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| This is Ari by Renate Hockh. |
After reading the February 11, 2013, post, No Sling Included, blog reader, AAtika, wanted to know the measurements of this little guy's sling (that I initially thought I did not have).
Before providing the measurements, I wanted to share better photos than those in my initial post on Naila and Ari by Renate Hockh. The photos below illustrate how he is placed in the sling that is draped around Naila's shoulders and tied in front as she carries him on her back.
Made of muslin-looking, cotton blend material, the measurements of the sling are as follows:
Each tie measures 8 inches.
The length of the sling (minus the ties from top-to-bottom) measures12 inches.
The widest area of the sling (minus the ties from side-to-side) measures approximately 10 inches.
The area in the center that tapers in, width-wise, measures 8 inches.
From top-to-bottom and side-to-side (including ties, with ties extended) it measures 30 inches.
I hope this helps!
dbg
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Please visit and "Like" The Doll Blogs: When Dolls Speak I Listen
Before providing the measurements, I wanted to share better photos than those in my initial post on Naila and Ari by Renate Hockh. The photos below illustrate how he is placed in the sling that is draped around Naila's shoulders and tied in front as she carries him on her back.
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| Ari is secured tightly in the sling that Naila lovingly has on her back. The sling is secured her shoulders. |
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| This side view shows how carefree Ari is in his sling. He knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that Naila will not let him fall. |
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| Looking as though he wants to be placed back on Naila's back, Ari agreed to pose for this photo still wearing his sling, which is shown below followed by the measurements AAtika requested. |
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| Ari's sling |
Made of muslin-looking, cotton blend material, the measurements of the sling are as follows:
Each tie measures 8 inches.
The length of the sling (minus the ties from top-to-bottom) measures12 inches.
The widest area of the sling (minus the ties from side-to-side) measures approximately 10 inches.
The area in the center that tapers in, width-wise, measures 8 inches.
From top-to-bottom and side-to-side (including ties, with ties extended) it measures 30 inches.
I hope this helps!
dbg
Follow my Dolls for Sale blog
Please visit and "Like" The Doll Blogs: When Dolls Speak I Listen
Is a sling like that something that is used in the real world? I would be so worried about the kid falling out. I wear a weighted backpack and usually to take it off I have to back my butt up against a wall or something and wiggle my upper body forward to take it off. I cant even imagine having a kid back there.
ReplyDeleteYou must have a strong back, Muff. Mine is hurting thinking about having to carry something heavier than my purse and often that is too heavy.
DeleteAri and Naila are Balinese. I have not quite figured out if Naila is his mother or older sister. However, carrying children on the back is both a cultural thing and a matter of choice as Nikia so informed (love her comment!). You might find as interesting as I did the Huffington Post article, "Crib, Lap or Back? What Sleeping (and Awake) Babies Tell Us About How Culture Matters."
dbg
Muff, I carried my daughter all over the place and for all kinds of tasks in a variety of slings, structured carriers, and pieces of fabric, until she was 3.5 years old. I've worn her on my back, hip, and front, and a plain piece of fabric had about the best utility. She nursed in the sling, ate snacks while on my back, and sometimes got food in my hair. She was worn during protest rallies and dinner prep, treks through airports and Amtrak stations, on subway rides and whenever I vacuumed bc she was afraid of that machine. Recently I did a presentation in her class as they finished a unit on African cultures. I was able to strap my nine year old on my back with three yards of fabric. I found babywearing to be super convenient. Cranky two year old having a tantrum when you have somewhere to go...throw her in the sling mid scream, start walking and she falls asleep within a minute every single time...and you are on your way! Running for the train or a bus or trying to make a transfer, no problem bc you don't have a huge stroller to navigate and you don't need strangers to help you get up and down the subway steps. Need to cross a busy street...you don't have to push your baby out ahead of you in the stroller...risking the possibility of your child getting side swiped by a speeding truck. Axe murderer chasing you, no worries (beyond the obvious). The baby is on your back, just run like Hell. Ok that last one never happened, but I'm sure you get the drift. I loved baby wearing, and it was great to see my little one slinging and nursing her baby dolls when she was tiny. Now we have slings and baby wraps in our Barbie arsenal, which rocks for the moms with no articulation.
ReplyDeleteCarrying your daughter on your back must have been a wonderful way to continue the act of bonding with your daughter, Nikia. I loved your description of how baby wearing worked well for the both of you.
