Around London September 4-8, 2022

 Sunday. The convention ended with Saturday's banquet. I could have stayed in York longer, it was a very cool city. We traveled from York to London by LNER (high-speed train.) 

These photos are of the station in London. I don't understand why we, in the U.S. can't have trains like the one I show above. We need someone like President Eisenhower to take over rebuilding the infrastructure of this country. We're in a sad state.

The trip was quite fast. Finding and getting our luggage to the UBER spot was a small nightmare. Try rolling your luggage over cobblestones. 

I was exhausted and not feeling well by the time we got to the hotel. Juli went out and got some OTC medicine and some soup for me. It was good. By that point I was so sick I decided I'd never be able to make it to Windsor Castle the next day. It was a major disappointment. 

On Monday, I forced myself to walk around outside. It was a beautiful day. I stopped at a cafe for a coffee, a fresh fruit cup and a scone.

Then I went to a luggage store. I found a piece that would enable me to check in my dolls and extras. Everything arrived in perfect condition. Of course, I was nervous about checking in my precious dolls but I wouldn't have been able to carry them otherwise. I had to take an UBER back to the hotel because I couldn't walk any longer.  I had wanted to explore Hyde Park as our hotel was right across the street, but I didn't have the energy. I just got back into bed.

On Tuesday, our friends met us at the hotel and we had lunch before going to the V&A. The building is gorgeous. I would have loved to really get into it more but I was still kind of low energy but I did see some wonderful items. There was a fashion exhibit and I focused on the few dolls and miniature fashions I saw.

To be continued.

The Kingdom Doll Monarchs' Debut

The long-awaited release of The Monarchs is scheduled for January 31, 2019. I posted previously about these gems as I saw them in Scotland at the Kingdom Doll convention last October.
https://terrigoldphoto.blogspot.com/search?q=Monarch

This 12" resin beauty called Georgiana Devonshire has been created in two versions. La Scala Georgiana has raven hair and a beautiful red gown that is a miniature version of the Kingdom Doll Elgin's.

Kingdom Doll Elgin 16"

La Scala

The other Monarch, Covent Garden, will have blonde hair and a black gown with a golden insert. The gowns' fabric is silk satin. Their shoes have been hand carved and cast in resin. Each carries a golden evening bag and wears dangling beaded earrings.

Covent Garden

The edition size of each version is 50 dolls.
The price is $650. plus shipping.

1. In order to submit a request to purchase one of the Monarchs, send ONE email to info@kingdomdoll.co.uk
2. In the email subject line write either La Scala or Covent Garden. You must pick one or the other.
3. Only one email is to be submitted per person.
4. Time to send emails is 6:00 PM UK Time (18:00 hours.) Check your time zone and make sure it corresponds to London Time. https://www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_GB.aspx
5. Only winners will be notified.

More information about KD Monarchs: https://kdmonarchs.com/

Kingdom Doll Savile

Savile is the most recently issued doll from KD. She was a large edition at 60 pieces. Many who had never gotten the opportunity to own a KD, finally scored.

Savile Row is a street in Mayfair, central London. Known principally for its traditional bespoke tailoring for men, the street has had a varied history that had included accommodating the headquarters of the Royal Geographical Society at 1 Savile Row, where significant British explorations to Africa and the South Pole were planned; and more recently, the Apple office of the Beatles at 3 Savile Row, where the band's final live performance was held on the roof of the building.  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savile_Row] 

Here is a photo by Alexandra Forbes that shows Savile in her full outfit and original wig.
She is one put together gal! Her jewelry is of copper metal with turquoise accents. Her shoes are copper colored and her Birkin is turquoise.

Her pin striped suit is the nod to men's tailoring. The construction is superb.

Kingdom Doll Savile by Alexandra Forbes

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BTW: You can buy the same Birkin in human size for about $15,000. Seriously, who would spend that much just for a leather bag besides a brand name whore? I'll take this black one.

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My doll had a chill so I put a bodysuit on her. It's from an Avantguard doll. Wearing it, she can open her jacket without it all hanging out.

