For The Little Doll in Your Life

Act Quickly Before They're Gone

2011-11-28T09:00:00.029-05:00

We expect the following outfits to be sold out some time in the next week. If they're on your little girl's holiday wish list, you had better act soon.

HP173 Pink Heart Bathrobe (Price: $14.99)

HP924 Jazz Dance (Price: $18.99)

HP927 Plaid Skirt (Price: $18.99)

The Plaid Skirt outfit is one of our newer outfits, and I think it's so cute. I have a thing for plaid. Turns out my daughters agree, so I'm off to place my own order and add it to our samples we show at parties. You can shop online or contact me to place your order at shari_griffen(at)yahoo.com.

Marie-Grace Giveaway

2011-11-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

Lynda at Grandma's Cookie Jar is doing a giveaway. Enter by December 1st for a chance to win Marie-Grace, one of the new historical dolls from American Girl. Good luck!

Dollie & Me Matching Robes

2011-11-26T11:17:00.000-05:00

Sears is carrying a new item from Dollie & Me - matching fleece robes for your little girl and her doll. I've never been very impressed with Dollie & Me apparel because they use polyester blends. I won't buy clothing items containing polyester for me or my girls. I'm sure my loathing for it has something to do with being a child of the 70's - the golden age of polyester. LOL However, I do make an exception for fleece, which is surprisingly soft and cozy while being 100% polyester. These robes would make a wonderful gift to give on Christmas Eve so that your little girl and her favorite doll can enjoy wearing them on Christmas morning. And if you act quickly, Sears has them for 60% off through today as part of their Thanksgiving sale. They're only $18.40 for the set.

AG Party Supplies Giveaway

2011-11-17T09:43:00.000-05:00

Have you seen the new line of party supplies available from American Girl? If not, you can see my post about them here. Classymommy.com is doing a giveaway with an American Girl prize package that includes the invites for girls, invites for dolls, cupcake toppers, napkins, and cups too. You can enter here through November 19th. And even if you don't win the prize package, you can always contact your local Emily Rose @Home consultant for help planning a great doll themed party that your daughter/granddaughter will love. :)

New Product Spotlight: Adirondack Furniture Collection

2011-11-03T21:00:00.000-04:00

We recently added several new pieces of furniture at Emily Rose @Home. Here are the cute pieces of Adirondack furniture that are now available.

Adirondack Rocking Chair (Price: $24.99)

Adirondack Chair (Price: $24.99)

Adirondack Table (Price $24.99)


Adirondack Picnic Table (Price: $46.99)

These prices already include the furniture shipping charge, and if you order any of these items by Sunday November 6th, I'll cover the regular flat rate shipping and handling on your order (saving you $4.99!). Just email me at shari_griffen@yahoo.com to place your order and I will apply your discount.

Special thanks to Emily Rose @Home Consultant Susie Hyde of Sugar Land, TX for the poolside photos of her dolls with the new furniture. If you live in the Houston area, you should contact Susie about hosting a party or to see all the great Emily Rose @Home clothes and furniture in person. You can reach her at 713-412-4627 or skdollclothes@gmail.com

Marie Grace Giveaway

2011-11-01T12:00:00.001-04:00

They're doing a giveaway over at mommykatie.com. You can enter for a chance to win a Marie Grace doll from American Girl. The contest ends Nov 22, 2012. Good luck!

Photo source: www.mommykatie.com

Free American Girl apps

2011-10-19T12:00:00.002-04:00

American Girl has developed three game apps for iPhone and iPad, and you can download them for free at http://www.apple.com/itunes/

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cheer-on!/id455081225?mt=8

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shave-ice/id455075034?mt=8

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/secret-wardrobe/id455077719?mt=8

Win Cecile and Marie-Grace

2011-10-14T12:00:00.001-04:00

If you visit thedivinemissmommy.com before October 23rd, you can enter to win the two newest historical dolls from American Girl - Cecile and Marie-Grace. Just leave a comment. Good luck!

New Product Spotlight - Underthings Set

2011-10-11T17:13:00.000-04:00

Item HP968 - Underthings Set

A set that includes all the basics - 3 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of tights, and a matching underwear set. You get all seven pieces for just $17.99!

Halloween Accessories at Build-A-Bear

2011-10-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

A trip to the mall is never complete for my girls without a stop at Build-A-Bear. The last time we were there, they had a lot of their Halloween costumes and accessories out, and I saw these adorable Trick or Treat bags. They would work perfectly for you 18 inch doll as well. And at $3 each, they're a frightfully good deal! (Sorry - I couldn't resist)

Photo source: www.buildabear.com

Doll Party Supplies

2011-10-01T23:02:00.000-04:00

When I heard that American Girl Crafts was coming out with their own line of party supplies, I didn't honestly pay much attention. When I'm planning a party, I'm much more interested in picking colors or patterns that I like than in the company that is marketing it. This week though, I discovered that there are some items from the line that are designed for doing parties with your dolls, and that definitely got my attention.

Start out with invitations in two different sizes - one for your friends and one for their dolls

American Girl Sticker Doll Party Invitations

American Girl Sticker Party Invitations

Before your guests arrive, set the table with these adorable matching place settings

American Girl Doll Place Settings

American Girl Dinner Plates

American Girl Napkins And Rings

American Girl Drink Cups

You can also make matching purse favor boxes for your guests and their dolls

American Girl Purse Favor Boxes

I've linked here to Amazon, but these products are also available at Jo Ann Fabric & Crafts and Michaels.

