Collecting Fashion Dolls by Terri Gold

New Rules! Censorship = Fear

2013-05-20T15:29:00.003-04:00

I wasn't collecting dolls back when people were afraid to write the words Barbie and/or Mattel. Apparently Mattel was going around suing people for using these words. Collectors started using asterisks in place of letters, eg. M*ttel and B*rbie. I don't know if that kept them safe. I can certainly understand a company's desire to protect their brand name and to make sure it was not used to market products that were not really theirs.

I have also heard of threads being deleted on the BC.Com boards for various reasons. One must pay to belong to the Barbie Collectors Club and therefore must abide by the rules of the board. Actually you have to abide by the rules of any board whether it's free or not. It's like visiting some one's house. If they don't want you to smoke or whatever, you can't. That makes perfect sense.

But taking it even further, Integrity Toys and the owners of the W Club are so fearful of the general public that their latest directive prohibits even talking about what happens on the board. I may even get another apocalyptic letter about revealing this new rule to the public. They are claiming that talking about what happens on the W Board on blogs, other boards and in pod casts invades the privacy and denies the privilege of the members. They want to create a safe atmosphere for members to post whatever they wish and not be worried that their responses will be used somewhere else.

It would be really interesting to find a safe board of any kind where there were no arguments, no attacks, no sideways remarks, no dismissive statements. It doesn't exist. Doll collectors are very passionate - at least the vocal ones are. Apparently, the overlords at the W Club want only the cheerleaders to voice opinions. No wonder it's the same people who post all the time. Out of the possibly 1000 members (many with multiple memberships), barely 50 people ever post. A very small percentage post all the time. In addition people have been viciously attacked off the board by one member in particular. It's not safe and it never was.

Anyone who actually believes that something they post on a board is private, is in dreamland.

Kindly remember to sign your name if you post a comment.

Some Tonner 2013 Convention Dolls

2013-05-19T14:50:00.001-04:00

I'm posting a few of the beautiful Tonner Convention Dolls. For a complete selection of pictures click on the link at the end of this post.

Dark Innocence Evangeline

Dark Innocence Parnilla

Mod Tyler
Centerpiece

Mod Ava
Centerpiece

Daisy

Lady Emily
Centerpiece

Jay Centerpiece

Zelda Centerpiece

Of these, my favorite is Daisy and I would definitely get her if I could just get the head. Her face is so pretty and she looks just like Daisy in the new Gatsby movie. I like Zelda's fashion. I think Lady Emily is spectacularly dressed.

I know nothing about these dolls regarding price or availability but I'm quite sure they will appear or have already popped up for sale on eBay and the doll boards. I you see anyone selling Daisy's head, please let me know!

For a great selection of photos from the event go to DREAMCASTLE DOLLS. Carol has done a great job of providing as many good pictures of the dolls and displays and competitions as possible.

#tonnercon

2013-05-16T23:35:00.001-04:00

The Tonner Convention began today. I'll be following along as each event is being photographed and videotaped thoroughly and posted on the Tonner Direct Facebook page.
You can join the fun virtually by checking this link often to see the pictures of the people and the dolls.

Click on the photo:

Robert serving drinks at "I want candy" con opener!

Photo above has been snatched from the TD FB page.

Italian Doll Convention 2013

2013-05-14T18:14:00.002-04:00

This is the logo for the upcoming Third Italian Doll Convention. The dates are May 25-26, 2013 in Milan.

There will be a Monster High Event! Can you read Italian?

There will be a huge salesroom with the likes of Magia2000, Fashion Doll Agency, Ruffino Francesco, Inika for Blythe, Laurence Bellet and many, many others.

The popular Fashion Show takes place at the Gala Dinner. Guests are invited to participate by wearing their favorite Barbie or Ken outfit and to bring the doll along with them onto the red carpet. The theme is IDC Goes Musical which should give participants a direction for their choices. I would love to see that!

Possibly the most important aspect of this event is the money for charity which will be raised. This year they have chosen Casa Oz. www.casaoz.org

Charitable donations of magnificent dolls and in two cases, handmade wigs, have been posted on eBay for auction.

