Tonner's Alice in Wonderland Collection

This pale, lovely vision in white is "Mirana" The White Queen who was played by Anne Hathaway in the movie. The retail price is $189.99 with an edition # of 1000.

16" Tyler BW Body w/ Unique Pale Skintone

Anne Hathaway is a vision of beauty as MIRANA - THE WHITE QUEEN. Her likeness is exquisitely captured in this breathtaking TCF™ which arrives wearing a frothy white confection sprinkled with silver snowflakes and trimmed with glittering mesh and silky ribbon. The dress is accented with a glittering chiffon apron and downy chiffon bow in the back. Around her neck, she wears a shimmering necklace of rhinestones, trimmed with net ruffles. Pantyhose and white faux leather boots also included.

This is Iracebeth, The Red Queen. She's got a huge head on a Tyler BW body. The retail price is $199.99 with an edition # of 1000.

16" Tyler BW Body w/ Blue Eyes and Unique Pale Skintone

"Off with their heads!" Helena Bonham Carter's breathes extraordinary life into IRACEBETH, the vile RED QUEEN. This phenomenal TCF™ captures her unique likeness, and comes clad in rich gown with a soft, flocked bodice, gleaming stomacher with contrast stitching, high standing collar, slim lamé sleeves with ruched overlay and ribbon trim, a decadent brocade skirt with custom heart embroidery on the front inset panel, full petticoat, custom printed card suit tights, lace-up faux leather gold boots with black lace overlay, and jeweled crown.

After a very long wait for approval, the likeness of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter doll has been approved and is now available for purchase. The doll retails for $224.99. Edition size is 500.
The amount and quality of detail is tremendous. Here is Tonner's description:

17" Matt Body w/ Green Eyes and Unique Pale Skintone

TARRANT is the quintessential MAD HATTER! Brought to life by none-other-than Johnny Depp, TARRANT - THE MAD HATTER features an extraordinary likeness of the film's most ludicrous character, and showcases one of Tonner's most incredibly detailed costumes to date. He arrives wearing a soft cotton dickie under a custom printed vest with a smattering of gold buttons, custom printed neck scarf, twill trousers with custom embroidery and lace trim, and miss-matched socks under faux leather lace-up boots. The MAD HATTER's jacket is every bit as detailed with a safety pin attached with multi-colored ribbon streamers, lace trimmings around the cuffs, lace-up draping in the back, custom bird embroidery, and bandolier comprised of resin spools of thread with a fine chain. Of course, his ensemble wouldn't be complete without his signature top hat with flowing sash, jeweled hat pins, and 10/6 tag.

Tarrant - The Mad Hatter

Design Changes

Please be patient with me while I try out new designs for the blog. My intention is to make it more readable and prettier. Thanks in advance!

Picture of the Week by Jenn Held

I am so grateful that there are collectors like Jenn. They redress the new dolls and provide the rest of us with ideas and inspiration. Here is Night Warrior Vanessa wearing The Contessa's gown. The miniature book she is reading is entitled "Dracula by Bram Stoker." So cute!
See more of Jenn's beautiful doll photography here: Flickr

Frogs, Toads and Dolls

I was not a child with snails and frogs in my pocket. Even now, when working in my garden, I jump every time a hippity-hoppity frog or toad surprises me. Only recently did I realize I would not die if I touched a small frog. (I'm not sure about a large one.) The babies are easy to catch in cupped hands. I catch them to show them to Rudy. He sniffs but is not terribly interested. I think they're adorable. But toads are disgusting. They appear under damp rocks and aren't terribly happy to be discovered. The feeling is mutual.

Frogs, on the other hand, aren't ugly. I've seen beautiful, colorful ones in aquariums.

The ones in my garden are mostly greenish gray. If this fellow showed up, he'd find a home with me. Meet Kermit the Frog from the Tonner Doll Co.

Kermit is 11" tall and is designed in scale to accompany the 16" Miss Piggy. He is considered a "semi-dressed" Tonner Character Figure. Very funny, indeed. His retail price is $44.99. If I put him in my garden would the rabbits clear out and stop eating everything?

For the last several years I have noticed collectors going Gaga over a frog called Wanda. I almost bought one but came to my senses after briefly imagining indulging my impulses. BIC sells them. They have been produced in lots of colors and are limited editions. The following 3 pictures are the property of Amélie Deveau aka Aminie who gave me permission to use them here. If you click on her name, you will go to her Flickr and can see more Wandas.

A special Wanda being sold now at BIC would cost you about $96. plus postage.
This collector, "irulethegalaxy" has a Flickr photostream showing a bowl filled with what seems like the largest assortment of Wonderfrogs ever.
They're cute but how do you tell the sexes apart?

The popularity of frogs are on the rise. Gaga wears them. Doll designer, Veik, adorns a Barbie with frogs.

I will not be collecting frogs any time soon but I do see the cuteness of the cartooon-like characters.

Just When You Thought Barbie Couldn't Get Worse...

...they've turned her into the housing for a video camera.

She is called "Barbie Video Girl Doll." Golly gee, what a creative title!

Here is the description from the BC.Com website:

Lights, BARBIE®, action! Barbie® doll is not just a doll, she's a video camera, too! A real video camera inside Barbie® doll features a camera lens hidden in her necklace and a video screen on her back that allows girls to record and view movies instantly. It's moviemaking from a Barbie® doll's point of view—literally! Includes USB plug-in cord. Doll is Windows/ MAC compatible. Doll cannot stand alone. For ages 5 and over.

I admit that the doll has one thing going for her, she's Mac compatible. At least someone over at Mattel has a brain. But seriously, shouldn't the doll look like a photographer or something related to movie making? I just don't get it.
Does she have to be undressed in order for her user to see the video screen? I'm intrigued now. I might have to hunt this one down just to examine it.

Anyway, the next time someone waves a freaky-looking Barbie doll at you in a bathroom,

Smile, you're on Barbie-cam!

Brides of Dracula ~ The Contessa

The Contessa arrived today, fangs and all. It's a shame I don't like fangs (on dolls, that is) because there is a lot to like about this doll!

But you can send me Eric -> or Bill -> with fangs, without fangs...any old, dead way.

The packaging is very nice with the window box showing the entire doll. Box has a magnetic closure.
Contessa's gown is a 4 layered affair - the lining, the underskirt, the wine-colored layer and an over-layer of black mesh. The trim is nicely applied around the edges of the skirt layers and there's a tiny trim of lacy edging at the bodice. The corset looks like a separate piece but is sewn on and has stitching that resembles boning. Overall the quality is excellent. Her shoes are faux leather with a decorative detail and ribbon ties. The fashion is completed with long black gloves, black stud earrings and a simple multi-strand chain choker.

The body is the surprise. She's got a full-sized Fashion Royalty bust with a slim waist and hips.The hip joints have more movement than do those of Fashion Royalty dolls and this doll can sit at a 45° angle. Nice. I am impressed with the total package in spite of the high retail price of $149.99. Many dealers are discounting the doll by $20 or more.
There is a Certificate of Authenticity but no edition size. All the CoA says is that once this edition is closed, no more will be made. That means it's an open edition. No surprise there.
See you at Fangtasia?