9/06/2016

New Kingdom Doll Photos

Chaucer wearing a fashion by Magdalena Bareja. The wig is from Kingdom Doll Viola.



Savile models a Tonner gown from a doll called "Cyclone Cantata." Her wig was made by Ilaria.



Viola is wearing an Antonio Realli gown and jewelry by Integrity Toys. Wig by Ilaria in the first photo. I'm not sure who created the platinum wig or the rhinestone jewelry in the second photo.



The second photo of Viola was shot on an iPhone using it's built-in flash. I did tone down some of the glare on her face and chest. You can see that the highlights in her wig are burnt out with no detail. It's far from a perfect way to take pictures but the doll is gorgeous anyway!

Arnamentia is wearing her gorgeous beaded jacket created by Priya Desu Bohra, a Tonner's Precarious "Scandal" skirt and jewelry, possibly by Joy Jared. The wig was made by Cheryl Wood.
She is the newest release from Kingdom Doll and I plan to spend lots of time redressing her.


Looking seriously bored.

My doll room is in a different part of the house from my studio where I take pictures. After I redress a doll, I take pictures with my iPhone. Once in a while they turn out OK, like the one below of Arnamentia wearing her original wig.


Below is a silly photo of Viola and Arnamentia seated on furniture I recently acquired during Horsman's amazing sale. The tables and mirror in the photo are Horsman as well.


9/05/2016

New GENX.2 Doll: VIRIDIAN DD_109

Today a new Sybarite was released. They're coming very fast these days, aren't they?
Here is the description from the Superdoll website:


VIRIDIAN DD_109

''Brrrrrr!' I'm so glad its getting cooler, I can finally wear more clothes!'.
Viridian is first into the Tea House and hopes no one notices she did not take off her boots to walk on the Tatami!.

Venus can't wait for the tea time games they will play in the miniature chashitsu created for them in the London Salon.

GENX.2 body!
Cosmetique skintone!

With memories of Harajuku, Venus hair is a vibrant titian, a choppy cut and longish sideburns and mullet back; the top pulled up into a fin and gently smoothed backwards.
Her eyes surrounded in shades of vermillion and pink with pale lids, dark black liner and arched dark mocha brows. Her piercing emerald eyes are offset with burnt jade. Lips the colour of late, late seasons tangerine.
An emerald coat of short pile 'fur' bears a huge collar and cuffs in medium 'fox' dyed exquisitely to match. Closures of dagger toggles and from within, a 'happy' pumpkin colour lining. In seam pockets and 'leather' foiled detailing go without saying.....
She slips off her coat to bare a satin, chiffon and lace 'wearable daytime' negligee, bearing accenting lime coloured rope in a knotted Kikkou. Maybe just a small hint as to just what kind of tea party this is going to be!
Furthermore she wears a shade of emerald that is 'just so' for her full length hose, a metal studded, latex and satin bag with chain straps just big enough for maybe a rope or a teapot. On her feet, fiendish multi layer platform sole ankle boots in green satin with peek a boo lace up sides and oodles of 'fur' trimming the cuffs.

The last of summers green; to reveal the Autumns beautiful hues.
Let the Games begin!

Clone: 1000 Venus d'Royce

Of course she comes with the following standard accessories:
-manic_cure hands (see booklet for hand change instructions)
-booklet
-stand
In stock and ready to be delivered
Price: £259.34 (Excluding VAT at 20%)
 


 
 

 £259.34 = $345.17.
 
What do you think?
 
 

8/21/2016

Miss Amour and Powder Puff Poppy Parker Dolls

I was pretty shocked that I won the lottery opportunity to purchase these new Poppy Parker dolls.


You can probably venture a guess as to why I would feel that way. 

They arrived yesterday and I shot a few iPhone pictures. I will not be deboxing them as I plan to trade them if I see something from the Fashion Royalty convention that I want. Or, if someone makes me an offer I can't refuse...

They are lovely and if I were a Poppy Parker collector I would be thrilled to add them to my collection. They come in adorable window boxes and make pretty displays even without being out of the box. Hooray for those who don't debox.


Miss Amour's pink gown is delightfully frilly and feminine. She comes with a perfume bottle. I originally thought that I'd keep this gown as PP's clothes do fit Monogram dolls of which I have several.

Powder Puff comes with a cute white teddy bear and a diary and is dressed in a frothy bedtime lingerie set.

Both dolls were $120. each plus postage.












Here are two IT promo shots for reference:





8/18/2016

Fashion Royalty Elise Dressed by Fu Zin Dolls

 This gown is called "Purple Reign."  It's another example of the fabulous work of the talented people in our doll world. Rudi Teruel carries Fu Zin creations exclusively. They are very limited editions and Rudi announces them on FaceBook.

