Sale Alert at Barbiecollector.com

Save $10 on orders totaling $50.00-$74.99; save $15 on orders totaling $75.00-$99.99; save $20 on orders totaling $100.00 or more (purchase amounts exclude any applicable sales tax and S&P). Offer ends 8/30/12 at 11:59 pm CT. May not be combined with any other offer or discount. Not valid on previous purchases. Offer excludes BFC™ membership fees, Gift Cards, and gift-wrapping

I pre-ordered the Silkstone Violet Eyes Elizabeth Taylor doll and got $20. off. Still overpriced at $105.  but I have to have her. Please let her look like the promo.

http://www.barbiecollector.com/promo/email/FALL2012_details

Barbie® Styled By Tim Gunn Doll 1 @ 2

Barbie® Styled By Tim Gunn Doll 1 @ 2
"Make it work!"

The ever-impeccable Tim Gunn mentors Barbie® doll’s style dressing her in a versatile Project Runway-ready ensemble that includes a classic yellow blazer, print blouse and skinny denim pants. Includes handbag, sunglasses, miniature phone and Tim Gunn “book.” $29.95

http://www.barbiecollector.com/shop/doll/barbie-styled-tim-gunn-doll-2-w3470

 Fashion consultant and television personality, Tim Gunn, brings his expertise to Barbie with a timeless outfit of smart separates including a crisp white shirt paired with a sleek black pencil skirt and cinch belt. Includes handbag, glasses, miniature phone, coffee cup and Tim Gunn “book.” $29.95

Barbie® Styled By Tim Gunn Accessories 1 and 2
 $24.95 each

 Extend the runway ready look with fashions and accessories that switch it up in style! Includes sleeveless black shirt, abstract print skirt, strappy sandals, clutch, “makeup” accessories and “party invitation” for stylish girls on the go!

Extend the runway ready look with fashions and accessories that switch it up in style! Includes faux black leather trench, houndstooth scarf, ankle boots, black glasses, hoop earrings and “magazines” for stylish girls on the go!

 I think this collection designed by Tim Gunn is delightful. If only the dolls had pivotal bodies!

New Home Update and More

If I seem to have been missing in action, I was. We have now been living in our new home for one day short of a week. I love the house more every day and will love it even more when our furniture gets here and we don't have to sit at a bridge table to eat or on a lawn chair to watch television. We do have a fully functioning and beautiful kitchen and laundry room. Dolls? Ha. I still have not unpacked my new Sybarites. The painters are starting tomorrow and estimate that it will take two weeks. Our stored household will be delivered on the 16th of August so, it will be a little longer before I can sit down with a doll to enjoy the deboxing experience.

Do you think it's a sign that I found this?

 I wonder what the buyers of our Woodstock house will find. Probably my all time favorite earring that one of my cats successfully hid 10 years ago. Every time I moved furniture or cleaned under heat registers, I hoped to find it. Sigh. I used to give our cats these little fur mice to play with. Most of them would disappear within a few days. I always wondered where they went. When two big armoires were moved, I found out.

 But no earring. They never disappeared after Rudy came along. He bit off their ears and tails, removed their eyes and eviscerated their stuffing. No wonder the cats didn't like him.

My doll friends have been asking if I will have a doll room in this house and the answer is a definite YES. During the months of house shopping, Bob would always ask, "Where will you put your dolls?" We have the perfect room. It even has it's own walk-in closet. My dolls will live in style!

The couple that lived here had four little girls. Ashley (a future graffitti artist), a set of twins and a baby.  Ashley decorated several places around the house. Fortunately, the best drawing was in her own room which will be the doll room. The picture above is her work and I am going to preserve it even though the room is being totally re-painted. I am having the painters block out a rectangle around it.  I have a fun project planned for that part of the room.

More will be revealed.

Mini Sale Alert - Mattel

Mattel is offering up to 25% off all orders when you purchase something from the Mattel Shop.
Of particular interest are the Monster High items.
I don't keep very up-to-date on that line of dolls but I know that some people were complaining that the build a monster kits only had one torso. Now there is a pack of 5 torsos you can purchase for $7.99 before any discounts are applied.

