#Daisies and Daffodolls

[futuristicsaladparadise]

Meet Florrie!

TW: mentions of war and pandemic

Flora Amelia Whitman, better known to everyone as Florrie, is growing up in the small town of Greenleaf in 1917. Florrie and her twin sister, Francie, have fun playing with their dolls and taking music lessons from Mama. Florrie is learning to play the cello and wants to be a professional cellist someday. Things become worrisome as more and more people talk about the country joining the war against Germany. But President Wilson has said that won’t happen, and the president knows what’s best for the United States, doesn’t he?

Florrie Learns a Lesson

The US has joined in the Great War and everyone is in a patriotic fervor. At school, the teacher assigns Florrie’s class the task of writing letters to soldiers who will be leaving home soon. Florrie doesn’t know what to write until her grandfather, who fought in the Civil War, comes to visit and helps her to provide words of comfort and cheer. 

Florrie’s Surprise

Wartime rationing has made Christmas seem far less fun this year, but Florrie and Francie have planned a Christmas Day concert for the family, in secret. It’s hard to practice without being heard, but luckily no one goes into the garden shed in the winter. But then the girls discover their 18-year-old brother, Fincher, has an even bigger secret! 

Happy Birthday, Florrie!

Florrie and Francie have their tenth birthday at the end of May and have planned a big party with all the girls from school to celebrate. But a few days before the party, the girls come home coughing and feeling achy, and most of the other girls seem to be sick, too. Being sick on their birthday is no fun, but Fincher and Papa save the day...and the ice cream!

Florrie Saves the Day

School started as usual in September, but only a couple of weeks into the school year, everyone was sent home, as another wave of flu has arrived, and this time people are getting sick, really sick, and a lot of them are dying. It’s a very scary time, with black crepe on nearly every door, showing that someone there died, and no one outside - public gatherings are banned and public places like the movie theater are forced to close. People won’t talk to one another and everyone wears a mask. Fincher’s wife, Mary, and their new baby get sick and need a doctor, but none can be found. Florrie disobeys her parents’ prohibition on going out in public as she searches for someone who can help.

Changes for Florrie

The US government has extended the ages of men eligible for the military draft, and both Papa and Fincher have been drafted into the army. Mary and baby Edith are moving to Mama and Papa’s house, since they are both still weak from the flu. The most frightening news of all comes when Mama receives a telegram from the army. Both Fincher and Papa have the flu, and no one knows if they will survive. The whole family prays hard for their safe recovery and gets a sick room ready in case they can come home. 

#Daisies and Daffodolls #OC series #American Girl dolls

[doll-collecting-aerialist]

Daisies and Daffodolls Day Twenty-Nine!!

Francesca and her family are never in the same place for to long. Between being cattlemen, and the Dust Bowl, Frannie has seen many places.

#dolls #american girl doll #ag #american girl #ag dolls #dollblr #pleasant company #cyo #create your own #American girl cyo #American girl create your own #daisies and Daffodolls

[desertdollranch]

May photo challenge, day 30: Flowers.

Peaseblossom is one of the attendants to Titania, the Fairy Queen, in Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. While on an errand for the queen, she stops to admire and smell some blooming lilacs.

I haven’t quite finished making her fairy wings or pointy ears yet, but I wanted to get a picture of her with the lilacs in the short time while they were still blooming. The severe drought here has hit my plants pretty hard! For fashion inspiration, I’ve been looking at the lovely paintings of artist Cicely Mary Barker, like this one:

#Daisies and DaffoDolls #peaseblossom #ruby red fashion friends #flowers #lilacs

[adventuresindolls]

May Photo Challenge!!

Our next photo challenge, #Daisies and Daffodolls, will begin on May 1st! It’s a creative, for fun, non-competitive daily challenge for you to share pictures of your doll(s). There will be a new prompt each day, listed below to give you a month to prepare, and you can participate in as many or as few days as you’re interested in. There is no judgement whatsoever, so please share regardless of how complex your props are, and don’t worry about posting a prompt late.

First of all, thank you so much to @desertdollranch​ for helping with the prompts, especially those surrounding AG birthdays and holidays, and for getting this whole photo challenge thing started back in September! And a huge thank you to @lesbianelizabethcole​ for designing all 5 banners!

