EBay Listings Started

Hey everyone!  Just wanted to let you know that I started my eBay listings.  I had planned to have several more up by now, but my computer and eBay are not working together very well today. :}

I did manage to get four listings up, and there will be more to follow later this evening and tomorrow afternoon.  I am not doing any "Buy it Now" options so that everyone who wants to gets a chance to bid.  You can see all of my listings HERE. :)

Have a great weekend! :)

Last of the EBay Stuff...

Okay guys, this is the last time I'll bring up my eBay listings.  The only reason I'm bringing it up again tonight is because I added a few last-minute things, including some auctions with "Buy it Now" options.  I'm frantically trying to clear out the last of my extras before or right after Thanksgiving...no December sales for me this year, thank you very much! ;)

There are a few things ending in an hour or so, including my Disney Princess and Me Belle that I recently purchased.  She's super pretty, but I'm really having a hard time with her stringing issues (her head and leg are not working properly).  I thought I'd try passing her on to someone who can fix her up and enjoy her to the fullest.

Also ending tonight are a lot of American Girl/Pleasant Company Grin Pins and Mini Grin Pins, a mini Josefina frame from Hallmark, an American Girl Angelina Ballerina chair, and a lot of two American Girl books.

Ending later in the week are a Moxie Teenz Leigh doll, a LIV "Making Waves" Jake doll, a lot of Princess party stuff (including a NIB Disney Store Cinderella 12" doll from 2011), and a blonde haired, blue eyed Alexander Girlz doll with part of her original outfit.

You can see everything HERE.

Tonight, I'm busy packaging all of the sales from this weekend (and don't worry, Emma Kate...your Consuelo doll is packaged and ready to go, too...she should be shipped out tomorrow). :)

Okay, that's all for tonight.  Talk to you guys again soon, but NOT about eBay. ;)

Thrift Store Goodies, Alexander Girlz, Hearts For Hearts Girls, Updates, and More Randomness ;)

Wow, I think that's one of the longest titles I've ever put on a post! ;)  It fits, though.  Today's post is truly a huge mix of random factoids and updates.  It'll be long, too...just so you know. ;)

For starters, some sad news for myself and any other fans of the Alexander Girlz dolls from the Madame Alexander Company.  As many of you who follow my blog already know, these dolls are usually released at this time of year in Costco.  Sadly, it looks like they will not be a part of the holiday lineup at Costco this year.  There are no dolls in my local Costco and none on their online site (last year they were in both places by this time).  I even called my local Costco to see if they would be coming in and was informed that there were none on order.

You might remember that the Madame Alexander Company was bought out by another company earlier this year.  I was concerned at this news, but my concern lessened considerably after the promising release of the "My Life" doll line at Walmart.  However, I'm very disappointed that they didn't continue the Alexander Girlz line.  I'm sure you don't need to be told again that the Alexander Girlz are my very favorite off-brand line of 18" dolls (aside from the Gotz Little Sisters and Precious Day lines from the early 2000s).  I also want to apologize to those of you that were waiting for this year's Alexander Girlz release at my recommendation. :{

All I can say is keep your eyes open at thrift stores and yard sales.  I've still seen some Alexander Girlz floating around, and it might be a while before people realize what they have.  The prices are pretty high on eBay right now, and will only be higher once it becomes common knowledge that the dolls aren't in stores this year.  I'm hoping that perhaps they'll release them again next year, but that may not be a very realistic hope. :(

It's possible that they might be available in Costcos elsewhere and just aren't on the website this year.  If any of you see them in your local stores, will you let me know?

Now on to some happier news for any Hearts For Hearts Girls fans out there.  I've had at least one of you ask about a case where your doll's eye turned purple (I'm talking to you, Elliebob!). ;)  I did some research, and it turns out that a small batch of the H4H dolls had eyes that turned purple due to a bad batch of glue.  So far, I've only heard of this happening to Consuelo and Rahel dolls, but it's possible there were other dolls affected as well.  If you have a defective doll, you can contact the Hearts For Hearts company HERE (I would recommend using the email address at the bottom of the page).  They are fully aware of the problem and are willing to replace the dolls who have it.  Your replacement doll will come with a return slip.  Once the new doll arrives, you put your defective doll in the box and use the provided label (the cost of shipping is covered).  Hope you find this helpful! :)

Let's see, on to a few fun thrift store finds! :D  Goodwill had a 50% off sale this past Monday for Columbus Day, so my mom and I headed over to see what they had.  It wasn't a great day for dolls, but I did find some shirts and pants for $2 or $3 each, which was a huge blessing.