If you're thinking about planning a doll themed party, why not host an Emily Rose @Home party? You can enjoy a great time with your daughter/granddaughter/niece and friends while also earning free merchandise. Plus, you'll have the added benefit of an Emily Rose @Home Consultant who will not only help you plan, but will also work to make sure that your party is both fun and relaxing for everyone (but especially for you - the hostess!)

AG Mini Doll Giveaway

2011-09-24T18:09:00.000-04:00

The latest mini American Girl Doll giveaway is going on over at BabyElan. Enter by September 28th for a chance to win a mini Cecile Rey or Marie-Grace. Good luck!

Free American Girl Event at Michaels

2011-09-19T22:19:00.001-04:00

Photo source: michaels.com

On Saturday 9/24 from 10am - 12pm, Michaels will be hosting a free American Girl Make It & Take It Event. You can craft a breakfast plate and chef hat for your doll. Based on the projects they're making, I'm guessing that these are samples of projects from the American Girl book Doll Dining.

If you're interested in also making an apron for your doll, you can check out my post here for my free directions or here for a McCall's pattern you can use.

Barnes & Noble Giveaway

2011-09-05T20:24:00.000-04:00

Photo source: www.barnesandnoble.com

The new historical dolls from American Girl have finally been released, and to celebrate, Barnes and Noble is doing a giveaway. Enter here by October 1st for your chance to win Cecile and Marie-Grace. Good luck!

New 18" Doll Patterns from McCall's

2011-09-02T13:40:00.001-04:00

McCall's has just released two new sewing patterns for 18" dolls (American Girl size) and they're really cute.

Photo source: www.mccallpattern.com

McCall's Pattern M6451
This pattern includes several different styles of aprons, hats, and headbands plus an oven mitt, a tote, and a small cat.

If you're looking for an apron pattern, you should also check out my post here about making matching aprons for you and your doll.


Photo Source: www.mccallpattern.com

McCall's Pattern M6452
With Halloween coming up soon, the timing for the release of this pattern couldn't be better. Would your doll like to go as a fairy? How about a mermaid? It even includes directions for making the cute accessories shown.

If you act quickly, you can take advantage of the Labor Day Sale at JoAnn Fabrics to get these patterns for only 99 cents (price valid through Monday 9/5).

Not a sewer or just pressed for time? Check out these similar outfits from Emily Rose @Home that can be used for Halloween or dress up play with your dolls.

Medieval Green Velvet ( Item HP815)
Price: $17.99

For the doll who is channeling her inner princess. This outfit is a favorite of my daughters and I as well as many of our customers.

Bridal/Communion (Item HP863)
Price: $19.99

A soft lace dress with a large satin bow accent (ties in the back) plus a veil.

AG Kanani Giveaway

2011-08-14T14:48:00.000-04:00

Photo from www.raveandreview.com

In honor of the grand opening of the American Girl Seattle store, Rave & Review is doing a giveaway of an American Girl's Doll of the Year, Kanani doll. All you have to do is visit their blog here and leave a comment to enter. The contest ends September 15th. Good luck!

AG Mini Doll Giveaway

2011-07-21T13:06:00.000-04:00

Photo source: http://babyelandaily.com

These months are flying by much too fast! It probably has something to do with it being summertime. This month's American Girl mini doll giveaway at BabyElan {daily} is for a Kaya doll and book. You can enter here through August 4th. Good luck!

AG Craft Kits at HSN

2011-07-13T10:36:00.001-04:00

Photo: www.eksuccessbrands.com

Looking for some crafts to keep your little girl busy this summer? HSN has several American Girl Crafts™ Kits on clearance right now. You can choose from the following:

American Girl Crafts™ Creative Room Pockets Kit ($19.98)
American Girl Crafts™ Desktop Organization and Drawing Kit ($14.97)
American Girl Crafts™ Pom-Pom Scarves & Felt Pins Kit ($8.00)
American Girl Crafts™ 12" x 12" Paper and Tool Kit ($24.50)
American Girl Crafts™ Mirror Message Board Kit ($8.00)
American Girl Crafts™ Learn to Scrapbook Kit ($7.00)
American Girl Crafts™ Fun Frame-a-Name Kit ($14.98)
American Girl Crafts™ Creativity Keeper Kit ($10.00)

Shipping on each item is $5.20, but with their Buy More & Save offer today, you save 50% off the shipping on each additional craft item you ship to the same address.

Happy crafting!

Thank you to Lourdes at AGBuddies2 for the tip on this deal :)

Rock On!

2011-07-06T17:21:00.001-04:00

We had a fun find at Michaels yesterday. They had this guitar shaped door hanger on clearance for 99 cents. It's made of wood, and it's the perfect size to let Emily rock out! We plan to decorate ours, but since it's a clearance item, I wanted to post it right away so that you can check your local store.

Emily is wearing the Denim Jacket with Peasant Skirt outfit from Emily Rose @Home. This outfit costs $19.99 and includes the three pieces shown: a white tank top, a denim jacket, and a brown peasant skirt with silver trim.

Here's a photo of the tag from the guitar in case you have trouble finding it at your store.

If your little girl's doll is an aspiring musician, she might also like the Rockin' Pop Star outfit from Emily Rose @Home. This outfit includes soft black pants, a cool shimmery tee, a belt, a black bolero jacket, and a soft microphone for $18.99.