My favorite is from Superdoll. It is a OOAK Sybarite doll called "Gladrama." If I know Sybarite collectors, the sky's the limit as to how high the winning bid for this doll will be.

I like the Fashion Doll Agency "Sophia." She comes with the complete fashion collection from the Noir line.

There are 16 items for auction. Click here to see them all. Will you be bidding?

Mama Jo's House of Dolls "The Doll Dilemma"

2013-05-12T13:20:00.001-04:00

From the NY Times, here is an article that the majority of us can probably identify with in some form. This is worth reading and the short video posted at the end of the article is very interesting to watch.

The 700-Doll Question

By JO MAEDER

Published in the New York Times on May 8, 2013

Ten years ago, when my mother was in the throes of dementia, I left New York, bought a home in North Carolina near my brother, and moved her in with me.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/05/09/booming/201305009-DOMESTIC.html?ref=booming

Mama Jo, as she was known, was a hoarder who had been living in Virginia with a collection of more than 700 dolls that she referred to as her “little people.” So I turned the largest space in the house into the doll room: 400 square feet of floor-to-ceiling dolls that rendered most visitors speechless.

After she died, a friend assured me that I’d get through the process of “liberating” those little people the same way I got through my mother’s harrowing decline.

“With a lot of praying?” I asked.

“No,” she replied. “With a lot of Ativan.”

As a child, I went from dolls to ponies to boys. By the time I was an adult, I thought the dolls were creepy. But when Mama Jo died in 2006, I had become fond of them again. Still, I wasn’t what you might call a C.D.L., or Crazy Doll Lady.

When a dealer offered me $35,000 for the collection, I turned it down and dismissed the idea that there was anything wrong with me. I needed to keep the dolls on hand while I wrote a memoir about my care giving adventure. Then my editor thought they might be useful in promoting the book, and when it was optioned to be a movie, the producer loved them. Unfortunately, the option vanished. But a new agent suggested I keep the dolls to promote the paperback. There was always a rational reason.

Or not so rational. Mama Jo and I had been estranged for more than 30 years. It wasn’t until I became her full-time caregiver that we fell madly in love. The doll room was a shrine to her, the dolls an extension of her. And I wasn’t ready to let her go.

Before she died, I videotaped her talking about her collection. “How do you feel about the dolls now?” I asked her.

She beamed. “I hope they all stay together,” she said.

Add that to the list of reasons to keep them.

Six years after her death, they were still with me, and I was still in North Carolina.

I had made countless trips to New York, staying several months at a time. I helped a beloved elderly aunt who lived there, saw good friends and hoped that a new love or job would appear to keep me there permanently. Back “home,” I felt like an interloping Yankee, and yet, unexpectedly, I discovered I was growing as attached to the South as I had to the dolls.

I couldn’t seem to make a decision about anything. And when I did, I immediately regretted it and blamed the dolls (a k a “the damn dolls”). Everything would be fine if I could move back to New York, I told myself. But how do you sell a house with a room that resembles the set of a horror movie?

“They’re holding me hostage!” I complained to anyone who would listen.

The doll collection spanned four generations of my family.

One of the dolls, a Ludwig Greiner, was made before the Civil War. There were antique bisque dolls and modern plastic ones, in various colors and nationalities. They ranged in size from one-inch Frozen Charlies to three-foot-tall Playpals.

My plan was to hold onto the ones that had been made and costumed by gifted family members. I would keep a few that were made of wax (my great-aunt Gladys MacDowell was renowned for them) and cloth (my grandmother had made them during World War II when dolls stopped being produced), and some that had coconuts for heads (made by my great-grandmother).

That seemed reasonable, didn’t it? After all, they were heirlooms. And maybe I’d keep a few more. Could I really let go of Sonny and Cher?

I knew this was a ridiculous thing to agonize about when there was real suffering in the world. But when I mentioned it to others, I often heard echoes of my own dilemma. One man told me that after spending a long time grappling with what to do with the Hummel figurines he inherited from his mother, he had finally decided to display them. Someone else admitted that although she was desperately in need of money to care for her disabled husband, she couldn’t bear to sell her late father’s valuable tool collection. “I built a shed for them,” she told me.