One of my favorites was this Minnie Mouse shirt from the Disney Store.  It was brand new with the tags still attached! :)

It wasn't this wrinkled in the store...that's how it dried after I washed it. :}

I also found this really incredible tee for $2:

I found a video of the 10th Anniversary Concert a day later at Salvation Army for just 25 cents. :)

I'm what you might call a cautious fan of "Les Miserables".  I love the beautiful, sweeping melodies that are so singable and the basic story of the play.  However, there are several very suggestive songs and some language, and God's name is often used flippantly or inappropriately.  I've never seen the entire play.  I've just seen the concert versions, so I can't speak for the play in its entirety.  Based on what I know, though, I can't recommend the play for my entire audience.      

Several of you out there in the bloggy world have done major posts about Les Mis recently, so it has been fresh on my mind.  (I can just imagine some of you drooling over my find right now.) ;)  And the shirt was so unique and such a good price that I decided to get it.

And hey, for 25 cents, I just couldn't resist picking up a copy of the concert.  Especially since it's the one that has a Marius that can actually act and sing (okay, sorry, I just couldn't resist!). :}

The shirt was in excellent condition...it looks like it was barely worn.  The best part was it was just my size!  Good thing I've lost a few pounds. :)

The title of the play is printed across the back.

Jenna was super thrilled about these.  She's my Broadway geek, so she gets excited about anything related to Broadway musicals.  Also, VHS tape covers make perfect doll-sized posters.  I think I see a "Les Miserables" poster in Jenna's future. ;)

And speaking of VHS tapes, I also found this rare one:  

Rose Petal Place was from my childhood era, although I never watched it or had any of the toys (I was more of a Strawberry Shortcake and Lady Lovely Locks fan, myself).  However, for 50 cents, I thought it might be fun to try it out.  Yeah.  Let's just say that some things are better left in the 80s. ;)  Unless you're a fan of cheesy acting and bad animation.  Maybe if I had the emotional attachment to the show, I would have enjoyed it more. :}

This was a fun little gem I picked up in the music section.  It's a CD of well-known Looney Tunes characters singing old-time cowboy songs (like "Cool Water" and "The Yellow Rose of Texas") with well-known classic country singers (such as Herb Jeffries and Michael Martin Murphy...and no, I don't really know who they are!). ;)  Unfortunately, this CD was made after Mel Blanc's death, so the voices aren't original (Bugs' voice is especially bad!), but some of them sound all right...and my daughters will still enjoy it since they're not as picky as I am. :)

I also found just a few random doll-sized goodies.

I love how fancy this candelabra looks.

This velvet trunk looked like something from Snow White...hopefully not the box that the Queen gave the huntsman for Snow White's heart. Ick...maybe it's not from Snow White. ;)

The inside of the trunk/jewelry box (Whew! Just roses in there). ;) 

I really liked this sparkly red box, too.

It's the perfect size for storing doll-sized treasures.  

You might also notice that Emma is modeling the American Girl Just Like You Jumper and Boots Set from 2008.  A very kind AGPT member responded to my wishlist and sold it to me.  I think it looks great on 

Emma. :)  The only thing I'd forgotten is that the boots can be a little tricky.  They have a bit of a heel, so getting your doll to stand up in them without falling over can be a bit of a chore.  I'm very pleased with the set otherwise, though. :)  

Talking about Emma brings me to my last point of randomness for this post (I think!).  On Friday, I'll be heading out for a weekend trip with my mom and aunt and NO CHILDREN!!!  Whoo-hoo!!  I seriously can't remember the last time that happened for more than an afternoon, and I even have some spending money from my recent eBay sales, so I'm super excited!!  Emma will be coming along too, so I'll be able to document the entire trip from her perspective for you guys. :D  

I'm hoping to get another post or two published before then, but honestly, I can't promise anything.  I've got a bit to do to make sure I'm ready for the weekend (and to make sure that Hubby is ready to take over the kiddos!), ;) so if you don't hear from me for a while, that's why.