For more rock band craft ideas for your doll, check out the May/June 2011 issue of American Girl Magazine. They have instructions for making an electric keyboard, a microphone with stand, a drum set, and a guitar (paper) with amplifier. If you don't have a subscription, you might be able to borrow it from your local library.

AG Mini Doll Giveaway

2011-07-03T22:49:00.000-04:00


Source: babyelandaily.com

This month's American Girl mini doll giveaway at baby Elan {daily} has been posted, and it's Josefina. These mini dolls are 6" tall, so they're the perfect scale to be used as a play doll for your full size AG doll. To enter, just leave a comment on their site before July 8th. Good luck!

Surf's Up

2011-06-18T21:11:00.000-04:00

I get a real kick out of using items in unexpected ways. So when you also add in the "cuteness" factor, you know I'm going to be impressed by this find from fellow Emily Rose @Home consultant Lori Spillman. She found these adorable surf board peg racks in the Dollar Bin section of Target for $2.50, and without the pegs, they make a great surf board for your doll. For those of you in the Princeton, NJ area, I checked our local store and they had them in stock. They also had a second design in blue, but I like the pink one best for it's "Surfer Girl" emblem. This would make such a fun accessory, especially if you have the AG Girl of the Year Kanani.

Lori's American Girl doll is modeling the bathing suit from the Day at the Beach Set from Emily Rose @Home. Besides the bikini shown, the Beach Set also includes two pairs of shorts - one blue denim and one white cotton. The entire 4 piece set is only $17.99.

For those of you located in the Santa Maria, CA area, you can contact Lori about hosting an Emily Rose @Home party or just to see all the great merchandise that's available. You can email her at lorispillman01@yahoo.com or call her at 805-354-1169/ 805-478-998.

Girl Scout Bridging Gifts

2011-06-12T23:34:00.000-04:00

In a house with three girls, it's no surprise that we're a Girl Scout family. However, our commitment jumped to a whole new level this year when I started a Daisy troop at our school and became a Troop Leader. What was I thinking??? Seriously though, it's been hard work but I've loved it. In the next couple weeks, my oldest daughter's Junior troop will be bridging to Cadettes and my troop (with my middle daughter) will be bridging to Brownies. In celebration of Girl Scouts, I'm offering a special discount on these two scouting themed outfits from Emily Rose @Home:


Junior Girl Scout (regularly $18.99)

Brownie (regularly $19.99)

If you order either of these outfits before June 30th, I'll take $5 off your order. Just email me at shari_griffen@yahoo.com. These would make a great bridging gift for your daughter/granddaughter/niece to honor her accomplishments this year. She'll be able to enjoy having her doll dress just like her as she moves on to the next level of Girl Scouts.

My apologies to those of you looking for a matching Daisy outfit. We're hoping that a Daisy outfit will be part of the new collection coming out this fall.

Thank you to my daughters Jane & Marie for modeling their American Girl dolls Molly & Emily and for helping me with the photography for this post.

American Girl Craft Kit Recall

2011-06-09T10:00:00.000-04:00

The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has announced a recall of American Girl Crafts™ Pearly Beads & Ribbon Bracelets kits due to excessive levels of lead. These kits were sold at Michaels stores and other retailers between September 2009 and June 2011. Please check to make sure that you don't have one of these kits in your household.

Emily Rose @Home takes child safety very seriously. All of our products have been tested for lead and phthalate by an independent third party and are certified as CPSIA compliant.

Online Shopping Is Back

2011-06-08T07:56:00.000-04:00

Hooray! Our newly redesigned website is officially open for business. Now you can shop our collection of unique and affordable 18" doll clothes and furniture online. Shipping on clothes is just a flat rate of $4.99, no matter how much you order. Have a question about a product or about placing your order? Just contact me and I would be happy to help - shari_griffen@yahoo(dot)com. With our new Emily Rose @Home website, you get all the benefits of online shopping (shop for gifts in your PJs while the kids are in bed) plus the added benefit of a personal shopping consultant like me. And we stand behind all of our products. If you aren't 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund. Happy shopping!

AG Mini Doll Giveaway

2011-06-06T13:17:00.002-04:00

Photo from BabyElanDaily.com

They're having an American Girl mini doll giveaway over at BabyElan {Daily}. I guess they will be doing a new mini doll giveaway each month. This month it's a mini Molly. My 7 year old was just telling me this weekend that she would like to collect the mini dolls. Simply leave a comment on their blog to enter. Contest ends Thursday, June 9th.

BPA in Food Packaging

2011-05-13T21:22:00.001-04:00

Since I know that many of you follow my blog because you have little girls in your lives, I wanted to share this information on a recent study by the Breast Cancer Fund and the Silent Springs Institute. Did you know that many canned foods come with a dose of BPA, the estrogenic chemical linked to breast cancer and many other diseases? This study was extremely small (only 5 families), but I found the results encouraging. Their BPA levels decreased 60% in three days just by switching to non-packaged food items. There is a lot of additional information available on the Breast Cancer Fund website, so you might want to check it out.

