The Best and the Worst of the Rest - Tropicalia

Four weeks after the Tropicalia convention ended, people who pre-ordered the convention collection began receiving their dolls. It was supposed to take only two weeks but the slow boat from China was extra slow this time.

The most popular of all the dolls were Eugenia and Agnes but they were not part of the convention collection. I loved Elyse more than any doll from the entire event. I liked the Vanessa but not her awful gown. I agree that Eugenia was gorgeous but her gown was a terrible fit. In fact, most of the clothes that had that particular bodice style were manufactured very poorly.

For me, the best doll out of the convention collection was Dasha.

Once I took off her trashy blue dress with its crooked velvet bow, combed out her hair and redressed her, she took on a new personna.

In my photo she is wearing an outfit by V John (dress and head wrap) and carrying an IT purse.

Adele is a beauty. But, again, the sewing of the bodice insert is very bad.

It was the same on Kyori's top. They pucker and don't lay right.

I also think that Natalia is gorgeous. Her hair color, skin and makeup are a fabulous combination.

But her outfit is a nightmare of color and texture. In my opinion it is unsophisticated and garish.

Poppy is cute but her outfits are 'ho-hum-where- have-we-seen-that-before?'

Let's just skip to the worst of the bunch - Veronique. Gone is the beautiful Veronique that enticed so many original Fashion Royalty fans to begin collecting these dolls.

What we have in this version is a paranoid-looking doll wearing a lab coat with a beaded belt over an ill-fitting pink and blue dress. This has to be the worst Vero ever produced - tasteless and laughable. Even Vero isn't smiling anymore.

What the heck happened to good taste and design? I can't understand how Jason would even want to be associated with most of this.

Perhaps if I take the attitude I used to have towards a roll of film, I can accept the degradation of the Fashion Royalty line. If you get one or two good pictures out of a roll of 36, you're doing well.

Update on Violet Eyes That Weren't

Mattel/Barbie Collector came through on this one. They sent me a return label and I sent the wonky-eyed Miss Liz back to them. Today I received a new one with properly screened eyes. I am pleased. It did not cost me anything additional,  except time, to get a good doll.

Much better!

Her eyes are still not violet but neither are the promo's eyes.
So, the moral of the story is, don't settle for a messed up doll

Ghosts: Here Today; Gone Tomorrow

Photo Property of Barbie.Com

I was a little surprised that the Haunted Beauty Ghost Barbie sold out so quickly. She was released on 10/11/12 and is gone. The doll was a direct exclusive gold label and retailed for $100. So what was the big deal?
First of all, she's just in time for Halloween. Secondly, there's a cool video featuring Bill Greening discussing the design and creation of the doll. Thunder, lightning and wind along with eerie music punctuate the video. A great mock-up of a  haunted room shows the doll in all of her dead splendor. 
Good marketing. 
In reality, the doll is just another 11.5" semi-articulated piece of vinyl (what else is new?) that may or may not arrive looking like the promo sans haunted house and music. 

The minute I saw her she reminded me of Tonner's Galadriel doll.

She also resembled another Tonner doll that was a centerpiece at the 2010 Halloween Convention. This doll was called "Welcome to the Here-after."

Tonner's Ghost of Christmas Past was a unique rendition of a ghost. The fashion is fabulous, detailed and a huge cut above the stereotypical ghost outfits.

So if you are morose over missing out on the ho-hum Barbie Ghost and you wish to indulge your morbid tastes, have a look at these ghost dolls.

Ghost Art Doll – Annabel Lee
Handmade, OOAK art doll. 12 inches tall.
Mixed media including fabric and Paperclay.
Copyright © 2009, Shain Erin. All rights reserved.

Annabel Lee Ghost Doll - ravensbreath.com

Cojoined Ghost Doll Twins - kerrykate.etsy.com

Then there's always the good old standby Living Dead Dolls.

Isn't Evangeline Ghastly dead? They're not saying but if you read her back story,* she's must be. She doesn't know she's dead...
*(Inspired by Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride, The Addams Family, and even Barbra Streisand, Evangeline comes to you straight from the attic of Barkley Manor located in Ipswich, England, across from the local cemetery.)

Graveside Flowers (resin) - A Wilde Weekend Exclusive

Price: $475.00

I don't see the Barbra Streisand connection at all. (Hello, Brooklyn!)

Jamieshow Alejandro

This handsome fellow is my first resin male doll. He is a 2012 basic Jamieshow Alejandro that I purchased at Angelic Dreamz during the Prohibition event. I loved the optional outfit so much that I had to purchase a doll to wear it.
He is wigged and I would like to get another wig that is shorter. I like that his 5 o'clock shadow is done very well. This is one good looking doll!

His outfit is so well made and the fabric is very fine. It's the first pair of male pants I've ever had that doesn't have the fly zipper tab sticking out. I love everything about this outfit.  I have no idea how to tie a tie.

Why is he standing in a window, you ask? Well, work on my studio has just begun. As of today, all the framing is done. It will be a simple room with two windows and a black and white checkered floor similar to my former darkroom.  We're also having a cedar lined closet built right outside the studio. Currently, I have my photography equipment in a corner of the basement all covered up and protected from dust. (Hopefully)

I've begun deboxing and redressing dolls but it is slow going. Gradually as the chaos of boxes subsides it becomes a little easier. I've had to come up with a new organization system and that keeps changing. There are three glass cabinets waiting to be assembled. Where is that magic wand?

The rest of the house is shaping up nicely. Dealing with workpeople who can't do it right the first time is such a pain. It's unbelievable the damage one person can do. The moldings need to be touched up and repainted in many places from the installation of new flooring. The floor installers damaged the front of my new refrigerator and they are paying to get another one. But I have to do the calling and arranging. I was so pissed!!!
Of course I'm finding places the painters messed up as well. They were here for two months, you'd think they would have gotten it right. They might have if they were sober the entire time. Sigh.
The main moving company has had my claim for a month. I called yesterday and was told it could take 3 to 6 months to finalize it. It didn't take them that long to take my money. Their excuse is that it's the busy season. So hire more people. Seriously.

Back to dolls....I have a huge backlog of dolls to photograph. I'm enjoying the ones I've taken out and dressed and put on display. It's nice to see them again. Really nice.

OK...So I Drank the Kool Aid

If you are a member of the Barbie Collector Club your last quarter $20. coupon is effective beginning today. Gala Gown, the beautiful-looking (in the promo) Silkstone, is also now available for ordering. How convenient is it that BC.Com is also offering free shipping? Anyway, I ordered one. I swear if this doll is anything less than perfect, it will be my last EVER Silkstone.

Update on my wonky-eyed, non-violet eyed, Violet Eyes Elizabeth Taylor Silkstone. In response to my letter outlining the defective doll I received I was offered a return or an exchange. I asked for a shipping label and received a pre-paid label. Yay. Here's hoping the replacement will be better.

A New Favorite Website - Not About Dolls

I love Photojojo! Today's post on How to Make Photo Lollipops just pushed me over the edge to blog about it.

Haven't you always wanted to eat your photographs? I've wanted to do a lot of things with mine; eating them wasn't on the list.  This tutorial might have just changed my mind.
Think of the possibilities: table gifts at conventions, stocking stuffers, business cards...X-rated suckers. Oh, I have endless ideas.

Link to this tutorial

They carry a multitude of products that I'd love to have. One is called Photo-opoly. If all you ever think about it dolls, you can personalize it with images of your gals and guys easily. You might even force yourself to use pictures of your family or pets.

Click here to check out the rest of the fun products you can use with your cameras.