Thanks for persevering through this rather rambly post.  I have lots more reviews planned and a super exciting GIVEAWAY planned for later on, so stay tuned! :)  

Hearts 4 Hearts Girls and Alexander Girlz Dolls on Sale at Costco.com! :)

This post brought to you by Shawna (thanks!!) and by my toddler, whose nightmare kept me up this late. ;)

Shawna brought to my attention that Costco.com has three Hearts 4 Hearts Girls for $20 each!  The dolls available at this time are Consuelo, Rahel, and Dell.  This is around $10 off the retail price in most stores, so if one of these three little ladies is the H4H Girl you desire, this is a great deal! :)  You can see Consuelo HERE, Dell HERE, and Rahel HERE.

I also noticed when I was on there that they still have one Alexander Girlz Doll left, and she's been marked down to $24.99.  The one that's left is the little equestrian.  You can see her HERE.

The nice thing about Costco.com is that the shipping price is already included in the total (as long as you choose Standard shipping rather than express).  It looks like non Costco members may be able to order as well, but you may be charged an additional fee.

I hope this helps some of you with your Christmas shopping!  I bit the bullet and bought a Consuelo for my oldest.  She's been wanting one for a while now, and at that price I just couldn't pass it up. :)  Sigh, now to confess to hubby. ;)

Alexander Girlz Pics on Costco.com! :D

Hey everyone!  I checked Costco.com today, and they finally have pics up of the new Alexander Girlz dolls! :)  As always, they are more expensive to buy online.  They are listed at $37.99 online as opposed to $28.99 in the store.  I believe the $37.99 includes shipping, though.  So if you have a Costco in the area, it's definitely cheaper to buy the dolls at the store yourself. 

Anyway, without further ado, here are the pics:

Aren't they adorable? :)

To see more information, you can view them at Costco.com. :)

Updated Info on Madame Alexander Costco Dolls and AG Pets

Okay, I had to run to Costco today to get some groceries (bummer, huh?), ;) so I got a chance to check out the Alexander Girlz dolls and American Girl Pet Sets there for myself.

First, the Alexander Girlz dolls.  I was mistaken in the price.  They are actually retailing for $28.99 (I've since corrected my information in my previous post).  The good news is that there is an actual reason for the price jump.  Each doll this year comes with an extra outfit!  So really, $3 more for an extra outfit isn't so bad. :)

There do appear to only be 3 different dolls this year, and unless they change things, it looks like there will not be a variation of each hair and eye color in each outfit.  A bit of a disappointment, but from a marketing perspective I can kind of understand.

I was able to snap some closer pics with my cell phone.  Sorry they aren't the best...the glare from the plastic on the boxes was really strong! :{  At least you'll get a better idea of what's available, though.

First, we have this lovely blonde-haired, blue-eyed darling.  She is dressed in a pretty princess dress with a bodice that reminds me of Rapunzel's with its laces.  I love her cute pink bow, too. :)  She comes with a lavender tutu styled skirt topped with silver ribbon, a sparkly white shirt, and a golden tiara.  The tiara was my youngest daughter's favorite part.  It is made of cloth. 

Here's a close-up of her pretty face.

Next we have this little cutie, who comes dressed in her equestrian outfit, which includes a riding hat.  Her extra outfit is a dress and tights ensemble in purple.  I guess she doesn't mind being a girly girl when she's not riding. ;)  The only thing I'm unsure of with this gal is her odd little topknot on her head.  It's basically a sort of bun with long strands coming out.  I think this hairstyle would come out as soon as she came home, if she was going to be at our house. 

