Kazue Speaks

Here's her blog entry. http://www.biccoltd.com/blog/
Warning: Mediocre Japanese/imperfect translation alert!

（（　お詫び　））

(( Apology ))

このたびのショップ閉鎖で皆様にご迷惑をおかけしましたことをまずお詫び申し上げます。

I apologize for the trouble caused by the closure of the shop.

経営悪化のため、事業としてショップを継続することができなくなってしまいましたことで、自己中心的な失望感だけで、経営者自らの責任を放置してしまったことを深く反省しております。

Being unable to continue the business due to the economic downturn, I neglected my responsibilities as proprietor out of only a self-centered despair, for which I am deeply regretful.

現在、法的な整理について、弁護士を通じての対処を準備中となっております。整理リスト等の作成のため時間を要しますので次回のご報告まで今しばらくお時間をいただければ幸いです。

Now, we are going through lawyer(s) for setting things in legal order. Putting together the lists will take some time so we would be happy if you could give us some time before we put out the next report.

なお、プレオーダー、特別注文等で、弊社から商品を未受領のお客様につきましては個別にご連絡を必ず差し上げますので、ご連絡をお待ちください。

Regarding customers with preorders, special orders, and (undelivered?) items from our company: we will be sending out individual correspondences. Please wait for them.

具体的なご報告、ご連絡先についてはできる限り早くこちらに掲載させていただきます。

Concrete news, contact information will be posted as quickly as possible here.

皆様へのご連絡、ご報告が遅くなってしまいましたことを重ねてお詫び申し上げます。

I apologize once again for the delay in sending you news and information.

ご期待いただき、信頼いただきましたのにこのような事になってしまいまして申し訳ございませんでした。

I am very sorry that this sort of thing happened despite your trust and expectations.

12年間のお引き立てをいただきましてありがとうございました。

Thank you for your 12 years of patronage.

平成23年5月19日　

Heisei Year 23 (2011) May 19th

有限会社ビーアイシー　

BIC Co. Ltd.

代表　下山一枝

Representative Shimoyama Kazue

Kazue Returns

Denise Travers posted this enigmatic statement:

Fri May 20, 2011 4:51 pm

Kazue is home

Details to come after I speak with her again.
She is trying to see how she can make things right.
I don't mean to be secretive but I want more details.
She deserved our faith in her.
Thank you GOD for bringing Kazue home!
Denise

_______________

Spring Specimen of a Portrait by James Joseph Jacques Tissot

Gorgeous Furniture For Your Dolls by Horseman

Why did I have to look? Sigh. George of Angelic Dreamz is the worst enabler in the world!!!!! I want everything.
Horseman Ltd. has produced even more beautiful doll furniture which George is selling in his store. Although intended for 1/4 scale dolls such as Jamieshow, Tyler, Deva, Gene and Sybs, I have photographed 1/6 scale dolls with these items successfully.

Click on this image to see the rest of the fabulous furniture.

Here are two of last season's chairs. They make perfect seating props for several different scales.

Tonner Con Underway

Most of you are probably aware that the Tonner Convention is underway. Pictures of the new dolls and centerpieces are dribbling onto the web slowly although eBay pictures went up immediately by those who are hoping to sell their dolls.

The first event took place on Thursday night. The new doll is called "Pin Up Basic"  and is on a newly engineered Tyler body. The body will appear on a line of dolls called Tyler's Nu Mood. Pin Up has a sculpt which is somewhat cartoonish and was inspired by Robert Tonner's collection of illustration art. Perhaps a friendlier adjective would be illlustrationish. I wonder if my large Tyler sized wardrobe will be useless?.

Centerpiece image from the Tonner Blog

At first I was reminded of an old Coppertone ad in which a dog is tugging at a child's bikini.

Pin up illustration art is highly sexual.

Where is Robert going with this line? Will we see gorgeous lingerie and upholstered ottomans? I hope so!

Watch a 5 minute video showing the display of dolls called 20 Years of Tonner.

The Friday brunch centerpiece featured Andy, Cami and Jon. The event was called Young New York.

Image from Tonner Blog

A new character in the Cami and Jon line was introduced. She is Gina.

I cannot wait to see what the Shadows Wilde Imagination event doll is because I'm getting it. Woo Hoo!

