What a Difference a Real Doll Makes

When Tonner released his promotional images of the latest two Theatre de la Mode dolls a few months ago, I criticized the one called Elegance #93 for the over-scaled flowers down the side of the dress. As time went by, I kept seeing her face and my 'want' grew. (You know that feeling, I'm sure.) I certainly was not going to pay the ridiculous $225. retail cost. When a favorite dealer offered them for less than half price, I jumped.

I was going to remove the flowers but I have come to like the whole package. This is a gorgeous doll! Besides the Gina sculpt, which is my current favorite Tonner sculpt, the hair, the colors, the styling...is all stunning and she makes a wonderful addition to my collection.

I still want to see a picture of the original TDLM fashion.

More Freyr Pictures

I'm quite pleased with how they turned out. If I were to continue to do faceups, I think I would get good at it. Practice, practice, practice.

Would you believe that these are iPhone pictures? This latest iPhone takes better pictures than a Canon point and shoot. Admittedly, the Canon is a few years old but seriously? I even used the built in flash option.

Kingdom Doll Announces Nelson's Sale Date

Subscribers to the "first to know list" received a newsletter regarding Nelson, the debut doll, with some long awaited news. She will go on sale on Friday 31st January at 18:00 GMT. On the east coast of the US, we are GMT - 5:00, which makes that 3:00 PM (EST) here in PA. 
Look it up.
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Mean_Time

Nelson is priced at $650. plus shipping. 

An excerpt from the letter:

Please take a moment to look at our store page (link displayed below) for more details about the doll and her outfit. Please also note, the images shown in the store gallery are of an actual production doll and outfit, not prototypes. A link to the terms and conditions of sale are also available on the store page, please do read them.

https://kingdomdoll.co.uk

An excerpt from the website:

Our debut doll Nelson (using the Novantae head sculpt)

Nelson is a 16 inch resin fashion doll, with 22 points of articulation. Her resin, which is of the highest quality, is a classic "English Rose" which was exclusively created for Kingdom Doll. She has pale ice blue eyes and a soft make-up palette of peach, muted gold and grey. Her hair, a hard cap wig, has long soft waves of a variegated pale golden blonde.
Nelson is a dressed doll limited to just 60 pieces world wide. She features a faux leather jacket inspired by the Spencer jackets of the 1790's and a strapless empire line gown made from silk chiffon with beautiful gold braid trimmed bodice. Black calf length square toed boots with gold buckle accents, a pair tap shorts and hose complete the outfit.
A stand and a complimentary pair of pose hands are also included!

Two Daydreamers' Exclusive "Forever Yours Ashleigh"

Bride dolls are usually not amongst my favorites. In fact, I don't think I have any except a Tiny Kitty dressed in a bridal gown and I'm not particularly fond of her.

Two Daydreamers has a new, exclusive Ashleigh. Apparently, she is the start of a coming "Bridal Series."
As far as the gown goes, I would have preferred to see a rhinestone encrusted belt instead of the annoying gray bow. There is a great deal of lovely draping on the body of the gown and the bow interferes with those lines. I'm not sure what is going on at the shoulders. The description says "Icy white tulle softens the shoulders and also explodes into a cascade of tulle ruffles at the skirt bottom."  Exploding cascades? LOL Where is her bouquet? It just seems that accessories and embellishment have cheapened up and/or disappeared. She should have glamorous jewelry, perhaps a tiara. At these prices, I want more and they have to stop sticking bows on to gowns.

Here is the description from the website:

Two Daydreamers' exclusive "Forever Yours Ashleigh" - 1st in the classically romantic Bridal Series - 16" Tyler bending wrist body - Cameo skin tone - Ashleigh sculpt - LE100

Ashleigh's sophisticated snowy white taffeta gown is beautifully engineered and cut to drape over the bust and shoulders. The gown's skirt is elegantly draped across the front and released in concentric circles of gently folded fabric caught in the ingenious seaming. Icy white tulle softens the shoulders and also explodes into a cascade of tulle ruffles at the skirt bottom. A contrasting dove grey bow at the waist and silk flowers strewn at the shoulders add to the overall elegance of this drop-dead design. White knit opera length gloves, white faux leather, high-heeled strappy sandals and sparkling diamond-like studs complete her dreamy bridal ensemble.

Priced at $224.99

Cupid's Kisses Barbie Doll

A new Barbie Fan Club Exclusive becomes available for sale today. She is "Cupid's Kisses Barbie Doll."  This doll sports a true vintage body complete with holes in her feet! I'm wondering if the included stand makes use of the vintage feet.
 Here is the description from the BC site:

 

Gold Label^®

Designed by: Bill Greening

Release Date: 1/22/2014

Product Code: BCR06

No more than 5000 units produced worldwide.

Our festive hostess celebrates Cupid’s favorite day with timeless gifts: a heart-shaped box of “chocolates,” a bottle of “perfume” and a teeny tiny greeting card. Her dress has a red bodice, short white sleeves and a skirt flocked with a design of flying cupids, hearts and bows. Accessories include a golden heart necklace, earrings, pretty white gloves and a red hair bow.

Doll Details
Body Type:	1959 Vintage (holes in the feet) - Vinyl
Skin Tone:	Nostalgic
Facial Sculpt:	Nostalgic Barbie
Fashion Sewn On?:	No
Eyelashes:	Painted

Included with doll:
Doll stand, shoes, golden heart necklace, earrings, white gloves, red hair bow, heart-shaped box of chocolate, perfume, and greeting card

 Price $75.

JUNKYSPOT Freyr Cat Anthropomorph Boy Figures

Junkyspot is a business that sells Asian ball jointed dolls such as Obitsu, Hujoo, Bobobie, Pullip, Limhwa and more.  www.junkyspot.com/

Both of my Freyr cats have the boy body. He measures just a bit over 9 inches tall. The Freya's (note the difference in spelling) description explained the girl body had a different head cap and I read that it was difficult to work with.  I decided to get two boys, one grey and one white. At that time, if you purchased two cats, you got a smaller one for free. I'm still waiting for the special eyes I ordered for my little one although his faceup is already done. Stay tuned.

Here is the description from the website:

Includes: Head+Finished body
Includes: Optional Tail with Magnets
Made of ABS Plastics
Strung for articulation tension
Eyes are not included
Faceup not included
Dimensions:

• Head: Takes a 6.5-7" wig (would need to be modified to fit ears)
• Height : 23cm
• Eyes : 18mm (not included)
• Girth of neck : 4cm
• Girth of Chest : 10.5cm
• width of shoulders : 5.5cm
• Girth of Waist : 9cm
• Girth of hips : 10.5cm
• Foot Size: 3.5cm  

The Whole Family

I do have experience painting but not much with doing faceups. One workshop is all the training I ever had and I never did it again. My natural painting style is too "painterly" to do a classic faceup. I had to remove the work three times until I was somewhat pleased with it. I used pastels, water color pencils and acrylic paint. The lashes went on easily. The eyes were no problem to install.  The nightmare was reattaching the head. But once I did one, the other wasn't too difficult.

I'm planning to matte the bodies and blush them a bit but for now, this is it.  I like the gray one better than the white one.

 I've been told they can wear Blythe clothes. I've seen them in Barbie stuff. But I'm not planning on making them into fashionistas. This was a fun and inexpensive experiment.

The Minion is there to protect her modesty.