A lot of their dolls are out of stock but you can pick up this Operetta for $17.99.

 I'm guessing that whatever good stuff is currently available won't last long so go now and look.

Broadway Meets Tonner Doll

An announcement from Tonner Doll today:

Dear Collectors, 

We've got some very exciting news to share:  We are releasing our very first venture with a Broadway license:  The Memphis Collection!  Here's a little background about Memphis:

Memphis features a brand new, Tony winning score with music by Bon Jovi's founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Tony-winner Joe DiPietro, who also pens the musical's book. Directed by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, Memphis takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50's, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn't: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer.  Memphis is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever.

This is a very special release because it kicks off the Memphis U.S. tour.   To find out where Memphis is playing in a city near you, visit   www.memphisthemusical.com! 

  - The Memphis Collection-

Felicia

T12MSDD01

LE 750

$174.99

Ship dates TBA

• Dressed doll
• Face includes hand-painted details
• Fine quality vinyl and hard plastic
• Felicia head sculpt
• Tyler bending wrist body with changeable feet
• Spice skin tone
• Brown painted eyes
• Rooted dark brown saran hair
• Gold dress with embroidered bodice trim and chiffon drape
• Gold rhinestone earrings
• Gold beaded bracelet
• Gold rhinestone necklace
• Nude pantyhose
• Faux leather gold shoes to match dress
• Stand

Huey

T12MSDD02

LE 750

$174.99

• Dressed doll
• Face includes hand-painted details
• Fine quality vinyl and hard plastic
• Huey head sculpt
• Matt O'Neill™ body
• Tyler skin tone
• Blue painted eyes
• Molded hair
• Black and white pants
• Multi-colored patterned shirt
• Black and red polka dot jacket with leopard print lining
• Charcoal grey hat with ribbon trim
• Black faux leather shoes
• Black socks
• Stand
• LE 750

Dolls are being offered individually or as a set. If you order the set, the price is $300.
Link to the Pre-Order Page.

The IFDC Dolls

Integrity Toys again created dolls for the IFDC which took place in Las Vegas this past week.
There were three dolls created to fit in with the convention's theme of "Shock, Rattle N' Roll."

Kesenia as Long Cool Woman
Shock, Rattle 'N' Roll Collection
IFDC 10th Anniversary Souvenir Convention Doll
Suggested Retail Price: $150.00 US
Limited Edition of 300 Dolls

Korinne as Shake It Up
Shock, Rattle 'N' Roll Collection
IFDC 10th Anniversary Companion Doll
Suggested Retail Price: $150.00 US
Limited Edition of 300 Dolls

 I like her shoes:

Rayna as Rock Me, Baby
Shock, Rattle 'N' Roll Collection
IFDC 10th Anniversary IT Direct Salesroom Doll
Suggested Retail Price: $150.00 US
Limited Edition of 300 Dolls

 

All of these 12" vinyl dolls use the "Vampire" body. The remaining dolls are being offered by lottery to members of the W Club.
 

DATURA: OOAK NUMINA "Ajuma" doll by Paul Pham

Paul Pham's dolls keep getting better and more highly valued. The eBay auction for Datura ended early Sunday morning with a winning bid of $2,101.00 
 The link to the completed auction is here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160849299327&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:1123

Congratulations, Paul. She is worth every penny. Everything about her is stunning and unique.

All photos are Paul's from the auction page.

Jamieshow IFDC Ginny VIVA LAS VEGAS Doll

Viva Las Vegas Ginny is an LE 15 Jamieshow doll which has sold out. She was for sale via lottery.

She has a gorgeous face and shouts glitzy Vegas, Rio or Mardi Gras depending on how you look at it.

Zombie Boy NOW AVAILABLE

Zombie Boy is now available on the Tonner Direct website. Ships worldwide. $159.99

Click on image to go to order page.

