Making a Doily Romper for an Early 1900s AGD Composition Doll

This is a 9-inch AGD-marked composition doll attributed to Allied Grand Dolls who specialized in black dolls beginning in 1915.

I acquired my first 9-inch AGD-marked early 1900s composition doll in June 2017. It arrived wearing a dingy pair of oversized pants, and the composition was crazed (lifted) in a few areas. I restored it and made a papier-mache romper using tissue paper. 

An identical AGD-marked doll (shown in the leading photo and in the next two) arrived in March 2025. The second doll with the same dimpled cheeks is in much better condition, but it also needed clothes. 

The bent-knee AGD-marked baby doll is shown from the back.

A close-up of the doll's back illustrates the doll's AGD mark.

Making the doily romper was simple. 

The things I used.

I used an 8-inch white (pre-crocheted) doily, a piece of white felt, scissors, Glue Dots, and white grosgrain ribbon to make a no-sew romper for the second AGD doll.

Two cut pieces of white felt cover the doll's body and pelvic area as illustrated. The felt is held in the back with Glue Dots.

Next, the doll's body is laid on the doily and centered to allow enough room for the doily to cover the body. Then, each arm is placed through a loop in the upper sides of the doily.

In this picture, both arms are in a loop hole on both sides of the doily.

Next, a pointed area at the bottom of the doily is brought up between the doll's legs, and a measured and cut grosgrain ribbon is threaded horizontally through two side-by-side loop holes in the flap. The ribbon is long enough to bring the loose ends up to thread through the upper sides of the doily as illustrated next.

The ribbon is threaded through the lower flap of the doily and both loose ends are threaded through the upper sides of the doily in this picture.

The ribbon is pulled tight and tied into a bow to create a closure. The excess doily near the doll's neck is turned down to make a collar, and the no-sew romper is completed.

Later, I might dip the romper and ribbon into a cup of coffee to give it an aged appearance. 

I made a 3-tiered doily dress in April 2024 for a German reproduction character doll that I did not share here. View the video of how that dress was made here. 

Related Link:

Clothing a Circa 1915 Composition Doll

Museum Installation of an AGD-Marked Composition Baby Doll 

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©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

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The Melanie Dolls Breonna

The Melanie Dolls Breonna

I intended to order this doll months ago and finally did last week. It arrived quickly, and shipping (at the time) was free!

She's still attached to her unopened blister card, and she apparently kicked one of her shoes off during travel, but from what I can see, Breonna is a nicely made doll that only costs $25 + applicable taxes. 

Breonna has sculpted and rooted hair.

The hair (half-molded and half-rooted) was of concern and is the reason I hesitated to order this doll. I was afraid that the braided cornrows would not look realistic. Surprisingly, they are better than expected. 

 

Another Closeup

Description: The Melanie Dolls Breonna is a 12-inch fashion doll designed by Datreese Thomas to inspire girls to appreciate their beauty, confidence, and purpose. Molded black cornrows are on the top and sides of the head; with rooted curly, loose black hair in the back. Breonna has brown-painted eyes and a closed mouth with dark red lip color. 

Dressed in a crisscross black knit halter top and pants, and platform-soled black high-heeled shoes, silver drop earrings, and a cuff bracelet on each wrist complete her look. Extra articulation is at the elbows and knees; however, I have not tested the range of the articulated joints. The feet are much larger than traditional Barbie dolls'. I'm not sure which other dolls' clothes and shoes will fit Breonna.

Several affirming "Black Girl Mantras" to boost self-esteem are on the back of the box.

A quote on the back of the box and the accompanying information card are the main reasons I wanted to support the young woman who created this doll.

"Representation is essential for young black girls. Collectively, we must be seen. Individually, we must see ourselves. To associate ourselves with beauty, we must see ourselves being represented as beautiful."

Click, tap, or stretch to read about the creator of The Melanie Dolls, Datreese Thomas.

"In my personal journey of self-discovery, stemming from moments of doubt and lack of self-belief, I've learned that genuine self-love is my expression of God's love for me. By creating this doll, I aim to offer young black girls the same gifts I received from God—Self Love, Identity, and Confidence..."—Datreese Thomas, Founder and CEO of The Melanie Dolls. 
 