This is a hand made, hand embellished deep purple gown, reminiscent of a Dior, with multiple layers of fabric, each worked differently. The panels are wired as well as beaded and sequined.


I have to take more pictures of this gown. It needs to be adjusted to look the way it was intended.



The background is all wrong as I was just too lazy to put up something else.  Excuses, excuses.




You can probably get the idea in spite of my lame attempts.








8/17/2016

Integrity Toys Summer 2016 Reveal

This past Saturday, IT held a webinar for members of the W Club during which Fashion Royalty, ITBE-16 and <3MLP dolls were revealed.

Fashion Royalty 

"Contrasting Proposition"  Natalia Fatalé™ Dressed Doll
Body Type: FR2013
Head Sculpt: Natalia Fatalé 2.0
Limited Edition Size: 700
Suggested Retail Price: $135.00


Emerging Rebel Kyori Sato™ Dressed Doll 
This doll features our new hybrid eye screening method.
Limited Edition Size: 700
Suggested Retail Price: $135.00
Body Type: FR2013
Head Sculpt: Kyori Sato™ 2.0
Suggested Retail Price: $135.00


Daytime Impact Dasha™ Dressed Doll
This doll features our new hybrid eye screening method.
Limited Edition Size: 700
Suggested Retail Price: $135.00
Body Type: FR2013
Head Sculpt: Dasha™




Fresh and Delightful: Véronique Perrin® Dressed Close-Up Doll
This doll features our new hybrid eye screening method.
Limited Edition Size: 700
Suggested Retail Price: $89.00 + Shipping and Handling
IMPORTANT! THIS DOLL WILL BE OFFERED DIRECTLY FROM IT DIRECT VIA A RIGHT-TO-BUY LOTTERY. NOTE: THIS DOLL WILL NOT BE OFFERED VIA DEALERS.
Body Type: FR2013
Head Sculpt: Veronique 2.0 


Fabulous Fields   Luchia Z.™ Dressed Doll
This doll features our new hybrid eye screening method. 
Limited Edition Size: 600
Suggested Retail Price: $135.00
Body Type: FR2013
Head Sculpt: Luchia Z.™ 2.0




Ruffles and Blooms: Eugenia Perrin-Frost™ Dressed Doll
Limited Edition Size: 800
Suggested Retail Price: $150.00
Body Type: FR2013
Head Sculpt: Eugenia Perrin-Frost™


Key Pieces:  Elyse Jolie™ Dressed Doll Gift Set
Limited Edition Size: 800
Suggested Retail Price: $199.00
Body Type: FR2013
Head Sculpt: Elyse Jolie™ 




My thoughts on the FR collection.
My favorite is Natalia because of the fashion. If you noticed, several dolls have a 2.0 after their sculpt names.  When the company "updated" these sculpts (along with Vanessa and a few others,) they watered down and de-ethnicized the faces. Everyone got pouty lips and narrow noses. Adele, whose very popular 2.0 sculpt was changed drastically became less popular. Natalia was originally a Latina character. She didn't need a new face or white skin.
Many collectors are displeased at the lack of skin color diversity in this release.  They're surprised that a company whose goal was to produce dolls of ethnic diversity has come to this.
The year isn't over yet. We'll see what is to come.
As to the Elyse Jolie gift set...Elyse is my favorite sculpt but this one does nothing for me. Her palette makes her mouth disappear. The outfits are not calling me either.
I think Eugenia is a beautiful doll but that yellow gown is blinding. With all that's going on with the color and the (lovely) embroidery, the sculptural details and the frills above the bustline are distractions rather than attractive elements. This could have been a beautiful strapless ball gown.  Perhaps that upper part can be removed without damaging the gown. Unfortunately, the points would be difficult to remove. It's a shame.
I thought about ordering Kyori because I like the embroidered sheath but then I read further and it's vinyl. I don't like the way the shoes or the bag look with the dress either.
If Dasha were being sold as a nude doll or in a different fashion, I'd consider her. I love the neck piece.
Veronique...meh for the dress. The shoes and necklace are pieces I'd want.
Luchia is OK. I don't like the way the lower part of the dress drapes.

_______________________________________________

Integrity Toys + My Little Pony = <3 MLP

This is IT's new line designed by Jessy Ayala. Although they are not dolls I will collect I think he did a wonderful job. They are very cute and supremely colorful and fun. 




Each doll is a LE of 500 with a retail price of $130.
The boys use the Homme Body and the girls use the new Industry body type. They all have applied lashes and rooted hair.

