Home, Again

Another convention under our belts! It's so interesting to go to conventions put on by varied doll manufacturers.  The dolls are amazing but more than that is interacting with the employees of a doll company like this one. Listening to Robert Tonner talk about himself, his sculpting, decision making and creative process is enlightening. He talks about the company and getting licenses ... or not getting them.  He introduces his pattern makers, designers, tech people and who knows what else they do but they're all there! There are no great mysteries about who designed what or what's coming up or why something wasn't done. There's no reason for secrecy. He's funny, droll and his love of costumes is amazing. They all dress up. I'm guessing that's the first thing they agree to when they are interviewed. They probably don't ask for a resume´; they just want to see who you've been for the last five Halloweens.  You know I'm kidding but it's definitely a company that plays.
I am thrilled with my purchase of the Queen of Hearts centerpiece. I have her set up in my dining room temporarily and she is entrancing with her stern gaze and sculptural cheekbones. I love her!

During the coming week I will take time to photograph her with my studio camera. She is a very special doll. I also want to shoot her next to Elise Jolie to show their similarities. The Queen came holding a male doll head. I have  heard there were only 40 of those heads and they are very desirable. Who knew?

I'd  like to direct everyone who wants to see pictures of every doll from this event to go to Dreamcastle Dolls where Carol is compiling a database of them. She is pulling pictures from all sources.
Here is the link: 2011 Tonner Halloween Convention Scary Tales

Now that doesn't mean you shouldn't look at my pretty pictures but Carol has done so much work on her Tonner Doll database that you ought to get to know about it and that's one way.

Going backwards, I never did talk about the crazy funny program put on for the Cinderella brunch. I did mention the story that ended with Cindy becoming queen of the zombies but I failed to discuss that we were participants in the story. Each of us was provided with a kit of tools to use during the story which consisted of a sponge, bubbles, a loaded water gun (yes, it was filled with water), a clapper, paper, sword and I don't remember what else. During the crazy story, we were prompted to do things. When the water gun prompt began it was hysterical. People started shooting eachother all over the room. Robert said this morning that he learned never to give loaded water guns to a roomful of middle aged people. I don't know if the age of the people mattered. Water guns are fun! Throwing sponges around is fun, too. You had to be there.

Last night we came into the dining room to find Pat Henry's beautiful book at each of our places. Pat amused us with a brief talk. The book, which, by the way, contains lots of my photos, is definitely worth purchasing. And then you might even want to read it.  Where can you get it? TONNER: Two Decades of Fashion & Design

Suggestion to event planners: dinner music should be soft so people can TALK to eachother without having to shout. The band, except for the sax player, was not all that good but they did make a lot of noise. 

 A  highlight of every convention is the presentation of the event souvenir. She is called Eye of the Beholder and is a very Gothic reinterpretation of "Belle" from Beauty and the Beast, which was the dinner theme. Her hair is pink and black as is her fashion which is lush.

Here is Tonner's photo of Beauty with her Beast. He's quite the hunk as were all the male companion dolls at this event.

This morning we came in to the Harry Potter breakfast to find Harry and Hermione on the table. These are two very realistic-looking sculpts. The thing I liked most about them were their clothes, especially what Harry was wearing. Their bodies are Matt O'Neill size for Harry and flat-footed Tyler for Hermione.They will be offered as part of the regular Tonner Harry Potter line.

I've left so much out. There were so many dolls to see. I was very good. Hehe. More will be revealed in the days to come as I sort through more than 300 pictures.

A Kentourage for Ken by Pat Henry, Editor of Fashion Doll Quarterly

Article reprinted by permission of the author, Pat Henry. I have added the pictures below.

A Kentourage for Ken

 As we continue to celebrate Ken’s birthday as well as his reunion with Barbie in 2011, it is fun to look back at Ken through the years and his many styles of dress. Certainly, his place as Barbie’s consort meant a lot of coordinating looks. “Dreamboat” by itself is just a few pieces of sportswear, but putting Barbie and Ken in the roadster while Babs is in “Open Road” becomes an entire narrative.

Certainly, the matching cheerleader/football player is a classic, as is the costume party pairing of “Pierrot” and “Pierrette”, along with the fantasy driven costumes for the Little Theatre, like “Cinderella” and “The Prince”. But to me, the realistic and well made details of “The Yachtsman” or “Rally Day” reminds me of my own father’s wardrobe. The smell of after shave and soap, along with the classic lines of a striped tee shirt, or a driving cap and a Macintosh raincoat, combine to form a tiny time capsule of early sixties high style, when men (and women) still dressed for work and play with a certain sensibility.