I watched “Antiques Roadshow” and wondered how many people ended up selling their valuable treasures, and how many more couldn’t bring themselves to part with something so special. How many marriages had been strained by the problem I was struggling with? (Sell it. Keep it. Sell it!)

My memoir went out of print as I worked on three other books my agent couldn’t sell. I was living Hemingway’s famous words about going broke two ways, “gradually and then suddenly.” My I.R.A. was evaporating.

And then one day I looked at the dolls and saw $35,000 flashing in bright green neon.

Think again.

Thanks to the recession, dealers and auction houses were no longer scooping up collections the way they had before. Not only that, but people tend to buy the toys of their youth in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and Mama Jo’s dolls, I was told, were “aging out.” Our local doll museum, like others across the country, was on the verge of collapse.

One doll lover came for a look. “Honey, you should have taken that money,” he said. “You were standing on the edge of the ledge of the canyon.” He made a karate-chopping motion in the air with his hand.

I prayed. I saw a therapist. I consulted an astrologer. Finally, after a shamanic healing, I became unstuck. Maybe I was just ready to let go of my grief.

My first step on the road to recovery was to have the entire collection photographed. The dolls will stay together forever, Mama Jo — in four photo albums.

I opened a shop (really more of an adoption service) on the collectibles site Ruby Lane and began listing the dolls one at a time. It was far more involved and emotional than I anticipated, but it also infused my life with a certain girly fun I hadn’t known was missing.

The dolls are now scattered across the globe, from Russia to New Zealand. I’ve made a few bucks, but I am far richer for the new friendships I have formed. My brother has been selling some of the dolls on eBay, and we’ve grown closer too.

And Mama Jo’s House of Dolls has its own Facebook page, where new “moms” post photos. So the dolls are staying together virtually.

A year after my shamanic encounter, I’m too busy for long visits to Manhattan, much less to consider moving or to be confused. I have reissued my memoir under my own imprint, and suddenly it’s a Kindle best seller. More books are on the way. My I.R.A. is growing again.

Once I’m free of most of the dolls, I hope a real person will take their place. One I can talk to, who won’t just stare back at me.

But most surprising, I’ve joined the local doll club. I tell myself that would make Mama Jo even happier than if I had kept the dolls together.

I had no idea how much more I would come to love her and learn from her after she was gone. And for that I have the dolls to thank.

Jo Maeder is the author of “When I Married My Mother” and “Opposites Attack.”

The Doll Dilemma - Video:

DollObservers.Com Interviews Me

2013-05-12T11:31:00.004-04:00

The owner of DollObservers.com, Simon Farnsworth, interviewed me and the results were published today. Here is the interview:

Interview With a Fashion Doll Lover: Terri Gold, Blogger Extraordinaire

For most of you, our latest member to be featured in an interview needs little introduction. For Terri is possibly one of the most prolific and well known fashion doll bloggers on the Internet, with her blog Collecting Fashion Dolls by Terri Gold. I'm sure all of us at one time have read one of Teri's insightful reviews or been in adoration over her stunning photography. So it was a special treat to see that Terri become a DollObservers member and even start a group dedicated to her blogging pursuits.
Recently Terri also kindly agreed to an interview, giving us a real insight into her creative process, collection and life in general. I hope you enjoy it!

DollObservers: What made you join Doll Observers?
TG: I had seen it on Facebook and I think a specific doll was featured that interested me.

DollObservers: When did you start collecting/playing dolls?
TG: I began playing with dolls as a child. My first dolls were Toni, Little Miss Revlon and Ginny. By the time Barbie hit the scene I was outgrowing dolls and I never got involved with them. Many, many years passed during which I did not play with or collect dolls but I never got tired of little things. I built scale model furniture and created rooms - which I still have - although some of my dolls have now stolen items from those miniature rooms.
My first experience with a Barbie doll ended badly. She was a skier. (Ski Fun Barbie?) My young son got a hold of her and brushed her hair. She looked awful after that and I threw her away. One Halloween weekend a bunch of years ago, my husband and I were in Manhattan for a photography convention at the Javits Center. While wandering around Toys-R-Us in Times Square and I saw the Bratz dolls. I don’t know why they appealed to me so much. I started collecting them. I discovered a Bratz group on Yahoo. From there I found other doll groups and doll boards, one of which led me to the Tonner Doll Company. The wild coincidence is that I lived only 11 miles from Tonner’s offices. I went to what they called a Trunk Sale and bought my first Tyler dolls. I had already been buying Tiny Kitty dolls. The doll doctor, Noreen, predicted that there would be no going back. Who knew she was right?