Toy maker sues Lady Gaga

NEW YORK (AP) — A toy company is suing Lady Gaga for more than $10 million, claiming the pop star sabotaged a deal to make a doll in her likeness that would play snippets of her music.

In a suit filed in New York City on Tuesday, MGA Entertainment, the maker of the popular Bratz doll line, said it paid a $1 million advance to the company that handles Gaga's merchandizing and spent a mint racing to meet deadlines to ship the dolls this summer.

The dolls were to feature some of the singer's outlandish costumes, as well as a "voice chip" with samples of her songs.

But the toy maker said the plan was derailed in the spring when the merchandizer, Bravado International, abruptly tried to back out of the part of the deal allowing the dolls to use the singer's music. MGA said Bravado then tried to delay sales of the doll until next year, when her new album is expected to be released.

The toy company claimed the singer's representatives ultimately stopped cooperating with the project while she went on a world tour. MGA said her refusal to sign off on the final doll designs is jeopardizing $28 million in expected revenue from the fall shopping season and holding up orders from 10 countries.

A representative for Lady Gaga called the lawsuit "ill-conceived" and said there was "no legitimate reason" to drag the singer into a dispute primarily between MGA and Bravado, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group.

Bravado issued a statement through a spokesman calling the lawsuit "meritless."

In the lawsuit, MGA's lawyers claimed that Lady Gaga's representatives were initially thrilled with the doll prototypes, although they had asked for a few tweaks. In one email cited in the lawsuit, Bobby Campbell, the vice president of Gaga's management company, the Atom Factory, asked if the doll could be "more supermodel-like" with "more of a cat-eye and sexier, poutier lips." He also discussed a doll with a removable head that would pop off to reveal a bloody stump.

"We would like to see options with and without a bloody stump for comparison," he wrote.

This Model's Face

Look at the face on this model and tell me what doll she looks like.

Christian Dior 2011 Fall Paris Fashion Week

 

 

Other doll related blogs on the internet.

There are many doll related blogs on the internet and the number grows every day. Lots of people start a blog and abandon it as they don't realize the commitment involved to keep it going.
At one time I had my blog listed on a blog list that was a type of contest. The competition distracted me from my goals here - to provide interesting information, great images and honest reviews.
I'm not one for this competing "vote for me" type of activity. I think the best way to attract readers is by providing interesting content on a regular basis and making your blog posts easy to find.
 But, if you like, you can check my blog and any others you like on this list. I voted for each one. A friend of a friend designed list.ly the 'engine' that supports this type of list.

Best Doll Blogs - Fashion, Collecting & Photos

Hot Toys: Batman The Dark Knight Rises Sixth Scale Figure

Hot Toys continues with it's tradition of excellence in this figure of Batman in The Dark Knight Rises.

Batman - Bruce Wayne - DX Series

This figure looks so real it's unbelievable.

I love this list of what is included with the figure:

The Batman - Bruce Wayne - DX Series Sixth Scale Figure features:

• Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Batman - Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight Rises movie
• Two (2) interchangeable heads including:
• One (1) Batman head with patented Parallel Eyeball Rolling System (PERS) and three (3) interchangeable lower faces capturing his classic facial expressions
• One (1) newly developed head sculpt of Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in the movie with accurate facial expression, detailed wrinkles and skin texture
• Approximately 32 cm tall
• Batman body with 32 points of articulation
• Three (3) pairs of interchangeable gloved palms including:
• One (1) pair of fists
• One (1) pair of relaxed palms
• One (1) left open palm
• One (1) right palm for holding batarang
• One (1) newly developed complex Batsuit featuring fabric costume covered with armor
• One (1) cape
• Two (2) interchangeable belts including:
• One (1) detailed utility belt with cell phone and accessories
• One (1) magnetic utility belt for attaching the sticky bomb gun
• One (1) pair of forearm gauntlets
• One (1) pair of black boots
• One (1) grapnel gun
• One (1) transformable sticky bomb gun
• One (1) light-up electronic gun
• Two (2) batarangs
• Two (2) miniature mines
• One (1) adaptor for connecting Batman and Batpod (Sold Seperately)
• One (1) deluxe stone-like light-up figure stand with steps, Batman/ Bruce Wayne nameplate and the movie logo
• Light Up Electric Gun requires Three (3) Button Cell Batteries, Included
• Figure Stand requires Three (3) AAA Batteries, Not Included 