Here's her close-up.  Sorry for the glare on the box! :(  Her eyes are blue and her hair is a nice light brown shade.  I must say, I really appreciate the fact that they did a brown hair/blue eye combo.  My oldest daughter has light brown hair and blue/green eyes, and loves it when dolls look like her.  It's really hard to find a less expensive play doll with brown hair that doesn't also have brown eyes.  I have a feeling she'll be really excited to see this one (although she'll wish she was wearing one of the "prettier" outfits). ;)

Now we come to my favorite one of the group.  I don't know what it is, but there's something with this mold about the brown hair, brown eye combo.  And of course, her white ballet outfit is so adorable that it definitely helps. :)  Her extra outfit looks like an extra dance outfit with tights, a black bodice, and a pink tutu.  It also has a purple short-sleeved hoodie that really doesn't match at all! ;)

Here's her close-up.  These pics really do not do the dolls justice, but I just wanted to give you at least an idea of what they were like. :)  As you can see from the pic, her hair is a darker shade than the blue eyed brunette.  Sigh...if I had more space and lots of spare cash, this one would sooo be coming home with me!!

These dolls tend to go pretty quickly, so if you're interested in getting one, I'd suggest buying one sooner rather than later.  Although, if you're willing to risk it, they usually have a pretty amazing sale price after Christmas if there are any left.  I think one of our acquaintances got one for $10 one year!

As far as quality, these dolls are not up there with AG (I mean, you are only paying $29 after all!).  But for a play line doll in the less expensive category, they are one of the best.  Heaps better than the hideous Springfield Collection dolls at Michael's (sorry if I'm offending anyone who owns them...I just REALLY don't care for their faces!).  

The main downsides to these dolls are their hair, which is pretty icky quality, and the fact that they have a different body style than AG dolls, so you can't restring them in the same way.  Neither problem is all that tragic, though.  They can be rewigged very easily (like my Maggie doll), and even though you can't fix them the same way you fix an AG doll, they hold up pretty well. 

My 3 daughters all have Alexander Girlz dolls.  They received them at the ages of 4, 2, and 18 months.  All three dolls are still in great shape.  Their legs are looser than they were originally, but all three can still stand.  Their hair is pretty bad, but I figured I'd wait to rewig until the girls were a little older. :)  And just in case you're wondering, my middle daughter is gentle with her toys, my oldest is gentle with them now (but wasn't as careful when she was younger), and my youngest is not very gentle with her things.  She isn't abusive or careless with her toys, but she's three and is still learning how to properly care for her dollies (which is why she does NOT have an American Girl doll yet!). :)

Here is what there dolls look like today, 3 years later:

Not too shabby, considering the life they've had! ;) 

If you want to hear more of my thoughts on these dolls, I reviewed them in both of my Doll Comparison Posts, HERE and HERE.

Now, moving on to the American Girl pets! 

Here are some pics of the ones my mom picked up:

Sugar (for my middle daughter)

Sugar comes with a book called "Sugar's Super Sweet Postcard Set".

Ginger (for my youngest)

Ginger comes with "Ginger's Spice of Life Crafts".

Honey (for my oldest)

Honey comes with "Honey's Guide to Puzzle Fun".

I tried really hard to get pics of their faces, but the way they were packaged, they were looking right in the corner of the box.  It made it pretty much impossible to get a good head shot! :{  So, after Christmas, when the girls get to open them, I promise I'll do a more comprehensive review! ;)

I've never purchased an AG pet before, but I was reading some of the reviews on the American Girl website.  There were a lot of people commenting on how hard and un-poseable these pets are.  Good to know, since they look all squishy and cuddly.  Like I said, though, I'll give you a fuller review when they're opened.  

I found myself falling in love with Pepper, the husky.  Hmm, maybe my dolls need a pet! ;)   

Hope you enjoyed the post.  Be sure to check back later this week for a post on the new Madame Alexander Friends Boutique dolls in Walmart for this year! :D

A New Doll Comparison Post

I really enjoyed doing my first doll comparison post.  However, when I did that one, I was just getting started in the 18" doll world.  I didn't know as much then as I know now.  I also didn't have as many types of dolls to compare.  And, surprise surprise, my first doll review post was really wordy. :)  I'm hoping to make this one a little easier to skim...once I get past all of the initial explanatory stuff! :}  Now that I know a little more and have a better idea of how to do things, I thought it would be fun to do an updated doll comparison post.  :)

In this post, I'll be reviewing American Girl, Alexander Girlz, Madame Alexander Friends 4 Life, Karito Kids, and Gotz Little Sister dolls.  I will especially focus on how each of the last 4 dolls mentioned compare to American Girl dolls, since they are the most well-known doll brand.  I wish I still had my Magic Attic doll for this post.  I think that would have made a good comparison doll too...but oh well.  I'll just have to be satisfied with what I have (and I don't regret getting rid of my MA doll other than for review purposes...she didn't really fit my collection). :) 

This post took many hours of photography, measuring, comparing, and writing, so I hope you all enjoy it. :)

For each type of doll I'll have a list of facts about them, including body style, measurements, and so on.  After I've gone over each different doll, I'll have some photos comparing each doll to my American Girl (or AG) doll.

