A Photoshoot, Finally!

Yesterday I took the time to photograph a bunch of dollies that have been patiently waiting. The time before a convention is nice and peaceful without many new dolls arriving. Next month at this time, the chaos will have subsided but there will be chaos.

Here's an assortment for you.

Tonner's Vivacious Antoinette in Summer Nights

I'm pretty bored with Antoinette already and I will not be adding new ones. This is the latest dress I received from the Cami & Jon line. They wear the same clothes. The dress is pretty vanilla - nothing new. It definitely is lacking pizzazz.

Mini  Aphrodisiac in a Pam Seeman Dress

I love this doll and she is as beautiful as her larger sister. I picked up this couch from Facets. The earrings were gifts from Facets as well. Shoes are from a Fashion Royalty fashion.

The "Egyptian" chair was purchased in a local head shop/crystal store.

Beatnik Blues Poppy Parker wearing Sealed With A Kiss

 Getting this doll's bangs to lay properly is an exercise in futility. She should have been wigged. I love the outfits being created for this line of dolls.

Coney Island Saturday Poppy Parker wearing Beatnik Blues

She looks afraid. This is not a very popular edition and perhaps the designers will take a hard look at the eyes going forward. The first year Poppy's eyes were more expressive and less anime. Teens in the era from which Poppy is supposed to come did not wear big hair rolls on their foreheads. That's from the 40's.
Am I imagining it or is Poppy supposed to be a little pigeon-toed? I don't like that Robert Tonner did that with Tiny Kitty in order to make her look more kittenish and vulnerable. Imagine a boy doll with pigeon toes? It's so sexist.

Mini Gene Wearing Look of Love Poppy Fashion

 Mini-Gene dolls sport my favorite 12" doll sculpt. It's delightful to find that there are clothes for them.

Target Exclusive Barbie Basics With Shoes from Shoe Pack

No, I still do not collect Barbie Dolls. I do buy them occasionally to see what all the fuss is about however. I purchased the big shoe pack and these zebra striped pumps were my favorites. I hoped against hope that some of the shoes would fit Fashion Royalty but no luck. It would be nice if these dolls were articulated (she said, again.)
The doll has a pretty face - she's soooo white it even bothers me. Hehe.
It's cute.

Hair is the usual choppy mess and this picture is after I trimmed and conditioned it!

Puki Puki "Rudy" Wearing Kelly Clothes and a Tabloach Wig

My poor Puki Pukis are very neglected. They sit around staring at the big girls getting changed and being played with.  Here, Ruby is examining her fishbowl and planning to take the fish out for a walk.

Traveler Innoquii Transformed!

Petra Becker from Germany sent me a picture of her Traveler from whom she removed the black eye spot. She sanded with different grits of paper and I think she did an amazing job. After removing the spot she used acrylic paint for the eye and eyebrow and pastel for the upper cheek area. Take a look at this picture of hers.

Image by Petra Becker

For comparison, here is a before picture of my Traveler doll.What a difference!

I'm torn between removing the spot and leaving it. I don't love it but it's edgy and unique. One day I'd like to get the bride doll from this series which currently is selling for about $300. That's a big difference from the $75 for Traveler!

Traveler can wear many Avantguard clothes but bottoms that are very tight on the AGs may be impossible to get on.  All the ultra short dresses are close to perfect on Traveler. Shoes will fit, too.

I wonder if her stringing will loosen up over time? Her elbow joints are extremely snappy. Every other joint works nicely. I am still very pleased with her.

We Have Received One Lovely Blog Award

 Alison in California from the Fashion Doll Review has included us in their list of blogs they enjoy reading. Thank you very  much, Alison. I also enjoy reading yours!

The rules for this prize, if you'd like to play along are as follows:
Write a post about this prize, including the photo above and link to the blog which awarded you the prize. Then award it to 15 blogs that you enjoy reading.

