Showing posts with label Alice in Wonderland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alice in Wonderland. Show all posts

5/03/2015

Artist Doll & Teddy Bear Show

Yesterday my husband and I dropped in on the Susan Quinian Doll & Teddy Bear Show which was held at the Clarion Hotel in Philadelphia. I know not to expect fashion dolls when the words "Teddy Bear" are in the title of a show; however, it's been my experience that it's worth looking at many different types of dolls. I enjoy chatting with the artists and seeing their passion and creativity.  Like most creatives, they love to tell you everything about their work.

Forgive me if you are a teddy bear lover because I'm not. They're cute and cuddly but I see them as toys in spite of the fact that gifted artists are creating them like no teddy bear I ever had as a child. Yes, they're collectible, blah, blah, blah. So are baseball cards. 

Anyway, I present here some of the many photographs I took. I tried to get the artists' names in every case, not always successfully. Click to enlarge any image.

Michael Natoli with his Great Gatsby dolls modeled from polymer clay. The clothes were fashionable and fabulous. 



Adriana Esqueda - multi media dolls. Wonderful textural creatures.



These dolls had very expressive personalities. Sadly, the artists were too busy talking to each other to even look up at us as we stood at their display.
 


Mizzippi Dolls by Gabriella DeLawey.  https://www.facebook.com/mizzippidolls
Amusing and unusual personalities in these cloth dolls. So much fun to look at.



Lee Feickert's Golliwogs. http://www.dollshopsunited.com/stores/leefeickert/
I had a disturbing experience with this artist. When I saw the Golliwogs at her table I asked, "Aren't these dolls considered racist?" She looked at me as if she didn't understand English. I had to ask FIVE times before she mumbled some incoherent reply which I couldn't decipher. (She did claim to be wearing hearing aids whose batteries died - in perfect English.) When I got home I looked up Golliwog on Wikipedia.
The image of the doll has become the subject of heated debate. While some see the golliwog as a cherished cultural artifact and childhood tradition, others argue that the golliwog is a destructive instance of racism against people of African descent, along with pickaninnies, minstrels, mammy figures, and other caricatures, and it has been described as "the least known of the major anti-Black caricatures in the United States".[1] In recent years, changing political attitudes with regard to race have reduced the popularity and sales of golliwogs as toys. Manufacturers who have used golliwogs as a motif have either withdrawn them as an icon, or changed the name. In particular, the association of the golliwog with the pejorative term "wog" has resulted in use of alternative names such as "golly" and "golly doll".


I can understand collecting dolls such as this one if it's a vintage example for a historical collection. But why would a modern artist continue to produce these images?

Comic relief break.  This is the Wolf after it's eaten Red Riding Hood's grandmother. I liked the bed more than the animal. I guess wolves and teddy bears occupy the same strata at these shows.


Linda Ehrenfried  Charm City Originals
Speaking of fairy tales, who do you think showed up in innumerable ways at the show? Yes, Alice.
This one was very memorable as the artist incorporated the entire story into one large representation of Alice. Every character in the story is on or in Alice somewhere. A good part of her torso is an openwork teapot complete with tea party and mad hatter. The rabbit hangs on as well. It was fantastic - and large.
 Tweedledee and his brother, Tweedledum are the heels of her shoes!

Bing Ruiter: More dolls with personality and pizazz.

I guess I have to admit it. I did like a few of the bears. 

Deborah Canham: This appealed to me because of the little white one's hug.


Michelle Lamb - oneandonlybears.com
This was my favorite because it was a soft rose color silky furry creature with a pastel floral headband. This artist has many beautiful bears on her website. She also teaches.


Diane Keeler  http://dianekeeler.com/   Two of the most beautiful dolls there!


A little scary.

Saandi McAslan  https://mcaslan.bizland.com/
Intricate "Timekeeper Box" with all sorts of odd medical thingies inside including a doll who might be under a spell or dead. I didn't ask.


Sandi McAslan
Dystopian, post-apocalyptic dolls are not my cup of tea. I love science fiction in books I read - not in my dolls.

 ______________________________________________

Finally - we'll end on a snotty note.

Are you familiar with Mr. Mucus from the Mucinex commercials?

I'm pretty sure the artist did not intend this green creation to remind anyone of Mr. Mucus. But it did.  
Believe it or not...there are actually mucus plushies.   You probably didn't need to know that.





Oh, the things you can find on the internet.





7/31/2011

Into The Rabbit Hole With Franklin Lim Liao

Franklin Lim Liao is very well known for the spectacular and award winning costumes he wears at the doll conventions. But today, instead of looking at pictures of Franklin, we'll see a series of pictures he shot entitled "Into the Rabbit Hole."  The cats are the humorous stars of this photo shoot. Look carefully at the 4th picture. What do you think?