__________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

If you're not already a subscriber, visit, "like" and follow the Black Doll Collecting Facebook page or bookmark the Black Doll Collecting home page and visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays when typically new posts are published.

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Doll News

Recognition of the 2024 Annual UFDC Awards recipients is in the Spring 2025 issue of UFDC's Doll News.

The 2024 Annual UFDC Awards recipients are recognized in the Spring 2025 issue of The Official Journal of the United Federation of Doll Clubs Doll News. Scans from the page and a close-up of the Educational Endeavors Through Dolls recipient are shown above and below. 

I remain deeply honored to be the recipient of this prestigious award and grateful to the Motor City Doll Club of Detroit for nominating me.

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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

If you're not already a subscriber, visit, "like" and follow the Black Doll Collecting Facebook page or bookmark the Black Doll Collecting home page and visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays when typically new posts are published.

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2025 Birthday Dolls

This shipping box contained birthday gifts from my friend, Debra R.

In addition to the LeBron James Kenbassador doll that was an early, very much appreciated birthday gift this year from a doll friend, I received the doll-related items featured in this post from another close doll friend, Debra R. 

The well-packed gifts

A beautiful birthday card was placed on top.

Debra used Barbie gift wrapping paper this year.

This is a group photo of the dolls and doll-related items.

Barbie Style Fashion Signature Doll #2 (box front)

The back of the box illustrates the contents.

The box flaps are open to show what's inside.

Released in 2020 and designed by Linda Kyaw-Merschon, the Barbie Style Fashion Signature Doll #2 gift set includes 1 doll, 5 fashions, 2 pairs of shoes, 6 accessories, a doll stand, and a certificate of authenticity.

This lovely doll uses the Goddess sculpt, has a petite Made to Move body, black rooted microbraids, and is dressed in gray knit two-piece underwear.

Two Barbie Dream Besties Brooklyn dolls were also in the package from Debra R., the debut doll, released in 2024, and the Skate Party version, released in 2025. 

This beautiful Princess Tiana necklace is not a doll, but Debra R. knows I collect Princess Tiana dolls.

First Black Barbie items: a T-shirt and a tumbler are beautiful collectibles to commemorate the first Black doll named Barbie, released in 1980 (copyright 1979).

Barbie Pop Reveal Rise & Surprise

Barbie Fashion Fever Rockstar Nikki replaces the white Barbie that was originally inside the Pop Reveal Rise & Surprise container. (When a button is pressed on the handle, the top pops open and the doll rises.)

Barbie Fashion Fever Rockstar Nikki uses the Asha head sculpt.

Debra said Mattel did not make an African American Barbie Pop Reveal Rise & Surprise set. So, she replaced the original doll with Fashion Fever Rockstar Nikki. 

Full-length view of Barbie Fashion Fever Rockstar Nikki

Nikki has straight brunette hair with bangs with fuchsia streaks, brown painted eyes, parted lips, painted teeth, and sparkly mauve lip color. Her original clothes include a white crop top with the word "Rock" and a guitar in graphic print, a silver lamé faux fur collared vest, a mini skirt made of black tulle, white lace, and faux leather that ties on one side of the waist with fuchsia cord. She wears black knee-high boots with fuchsia mock laces. Her jewelry includes a black beaded choker with a fuchsia G clef pendant, two fuchsia bangle bracelets, and one black bangle bracelet.  Nikki has jointed elbows and wrists and click-bend knees.

Friends Forever Club Dolls clothes and wigs

Inside an orange Coach cloth cosmetics travel bag was a package of Friends Forever Club wigs and two packaged fashions. 

This was a milestone birthday for me and was one of the best I've ever had, which was acknowledged in different ways by family, friends, and Internet associates. I also created an ACLU Foundation birthday fundraiser that almost reached the $200 donation goal. 

The birthday card from my son assured me that reaching this milestone birthday is something to celebrate.

Underneath the card inscription, he wrote, Happy B-Day to the 'American Character Tressy' Debbie of Mamma's! And in a speech bubble, he wrote and illustrated, You're a collectible now!

I don't mind being considered a valuable collector's item nor being compared to the value of a Black American Character Tressy. 

