Integrity Toys X Magia 2000 Collaboration: "Summer in Taormina" Vanessa Perrin

 Integrity Toys has unveiled the second of four dolls in their collaboration with Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi. The members of the W Club may enter a "right-to-buy" lottery for "Vanessa in 'Summer in Taormina."

Second in a series of dolls created especially for Integrity Toys, each figure and doll in this series will take fans on an ultra-creative tour of some of Italy's most iconic venues and festivals, as seen through the eyes of fabulous design duo Magia 2000!

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea on the East Coast of Sicily, with a rich history that pre-dates the arrival of the ancient Greeks, Taormina is well known as a welcoming haven for artists and is one of the top tourist destinations of Italy, attracting visitors from all over the world! Magia 2000’s exciting, fashionable journey through Italy continues as famed Fashion Royalty® top model Vanessa Perrin® visits the gorgeous seaside town, dressed in a glamorous ultra-detailed gown that is filled with symbolism, ready to make a most anticipated appearance at one of the many festivals that happen in town throughout the summer! 

12.5-inch articulated doll with intricately styled, fully rooted hair;

Custom printed cocktail gown with extravagant detachable train and ruffle detail at the shoulders;

Black velvet bow belt with jeweled heart charm;

Black satin bra and panties with lace trim details;

Fitted, sheer black petticoat with ruffle detail at the hem;

Elaborate "sacred heart" tiara with black lace ruffle accent;

Matching "sacred heart" earrings;

Red "ruby" ring;

"Gold" chain bracelet with tiny lemon charms;

Elaborate oversized sunglasses with sculpted heart and flower accents;

Pair of black pleather strappy high-heels;

Pair of custom-printed platform sandals;

Custom embroidered purse;

Pair of manicured hands;

Alternate pair of "grip" hands;

Doll stand;

Certificate of authenticity.

This is my favorite look. 

Love those sunglasses!

A small percentage of the total number of dolls will be offered to the public after the lottery period ends. 

  

'Beauty marks' were once very popular. Do you know the history?

The origin of faux-beauty marks lies in the Renaissance, where pale white ladies covered any sort of blemish with a little dark dot. Before this, any blemish on the face was considered the sign of possession by the devil. Women would have to find ways to cover the marks they were born with. However, once the wealthy women in the Renaissance started a trend, the world would follow suit.

By the 18th century, the beauty mark was a staple to the court of King Louis the XIV. Women and men would cover any blemish with dark makeup to both cover and add more character to their faces. As the trend continued, more elaborate felted marks, sometimes shaped like hearts, stars, or even carriages, became in vogue as a way for the aristocrats to cover blemishes on the face, especially syphilis spots (syphilis was quite common during this time).

After the French Revolution, most fashion trends were seen as excessive and undesirable. Fashion completely changed by the arrival of the 19th century. Gowns were crisp white muslin with simple Empire waist lines, while faces were expected to be clear and deathly pale. After the Reign of Terror, the death look became very popular. Women would even go so far as to drop mercury in their eyes to get dilated pupils. Because of the shifting trends, the beauty mark was out, and wouldn’t be seen again for years to come.

 

A minor resurgence in the trend happened during the Edwardian era. Fashion had yet again become as ostentatious and loud as it was during the time of Marie Antoinette. Big hairstyles and even bigger “picture” hats drew the attention to the face. Of course, no woman wanted a blemish on her face, so they looked to the past to find a way to disguise the unwanted guest. These women must have found the patches common in the court of Versailles appealing.

 

Again, the simple circle wasn’t enough for these modern matrons. Designs of all kinds were seen on the faces of the fashion elite. Like the French satirists before them, modern comics were quick to make fun of the exaggerated shapes of the beauty patches. Similar to the Reign of Terror, the stock market crash halted the trend from continuing, although it seems like the beauty mark had become less and less popular throughout the 1920s.

 

Marilyn Monroe has made sure the beauty mark would not go away, thanks to the many copycats who want to obtain the starlets “look”. It is not known weather it was a real mark, darkened to enhance and make her face more recognizable, or just drawn on. Still, people associate the above-the- lip mark with Marilyn so much, a piercing above the lip is known as the “Monroe”.

Marilyn, of course, had plenty of copycats in her day and even after her death. Whenever Madonna really wanted to play the blonde bombshell in the press or in her videos, she would draw on the beauty mark. Super Model Cindy Crawford’s beauty mark was real, and just a little south of where Marilyn’s was. Instead of being ashamed, Cindy embraced the mark and it became her most defining feature.