Retail price is $259.99

Get more information; see more pictures and pre-order here:  

Convention Costs

What will it cost you to attend a doll convention? Going to a convention is very expensive.  Here a general outline using this year's Fashion Royalty costs for you to estimate. Not every convention is the same so just use this as a guideline. The following list does not include transportation to the city as the range of costs will vary widely. Many of the expenses are optional.
Some people will be able to sell items to offset the costs and/or to make some money. Room sales are permitted but you have to register with the convention organizers.  Some people who attend with a non-collecting partner, sell the partner's dolls. You can also use those duplicate dolls to trade for other dolls you want.

—Convention Attendance $400.00 (if you are staying at the Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort)
This includes three sit-down meals, the convention doll (not a centerpiece), swag/gifts, entertainment and dance party.

—Hotel $169/night per room.
Can be shared by up to 4 people. Add tax and tips.

—2012 Convention Collection $850 or $825 if pre-ordered and shipped to your home.
I don’t know if that includes shipping to your home. If you buy the collection at the event you will pay local tax on each doll but you get to take it home with you. If it gets shipped because you pre-ordered, it should arrive in a week. You do not have to purchase the entire collection or any part of it.

—Centerpieces $100-$150.
 Each attendee usually gets the opportunity to purchase one centerpiece during the weekend at meal functions. You do not have to purchase a centerpiece.

—Souvenir Shop Purchases Optional $100. More or less.

—Room Sale Purchases Optional $100. More or less.

—Color Infusion Style Lab Optional $65 per doll.

—The "16 at 1600 High-Tea" $45 Optional Break-out Event.
 Centerpiece $150. Optional

—Optional Workshop Kits each :
-Resort Restyle $65
-Tribal Tattoos $85
-Fresh Tropical Look (partially unpainted) $65
-Cabana Couture $125  16” Poppy
-Poppy’s Hairdo $65

—W Club Luncheon $65 Optional
-Possible Centerpiece $150.

—Raffle tickets Optional $20. More or less.

—Food and Beverages $50-$100. More or less.

—Table Gifts Optional $50. More or less. Most every seasoned convention attendee brings doll related gifts for every person that will be sitting at the table with them. I've received some lovely gifts and some trash. It's best to give one small useful item than a bag of something that will be trashed.

—Transportation/ Taxi to and from hotel $15-$20 each way. More or less.

—Air Transportation to Orlando - varies on where you’re coming from.

Do the math and post what your total would be.

And From Superdoll....

There is a new basic doll, an accessory and a wig pack now available from Superfrock.
The doll is Dionysis:
Venus clone: 0779 regular skintone
Price: £323.50 LE 80

The Accessory Pack, Champ_Paq, comes with a list of useful and other items a "champ" like Dionysis might have such as a magnum of champagne, a winner's laurel wreath, no-sweat space blanket, go-go shorts, boob tube tops, hypercolor wigs, opera length gloves and stiletto sandals. I am mainly interested in the sets of hands which is also included.
Price: £139.50 LE80

Lastly, "Sour Grapes" is a set of two neon-colored Godiva wigs.
LE 100 Price: £37.75

As of this writing, all items are still available for purchase although I think that the accessory pack will be gone shortly.

Click here to go to the Special Summer 2012 Items

"Latte" New BJD from Ficon Doll

Ficon introduced their new dressed doll, Latte, for sale today. She is a limited edition of 30 and sells for $735. They have released one new doll a month since May. I haven't really followed Ficon's sales in the past so I don't know if this is normal for them.

 

Along with Latte, one new outfit and a swimsuit ensemble is also available. Go to www.ficondoll.com for more images and information.

There seems to be a larger than usual amount of dolls hitting the market at the same time all competing for the same prize - our money.

Photography for Ficondoll by Alexandra Forbes.

