A Repaint by Lisa Gates and the Monster High Monster Maker

 The very talented Lisa Gates has repainted a Wilde Imagination Sad Sally. With her new face and grown up earrings, Sally is no longer an innocent little girl. She now looks like a teenager. It's quite a transformation!
 Visit Lisa's website here: http://www.dazzleemrepaints.com/

I love my original Sad Sally although I do believe her face could use a little blushing.

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While we're on the topic of a quirky little doll, I was browsing through pictures of Monster High dolls last week. I went through a period of buying and displaying them. To say the least they are unique and clever. Personally, I lost interest in them rather quickly. They are cute play-line dolls and what you get for your money is enough but I found them to be nothing more than decorative characters. I used some of mine to decorate one of my smaller Christmas trees.

In spite of all that, this particular one caught my eye. Her name is Wydowna Spider. She's a ToysRus exclusive. Mattel categorizes Monster High dolls as fashion dolls.  Well, she does come with two additional fashions although I'd call them outfits.

Apparently, many collectors do consider them to be fashion dolls so I'm out-voted. I posted the question on a Facebook board last week.  Six out of 29 respondents said no, they do not consider them to be fashion dolls.

Some of the more interesting answers:

-Yes but only because don't consider them to be baby dolls
-I consider them more Playline fashion dolls like barbie Fashionista dolls - though i do have a few and a few Ever After High dolls
-Yes! The details on their fashions is incredible. If you're not a collector, take a closer look next time you see one. You'll be amazed how the purses, jewelry, & shoes are all different for each character.
-Yes!! They are actually amazing little posers and for an inexpensive doll they are very detailed
-Yes, sure they're playline but still fashion dolls.
-I think the difference is Monster High is a Playline fashion doll. The 16 inch dolls like Tonner, Sybarites, Kingdom Doll, Fashion Royalty 12 and 16 inch are collectible higher end dolls.
-Yes, fantasy fun fashion dolls of a sort.
-No, though their premise might be fashion forward off springs of the our favorite ghouls, monsters and ghosts, but still they're character based, and the movement of their clothing leans on costumes more than fashion.
-Yes a fashion doll is a doll that comes with fashions! So yes it would be considered a fashion doll so thought many collectors say no because the consider realistic type dolls as being fashion dolls.

Other items I stumbled upon in the MH line that are appealing are the Monster High Monster Maker, the Monster Maker Primary Extension Pack,  and the Monster Maker machine. There are multiple add-ons and design packs. The Monster Maker is $49.97 (Amazon) and the Primary Extension Pack is $13.99 (Amazon.) The Mattel Shop lists the maker for $129.99 before a 20% Easter discount, way more than Amazon's price.

Here is the description:

Bring Her to Unlife!

Monster High® fans can create their own unique monsters using the ultimate customization tool: Monster High® Monster Maker. Simply select a style from the design software (desktop or app), then start creating your doll’s unique look using a variety of graphics and patterns or draw your own design. Transfer your scary-cool creation from your tablet or computer onto individual doll parts using the Monster Maker machine. Best of all, you can watch the whole design process as it unfolds.  

Monster High Monster Maker comes with Monster Maker machine, Monster Maker software (desktop and app), body part adapters, nine colored markers, three doll stands, an eraser, three blank fashions, a rooted wig, two wig caps and three “blank” bodies ready for monster customization.

These items are certainly not for young children to play with on their own. The machine requires that one installs the included software and is connected via USB to your computer be it PC or Mac.  I recommend reading the reviews of the products on Amazon.com and watching the instructional video prior to purchase.
Fascinating tech! I'd love to play with this toy.

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My Monster High tree in the process of being decorated 3 Xmas' ago.

A photo from a piece I did for FDQ's Vacation issue:

New Deja Vu Dolls

Tonner's new release in their Deja Vu line consists of six dressed dolls and three outfits. One of the outfits was not ready for showing at the time of the debut. 
Deja Vu dolls are sold directly by Tonner, not through their dealers.*

Judy's Grand Entrance

$179.99

• Painted blue eyes with applied black eyelashes
• Summer Blonde rooted saran hair
• Red and black brocade dress with faux flower decoration
• Black gloves
• Black bead bracelet
• Black bead earrings
• Nude pantyhose
• Black elastic shoes
• Black faux fur shawl

