff has done a great job sharing both the North and South experiences to my DD who is just five. I also love that Addy's character gets DH involved with my daughter on a level she can understand.

Ben's grandmothers and my godmother were all children in the early 1900's. I could not relate to Samantha having grown up in a blue collar, Irish-German American family. It was only with the introduction of Nellie that made me like Samantha.

Now Nellie is a character most of the women in my family can relate to.... I just adore Nellie.

[judiaci]

My favorite is Felicity. I love her era, her outfits and her beautiful hair.

I also really like Kit who I don't have. Then again, I like Samantha, Nellie and Kirsten a lot!!! LOL!

[Baylena]

I like Felicity for her "free" spirit and her love of horses, I also love her dresses..

I also Like Samantha for her clothing as well.

I dont have Kit, but I LOVE her outfits(except the swimsuit!), the 1930's were an interesting era in our country;'s history.

Sarah

[mayergirl]

this is a toughy. I think Kaya is the prettiest, and...Felicity has the best stories.