I began making several changes earlier this year to reduce my families exposure to BPA and other chemicals. I stopped using any plastic in the microwave, and as much as possible, I've been switching to non-canned food alternatives. We don't actually consume too many canned items, but we do eat a lot of soup, so I've switched to the soups that come in boxes (I buy it at Stop & Shop and Trader Joe's). And for my small stash of packaged fruit (for when the fresh fruit in the house occasionally runs out), I found the Polar brand at my local stores which is packaged in glass. They have diced pears & peaches as well as mandarin oranges and fruit cocktail. Not only did I eliminate the can, but the little glass containers are just so adorable, I can't bear to throw them away! They're just crying out to be re-purposed as containers for homemade bath salts or gift mixes. :)

"Addy's World" Tour at American History Museum

2011-05-10T18:29:00.002-04:00

Photo courtesy of the museum

Live near Washington D.C. or plan to visit there this summer? In honor of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, the National Museum of American History has added a self-guided tour called "Addy's World." The tour allows children, ages 8 to 13, to explore the museum and see what life would have been like for the fictional American Girl character, Addy Walker. Addy is one of the historical dolls available from American Girl. She is a nine-year-old girl who was born into slavery and escapes to freedom with her mother during the Civil War. You can read more about the museum tour here.

I'm hoping to visit D.C. this summer with my girls. I'm adding this to our "To Do" list.

It's a Doll's World

2011-02-10T12:39:00.003-05:00

On Monday Feb 14th at 7:30am the DIY Network will be airing a repeat episode of Creative Juice titled "It's a Dolls World." Projects will include a hand painted table and chairs, making pretend food for your dolls, and making a doll bed from a breakfast tray.

(Photo used with permission from http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com)

If you miss the episode or your cable provider doesn't carry the DIY Network channel, you can check out the recycled doll bed project on Cathie Fillian's blog Domestic in the City.

Valentine Candy Box

2011-02-09T13:18:00.008-05:00

Last year I discovered the site paperminis.com which offers printable doll and dollhouse accessories in many different scales. I confess that I've always been a little puzzled by the concept of scale for dolls, but I think I'm finally starting to understand it better. I would consider 18 inch dolls like American Girl to be 1:3 scale (18" x 3 = 54", similar to the height of a tween girl). Items that are 1:3 scale will be appropriately sized to look "realistic" when used with an 18 inch doll. Fashion dolls like Barbie are 1:6 scale, and the typical dollhouse is 1:12 scale. Paperminis.com offers items in all of these scales and more. Plus, if you join the Paper Minis™ Club (it's free!), you will receive a newsletter that includes product information and free sample printable projects that you can make for your dolls. Click here to find out about joining the Club.

The free project in a recent Paper Minis™ Club newsletter was a heart shaped valentine candy box. With Valentine's Day coming up soon, I thought this would be a good project to try out. I downloaded the project and printed it on white card stock.

I cut out the pieces and glued them together following the assembly instructions provided. (Sorry I don't have any photos of the project "in progress." Once I got going, I was having so much fun it was hard to stop. LOL) I followed their recommendation of folding the row of tabs before cutting, and that did make it much easier to fold evenly. I also scored along the bottom of the tabs before cutting the strips out to make a crisper fold line. I think the end result is so cute, and my daughters are excited about using it to play with their dolls.

Here is Marie's American Girl Emily doll with the candy box so you can see the scale. Emily is wearing the Tank Heart PJs from Emily Rose @Home.

Last year my oldest daughter Jane (then age 9) and I tried a similar project from miniatures.about.com. I let her do most of the cutting and it was definitely challenging for her. We had so much trouble with the folding that we never completed the box. I think the Paper Minis project is much easier. First, it's larger scale, so the pieces you're cutting out and folding are larger. Secondly, the design doesn't include scalloped edges, so it's easier to cut out. Now that I've completed a larger version and learned some tricks, I might try the project from miniatures.about.com again, but I wouldn't recommend that one for your first project or for kids (unless they're very patient).

Doll Tea Party at PB Kids

2011-02-05T12:05:00.003-05:00

Pottery Barn Kids stores will be hosting a Doll Tea Party on Saturday February 12th. Children are invited to bring their favorite doll or teddy bear and enjoy refreshments, stories, and a valentine's craft. RSVP is required, so contact your local store to reserve a spot.

Rebecca Rubin Paper Dolls

2011-01-17T21:38:00.005-05:00

At Bonggamom you can download an American Girl Rebecca Rubin paper doll plus two outfits and themed backgrounds for hours of play time. Print them now and tuck them away for the next snow day. :)

Photo: bonggafinds.blogspot.com

Doll Backpack & Lunchbox

2011-01-07T11:43:00.001-05:00

Photo: Pottery Barn Kids

Pottery Barn Kids sells these cute doll backpacks and lunch bags for their soft 18 inch dolls. They're regularly $19, but right now the navy set is on clearance for $9.99. You can even have it personalized with the doll's name (for an additional $6). These are modeled after the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie collection, so if your little girl is in need of a new backpack or lunch bag, now is your chance to get a matching set for her and her doll.

Photo: Pottery Barn Kids

Make A Cape For Your Doll

2010-12-18T20:36:00.003-05:00

(Photo from Old Days Old Ways)

I saw this project for making a cape for your American Girl sized doll at Old Days Old Ways many months ago, so I have no excuse for not posting it much earlier. I'm just going to share it now anyways, and maybe those of you looking for a last minute gift will take advantage of the idea. Otherwise, file it away for next year like me (but try to remember it sooner than I did).

For those of you who are not inclined to "do it yourself," check out the Winter Warmth Fur Set from Emily Rose @Home. It includes a warm and cozy shoulder cape with pom pom ties and a matching hat with bow. An added plus - it will keep your doll warm and looking fashionable long after the holidays are over.


