Now that we have shelves to display my daughter’s dolls when she is not playing with them, I realized we need more doll stands. She has four or five of the nice dark wooden based doll stands from American Girl (that I picked up when they went on sale), but it seems that American Girl has replaced them with a new stand that has a white square base. Since I am not willing to pay $16 per doll stand, I went looking for better options.

On eBay you can find everything. I found people selling lots of 2 and 3 of the old dark base stands and then there are tons of stands that are not American Girl (custom search for American Girl doll stands). I have also seen them at AC Moore and Michael’s for much less too. And I just found them online at Create for Less for less than $3 a piece – in a dark finish and white – you can’t beat that.

I may get the dark based ones for the shelf with her historical dolls and the white based ones for the shelf that holds Chrissa and the other Limited Edition/Today dolls.

Using a cereal box, Craft Foam Sheets and some glue you can easily make this cute shoe storage and display piece. Use your favorite colors, add a decorative touch and make as many as you need. Way cute. Go to Making Friends for the complete instructions.

I know a lot of my readers have quite the crafty streak so when I found this pattern for cute retro cardigan at SockPixie, I just had to share it with you.

Get your knitting supplies out and go download the free American Girl Cardigan pattern now. And if you make one, you have to send in photos (to share@dolldiaries.com) so we can show off your dolls’ new goods.

Oh, wait – look what else I just found! Crochet a tie free hat for your dolls or make a canopy bed for your dolls out of a box – brilliant!

And if you have been wondering why things have been a bit slow here lately, I have been ridiculously busy and have been working on a new site design for Doll Diaries, too. So, don’t be surprised if you stop in at Doll Diaries one day in the near future and things look a little bit different

So, what are your thoughts? Which outfits/new items do you like? Which ones will be a pass?

Personally, I think the new raincoat and boots set is just the cutest thing ever!

For 2010 what we know so far, is that we are highly likely to get 2 new historical characters, Denise and Sarah. What we don’t know is if they are both historical dolls complete with the 6-book series and their own line OR if one of them is a friend doll who is going against the normal pattern and getting 6 stories instead of one. What do you think?

We don’t have much more info than that right now. We don’t know what era they are from or any book plots yet.

And in retirement news, if everything follows the pattern set to this point, Molly is the most logical choice for retirement this year. This has not been confirmed – it is just speculation.

As always, if you find any more details, let me know. Most of the info in this post has been gleaned from a variety of sources including reader comments, emails and information found readily on the internet.

Gwen, Chrissa and Sonali (weird lighting – I know) with the table, party treats and craft studio.

Chrissa with the craft studio and her llama, Starburst.

Gwen and the picnic table complete with party treats.

Sonali and Starburst at the school desk (which is not really part of Chrissa’s collection, but I think it is a nice addition).

Chrissa wearing her pjs and fuzzy slippers.

Chrissa in her snow gear.

Chrissa in her swim warmups and her second book, Chrissa Stands Strong.

I just got this email from my personal shopper at American Girl Place – it is a list of all the new items and their prices. The American Girl website has been updated and all of these items are on the site. And if anyone went to the American Girl Place today and got the goody bag or goes to any of the Lanie events, please take photos and send them to us at share@dolldiaries.com

GOTY 2010 Lanie Holland

• Lanie Doll & Book – $95 She has Hazel eyes, blond curly hair with side swept bangs. She comes in a striped blue and green rugby dress, a double-ribbon headband.
• Lanie Accessories – $32 includes a pretend laptop computer, messenger bag, letter and postcards, heart charm bracelet as well as her pet bunny, Lulu.
• Lanie Camper & Gear – $295.00 The Camper is large enough for Lanie to fit inside, comes equipped with a faux shower, a pull-down bed, a play refrigerator and stove, and a kitchen bench that doubles as storage space.
• Raccoon & Can Set – $34
• Wildlife Set – $34 Includes Owl, Squirrel and a Fox
• Lanie’s nightgown – $28 includes a nightgown, slippers, 2 hair bands and an orangutan
• Lanie’s Butterfly Outfit- $28 – woven eyelet dress, sandals and a knit cardigan
• Lanie’s Garden Outfit- $28 – Woven plaid tunic top, knee length shorts, white hat and sandals
• Lanie’s Hammock Set – $38 Green printed canvas and matching pillow hang on a white stand.
• Lanie’s Outfits for Girls sizes 6-16
• Lanie’s Rugby Dress for Girls – $42 sizes 6-16
• Lanie’s Headband for Girls- $8
• Lanie’s Nightgown for Girls – $34 sizes XS-l
• Lanie’s Slippers For the Girl- $22 sizes XS-XL
• Lanie’s Green Tee for Girl & Doll – $29 sizes XS-XL
• Lanie’s Blue Tee for Girl & Doll – $29 sizes XS-XL
• Lanie’s White Tee for Girl & Doll – $29 sizes XS-XL
• Lanie’s Red Tee for Girl & Doll – $29 sizes XS-XL
• Lanie’s Starter Collection
• $174 (Savings $15.95)
• Includes: Lanie doll and Book, Lanie’s Real Adventures paperback book #2, Lanie’s Accessories, Garden Outfit and Butterfly Outfit

