Question about Kirsten doll please?..Long sorry ..

Hello
We are New Zealanders and would like to buy a Kirsten American Girl doll for our daughter for Christmas as a big surprise, as she really would like one.They are VERY expensive for us however due to exchage rate and postage( postage alone is $45 US !!).She loves all the books but this doll is her favourite .

Please can you tell me will the hair hold up to being brushed and the doll to being played with a lot( but by a careful 10 year old).She really wants a doll, she can do the hair of .

Are the clothes good quality also? I want this doll to be played with not just looked at..LOL.Can ANY of the clothes fit any of the dolls? She would like to mix and match I am sure...

Are they really as good quality as I have been led to beleive? My middle daughter wants a Vision Forum Liberty doll....Has anyone one of those ?

Both of these girls have had a hard year health wise so we really want to bless them this Christmas with a BIG surprise.Normally we would NOT spend so much on one gift...Hoping to hear back.
God Bless
Ann In New Zealand

I have been collecting for 15 years, and I can say through me, my sister, and now my 9 yr dd that these dolls WILL hold up. The outfits for all the AG fit each other except for maybe the dolls made b/w 1986-1993 which tend to be alittle chubbier. I certainly beleive they are worth the price. AG is good at exchanging if something is wrong with it, as well as they have a repair hospital. I would recommend the dolls for any girl over 6. I beleive that you will be pleased with your purchase of Kirsten for your dd!
I also want to welcome you here and hope to hear from you again in the future!
Lorelei
PS I am sorry but I haven't heard of the liberty dolls.

Kirsten is my favorite doll. I got her for Christmas back in 1994 when I was seven and I loved her to death. She held up very well to very energetic play including snowstorms, hot cars, and an overactive child but due to an unfortunate accident involving a little brother and a pair of scissors she had to be sent to the doll hospital for a new head. They sent me back a new Kirsten whom I love just as much as the old one. Some members may tell you that the quality of the new dolls isn't the same as the old but I disagree. Kirsten is just perfect no matter when she is from. She will always be one of my first friends.

Her clothes fit all of the dolls and she fits into everyone else's clothing as well (my sister had Molly and we liked to switch their outfits). Kirsten's outfits, acessories, and furniture are all top notch and still (almost) like new. Her hair is gorgeous and I used to put her hair up in ways it never should. It got dry towards the end and rather sparse but the people on this board have very good tips for preventing that occurance.

I cannot highly reccomend Kirsten enough. She seems to be rather overlooked and she needs all the love she can get. I'm so happy another little girl loves her character as much as I did!

These dolls are made to be played with a lot. I'd suggest you get the wire wig brush if your chid will be playing with the hair. It'll help the hair from getting frizzy & icky. Plastic makes the hair just awful! Also you can mist the hair lightly with water before brushing, being careful not to get ANY water in the doll's eyes. Have a wonderful Holiday season!

<font color="purple"><font size="4">Welcome ! Glad to have you on the board.</font></font>
Kirsten is a beautiful doll. I can highly recommend the wigs on these dolls. The wigs are high quality.
I am not familiar with the liberty forum doll. I did a search and found a site. Is this the doll?

http://www.visionforum.com/search/pr...roductid=72564

My DD got her first doll almost two years ago - I planned on only getting the one since they were/are expensive. She has several now since I was so impressed with the quality of the dolls. They hold up well. The outfits are as well made if not better made then real clothing.

It is a big investment I know, but one well worth making

The dolls definitely hold up to years of play. I have had Kirsten for about 10 years now, and she still looks lovely. I recently did a downy dunk on her to restore her hair, but otherwise she looks pretty much as good as new. All the AG clothes are very good quality, but I think the Kirsten clothes especially are made out of very durable material, since that's what the pioneers wore. (Whereas with Samantha, some of her taffeta dresses might ruin more easily.) I like her accessories a lot and they are also good quality.

I would also recommend getting the wire wig brush, or you could get one from a beauty supply store. Kirsten's hair is nice because it is long enough to braid and style in lots of different ways. If she gets any marks on her skin they can usually be removed with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or something similar.