DollObservers: The dolls in my collection:
TG: The most numerous dolls in my collection are from the Tonner Doll Company. I have a very large collection of Tiny Kitty dolls, their furniture, cases and props. My other Tonner dolls are the 16-inch Tyler types and Antoinette dolls. I love Tonner’s fashions and often buy back items that I sold years ago. I can gaze at my showcases every day and not get tired of the dolls inside. The next largest group of dolls are those manufactured by Integrity Toys. I had at least 100 of them at one time but in the last three years, I’ve whittled them down to my very favorites.
I got into Gene for a while and currently have a nice selection. I love props and the Tonner Doll Company and Ashton Drake have made wonderful furniture for the 16 inch dolls. It takes up a lot of room but it’s worth it.  I have a lovely collection of Silkstones and Madame Alexander Cissettes. The Monster High populates a big shelf and there are several boxed vinyl Barbies. I have a few big Cissy dolls and a collection of Somers and Fields Daisy and Willow dolls. Rounding out the collection are my resin BJDs. They range in size from 4.5 inches to 17 inches and are from different manufacturers namely Soom, Fairyland, Jamieshow, Ficon and Superdoll.

DollObservers: You write an incredibly successful fashion doll blog. What made you start the blog and what is it that you most enjoy about owning a blog?
TG: I just looked back at my first post, which was 10/20/06. It shows two pictures of the first re-root I ever did and was written during the Fashion Royalty convention, which was held in Baltimore. I suppose I needed to connect to the doll world in a more complex way than just being involved on doll boards.
Two years later I moved the blog from Yahoo to Google Blogger so there are two dates on those early posts. Approximately a year ago, I changed photo servers and many of the images on the blog are blank. Other than the work involved in ‘housekeeping’ a blog I like being able to do research and give background information on dolls. For a few years I did a popular weekly “Photo of the Week Award” in which I featured a great picture and the collector who created it.
One of the best things about writing a blog is the people who write to me - usually off the blog - about all sorts of issues. It’s amazing who’s out there and the feedback I get is really great. I love it. According to many people I am the only blogger who is willing to tell the truth about certain products. This has also created a group of haters. Do you know what they say about how to start an argument? Post an opinion.
Having written for so many years has created a wonderful diary. I do recommend it.

DollObservers: Any tips for members who might want to start their own blog?
TG: Make it personal but create boundaries; it is the Internet and your personal family issues, economic situation and very personal problems do not belong in a blog.
Put yourself into the blog with your opinions and feelings. Give people a reason to keep coming back. Develop a style uniquely yours. Be a reporter and develop a certain distancing diplomacy because if you are honest and post opinions the haters will come out of the woodwork. Don’t slander people and don’t break the law. Post great photos and edit your own to show only one or two of the same doll. It is unnecessary to post 10 pictures of the same doll in slightly different posts. Pick the best and store the rest.

DollObservers: Your doll photography is phenomenal. What top tip do you have for budding doll photographers? 
TG: Read your camera manual. Put your camera on a tripod if your pictures are out of focus. Comb your dolls’ hair. Simplify the settings. There are many how-to pages on the Internet. Read a few.

What does your family make of your love of dolls?
TG: My husband is very supportive. He attends conventions and other doll events with me. The young children in my family love the dolls. The rest don’t care. The only questions I’ve ever been asked by a family member is, “How many dolls do you have?”

DollObservers: Other than playing with dolls what else do you do to relax?
TG: Yoga, gardening, reading, cooking and TV. We’re a few months into a new home so there is a load of stuff to do. It’s not exactly relaxing but it’s necessary.

DollObservers: Lastly how would you describe yourself in 3 words?
TG: Irreverent, hungry and fun-loving.

