How can you not know what dolls you have?

I take back everything I thought about other collectors who announced that they found a doll in their closet they didn't know they had.

In one of my smaller showcases I was using two Tiny Kitty boxes to create a higher level for a row of dolls standing in back of another row of dolls.  This showcase has been outfitted thus for at least a year and maybe more.

I have a lot of Tiny Kitty dolls and the ones I added to my collection in the past 9 months have remained boxed for the pending move. Imagine my surprise when I opened the two boxes and found brand new dolls inside. I have absolutely no recollection of buying them although from my records I see that I bought them at the end of March, 2011. I am surprised at myself that I would use boxes containing NRFB dolls to create a shelf. 

I am almost completely packed as far as the FR dolls go. Less than 10 dolls remain to be packed out of about 90 Fashion Royalty. Then it's the clothing and the accessories. I'm going to pack my Sybarites, too. I have to finish this and move on to the next packing area.

My house is a maze which winds itself through narrow paths of cartons. My living room furniture is all at one end of the room and I have a large folding table set up for operations. My right ring finger is swollen from the wasp sting two days ago. It's 104° outside. And we don't know exactly where we are going to live as we had to terminate the contract of sale on the new house due to serious inspection issues.  But I'm hanging on to a positive outlook. It will all work out for the best. And then I will have to unpack. Hahahahaha.

Does doll collecting cause insanity?

Packing: Hoarders Lite Episode 2

Well the packing has finally hit the Fashion Royalty dolls. I was holding out until the last minute with these girls because I love looking at them. I decided to pack most of them dressed. There are so many of them that it would be a daunting task to have to redress them when I unpack.
I am obsessively snapping a pic of the dolls in each box before I close it so I have a record of what's what. I did that with my Gene dolls but I did not do it with my 16" Tonners, Tiny Kittys, Silkies, Cissettes or Cissys. It just got too overwhelming. I haven't packed my Sybs yet. They will be last.
There are odd combinations of dolls around these days. I thought that even though this is not a "good" photo, it told a story.

Here is what some of my box pix look like:

 They all get wrapped in tissue paper and taped to the inside of the box in order to keep them from shifting.

 No, I have never redressed this Kyori. She's nearly the most perfect doll ever.

All the above dolls plus a box of Monster High, several plastic divider boxes, a box of 8 headless bodies and two bags of clothing fit into this "Lay down" wardrobe box from U Haul. This is only the beginning.
I plan to photograph the cartons of my packed dolls, if possible, before they go on the truck.

Personal Update

My husband has named the packing experience "Hoarders Light." He's not kidding. It's not surprising that this underscores what I have known for a while. I have been completely immersed in the doll world to the exclusion of the rest of my life for the past 7 or so years. Packing the dolls is the easy part - except for the props. The furniture for the 16" dolls is a nightmare to pack except for the items whose original boxes I saved.
The real problems are dealing with the equipment and tools from the arts I've been involved in for the last 25 years - outside of the doll world - darkroom photography, painting, woodworking, miniaturing, jewelry making, enameling, faux finishing, sewing, embroidery, casting...you wouldn't believe it.  I should have been trying to sell this equipment but I didn't and it's all nicely packed up waiting to come along to the next location. OMG.
Craig's list is going to be very familiar with me soon, I hope. Or will I get obsessed with something else and ignore the need to divest myself of these things that have become burdens?
I have lately been enjoying and participating in Pinterest which has inspired me to get back to the other arts. Even doll collecting has opportunities for me to create. I've tried my hand at repainting and that is not something I can do successfully other than retouch or enhance but I can make wigs. I can create instead of accumulate. I love my dolls and I get a great deal of pleasure from looking at them and touching them and posing them but it's gone too far. They keep coming and then what? Thank goodness I've been selling all along or I'd have to get Rudy a job.
Inspiration is what has been lost but it's temporary. And it's the season of change. All is well.

Back to packing.

 You've got to keep your sense of humor.

The Blonds' "Blond Diamond Barbie Doll"

From the promotional pictures she looks gorgeous. All Barbies look beautiful in the promos. Sigh.
The dress appears to be diamond encrusted and along with the hot pink lining of the white fur coat and the stunning blonde hair...vavavoom!

The background story from BC.Com:

About the Designers:

Phillipe and David Blond met in New York City and launched The Blonds in 2008. Together they have created collections that have taken the design world by storm.

Featuring over the top looks full of glamour and spectacle embellished with crystals, chains, sequins and spikes, their pieces have garnered rave reviews from editors, fashion writers, stylists and celebrities alike, including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez, Fergie, Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Beyonce Knowles.  Quickly gaining global stature, The Blonds have been featured in Vogue, L’Officiel, Dazed & Confused, Prestige, GQ, Elle, Marie Claire , InStyle and V Magazine. Supermodels Gisele Bundchen, Helena Christensen, Naomi Campbell, Karlie Kloss, Chanel Iman and Iman have all been photographed in The Blonds custom couture.

In 2008 The Blonds were nominated for the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award for Womenswear.   In 2009 The Blonds were the exclusive designers at the Life Ball in Vienna, Austria - one of the largest AIDS charities and runway shows in the world - hosted by President Bill Clinton, Katy Perry and Eva Longoria. The Blonds received the esteemed Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award for Womenswear in 2009. With the EDFF grant, The Blonds presented one of the most exciting shows at New York Fashion Week. Since then, they have continued to deliver captivating runway shows, season after season! 

In 2010 The Blonds collaborated with Mattel to design three one of a kind Barbie dolls.

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Blond Diamond won't be out until August 2012. She is categorized as a Designer Series doll. No word on price or edition size.