Just Like You

• Midnight Skate Outfit – $34 Includes Fancy black skating dress, ice skates, skate guards, bouquet, headband and book
• White Tank & Brief Set for Dolls – $10
• Purple Tank & Brief Set for Dolls – $10
• Pink Tank & Brief Set for Dolls – $10
• Petal Pink Outfit – $28 Includes a woven cotton sateen sleeveless dress, fully lined, embroidered bodice and hem, shoes, hat and book.
• Petal Pink Outfit for Girls- $58 sizes 6-16
• Pepper Pet Set – $20 Husky puppy

Bitty Baby

• Cottage Rose outfit – $24 includes mock wrap top in cottage rose print, bloomers, shoes, headband and book.
• Spring Garden PJ’s – $24 includes Cotton interlock knit top, pants and slippers
• Bitty Basics Sleeper – $14 includes pink jersey knit sleeper
• Bitty Baby Girl’s Apparel
• Spring Garden PJ’s for Girl – $34 includes Cotton interlock knit top and bottoms sizes s-xl
• Spring Garden PJ for Girl and Doll – $54 (save $4)

Bitty Twins

• Blue Stripes Rain Gear – $26 includes striped raincoat with hood, boots and book
• Yellow Rain Gear – $26 includes yellow raincoat, hat, boots and book

Publications

• Lanie paperback book – $6.95
• Lanie’s Real Adventures – $6.95
• Cutest Nature Book Ever! - $9.95

Store exclusive/Souvenirs for Dolls

• Bucket Hat for Dolls – $8
• Classic tee for dolls – red only – $7
• Starry Dreams PJ’s for Dolls – $16 includes a white cami top with inner star printed satin shorts, that say American Girl
• Summer Accents Accessory set for Dolls – $16 includes berry plastic aviator-style sun glasses, berry plastic headband, white ankle length socks and berry canvas deck shoes.

Store exclusive/Souvenirs for Girls

• Bucket Hat for Girls – $15
• Classic tee for dolls – red or black $20 XS-XL
• Starry Dreams PJ’s for Girls – $34 includes a white cami top with inner star printed satin shorts, that say American Girl
• Bucket Hat for Dolls – $8
• Classic tee for dolls – red only – $7
• Adorable Accents – $8 includes assorted hair accessories that be used fort girls or dolls
• Adorable Accents – $8
• Pet Hat & Bandana – $8 includes a canvas hat and bandana that fits all pets and says American Girl

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the message for this year’s doll is “Go Outdoors”.

Lanie, a 10-year-old from Cambridge, Mass., will be the 2010 Girl of the Year doll for American Girl, Middleton, starting Jan. 1. She is described as a city girl who learns how to have fun outdoors. Through Lanie, American Girl is working with the National Wildlife Federation to encourage today’s girls to improve their health by tearing themselves away from their computer screens and discovering nature.

Now all we have to wait to find out is what her collection will consist of – considering it has been posted that the value of her collection is $559.

Lanie’s pet bunny is very cute! And now we know the polo in the book cover photo is really a polo style dress. Fun.

Thanks Lilly for sending this email on to me.

She just came “driving” through my office with Chrissa and her latest addition to the dolly family – Ashley the Madame Alexander Favorite Friends doll in the Build-a-Bear’s little red sports car! (We ordered the Madame Alexander Favorite Friends doll from Emily Rose on the 15th and she arrived Friday – now that was fast!!)

Ashley, her Madame Alexander doll is too cute! She absolutely loves her and has toted her around all weekend. Here is another picture of Ashley and Chrissa.

The Madame Alexander Favorite Friends dolls are supposedly 18″ dolls, but as you can see, Ashley is bigger than Chrissa. The face molds are cute but very different than the American Girl ones. The Favorite Friends dolls have soft bodies but they are different than the American Girl bodies – the harder vinyl portion goes down to about her armpits. They have very brushable hair and the American Girl doll clothes do fit (depending on the outfit).