Terri and Robert Tonner at IDEX 2013

Integrity Toys' "Mommie Dearest" Gift Set Debuts

2013-05-11T12:02:00.002-04:00

Well, I wasn't going to do a review of this item for a variety of reasons but reading the interesting comments on the doll boards and reproducing them here was just irresistible. Heads may roll.

"Mommie Dearest" Gift Set is being produced in a surprisingly large edition of 800. The price is $150.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Mommie Dearest is a memoir and exposé written by Christina Crawford, the adopted daughter of actress Joan Crawford. The book, which depicts Christina's childhood and her relationship with her mother, was published in 1978.
In the book, Christina Crawford claims that she was a victim of child abuse during her mother's battle with alcoholism and that her mother was more concerned about her motion picture career than the well-being of her four children, suggesting she may have adopted them for publicity purposes. She also suggests that Joan had a long list of affairs with men whom Christina was required to call "Uncle" and rarely "Daddy", and claims Joan also had many affairs with women.
Christina recounts several evenings where Joan's behavior was unbalanced, and at least one encounter with her mother where Crawford attempted to strangle her. In another, Joan reportedly discovered Christina's clothes hanging in a closet on wire hangers, instead of higher-quality padded hangers, and launched into a violent tirade on the subject.

Movie Clip
No Wire Hangers (Warning: this is a very disturbing scene.)

Rodeo Queen ("Don't fuck with me fellas.")

Above, in the clips I have embedded from the movie Mommie Dearest, Faye Dunaway plays a chilling role as Joan Crawford. I can barely watch the hanger scene without cringing. It's terrifying. The outfits are the outfits that are reproduced in the gift set.

The woman portrayed in the movie was a raging, obsessive-compulsive, alcoholic, abusive, egocentric person. The doll is a sweet, pleasant faced thing.

With this doll, IT introduces their "Quick Switch" system:

...a new, ultra-convenient neck post that will allow collectors to switch between head sculpts without the need to pre-heat the vinyl first! Simply pull, switch and click on a new head for a dramatic new look!

They note, however:

The QUICK SWITCH system will work best at room temperature or slightly higher. If you live in a colder climate, please wait until your doll has reached room temperature or slightly higher before attempting to switch heads.

How do you make something higher than room temperature without heating it?

____________________________________________________

Here are a bunch of positive and negative comments made by collectors. The negative outweighs the positive by far but some of the remarks are hilarious. (I highlighted my favorites in purple.)

-the doll doesn't really look like Joan Crawford, either with blond hair or darker hair. She doesn't look like Faye Dunaway playing her either.

-the doll just doesn't seem right, its a bit off and I cant put my finger on it, perhaps its the face

-the extra head and the hanger is a riot.

-Not one single thing about her thrilled me - can't believe I'm saying it - but I'm going to pass as well. I didn't like her clothes, her shoes, her hair, the additional crazy head...nothing.

-I will pass on her too. Not buying any old movie thingies any more. I don't relate at all and worse, don't want to.

-love the new neck system

-wish it came with the can of Ajax and a Brillo pad

-I have no interest in the extra head, (the whole "Mommie Dearest" thing does nothing for me)

-LOVE Joan Crawford! Both the real actress and the character Faye Dunaway played.

-the whited faced face is actually the prettiest of the two

-Recently we got footspeak, we now have Headspeak!

-I guess as great as this series is I also want to recognize the characters. I want to see Joan with her iconic lips, why are they not there?

-I like the headless swap idea

-I am amused by the two heads, and actually prefer the head with the beauty mask, but still not buying her. I was surprised at the edition size of 800 dolls.

-if only her second face wasn't this white.

-I think I like her...but then the dolls don't capture the drama of the character.

-Interesting doll, but not my taste. Don't think she looks anything like Joan or Faye.

-it was Bon Ami powder...I will only clean my bathroom with it!!

-I will have to be with the "this doll is not for me at this time" camp. I was so excited about Sunset Boulevard and was completely let down. Although I can't wait to get my hands on the new "neck knob" mechanism in a body, the BOD/Victoire body is my least favorite and I have enough black suits already. The one thing about IT is that something else is "right around the corner".