Felicity Modeling the Winter Warmth Fur Set

(Felicity photo courtesy of Susie Hyde, Emily Rose @Home Consultant of Sugar Land, TX)

Last Chance For These Doll Furniture Items

2010-12-02T14:47:00.001-05:00

The following Emily Rose @Home furniture items are almost sold out, and once they're gone, that's it! They are being retired to make way for new furniture items that will be added to the collection next year.

The Wish Crown Collection - Canopy Bed
Price: $79.99

This sweet wooden bed is suitable for 14 - 18 inch dolls and comes with the pillow, coverlet, canopy and tie backs shown.

Natural Bamboo Bunk Bed
Price: $64.99

This product is made from solid bamboo and is finished but unpainted. It includes two pillows and two coverlets. The beds come apart so that you can use them separately or stacked as bunk beds. If you have two children to buy for, that's only $35 per bed!

Wish Crown Collection - Chaise Storage
Price: $79.99

This 2-in-1 product is especially nice if you have limited space. The top can be used as a chaise lounge while the storage chest underneath can hold your doll clothes and accessories

We expect these items to sell out soon, so act quickly! Any questions? Please feel free to contact me at shari_griffen@yahoo(dot)com or 609-474-0468.

Special Discount for a Special Date

2010-10-10T21:02:00.001-04:00

In honor of today's special date of 10/10/10, I'm offering 10% off any Emily Rose @Home order placed this week. Visit the online store to browse our collection of 18 inch dolls, doll clothes, and furniture, and then email me at shari_griffen@yahoo.com so that I can place your order and apply your discount.

*Offer valid on orders placed by email before 11pm PST, Saturday 10/16/10. 10% discount applied to order total before taxes and shipping.

Halloween Costumes

2010-10-05T15:13:00.010-04:00

From a Halloween past..... costumes for the girls' American Girl dolls courtesy of Grandma!

Molly is going as a gypsy (Butterick pattern #5661). It might be hard to see in the picture, but she even has little sandals. Instructions for making them are included with the pattern. I love the trim my mom bought to use for her jangly belt (you can find it at JoAnn Fabrics).

Here's Jane in her matching costume. The top is from a nightgown pattern (Simplicity #4767). She got longer sleeves to help keep her warm. My mom improvised the skirt based on the doll skirt by starting with a rectangular piece of fabric and gathering the waist. Her belt is the same piece of trim as for the doll costume, but it's been applied to gold ribbon to make it a little more substantial.

Marie's doll Emily is going as a witch (Butterick pattern #5661). I'm sure she's a good witch, not a bad witch. The broom is a great touch. Her necklace is actually a kids size Halloween bracelet.

Looking to outfit a doll for Halloween? Emily Rose @Home has several outfits that would make great costumes for your doll.

Cool Ballerina

Cherry Cheerleader

Hospital Scrubs


Medieval Green Velvet

Native American Dress

Plus, don't forget that shipping on clothes is always a flat rate of $5.99, no matter how much you order, so you can take advantage of this opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping too.

Free American Girl Event at Michaels

2010-09-21T00:29:00.000-04:00

Michaels will be having a free American Girl® event on Saturday 9/25 from 10am - 2pm. They will be crafting items "for a doll sized party." I'm guessing that their projects will be based on the recently released book Doll Parties: Celebrate With Your Doll All Year Long! (American Girl). Checking out this book has been on my "To Do" list, so hopefully I can make it to the event with the girls.

QVC American Girl event

2010-09-10T10:20:00.002-04:00

The annual QVC American Girl event is this weekend. The show is on Saturday at 4pm ET, but preview shopping is available online now with some special anniversary pricing good through 9/11/10 at 11:59pm. If you just want a doll, then these packages probably aren't for you, but if you're looking to buy a set, these would be a good buy.

This set with the 2010 American Girl of the Year Lanie seems to include everything you would get buying the Lanie Starter Collection at AG ($174) but with one less outfit and only one book instead of two.
QVC Price: $117.96

This American Girl Rebecca set is gorgeous. I confess that I'm finding myself tempted to shop with this one.
QVC Price: $139.74

This American Girl Julie set even includes her bike, which by itself costs $80 at AG (wow! $80?? really??).
QVC Price: $154.68

I hope this helps some of you get an early start on your holiday shopping.

Barnes & Noble American Girl contest

2010-09-02T23:43:00.003-04:00

Now through October 6th, Barnes & Noble is having a contest where you can win a My American Girl™ doll. Just visit their site here to enter (must be 18 or older). Good luck!

Creative Idea for a Doll Armoire

2010-09-01T14:03:00.005-04:00

Mandy at Moody Girl Projects made this awesome doll armoire for her daughter's American Girl doll out of an old bathroom cabinet! Now that is some creative vision for you. I think the idea of using the open space for a bed is great one, especially if you have limited space. Or if your doll accessory collection is overflowing (like ours), you could put storage baskets with all your odds and ends in there. Best of all, if you re-purpose an existing cabinet, you're being kind to the environment as well.

Not feeling crafty or don't have time to take on another project? Why not consider this doll armoire from Emily Rose @Home instead.

AG Themed Scrapbook Pages

2010-08-30T14:02:00.002-04:00

While it's true that I dabble in an awful lot, I have resisted scrapbooking. It actually hasn't been that hard for me to resist. Something about it overwhelms me - maybe because there are so many choices and I'm so bad at making decisions. Plus, it's all I can do to just keep up with our digital photos anyways (I just recently finished putting photos from 2004 in an album. I rest my case.) I realize that I'm the exception rather than the rule, so I thought many of you would enjoy these American Girl themed digital scrapbooking kits from Kikkin Kreations. She's very thoughtfully made them available as a free download, so now you can create a special scrapbook page to commemorate your daughter's first doll or a visit to the American Girl store.

