Gothic Dream Misaki Doll Collection

Photos of the new Misaki line were published today. Up first we have "Pure Evil Misaki."
Personally, I don't see the evil in that blonde hair, white costume and sweet face. She looks like an angel playing ringmaster. However her baton is black and silver and maybe it is an evil baton. ;)
I love the look of this doll. To me the edgy styling of the premier Misaki has returned and that's 
 wonderful thing. This collection will be wildly popular.

This is Witchie Witch Misaki.  I love her hair - again it is reminiscent of Tokyo Here We Go. The boots are great-looking. The outfit - OK.

This is The Outsider Misaki. He or she is wearing a fabulous coat over jeans that are embellished with a wraparound knee strap and big cargo pockets . He or she is wearing a white shirt and a tie.

All Images are property of Integrity Toys.

Grey Lady Gene Marshall

Michael Basala, was trusting and generous enough to lend Grey Lady to me for a few weeks in order to photograph her. It's as close as I will get to owning one.She is lovely.

On Thursday, the president spoke. 9-18-08

From the New York Times:
It was brief, two minutes. His brow was furrowed, and his words were careful: “The American people can be sure we will continue to act to strengthen and stabilize our financial markets and improve investor confidence.” Then, having imparted no specifics, he once again slipped out of sight.
In the increasingly surreal world of the White House, the appearance was a sign that all pretense of normalcy is gone. All week long, with Wall Street engulfed by what analysts are calling the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, President Bush had mostly stayed out of sight, except when trying to maintain the façade of business as usual.
If you care to read the rest of the report here is the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/business/19bush.html?src=linkedin
There are several President Bush dolls on the market. This is not a review of them, just a sampling.
Our President George W. Bush puppet comes completely dressed as shown. He is wearing a very fashionable pin-striped suit complete with white dress shirt, red tie, and black shoes. Of course he proudly wears the American flag on his suit too! His entire outfit is completely removable and can be redressed with toddler size 2 clothing. Stands 28 inches tall.

Operating your President puppet is actually quite simple! The mouth is completely moveable as are the arms and hands. Insert your hand through the slot in the puppet's back to open and close the mouth. The arm rod is used to move the hands and arms. With simple movements of the rod you can make your puppet wave, salute, blow kisses, fix his hair, etc. Activate the sound box by pushing the button located in the mouth. You are now ready to perform your own Presidential speech!

George W. Bush has been sticking it to the American people for over 6 years. And now it’s your turn to stick it to him!
Whether you want to make
“Dub-ya” pay for the sins of his administration (starting a war, spying on Americans, ignoring Katrina, you name it!) or prevent him from committing new ones (your guess is as good as ours!), The George W. Bush Voodoo Kit gives you the tools to exert a little political power of your own-with voodoo!
Included in this kit are a George W. Bush voodoo doll, spell pins, and a hilarious and effective book of spells and other information the corporate media won’t tell you.

Vivette – not a beginner's doll!

Here is Raspberry Sorbet Vivette dressed in "Fashion Snapshot" and wearing one of her three wigs. It took me forever to get this doll ready to be photographed. First of all the wig comes with no 'dressing' at all. It's dry and fly-away and needs gel or some other product to tame and smooth it. Because of the deformed legs on this doll, she won't stand still for any last minute tweaking. Her head is strung tightly so it's a bit kicky. It was not a pleasant experience. She looks cute but I'm not in a big hurry to redress her.

Raspberry Sorbet Vivette with Wig-Set from D.A.E.