I wanted to clarify, too, that all of my measurements will not necessarily be 100% accurate.  I'm not a professional or a perfectionist by any means!!  Not to mention that measurements will likely vary between dolls of the same brand.  Just because one American Girl doll has certain measurements doesn't mean every American Girl doll will be exactly the same (especially since AG dolls have changed through the years, most notably when Mattel bought out Pleasant Company in 1998).  The same thing applies for the other doll brands.  Despite all of this, I figured that having an approximate measurement for each type of doll would be helpful to those of you who are seamstresses or doll customizers. :)

To help keep the measurements as accurate and understandable as possible, I took a picture of my measuring method for each doll body part. :)

Head:

The head measurements will probably be the most approximate, simply because it was hard to measure the head circumference over all that hair! :}  I tried to measure as close to the wig line as I could, since most people interested in doll head circumference are interested in re-wigging them. :)

Shoulders:

When measuring the shoulders, I put the dolls arms straight down, as close to the body as possible.  Then I wrapped the measuring tape around the shoulders.

Arms:

The arms were really tough because they were curved.  I started right after the socket and measured to the middle finger.  Oh, and for those of you who are wondering, when I did the actual measurements, I did pull the tape straight.  I just couldn't do that and take the pictures at the same time. ;)

Chest:

When I measured the chest, I put the tape as close under the armpits as I could.

Waist:

For the waist measurements, I put the tape as close to the middle of the body as possible, usually at the narrowest point.

Hips:

For the hip measurement, I included the doll's buns and hips a bit above the leg sockets.  I hope this is helpful, because I realize that sometimes the thighs go out just a little farther. :{

Legs:

When measuring the legs, I started right below the leg socket and measured down one side to the foot.

Feet (length): 

Okay, I realized after I took this picture that measuring this way wouldn't do any good.  I need to measure from the big toe (Duh!).  Sorry, I'm just a little slow on these things sometimes. ;)  After realizing my mistake, I went back and measured the doll feet from the big toe to the heel.   

Feet (width):   

I tried to measure at the widest part of the foot.

For each doll, I've mentioned the availability for purchase.  For dolls only available on the secondary market, some of my favorite places to check are eBay, Craigslist, the AG Playthings Message Board, or Bonanza.com.   You can also check your local thrift stores. :)

Okay, now that we got through that boring stuff, on to the actual dolls! :)

American Girl  (aka Charlie...renamed Mia St. Clair doll)

(I'm not going to go into as much detail on AG since most of my readers are very familiar with them!) ;)

 

- Head Circumference:  12"  (size 11-12 wig)

-Shoulders:  15"

-Arms:  6 3/4" long

-Chest:  slightly over 11"

-Waist:  10 3/4"

-Hips:  12 1/4"

-Legs:  7 3/4" long

-Feet:  2 1/2" long; 1 1/2" wide

-Total Height:  18" 

-Body Style:  Vinyl head, arms, legs; cloth body with neck string closure

-Eyes:  Beddy-bye style (they close when the doll is laid down)

-Body Tag: Most AG dolls have a side body tag, although some of the earlier Pleasant Company dolls don't.

