New Dresses from Antonio Realli and Kingdom Doll Brunel

I have two new gowns from Antonio. Both are classic designs using wonderful fabrics and the addition of a bit of bling. I love dressing my dolls this way.

First is "Flawless" Elise in a flowing chiffon confection with metallic silver abstract shapes 'painted' on.  The belt is adorned with rhinestones. Jewelry Integrity Toys "True Royalty."

This model is Monogram "Dreamscape."
This gown has a lacy overlay that is embellished with sequins.  More sparkle is provided by the belt which is a mix of tiny metallic balls and rhinestones.
Jewelry by Joy.

Brunel was in my studio at the same time and wanted to get in on the fun.
She is wearing a Tonner outfit called "Impressionist Chic" and KD shoes. The Tonner fashions for Tyler fit the KD dolls fairly well. I pin the bust and torso to make them smaller. I lament not keeping many of the Tonner gowns I sold now that I see how beautiful my KD's look wearing them. I've been hunting bargains on these older fashions which are few and far between.
The different scale dolls look so strange together.  Elise looks terrified. I should have spent some time posing her better.

Here is Brunel showing off her great legs.

Walking the Runway with Kingdom Doll Star and Jamieshow Zita

Every year at this time, collectors get a doll or two ready for the Oscars. This year I have chosen Kingdom Doll Star and Jamieshow Zita as my two representatives to the event.

Star is wearing a gorgeous Tonner fashion, "Venus Rising," a wig by Ilaria (that I wish I had in multiple colors) and silver Sybarite shoes.
The flowing chiffon cape-sleeves of this outfit are separate pieces and have floral embellishments at the shoulder. Unfortunately, Tonner designers thought it would be a good idea to sprinkle glitter (YES, GLITTER) on these flowers, thereby taking the classy level down to 0. In spite of that, it looks beautiful in pictures.
I had to do some temporary stitching to take in the bust and torso area for Star. It takes a little longer than pinning but it's neater and I don't stick myself every time I hold the doll. 
Part of the popular "Gowns by Anne Harper" line, the outfit included rhinestone earrings, bracelet and dark green pumps, retailed for $114.99 and was a limited edition of 100 pieces.

Original Tonner promo photo:

Whoever designed this line and the Hollywood Legends/Glamour Collection through 2009-2011, needs to come back. Overall the fashions were beautifully designed and executed.

See for yourself: http://www.tonnercollectibles.com/aharper.htm

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Jamieshow Zita greets her fans. She is wearing Ashton Drake's "Love in Bloom," designed for Gene Marshall by Regina Ganem in 2001 as a dressed doll.  The retail price was $195.
Opera length gloves and matching clutch purse were included but not shown in my photo.
I adore the ribbon embroidery on the sheath and on the removable train. 
The jewelry is Franklin Mint, shoes are IT Gene and wig is Jamieshow.

 Original Ashton Drake promo photo:

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Waiting to be interviewed:

Tonner Dolls: Bianca Lapin and Spring Flowers Ballerina

Two new Tonners joined the tribe last week. Spring Flowers is my first and only Tonner Ballerina. I've admired this line from the beginning. I won her in an auction at the Center City Doll Club earlier this month. She loves the camera! (Breathless Mahoney head sculpt.)

I actually forgot that I pre-ordered Bianca Lapin! It was a long time from the promo to the actual doll's appearance. She wears a faux leather dress under her cape. (Sculpt - Breathless)
Here is a partial description from the Tonnerdoll.com website:

From the Re-Imagination Collection comes ... Bianca Lapin.  Bianca Lapin is in a hurry. Her platinum white hair cascades down her back as she sits inside The Looking Glass tapping her fingers anxiously against the bar. Noticing a sharply dressed gentleman taking a seat beside her, she quickly averts her eyes and glances again at the clock...

