3/23/2015

Painting Caroline's Parlor

I've just begun to transform my American Girl Caroline's Parlor. I wanted a darker, more neutral palette as a backdrop than the one provided.

To begin with I tested some house paint on the back of one of the units. It was a high quality Benjamin Moore paint left over from the renovation of our master bath and it is only about one year old. The surface of the piece took the paint very well but it was too light and I didn't like the faint eggshell finish. I tested one of the Behr colors we used in the rest of the house and decided to use it as my main color. The color is called wet cement.
The Ott lamp I was using is on the left. If your computer monitor renders accurate colors you can see how much cleaner the whites look. By comparison on the right, I had a halogen bulb in a lamp and the white is yellower.


That paint did not have the coverage of the Benjamin Moore and I had to apply two coats. The finish is nice and flat which is exactly what I need for photographic purposes.

This color is perfect as a backdrop for my Horsman French Chaise and sets of chairs in sage.  Pretty much any color upholstery will look good in this setting.

Before you open a can of paint you might have in your garage do consider the age of the paint. Test it on the back of the piece. Then you need a few good brushes. I'm using synthetic sable-like flat brushes in several different sizes.
You want to avoid brushing over and over and making strokes in different directions. Let each coat dry before beginning the next or you will get ridges and a generally uneven finish.
Use pointy tipped brushes to get into hard to reach corners.


One place you do not want paint to get on is the clear plastic window! I cut out a piece of oak tag to fit over that while I was painting.

The base color was easy to apply but I couldn't help getting some on the white trim. It wasn't as easy to do the fine edges where the white trim meets the rest of the piece. No problem, right? I'll just use some white paint to go over the wandering gray. WRONG.
 The paint I tried, and will not continue with, is a flat ceiling paint and it's not covering the gray. You may be able to see the parts I have tried to fix as the flat finish is contrasted to the existing low gloss finish of the original piece. I plan to use a high quality acrylic to do the trim. I am resigned to the fact that I probably will have to go over all the white even if I haven't gotten gray on it in order to get the same finish. All whites are not the same.

At one point I began wondering why I even started. When you paint the inside of the bookcase you may rue the day you started.


The large raised frame over the fireplace and the fronts of the drawers are painted using the same color as the background with 1/3 of the volume white added. The drawers do not pull out all the way which would have been ideal. I just painted them while they were open. I did not paint the insides, the undersides or the full sides of the drawers.
The floor and ceiling of the fireplace have been painted as well as the area under the shelf between the brackets. I'm considering doing a faux marble finish on the fireplace tile surround eventually. 

Don't look at the pile of doll boxes..
I love the window seat section!  I want to make a few of my own backdrops to insert in the slot. The possibilities are limitless. Another collector made a cover for their yellow cushion and a beautiful valance.

A lot of collectors posting on Prego and the Studio Commissary are putting up pictures of their Caroline's Parlor set-ups.  Did you get one?




3/20/2015

Superdoll Dreamscape and Emerald Oyster

From the Superdoll website come the descriptions of the fashions. I have edited the spelling.

DREAMSCAPE SYB/768

Escape to your Dreams.
Lined in old rose pink, this voluminous gown of irridescent sequin is just that, a voluminous gown of gorgeous glitz. From the side bust, a swirl of pale organza swoops and rolls as if in a dream; asymmetrically down the gown to the hemline.

This delicate 'nth' of organza is held in place with a multitude of corded vines & poinsettia in contrasting rose. Atop each 'bloom' a tiny pile of sequin, pearl and 'diamante.'

Reminiscent of a bygone age, yet smack bang up to the red carpet.

Accessories include exquisite Superdoll  'classic' headpiece, hose and slip on towering perspex heels.


Sybarite Geometry wearing an Ilaria wig is modeling here.



EMERALD OYSTER SYB/769

Emeralds and 'leather'.
Lined in nude, flowing leatherette tarlazzi forms a great big statement of a gown and is just that, a fabulous statement. Straight neck satin bodice on mini corded straps adorned in 'diamonds' & 'emeralds, give the illusion of a Superdoll staple, the reverse neck.

To further trick the eye, the under-bust of this gown is set with a guipure lace motif adorned with further 'emerald'.

Reminiscent of a bygone age, yet smack bang up to the red carpet.

Accessories include opera length 'gloves', hose and slip on towering perspex heels.


Sybarite Domina models Emerald Oyster.