-I am THRILLED with this set! It's a dream come true! I'm hoping the production doll doesn't disappoint me like the Sunset Blvd doll did... I ordered 2 sets so I can fully display both outfits and heads...

-I LOVE this doll! I love the movie Mommy Dearest -- unfortunately, I was raised by a woman just like this character.

-All I really want are the nude doll and yes, the white face head! Maybe she's recreating an Al Jolson movie -- Mammy Dearest?

-I'm waiting for a 'Mrs. Bates' gift set (dead and alive heads, a butcher knife, a little blood stained shower curtain and a gray wig) with a skinny Homme as 'NORMANNNN'...

-Love the Quick Switch head - yabadabadoo!!

-this doll should have been older OR in a scene from a younger years.

-I like the idea of interchangeable heads, though I have to say, the promo pic with the two of them looks creepy.LOL
-Went to You tube and watched some clips from the film... Gosh! It's awful, these wire hangers... Sorry, but this doll is a definite pass for me.

-NO MORE HEATING PADS!!!

-... So long as the new neck fits the previous/current heads. Plus I'd like to know what's up inside the new heads that can clip on. Will there be a new obstruction that will make rerooting a problem?
As to the doll. I love this head sculpt, but there are better choices this year for her. Plus I'm not into black outfits anymore. I have too many already, and I no longer display them. They look like shadows in my doll collection.
I'd prefer that IT committed to the Joan Crawford makeup on this face.
I'll be passing on her too.

- While I enjoy the movie as a camp classic, I don't have any interest in this doll not even for the head swap feature (Yes I'm going against the grain). I don't rebody my dolls unless it's a necessity...

-I´m a big fan of Faye, and believe me this doll is neither Joan nor Faye. If she would be I would buy her twice!
-She is pretty and I have to thank Integrity to realize a doll with character and a story which is not the typically "Doris Day" -Mr clean Image!
-I´m a big fan of Faye, and belive me this doll is neither Joan nor Faye. If she would be I would buy her twice!
She is pretty and I have to thank integrity to realize a doll with character and a story which is not the typically "Doris Day" - Mr. Clean Image! I think some dolls are, like eating to much sugary cake. Too much of Barbie-ish smile can cause sickness...I think this Joan doll will be like half bitter chocolate!

-What will we see next? I'm hoping for "boobswap." I can't keep track of all the bodies and I'd love an adjustable bust so ALL fashions fit. Something inflatable/deflatable. Come to think about it, I'd like that for me, too!

- Great to have on display as a conversation piece, but that's not really what my doll collecting is about.

-It might be a little funny but it is uber-tacky in my opinion.

-I think it is inappropriate and done in poor taste.

-She doesn't look anything like Crawford; more like Vera Miles... Tonner's Joan was spot on.

-Sorry to be negative, but she looks just like any other Integrity doll.

-So campy! I don't think it is meant to be taken seriously, it's fabulous!

-The movie was bad enough...the doll is even worse. The fact that they chose...where she beats the heck out of Christina is just plain wrong.

__________________________________

The 'hardcore" Integrity Toy's fans usually praise every product that is introduced. They went beserk over the Jem doll and now pretty much every single other doll in that line is languishing in the dealers' stock. Who is going to buy 800 of these unusual gift sets now that it appears that the reception is rather cool? If you are among the fans of this gift set and wish to order one, click here here for the list of IT dealers who may be selling it.

Cocktail Dress and Mermaid Gown Barbie Dolls

2013-05-10T00:09:00.000-04:00

Cocktail Dress Barbie

Can you see that her head is a different color than her body? It's slightly tanned. I'm going to have to contact them. I wonder if this is what everyone got. Otherwise, she is as expected. Mattel is very good with pony tails and CD is no exception. The dress is pretty. The fabric under the black lace is the same as that used in the Nolan Miller Sheer Illusion gown under the lace.

__________________________________

Mermaid Gown Barbie

Mermaid's gown is beautiful and her hair is pretty much exactly the same as the promo-I think I was a little surprised. However, for the price, earrings could have been included.

__________________________________

I have a few shelves displaying lovely Silkstones and I like looking at them but I think it's time to stop. They don't evolve they just get more expensive.

