Deconstruction Site Eugenia & Magnetism Monogram Dolls

I had time yesterday to redress several dolls and photograph a few of them. For me this is the most pleasant way to spend time with my dolls besides gazing at them. For the backdrop I tried out some mylar coated stock. I'm not quite sure about the best way to use it so the results are accidental. I'll have to do some research.
Here is Eugenia wearing LifeBall's gown. The bust was quite tight but I managed to close it and I like it on her. The headwear belongs to Flame Blue Vanessa and the purse is from an early Fashion Royalty doll. Jewelry is by Facets. She looks gorgeous!
I purchased the Monogram doll called Magnetism as a nude so she really needed some wardrobe time.
The Randall Craig fashion, Kelly Girl, looked great on another collector's doll so that's what mine got to wear. Fur is by Dimitha and shoes are her own from her original outfit.
This particular backdrop is an older tri-fold cardboard Ashton-Drake Gene item meant to represent the Biltmore Hotel Ballroom. I added the gold chairs and columns. The columns are Wilton cake decorating accessories which I spray painted gold.
The jewelry was produced by Sandra Stillwell for the 2004 Gene convention. It is a replica of jewelry worn by Susan Hayward in the film Smash Up. The fur was also made to fit a 16" doll however it works well with this scale and is quite glamorous. It is real fur.

Hope you like the pretty pictures. ;-)

Revision note: Information about the jewelry Magnetism Monogram is wearing was provided by Mike Basala. Thanks, Mike!

Vanessa's First Photoshoot

Flame Blue Vanessa is pretty close to perfection. All I have to do is glue down the curls on her hairdo and she will be. She is actually better in person as the construction and fine quality of the gown can be appreciated only when holding her in hand. This is her first photoshoot. There will be more as I'm not really satisfied with these images.

A Collector Reports on her Experience with Superfrock

I get a lot of mail from my readers who identify with what I post and otherwise. I thought this email would be interesting to post as I don't collect Sybarites. The two purchases I've made from Superfrock were not for dolls and went very smoothly.
The writer has given me permission to publish her name along with the content of her letter. In two instances I have substituted XXX for the name of a company.

Dear Ms Gold!
I am a frequent visitor to your blog and just today I read about what your buying experiences with XXX were like.
This might not be a big comfort, but anyway: I bought this ultra-expensive Tock doll from Superfrock. They had put me on a waiting list and then recently e-mailed me that they had one left and if I wanted it. I did. What I received was a doll with indentures, filing marks and bad creases and scratches on her back and shoulders and front upper bosom part.
And it was no fun arriving at being able to return her and receiving a full refund, i. e. one including my shipping cost back to the UK. I am still waiting for my credit card to be refunded with the amount for the doll, I got my shipping cost back via Paypal. Hopefully this credit card refund delay is only due to it being week-end.
Anyway, I would have never expected such an inferior quality on such a highly priced and allegedly high quality doll.
I was told that "oh, this was out of our hands" and that "the quality check in China was bad" etc. Furthermore, the e-mail address given on Superfrock's home page, i. e. "sales@ superfrock.com" leads straight to China. So it's the customer's fault if they write to the wrong address...I wouldn't want to say Superfraud.
What annoyed me even more, however, was the Lady I talked to on the phone hanging up on me three times and thus making me call again and again. On top of it all, she sighed into the phone annoyedly. The connexion was admittedly bad, but only in one direction. In case you're interested I can send you some photographs of the faults described above.
This whole affair reminds me of what you wrote about getting the last Fashion Doll Agency doll from XXX This kind of behaviour really provokes a customer to think that the sellers are trying to get rid of their last dolls which had come back before (for who knows how many times).
...[Shortened for Clarity]...
Thank you very much for taking your time to read all this and for all your endeavours. And for not sweet-talking to the sellers all the time on your blog. Their success has already gone to their heads far too much.

Best regards
Petra

Picture of the Week Award ~ May 9, 2010 ~ Laura Bigger

My featured photograph this week was made by my dear friend Laura Bigger, also known as Laura/LA. Using her Nikon D90 on a tripod in natural ligh, she presents us with an image straight out of a fashion magazine. Everything works together in this photo: the directional lighting, the composition, the limited color palette. The doll is in a very natural pose supported by the angled prop while she is shielding her eyes from the sun. I love it. The doll is Fashion Royalty Dania Zarr "Exclusive Interview." Her hair was restyled by Uriah and the dress is by HJ Couture 2010. Laura's byline on DollyDaily.com is "Professional Enabler." She has certainly earned that title with me. As a result of seeing this fashion and finding out who made it, I purchased one of his creations. (Huckleberry Jackson aka HJ Couture)

I asked Laura if she had any suggestions to offer doll photography beginners and this is what she said:
"Spend lots of time looking at the doll pictures on Flickr, the doll boards and in magazines. After looking at hundreds of doll photos you will start to have a sense of what is possible, what you like and what has already been done. Pros like Terri [Thank you, Darlin'] will show you what a perfectly lit shot should look like as well as how to use a few props or many props to create an interesting composition. My second bit of advice would be to go ahead and experiment. Now that digital cameras have made each picture more or less "free" try every angle you can think of. Experiment, have fun and play with those dolls!"

See more of Laura's photography and collection at: http://www.flickr.com/people/laurala2008/

Congratulations on the Picture of the Week Award.

My Flame Blue Vanessa is Where?

It's nine days since I paid for her and I just couldn't wait any longer so I emailed the liaisons at the W Club.
I received a very kind response from Luanne (who is always very pleasant and helpful). She told me that she would contact the business office of Integrity Toys. I'm assuming someone there actually read her email because about 1 hour later I got a shipping notice.

I know I'm not their favorite customer but really.....

Image Source: http://www.nataliedee.com/archives/2006/Apr/

Misleading eBay Auction Title of the Day

"NEW 14 Pairs Shoes for Fashion Royalty, Lots"

These are all Barbie shoes, many of which would not even fit a Fashion Royalty doll. This auction popped up in the Integrity Fashion Royalty category.

Seller's Feedback:Here's the link to the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-14-Pairs-Shoes-Fashion-Royalty-Lots-/290425603027?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item439eb703d3