Welcome to the board!! [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

ETA: And yes, Kirsten will fit in all the 18" doll clothes from AG. My Kirsten is a modern girl, and she likes to wear very bright colors like most of the AGT outfits.

<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ October 26, 2006 03:28 PM: Message edited by: Kit, Kat, and Friends ]</font>

Kirsten is a lovely doll and i think she should hold up well to play. The only problem i see is that once her hair is taken out of the braids it might be hard to redo them neatly. My Kirsten's braids were taken out and now she has wavy hair but it's still very nice and doesn't tangle. I have the Liberty doll too but i'm not too fond of her. She has a gap in her eye sockets which i don't like and i find her expression kind of sullen. Her dress is nice though.

Thank you for all your replies ladies! I am so pleased to hear they can be played with so well.I think I am as excited as my girls are about these dolls..
I will order the doll brush also,thanks for the tip.

Yes Polly Marie,your link is correct ,that is the doll our middle daughter would like.

My girls are into pioneer time in a big way!!They love to play they are Laura and Mary and our two year old is Carrie.Big brother has to be Pa sometimes when they can convince him to stop being Crocodile hunter......

We even watch the old Little House TV series(up to series 4 they became awful after that) each Friday movie night.This all started as our oldest girl read the Little House books and we are studying American history for homeschool. I also LOVD these books as a girl.We now love the American girl books too.

Welcome to the board! The dolls definitely do hold up for a long time, I've had my Molly for almost eight years, and aside from some loose limbs she's the same as when I got her. Kirsten is beautiful doll, your daughter is going to love her! [img]biggrin.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

Welcome!!! [img]smile.gif[/img]
I am sure your daughter will love Kirsten and I bet you will too!!!!!
They are wonderful dolls and excellent quality!!
Let us know how you like her when she comes.
Thanks!!!! [img]smile.gif[/img]

The Liberty doll has rooted hair, which many people think isn't as nice as the wigs that AGs have - one of the benefits of the wig is that you can change the hair if necessary without as much trouble, and you can do many hairstyles without seeing the plastic scalp. Barbies have rooted hair, for reference.

I suggest getting two AG dolls (it will probably help cut shipping, instead of paying the extra $45 twice!) with several of the pioneer clothes. Kirsten's and Addy's collections would be suitable for that - and if you want to have a Laura and Mary, you could get Samantha, Molly, or one of the Just Like You modern dolls to be Kirsten/Mary's sister.


Also, Vision Forums doesn't have nearly as large a collection of dolls or doll things as AG, so I'd be wary of how long they'll continue to produce them, or what the quality is. AG has been around 20 years and has won lots of awards and accolades, so I think you can definitely trust them.


By the way, have you looked at NZ's ebay boards, or other similar sites? You may be able to find auhentic AG items there, without having pay the expensive shipping fees.


[img]graemlins/star.gif[/img] --- KERI --- [img]graemlins/star.gif[/img]

Welcome to the board!

I love the quality of the AGs- they are well worth the money and hold up to years of play!

Welcome to the board! That's so cool that you homeschool your kids! I'm homeschooled too. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

You (and your daughters, of course!) will love Kirsten. She is a beautiful doll. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

Welcome to the board!

I would recommend buying the Just Like You doll #3 (she looks just like Kirsten) and substituting her for Kirsten if your daughter wants to play with her hair a lot. The doll hair that is already braided gets very frizzy, although it is not a problem to braid the hair of the Just Like You dolls and even keep it braided. It always comes out silky, straight and shiny.

My daughter did this and is very happy with her Olivia Kirsten. She time travels. At times she is a modern girl and dresses accordingly. Other times she wears Kirsten's clothing and lives in 1854.

There are pictures of her in my album. The link is in my signature.

Whatever choice you make, you will so love these dolls. I would make a command parent decision here and order an American Girl doll for your other daughter also. When she see's her sister's American Girl doll, I don't think she'll be happy with the different one. If you think they're beautiful online or in the catalog, just wait until you actually see and hold one! You won't be disappointed.