FR2: Engaging Elise, Rare Appeal Dominique and a Repaint by Vin Trapani

These gals arrived today so I grabbed my point and shoot and clicked away on the deck. The sky was bright but overcast which is perfect lighting for out-of-doors portraits.  I used the close-up setting, ISO 200, and a fairly large aperture. Fill flash helped with the contrast and brought out the details in the images of Elise. The camera was hand held.

 A little surprise is her animal print underpants which match her shoes. Otherwise she is exactly as advertised and that's a good thing. Engaging Elise's vinyl is nearly white.  Her face and body do match. The hat comes with two straight pins. I found they were a little too blunt ended and used fine dressmaker pins with small red tips.
The low cut dress front is not my favorite type of design for a doll with a jointed breast plate. I would normally dress the doll with a necklace that covers that area. It's not pretty.
The dress fits nicely. I love the bag and I hope in the future Integrity does what Ashton Drake used to do with Gene's clutch bags. They attached a heavy thread through which four fingers could fit so the doll could hold the bag in a natural hand position. For now, she will hold it under her arm.
The jewelry is plain black rhinestone studs and a pewter bangle.

I purchased Rare Appeal Dominique basically just for the fashion...(not necessarily the dress, but I think the shoes and earrings are killer!)  Don't tell my husband that I paid $175. plus shipping for doll shoes and earrings. You won't have to, he reads my blog anyway.
Sadly, the shoes are defective.  The heel or something on the left shoe is very crooked and from the back it looks as if her foot is turning under, but it's not, it's the shoe.  

I'm not a fan of the Dominique sculpt and putting her on an FR2 body has not altered my opinion. But that's just my personal taste.  The screening is well done and pretty. I think she needs a different hairstyle.  Wondering if any of my favorite Adeles has the same vinyl color as that of Dominique.

 

 


I have two Always Polished Dasha dolls so I sent one of them to Vin Trapani to center her gaze and to change her pupil and lip colors. He sent me back a gorgeous Dasha. This doll's sculpt is amazing and Vin's talent really enhanced her beauty.  I will restyle her hair eventually.

Below is the original for comparison.

Captain Jack Sparrow and Angelica Dolls from Mattel

Yet another Captain Jack Sparrow doll hits the shelves. This one is from Mattel. At $34.95, the likeness isn't bad at all. I thought Tonner's Capt. Jack was right on the money with their version but of course, the prices can't compare.

Why does he have a shrunken head hanging from his belt?

You might want to give Jack a girlfriend! This is Angelica and she was intended to resemble Penelope Cruz. Hmmmm.  Retail $34.95.

 This is Tonner's amazing Captain Jack Sparrow doll (2007). His retail price was $179.99. After he'd been out for more than two years, his price did not drop below $100 which is unusual for Tonner dolls.  His fashion was fantastic with details galore and you better believe it wasn't sewn on. LOL.
Even my husband (who calls all my dolls Tiny Kitty,) thought this was a great-looking doll.

One Collector's Sybarite Display

Posted by JymmiI on Prego today, I couldn't resist snatching it to show on the blog.  This is fantastic in every way. Click on it to see full size. The details and use of accessories from many sources is wonderful.

Reinterpreted Valentino - Source Picture

Here's another version of the Valentino. I need a better picture.

Robert Best Loves Valentino

Stratos sent me this image which is obviously the source of the Palm Beach Coral fashion. If anyone can find the full size image of the fashion and/or knows the date of the Valentino, please email it to me. (Note: date found.)

The silk serge gown with handpainted coral motif is from the Spring/Summer 1968 collection.

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Pinch of Platinum™ Barbie Doll®

Why is this doll $85.00?  Just because they apply "Platinum Label" to the box? While I'm quite sure she will look very pretty (in the box) in a collection, she is not worth it.
Here is the description from BC.Com:

Grecian-inspired, high-fashion cocktail dresses define this line of dolls named after precious metals. Pinch of Platinum Barbie is the third in a series by the inimitable Robert Best, a Platinum Label® doll limited to less than 1,000 dolls worldwide. She features the Aphrodite facial sculpt, a one-shouldered diaphanous white dress gathered at the waist with platinum-colored sequins, and heels with an exquisite encrusted look. Elegant, understated, and all the more stunning for it!
There is a limit of 1 doll per BFC™ membership while supplies last.

Release date: 05/25/2011

 _______________ 

I know it's old news but

So much prettier at under $20. 

Still available on the BC.Com site and elsewhere: Black label Barbie Basics Model No. 03; Collection 001.5; Released 6/2010; $19.95.  Steffie head mold.