The ground rules are the same as in October and December, but I’ll reiterate them for anyone that might be new. Tag all of your prompt posts with #daisies and daffodolls - all three words, complete with spaces. This will allow us to better find and share each other’s posts. You can organize your own posts however you want, but I recommend including the day’s prompt somewhere for context. Also feel free to post on other social medias if you want.

This is not a competition, and there are no prizes, but it should be a lot of fun. Feel free to use any size and brand of doll that you have! American Girl is very popular on doll tumblr, but all other types are welcome as well, including both established (historical or modern) characters and OCs. This could range from 18-inch dolls to Barbies to handmade dolls or porcelain dolls or even paper dolls.

I’ll reblog this post weekly until the beginning of May, and then begin each week of May with the prompt list for that week. Please find a list of all prompts below the cut.

5/1: The first day of each photo challenge is traditionally for seasonal fashion. Does your doll have a favorite spring outfit? Is it cool and light, or are they still bundled in a sweater for the chilly mornings?

5/2: Spring is all about new beginnings. Is your doll learning a new skill or trying a new activity this spring? Or maybe they just met a new person who became important in their life?

5/3: Today is National Textiles Day. Kirsten’s friends gave her a quilt they made after she missed school to help her family. Does your doll have any clothes or other items that are handmade? If not, do they make any textile items themselves? This could be something sewn, knitted, crocheted, or quilted.

5/4: May the 4th be with you! Does your doll like Star Wars? Who is their favorite character? What about other stories? Pick a hero from any movie, show, or book that your doll loves and have them act out a scene as that character.

5/5: Friends are forever. Who are your doll’s closest friends and what do they do together? Maybe they like to play board games or go to the mall or play pretend. Or maybe your doll is planning something special for their friend.

5/6: As the weather gets warmer, it’s the perfect time to head outside. Does your doll play sports, or do they prefer casual games with their friends? Maybe they like picnics or quiet hikes through the woods.

5/7: Happy birthday, Maryellen! Maryellen often feels overlooked in her large family, and she works hard to stand out and show her unique personality. What makes your doll special and unique?

5/8: It’s career day! What does your doll want to do when they grow up? Show them dressed up for and/or acting out their dream job.

5/9: Happy Mother’s Day! Addy and her mother escaped to freedom together, Caroline’s mother ran a shipyard, and Kirsten’s mother encouraged her not to lose heart. Does your doll have a special bond with their mother? How do they celebrate Mother’s Day? If they don’t have a mother or don’t have a good relationship with her, consider today a free space to show us something you really want to but that isn’t included in these prompts.

5/10:  Bugs are everywhere! We might avoid some of them, but others are welcomed. Lightning bugs, ladybugs, bumble bees, and dragonflies are a few happy spring bugs. Show your doll doing something bug-themed. They might take a net out to catch bugs or draw a picture of a bug or hold a ladybug they found. Be creative!

5/11: Parties are always fun! Is your doll going to any birthday parties or sleepovers this spring? Maybe they’re attending a wedding or some other celebration? What are their favorite party activities?

5/12:  Spring weather can be a relief after the cold and darkness of winter. What is the weather like where your doll is? Foggy? Rainy? Bright and sunny? Show your doll interacting with their local spring weather.

5/13: Everyone needs mentors and heroes. Who does your doll look up to? What have they learned from them or how do they honor them?

5/14: It’s the last day of the school year. What’s your doll’s favorite extracurricular activity or aspect of school that they’ll miss until next fall?

5/15: Happy birthday, Luciana! Luciana loves learning about space and wants to be an astronaut and go to Mars one day. Getting to space involves studying many different things, particularly various fields of science. Show your doll doing something related to space or science.

5/16: Today is National Do Something Nice for your Neighbor Day. What does your doll do that helps others or makes the world a better place?

5/17: Let’s try something different today! If your (OC or non-AG) doll had their own American Girl-style book series, what would be the central theme? What sort of things would happen to them? Show us at least one scene from this hypothetical series.