Related Post

LeBron James Kenbassador Doll

__________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

If you're not already a subscriber, visit, "like" and follow the Black Doll Collecting Facebook page or bookmark the Black Doll Collecting home page and visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays when typically new posts are published.

Check out what I am selling here. 
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*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum
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Barbie Fashionista #240's Hair Treatment

Barbie Fashionista #240's hair before conditioning

As discussed and illustrated in my previous post and the photo above, the ends of Barbie Fashionista #240's wavy hair appeared dry upon arrival. 

#240 is prepared to receive hair treatment.

To remedy the dry appearance, I removed her clothes, wrapped a rubber band around her hair near the ends, secured a paper towel around her body with tape, and applied Salon Selectives Curl Stretch Cream and water to the hair ends.*

The pre-treated hair is banded near the dry ends.

The rubber band was removed, and Salon Selectives Curl Stretching Cream and water were combed through the doll's hair.

I combed the curl cream through and replaced the paper towel with a baby washcloth to protect the doll's body from the cream. I secured the washcloth with a hair clip. She stood inside a mug on the windowsill overnight to dry.

After drying overnight, the waves and curled ends appear more vibrant.

Next, she was redressed.

The curl stretch cream and water created curl definition and added sheen. *I could have used mousse instead, but I'm satisfied with the results.

 __________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

If you're not already a subscriber, visit, "like" and follow the Black Doll Collecting Facebook page or bookmark the Black Doll Collecting home page and visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays when typically new posts are published.

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Barbie Fashionistas #239 and #240

Barbie Fashionistas #239 and #240

While I was on a hiatus from this blog in April, Fashionistas #239 and #240 were purchased. I wanted #239 because her Taya head sculpt was unfamiliar to me, and I believe this is the first time Mattel has used it on a doll with #239's complexion. Fashionista #240 has a new head sculpt with a copyright year of 2025. She uses a Curvy body while the cowgirl is on a Tall body.

A close-up (while still in their boxes) illustrates the dolls' pretty faces.

Ordered from Amazon, both dolls arrived in distressed boxes with scratches on the cellophane, making them difficult to photograph inside the box, but I did that anyway. I'm so glad I had no plans to leave them in the box. 

In-the-Box Photos

#239 (full)

#239 close -- my pictures don't do her loveliness justice.

 

#240 in full view

#240 close-up--she is lovely, too, and appears to be a tweaked previous sculpt, but I can't put my finger on which doll she most reminds me of.

Out of the Box

They are free, and their boxes are discarded.

Both dolls have dark brown rooted hair. #239 has a side part with drawn edges (or baby hair).  Both have brown eyes. #239's closed lips are frosty rose. #240 has an open smile with matte rose lips. 

This photo from the back illustrates their hair length and texture.

#239's hair is silky, while the ends of #240's wavy hair appear dry. I'll add a dab of conditioner to see if that helps. #240 has a center part. 

Side cutouts add a burst of style to #239's dress.

#239 wears a shimmery silver dress with cutouts on the sides and a fringed hemline with white high-heeled, mock-fringed cowgirl boots.

Her white cowgirl hat would look better on her if it fit her head properly.

I used a rubber band to hold the hat on her head.

#239's cowgirl get-up is completed by a white cowgirl hat; however, it doesn't fit securely on her head.

I separated the bodice from the skirt by pulling the skirt further down on #240's waist.

#240 wears a mint green and white check top and skirt with a ruffle attached to the lower bodice and at the skirt hemline. Why Mattel paired lavender shoes with the doll's clothing color is a mystery to me. She arrived holding a pair of half cat-eye sunshades.

#240 arrived holding her shades.

She wears her shades in this close-up picture.

I replaced the lavender shoes with a pair of mint green heels that perfectly match the green of #240's two-piece dress.

A rubber band allows #239 to hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it (her hat, that is). She doesn't have a fan, but her boots are on the ground.

The two ladies display well together. 

__________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

If you're not already a subscriber, visit, "like" and follow the Black Doll Collecting Facebook page or bookmark the Black Doll Collecting home page and visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays when typically new posts are published.

Check out what I am selling here. 
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!