Today, people everywhere use the beauty mark to cover up blemishes, sure, but really, to pay homage to the stars they look up to, whether Marilyn, Madonna, or Marie Antoinette.  The beauty mark has really found its place in pop culture and will remain a favorite makeup trick/trend for years to come. 

Source https://fashionsflashback.com/2017/06/05/the-brazen-beauty-mark/ 

Attending Kingdom Doll's Baker Street Convention

 Sometimes it's difficult to get started discussing a convention. There is so much one sees and does. The food, the people, the displays, and finally the dolls all contributed to a fun and fast-moving final event.

The Dinner Event began at 7:30 PM. The room looked lovely. Our places at the tables were piled high with gifts from other attendees. 

Marishka aka Moriarty was on display in a lighted showcase and we believed she was going to be a centerpiece doll. 

It turned out that there was a doll for everyone who wished to purchase her for $1500. Most of us did not know. We put our names on strips of card and put them in a bowl. I entered myself as Terri Moriarty. (I have tried to be normal but it escapes me.) Once the number of names called reached 18, we knew there would be one for all who put their names in. 

Not only did that please all who wanted Moriarty, but it was also a smart financial act on Kingdom Doll's part to sell many more dolls that evening. It does not hurt the possible resale value of the doll as I can see many collectors are posting to purchase one. Her fashion fit very well and was made carefully. The photo above does not show her rhinestone star headband. I had a 'little' problem. After I had her all dressed, I went to put her dragon-lady hands on. When I change hands, I lift the arm vertically and secure the doll between my knees. Then I pull the hand or changing hand out far enough to hook the new hand onto the elastic. Sometimes the arm pulls a bit from the shoulder which normally doesn't cause an issue. Unfortunately, the slim strip of elastic through which her arms go to secure the fur, got caught inside the body. There was no way I could get it out without damaging something so I snipped the jacket elastic. That's why she's not wearing it in my photos below. 

In the Sherlock books, Moriarty, (a man and a master criminal,) does appear to have superior powers. Is he magical? What were the dark rumors?  I'm not sure that was ever resolved by Doyle; however, several books have been written about Moriarty.

"Here is how Holmes describes Moriarty in The Adventure of the Final Problem:"

“His career has been an extraordinary one. He is a man of good birth and excellent education, endowed by nature with a phenomenal mathematical faculty. At the age of twenty-one he wrote a treatise upon the Binomial Theorem, which has had a European vogue. On the strength of it he won the Mathematical Chair at one of our smaller universities, and had, to all appearance, a most brilliant career before him. But the man had hereditary tendencies of the most diabolical kind. A criminal strain ran in his blood, which, instead of being modified, was increased and rendered infinitely more dangerous by his extraordinary mental powers. Dark rumours gathered round him in the university town, and eventually he was compelled to resign his chair and to come down to London, where he set up as an army coach. So much is known to the world, but what I am telling you now is what I have myself discovered.”

https://www.arthurconandoyle.com/professormoriarty.html

There were two OOAK dolls, both of which were makeovers of previously released sculpts and had fashion items redone/remixed just for them. One was a silent auction and the other could be entered by anyone who didn't get Realm during Monarchy. That doll was a fixed price. In addition, I have only one photo but another may be on the way with more information about the OOAKs.

The Realm sculpt was used for this OOAK. She is an enhanced version of the Realm doll all of the Monarchy attendees received as a convention gift.  (I still can't believe that!) This doll is dressed in the Red Queen's silk gown. Anyone who didn't get Realm at Monarchy was entitled to enter and would pay a set price for her, possibly $1250.

The other OOAK called Constantine, uses Churchill's sculpt and is wearing Morgana's fashion although the silver top is enhanced beautifully.  Perhaps if Alex posts a photo, I'll be able to use it here.

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There were two competitions held this year. The title of one was "Tea and Arsenic" and the other was called "Baskerville Ball." We voted for our favorites as did Amanda and Alex. There were three winners in each category.

Here are the competition dolls:

I believe numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 were chosen as winners in this category.

Photo and doll by Anthony el Muneco

Photo by Anthony el Muneco (Monique's Doll Entry #4)

This was entry #5 and is Sue Townson's entry and photo.