5/18: Beaches and swimming are iconic activities as the weather gets warmer and people have more free time. Rebecca and her family went to Coney Island for a picnic. Does your doll enjoy picnics, sunbathing, or sandcastles on the beach? Maybe they like to swim for exercise or hang out at the pool with friends? (I do not recommend putting your doll in a public chlorine pool)

5/19: Happy Birthday, Kit! Growing up seeing the effects of the Great Depression on people around her, Kit is determined to report on important things happening to real people. How does your doll relate to current events? Are they involved in activism or spreading awareness? Is there an important social issue that affects them personally or that they feel is very important? Or is there something good happening in the world that they like to think about?

5/20: Spring is a great time for tea parties. What’s in your doll’s teacup? Maybe they’re drinking a fancy tea, or maybe they prefer a refreshing glass of juice.

5/21: Spring is full of baby animals. Show your doll interacting with some sort of baby animal. (Safely! Please don’t grab a real squirrel or bunny!)

5/22: In December we celebrated Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day. I’d like to reprise that, but with a twist: this time, we’re headed into the future! The amount of time and what your doll finds in the future is completely up to you. What do they do while there?

5/23: Cakes and pies and ice cream, oh my! What is your doll’s favorite dessert?

5/24: There may be fewer holidays in spring than in December, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to celebrate! Does your doll celebrate Passover or Easter? Or maybe they prefer a more obscure spring holiday to liven things up? Show them participating in whatever celebration you like.

5/25: Yellow is the color of flowers and sunny days and ducklings. Show your doll wearing or using something yellow.

5/26: Happy birthday, Samantha! After her birthday party, Samantha hears Aunt Cornelia speak at a suffragette meeting in New York City. What is a cause that is important to your doll? Show them with a sign supporting or protesting something close to their heart. As an added challenge, use a cause unrelated to the current events prompt.

5/27: It’s summer vacation! What are some of your doll’s favorite activities now that they’re free from school? Alternatively, what are some of their favorite hobbies to do anytime?

5/28: Happy birthday, Cecile! For her birthday, Cecile’s brother Armand gave her a beautiful porcelain doll that looked like her. Does your doll have a favorite doll or toy?

5/29: Late spring and early summer is a great time to go on a road trip or vacation. Where is your doll traveling to, and what are they doing there? Or maybe their family chose a staycation this year - what new fun new things are they discovering close to home?

5/30: Today is National Water a Flower Day. Show your doll interacting with flowers or other plants.

5/31: What is your doll planning for this fall? What are they looking forward to when school starts again? Is a big change approaching as the seasons and leaves turn? What does the future hold for them?

#Daisies and Daffodolls #American Girl Dolls #Our Generation #dollblr

[dolls-and-cats]

May photo challenge, day 25: yellow

Josefina y Sombrita con flores amarillos

#daisies and daffodolls #josefina montoya

[starsfadingbutilingeron]

May Photo Challenge, day 18: The Beach

Today, Kailey and Stacy headed to the shore to catch some waves. While Kailey surfed in the crystal blue water, Stacy stayed on the shore to search for seashells. They both had a wonderful time, and can't wait to go back!

#daisies and daffodolls #my dolls #american girl #american girl dolls

[sam-started-it]

May the 4th be with you!

While I’m not super into Star Wars, one of my best friends is. Turns out Luciana is too!

More adventure below!

Just a normal day in the forest with her new pal, R2

Something seems off though... Luci feels a dark force

It can't be- Darth Vader?

Luckily Luci has trained for this! She gets out of the force hold and takes the high ground! Take that dark side!

#american girl #daisies and daffodolls #may the 4th #luciana vega #my dolls

[doll-princesse]

Daisies and Daffodolls day 3: handmade!

“Wow there’s all these to choose from!” Says Joss. “Kaya, which do you want to wear?”

Today Kaya is looking for a new dress to wear from the dolls’ shared handmade wardrobe. She likes her green gingham, but its a bit hot now that the temperature has risen.

“It sure is nice of Mimi to make us all these clothes.” Kaya comments “I can tell they put a lot of love and creativity into each one.”

“How about this one?” Joss asks. “It’s got short sleeves.”

“That’s nice. It’s a good option.” Says Kaya. “But I’d like to wear yellow.”

“Oh, in that case, how about Josefina’s lacy yellow dress? She’s nice and always shares.”