New Doll Outfits Coming

2010-08-19T16:47:00.002-04:00

Emily Rose @Home will be adding 11 new doll outfits to their collection this fall. They should arrive around the end of September, but here's a sneak peek to hold you over until then. Can't wait until then to shop? Then visit our store to browse our existing collection of great dolls, clothes, and furniture right now:

Emily Rose At Home

Free AG Sewing Patterns

2010-08-16T02:22:00.001-04:00

Looking for free sewing patterns for your American Girl doll? American Girl Playthings has compiled patterns originally offered by Pleasant Company for their historical doll collection. You can download patterns to make historical outfits and accessories for Addy, Samantha, Felicity, Josefina, Kirsten, or Molly.

Happy sewing!

Doll dress and pinafore

2010-07-21T17:20:00.002-04:00

After my daughters got their American Girl dolls, my mom was motivated to rediscover her love of sewing. She had made clothes for me and my dolls when I was younger, but she had passed her sewing machine on to me and hadn't sewn in years. I'm so happy that she started sewing again. Not only do the girls have some lovely outfits for their dolls, but they also have a wonderful memento of something their grandma made just for them. Plus, my mom has now moved on to quilting, and I can live vicariously through her. :)

This adorable dress and pinafore oufit is being modeled by Marie's doll Emily. It was made using McCalls Pattern 3275.

Jane is a big fan of Little House on the Prairie, so this type of outfit definitely appealed to her, and Marie just loves dresses....period. The girls enjoyed being able to go into the fabric store and pick out the fabric for their doll's dress.

I think the sleeves on the dress are a little overly full, and I would recommend that you consider altering the pattern to make them less "poofy."

Too bad this pattern didn't include a sun bonnet, but I think I've seen a pattern for those somewhere online. Hmmm.....that might make a good summer sewing project with the girls.

I've suggested that Emily Rose @Home add a "pioneer" theme outfit similar to this to the collection. What do you think? Would the "little doll" in your life enjoy an outfit like that?

18" Madame Alexander Dolls

2010-06-25T14:30:00.002-04:00

Does your little girl's American Girl doll need a friend? Or are you considering introducing your little girl to 18" dolls, but you're not sure if she's quite ready and you're hesitant to invest that much money? Here's a solution! Madame Alexander recently released a line of 18" play dolls (the same size as American Girl®). They can wear American Girl® clothes as well as other brands of clothes designed to fit 18" soft bodied dolls. They're called Favorite Friends, and they're available now from Emily Rose @Home. There are eight dolls to choose from, and at only $39.99 each, you get a high quality doll at an affordable price.

Enter to win Lanie

2010-06-23T14:21:00.003-04:00

Woman's World Magazine is offering a chance to win American Girl's 2010 Girl of the Year, Lanie. Just visit their website to enter. Good luck!

Summer Reading - Part 2

2010-06-21T11:38:00.000-04:00

Take advantage of these summer reading programs for kids:

Borders '10 Summer Reading Double Dog Dare - Read any 10 books, complete the form, and you can turn it in at the store for a free book.

Barnes & Noble Passport to Summer Reading - Read any 8 books, complete the form, and you can turn it in at the store for a free book.

Your local library - Most libraries have great summer reading programs for kids that include special performances and activities as well as prizes for reading. And it's all FREE!

Creative Idea For a Doll Bed

2010-06-19T22:43:00.002-04:00

When I saw this post on Fangletronics, I just knew I had to share it. Can you believe that this cute doll bed started out life as a wine rack? People's creativity never ceases to amaze me. And I love the pictures of the girls helping. Good job dad!

Summer Reading Recommendations

2010-06-12T19:27:00.001-04:00

I know some people have already finished school, but we're still anxiously awaiting the arrival of summer vacation around here. I'm fortunate that my daughters LOVE to read (in fact with Jane, my oldest, it's bordering on obsession LOL). I asked them to make up a list of books that they would recommend to other girls their age, and here are their suggestions:

Jane (age 10, finishing 4th grade, an advanced reader) recommends:

The Harry Potter series
The Little House on the Prairie series (I also loved these books as a little girl)
The 39 Clues series
American Girl books - Meet Molly and The Silent Stranger: A Kaya Mystery
The Wednesday Tale series (her all time favorite)

Marie (age 6, finishing kindergarten) recommends:

The Fancy Nancy series
The Priscilla series
Belinda Begins Ballet (there are other Belinda books too, but we haven't read them yet)
The Biscuit series (there are many "My First I Can Read" titles in this series that are good for beginners)

Jane and I recently joined a Moms & Tweens book club at Newtown Bookshop. So far we've read:

Boston Jane - We both really enjoyed this historical fiction, the first in a trilogy. I literally didn't want to put it down and stayed up WAY past my bedtime reading it. Grandma was visiting when we finished it, so we passed it onto her. It was fun for the three of us to discuss it. The second book just came out a few weeks ago, and we're anxious to get it and find out what happens to Jane next.

100 Cupboards - We're in the middle of reading this now. We both love the fantasy genre, so we were excited to see this selection on the club reading list.

The girls and I also just finished reading the third book in The Doll People series. If you're not familiar with it, I highly recommend it. The stories are about a family of dollhouse dolls and their secret life when people are not around. They're very entertaining and great for reading aloud. We usually take turns reading to each other. The Mean Mimi character in the second book and the Tilly May character in the third book totally crack them up.