I don't think you will be disappointed. These dolls stand up VERY well to hair play and play in general. I have 4 dolls from childhood (my first was Kirsten!) who are all 13-17 years old now and still beautiful. I used to take them all over the place - on long car trips, to friends' houses, to my grandparents' homes, even to play outside. If you treat an AG doll well, it will show that, even 17 years of play later. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Welcome to the world of AG; hope you like it here! [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]

Regarding the VF doll, I think personally I would order another American Girl doll for your other daughter. The AG collection is much larger and the dolls do look quite different. I think the AG dolls are of very high quality.

Perhaps you could get Kaya and rename her Singing Bird? Or if your other daughter is interested in the colonial times, you could get Felicity or Elizabeth. #3 or 24 might also make a good Mary.

ETA: You might want to have your middle daughter try the VF books as well (or you could at least read about them online) as some people on the board are really opposed to the message. I do think the outfits look very nice but I haven't gotten any of them yet. It might be a good idea just to get two from the same brand since the shipping costs so much extra.

<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ October 26, 2006 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Kit, Kat, and Friends ]</font>

I've had Kirsten for nearly 19 years now and her hair is terrible because I didn't take care of it. Most of her clothes have held up just fine with careful play. If you get her birthday dress, I recommend stuffing the sleeves with tissue when not playing with it-the elastic wears out after a time. AG items are extremely well made (for the most part) and are made for years of play for generations. Your DD will LOVE Kirsten! My Kirsten was my best friend growing up. I, too, was into the Little House series and I loved to dress like a pioneer and braid my hair like Kirsten! [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Welcome to the American Girl Fans messageboard! I always love to see people from other countries here; it makes the board more interesting, and sometimes gives us posts late at night US time. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Kirsten is my favorite doll too, so I say go for it! The dolls are intended for girls 8 and over, so your ten-year-old should be fine, with a good brush. The dolls and clothes are DEFINITELY meant to be played with, so don't worry about that! Almost all of the accessories are very sturdy as well.

I'm not particularly familiar with the Vision Forum dolls either, so I don't know how well-made the dolls or their outfits are. Hopefully someone else can give you some insight!

I personally think the American Girls are prettier, but most dolls also strike me as a little creepy; American Girls have one of the few face shapes that seem friendly and welcoming the very first time I see them! So I'm a bit biased. [img]smile.gif[/img]

You could definitely buy another brown-haired doll (either Samantha or Molly, or a "Just Like You" doll) to be either a "Laura" or else Kirsten's older cousin "Lisbeth", if that would appeal to your other daughter and save you some money on shipping.

Anyway, you definitely can't go wrong with Kirsten!

(We're also sending you a welcome PM--to read it, scroll up to the top left of the screen and click on the link to your Inbox, near your username. [img]smile.gif[/img] )

Wow..thanks for all the replies ladies! I was told the $45 postage is per doll...so I do not think I will save on postage getting two dolls...I have TRIED to persuade my other daughter to choose an American doll but she prefers the face of the Liberty doll( more serious and she does not like a doll to have teeth..WHY I do not know!!) .I will try again.... but she is adamant she wants Liberty.Grandma is helping pay and she believes they should choose the one they want,I do too.

We LOVE homeschooling too.Our children already talk of homeschooling their children.

You could get some pale paint, dilute it a bit, and paint over the AG's teeth if she's that against it! Their smiles are small enough that if you just redid the lips, it wouldn't look bad at all, I don't think.


And that stinks about the $45 per doll. I figured that if they shipped them in the same box, it would come to less. What if you arranged it with someone in the US to have them shipped to that address, and then forwarded to you, so that you can avoid the extra charge? I know that it'll still be pricey to go across the Pacific, but it may be better in the end - you'd have to calculate it to see.


As for wanting a more serious look and no teeth, there's definitely Kaya in the AG collection. She has darker skin, so she might not be suitable as a Lisbeth or Laura, even if you changed her hair.


In the end, I don't think you should force an AG doll on your daughter if she really doesn't like it, but I do believe that the AG is better quality and will last better than the Vision Forum doll.


Also, regarding the JLY #3 - if you get that one, so that the hair does better, you can also order Kirsten's clothes as a replacement, so that she can be an actual Kirsten, so it shouldn't be a problem. (Or there might be someone with a set who wouldn't mind selling it to you.)