OVAZ Designs for JAMIESHOW at Angelic Dreamz

Deadly Persuasion Outfit by Ovaz

 Angelic Dreamz presents to you a unique collection of 10 gowns by Ovaz. Each design is a Limited Edition of only 10 pieces. Although they were designed for the JAMIEshow body they will fit other 16 inch dolls such as the Sybarite, Deva, Tonner as well as select others. I want all of them! Sigh. I love dressing my dolls in gowns.

For more information, pictures, prices and to order please click any image on this page.

Tom's Toy & Goods Trading Closing Down

If you go to the website you will see this:

I have no other information.

IDC Charity Auctions are now live on eBay

The OOAK Numina doll, Nereia, by Paul Pham has 8 bids and is already up to $1576.76!

There are 11 other items being auctioned for charity as I posted about a few days ago. Go have a look-see.


Click here to see the auctions.

"Why I still believe in Kazue" posted by Denise Travers

This was posted by Denise Travers on the gogomomoko Yahoo site on May 15, 2011. I have reproduced her post here for those who may not have access to that board.

I have been staying away from posting about this mostly because I have no new information and I freely admit I may not be able to think clearly about this. Kazue is my Best Friend and my biggest concern is the hope of seeing her again. I have to share my reasons for still believing in Kazue as far as BIC is concerned. I don't believe Kazue meant to lose BIC; I have already posted about BIC meaning so much to Kazue and how hard she worked. But there are events and opinions that enforce my belief that Kazue did not plan on BIC closing.
I will share the most relevant.

The biggest thing is those who worked with her for many years. Her distributors, suppliers etc. None have bad to say about Kazue or BIC. Only concern for her well being. Kazue made large payments on pre-orders taken. Paying debts usually isn't a sign of bad intentions. She asked me to help her get some items for her customers about the same time she disappeared and she would not have benefited from this until much later. Again it didn't seem like something that would be done if you planned to take off with the money. The last time her (April 5) and I talked it involved long conversation and excitement about future plans including upcoming conventions.

Those who lost money have every right to be upset, I still hope for some type of settlement for all involved but only Kazue can do this unless it is a forced bankruptcy in her absence. I wish I knew the answers. I know I don't know all the details. In fact I admit I know very little and it is very frustrating. But I do believe the information I have received as fact and contrary to many nasty rumors.
I still believe in Kazue.
Denise

I hope Denise is correct. My concern is that Kazue may not be alive. Someone would have seen or heard from her by now. Surely there is a missing persons bureau that has this case. Perhaps I watch too many episodes of Without A Trace. I'm sure they are totally inundated (no pun intended) since the earthquake/tsunami disasters by searches for missing persons.
Was Kazue running every aspect of BIC alone? Is that even possible that only she had the keys so to speak? That's quite a burden even for a supermom.  Denise said that "paying debts usually isn't a sign of bad intentions."Putting affairs in order including the paying of debts is sometimes a sign of something else.

SouoL by Louos Fashions and Palm Beach Coral Silkstone Doll

Red Rabbit Misaki and Ayla (Soom's tan Aren) got new outfits from SouoL by Louos.

 

Boots are Azone. Jewelry is Integrity Toys. Projector is a vintage 8mm Revere from my distant past (my parents.)

 

This outfit came with short socks but I didn't have shoes that would fit over the socks. I added the jewelry. Wig by Tabloach.

I purchased the Palm Beach Coral Silkstone during the last BC.Com sale using my quarterly bonus and the discount provided by the sale, she came down from a ridiculous retail price of $150. to about $50. She was worth the wait. The fashion is made very well. In fact I was surprised that the coat fastens with a hook and eye! The pants and top use snaps. The fabric is a very nice quality the embellishment is done nicely.  It's really one of the nicest Silkies produced in the last two years.

 Open coat reveals cropped top and flared pants

The coral branch pattern continues all around the back of the coat.

She has an intricate hairstyle which, in my pictures, is still in it's net. I'm dangerous around Silkstone hair so I prefer not to remove the nets right away.

The doll is fetching $100 and up on eBay. 

Princess Beatrice's Philip Treacy Hat on eBay for Charity

I think it's pretty cool that she has put this hat on eBay for the benefit of charity. She stated that she was surprised at all the attention it got and that would be a good thing for her charities. There are even some of the public created fun pictures using the hat on the auction page. I am impressed!


Here is the link to the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230620500557

www.mikestone.co.uk photography