So, we would like to know.......what books do you recommend??

American Girl Craft Event at Michaels

2010-05-26T21:39:00.002-04:00

If you haven't tried the new line of kits and supplies from American Girl Craft, here's your chance to "test drive" them for free. Michaels will be having a Free Family Event this Saturday, May 29th from 10am - 1pm You can make this adorable flower card.

(Thanks to Lisa Marie at Raising American Girls for the heads up)

Visit our new online store

2010-05-24T16:24:00.006-04:00

Hooray! Our new online store is now open. I hope you'll stop by to visit. You can check out the latest in fashion and furniture for your 18 inch doll, place an order, or request a party. Hosting a party is easy to do and a lot of fun, but best of all, you also earn free Emily Rose @Home merchandise! The new website has some great features to help make your party a success.

www.emilyroseathome.com/sharigriffen

Central Park outing with American Girl NYC

2010-05-04T14:28:00.004-04:00

Here's an upcoming event at the American Girl store in New York City that sounds like a lot of fun.

American Girl Central Park Tour

May 23: 9:30 a.m.

Discover the delights of nature—just like Lanie, our 2010 Girl of the Year! Your girl’s special day begins with a delicious brunch at the American Girl Cafe. Then visit the Museum of the City of New York, where expert guides will lead you on a walking tour of Central Park’s acclaimed Conservatory Garden. After your visit to the park, return to the museum and your girl can design her very own garden space! Transportation provided by Gray Line New York.

General Information

Tickets: $75 per person
Reservations required; call toll-free 877-247-5223.
For girls ages 8 and up.

Don't live near NYC? Why not plan your own garden tour party with friends? Visit a community rose garden or arboretum. For helpful information on gardening with kids, including fun party ideas and activities, check out kidsgardening.org.

Green Spring Craft

2010-05-01T21:14:00.002-04:00

Is the little doll in your life a lover of the outdoors like the American Girl doll Lanie? This recycled craft from DIY Dish would be great for celebrating the arrival of spring (finally!), or as a special gift for mom or grandma for Mother's Day. You'll find it at minute 12:00 of the episode.

Dollie & Me at Kohl's

2010-03-27T15:16:00.004-04:00

Over the holidays I saw girls' dresses at Kohl's that came with a matching dress to fit an 18" doll. I watched as the spring stuff arrived thinking maybe they would offer something similar for Easter, but didn't see anything....until today! They have sundresses available in size 4 - 6X and in size 7 -14. You can check them out at Kohls.com, but there were more styles to choose from in my local store. They're regularly $50, but you know chances are you're going to get it on sale (i.e. today's price - $20). Not a bad deal for a dress for your daugher AND her doll.

Pick of the Week: Hospital Scrubs

2010-03-24T10:34:00.006-04:00

Use coupon code "picky43" to get the Hospital Scrubs doll outfit for only $12. This is a great outfit for imaginative play.

Welcome Spring With Matching Sundresses

2010-03-23T12:48:00.006-04:00

Here's a project that even a beginning sewer can do. JoAnn Fabrics has a line of fabric called Garden Party that is smocked along one side and finished on the other edge. It comes in different lengths and many different prints. All you do is sew a seam and you have a cute little skirt. Add some straps and you have a cute top (in the shorter length) or a sundress (in the longer length). It is sold by the inch, so you just buy what you need. For a dress or top, you measure bust size and add 1-2 inches. For a skirt, you measure hip size and add 1-2 inches.

This is what the fabric looks like straight from the bolt. Purple plus Minnie Mouse makes this a big winner in our house.

The length I got was a little long for my daughter, so I cut it off at the bottom and sewed a hem. I used the extra fabric to make the straps, but you could use ribbon instead if you wanted. For each strap I cut a piece 2 inches wide, folded it in half lengthwise with right sides together and sewed a 1/4 inch seam. I only attached them in the front so that they could be tied halter style behind the neck. I figured this was the easiest way to adjust the fit as she gets older (and taller!).

While I was working on this, Grandma got busy making a matching dress for her American Girl doll Emily. Aren't Grandmas awesome? She started with 5 inches of fabric. In order to make the gathered section smaller, she cut a 3 inch section off the top. Then she trimmed the extra gathered fabric off the bottom section by cutting along right above the first gathering line (see picture at right). Then she sewed the two pieces together, added straps, and voila!.....Emily is stylin' in her new dress.

They only have a few styles of this fabric available at JoAnn.com, but my local store had a lot more to choose from.

Happy sewing!

Free Pajama Sewing Pattern

2010-03-22T20:48:00.007-04:00

There's something in the works at Emily Rose. Soon they will be offering sewing patterns for some of their Wish doll clothes designs. To celebrate, they're having a great giveaway on their Facebook page this week. Just visit their page and leave a comment, and you'll receive the pattern for the "Wish On a Star" pajamas absolutely free! Happy sewing everyone!

"Sweet" Project Idea

2010-03-16T23:00:00.003-04:00

Check out the first episode of The DIY Dish. They're making a cake pincushion out of felt, but this would also be an easy way to make a cake for your dolls. I like the one with the "fondant" topping myself. Then you could add a red bead to the top for a cherry, or use bugle beads for sprinkles. The decorating options are only limited by your imagination. And since there's no sewing involved, it would be an easy project to do with "the little doll in your life."