My picks for this award are:

1. Comatose Bunny Dreamer    http://citronrouge-comatosebunnydreamer.blogspot.com/
2  Creazione - Creation in Miniature      http://emiliacouture.blogspot.com/
3. Fashionably Plastic                             http://creativelymj.blogspot.com/
4. The ArtPoint                                       http://theartpoint.blogspot.com/
5. Miss Gene Marshall                            http://missgenemarshall.blogspot.com/
6. Paint Me White                                   http://www.paintmewhite.com/
7. Fleur de Lys News                              http://fleurdelysdolls.blogspot.com/
8. Dolldom                                              http://dolldom.blogspot.com/
9. Diane on Whidbey Island                   http://dianeonwhidbeyisland.blogspot.com/
10. Dollphilia                                          http://dollphilia.blogspot.com
11. Infidel                                                http://infidel-aquabluerose.blogspot.com/
12. My Passion is: DOLLS                     http://passionatedolls.blogspot.com/
13. Royalty.Girl                                       http://royalty-girl.blogspot.com/
14. Soultalk777 A Scarlett Reverie         http://soultalk777.blogspot.com/
15. Brooklyn Stars Forever                     http://brooklynstars-forever.blogspot.com/

Great work everyone! I want to note that there are many other blogs I enjoy and recommend. Some have already received this award so I have decided to share the wealth among other bloggers.

New Wave of Monster High Dolls

I'm a little bit hooked on these adorable, cheap dolls. I ordered the new Cleo de Nile Dawn of the Dance doll (below on the right) directly from the Mattel shop today. The list price is $16.99. I got free shipping and if you sign up for a free account you get 10% off your purchase. Because I live in taxable New York, the 10% tax was pretty much canceled out but my total was only $16.51 complete! Not bad at all.

As always, you should shop around for your best deal as many are overcharging for these dolls. There are a total of 9 figures not counting the plushies right now. Some dealers on eBay are selling the entire collection of 9. Do the math and find your best price.

Frankie Stein, Clawdeen Wolf, Cleo DeNile

Images above were created by Mattel and were adapted by eBay vendors.

There is one caution I should add. The joints on these dolls are fragile in that I've had arms fall out from the lightest handling. It doesn't happen all the time but it will happen. Additionally, some of their little accessories are attached with clear rubber bands. I suggest leaving the bands. I have already lost one leg fin from one of the girls. My Deuce Gorgon's legs were detached inside his pants. The pants are so tight that I didn't notice until I had discarded all the packaging. Luckily I have a friend who can fix this for me.
Save the boxes and the receipts.

How many of you remember the nighttime soap, Dynasty?

Two new character dolls have been introduced by Mattel. They are Krystal [Carrington] of Dynasty who was portrayed by Linda Evans (above left),

Krystal - Estimated delivery date .December 2010
$34.95

and Alexis [Colby] of Dynasty formerly played by Joan Collins (top right):

Alexis - Estimated delivery date December 2010
  $34.95

John Forsythe, himself a handsome and distinguished actor, is the man in the middle. In the show he is married to Krystle. He'd make a hot-looking doll. Forsythe passed away in April, 2010 at the age of 92.

The dolls still look like Barbie. The hair is close to the actress' styles and the fashions are very good replicas from what I can see but the faces are still very Barbie. Isn't anyone else getting tired of that body pose? Such a waste of vinyl.

Linda Evans and Joan Collins were gorgeous in that series.

Joan, at 77, still looks great.

Linda's plastic surgeon should be shot.

Picture of the Week ~ October 2, 2010 ~ Melanie Reeves

Melanie Reeves, more commonly known as CarmMeldoll, posted a series of photos on Prego and it was difficult to choose a favorite. So I went, "eenie, meenie, miney, moe..." and this is the winner.

The original doll was said to be Sushi. Mel calls her NocTa. She has had a complete body repaint done by Paul Pham.
Her outfit is a mixture of pieces from Superfrock (jacket & shoes,) Avantguard (skirt,) and Joe Tai (bustier.)
Mel uses a light tent and takes pictures with her Nikon Coolpix L100 from several different angles. She edits down to the best ones.

Her suggestions regarding doll photography are as follows:
"Keep trying to improve on what you do...I am always trying to find ways to make my pictures better. I look at a lot of photography online, in magazines and in books, working to see what I can incorporate into my own style and pictures. I think if you love your dolls, it will show in your pictures."