Of course, Ken continued to stay abreast of the fashion times. After disappearing for a while during the sixties, Ken made the first of many comebacks with a brand new look. Now, he was “buff” and fit, ready to hit the beaches of Malibu as a blond, or take up extreme grooming with newly rooted hair and sideburns. His clothes stayed apace with Barbie’s; the prints became louder, the pant legs wider. Ken sported turtlenecks more often than ties, and left best bud Allan behind for Brad, a much hipper dude of color. Ken embraced rock and disco, sports cars and guitars.

At this time, I remember more of my male friends actually being allowed their own Ken dolls. Whether they wore their mothers down, or they just swiped their sister’s dolls, it didn’t seem like such a big deal to play “Barbies” with the neighborhood girls. (That may have been due to our stealing their G.I. Joes, but that’s another story for another time.) These dolls were no longer just Barbie and Ken, they were secret agents, astronauts, and rock stars, reflecting our growing interest in pop culture and the adult world around us.

Depending on your age, you probably have your favorite Ken. Mine was the first “Talking” Ken. I thought he was just dreamy. His dazzling smile and his groovy short-sleeved Nehru jacket was just fabulous! But there are so many other Kens for different times and different generations that must be represented, so I recently flew to Los Angeles and headed to El Segundo for a special photo shoot featuring the entire “Kentourage”.

Not only was it a thrill to work in Mattel’s photo studios, but also everyone had a favorite Ken and a story to go with it. Paul Jordan shot an amazing group photo that will become a centerfold spread in our special issue of FDQ, and the soundstage set looked like something from the MGM lot. Mary Jordan did the styling, placing each Ken perfectly on set, looking as though they were talking and interacting with each other. Lars Auvinen is the secret star of these shoots. He designs the sets, and molds and paints tiny pieces of wood and foam into the astounding miniature world that Ken resides in.

In an era where everyone assumes “it’s Photoshoppped”, it is truly a treat to see a full scale set with tiny phones, working doors and a boom camera hanging over the dolls’ heads as if they are actors ready to go on set. Make sure you get to see this amazing photograph in FDQ and on the Barbie Collector site. It’s part of Ken’s history and something to cherish.
___

Pat Henry is the publisher and editor of Fashion Doll Quarterly. She is a former fashion stylist and Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York City's Fashion Institute of Technology in the Photography Department. Pat lives in NYC with her husband Hal and their fox terrier, Bo, and a large assortment of fashion dolls and action figures.

Fashion Doll Quarterly: Summer 2011 "Fantasy"

The latest issue of FDQ is shipping now. While waiting for your copy, check out this wonderful and interesting video of Robert being interviewed by editor, Pat Henry.
The Fantasy issue is multi fashion doll oriented and features interviews, photographic essays, doll and artist information and so much more.  Pat's stunning photography graces the two distinctive covers which are available on this issue.
My own contribution on the hats of Cisca Durieux is included.

Click on the magazine cover below to see the Robert Tonner interview. 

Deneuve asks...

"Why on earth are you wasting your time with other dolls when you have me now?"
This lovely lady arrived in the midst of a mountain of Gene Convention goodies. The poor dear has only had a quick point & shoot session with a toy camera. She deserves so much more and when I get the time she will be introduced to the camera which resides upon a tripod in my studio.
But since you asked, here are some of her initial shots.


Deneuve comes with a different wig than the Monique Gold one she is wearing in these pictures. I can't wait to put several other size 4/5 wigs on her that I recently purchased. They fit perfectly.


Once you hold this doll in your hands, you won't be able to let go. Her resin is smooth and silky. Her articulation is superior and she can pose like a dream. Deneuve is ultra-pale with an non-standard proportion to her sculpt that turned me off at first. This sculptor marches to the beat of her own drum and I'm willing to open up to a different beauty.

She comes with 'dressing hands' that are ball shaped attachments which one removes after the doll is dressed. Her hands are graceful and her fingernails are carefully manicured as are her toenails.

She can stand without the doll stand but I didn't trust the possibility of a gust of wind out-of-doors.

As far as her outfit goes - under the dress is a lacy bodysuit. The dress itself is a sheer silk. Her corset is a warm platinum colored resin with easy to open and close metal hook-type thingies in the back. The boots are the same color as the corset and are properly made so she can stand correctly with the sole and heel of the boot in contact with the ground. Yay!

Deneuve has the new body with improved articulation and is part of the JAMIEshow line sold at Angelic Dreamz. She is a FDQ exclusive doll with a limited edition of only 50 dolls.

You know you want one.
Contact Pat Henry at FDQ for updated purchase information or call 1 (212) 961-0662.