I liked the tutorial for making fabric flowers too. I think these make great embellishments for girl's clothes or accessories, but I've never made one before. And I'm definitely entering the Heather Bailey giveaway. That little stuffed elephant would make an adorable toy for the baby.

Yet another project - quilts!

2010-03-09T21:23:00.003-05:00

I recently found out about the organization Quilts For Kids. You can sign up to volunteer on their website and they will send you a kit with cut fabric and instructions to make a quilt. All you do is provide the batting and sew it together. Then you ship it back to them and they donate it to a child in need. How cool is that! I made a pact with my mom and another friend that we would each complete one of these. My mom and I are rather new to quilting, but luckily our friend has a lot of experience and will hopefully guide us through any tough spots. Here are the two kits that I received:

I really like the dog themed one. I'm thinking I will have my 9 year old help with this project. She loves to sew, and since a lot of the cutting is already done, I think this would be a great introduction to quilting for her. I hope that some of you reading this will be inspired to make a quilt for this wonderful organization.

Great Deal on the Kit Kittredge Movie

2010-03-03T14:08:00.007-05:00

Amazon has marked down the Kit Kittredge: An American Girl DVD to only $2.50! (Plus, it qualifies for free super saver shipping on orders over $25.) My girls loved this movie. Why not invite your daughter's friends over for a Kit Kittredge party? Visit www.kitkittredge.com and click on "Kit's World" for crafts, recipes, and game ideas to go along with the movie. We especially liked the "fan race" game.

Looking to dress your 18 inch doll with a Kit Kittredge theme? A news reporter like Kit would love this matching Trench Coat & Messenger Bag from Emily Rose @Home.

Updated August 2010: The Trench Coat & Messenger Bag outfit is now available exclusively through Emily Rose @Home business owners. Please contact me directly to place your order.
shari_griffen@yahoo(dot)com

A chance to win Lanie, the American Girl Doll of the Year

2010-02-17T09:35:00.002-05:00

Have you heard about this great new contest from American Girl? My girls are busy planning what their pictures will be. Mother Nature has certainly been providing us with lots of opportunities for great winter shots lately. Just submit 5 photos of items from the great outdoors, and you could win a Lanie Doll & Book or even a Lanie Doll Collection. Visit the American Girl website to enter Lanie's Backyard Photo Contest. All entries must be received by March 15th, so go get that camera!

Cooking Up Some Good Times - Matching aprons for you & your doll

2010-02-11T11:03:00.007-05:00

This is a sewing project that I did last year with my mom and my two oldest girls. I originally found the directions for the child's apron on Joann.com. Luckily I saved them because they don't seem to be available there anymore. We adapted the pattern for the doll (being modeled here by my daughter's American Girl Emily). It's a very ingenious design with a single strap running up, around the neck, and back down. This means the strap opening is adjustable to fit over the head without needing to be tied behind the neck.

You can download my directions here.

This could be a great first project to introduce your daughter to sewing. My oldest, who was 8 at the time and had minimal sewing experience, was able to do the whole thing with some guidance from mom and grandma. For my middle daughter, I did the cutting and then had her sit in my lap so that I could guide her through the sewing. And of course they loved going to the fabric store to pick their own fabric! They ARE their mother's daughters.

Having a doll tea party?

2010-01-20T13:48:00.006-05:00

We love to have tea parties with our dolls. These adorable blank cards from Tasha Tudor would make wonderful doll tea party invitations.

I've loved Tasha Tudor's art ever since I was a little girl. I received a copy of her book A Time to Keep when I was about 7 or 8 years old from my grandparents. I still have it, and my daughters enjoy looking through it with me. She also illustrated one of my favorite childhood books, The Secret Garden.

Not sure what to serve your dollies at the tea party? This miniature pie craft craft from MakingFriends.com is on our "To Do" list. (Tip: I went to the store looking for "E Beads" and didn't have much luck. After coming home and researching online, I found out that E Beads is another name for pony beads or 6/0 beads. Can you tell that I don't have much beading experience? Armed with that information, I found some red ones at Jo-Ann's that were opaque and looked more like cherries to me than the clear ones)

I hope you take time for a cup of tea today.

Introducing the little dolls in my life

2010-01-16T16:34:00.005-05:00

With three little girls, it's no surprise that dolls are part of my life, but I'll confess that having daughters just gives me a good excuse to play with dolls as a grown up. I've always loved dolls. My great aunt made stuffed dolls and animals, so when I was growing up, almost all of my dolls were handmade. Now I'm sharing them with my daughters, ages 9, 6, and 9 months (well, not so much with the baby - LOL).

I have a soft spot for Madame Alexander dolls, and I recently had my mother's childhood dolls from the 50's cleaned up and re-strung. Here is Cissy:

I believe this one is Nina Ballerina, but I'm not sure. Her dress was badly stained, and I was amazed that they were able to get it out. I think she is so beautiful!

My girls of course love American Girl dolls. We went to the American Girl store in New York City two years ago to buy their dolls. They chose Molly & Emily. My mom has made many wonderful outfits and accessories for their dolls. I love to craft and sew, but finding time is always a challenge.

Our favorite online source for doll clothes is Emily Rose. This past summer they launched a mother/daughter home party business, and with our love of dolls and three daughters, I knew it was a perfect opportunity for us. If you're interested, you can visit our online store:

Emily Rose At Home - Clothes, furniture, and accessories for your 18 inch doll

Between our own doll interests and researching ideas for parties, I'm always coming across interesting projects. I figured I might as well put them all together in one place. And so this blog was born!