Ajuma by Paul Pham

OMG!!

This doll is drop dead gorgeous.

A new Numina doll is on it's way towards the end of this summer. This tease was posted yesterday by Paul. She will fly the minute she goes on sale! Specifics re: price and exact date are not yet available.

Military Figure in 1/6 Scale

Like most of us I am on every doll related mailing list in existence. This morning I got an email from Hobby Search. The figure that caught my eye is called "Crazy Dummy - 1/6 U.S. Army Saw Gunner in Afghanistan." It is classified as a fashion doll! This guy is going for about $203. and is the most detailed, realistic military figure I've seen in a long time - not that I see many - but it's incredible.  It's a pre-order. Hobby Search is based in Japan so added postage raises the price.
Take a look at these pictures. It looks like a real man.

When I see what can be achieved in 1/6 scale at this price, I realize how much I've overpaid for so many dolls. Perhaps I should start my own little army.

Anyway, the description of this character is as follows:

- From [crazy dummy], Sogan'na lineup in the United States Army in Afghanistan!
Accessories - of fulfilling,
MICH 2000 HELMET WITH OCP COVER MICH2000
UNIVERSAL GOGGLE RETENTION STRAPS
ARMY T-SHIRT
OCP ACS SUIT
OCP ACU PANTS
BDU BELT
OCP IOTV GEN2 VEST
MOLLE2 100R POUCH
MOLLE2 200R POUCH
DOUBLE M4 MAG POUCH
RADIO POUCH
MOLLE2 CANTEEN POUCH
1QT CANTEEN
MOLLE2 FIRST-AID POUCH
TRIPLE PISTOL MAG POUCH
SMOKE GRENADE POUCH
HYDRATION POUCH
HYDRATION TUBE
MOLLE2 WAIST PACK BUTT PACK
USGI KNEE PADS One pair
43513X BOOTS One pair
WORK GLOVES (BLACK) One pair
COMBAT APPLICATION TOURNIQUET
IR FLAG
RANK TAB
NAME TAB
ARMY TAB
ISAF PACH
ARMY DIVISION PACH
M249 PARA WITH AR STOCK AND GRIP
100R M249 AMMO BOX
5.56MM METAL CHAIN \u200b\u200bAMMO X10
M4 30R MAG X4
ACOG TA31 SCOPE WITH KILLFLASH
AN/PEQ15 LASER
MCTAR SLING ADAPTOR
MACHINE GUN SLING
M9 PISTOL WITH PISTOL LANYARD
M9 MAGX3
M9 CQC CHEST HOLSTER
USGI NVG MOUNT
AN/PVS-14 NVG
AN/PRC152 RADIO
HANDMIC
SF HELMET LIGHT
G-SHOCK WATCH
2.0 M FRAME BALLISTIC EYEWEAR
FORE TREX 201 GPS
MS2000 STROBE
M18 SMOKE GRENADE

_____________________________________________

If you're not familiar with Hobby Search, they carry Obitsu, Azone, Takara, doll magazines, doll hair and more. The website is fun to look at and, of course, is in Japanese first but other languages are available via built-in translator.

HobbySearch - Fashion Doll Store

Sybarites: New Dolls, Accessory Packs, Convention:

If you have a subscription to Dolls Magazine you will see a picture of a gorgeous new basic Sybarite, Dionysis.

"Dionysis" Photo from Dolls Magazine. Small print refers to Sour Grapes wig pack and something else I can't read.

There is also a brief, entertaining video of this same doll dancing. 

http://youtu.be/yyPuM92HPSM

The new accessory pack called "Champ_Paq" consists of a set of assorted hands (which I MUST have), a space blanket, a wreath, champagne, 5 pairs shorts, 2 tube tops, two wigs, opera gloves and stiletto sandals. How fun is that?

There is a wonderful multi-page spread on the new Abbe Lane dolls with gorgeous photos. One of the dolls, "Wolf Whistles," is a Marl & B exclusive.

This was posted on Facebook:

The dates: October 19, 2012-October 21, 2012.