Today a parcel arrived: Kanani is here! She is not an easy doll to find now at a good price as she was the girl of the year for 2011 and has been very popular. Her long long hair and green eyes are so cute!
As she arrived with her head removed so she could fit into the box, although she was in good shape, I decided to tighten her limbs straight away and also washed and conditioned her hair. It is now silky smooth!
I am slowly building up my collection of the girls of the year and the historical dolls. Although many are far too expensive for me to buy I do take the opportunity to buy when I can afford one! This doll is my gift to me for my soon to come 60th birthday. My Mum had promised she would buy me a doll for that day but alas it is not to be. I would have treasured it had she been here to buy me one!
Kanani is so happy to be reunited with a couple of her sisters. These actually came from the same place! A new dress and a welcome for her!
Here is how I tightened her limbs and then washed and conditioned her hair:
She seems really happy to have arrived after such a long trip!
The weather has recently been cold with rain, hail and snow. Most unusual for us.
I started feeding the birds from my window. Although it is hard to take a photo I managed to snap this one.
There are several who come. Most are blue tits but others arrive as well.
My doll collection is still growing. I found Mulan on Ebay. Description said she was dirty and ok for "spare parts!" Well I just couldn't allow that! I put in an offer for half of the small amount they were asking and it was accepted within minutes. I wondered just how dirty and poor condition she was!
She arrived yesterday. Actually the only thing wrong was her matted hair!
A wash and combing session soon fixed that. Boo lent her a clean dress until I have time to make her something especially for her!
Here she is:
Isn't she beautiful now? I think she is really happy to have arrived here!
I was very surprised to see an American Girl doll on Italian Ebay. They are rarely on there and usually cost a lot. At 20 euro it was a bargain for me although not in good condition. I just couldn't leave that poor little waif all alone in Rome with the risk she would be thrown out! So I bid for her and as there were no other offers home she came! I think the poor mottled photo put some people off!
She is Cécile who is one of the historical dolls I wanted.
So Spa treatment. Her clothes were washed and hung to dry. I was very pleased that the colours didn't run when I washed her original dress.
Next her hair. I didn't have any wig shampoo available but used dish soap and fabric conditioner. I have heard that AG salons don't approve this but as the chance that I ever send her for treatment is less than nil, that didn't bother me.
Wash, rinse and re-wash. Amazing how dirty her hair was! Then a fabric conditioner rinse. It is important to avoid wetting the body or getting water in her eyes which can cause silver-eye or rust, so she was wrapped up in towels.
Then the hair. A lot of patience to find the central parting and to carefully detangle. Never pulling!
I rolled the curls carefully first onto a knitting needle and then rolled them onto a straw and fixed with bobby-pins. Left to dry overnight.
Today I carefully pulled out the straws, tied her hair with two white ribbons and she was ready to be dressed in her clean clothes and new boots!
She seems happy to join my clan here!
A big difference from when she arrived!