Mel usually posts on Prego and Sybeau Monde.
See more of Mel's photography here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11049780@N03/

Thanksgiving Feast™ Barbie® Doll

 An email went out to all BC.Com members today announcing the Thanksgiving Feast Barbie Doll which will be available only to members this month. No price was noted. Uh oh. 

Wouldn't it be nice if she could actually hold the tray? 

This doll reminds me of Maria Therese Bride Silkstone although their coloring is completely different. I don't know what it is about the two of them. She's cute and I love the vintage style of the outfit. I will be getting her. What about you?

Thanksgiving Feast™ Barbie® Doll

2010

Gold Label™ Collection

Holiday Hostess™ Collection

Created exclusively for members of the 2010 Barbie^SM Fan Club, Thanksgiving Feast™ Barbie® doll epitomizes the perfect hostess! With a nostalgic air, Barbie® wears a printed shirt dress, crisp apron with adorable bird appliqué, and faux pearl jewelry. Her side swept brown hair is pulled up into a bun. Accompanying “food” tray includes a turkey with all the trimmings.

Designed by Ann Driskill.

No more than 3100 units produced worldwide.

Preview of Four of Next Year's Barbie Fashion Model Collection

These are Mattel's images of some of next year's Barbie Fashion Model Collection of Silkstone dolls.  Pictures of the rest have not yet been released. Prices may vary according to dealer. Shop around.

BFMC  Darya Barbie $129.

BFMC  Russia Mila Barbie $89.

BFMC  Russia Ken $85.

BFMC  Verushka Barbie $149.

Again, the prices of Silkstone dolls are higher than they should be. It's about time they did something with the articulation because the dolls are adorable and collectible but they just stand there.

"Hot to Trot" Avantguard Doll on Sale at Mary T's Doll House

When I see a doll that was released only a few months previously go on sale for such a low price I wonder why. But...if you want this doll, it's a great price at $149.99. Who knows? If you wait a few more months the price might go down even further.

The original price was $220.

Link to Mary T's Doll House

IDEX 2011 Registration Opens

IDEX will be celebrating it's anniversary and "20 Years of Friendship" at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida on January 27-30, 2011. The exhibitor list is filled with doll manufacturers and artists from all over the world. Several new exhibitors and retailers have signed up such as JPOP Dolls, Angelic Dreamz for JAMIEShow and Crawford Manor Dolls by Cavil Designs, Ltd.
Alexander Doll Co., Ashton Drake Galleries, Tonner Doll Co., and Wilde Imagination among scores of other 'regulars' will be displaying their gorgeous products. There are workshops and other events to please most collectors and artists as well. I know of three that I will definitely be signing up for.

The hotel is fabulous. First of all, it's HUGE. You could live there without ever leaving as there is a grocery store where all sorts of items are available including hot foods. There are several restaurants and a coffee shop, clothing boutiques, travel agent and all the usual services found at a resort.

Click here for the IDEX site.

Picture of the Week - 9/26/10 - NylonBleu

Many people know that the Haute Doll exclusive Innoquii "Traveler" went on sale for the unbelievable price of $75. about three weeks ago. Interest in this doll was revived and pictures began to pop up on the boards. One collector's pictures intrigued me. NylonBleu, who obviously has skill not only as a photographer but also with Photoshop, posted a series of images of Traveler. Here are some of my favorites:

 

The big black dot on the back wall is inspired.

The strange positioning of Traveler on this 1/6 scale shiny silver sofa is fun. Innoquii is strange and it suits her well.

If you would like to see more of NylonBleu's photography, click here.
This is the link to her blog.

There are still some Innoquii available but now they're being sold on eBay - for $75 plus postage. Go get it.

Party Down at the Pink Parlor

The Pink Parlor doll chat board has finally shed it's long-time owner (information upon personal request.) New owner, Nick, is not only a nice guy, he's a good-looking one, too.

This weekend the festivities include word games, photo contests and silly stuff with lots of prizes. Head on over and join the fun. Then stick around to make that board a fun place like it used to be!

Registration is simple. Just pick a board name and password and submit your application. Tell them Terri sent you!