[img]graemlins/star.gif[/img] --- KERI --- [img]graemlins/star.gif[/img]

I forgot to add...I did look at our version of ebay and had a search in .American girl dolls never came up.So we "broke down" and decided to invest( or go crazy) this Christmas.It will be a surprise to the girls...they know we asked what they like but they do not really think they will get the dolls.I will have to post here afterwards and tell you their reaction....
I now want a bitty baby or boy/ girl twins for our two year old!!My husband wants to ban me from the computer!

Would it be cheaper in shipping to buy the dolls from US eBay? There are often dolls new in the box available. Sometimes they are a few dollars higher than ordering through AG. I often wondered who would buy those when they could order cheaper from AG. I've assumed it's people in other countries who get a better shipping deal from eBay sellers. You should check it out.

I am picking up a doll today that might be Kirsten I can let you know her condition and show pictures if she is

I'm from NZ too! I've never lived there though, but we go there every few summers and I have an album of my Kirst in NZ in my siggy.
I've had my Kirsten since I was 12 (she's 3 years old). Her hair's very long and extremely wavy once you remove the braids. I used to style her hair everyday, and it seems to have held up quite well. She is a beautiful doll though; very good quality, and I would definately recomend her! The clothes are very good quality too.

I say get your daughter which ever doll she wants more. To a child a doll is just a doll, unless its the doll you REALLY want.

<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ October 27, 2006 04:27 PM: Message edited by: judiaci ]</font>

Hi fellow 'newbie' and close (ish) neighbour [img]smile.gif[/img] I think it was seeing your post yesterday that pushed me over the edge from, 'must register one day so I can post' to 'must register NOW to tell Ann that, yes these dolls are glorious, beautifully made and absolutely worth the horrendous shipping and lousy $ exchange rate to get them all the way down here!'

The dolls have a lovely 'feel' to them, beautiful hair and AG's pictures on site and in catalogues don't do their faces justice at all. I particularly like that these dolls sit 'properly' ie legs out in front instead of almost doing the 'splits' as some other dolls do.

It sounds as though shipping costs are similar for NZ and Australia - $45 is what I pay to ship a doll from AG too. I asked CS a little while ago about the cost of two dolls shipped together and was told about $55 so it might be worth asking again to be sure. Even if it's gone up, I'd be really surprised if it cost the same as two dolls shipped separately, to send them together.

Cheers,
Val
(edited to eliminate 'rabbiting on')

<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ October 27, 2006 10:14 PM: Message edited by: AGfanDownUnder ]</font>

Vision Forum Dolls are made by Engel Puppen in Germany. I do not own one, but I have seen several and they are superior in quality to American Girl (made in China).

The VF have rooted hair, but Engel recommends rooted hair for frequent play by a child. The hair fiber is the same even though it is not a wig. The VF dolls are the same size as American Girl and can wear all of the same clothes accessories.

Either way your daughters will be thrilled! I would say, get them both exactly what they want: Kirsten and Liberty. You will have an exciting Christmas!!

AGPlaythings.com message board has TONS of reviews of AG dolls and items. There is also a board there for non-AG dolls and a board about doll care. You might visit.

Just got the doll I was picking up and she is lovely, but not Kirsten.

I say get the girls the dolls they want - It is true almost the one she wants is never quite the same as - I can't believe I got the doll I really Wanted - I know money can be tight, but the looks on their faces will be priceless.

I do agree that you should get your girl the doll she wants; if you can't make her seriously want an AG more than the Vision Forum doll, then she should have the doll she wants, if you can afford the shipping. (I just like AGs much better.)

(But at least if the rooted hair is bad, you can always trim it off and rewig with a wig bought online or on eBay!)

Hi and welcome! Kirsten was my daughters first AG so we are partial to her here. Just wanted to let you know about the Kirsten's World book. It is a wonderful book that will tell you all about Kirsten's time period. I know a lot of the homeschooling families use the series. I know you'll have a wonderful Christmas. I will never forget the Christmas we gave our daughter her Kirsten. Isn't it fun planning the gifts that will really make them happy and that they'll treasure forever?! Megan