Picture of the Week Award ~ March 7, 2010

This week's Picture of the Week Award goes to Jill Reimann aka jbean on Prego.
Jill told me that the doll was originally a Moon Sybarite repainted by K. She's wearing a wig made by Ilaria at Time of Doll. She felt that the face-up was softer than the average Sybarite repaint and liked the peach lingerie because the tones tied in nicely. Jill sat the doll on a kitchen table facing a window in order to get natural light. The edge effect was created with iPhoto. The camera used is a Nikon Coolpix.

Congratulations, Jill, on your Picture of the Week Award.

2010 Integrity Toys Debut Line of Dolls PART 2

The Poppy Parker line shows the talent of David Buttry. They are delightful.

Coney Island Saturday $80.
Beatnik Blues $119.00

The Look of Love $135.

She's Arrived: Giftset $165.

A Night to Remember - Fashion Only $65.Sealed With A Kiss - Fashion Only $65.
If I didn't already have a large Tiny Kitty and Cissette collection, I might collect the Dynamite Girls. Their clothes and shoes do fit my smaller dolls though. They are adorable.

The Dynamite Girls $40.
These dolls provide the collector with plenty of bang for the buck. They're articulated, rooted and the outfits are very cute. Reese, the AA is a new sculpt. I like her fashion best of all.

From left to right they are Rufus Blue, Reese, Sooki and Gavin.
They have come a VERY long way from their introduction. Remember these?
Last is the ITBE group. There are five of them at $25. each. They are Integrity's playline dolls. I see that they're not being touted as "entry level collectibles" anymore. Their names, from left to right are Desirable, Luscious, Complicated, Romantic and Confident.

2010 Integrity Toys Debut Line of Dolls

At 5 PM EST last night approximately 400 W Club members from all over the world logged on to a webinar held by Integrity Toys for the purpose of seeing the new dolls for 2010. Carol Roth ran the event. Percy Newsome, Jason Wu, Vaughn Sawyers, David Buttry and Alain Tremblay took part.
I expected a live event with live pictures rather than just live voices and pictures. It was over after about one hour. About 6 questions were taken from attendees. The event was scheduled for two hours so I wonder what was missing.
One by one each grouping was shown. I compliment the size and quality of the images. For the first time we have been shown images that didn't try to be artsy but rather intended to display the dolls and fashions with appropriate lighting and focus.

The Event dolls are a set of two mini Avantguards, Aphrodisiac (on the left) and Androgyny and will sell for $175. That's a fair price for the two. I would have rather gotten a Fashion Royalty doll but many are pleased with this choice. They are wigged as are the original full-sized versions and are dressed in the same fashions. It's a cute idea. I think it will be fun to photograph the two Aphrodisiacs together. I don't have Androgyny anymore. I wonder if there will be a mini Goldmine. She would definitely find a place in my collection!
The Fashion Royalty Monogram Collection, in my opinion, was the winner out of all the lines. Besides the doll Brilliance, which I have previously reviewed, there is a lingerie version , two fantastic dressed dolls and another dressed doll that I will pass on. Each one is $150 except for the lingerie version which is $120.

They are Enigmatic, Incandescent, Dreamscape and Disclosure.

Enigmatic and Incandescent

Dreamscape

Disclosure

I don't like the pink gown from the waist down and that's a shame. The fabric detail on the bodice and shoulder and the cute beaded hat are lovely. I like the look of the short wig as well. The structure of the skirt reminds me of the outrageous Biltmore Hotel Gene Marshall gown from years ago. The Biltmore gown was a work of art. I don't want to spend $150. for a Monogram doll whose outfit is useless to me.
I finally found a use for Brilliance's outfit...it fits a Silkstone doll perfectly!


But I digress. Back to the debut.

Next up are the Fashion Royalty dolls themselves. They were divided into two categories, Dazzle and Foundation....whatever. Foundation would be a good name for a line of lingerie dolls.

The Dazzle dolls have 60's hairstyles and Heidi Klum type sequined dresses. They are $79. except for the Kyori giftset which is $175.

Sorry to say that Mattel did the sequin thing better.
The Kyori giftset comes with a big red ruffled gown sporting a beige bow, a plaid suit with a blouse underneath, two pairs of shoes, earrings, bracelet, ring and black potholder gloves.

Let's talk about hair. It's depressing to see those gorgeous faces under the ridiculous hairstyles. They look rock hard and are so unattractive. Adele's Afro is not to my taste either. I'd really tone it down a few inches which would still give her an ethnic hairdo but keep her from looking like she belongs in a Mike Myers movie.

Overall, the theme of the collection is a little bit of this and a little bit of that as far as fashion eras. It's certainly not like Jason's runway collections which are cohesive and relate to eachother.

The Foundation Collection
Staying Power Darius Reid and Model Citizen Lukas M., two Hommes in ill-fitting suits carrying great man bags and wearing great shoes. $139.00 each. This is not a giftset with two dolls. I have combined them into one image to save space. One can only hope that the jackets do not actually fit the way they look in the pictures.
Fire Within Jordan $139.
Jordan is very pretty and I think her outfit is adorable. I'm hoping the construction lives up to my expectations as it looks complicated. I will get rid of the pot holders immediately. I love hats for my dolls.

Tricks of the Trade Eugenia Perrin Frost $139.00
Which "trade" is that? The outfit is cute, I think. Actually I don't know what to think about this doll. I'm afraid she'll open her mouth and the fangs will come out. I am ordering her because she is so strange that she's interesting.