Edgy New Shoes for Pre-Order at Angelic Dreamz

Yesterday George Gonzalez, the owner of Angelic Dreamz, announced new shoes for his JamieShow line of BJDs.
Check these styles out. They're amazing!

Photo Property of Angelic Dreamz

Prices range from $20. to $45.


Click here to see the rest of the styles.

Updated Extravagance and Escapade Pictures

After yesterday's photo shoot, I sat down with the new stuff to figure out how I could rework things to make them wonderful. My favorite Monogram doll, LifeBall, was ready for a change. I put the suit on her and hunted through my stash for shoes, a handbag and jewelry. I think what I came up with is works with the suit. I put a pin through the top of the hat. I used one with a green head so it would show in the pictures. The pin is short and very slim and goes into the vinyl head without too much difficulty. I used the earrings that came with the set and a bracelet of black beads.

It was harder to make the dress on Extravagance look good so as a temporary measure, I put a stole over her shoulders. I suppose that is what the coat was for. :-(
I gave her a freshwater pearl choker which does not interfere with the fringe on the dress.  I wish I had a short white shrug instead of this gigantic stole. I wonder if there is a way to alter the dress to correct the poor fit.  Or maybe I need to make a shrug.

____________

Some quick pics of Innoquii. She really looks her best without clothing!

..and Invisible Ink Ellowyne. She's kind of a big Ginny Doll with articulation. She's going to stay but I don't see more Ellowynes in my future. I would like some of her beautifully designed, fun fashions.  And, like I said before, I'm going to get her crazed cat.

Extravagance Monogram Doll; Escapade Fashion and Wig

I have had these two items for three days and have been sitting on this review for the same amount of time hoping that I would see something I didn't see at first and that my first impressions would change. It hasn't happened. I'm thinking: pretty but not without issues.
The suit is gorgeous. The fabric is a silky weave with a medium sheen that seems to have silver threads in amongst the off white and taupe. The jacket is wonderfully constructed with properly scaled buttons. Actual closures are hooks and eyes. But when the jacket is closed, the necklace won't lay flat on the doll. The necklace itself is awkward because if the component beads turn, getting them to all lay in the same direction is a nightmare. My necklace fell apart yesterday.
Jason has done a 180° turn from mini skirt to just below the knee with this one. I prefer somewhere in between and I wonder if the runway is showing skirts of this length. There is a bright lemon yellow shell under the jacket. The shoes with big red ribbon ties are awkward-looking. This girl is going to trip down the subway steps.

The handbag does not meet the design standards of prior FR handbags in any way. This bag could have come out of a Barbie collection.

This hat is a soft 60's Poor Boy cap style with an attached tulle veil. The promotional photos make it look beret-like but one has to pin the center down to get the roundness out of it. Does it not look navy blue in the Integrity photo? I wonder if it is because the coat from the Escapade set is navy blue. (Note: I just read that not only is the beret navy but the handbag is supposedly the same color. )

Promotional Image by Integrity Toys

It's a very large hat for a wig that looks better without anything on top of it. The hat will not stay on the wig as shown above without some type of pinning. In my picture at the top of the page, the Mini Avantguard who is wearing the hat is bald and the hat sits on her head nicely. Putting it on over that wig didn't look good.

Below is the Extravagance promo and my image side by side. In this case the promo pic is better than mine.  I was getting really fed up with these items by this time and it was not a fun photo shoot. I couldn't wait to get it over with.

The doll is lovely but her hair was a mess. She comes in a tri-color dress that would be fabulous if the shoulder/upper bust area fit properly.  The pattern needed to be altered to correct the fit. Not acceptable.  Designers wouldn't allow a model on the runway to wear a dress that fit like this. 

I absolutely love the shoes. The little clutch is cute but strange. 

The hat is a stiffened bowl shaped base with attached tulle and feathers. A big stitch that holds the tulle to the hat goes right through to the front of the hat. The jewelry is cute. It doesn't lay properly on the fringe of the dress' neckline, however.

And now, the question of the day is, "Why is this doll wearing a navy blue coat? Why does the promotional photo show the coat over her shoulders and not over the dress? Where is the belt in the promo picture?

And who shot JR?