-Distinguishing Marks:  "American Girl LLC" or "Pleasant Company" stamped on the back of the neck (see the picture below...sorry it uploaded sideways!) :}

-Availability:  Can be purchased at Americangirl.com or on the secondary market

  

-Pros:

   1. Beautiful, high-quality dolls that are still easily available

   2. Lots of variety to choose from

   3. Historical dolls bring history to life

-Cons:

   1. Very expensive (and prices keep rising)

 

-Other Thoughts:  It's funny.  When I started this blog, I wasn't as into American Girl dolls.  I really loved my Gotz dolls and my 18" Madame Alexander dolls.  As I've gotten more into the 18" doll world, though, the irresistible pull of AG has gotten to me.  I love the variety of dolls, outfits, and accessories you can find.  I do all of my AG shopping secondhand (see "cons", reason #1), ;) but I find that even more exciting than just buying something at a store.  There's nothing like rescuing a trashed, forgotten doll and restoring it to its former glory.  And really, American Girl is what started my love for 18" dolls, all those years ago when I saw them at our school library.  There's just something about them that's so fun and likable. :)  I love finding dolls that look alike and coming up with my own family groups.

  

Gotz Little Sisters  (aka Tess)

 

-Head Circumference:  about 13" (size 12-13 wig)

-Shoulders:  16"

-Arms:  7" long

-Chest:  11 1/2"

-Waist:  11"

-Hips:  12 1/2"

-Legs:  8" long

-Feet:  2 1/2" long; 1 1/2" wide

-Total Height:  18"

-Body Style:  Vinyl head, arms, legs; cloth body with neck string closure

-Eyes:  Beddy-bye style

-Body Tag: none (at least on my doll); Precious Day dolls do have a side body tag like AG dolls

-Distinguishing Marks:  "305" or "305/16" stamped on the back of the neck (see picture below...sorry it's sideways!!)

-Availability:  No longer being made, but can be found on the secondary market. 

\

-Pros: 

   1. Beautiful

   2. High quality hair and better quality than other knockoffs

   3. Unique
   4. Work great with AG dolls and can fit into most of their clothes
   5. Can be re-strung and repaired using the same methods for repairing AG dolls.

-Cons:

   1.Tend to be pigeon toed, so sometimes they are harder to stand up

   2. Can appear "hunchbacked" because of the way their cloth bodies are stuffed
   3. Tend to have problems with "cloudy pupil" (a milky white color that takes over the pupil of their eye)  [Side note here:  Not all second-hand sellers notice the cloudy pupil problem, so it's always important to ask about this when purchasing a Gotz doll over the Internet.]

-Other Thoughts:  The Gotz Little Sister dolls are some of my favorites.  They have beautiful, high-quality wigs, sweet faces, and are very compatible with American Girl dolls.  Gotz also made a line of 18" dolls called Precious Day dolls.  The main difference between the two lines is that the Precious Day dolls have rooted hair instead of wigged.  They also have slightly smaller eyes and a slightly different face mold.  The differences are so minute that you can hardly tell unless they are right next to each other.  For more information on Gotz 18" play dolls, you can read this excellent eBay guide HERE, written by eBay seller Debonair Designs. :)

Alexander Girlz  (aka Maggie)

-Head Circumference:  12 1/2" (12-13 wig)

-Shoulders:  14"

-Arms:  6 1/2" long

-Chest:  11 1/4"

-Waist:  10 1/2"

-Hips:  11"

-Legs:  8" long

-Feet: 2 1/2" long; 1 1/2" wide

-Total Height:  18 1/2"

-Body Style:  Vinyl, poseable head; vinyl legs, arms, and chest; cloth body

-Eyes:  Beddy-bye style
-Body Tag: Long tag on the left side, right at the waistline

-Distinguishing Marks:  "Alexander Doll Co" and year stamped on the back of the neck (see picture...sorry it's not very clear!) 

-Availability:  These are usually in stock at Costco around Christmas time for around $25.  Of course, I found mine at the thrift store for $4! :)  They can also be found through the secondary market.

