Spotlight on Nellie…an American Girl with the “Blues”

I don’t know why I sold my Nellie doll…well, actually I do. I thought my Rebecca doll was a more versatile doll and I didn’t think I needed 2 dolls so close to the same era. After looking at these pictures from the archives, clearly I was mistaken! I should have kept Nellie….and she was such a great bargain too. I found her brand new for $50 one night on Ebay. She was in mint condition and I happened to get on my computer just as she was listed. Cha-ching…yes Ma’am, I bought her within 10 seconds of seeing her. She always looked wonderful no matter what I made for her. I picked out a few of my favorite dresses of hers spotlighting the “blue” ones. I hope you enjoy seeing them… Now I’m blue for selling her…

If you click on any picture it will enlarge.

I don’t remember giving my doll dresses names like I do now, so we’ll call this one the “Button and Striped Piping Dress.”

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I’ll call this one “Pug Puppy Blue Dress.”

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This will be the “Pinafore Dress” set.

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I’ll call this one the “Circle Skirt Striped Blue with LOTS of Lace.”

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Let’s call this one “White Diamond Applique.”

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And last, this will be “Muted Blues with Antique Lace Bib Front.”

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Okay, everyone, shall we vote for our favorites? Let me know which one you like the best, and why it stands out the most to you…

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

30 thoughts on “Spotlight on Nellie…an American Girl with the “Blues””

  1. Jeanne, I think Nellie is just adorable! To me, she looks like a real little girl would look. Most dolls have too much hair for me, but of course, they are just dolls! Nellie looks so good in blue, I will agree, and I especially like the one titled “Circle skirt striped blue with LOTS of lace”. Why, well, the color is so striking on Nellie, I love the special touch of the lace and buttons without it being too overpowering, and, gee, what am I trying to say here? I just love the way it fits and looks on Nellie! She stands out—-in a good way!

    I love the detailing on all these dresses and it was very hard to pick just one. Now THESE are my cup of tea, and each on is wonderful in it’s own way!

    1. Good morning Linda,
      Thank you for your sweet comments! You picked one of my very favorites too. I just loved how that dress turned out…everything about it.
      Guess what I’ve been doing this morning? Looking on Ebay at Nellies!!! Silly me!
      I used to have just the historical girls… maybe I should get back to them…and leave the modern girls to everyone else. I do love period sewing!
      Thanks Linda,
      (How’s the kitchen so far… 1 more day to go?)
      blessings, Jeanne

      1. Oh, the kitchen! The countertops look wonderful! Today my hubby is connecting the garbage disposal and dishwasher, plus water ! Ran into a few problems and has been going back and forth to Lowe’s.

        We still have to do the backsplash, and will do beadboard for that. I need to figure out what color, and then we get the beadboard and paint. So, a little more than one day, but it is coming along and I love it so far!

        1. Wonderful news Linda,
          I hope the rest goes smoothly… pick a pretty color!!!
          Blessings, Jeanne

  2. Hi Jeanne. Well, I was thinking of NOT commenting because you asked for our favorite and even though I went through your photos 3 or 4 times, I cannot decide. LOL! I love Nelly in all of your blue dresses, really and truly!
    My daughter’s first AG dolls were Samantha and Nelly. She got them both one Christmas and was THRILLED! I always liked Nellie’s wig best; the perfect color for any outfit and an easy and cute style that doesn’t get messy or get in the way of the dresses she is modeling. I wish I could find this style for Gina.
    Wishing you a happy day!

    1. Hi Cindy,
      Thanks so much for looking at my dresses and your kind words about them.
      Monique used to sell a wig almost like Nellie’s…it was a side swept thing with little wispy bangs and curled under just at the jawline…but they discontinued it… I always planned to get it, but it never happened. If I ever see anything close I’ll let you know…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. I absolutely love Nellie. I liked her more than Samantha. Then they rereleased Samantha and adored her as well, so now Nellie has her friend. 🙂 I think Nellie looks gorgeous in blues. It makes her eyes pop!

    1. HI Christine,
      I have to agree with you… Nellie does look good in the blues and it truly does make her eyes pop… I’m glad you have both girls… I need to sew for them more…maybe I will.
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. Your Nelly certainly looks pretty in blue, Jeanne, and I like her freckles. I particularly like the dress with the diamond inset. You must have had that in your stash; if you went looking for something like that you would never find it. I’ve never seen one before.
    Enjoyed your book review yesterday, though I was very late reading it.
    I also like seeing your old photos. We don’t expect you to make an outfit a day for us to drool over.

    1. Thanks Jevne,
      I did have that diamond shaped applique in my stash and thought it went perfectly with the diamond print fabric.
      I’m glad I’m not required to get a new dress done every day or we’d be in big trouble! It’s nice to have some old pictures to draw from…
      Thanks for your encouragement Jevne,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. Good morning, Jeanne,
    Like Cindy, I’ve looked at the dresses several times and can’t choose a favorite. They are all beautiful and unique. The lace and buttons are so perfect to the design. What beautiful dresses. Nellie is a pretty doll and I love her hair, especially the color. She does look good in blue.
    I’m sure that’s Samantha’s background book you used in your pictures. I have Samantha’s and Molly’s books and I know Kirsten had one- Does anyone know if Kit had a background book?
    Have a great day!

