Many of the doll groups I follow on Facebook have been all abuzz about AG Julie's egg chair, especially since Easter brings a bounty of craft and decoration items to create DIY options. Most of these projects require more time and effort than I had available, but I did manage to throw together some simplified mini versions. 

I used an 8 inch egg from a discount store, and I was able to make 2 separate chairs with one egg. They fit a variety of dolls including AG minis, Liv or Barbie size dolls, and even 14-16 inch dolls. I decorated the shells with retro style decorative tape and added a base with hot glue. The black base is from a mini lamp, and I attached the egg to a marker lid so it can swivel. It can be used with or without the lamp pole to vary the height.

I used different sized eggs for an even simpler version. These are attached with sticky putty, but you could make them permanent with hot glue.

Hope you enjoyed this groovy, simple project? What other ideas do you have for re-purposing Easter items?

As I was looking back through my blog posts the other day, I noticed that several of the photos were messed up. Some pictures mysteriously got replaced with pictures from completely different posts. I'm not sure if this is an issue with the Weebly app or what, but I tried to correct the instances where the wrong pictures appeared. Sorry for any confusion this may cause. If you notice any pictures that don't seem to fit, please let me know so I can fix them. Thanks!

On my latest thrifting expedition, I found this collectible card game tin from American Girl for $4. When I opened it and saw all three games still in the shrink wrap,  I snatched it up.
     There is a rummy type game and a trivia game featuring the first 8 historical characters. The third game features Kit Kittredge, who was the newest doll at the time. It is a frame game that has little pictures you try to arrange according to your pattern cards. I haven't played that one yet,  but it seems a little more complicated than the others.
     One of my favorite aspects is the artwork. Each doll's suit shows pictures from each book in her series. This helps players review the stories as they play. The pictures also make the game easy enough for non readers to play. I am sad that AG has discontinued their beautiful illustrations,  so I appreciate any opportunity to introduce my kids to the pictures, which really enhance the stories,  in my opinion.
     The Rummy game,  called Threes Please can be used for other card games as well,  such as War and Uno. my kids loved this game. My oldest daughter liked the trivia game because she had listened to several of the books and enjoyed answering the questions.
     This game is available on the secondary market for about $5-$20. Ebay has plenty in great condition for reasonable prices,  so don't pay too much.
     I highly recommend these games for boys and girls for education and fun.

Pictures from Board Game Geek 

This month American Girl is spotlighting their historical character Kaya, a Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) girl growing up in 1764. Here are some Kaya inspired pictures.

I bought this doll (Abrielle from the Divah Collection) with AG's Josefina in mind, but with her sweet close-lipped smile and big brown eyes, I think she also makes a nice Kaya. The doll was on clearance at Wal-Mart for $5.

Here you can see the full outfit, which came from a Native American porcelain doll I bought at a thrift store for $2. It is made from a thin velour-type material, but the intricate beadwork on the pants, headband, and medallion give it a more authentic look. I like the lacing down the front and on the sleeves, though the metal rivets are probably not true to the time period. The porcelain doll was missing one shoe (and the foot that came with it!) so I don't have the original moccasins. I'm still looking for some good shoes to match.

I really like Kaya because she's a strong, courageous character, but she also has some real flaws, which she strives to overcome throughout her stories. I think this makes her more human and realistic and adds depth to the character. My daughter likes the fact that there is a blind character in the books, and my son enjoyed Kaya's adventurous nature. I hope you are also inspired to learn more about this great historical character.

Wal-Mart had several cute, affordable items for Barbie size dolls that may work well for minis.

This pool party set is so cute and versatile. I just love the pool and Tony accessories, and the table with an umbrella could double as a bistro table. This seems like a great value for under $10. The Sparkle Girlz clothing sets also work great for modern minis.

Wal-Mart now has a dollhouse available for $50, and the furniture sets are only $5. At this price point, you certainly won't be getting heirloom quality, but it's a good cheap option,  especially for younger kids. All the pieces are made of plastic and have a cheap appearance, but adding fabric or contact paper embellishments could make them look a little more realistic. There were also two different vehicles available that would fit fashion dolls or minis.

Here's a closer look at the furniture sets. I really like the kitchen chairs. They would work well in a little cafe.

My girls got these cute dolls from their grandma for Christmas, and she made them these matching dresses for Easter. The patterns are from Simplicity, and they each come with a doll sized pattern and a full-sized pattern. The patterns are for American Girl, and they fit most similar 18 inch dolls, but they also work great for these slimmer dolls.

Happy Easter from us and our dolls!

I've never read the Caroline books from AG, but I think the doll is beautiful,  and I love some of her outfits. I was so excited to find a little porcelain doll at the thrift store wearing a blue velvet hat and coat just the right size for the minis.

Caroline decides to take one more ride in her sleigh before all the snow melts. She waves to a little springtime friend hiding in the bushes. The sled is also a thrift store find, and the background was on clearance from American Girl. 

Has your Easter weekend brought sunshine and blossoms, or snow and cold? Whatever the weather, I wish you all a wonderful Happy Easter.

American Girl has some great new historical sets out for spring, like Samantha's gazebo. I decided to make a Samantha-inspired springtime scene with items I had on hand.

My Madame Alexander doll is wearing Samantha's party set from AG, which I got on sale. My granny made the little hat, and the chair was only 3$ at my favorite thrift store.

The Princess and Me doll box serves as a perfect background with the white trellis and built-in table. I received the hummingbird tea set a long time ago, and I love how it looks here. The bunny belongs to my daughter,  and I dressed it up in Sam's bow.

The brown chair also came from the thrift store, as well as the other doll and her clothes. Don't they look cute in their gazebo all ready for spring?