Haunted Beauty Mistress of the Manor™ Barbie® Doll

With hair that oddly resembles that of Cruella DeVille, Mattel releases another half-stiff $100. doll. This one has posable arms and hands. That's a start.
There are many collectors who do Halloween displays and she will be perfect for that.

Carrying her “candelabra” and manor keys, Haunted Beauty Mistress of the Manor Barbie doll greets guests wearing a plum jacket featuring a dramatic bustle and a long, sweeping skirt. A wide swath of white runs through her black hair, which is pulled back into a bun. Earrings, a cameo brooch and Victorian-style boots are her elegant accessories, along with her Life in the Scream House “book.

At least she's not smiling.

Jamieshow Madra Redressed

Madra is modeling "Special Appearance," a gown by Ashton-Drake for Violet.

The jewelry was a table gift at a convention from another collector. The wig is by Ilaria.

The gown is covered with beads and sequins. It has no closures and slips on over the doll's legs - over a full length slip.

Here she is in a new wig from Chewin. Both wigs were made for Sybarites but they work on Madra.

Kingdom Doll's Brigantia

Buyers of Brigantia, Kingdom Doll's latest release and the second sculpt in the line, have begun to post photos. I found these two by Laurie Lenz to be particularly striking.

You can see more photos of this gorgeous doll and so much more on Prego.http://members5.boardhost.com/prego/

FR16 Hanne Erikson Models the Cosmetic Surrender Fashion

When Integrity Toys debuted their new FR16 dolls, I thought the fashions were lovely but I didn't like 3 of the 4 doll's faces. I was able to purchase Hanne nude and a few of the fashions separately.
Here is Hanne in Cosmetic Surrender's outfit.

This gal needs a more realistic face-up. Her eyes lack life of any kind. If only I could paint faces realistically, I'd do her over.
The other thing I'd change is the articulated toe joint. It bends the shoe in a strange way. I wonder if I can use an avantguard fashion foot...or perhaps IT will release a fashion foot for her.
She's got beautiful hands and the rest of her articulation is excellent.

I like this fashion. It is well made. Another collector removed the black lace overlay. It was also a good look and closer to the dress style of the original.

I had the original 11-1/2" Natalia "Cosmetic Takeover" doll
She was a holy grail for the longest time and a truly gorgeous doll. Why they had to change her sculpt, I'll never understand. 

She was the first and only Natalia ever produced on a straight arm body. I ultimately changed her to a tall body.


Integrity Toys' doll bodies get better, the sculpts—not so much.

Mostly Not Doll Related - Joan Rivers

Laughter is the best medicine and sometimes it's the only medicine within reach. This isn't doll related but Joan often joked that she was mostly plastic with regards to the surgeries on her face.

She was a role model.

 Here she is shown walking down the street holding Ken's hand. 

Joan Rivers mocked Kristen Stewart’s threat to sue her during a characteristically no-holds-barred appearance on HuffPost Live on Tuesday.
The comedian waved around a doll, joking that she wants Stewart to show her where “she did or did not touch her director.”
Rivers defended her jokes about Stewart (and others) in her new book, saying she just wants “to make people laugh,” and that anyone who doesn’t find her funny should go elsewhere.

It's horrifying to think that the medical center may have played a role in the death of the comedienne. Supposedly she was healthy when she entered the facility on foot. It was not an emergency procedure or anything like that.

Let's remember the some of the funniest lines:

1. It’s been so long since I made love, I can’t remember who gets tied up.
2. I like colonic irrigation because sometimes you find old jewellery.
3. I was just reading about the new Lindsay Lohan diet, which is all liquid. 80 proof.
4. My love life is like a piece of Swiss cheese. Most of it’s missing, and what’s there stinks.
5. I’ve worked with Angelina Jolie. She saw a sign that said ”WET FLOOR” one time, and she did.
6. I had a cold and my doctor recommended coffee enemas. I can never go back to Starbucks…
7. I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw that my bath toys were a toaster and a radio.
8. I said to my husband, “Why don’t you call out my name when we’re making love?” He said, “I don’t want to wake you up.”
9. I hate thin people; “Oh, does this tampon make me look fat?”
10. I have no sex appeal, which kills me. The only way I can ever hear heavy breathing from my husband’s side of the bed is when he’s having an asthma attack.
11. I was the last girl in Larchmont, NY to get married. My mother had a sign up: ‘Last Girl Before Freeway.’
12. I have so little sex appeal my gynecologist calls me “sir”.
13. I have so little sex appeal my gynecologist examines me by telephone.

Mel Odom's JAMIEshow Madra "Spotted in Manhattan"

In a very unusual move, George put this Jamieshow Madra on sale for 20% off during the Labor Day weekend. Her price dropped from $525. to $420. which caused me to take a second look. Actually, the main reason I became interested was that I had seen so many gorgeous photos of her posted by collectors who already had her.
I went back and forth with the decision for about 24 hours and finally decided to go for it. She arrived yesterday and I'm happy I purchased her.
Her face paint is perfect. The resin is the same silky material used for all the Jamieshow dolls. She will make a great model for my collection of Gene Marshall clothing.
There was an issue with her necklace. I sent a photo to George and within a few hours I received a courteous response in which he told me he'd send a replacement out ASAP. As always, the customer service from his company has been excellent.
Madra comes with a ring that matches her other jewelry. It's huge. It could be worn on a chain.
The dress will need a light pressing as the train is packed folded vertically and you won't see much of the leopard print unless you smooth it out a bit.
I also recommend putting pantyhose on the doll as the strap of the shoes may stain. There's a faint line across one of my doll's ankles. You could also coat the inside of the strap with a strip of something flexible.

In these photos, Madra is posing on a Horsman chaise. The table in the background is CED.
I have her redressed already. Now I have to pick out some wigs.