    1. No Kit didn’t have a book. Felicity, Kirsten, Addy,Samantha & Molly each had books. Ah, the good old days of American Girl.

      1. Yes, They were the only ones with Scenes and Settings books. Josefina and Kit got Welcome to (insert doll’s name) World like the others. I also liked the cookbooks and craft books my daughter and I used to enjoy. How I miss Pleasant Company days!!! All the extra little goodies.

    2. Thanks so much Paula,
      Nellie is a beautiful doll, and like I told Linda, I found myself looking on Ebay at “Nellie” dolls… I am so fickle! Yes, her hair color is the most beautiful thing about her…unless you include her sweet freckles or her gorgeous blue eyes…
      Yes, those are Samantha’s background scenes… perfect, don’t you think?
      Debi answered you… Kit didn’t have a book, but it would have been fun if she did.
      Thanks Paula,
      Blessings, Jeanne

    1. HI Paula,
      Yes, Addy did have a Scenes and Settings book. I used it a lot because many of my “scenario’s” were about Addy’s mom making her a new dress and one of the scenes in the book was of the sewing room where Addy’s mom worked.
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. I love “Button & Striped Pipping Dress” since it was the first dress I ever bought from you. It still likes so nice. I wish you would sew more for that time period. Love your blog and always read it first thing in the morning. God bless you & your family. And thank you so much for your ministry, dear Lady.

    1. Thank you Debi,
      I’m so happy you bought that dress and that you still like it! Like I told Linda at the beginning of the comments, I have found myself looking at Nellie dolls this morning, so guess what, maybe it’s putting me in the Edwardian mood!
      Thanks so much for your very kind comments…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  7. P.S. I also loved the ribbon you used on Striped Piping dress. I remember you used it on several outfits around that time.

    1. Hi again Debi,
      Yes, that ribbon!!! When Hobby Lobby decided to clearance it all out, I bought ALL that they had because I just loved the way you could tie bows with it… being wired and all. I still have quite a bit left.
      Thanks, Jeanne

  8. HI
    Love those blue dresses…How you come up with all the different ideas is beyond me!
    After much deliberating I think I like the Pug Puppy Blue dress because of the unique way you used the vintage lace with the full skirt.
    Each one is pretty all by itself..but you asked for a fav and that one is mine 🙂

    1. Good morning Kathie,
      Thanks for taking time to let me know your favorite. I found a whole bunch of vintage laces at a yard sale and thought this was a great way to showcase it. As I look over these blue dresses, it makes me want to cut one out right now and work on it… ????
      Thanks Kathie,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  9. Hi jeanne,
    I LOVE Nellie. I think she is my favorite with the Josefina mold and i love her hair and adorable freckles. Mine is actually renamed Mairin ( Irish for Mary) and alternates between Samantha’s era and the 1930’s as an immigrant. After seeing all the gorgeous outfits you made for Elizabeth, I bid and won a NIB one from eBay. I must have gotten a dud because in person I didn’t care for her. I got rid of her and bought a NIB Nellie instead. With her hair slightly clipped back I’ve even moved her into the 1950’s era.
    Now I’ve been looking at caroline and even though she is so blond ( same hair color as Julie) I love her decal eyes like my Samantha and Felicity have. If I can save enough to get her I’ve now decided I like the Classic better than the BF, wouldn’t you know.
    Have you ever considered her? She would time travel between regency and Civil War.
    Fewer dolls mean each one must cover more time periods. 🙂
    I love Nellie in blue, my favorites of your dresses is the Circle Skirt Striped Blue.

    1. Hi Laura,
      Now that I’ve seen all these pics of Nellie today, I’ve got Nellie fever…oh dear!
      I had considered Caroline at one time, but I asked on here if everyone thought I should get her and they all pretty much agreed that my Elizabeth was pretty enough to stand in for a Regency girl, so I nixed the idea… I still look at her occasionally though. I hope you find the funds to get her.. I know how it is to WANT a doll so much you can hardly stand it.
      Thanks for your vote fro the circle skirt dress on Nellie… one of my very favorites…
      Blessings, Jeanne

    1. HI Jan,
      The vintage lace collar I used for Nellie’s dress was a particularly pretty one and recently I spotted one just exactly like it on Ebay…but it was $60…so I passed… :o(
      I’m glad you liked it…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  10. Glorious outfits! So glad to see the close detail in the photos. Couldn’t decide which dropped waist dress I liked the best. They all are wonderful. You’ve given me ideas of how to apply some of the vintage lace I seem to have collected. I do have an Emily, but have been sewing lately for the smaller 10″ girls/boys. Guess I will have to return to AG and make something. Love seeing your photos.

    1. Thanks so much Joy,
      I’m glad I inspired you to make something for your girls! You’ll enjoy the 18″ size after sewing for the little 10″ kiddos!
      Blessings, Jeanne

  11. Well, they are all awesome, but I think I like the first one the best (buttons and striped piping). I am always a fan of piping, especially a bias-cut stripe, and the lace inset in the front really sets it off. I have a Nellie and really like her freckles and her hair length. The shorter hair is less versatile than the longer styles, but it is so easy to manage!

    1. HI Carolyn,
      Ooooo…all these compliments on my Nellie is giving me dolly fever to get her again… I loved her hair even though it was shorter…it was just so cute on her.
      Thanks so much for picking your favorite.
      Blessings, Jeanne

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