Some New Photos ∞§∞ Some Old Dolls

I've been missing in action from my blog which is quite unusual for me.  The consignment job I took on at the end of June has kept me extremely busy. In addition, we're looking for another house.

I have taken some pictures with no particular theme.

This lovely Mini Live Wire Avantguard (2010) has been standing around waiting for attention. I don't remember from whom her black dress and shoes came. She is a wigged doll.

______________

The only Agnes I've kept out of all of them is Firefly.  I've thought about changing her outfit but this is just perfect for her. It came from "Sunset Rave" Ayumi who was a convention gift in 2011. A lot of my dolls are like that. I find the best outfit for them and that's that.

 ______________

Currently my only Adele, the classic "Graphic Language," is wearing the dress from Full Spectrum Veronique. I have managed to find an FR2 body to match her skin tone. She's gorgeous. Graphic Language originally (2004) came on a straight arm body and has the second Adele sculpt.

______________

Another earlier (2005) doll, "Foreign Affair" Veronique models an altered dress from the Katy Keene collection. I removed the big bow things from the hips. Still not loving the gown but Vero needed some attention. She's had an FR2 body swap.
 "Foreign Affair" Vero is from the Golden Age (that's what I call it) of Fashion Royalty which lasted for another five years.  Although the bodies were the first articulated type which was replaced by the original 'tall' body, the hair styling and the face paint were special. Screening had an airbrushed look and was not cartoonish or freaky as it often is now:

Kesenia Porcelain Beauty (not quite)

The dolls were gorgeous. That year saw the dolls sporting applied lashes for the first time.

FA wearing the "Lavish Thread" fashion.

______________

 

 

I tried to love her, really I did. I sold her two weeks ago. There was something about her hair  or maybe it was her brows. I don't know. She did not work for me.  She is Ayumi Nakamura "Opium" from 2012. 

______________

I've been gradually thinning my Fashion Royalty collection. For the most part, the newer dolls and pop culture lines don't interest me.  The newer tall and the hand swap bodies are turning color. It's very depressing to think that my once adored collection is deteriorating.  Even one of the newest dolls - still in her package - has noticeably different color hands from the rest of the body. That may be another issue altogether but the problem hasn't been solved and it's pushed me even farther away. 

PEONIE - GEN X - DD_087 Sybarite Rebel Princess

Today another in the new line of vinyl Sybarite dolls was offered for sale.
Here is the description posted on the Superdoll sales page.

With eyes of sour apple, jetted for attitude brows in chocolate and charcoal with shadow of nude. Lids in translucent soot. Lips the colour of candy with day old pomegranate accent.

Huge auburn blend wig bearing side parting and jaw length fringe, in a 'voluptuous' state; cascading down and swirling into waist length big loose curls.

It's hot outside... maybe a champagne lunch with the gurls?!
Venus had booked the bandstand in Hyde Park, had it cornered off with velvet ropes and sent in her decorators. For this privvy broad daylight affaire, she chose colour and pattern to make her statement. Bias plaid hotpants, a psychedelic halter collared shirt, a hot pink grosgrain tie, and lime all in one suspender hose with attached 'girly socks.
Looking herself up and down in her mirrored dressing room and tugging her shirt tails to peek out her hotpants 'just so', she popped on a few rose coloured bracelets, and giggled as she attached her acid yellow tutu around her waist. Doing a little Prima Diva spin, she placed a red rose and pink fluoro band on her head and flung a huge big gold 'chain & key' around her neck. Opening her accessory closets, her acid yellow handbag screamed 'grab me', so she did.
Not knowing where today may end, she opted for a dark violet base custom floral print jacket trimmed in 'ivy' and huge multicolour stones, slipped on her gold and pink sandals and headed for the door.

As her handmaiden hurried to keep up with her she asked 'did you remember the Vodka?'
Her handmaiden ran off in the opposite direction to call the caterers.