-Pros: 

   1. Very inexpensive

   2.  The most beautiful of the low-end play dolls (in my humble opinion). ;)

   3.  Great starter doll for little ones

   4.  Poseable head is great for doll photography

   5.  Their vinyl shoulders look much better in a sleeveless top than AG or other similar dolls with full cloth bodies.

-Cons: 

   1. Very low-quality hair (I re-wigged Maggie).

   2.  The arms and legs seem to wear out quicker than AG or other more expensive dolls.

   3.  They can't be re-strung as easily because of their vinyl chest.

-Other Thoughts:  I really love my Maggie doll.  She has a sweet, expressive face that I love capturing on film.  The fact that her head is poseable allows for great, artistic photos.  I got one of these dolls for each of my 3 daughters as their starter dolls and was very pleased with the results.  While their hair is pretty bad, they can easily be re-wigged as needed.  Plus if you have a little one that wants a big girl doll, but you're reluctant to hand over $100 for it, this is the perfect doll for you.  You can't beat $25!! :)  The vinyl chest bothers some collectors, but I don't have a problem with it.  My only complaint with the different body style is that they can't be re-strung using the AG doll re-stringing methods.  I'll probably just have to send Maggie to a doll hospital of some kind if she ever falls apart! 

Madame Alexander Friends 4 Life (aka Melanie)

 

-Head Circumference:  12" (12-13 wig)

-Shoulders:  14"

-Arms:  6 1/2" long

-Chest:  11 1/4"

-Waist:  10 1/2"

-Hips:  11"

-Legs:  8" long

-Feet:  2 1/2" long; 1 1/2" wide

-Total Height:  18 1/2"  (note:  I did NOT include Melanie's hair in the measurement!) ;)

-Body Style:  Vinyl, poseable head; vinyl legs, arms, and chest; cloth body

-Eyes:  Beddy-bye style

-Body Tag: Long body tag on the left at the waistline

-Distinguishing Marks:  "2009 Alexander" stamped on the back of the neck (see picture below)

-Availability:  These were available at Walmart during 2009, but have now been replaced with the poseable "Madame Alexander Friends Boutique" dolls at Walmart (which are not as good, in my opinion).  FB are available for around $28, but if you want a F4L doll, check the secondary market.  I've seen a lot of them on eBay.

-Pros:

   1. Another fairly inexpensive, great starter doll for little ones

   2. Beautiful faces (especially the African American version!)

   3. Poseable head

-Cons:

   1. Low-quality hair

   2. These dolls have pretty huge heads compared to other 18" dolls, so if you're into having all of your dolls have the same proportions, this might not be the doll for you. :)

-Other Thoughts:  I definitely prefer these dolls to their newer Walmart counterparts, the Friends Boutique dolls.  While poseability is great in theory, the way they've made the FB dolls poseable makes them hard to stand up and makes them look rather silly with their hollow, bent limbs.  Not to mention that the FB dolls have an odd smell from their rubbery plastic arms and legs.  (You can read my review of my former Friends Boutique doll HERE.)  I much prefer the Friends 4 Life dolls.  They have the same sweet faces but stronger arms and legs, no funny smell, and are better starter dolls for little ones.

Karito Kids (aka Elena...renamed Pita doll)

 

-Head Circumference:  12" (12-13 wig)

-Shoulders:  13"

-Arms:  7 1/4" long

-Chest:  10"

-Waist:  about 10"

-Hips:  about 11 1/2"

-Legs:  9 1/2" long

-Feet:  just over 2 3/4" long; 1 1/4" wide

-Total Height:  20 1/2"

-Body Style:  Vinyl, poseable head; vinyl legs, arms, and chest; cloth body

-Eyes:  Stationary (do not open or close)

-Body Tag: Side body tag on the lower left hip

-Distinguishing Marks:  Year and "Kids Give" stamped at the back of the neck right at the hairline and also printed in black ink below (see picture below...sorry it's sideways!)

-Availability:  Discontinued; can be found on the secondary market.

-Pros: 

   1. Beautiful, high-quality doll

-Cons: 

   1. Their proportions are not the same as other 18" dolls, so next to some dolls they look like giants with small heads.

   2. Her clothes do not fit most 18" dolls, although she can fit into some of their clothes.

-Other Thoughts:  These dolls are absolutely stunning.  Pictures do not do their lovely faces justice.  Proportion-wise, they don't always fit with other styles of 18" dolls, but if that type of thing doesn't bother you, I would highly recommend them.

