Felicity's Riding Habit

[horsemom]

Congrats! This is my favorite Felicity outfit, especially since it is green and looks so beautiful on her. It looks just like antique reproduction and vintage sidesaddle riding habits I've seen. I only wish it had come with a little whip and that they offered a colonial sidesaddle for Penny, and then all would be completely historically accurate.

[dornroeschen]

AGme, I'm an Austrian girl living in Austria, who's stumbled over AG and fallen in love with the dolls.

I don't know why we don't have historicals here. I think they prefer so-called artist dolls here in Europe. One of the producers is G?tz, who has quite an extensive line of various doll artists like Hildegard G?nzel or Annette Himsted. Their dolls are very romantic but just decorative items.

Apart from doll artists - mostly for porcelain dolls - we don't have any doll manufacturies here in Austria. You have Zapf and G?tz in Germany, and Corolle in France. I don't know why G?tz didn't start a historical collection in Europe, maybe it had to do with contract arrangements with PC?

I forgot Schildkr?t and K?the Kruse in Germany and Lenci in Italy, but they've specialized in re-producing their old dolls, and those are rather collector's items and not play-dolls like AG, where it's the opposite, play-dolls becoming collector's items.

[adriana82]

That is a wonderful, funny story, Miki! And I'm delighted that you received Felicity's Riding Habit. Felicity was my second doll, and for years the only outfit I had for her was this one, I think it is my favorite!!!

Your English is impeccable, too. I know you must have studied it since you were little, but did you live in England or in the US for a while? It's just perfect, maybe that is why some people don't know if you're European or United States-ean [img]wink.gif[/img]

[Peachysweetdream]

I wouldn't be totally suprised if Mattel tried to create a similar line of AG like products in Europe... where companies see success, it's only logical that they'd think about expanding it. I always think of real European dolls as being of greater quality, like Gotz and such... I'd bet an AG counterpart would be really nice and quite pretty.

Congrats on your new things, Miki!! Felicity's riding habit is my favorite too... that color just looks perfect with her red hair!

[dornroeschen]

Thank you everybody! I know it's a shame AG retired the outfit, the green is so suitable for her looks.

Adri, apart from my years of English at school - here in Austria it's mandatory to learn at least one foreign language at school - I spent one year in London working as an aupair and attending language classes right after school. Then nine years later I spent another year working as a nanny in London, but didn't take classes then.

I work in an international company here in Austria, and our internal language is English, which is used daily, as most of our staff are from non-German-speaking countries. I've always wanted to find a job, where I can use my English language skills, and I'm so lucky I found it.

[rolloverrover]

How interesting. I think that's so cool that you're a European into the AG dolls.

Your English is fantastic! My husband was born and raised in Finland until he was 19. His spoken English is great but his written English is terrible!!

Congratulations on the new outfits!

[TwoGreatGirls]

Miki - My DH and i went to Austria BK (before kids)! it was like a dream...stayed in Innsbruck and took the train to Salzburg - what a beautiful place - like being in a postcard...and took the overnight train from Innsbruck to Venice. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

We are both loved the architecture in Austria, the age & history of things is amazing to us as Americans - we live in New England where the oldest thing we have dates back to 1620 (the Pilgrims!).

my 8yr old's favorite movie is Sound of Music, she can practically recite it - when she heard that we WENT to where it took place, she flipped! Salzburg was truely beautiful. We'd love to go back when they are a bit older.

We've been to Portugal too - have ever been there? Went there on our honeymoon - a long time ago! We haven't travelled much since having kids - mostly going to Maine in the summers, would love to go to Europe again.

You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place...!

kara

ps: i think from reading your previous posts that you are planning a trip to New England, let me know if you need any advice!

[JustMagicMaria]

A trip to New England? Definitely let us know if you are since I am in Massachusetts. I live minutes from the Old North Bridge where the Revolution started and also minutes from Orchard House where Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women. It's true, our history is all so relatively recent, but it's fun to have the Felicity connection.

[vew-tori]

Green is my favorite color and that outfit is awesome. It's a good thing we don't have Felicity because I'd have to have it. Glad you got a good price.

PS - Give us an update on Kirsten and your niece.

[dornroeschen]

Kara, glad you enjoyed your trip to Innsbruck and Salzburg. I've never been to Innsbruck, although I've been skiing in St. Anton in Tyrol, and I've been to Salzburg on several occassions. One trip that I remember dearly, was with my aunt, who passed away 2 years ago, when I was 9 or 10. It was over a long weekend when we had our national holiday (26 october). We went by train, and she took me to Hellbrunn gardens and zoo, the Hohe Feste (castle), Mozart's birth house and she bought me some embroidery kit and taught me to make a "Goblin". I also remember that while in the castle, the frame of my glasses broke in two. Also I had to learn the Austrian and the Lower Austrian anthems over that weekend by heart - because I had been naughty and hadn't learned it when I was supposed to.

I've also been to Portugal together with one of my English friends, we spend a week in a small town near Albufeira. We had a nice relaxing week there.

Yes, my friend and I are planning a trip to New England this coming autumn. Indian Summer in New England has always been my dream. We were actually talking about the trip this afternoon and what we'd like to see. We're not quite sure if we'll manage to fit everything in, but so far we think of flying to Boston first, spending a couple of days there, visit Cape Cod, also Salem, Plymouth, then some places related to the Revolutionary wars, driving up north maybe even managing Prince Edward's Islands - my friend is a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables - I confess I've never read the book but plan to do so before the vacation. I had thought of somehow drive or fly to either Montreal or Toronto, get a view of the Niagra Falls and then end the trip in Chicago with a visit to AGP before flying home.

Phew, and now I have to fit that into a 3 weeks schedule.

And before I forget, I wouldn't mind meeting up with some of you if you have time - for a nice chat and coffee - and as I mentioned before, any tips are appreciated.