DeleteI have been a work-at-home mom, then WAH-granny since 1982. I used a front sling for both grandsons until they were about 5 or 6 months as I was their baby sitter (well my husband was too) from their infancy until they entered Mother's Day Out and on to kindergarten. They actually thought they lived with us and their parents' home was where they slept.
Though it was not recommended for use when seated, I used the sling to hold my youngest grandson while I sat at my desk and worked. My arms and hands needed to be free; the sling replaced them. So baby wearing can be for convenience as well as have cultural significance for some.
dbg
Thank you so soo much for this informative article. In addition to the measurements, the pictures make it even more clear as to how the sling is constructed, and how it is positioned. Thank you again and now I can start my journey of making one so that my Ari and Nalia can be displayed as they should! :)
ReplyDeleteI want to extend another thank you to Black Doll Enthusiast for actually acknowledging my question and answering it with so much detail. Many people would have just simply ignored the question and would not have responded at all and because of that, I am so humbly grateful for your response.
On another note, I read somewhere that Ari is Nalia's little brother. I have the Native American version of these (Theresa and tino) and according to the excerpt on them, they are brother and sister.
You are more than welcome, AAtika! I am always willing to answer a question (especially doll related) when I know the answer. Often when I do not know, I'll try my best to answer or lead the questioner in the right direction.
DeleteThank you for answering my question or confirming what I thought was most probably the case regarding this pair. I always thought Naila looked too young to be Ari's mother. My assumption that she is his sister has now been confirmed.
Good luck with fashioning a sling for Ari. It doesn't look too difficult to do.
dbg
You are very welcome. :) I will have to make 2 of these one for this pair, and the other for my 2 heidi ott dolls that are mother and daughter :) There is a Facebook page for heidi ott dolls and another doll seller if you are interested. I will post the links :)
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/CynthiaKays-Orphans-Himstedt-Spanos-Schrott-Swarz-Rosellini-Zawieruszynski/401918703214929?sk=photos_stream
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heidi-Ott-Dolls/125433007603086
Thank you for sharing the Facebook pages, AAtika. I love Heidi Ott dolls.
DeleteTypically, I no longer collect dolls over 16 inches and preferably under 16 inches. However, Naila and Ari came to me for a price I could not refuse. As a fellow doll owner, I am sure you understand the exceptions we make. I also have never been one to collect one category or one size doll. That would bore me silly! But because there are space limitations now, I have been forced to scale back on the size dolls that do come to live here.
It's always nice to admire what others collect.
dbg
No problem! oh ok. I am just starting out with collecting,but yes, i do know the exceptions that are made. Nalia is the tallest doll I own as well. I hope to branch out to other categories as i learn more about doll collecting. I have read your articles and have learned a lot thus far. :)
DeleteJust remember to collect what you love... you'll never go wrong doing that.
Deletedbg
Hi Debbie! Happy New Year! I know this is probably not the right forum for this, but I wanted you to see this FB Video and ask if you know anything about this doll. I posted this also to your facebook page. My neice sent it to me. Being out of doll collecting i thought you might be aware. Thanks! https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=725365480809892
ReplyDeleteHi Lee,
DeleteI have seen this video. My daughter sent it to me a few weeks ago. At first I was alarmed over the absence of a black version with books, but decided there had to be a good reason.
The Our Generation Girl dolls are sold exclusively at Target. However, according to the Our Generation Girl website's list of dolls, there are two versions of the dark skinned doll, Abrianna: the one shown in the video without books and other accessories, and there is one that is identical to the white version in the video, which comes with books, a library card, and a host of other accessories.
This gone viral video insinuates the company only makes one version of the black doll, the one without books. This is not true.
Why both versions were not in stock at the time the video was shot is unknown. It could be any number of reasons, but I can think of two: 1) that particular store's buyer did not stock that version – and if this is the case, consumers should complain to that store’s buyer and/or Target’s corporate headquarters and stop blaming the Our Generation Girl Company; or 2) at the time the customer shot the video, all deluxe Abrianna's could have been sold out.
I also checked Target's website to see if the doll is shown there; it is not. But there again, it could be completely sold out based on it being more popular than the white version. I have an older Our Generation Girl that has a book. My doll’s name is Vanessa, which is the name that was used for the black doll at the time mine was purchased several years ago, but she has the same head sculpt as Abrianna.
Here is a link to the where both versions of Abrianna are shown -- one without books and one with books and other accessories.
dbg
It looks like the link to the Our Generation Girl website did not come through.
DeleteTrying again: Our Generation Girl website.
Clarification: The doll not shown at Target's website refers to Abrianna with books. The doll-only version is at their website.
dbg