Ficon Girls Get Camera Time

First day of Spring? Not here. It's snowing. Again. We're nice and warm inside.

Here is Ficon's Ms. G Black wearing the fashion from Ficon Fierce and a wig by Cheryl Wood. Her bracelet is Franklin Mint.


This edgy fashion is a two-piece suit with rhinestone buckled belt. The shoulders are embellished with silvery metal cones and chains. In contrast, the armholes are finished with multi-layered tulle providing a bit of softening contrasting with the angular cut of the top.
Her clutch bag has a textured almost glittered feel; it is not glitter, however.


The shoes are black strappy faux leather heels with a zipper up the back. Sadly, the zipper won't go all the way up. I tried.
This photo showed me how bad her pedicure is. I can fix that easily.


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Ficon "Bonita" is modeling Ficon's fashion "Wrinkle" dress and vest. The fabric is a faux snake and a stretch fabric which is ruched. The metal cones appear on the shoulders again. The belt has a large silver buckle.
Stunning wig is also by Cheryl Wood. Clutch is Superdoll.



3/18/2015

New 2015 Tonner Spring Mainline Release Dolls

Marley Wentworth has grown up. Tonner is offering one basic, three dressed dolls and two separate fashions (not shown.) The doll in the blue coat looks very much like Tyler.



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There is a line of new 18-Inch "My Imagination" Dolls. I think they can be very good competition against the American Girl doll as they are cute with nice hair and adorable outfits at a better price.
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My favorites are the Re-Imagination Dolls. These are dressed dolls with various sculpts ranging in price from $169.00 to $218.99.  Haddy Madigan, top left below, reminds me of Megan Boone who plays Elizabeth Keen on Blacklist. Blue eyes, shape of jaw, hair color, pressed together lips...my imagination?


I don't know who Charlie Dodgson is. Perhaps he's just a new sculpt. I am seriously in love with Bianca Lapin, the last of the four below. I adore the Duchess sculpt and her outfit is just crazy enough to appeal to me. It says her hair is rooted but it looks like a wig to me. She has a faux leather dress under the faux fur.  The 16" chic body is used for these girls. According to Dreamcastle's definition it uses Antoinette's lower body with larger shoulders and a larger bust.



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My favorite Tonner sculpt, Supergirl....Ugh...why does she have to be so gorgeous?
$179.99 Retail "Bombshell" Supergirl.


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I hesitate to pre-order Tonner dolls as I would prefer to wait and see the IRL dolls. 

Most of you already know that there are many doll dealers who discount off Tonner's retail prices. 
Don't pay retail. Find the dealer nearest your location and order from them. Keep the doll dealers in business! Your warranty is in force no matter where you purchase your Tonner doll.





3/17/2015

New Jem and Color Infusion Dolls from Integrity Toys


 The JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ Collection

Lindsey Pierce™

Adult Collectable Doll

Limited Edition Size of 500 Dolls
IT DIRECT EXCLUSIVE
Retail Price: $125.00 US + Shipping and Handling
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: JEM COLOR INFUSION
Head Sculpt: Rapture
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Pale Blond
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied


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The Color Infusion Collection
 
All:
Estimated Ship Date: Approximately Late May/Early June 2015

Suggested Retail Price: $100.00 US

Available for Pre-order from Any Authorized Integrity Toys Dealer.
Body Type: COLOR INFUSION / JEM 

Quick Switch Feature: No
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied


Nyasha Lauder™
Limited Edition Size of 450 Dolls
Doll Tech Specs:
Skin Tone: New Hispanic

Hair Color: Brunette




Jacqueline O'Rion™
Limited Edition Size of 500 Dolls
Doll Tech Specs:
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Blond

Zara Wade™

Limited Edition Size of 500 Dolls
Doll Tech Specs:

Skin Tone: Light Honey

Hair Color: Deep Brunette





I have nothing to say about these dolls. 

3/11/2015

Upcoming Events and Conventions 2015

I kept staring at this picture in an email that was sent from FDQ and then I realized that the photo of the doll in the red dress was mine. She is Milou wearing Sandra Stillwell's "Tree" gown.



Read about Milou here.

The email announced several events.


I will be atttending UFDC's 2015 convention in Kansas City in July.
Below each logo is a link an event.

MAY 22-24, 2015




Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel

Saturday, September 5th, 2015




May 29-31, 2015
Dallas, TX

Sunday, October 4, 2015