AG should have a "Collector Line"

Getting back to the subject of this post, I don't think I'd mind if they came out with some items for older girls. Some of the accessory items like the cameras have been put away for Diana, but I got them now, just in case of retirements. I would do the same thing if something was marketed to older girls, just like the GOML's, we also have all 8 of those put up for now. In fact, Diana even knows about the GOML's and is looking forward to when she is old enough to get them.

I agree though that it's the marketing of the item that would help immensely as well. I think the idea of showing girls of various ages and even their mothers or aunts or whoever playing along with them would be a nice idea. Also, testimonials from girls added to the catalog, just like from some of our members who collected as a child, took some time off, and are back to collecting/playing again.

Laurie

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* I agree that bringing back more of the educational and craft stuff would make it more enticing for older girls. When I was a kid they had patterns, craft kits (not just the general ones with the craft books for each doll, but also specialized ones like Kirsten's weaving loom and Felicity's paper marbling), and such.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is what I want to see more than anything else. I'm a very crafty person, and so many of the those crafts are dying, especially here in America. (I'm not a big fan of European education ideas, except for the craft stuff that Miki talked about! I wish that was done in elementary schools here.)

I just taught myself how to tat, sort of, and don't know a single other person still alive that knows how to do it. I would chance to say that a lot of people haven't even HEARD of the art of paper marbling unless they're directly involved with something historical from that time period. My boss knew what tatting was when I told her I was going to tackle it, but nobody else at work did.

Carfts like weaving and knitting and all of the other things that AG used to have are so very important to the history of our country. Without those skills, people wouldn't have had clothes. They weren't just crafts, they were necessary to your daily life. (well, except for paper marbling, lol) I always get more comments and looks with school tours when I stand in front of the spinning wheel and tell these kids exactly what kind of effort it took just to get a handkerchief!

My daughter might not be 8 yet, but she certainly gets interested in the historical books when they are read to her and she has begun to start reading them on her own. She takes care of her "girls" as I have taught her.

On the other hand, my cousin, who is the same age as my daughter- who was the first of the two to have an AG-has already lost one of Molly's socks, will just dump Molly off anywhere, etc... Two children the same age, with two different behaviors.

I don't think you can restrict what one child will or won't get out of something at a specific age. Just because my daughter is below the "recommended" age for AG's, does not mean she "won't get much out of it." (Or however that was written) Some children learn faster, some have difficulty. A child's potential to grasp certain concepts or educational information is not defined or restricted to a certain level depending on their age.

I mean if a third grader can read at a fifth grade level, then why is it so hard to believe a first grader would be able to get anything of value out of the AG books?

I also don't think the suggested age set by AG has as much to do with books, I think it has more to do with the accessory pieces, choking hazards, etc....

Each parent knows what their child can or can't handle.

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ January 24, 2005 08:46 AM: Message edited by: monimarine ]</font>

Grapedy, I've done LOTS of tatting! [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] I taught myself when I was in my 20's and then met an elderly lady who knew how to tat. She showed me how she tats and her method of moving the shuttle was a bit faster than my method but I was definitely on the right track. You'll do well, I'm sure.

I have a collection of vintage tatting books my grandmother gave me but she never tatted. I've made baby bonnets, booties, lots of edging and one doily. I think tatting is one of those dying arts because it takes SO much time. To make just one inch of complex 1" wide edging takes about 3 hours to make. It took me 40 hours to make a baby bonnet. And that was working fast.

I too agree that crafts aren't promoted enough amongst young girls. I'm frustrated with a lot of the craft books out there because they focus more on the speed with which a craft can be finished rather than the beauty of a well-made product. Kids who are taught to seek immediate fulfillment become adults who seek immediate fulfillment. And we all know where that ends. I'm not surprised to hear so many adults say "Oh, I just don't have the patience for that." We know the training in patience starts during youth.

Ok, it's too easy for me to start a rave on crafts. [img]wink.gif[/img] But I agree AG should continue publishing books that encourage girls to work with their hands. So far, they're on the right track. Now if they will just continue...

Julia

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Crafting isn't totally dead. I know how to tat. I also know how to crochet (my favorite), knit, sew, embroider and make bobbin lace. I would love to see more crafts for the girls too.

Melissa