I believe the doll is a redressed Azone Pure Neemo Alice Aika. I'm normally not attracted to anime style faces but this line is very interesting. They are 1/6 scale and not inexpensive.  I love the outfits.
Azone Classic Alice Aika Cheshire Cat Ver.
Classic Alice koron Amazon.co.jp
Black Alice Lien Amazon.co.jp
From what I'm gleaning on Flickr and amazon.co.jp, there are a several different dolls with this theme and there are several themes and lines of Azone Pure Neemo dolls.  They're all dressed in these wonderful fashions which fit the theme of their line. They're apparently very popular and sell out quickly.



These last two are from the latest series Witches' Magical Land. Both about $156. each. Of course you would have to pay shipping from Japan if you could score one of them. At Hobby Search, they're sold out with waiting lists only.

While you're at Hobby Search, check out the Pure Neemo bodies. I love the 'snap' together and pull apart ability. You can change the hands, the torso and more. That's gotta be fun.

1/26/2011

Basic Diane Evans from Tonner Doll

To my readers who have written wondering where I disappeared to...thank you for your concern. January is a pretty quiet month in doll world as manufacturers are preparing to unveil their new goodies at IDEX and Toy Fair. I was on vacation this past week. There's nothing like coming back home to a pile of doll boxes on the dining room table. That was fun!

Diane Evans is a gorgeous new doll in an adorable polka dot bathing suit. She has Friday Foster's head sculpt, brown eyes and raven hair. Her skintone is called Honey. She will be available late February at Tonner Direct in a limited edition of 500 for $109.99.  Pricey for a basic doll, isn't it? Some are already available for purchase; others are to reserve.
 More basics from the same line of dolls:
2011 Anne Harper Wigged Basic, $109.99 LE500, Green Eyes, Raven Wigged Hair, Bloom Skintone
2011 Patricia Holt Wigged Basic, $109.99 LE500 Green Eyes, Brunette Wigged Hair, Cameo Skintone.
Dressed Doll: Ann Harper Head Sculpt, Brown Eyes, Bloom Skintone.  LE250 $174.99

Dressed Doll: "Bye-Bye Baby" DeeAnna Denton
 "The alluring chewing gum heiress struts her stuff in a scintillating velvet dress with soft chiffon shirring, smartly accessorized with pointed-toe pumps, rhinestone earrings, necklace and bracelet." This doll has the 17" high-heeled female athletic body, brown eyes with blonde hair and bloom skintone. LE300. $209.99
__________________________
The Alice in Wonderland line continues to grow with the addition of Alice in depicted in wonderful costumes from various scenes of the movie. Here is the text from the Tonner Direct site: 
"The apprehensive Alice masquerades herself as UM FROM UMBRIDGE, to protect herself from the malicious Red Queen.  This meticulously detailed costume consists of an extravagant dress with layered tiers of tulle and custom printed chiffon overlay.  Her arm is bandaged with a matching ribbon trimmed wrap, while her slender waist is wrapped in a tasseled belt.  Pantyhose and shoes also included.
Mia Wasikowska Head Sculpt and 22" American Model™ Body; Brown Eyes w/ Blonde Hair and Pale Skintone."  LE250 $299.99

__________________________
Find out about the upcoming Tonner convention:
https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=915667

7/11/2010

How Many Alices Are There in Wonderland?


 Has the Alice in Wonderland theme been overdone? Yes, it's been going on forever. It's the definition of a classic. The story is an ageless one that has enchanted children and adults alike since it was written in 1865.  The story embodies the battles of good vs. evil, apathy vs. involvement, greed vs. generosity and on and on. Who doesn't identify some opposing characteristics in their own personality?

When I saw the numerous Wonderland dolls at IDEX in January, I was impressed by how many different companies and individual doll artists chose to do Alice themed dolls this year. It was not that surprising due to the Alice in Wonderland movie but seemed rather odd that there were so many.

Has one company 'done it right' above all others? No. With the variety of Wonderland themed dolls out there, it's foolish to compare.

I understand that some collectors have an irrational loyalty (also known as ass-kissing) to some manufacturers and so their praise for that company is endless. These people need to become educated about what's out there.

I have already posted the new Integrity Alice.

Tonner has produced several Wonderland character dolls and stunning fashions. 



This is Mattel's latest Alice:


Some others that may be available at different sources on the internet:


Madame Alexander Cloth Alice

Madame Alexander Alice


Living Dead Doll - Alice

Vogue Marge Meisinger's Alice Vintage Repro Ginny Doll



 Azone's Sahra in Wonderland



Pullip Fantastic Alice  (12")



Gwen Stefani "Tick Tock Gwen"

This is just a small sampling of Alice in Wonderland dolls. I've not even touched on the fantastic OOAK and artist dolls which are gorgeous and very pricey such as Maggie Iacono's "Painting the Roses Red" for $1,695.00 or R. John Wrights "Alice in Wonderland for $1,180.

 Doll Reader magazine has published several issues with cover stories that depict artist dolls that are Alice themed. 





There's no comparing one with the other. But...if a company decides to do Alice, one hopes that it's different from any Alice that's been done before and not just another run of the mill blond in a blue dress with a white apron.