AG and Gotz Comparison

As you can see, these dolls have very similar body styles.  This isn't surprising since the Gotz company was the original maker of American Girl dolls.  Aside from slightly wider shoulders and a darker colored cloth body on the Gotz doll, they are practically identical.  The Gotz doll feet tend to be slightly larger than AG doll feet, so some AG doll shoes are a bit snug on them.  You can't tell very well from the pictures, but the Gotz bodies also tend to be stuffed more like the thicker-bodied Pre-Mattel AG dolls, so some modern Mattel AG clothing can be a bit tight on them.  Also, AG hats don't fit my Gotz dolls very well because they have bigger heads than AGs.

AG and Alexander Girlz Comparison

I was surprised how much taller Maggie looks than Charlie.  The Madame Alexander dolls do have a good 1/2" on the AG dolls.  Maggie has a much thinner cloth body, and her vinyl shoulders are slimmer as well, so some AG clothing is a bit loose on her.  It's not enough of a difference to look odd, though.  My AG dolls sometimes have a hard time fitting into skirts, pants or tights made for the Madame Alexander line because of the differences in waistline.  And Tess (my Gotz doll) can't even get Maggie's pants or skirts up over her bottom!!!  [Poor Tess.  I know what it's like to have friends that are skinnier than you!]  Maggie's feet are pretty much exactly the same size as AG doll feet, so shoes can easily be shared between them.  AG hats don't always fit her because her head is a bit wider.  All in all, though, she's pretty compatible with my AGs.

AG and Madame Alexander Friends 4 Life Comparison

There's not much to be said here, since Melanie's body is practically identical to Maggie's. :)

AG and Karito Kids Comparison

The Karito Kids dolls are much taller and slimmer than the AGs.  As I mentioned earlier, Karito Kids can fit into some AG styles, but the Karito Kids clothes are too small for AG dolls.  KK feet are also much slimmer, so they can't share shoes.  The two dolls are technically compatible, although Charlie almost looks dumpy and childlike next to Elena.  The head difference is actually not as bad between KK and AG.  I think I noticed it more between KK and Maggie and Tess, my Alexander Girlz and Gotz dolls.  And honestly, somehow it doesn't seem to be as noticeable in the photos as it is in real life.  Anyway, you can take a look at the pics and decide for yourself. :)

Karito Kids and Madame Alexander Comparison

I thought it would be interesting to put these three dolls side by side since they have a very similar body structure.  As you can see, Elena (my Karito Kid) is much taller and slimmer than my Alexander dolls.  And for those of you who might be curious, Maggie did not fit into Elena's clothes either, even though she's slimmer than my all-cloth bodied dolls. 



"All Together Now"and Final Thoughts

  So, here they all are! (Maggie is never going to forgive me for these pictures.)  ;)  

There are things that I enjoy about each and every one of these dolls.  I'd have to say that my favorites are Gotz, American Girl, and Alexander Girlz.  I do love my Karito Kids doll, I just haven't figured out where she fits in the scheme of things.  Especially since, being an artistic sort, proportions are really important to me!! :}  The Friends 4 Life dolls give me the same problem because their heads are so huge!  Nonetheless, I would recommend any of these dolls for their various positive features. 

I realized as I was finishing this post that it would have been nice to add a Battat doll to this line up (Battat is the company that produces the "Our Generation" 18" doll line at Target).  Since I didn't do that, I'll just take a moment to say that I really don't care for the Battat dolls' oddly put together shoulders (their arms curve very unnaturally compared to other dolls) and their wide-eyed, vacant expressions.  Honestly, I haven't come across a Battat face mold that I care for yet.  I will say that I prefer the quality of the Battat clothing and accessories to most of the Madame Alexander clothing and accessories at Walmart.  (Although the "What a Doll" clothing line at Kmart, also tied in to Madame Alexander, isn't bad.) 

Anyway, if any of you would be interested in seeing a Battat doll compared to any of the others, leave me a comment and I'll modify this post (or do a new one) at a later date. :)

I hope you found this post helpful.  I love seeing side-by-side pictures of different types of dolls myself, so I figured at least some of my readers would enjoy the same thing. :)  If you have any further questions or requests, feel free to leave me a comment or two!  I'd love to get your feedback.

By the way, one of my all-time favorite sites for doll comparisons is justmagicdolls.com.  I love using this site to identify and compare dolls. :)

Don't forget to check out my previous post to see details about my 1 Year Blogoversary Giveaway! :D