Ed. Note:
Here's one of the promo shots on the Tonner web site. Did they change the vinyl color or are my photos dark & overly saturated? There are a bunch of differences in the hair, too.

The Best Halloween Diorama EVER!

Johanna in MD does it again. This collector is the embodiment of believing in the power of play. Her creativity and involvement with her dolls and their settings blows me away.

Just a few days ago she posted a picture of her diner with a new addition.

Today she posted pictures of the diner in Halloween mode. The details are beyond belief. Take some time to examine everything. You will be amazed.

All of the original photos are on Prego.

Chaise from Tonner Convention and Kingdom Doll Eira

I knew I had to have it as soon as I saw it. Tonner's props and furniture are simply the best and always have been. They're always fully scaled and fabulous for photography.  It sold out shortly after going up for sale on Wednesday but I got my order in while I was on the treadmill at the gym. Now that's determination (aka obsession.)

Took some quick iPhone shots of Black Lipstick seated on the chaise.

Love the doll, the chaise and the outfit which is from Sandra Stillwell's "Radio Days" convention.
The jewelry is Franklin Mint.

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As expected, Kingdom Doll's Eira, a very limited edition, sold out almost immediately leaving several collectors moaning and groaning. ( I could also say 'pissing and moaning' but I'll be diplomatic outside of the parentheses.)

Cheer up because the next doll up, Orbit-seen below, is a larger, though limited edition, and she is another beauty.

That's not to say she'll last long once available. The usual suspects will complain and condemn Kingdom Doll for not making enough, blah, blah.

When the new GenX Solitaire went live on Superdoll's site, she didn't last long. Of course, a few people were disappointed they missed her but I didn't see venom-tinged remarks aimed at the company. When Mansion came and went very quickly, there were no angry collectors posting on Prego about Superdoll's business practices. Superdoll doesn't even tell anyone a specific time a doll will go live! You have to keep checking the site and hope you find it ready to buy.

With Integrity Toys, you know when to contact your dealer after seeing a doll. It's called NOW. You don't get time to think about what you really want because if you hesitate, the doll will be sold out. You have people emailing every single dealer, trying to get the dolls any way they can. Ultimately, the disappointed collectors complain about the dealers, favoritism and canceled orders. 

When Mattell posts a Platinum Barbie for sale the site crashes or they cancel the sale and then hold it a few days later without broad announcements of the new date. 

Tonner 2015 "Guilty Pleasures" Convention Part I

It's really great that the Tonner people are posting the event dolls on their FB page even while the convention is under way.

So far, my favorites are from the break out event called "Wilde Tea Party."

Vintage Tea Ellowyne $165.00

Vintage Baker Pru $165.00

Vintage Kitchen Lizette $165.00

I also loved the Special Exhibit of vintage dolls which included Sweet Sue and Miss Revlon.  Credit for photos was not posted.

There were some very special early Barbie dolls as well on display.

Opening Dinner Event - "Rockabilly" attendees were dressed in square dance attire and received this doll:

Dixie  LE  200   $165.00
Kit head sculpt and Chic body

 

Maxine  LE  200   $165.00

Magnolia Sculpt and Chic Body

 

Two Great Deals at Tonner Doll and the Demise of Tiny Kitty

If you're on the Tonner Doll mailing list, you are used to the constant barrage of sales week after week. It seems to me that the prices don't really move much. Today I thought I'd give it a glance and IMO there are two excellent deals .

This is "Classical." She is a 16" doll with the Tyler head sculpt in a cameo skin tone. She comes with changeable feet - ballerina and high heel. That makes her incredibly useful. Any dressed Tyler doll for $50. is a great deal because the Tyler BW replacement bodies themselves go for $39 apiece.
http://www.tonnerdoll.com/ballet/classical-special-pricing

I never collected Tonner's Ballet series. although I've loved most every one of them.  I don't see them as 'play-with-me' dolls. I visualize them being displayed on a stage, permanently doing their ballerina thing.

http://www.tonnercollectibles.com/nycb.htm
http://www.tonnerdoll.com/ballet/1


The next is a doll that I purchased when she first went on sale a long time ago. The price I paid was way higher than the current $75.00 which is incredibly ridiculous considering that she was first offered for $229.99.  Is there a lesson here on the markup of these dolls?