Of course she comes with the following standard accessories:
-manic_cure hands (see booklet for hand change instructions)
-booklet
-stand

ED:100

Price  £239.19 plus postage £42.95

 $373.24 + $67.00 = $441.24 shipped

Bad, Bad Bodies

I'm so disappointed every time I come across a discolored body. 98% of the time the body is an Integrity Toys product. These aren't even old. And what's old anyway? Five years? I don't think so.

The one on the left is a handspeak body and the rest are tall bodies - each has discoloration.

In each and every case, the hands have not turned yellow, making the rest of the body look even worse.

It's a very good reason to abandon collecting these dolls. I don't know if the FR2 bodies are discoloring but they are very swingy now. It's odd because they're not strung dolls. I know that strung dolls can get swingy with time. The FR2 haven't even been around for very long.

I read somewhere that someone had success with either bleach or peroxide in restoring the vinyl to it's original color. Anyone remember that?

"Blue Serenade" Katy Keene

We picked up this new Katy Keene doll yesterday and when I opened the box I was very pleased to see that Katy is even prettier in person than her promos showed.

This particular Katy's hair style is closer to the early comic book Pin-Up Queen's style with it's roll bangs. I have hunted far and wide and have not found a KK with a chignon but I do love this style for a doll as it's neat and will stay that way.

I was surprised to find that the gown is two pieces. The satiny top has soft folds horizontally across the torso and has teensy buttons at the back of the neck (UGH) and the rest of the closure is hook and eye. There are two large bows cinched by a circle of clear beads that are the same as the beads around her neck.

The long chiffon skirt has a small zipper closure. The fabric drapes beautifully.
There's a little clutch and silver/grey long gloves. They will stay in their plastic bag as I don't like the effort it takes to put gloves on small dolls.
The earrings are silvery sparkly with faceted metal and rhinestones. They match her cuff bracelet which is not shown.

Her faux fur stole is long and has three "tails" at each end. On mine, the lining is not sewn properly. It is too large and I will have to pin it so it won't show when it's being worn.
Shiny silver strappy pumps complete the ensemble.

If you're a fan of the Color Infusion body, this is a perfect doll for you. I bought her for the outfit sans shoes which I know are too large.

Links to Photos from the LA Sybarite Convention

The recently ended Superdoll event held in Los Angeles, CA was certainly a glamorous affair. For those of us (the 99.9%) who did not attend, here are links to several good photos.

http://dollobservers.com/blog/superdoll-la-convention-2015

https://dutchbarbieworld.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/la-sybarite-event/ 

https://instagram.com/drama_queen_productions 

Integrity Toys for IFDC - NuFantasy Dolls

For those who did not attend the recent IFDC event in Vegas, there are additional companion and souvenir dolls which are being offered, by lottery, to W Club members.

Without You

The Nu. Fantasy™ Collection

LE 500 Dolls$150.00 + Shipping

Head Sculpt: Erin 2.0

 Wouldn't It Be Loverly?

The Nu. Fantasy™ Collection

LE 500 Dolls

 $150.00 + Shipping

Head Sculpt: Eden

Danced All Night

The Nu. Fantasy™ Collection

LE 500 Dolls

 $175.00 + Shipping

Head Sculpt: Giselle Diefendorf

I suppose Giselle's price reflects the fact that she is the convention souvenir, however, the edition size of 500 is the same as the other two dolls and her fashion doesn't appear to be more complex.  I did put in a ticket for the Giselle doll lottery. I like the gown and hopefully, the fabric is OK. I see a ripple effect around the slit where the fabric joins the lining. That's never a good sign but I like the style and the accessories. 

Eden's outfit is very interesting and I love pink. I'd have to see and feel the fabric before making a decision as to whether I'd want it in my collection. Although I do not collect NuFace dolls, their fashions are lovely for my Monogram dolls.

Erin is the most beautiful of the three and I like her hairstyle. I do not like the gown. It is a confusing style. That big white border at the hemline is heavy and distracting. The diagonal fabric at her thigh is another odd element. This is one of those fashions that looks like it was dashed off in a hurry. It feels out of place with the other two. 

All the dolls have the FR white skin tone and brunette hair color. 

Good luck to all who have entered the lottery!