I've seen Savile in many styles and colors of wigs and she looks gorgeous in all of them. The sculpt is fabulous and I'm so happy to have her.

A Compilation of Photos & Descriptions from Neutron Prom, a London Sybarite Event

This past weekend, those collectors lucky enough to be able to attend the  2015 Sybarite Convention "Neutron Prom" in London, England were treated to wonderful dolls, fashions and a Chalk White event. 

Izzy beautifully described her experience on Prego.

The venue was spectacular - a secret room in one of the old big Victorian railway hotels rediscovered behind bricks and plaster when the hotel was redesigned as a luxury boutique venue about four years ago.

Marble steps and columns, black and white tiled floor, chairs from carved wood and leather - looking like thrones, white candles flickering everywhere......and above it all this incredible painted and gilded and sculptured ceiling with the signs of the zodiac and other mystical symbols.

Yeah.....despite the gorgeous blue and gold painting and the beautiful room.....all eyes were on the four pedestal cabinets precisely lined up in the centre of the room.

To discordant yet beautiful music we made our way from the Zodiac perfume launch to our seats in this magical room.

The music changed.....and with Charles and Des looking gorgeous in their formal evening dress at the end of the room....a voice began to speak.

As the voice described how we were all gathered together for a single purpose a breathless hush descended....and finally the voice queried what was behind the curtain.

Suddenly lights illuminated the cabinets and we could see colour/shape/pose/outlines...... there were the girls we had come to London to see! Even through the black drapes we knew we were in for an exhibit of truly amazing beauty.

In silent unison Charles and Des walked along the room removing each black drape and revealing the full glory of the collection.

For a few seconds we sat in stunned silence unsure of what to do next or where to look next...AND THEN WE RAN TO THE CABINETS!!!!!

Twelve beautiful girls....one named for each sign of the Zodiac although we didn't get to know that until much later.

A mixture of DC and Venus faces.....I'm not sure of the actual split but possibly somewhere around equal numbers of each.

Vibrant shiny glossy hair colours....some teased out into beautiful styles and others hanging in fabulous ringlets. I may be wrong but I think the hair colours were in four groups to represent the air/fire/earth/water signs in blues, blondes, auburn and brunettes (not in that order). All the colours were beautifully saturated with the blondes having delicious golden strawberry tones and I think all were slightly different shades.

Lips were a mixture of soft corals, vermilion, deep red, plum......gorgeous shades!

Colour was everywhere but looking totally fresh....almost like freshly dried paint on some of the gowns which appeared to be sewn literally from "old masters"! The girls themselves were rising out of a bed of undulating plain artists canvasses I think...at least that was my impression.

Most were dressed in full length gowns but with totally original shapes and trims....I do remember at least one girl in a cocktail length strapless gown too.

Gold snakeskin slippers with sparkling jewelled soles...some with fur pompoms or buckles or trims.

And.....acupressure maps on their palms!

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Here is a photo of the cabinets posted by Superdoll on Facebook

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Janina Fiehl has been extremely helpful in explaining the events so I could pass the information on. All of this information and all the photos below were provided by her.
Registration took place on Thursday. Attendees received "Vanity" and had the opportunity to chat with other collectors at the Salon.
On Friday evening, guests received Pandora and Mischief and the new Superdoll perfume, Zodiac!
That evening, the Chalk White exhibit took place as well. 
On Saturday there was a formal dinner and the beautiful (resin) "Dawn Star" doll was given.

Vanity

Mischief

Pandora Gift Set

Pandora Gift Set

Pandora Gift Set

Dawn Star

Dawnstar is French resin and was literally made from old bodies they had left over from a OOAK collection.  It is a material they used for very few dolls. 

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Simon Farnsworth of Doll Observers.com posted a detailed write up and a few more photos at this link: http://dollobservers.com/blog/sanctum-a-superdoll-chalk-white-exhibit

Sybarite 3 Day Event: "The Scarlet Ribbon Affaire"

I'd like to be a fly on the wall for this.

In case you are wondering what the currency conversion is: £2265 = $3612.22 = €2570.61