This is "Glamorous #75" from the Theatre De La Mode collection.
Sadly the photograph is awful and does her no justice which may be a contributing factor to her unpopularity.
This Gina is a beautiful doll using the Antoinette body.  The dress is lovely. The shoes do nothing for the fashion but are useful never-the-less. It's a very good buy!
http://www.tonnerdoll.com/theatre-de-la-mode/glamorous-75-special-pricing

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On another topic...
Poor Tiny Kitty. They can't seem to get rid of her this time around. No wonder. The outfits were designed with such a heavy hand it looks as though they were meant for a larger doll. It also looks as though they've made her head bigger.
If you're going to bring back a popular doll, why would you enlarge her head? It's not cuter. It doesn't fit. And what's with the strange lower lashes?

This has to be one of the worst outfits and hairstyles ever:

Most collectors do not want glitter covered dresses:

Sweet little Kitty of the past has flown the coop.

Has another company you collect ever brought back a doll with changes that you don't like?

My Current Sales Listings have been moved to TABS under the title of the blog.

http://terrigoldphoto.blogspot.com/

Clearance Sale at Cherished Friends

Cherished Friends is holding a three day clearance sale June 9th through the 11th. The prices for the dolls (all Tonner products) are excellent.

For example, the 22" American Model Constance Dressed Doll, original retail $449.99 is now $179.99!

Also on sale are several other 22" dolls, Tiny Kitty, Tonner Ballet, Cami & Jon, Marilyn Monroe, Antoinette, Precarious, Re-Imagination, Theatre de la Mode, Tyler Wentworth, DeeAnna Denton, James Dean, Evangeline and Ellowyne.

CHERISHED FRIENDS

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 The sister store is also running a great sale including items such as Wonder Woman 22",  Harley Quinn 22", Patsy, Warm Bodies, Wizard of Oz, Momoko, Harry Potter and more.

Spotted on Prego...

Photograph by Tom in CA

JamieShow Phoenix Gene in DAE's "Aphrodite." 

Wig by Ilaria.

Gorgeous!

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I haven't been posting much mainly because I've been binge-reading, watching movies and the Mr. Selfridge TV series. It also seems to be a quiet time in the fashion doll world with the occasional release of a stunning doll like Kingdom Doll's, Brighton. Integrity Toys will have a reveal next month. Tonner releases dolls as they become available to pre-order or ship.

It appears that Alexandra Forbes is no longer photographing Ficondoll's new products. That's quite a loss for them as can be seen in this stiff photo of their latest doll, Liu. She has a beautiful face but the photographer did not come close to Alex's photographic talent. The doll sold out in spite of the photos. I like Ficon's products and hope for their continued success.

http://www.ficondoll.com/

Tonner's Renesmee

Tonner Doll released their promotional image of Twilight's Renesmee today.

Renesmee $159.99

Product Description

• Dressed Tonner Character Figure™
• Face includes hand-painted details
• Fine quality vinyl and hard plastic
• Mackenzie Foy Portrait sculpt
• 12" Patience body
• Cameo skin tone
• Brown painted eyes
• Copper brown rooted saran hair
• Purple cotton long sleeve shirt
• Grey corduroy shorts
• Grey cotton knit tights
• Purple corduroy hooded coat
• Purple cotton scarf
• Gold charm necklace
• Red/orange multi braided bracelet
• Brown faux leather boots
• Stand
• LE 500

I'm pretty sure this isn't a real Entertainment cover but you can see that this is the outfit the doll is wearing.
I think the doll's face is too big and doesn't look like Renesmee at all.