Several weeks ago D.A.E. Originals put all of their Vivette dolls and her fashions on sale. I didn't care for the first Vivette I had a few years ago but the prices were so tempting that I went ahead and ordered one basic doll and several outfits. I'm glad I did.
The face paint on this version has been softened. Each doll is individually painted by hand according to the D.A.E. website. The face and body blushing is done with an airbrush.
She comes with a basic pink bodysuit, flowered cap, earrings, a bracelet that I broke immediately while trying to put it on, a chain belt, very cute wedge shoes with "glitter embedded clear heels", sunglasses which I broke as well and three wigs. The wigs can be displayed on the adorable wig stand that comes packaged separately inside the shipper. Her head is flocked which keeps the wigs in place. She has applied lashes, too.
This is a strung vinyl doll. I am truly hoping that the creative team of Brian Schafer and David Escobedo resculpt Vivette's legs.

I believe that the body of Vivette has a distorted pair of legs. When I got my first Vivette, I actually wrote to the artists and asked them about it because I thought there was something wrong with her.



Link to D.A.E. Originals: http://www.daeoriginals.com

Juku Couture Doll Photos

Here are the other three characters in the Fall 2008 Juku Couture line from Jaks Pacific, Audrina, Hayley and Kana. Also shown are two of the available clothing packs. The fourth doll, Jun, can be seen in an earlier post.

Tonner's Tiny Kitty

The availability of articulated replacement bodies for Tiny Kitty and the appearance of another little beauty, Simone Rouge, has renewed my interest in these 10 inch gals. I purchased a bunch of bodies and unpacked my Kittys. They got their new bodies, were dressed up in the outfits I had saved and are now on display with my Simones.

Of course I had to purchase several of the new Kittys,


a few that I never got
and some outfits.....it never ends.

There's more but it's too embarassing. LOL

MetroDolls on Broadway 2008 Event

MetroDolls organized and held this event to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS! charity. Many creative artists and other generous people donated OOAK dolls, doll furnishings, clothing and manufactured items for raffles and auctions. This fabulous and fun event was held at the Woodbridge Hilton in Iselin, New Jersey which is a 2 hour drive from my home. I arrived in the midst of a torrential rain storm caused by the passing hurricane. The staff was extremely cordial and helpful. Check-in took less than 5 minutes and I was very pleased with my room.
The evening's event began at 6:30 PM. The tables were decorated in black and white and the centerpiece was the red-haired Metropolitan Madra dressed in a rhinestone bra and bikini bottom, long white satin gloves, silver metal rhinestone heels and rhinestone circle earrings. She was holding two large feathered fans, perhaps for modesty. :-)


I was lucky to get the opportunity to purchase one of very few.


There was a presentation of vintage clothing on Saturday night by John Davey, the owner and collector of the garments. Here is a link to my photos from Saturday night.

http://www.goldphoto.com/MetroDolls_2008/index.htm

I was very lucky in the raffle and won several outfits and a Bronze Madra.

On Sunday morning I packed up my car and went back into the hotel for the luncheon. We had been switched to a large ballroom. I was handed a goodie bag upon entering the room. It had the special event outfit and several other little goodies. All around four sides of the room were raffle items and auction items. There was a sales room adjacent to the main ballroom. I never made it that far because there was so much to see and do and so many raffle tickets to drop into little bags. I took lots of pictures, talked to many people and just soaked in the atmosphere. It was just like a mini convention. Robert Tonner gave a wonderful presentation accompanied by slides. He talked about his inspiration for some of the new lines his company is producing. And, best of all, he showed a series of slides of the sculpturing of a new fashion doll, Miss Piggy. Raffles were drawn, and again, I was very lucky. I won Film Fatale Gene and Cold As Ice Kit. These are two dolls I have wanted! I would like to have won the White Witch of Narnia but it wasn't in the cards for me. I also won a fabulous outfit called Symphony of the Heart. A DAE outfit for 16" dolls.
This is a Brian Bulkley drawing that accompanies the outfit.

Here is a link to my pictures from Saturday:

http://www.goldphoto.com/MetroDolls_Sun/index.htm

After the raffles and auctions and presentations were over we were given our event doll, Magnolia. She is a new sculpt by Tonner.

Because I am not keeping the doll I did not unpack her earrings and other accessories. The future owner gave me permission to photograph her and here she is.