Kitt's Kloset American Girl Clothes: September 2011

Hello again! I can't believe the week has flown by so fast since I made my last post. Just as I was wondering what I could write about this week, it came to me that as a result of reading a fellow doll crafter/enthusiast's blog post, I was doing a shirt swap with her. So I hoped that it might interest my readers.

You most likely know Karen Owen as "Karen mom of three's blog"--here's the link to the blog post she made telling how she is having fun collecting the t-shirts from the different American Girl Places and Boutique & Bistros. When I first read this I'm sure it may have first been in Doll Diaries because I knew when I read it that we were planning a trip to the Chicago doll store (which you can read about in my last week's post) and that I thought this would be something fun to do. After all, I am not sure I'll ever get out to the Seattle store which is the one nearest Karen who lives in Vancouver, Canada.

Anyway, I contacted Karen soon after reading her post and told her I would be in Chicago and I would like to do a shirt swap with her. When I was there, I picked up an extra shirt for her. We are in regular contact via Facebook so yesterday she told me she had mailed mine. Her shirt will go out Monday since I ahem, forgot to take it with me to town this morning. Then, in a couple of weeks (less if the mail is quicker) she will add a new Chicago shirt to her collection and I will be adding the Seattle one that her husband was sweet enough to pick up for her while he was visiting Seattle for a Mariners' game. I will, of course, post a picture of one of my dolls wearing the new Seattle shirt. I bet Karen may do the same with her new Chicago shirt!

So far, I have the Chicago, New York, Los Angeles (it came on a doll I bought from eBay) and Atlanta. My Atlanta was one of the first they came out with. It's lavender as you can see here (I borrowed this pic from eBay as I was not able to find mine quickly). Here's even a link to the lady's listing, the least I can do since I'm borrowing her picture: Atlanta American Girl Tee

I'm not sure if the Atlanta store shirt is still lavender since all the shirts in Karen's blog picture are red. I went to the Atlanta store the first year that it opened and I know the other stores change their designs regularly.

Which AGPlace have you been to and what is your favorite thing to do there? It seems like more and more of the smaller stores are springing up. Do you think that's a good thing or not so good? You can leave comments here if you like. I moderate all comments so please be patient if yours doesn't show up right away, it could be that I'm not online or just away from the computer all together.

With fall weather setting in, you will want to be sure your doll is cozy and warm for those winter nights ahead so I'll leave you with a link for American Girl size sleepwear from my site. Have a great weekend! If you live where it's getting chilly, keep those dollies warm!

Hello to anyone who stumbles onto my blog or subscribes to it or just surfs in. I have had my handmade American Girl clothes website now for almost 7 years and I thought it was time to step up the web presence and social media for it so now I have finally started Kitt's its own blog.

I bet a lot of you out there have been to an American Girl store, whether it's an actual American Girl Place or one of the new Boutique and Bistros. As an adult collector, it was always my dream to visit one of these stores. This dream was made possible back in 2008 when my daughter was attending the University of Connecticut and we made a couple of little side visits to New York City. The first time I walked into the store, I was like a kid in a candy shop! I had heard about and seen lots of pictures from doll collecting friends, but it is just something that you have to experience at least once.

One of my favorite things about going to an AGP is the Personal Shopping service they have. My personal shopper in New York is Robyn and my PS in Chicago is Ingrid. Did you know that this service is totally free? If it's your first visit to the store, it might be a good idea to schedule an appointment with the PS you have chosen. I basically heard about these two ladies from some doll friends. When you arrive at the store, you can meet your PS and she will show you the personal shopping area. I don't know if New York has rearranged its area but we recently visited the Chicago AGP and they have cubbies or bookshelves where you can place your loot while you shop! Once that bag gets too heavy to lug around, you just take it to the PS area, put your name on it and go shop some more.

My recent trip to AGP Chicago was to meet up with a friend whom I had met up with there 2 years ago. My daughter has been so gracious as to always choose a college that just happens to be close to an AGP! ;) All kidding aside, she currently attends Purdue University which is just 2 hours away from Chicago. So of course we have made 2 trips there now. Maybe just one more before she graduates in May.....

The special part of this store trip was getting to eat lunch there. It was the first time my friend and I ever ate at the store. My friend and I didn't think we would get reservations as late as we came up with the idea to eat there but it all worked out. The cafe is amazing, the food is really good and the waiters and waitresses are all awesome. Even if you're not a little girl, you will feel like they treat you like a princess when you are there. Yes, I won't lie, the meal does cost but it's the same price for kids or adults and there is a nice choice. Standard items are the first course of mini sweet rolls, one for each diner, second course is some veggies and cheese-stuffed pretzel bread. Then your entree is whatever you choose--soda is extra so I went with iced tea. Dessert is chocolate mousse in a cute flower pot cup, a petit-four cake and a flower shaped Kanani cookie. All very delicious!

Being a big fan of American Girl dolls, of course I had to choose a special doll as a souvenir from this trip. One tip, if you're from out of state and you buy in Chicago or any of the stores, it may be more cost-effective to have your order mailed to your home, which is what I did. We were there on Saturday of Labor Day weekend so my package mailed on Tuesday and arrived here on Thursday. I still haven't gone through everything, I guess I want to savor it!

Since the new historicals, Marie-Grace and Cecile are out now, there was a ballroom dancing demonstration/lesson which was interesting to watch. Later that afternoon, a sign said there would be crafts and then that evening was a fancy dinner to officially kick off the new dolls' arrival. We stayed till maybe 3:00 or so.

A lot of people would like to see American Girl stores in every state but I have to disagree with that. For one thing, it would add sales tax to the online orders but even more importantly, I think it would take away from the special feeling of going somewhere that isn't right in your own backyard. It's sort of an adventure and I would love to see it stay that way.

Well if you lasted through this whole blog, thank you! Now here are some pictures for you from the store and also one of my new doll, #57 who was just released. I named her Britt because she looks like a brown-eyed Kit!

If you have a doll-related blog and want to link up with me, just let me know! Until next time! Have fun with your dolls, no matter what age you are!