Italian Doll Convention 2011

 

On May 28 & 29, Milan, Italy will be the site of the Italian Doll Convention. The theme is the "Italian Way." One of the events invites participants to dress as their favorite Barbie and walk the catwalk.  My favorite rule says you are not allowed to  "think anything like I am too short/fat/shy/old to dress like a Barbie to do this." That sounds like so much fun. I hope someone videotapes it.

As part of the convention, twelve uber-talented doll artists have donated beautiful work to be auctioned off on eBay on May 15, 2011 with 100% of the proceeds going to the Fondazione Blu Onlus. They are (from left to right: Matt Sutton, Paul Pham-Numina Dolls, Ovaz,  Parrucca di Ilaria Mazzoni - Time of Dolls, ?, Parrucca di Ilaria Mazzoni - Time of Dolls, Matt Trujillo, Melissa Windham for Grant a Wish, Magia2000, Ninimomo, Fashion Doll Agency, Patrick Kon.

Click here to go to site.

Reinterpreted Runway Fashion from Superfrock

Thanks to George Gonzalez for pointing out this reinterpretation of a McQueen by Superfrock.

Alexander McQueen: Paris Fashion Week RTW 2009

Black Bird Society Fashion

 Birds do it, bees do it 

even Superfrock does it.

New Ellowyne Released "Timid Tan" with Free Shipping Now

Today Wilde Imagination released a new dressed Ellowyne doll called Timid Tan.  At first glance I thought she was a Basic Doll. She's quite ordinary compared to many dressed dolls. Her retail price is $135.00.

 To take advantage of the current promo for free shipping enter the code: SMILE13 for domestic orders and SMILE13INT for international orders.

She reminds me so much of "A Bon Voyage" who was a Hollywood Ahoy Convention (2009) doll. I like ABV better. Still available for $129.

Wilde Imagination  http://www.wildeimagination.com/c-2-dressed-dolls.aspx

In Search Of Sinister Circus "Back Stabber"

As if I need another doll....and yet I do. She is the Sinister Circus "Back Stabber"- LE 150.  She was the 2009 Modern Doll Collectors Convention (MDCC) Souvenir doll at the Tonner breakout event held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Someone must have one they don't want anymore. 

She has my favorite Supergirl sculpt and there is definitely a place for her in my collection.

Poop On ebay?

The seller prefaces all of his/her listings with the following disclaimer:

ALL ITEMS COME FROM GARAGE SALES, THRIFT STORES OR AUCTIONS. MY HOME IS SMOKE FREE AND PET FRIENDLY BUT I CANNOT SPEAK FOR WHERE THESE ITEM HAVE BEEN BEFORE. I TRY TO DESCRIBE ITEMS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY BUT AM NOT AN EXPERT AND CONDITION IS SOMETIMES A MATTER OF OPINION. ANY ISSUES NOTICED WILL BE NOTED IN THE DESCRIPTION. I TEST ALL TOYS WITH BATTERY'S TO MAKE SURE THEY WORK SATISFACTORILY. BATTERIES ARE NOT ALWAYS INCLUDED. EVERYTHING SOLD IN AS IS CONDITION. PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS. 

Would you buy from this seller? She doesn't know where the stuff has been?
"Condition is sometimes a matter of opinion." Duh! So why bother asking questions when her opinion is going to be different because she's not an expert and knows nothing.  
I have seen this type of disclaimer quite often. One doll I purchased was yellowed either from age or cigarette smoke or a combination of both. The seller told me she didn't know if the previous owner was a smoker. I suppose her sense of smell and eyesight weren't working the day she described the doll as excellent condition.

If is looks like shit, smells like shit, chances are it's been somewhere specific. 

I have to say that the majority of eBay sellers are honest people. I've had 95% success with sellers and products.
You just have to be very careful, ask specific questions and be prepared to NOT bid if the response is not satisfactory. It's your money. Hang on to it.

Runway Fashion Reinterpreted for Your Pleasure

From Christian LaCroix Spring/Summer 2008:

From the team at Integrity Toys 2011:

The redesign is missing all the subtlety and artistry of the original. In the LaCroix, the flow of color from bottom of the hot pink of the skirt up to the orange/red at the waist is perfection. The shoulder rose picks up the pastel of the tights. The tights themselves seem to be darker at the foot end and lighter as they go up. The hair ornament has all the colors seen in the gown. It all makes sense. The one splash of chartreuse is softened by the drape of the fabric used for the bow and it's placed to appear so that the bow is gathering the fabric instead of just stuck on top of the fabric.

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Click for Source

An Emperor who cares for nothing but his appearance and attire hires two tailors who promise him the finest suit of clothes from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or "just hopelessly stupid". The Emperor cannot see the cloth himself, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing unfit for his position or stupid; his ministers do the same. When the swindlers report that the suit is finished, they mime dressing him and the Emperor then marches in procession before his subjects, who play along with the pretense. Suddenly, a child in the crowd, too young to understand the desirability of keeping up the pretense, blurts out that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all and the cry is taken up by others. The Emperor cringes, suspecting the assertion is true, but holds himself up proudly and continues the procession.