Lady Arabella - Garden Walk - Expected to arrive 4/3/15

$199.99

• Cameo skin tone
• Painted violet eyes with applied black eyelashes
• Chestnut rooted saran hair with black snood
• Black and gold dress with crinkle velvet skirt with sequins and beaded flower decoration, ribbon trim, and embroidered organza collar
• Nude pantyhose
• Black faux leather shoes
• Black and gold earrings

Emma Jean's Icy Lace

$199.99

• Cameo skin tone
• Painted green eyes with applied black eyelashes
• Medium Brown rooted saran hair
• Ice blue/silver sequin lace dress
• Ice blue gloves
• Bead necklace
• Nude pantyhose
• Silver faux leather shoes
• Bead earrings

Soirées d’or - Expected to arrive 4/3/15

$189.99

• Cameo skin tone
• Painted green eyes with applied black eyelashes
• Mink rooted saran hair
• Gold brocade dress with white faux fur collar and gold trim
• White petticoat
• Nude pantyhose with attached panties
• Gold earrings
• White faux fur neck muff
• Gold matching shoes
• Gold matching hat with ribbon trim
• Gold earrings

Emma Jean's Perfect Ensemble

$174.99

• Purple knit coat with grey faux fur trim
• Purple knit long sleeve dress
• Grey hat with ribbon trim
• Grey faux pearl necklace
• Grey knit gauntlets
• Grey tights
• Grey faux suede shoes 

Emma Jean's Extravagant Night Out

$179.99

• 16" Déjà vu™ body  
• Cameo skin tone
• Painted green eyes with applied black eyelashes
• Pale blonde rooted saran hair
• Black with silver and purple print velveteen dress with a rhinestone brooch and attached silver bead necklace
• Black knit gauntlets
• Silver and rhinestone cuffs
• Black tights
• Black ribbon headband with rhinestone and feather decoration
• Black faux leather shoes

Emma Jean's Dramatic Entrance - Outfit Only

$99.99

• Black knit dress
• Black bead necklace
• Black tights
• Black hat with rhinestone decoration
• Black faux leather shoes

I am partial to the Roaring 20's era and the styling of Emma Jean's fashions. The "Dramatic Entrance" outfit above is stunning and it looks as if it would fit other 16" dolls as well.

Judy on Stage - Outfit Only

$94.99

• Pink net dress with rhinestone embroidered decoration
• Pink gloves
• White petticoat
• Rhinestone necklace
• Rhinestone bracelets
• Pink satin shoes

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*Cherished Friends has a beautiful Emma Jean dressed doll "Sterling Night" on sale for $159.99 and a basic "Judy's Ready to Wear" doll on sale for $99.99.

More American Girl Props - Photos by Michael Austin

We're on the topic of props on Prego and more photos have been posted. Michael Austin, aka laughon45, whose photography and dolls are fabulous, has the best collection ever!

Julie's Car Wash Set

Deva Guy is an OOAK of Tom Selleck by Chewin. Pants by Tonner,  coat by Jamieshow and shirt by Chewin.   KD Chaucer is with Tom.  Luggage is Superdoll.  Check top - Ficon, blue pants by a  designer from Poland.

American Girl Baby Grand Piano
 KD Chaucer is playing Piano in a gown by Annie Neeley.

American Girl Trail Bike
KD Hadrian is on  the bike by AG and wearing a jumper by Wilde Imagination.
All wigs by Ilaria.

The stunning grand piano and trail bike are sold out on the AG site but they are available elsewhere. Google them.

Painting Caroline's Parlor

I've just begun to transform my American Girl Caroline's Parlor. I wanted a darker, more neutral palette as a backdrop than the one provided.

To begin with I tested some house paint on the back of one of the units. It was a high quality Benjamin Moore paint left over from the renovation of our master bath and it is only about one year old. The surface of the piece took the paint very well but it was too light and I didn't like the faint eggshell finish. I tested one of the Behr colors we used in the rest of the house and decided to use it as my main color. The color is called wet cement.
The Ott lamp I was using is on the left. If your computer monitor renders accurate colors you can see how much cleaner the whites look. By comparison on the right, I had a halogen bulb in a lamp and the white is yellower.

That paint did not have the coverage of the Benjamin Moore and I had to apply two coats. The finish is nice and flat which is exactly what I need for photographic purposes.

This color is perfect as a backdrop for my Horsman French Chaise and sets of chairs in sage.  Pretty much any color upholstery will look good in this setting.