...not be sold through dealers, but will be available exclusively via IT Direct!
...will be released later this fall, in waves of 2.
Each doll will have a portion set aside for W Club members only via a first-come, first-served sale opportunity in the IT Direct shopping cart.
Priority pre-ordering details for W Club members for the first two dolls in the line, sonic_rainboom_92 and sparkling_stargazer, will be sent to all W Club members prior to the W Club first-come, first-served sale date of September 12th, 2016.
Once the W Club portion is sold out, you are welcome to purchase the dolls on the public release day of September 13th, 2016, while quantities last.
An email notice containing the full purchase details for the first two dolls will be sent to W Club members ahead of time, closer to their sale date.
The other dolls in the line will be released later this fall in a similar manner.

My favorite is rare_form_21 Rarity™ Inspired Dressed Fashion Figure
I like everything about him! 



IT designs the best male dolls and has been producing winners for years IMO.

This guy is pretty cool, too. The outfit rocks but the hat is too small. It should sit further down on his hair.

appleofmyeye: Applejack™ Inspired Dressed Fashion Figure


The issue for me as a collector of fashion dolls is that these <3MLP have an aura of Hello Kitty-ness if that's a thing.
I think these dolls will appeal to a rather slim portion of the population - like the Jem collection; however,  I hope it succeeds because these dolls are interesting to look at.

_________________________________________

ITBE 16 (Integrity Toys Boring Edition)

Two  16" dolls were offered, each @ $99.,  produced as an LE of 200.

Left :
"Higher"  Head Sculpt: AvantGuard (Closed Mouth)

Right:
"Glitterazi "   Head Sculpt: Anais 1.0
What a horrid, trashy looking dress. Ugh.



_______________________________________

The Event Doll 

"Love, Life and Lace" Agnes Von Weiss™ Dressed Doll
Special W Club Price: $140.00
Head Sculpt: Agnes Von Weiss™
Body Type: FR2013
 



Agnes seems to have been tamed. Her face doesn't look like she's angry anymore. What happened? 
She's a nice doll. Nothing exciting here. 
 __________________________________________

Did you order something? 
Were you closed out of any particular doll? 
What is your opinion overall of the release?
Favorite, least favorite? 



8/16/2016

Fabulous Facets BBQ 2016


Are you ready for another fabulous Facets BBQ??

I'm inviting area doll collectors (and any traveling ones) to come to my house in Matawan, NJ for a BBQ and doll party on Sunday, September 11th starting at noon.

Matawan is in central NJ, near exit 117a of the Garden State Parkway. It is easily accessible by NJ Transit trains from NYC or Newark.

It will be like the previous BBQs with lots of people, food, dolls, sales, and more, but there are a few changes, so please read on...

I'll provide all of the food, and there is a cover charge of $17 per person and it must be paid in advance by PayPal (to applefrien@aol.com) or you can send me a check or give me cash if you see me beforehand.  Payment is required no later than Wednesday, September 7th in order to get an accurate head counting for food shopping.

I'll have a sales area set up in my basement - space is on a first-come basis and is limited. If you are planning to bring things to sell, please let me know so I can estimate how much space is needed per person and try to get enough shelving/tables to accommodate. If you've been here before, you know the set-up. If you haven't been here before and want to sell, email me for more info. Of course, Facets will be set up for shopping, too :-)

In addition to shopping, we'll have door prizes, the infamous "free table", and lots of dolls to look at.

The "free table" is a table of doll related items that are extras, slightly used, unwanted, etc... It's a good way to get rid of those items that you think someone might want and you don't feel like putting on eBay. If you have some things you'd like to put in, bring them. However, if no one takes them, you have to take them back or throw them out - they can't stay here! If you want to mail donations, LMK and I'll give you the address. I've already gotten some amazing things mailed to me!

If you want to see what the Free Table is like, check out pictures and Paul's video from last year:
http://facetsbymarcia.com/BBQ2015.htm

Feel free to bring a doll for display. I don't have a theme - bring a favorite, a new acquisition, something you want to show off, whatever.

Contributions to the door prizes are appreciated.

If you need a place to stay in this area, I recommend the Woodbridge Hilton. It's about 20 minutes north of here and is more reasonably priced and nicer than the few hotels in the immediate area. If you are looking for travel mates or roommates, LMK and I'll try to help.

I hope you can make it to the party - it's a day of great fun, great dolls and great people :-) Email me to RSVP or ask questions. When you email me, I would appreciate it if you could put "BBQ" somewhere in the subject so I can sort out those emails.

Marcia
www.facetsbymarcia.com

P.S. If you know someone who might like to come to the BBQ and that hasn't gotten an invitation, please let me know and I'll invite them.

The above invitation is from Marcia except for the bunny cartoon which is my addition, :-)