Azone Announces New Misaki and Amelie Dolls

An email went out to W Club members announcing two new dolls from FR: Nippon.
These are the first Misaki and Amelie released in two years.

The retail price is 13,000 Yen which is approximately $132.  You will pay shipping from Japan.

What happened to the amazing Misakis of years gone by? After 2009, this line went downhill dramatically as far as design. Someone let the ball drop.
The two new dolls are the most boring examples of a line of dolls that wowed me when they were introduced. The best thing about these gals is their shoes.

Amelie Revisited "Tokyo Here We Go:

Misaki Red Rabbit

Brilliant examples of the heights FR Nippon reached when someone creative was in charge.  What a difference!







 Below: pictures of some my own pre-2010 Misakis.

Tokyo Here We Go

Tokyo Here We Go, Get Graphic, Patent Please, Sassy Stripes

Paranormal

Back row: Anti-Social, Autumn Champagne, Best in Brocade 

Front: Dreadfully Cute

Ciao Japan, Harajuku Honey

Barbie Collector Queen of the Constellations

Just a reminder for those who have been waiting for the Gold Label Barbie Doll, Queen of the Constellations, she is due to be released on 5/16/13. You must be a member of the Barbie Collector Club to purchase one.

I think she has a gorgeous face and her hair is stunning. Hopefully for those who buy her, she will look as good as the promotional photos. Unfortunately, her dress is not removable although the cape is. She's not my cup of tea but she's definitely eye candy.

The description from the BC.Com page:

Regally dressed in a golden metallic dress with a bejeweled corset and dramatic black metallic-striped cape, the Queen of the Constellations Barbie doll is a commanding presence. Unique golden embellishments include a futuristic flared crown, collar adornment, and intricately shaped epaulets. This doll is the third and final in the futuristic space goddess series.

Body Type:	ModelMuse™
Skin Tone:	Peace
Facial Sculpt:	Mermaid
Fashion Sewn On?:	Cape is removable, dress is not removable
Eyelashes:	Applied

Included with doll:
Shoes, stand, crown, corset, collar.

 Price is $100 (for a vinyl Barbie) but if you've saved, you can use your 2nd $20. club reward on her.

Ficon Leonie

I've rarely played with Leonie although she is my only Ficon doll. She has a serious posing issue. Her knee joints are not strong enough to hold a pose - even when she's on a stand - without major fiddling. She is a candidate for wiring. (Oh, Adrian...) She's got a little head, too. I like it as it is really more proportionate than most other 16" BJDs. 
Here she is in her new Ilaria Time of Doll wig. She's wearing Ficon designed fashions and the shoes are Paul Zhangby. (eBay/China)

If you do not already know, the Doll Peddlar is the best source for Ficon dolls, clothes and accessories once they have sold out on Ficon's website. Ficon fashions fit Jamieshow dolls beautifully.

Perhaps if I put a pair of these boots on Leonie, she'd stand up without buckling knees.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fashion-16-Doll-White-Long-Sexy-Shoes-Boots-JamieShow-Sybarite-V3-Ficon-6-SB-2-/290893895388?pt=US_Dolls_Bears_Toys&hash=item43baa096dc

I Don't Believe It

A Style Mantra Eden just sold on eBay for $1,026. The winner has a feedback score of 15. There were 35 bids from 19 people. Seriously? Why would someone pay so much for this doll? I know she's popular but come on.

Integrity Toys Photo

Do you think they will debox her?

Wilde Imagination Candlelight Rufus Basic

I did a double-take while browsing the Ellowyne Wilde catalog earlier. Listed in among the Basic Dolls was a doll called Candlelight Rufus Basic. He looked so much like another Tonner doll - at first.

Candlelight Rufus Basic $119.00

Put your finger over the face and who do you see? I saw Jeremy Voss for an instant. Too bad Rufus is so weird-looking. I wish Jeremy would make a comeback. I need one with black hair.

It looks like the same body except for the neck. What do you think?

I wonder if this Rufus outfit would fit the Matt/Jeremy body? I like this outfit called "Totally Natural."

Rufus - Totally Natural (Outfit Only) $89.00

It  vaguely reminds me of something Rex Harrison wore in My Fair Lady.

The Mattel version is kind of cute, too.

Mattel's Ken® Doll as Professor Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady™

Phoenix Gene in Superfrock and Comparison Photos

I'm definitely enjoying photographing the new resin Gene doll. It reminds me of the days when I'd get one doll at a time and spend a week changing her clothes and taking pictures. I haven't done this in a long time.
In the images on this page, Phoenix is wearing Sybarite Neurotica's dress. It fits
very nicely except the straps of the dress are extending above the natural shoulder. I like it anyway.  The shoes fit, too, but because Gene's ankles do not bend the shoe's angle, when she is standing up, is off. The wig is by Cheryl Wood. She's wearing her own gloves smooshed down and folded over.
This doll looks great in everything!

 

Above you can see the detail of her glove hands. This is the set of hands that is painted white. They were easy to switch to the regular color hands without tools but did require a third hand. In my case I held the doll between my legs and switched the hands. You can see the other hands in prior photos I posted of Phoenix.

__________________

Tom in CA has graciously allowed me to reproduce his Gene comparison photos.

First we have blonde versions of all three Gene Marshall dolls. On the left is an Ashton Drake, center is Integrity Toys and right is the new Phoenix.  Do you have a favorite? 

In this particular picture, I like the IT version primarily because of the hairstyle which makes her forehead smaller than either of the others. 

Here is another comparison which is great because it shows the head shape differences. Phoenix has a much more realistically proportioned head.  The Gene on the left looks as if she's missing part of her skull!