“No, that’s okay.” Kaya replies. “I want to wear a sundress instead.”

“This one’s perfect for spring!” Kaya says. “I’ll go try it on.”

“That will look so good on you!” Joss exclaims. “Let me know if you need help with the zipper.”

“Ta-dah!” Says Kaya. “I’ll wear this one after all.”

“Nice choice!” Says Joss “and look— now we both have sundresses.”

“Hey, yeah! We match!” Kaya says with a smile

#ag dolls #my dolls #joss #kaya #daisies and daffodolls

[wigs-and-wonder]

5/7—

Today’s #Daisies and Daffodolls prompt asks us to show off what makes our dolls special and unique. Well, I had to take the chance to take some glamour shots of Kaya. Since I now have two classic-mold dolls and three Josefina-mold dolls, Kaya’s mold makes different from all my other dolls, and I love it!

#daisies and daffodolls #American Girl dolls #ag dolls #doll photos #my dolls #my photos #kaya #kaya'aton'my

[futuristicsaladparadise]

May photo challenge: What’s in your cup?

Tea, of course! You can’t have a proper British breakfast without it, and Samantha is reenacting the breakfast scene from The Secret Garden. I found the fabric a couple of months ago after looking at pictures of Edwardian clothing and decided I had to make Mary’s pinafore apron. Samantha is wearing her school dress underneath.

Here’s the original:

#Daisies and Daffodolls #the secret garden #American Girl dolls #samantha parkington

[doll-collecting-aerialist]

Daisies and Daffodolls Day Three!!

For national textiles day, my dolls are wearing some of the childhood outfits my grandma made my AGs!! My entire family sews, and growing up we couldn’t afford AG brand items, so a good majority of my doll collection contained handmade items. I was always so excited to open a grandma package around my birthday or Christmas because it meant new clothes for my dolls!

#american girl doll #dolls #ag #ag dolls #american girl #pleasant company #nostalgia #addy Walker #Julie Albright #marie grace gardner #Melody Ellison #truly me 54 #Kirsten Larson #nellie o'malley #custom American girl #daisies and Daffodolls

[desertdollranch]

May photo challenge, day 2: New beginnings

When Mary Lennox arrives at Misselthwaite Manor, she isn’t impressed by what she sees. The house and its grounds are dull, lifeless, and colorless. But when she discovers the entrance to a secret garden, surrounded by high walls and climbing ivy, she feels the coldness in her heart beginning to thaw. She is determined to help bring the garden back to life. 

Perhaps this new life in a new home will be a new beginning for Mary, a springtime in her soul. Maybe what she thought was dead and overgrown is actually just dormant, ready to be awakened with a touch of sunshine and fresh air. 

#Daisies and DaffoDolls #mary lennox #the secret garden #our generation dolls #custom dolls

[lissysagdollhouse]

Sisters In Sundresses! Day 1 of the Daisies and Daffodils Photo Challenge is favorite spring outfits. For the Abubakar-Valencia sisters (Melody, Loriette "Etty" and little Alice) spring means bright colors and swishy skirts. It's a little too cold for their actual favorite outfits of sleeveless dresses and sandals (or preferably for little Alice barefeet) but they still love this time of year!

#american girl #american girl dolls #Daisies and Daffodils #daisies and daffodolls

[dolls-and-cats]

May photo challenge, day 21: baby animals

Because Josefina took care of her when she was newborn, Sombrita imprinted on Josefina and became her little shadow (hence her name). One of my cats likes to always be near me in a similar way and it makes my heart so happy.

#daisies and daffodolls #josefina montoya #sombrita #my dolls

[starsfadingbutilingeron]

May Photo Challenge, day 1: Spring Fashion

Stacy is excited for warm weather and sunshine after a long, cold winter! She's already got summer on her mind with her rainbow T-shirt and denim shorts, which are perfectly coordinated with her red tennis shoes.

#daisies and daffodolls #my dolls #american girl #american girl dolls

[quiglettt]

Daisies and Daffodolls: Day 12

This is Matilda! I took her outside to take some pictures, which I haven’t done in a very long time. She was very excited. She gave me this great shot of her peeking around my dad’s shed.

#daisies and daffodolls