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Regarding this display, several collectors discussed the placement of entries. We agreed that there ought to have been a riser placed behind the front row of dolls so viewers could see all the beautiful entries equally.  The starred dolls below received winning votes.  If I left someone's doll or winning status out, I'd be happy to use a photo provided to me by another collector. Just send me a Facebook private message.

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Finally, here are some photos of the three convention dolls most of us took home. 

Watson was the companion doll. She is dressed in a lovely and very feminine pink dress and pink shoes. She came with a diary, an owl handbag, a frothy drink and a watch on a chain. 

I'm wondering what happened to our "KD jeweler."  I love doll jewelry and I cherish the KD jewelry we have already gotten over the years. 

Watson also came with feathery pumps, shown below.

Sherlock was the convention souvenir doll. More photos of her are definitely on their way. The skirt from her elegant suit is just below the knee. Her stilettos are the same color as the fabulous pink gloved hands and they can be tied with ribbons if the collector so desires. Some of her accessories were a pipe, newspaper and a fabulous book-shaped handbag. Sherlock also came with the same handbag in forest green.

Moriarty was supposed to be the centerpiece doll but as it turns out, we were all able to purchase her. We received black-gloved hands.

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AFTERNOON TEA at The Grand in York

Afternoon Tea on September 2 was delightful. The savory and sweets were delicious. This hotel pays attention like no other event venue has previously IMO. I wrote on my food preferences that I do not wish to eat chocolate. They actually provided me with a selection of non-chocolate sweets! And they were very good. 

I had blood sausage/pudding for the first time ever. It came in a sliced pastry roll. Someone told me I didn't want to know what was in it. Hehe. Obviously it's blood but what else? I just looked it up. Not so terrible. I loved haggis. Why wouldn't I like pudding which is not pudding?

Both haggis and blood sausage are banned in the United States for sanitary reasons. If it's fully cooked, there is nothing wrong with it. 

It was at this event that all the contest entries were displayed and voted upon.

In addition, there was a lottery to win the opportunity to purchase bits and bobs. Well, they weren't exactly bits and bobs but they were small amounts of clothing, full outfits and accessories that KD had remaining.

I can be reached via FaceBook Messenger or smoke signal.

Queen Elizabeth II Dolls

 Here are a few of the Queen Elizabeth II dolls and figures I found on the internet this morning. I am sure there are more artist-created dolls not shown here. If I were to choose one, the second one down would be my choice of artist dolls. Of the mass-produced dolls, the Bradford Exchange is my favorite. Unfortunately, their promotional photos are always better than their product.

The Funko Pop figurine actually captures the essence of the Queen with the hat, the bag, the black low-heeled shoes. They did a good comic job. 

Mattel's Platinum Jubilee Doll is very unattractive IMO. The Cissy just looks like Cissy in a gown and tiara. It's a very pretty doll. 

There is probably a lot of demand for available representations of the Queen at this time and I'm sure entrepreneurs are already using her death to come up with new items.

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Vintage Liberty of London Queen Elizabeth II

Royal Court Collection

Queen Elizabeth II Porcelain Portrait 95th Birthday Doll

Peggy Nisbet Doll

Madame Alexander Cissy at Queen Elizabeth of England

Funko Pop! Royal QEII Pink Figure #01

Bradford Exchange

Barbie Signature QEII Platinum Jubilee Doll

Artist Doll

Queen Elizabeth  1953 Coronation

Coralynn "Cora" Kwan - The East 59th Collection

I must say that the packaging of Coralynn is as glamorous as the doll herself. The brown shipper box opens at the side and the lid lifts up. Inside you'll see a white paper-wrapped doll box. The doll box itself is beautiful. It's shiny white with a colorful striped circle and a gold foil magnetic seal spanning the box opening.

And then you open the box to see a lovely displayed, fully dressed Coralynn.  Whoever said that presentation is a very small part of a doll, doesn't know what they're talking about. 
 

The accessory box lifts right out so there's no tearing/destroying of any cardboard. Inside you'll find several pieces of blingy jewelry, a tiny perfume atomizer, shoes and extra hands.

Coralynn was waiting for me when I got home from the UK with three Kingdom Dolls and several outfits and a load of other goodies. I am not de-boxing her at this time but I plan to. Here is one of IT's photos which shows what I will find when I take her out of the box.

Why does IT have such difficulty delivering dolls in a time-appropriate fashion? She was preordered on February 1, 2022. Seven & 1/3 months is an unusually long time to wait for a doll that's not custom-made. Has the business gotten out of hand for them?