Private Goddess Natalia Fatale $150.
Someone is going to have to rethink the color and the draping of the fabric on that dress. The bodice has possibilities. Did Natalia's fairy godmother use the nursery room draperies for the skirt? Was she in a hurry?
Winning Ensemble Luxury Wear Fashion $69
I want the doll that is modeling this outfit. It appears to be Vanessa before the LDS hairstyle was applied. The outfit is another mini bubble skirt type dress in spring colors, a 50's bow hat with tulle, and the ubiquitous black gladiator shoes. I'm undecided.


The Three NuFace dolls below are Perk Colette, The Great Pretender Lillith and Mais Oui! Giselle Diefendorf. Each is $99.
Giselle's outfit comes with a fitted black jacket that has an interesting peplum. I think they're all adorable. The clothes are edgy eye candy. Colette and Lillith have beautiful faces. They will be mine.


Flash Star Luxury Wear Fashion $69.
Poppy Parker, the Dynamite Girls and ITBE will be covered in the next post.

Tonner Doll Company Cancels Production

Production of the following dolls from the Sinister Circus collection has been canceled.
The Painted Lady, The Bearded Lady, Keiko, Marina and Quimby.
Why am I not surprised? Collectors are apparently not as daring as the TDC.
Their images have been removed from Tonner's website but I do have these:

The right fashion & wig make a brilliant difference.

Putting it right out there, Monogram Brilliance's outfit is dowdy and her wig doesn't do anything at all for her.
No one knows how to put the hat on. The doll was a total disappointment...until I found the right wig and outfit for her.

The suit belongs to the Black Party Monogram doll. The jewelry came from the Je Ne Sais Quoi Silkstone doll and the wig, believe it or not, belongs to one of my tiny Puki dolls. It works. I love her now.

Original Promotional Image Property of Integrity Toys

The Mad Hatter

As if the world has rediscovered the classic childrens' fairy tale of Alice in Wonderland, Alice mania has hit the doll world with force. At IDEX many manufacturers showed new Alice in Wonderland dolls for 2010.
You may or may not know that the movie by the same name will be opening tomorrow, March 6, with the fabulously talented, slightly crazy Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter.
This post will show you some of the Mad Hatter dolls that are currently on the market, will be soon or have sold out already. They come in all sizes and prices.
Below are links to the websites at which I found them, prices (if available) along with an image.

The following items can all be found at Entertainment Earth:

Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Doll $199.99

Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat Kubricks $18.99

Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Ultra Design Action Figure $19.99
_____________________________________________

Toys R Us and hundreds of other stores will carry Mattel's version of the Mad Hatter. Prices will vary.

Barbie Collector Pink Label Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Doll $59.99 with Free Shipping
_____________________________________________

Tonner Doll Company "Images pending licensor and actor approval." I saw the pre-production doll and it's amazing. It's too bad it couldn't be ready for the movie opening. Those in doubt would do well to wait before buying another Hatter. Tonner's is amazing.

Tarrant - The Mad Hatter - Dressed Tonner Character Figure $224.99
_____________________________________________

For those of you who prefer weird....I found these:

Bobble Head Mad Hatter
_____________________________________________

Living Dead Dolls Presents: Living Dead Dolls In Wonderland Mezco Direct.Com $113.00
_____________________________________________

Will the REAL Mad Hatter please stand up?

Walt Disney did not create the story of Alice in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll wrote two Alice novels, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. (1872) Click here for more information on the two pieces of literature.

Will you be adding Alice in Wonderland dolls to your collection?

Blue Horizon Gene

My dream...dance like Ginger Rogers with a partner like Fred Astaire.

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance to "Cheek to Cheek" in Top Hat.

Blue Horizon Gene was a 2008 Gene Convention exclusive. A recent sale at Cherished Friends made her affordable enough to get this doll that I've wanted since I first saw her.
She is everything one could expect of a Gene doll - beautiful face, full head of stylish blonde hair and a theatrical fashion with plenty of bling. This Gene is breathtaking!


I had one problem...both shoes are for the right foot! Now here's a question. Integrity Toys guarantees their dolls to be free from defects for one year. Is my doll still under the guarantee? I got her from an Integrity dealer this week. She was released more than one year ago. I would like a replacement shoe.
Why can't I get a perfect doll?

With Love From Ginger,
Listen to: Top Hat, White Tie and Tails by Fred Astaire, from the album Dancing Cheek to Cheek

Integrity Toys 2010 Line to Debut March 6

On Saturday, March 6, 2010, an on-line unveiling of many of the Integrity Toys' products will take place. As far as I know, only the members of the W Club were invited to attend. We pre-registered and were given a link for entry. The event will use an internet conference format which is live with available interaction from attendees.
It should be very interesting.

I will be permitted to post the images on the following Sunday morning so stay tuned.

The concept of an exclusive club is not an original one. Mattel does it. Tonner did it. Madame Alexander has one and there are others. These other companies also promote their products at toy fairs. Non-Integrity Toys collectors I met at IDEX have questioned me as to why IT does not do so. One person who shall remain nameless and who is now a dealer told me that she was put off when she called to get some information. Her calls were never returned. I have no idea what the situation was at the time.
I think it's about money. It costs a great deal to participate in a real toy fair event: renting the exhibit space, transporting the reps and the merchandise, accomodations and food, display equipment...ALOT of $$$.
The main goal of toy fair is for dealers to see the goods and to place orders. Apparently Integrity Toys has dealers camped out on their back porch clamoring to carry their product. Excitement over the dolls is generated through a combination of marketing to W Club members and then the members themselves go wild.
Having a well-known designer helps to raise the prices and the elan.