Before you open a can of paint you might have in your garage do consider the age of the paint. Test it on the back of the piece. Then you need a few good brushes. I'm using synthetic sable-like flat brushes in several different sizes.
You want to avoid brushing over and over and making strokes in different directions. Let each coat dry before beginning the next or you will get ridges and a generally uneven finish.
Use pointy tipped brushes to get into hard to reach corners.

One place you do not want paint to get on is the clear plastic window! I cut out a piece of oak tag to fit over that while I was painting.

The base color was easy to apply but I couldn't help getting some on the white trim. It wasn't as easy to do the fine edges where the white trim meets the rest of the piece. No problem, right? I'll just use some white paint to go over the wandering gray. WRONG.
 The paint I tried, and will not continue with, is a flat ceiling paint and it's not covering the gray. You may be able to see the parts I have tried to fix as the flat finish is contrasted to the existing low gloss finish of the original piece. I plan to use a high quality acrylic to do the trim. I am resigned to the fact that I probably will have to go over all the white even if I haven't gotten gray on it in order to get the same finish. All whites are not the same.

At one point I began wondering why I even started. When you paint the inside of the bookcase you may rue the day you started.

The large raised frame over the fireplace and the fronts of the drawers are painted using the same color as the background with 1/3 of the volume white added. The drawers do not pull out all the way which would have been ideal. I just painted them while they were open. I did not paint the insides, the undersides or the full sides of the drawers.
The floor and ceiling of the fireplace have been painted as well as the area under the shelf between the brackets. I'm considering doing a faux marble finish on the fireplace tile surround eventually. 

Don't look at the pile of doll boxes..

I love the window seat section!  I want to make a few of my own backdrops to insert in the slot. The possibilities are limitless. Another collector made a cover for their yellow cushion and a beautiful valance.

A lot of collectors posting on Prego and the Studio Commissary are putting up pictures of their Caroline's Parlor set-ups.  Did you get one?

Superdoll Dreamscape and Emerald Oyster

From the Superdoll website come the descriptions of the fashions. I have edited the spelling.

DREAMSCAPE SYB/768

Escape to your Dreams.
Lined in old rose pink, this voluminous gown of irridescent sequin is just that, a voluminous gown of gorgeous glitz. From the side bust, a swirl of pale organza swoops and rolls as if in a dream; asymmetrically down the gown to the hemline.

This delicate 'nth' of organza is held in place with a multitude of corded vines & poinsettia in contrasting rose. Atop each 'bloom' a tiny pile of sequin, pearl and 'diamante.'

Reminiscent of a bygone age, yet smack bang up to the red carpet.

Accessories include exquisite Superdoll  'classic' headpiece, hose and slip on towering perspex heels.

Sybarite Geometry wearing an Ilaria wig is modeling here.

EMERALD OYSTER SYB/769

Emeralds and 'leather'.
Lined in nude, flowing leatherette tarlazzi forms a great big statement of a gown and is just that, a fabulous statement. Straight neck satin bodice on mini corded straps adorned in 'diamonds' & 'emeralds, give the illusion of a Superdoll staple, the reverse neck.

To further trick the eye, the under-bust of this gown is set with a guipure lace motif adorned with further 'emerald'.

Reminiscent of a bygone age, yet smack bang up to the red carpet.

Accessories include opera length 'gloves', hose and slip on towering perspex heels.

Sybarite Domina models Emerald Oyster.

Ficon Girls Get Camera Time

First day of Spring? Not here. It's snowing. Again. We're nice and warm inside.

Here is Ficon's Ms. G Black wearing the fashion from Ficon Fierce and a wig by Cheryl Wood. Her bracelet is Franklin Mint.

This edgy fashion is a two-piece suit with rhinestone buckled belt. The shoulders are embellished with silvery metal cones and chains. In contrast, the armholes are finished with multi-layered tulle providing a bit of softening contrasting with the angular cut of the top.
Her clutch bag has a textured almost glittered feel; it is not glitter, however.

The shoes are black strappy faux leather heels with a zipper up the back. Sadly, the zipper won't go all the way up. I tried.
This photo showed me how bad her pedicure is. I can fix that easily.

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Ficon "Bonita" is modeling Ficon's fashion "Wrinkle" dress and vest. The fabric is a faux snake and a stretch fabric which is ruched. The metal cones appear on the shoulders again. The belt has a large silver buckle.
Stunning wig is also by Cheryl Wood. Clutch is Superdoll.