For the costumes, please select from the above widgets.

Thursday 18 August 2011

An OOPI kind of Christmas ... Dreamy toys (Part one)

During my last, semi satisfying, trip to Spotlight, I realised that the Christmas fabrics were already out. ( I can't believe I'm saying this but some were actually pretty good!). I wasn't prepared to think Christmas. Way too early I told myself ... but it got me thinking. Thinking I don't want to become the slave shopper I was last year, trying to fulfill everyone last minute wishes. I used to LOVE Christmas until too many trips to crowded malls stole away all the merriment, until too many junk catalogues invaded my mailbox and the kids' heads.
I want to claim back the joy of giving. So I have been window shopping around the net and I must say that without a set list or a deadline in mind, it has been a pleasant experience.

MIA's dreamy list ...

Because Mia is five, the possibilities are endless; she'll play with anything! But this year I want to give her a Babydoll. Although 'Babyborn' is cute I find the hard plastic body difficult to dress/undress for a 5 years old and not very cuddly. I don't understand at all 'Baby Alive' : these dolls look so wrong!
So after much looking around for a cute, cuddly, babydoll, here's what I've found: Bitty Baby from American Girl. Their Website is very "pink", so I have posted instead some of Dana's (from Made) beautiful pictures. It captures perfectly the retro feel of the doll. I just LOVE it!!!

Dreamy Toy Number One: Bitty Baby
photo source:http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/blog-post.html


At 15 inches, the doll is the perfect size for all the sewing enthusiasts. I know I 'm going to enjoy making outfits for this baby! There are plenty of outfits and accessories to choose from on the American Girl Store website or on ebay (make sure to view the International listings). Personally, I preferred the handmade stuff. I will keep you posted on the Bitty Baby handmade wardrobe as I progress ... I can't wait to find the time to start on this project!






The Redhead is the one for us, naturally ...


but they all are very cute if you ask me ...









Now it wouldn't be a true love story if it was all easy.
There is no retailer for Bitty Baby in Australia. I have search and search with no success. Even in America, the doll seems to be exclusively sold by the mother company. Good on them I say , but not so good for us as it makes adopting Bitty Baby a bit more complicated.
The good news is, they do ship to Australia, the bad news it costs more than the doll itself: USD$48 for the doll, around USD$50/55 for the shipping. But it comes in first class mail in about 7 days. The customer service is excellent, twice now they have provided me with quick
answers to my queries. Decision has been made; I'm ordering one this week!


You can check on ebay for second hand dolls (make sure to view the international listings)

.

 Bitty Baby not for youCheck Keptin Jr ... Starting to melt?




These are so cute too! I love the simple extra soft cotton outfit and you can find them here in Australia at Honeybee. At almost $90, they're not cheap but beautifully made, washable and free of chemicals. I was very tempted but the size stopped me. At 33 cm they are perfect for toddlers but a wee small for Mia.
Tiny Doll from Keptin Jr




















s

No comments:

Post a Comment