Out Sass Vanessa and Gilded Gloom Ellowyne and Gene Marshall

2013-05-07T00:23:00.001-04:00

Last night I was playing with the camera on my mini iPad. It's not very good indoors. The pictures came up very grainy. I used some Photoshop effects to improve the looks.

First up is Out Sass Vanessa. She is the fiercest, most troubled-looking Vanessa ever. I get the feeling that she's in a hurry to go somewhere in a hurricane. I had to take off the overly-designed suit as it competed with her hair for attention. This doll needed black and that's it.
I'm not happy with this sculpt - too much pout - too forced.

Gilded Gloom Ellowyne is my most recent attempt to love an Ello. I've had so many and I keep selling them. The combination of her pretty coloring and her hair were so attractive and she was on sale and you know the rest...
Now she lives here and I think she'll stay - for now. Seriously, I do like her.

Three Gene outfits that were NRFB needed modeling.

IT "Stardust" Convention Gene in AD "Midnight Angel"

IT Gene "Rose Rogue" in AD "The Kiss"

AD Gene "Blue Fox" in "Rio Rumba"

Note to self...use a real camera next time.

"My Odd Life" Parnilla from Wilde Imagination

2013-05-06T16:36:00.003-04:00

My Odd Life Parnilla (resin)

The title of the doll might have been My Odd Face Parnilla. Seriously, this gal looks like an alien.

By comparison, Evangeline has begun to look normal. "Past Life" Evangeline is, in fact, quite pretty.

Past Life Evangeline

On their website Wilde Imagination says:

NEW! It's our First-Ever RESIN Parnilla! She stands approx. 18-1/2" tall and is crafted entirely of luminescent resin and is completely ball jointed for unlimited posing possibilities. She comes with inset changeable blue eyes, applied lashes, hand-painted details, and a brown wig made of the highest-quality fibers.

She comes dressed in a beautiful shirred long sleeve sheath gown of embroidered ivory net over lame. On top Parnilla wears a coordinating faux fur with contrasting bow, sheer stockings, matching designer shoes, and a faux [fur] shoulder wrap with ribbon tie. LE 150 Price: $450.00
Expected Ship Date: 5/22/2013

My Odd Life Parnilla (resin)

See more Parnilla and Evangeline by clicking on the logo below.

Jamieshow Gene J'Adore Giftset

2013-05-04T13:00:00.000-04:00

A surprise today for Gene lovers - the highly anticipated FDQ exclusive resin BJD J'Adore Gene popped up on the FDQ site for pre-order. This picture was posted (on the Studio Commissary board) but there was no actual caption or indication if this is the actual production doll.

The giftset price if you pay in full is $595. If you pay half now and half in July, the total is $600.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO GO TO THE ORDER PAGE

UPDATE: This is not the doll.

Now is your chance to pre-order this amazing new giftset from JamieShow and Mel Odom! This giftset is designed by original Gene Team member Doug James, inspired by the master himself, Christian Dior. Set includes doll with new facepaint, alternate hands, wig cap, two ensembles and accessories.

NOTE: This doll is a resin, ball-jointed Gene doll. LE100

Priority mail shipping, insurance and delivery confirmation will be added at checkout.

UPDATE: Pre-orders are now sold out until July, 2013 when the remaining dolls will be available for purchase.

Tonner Summer Launch Party August 17, 2013

2013-05-03T14:46:00.000-04:00

Join Team Tonner August 16th and 17th for a fun filled weekend!

Friday night experience the wonders of a Doll Shop at the Tonner Company Store for a Meet & Greet Reception from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. There will be refreshments and you'll meet Robert Tonner and have the opportunity to get your dolls signed. Watch for more info coming about some super special deals for attendees!

Hold onto your hats for the main event: A Tonner Launch Party held at the Hudson Valley's gorgeous Wiltwyck Country Club Saturday from 11am-3pm! At this delish luncheon event, 2 BRAND NEW lines will be introduced - New head and body sculpts entirely! You'll be among the first to glimpse Robert's most recent labors of love, and you'll be enchanted by two entirely different but equally compelling story arcs. You'll be as happy as a slinky on an escalator as you leave with your souvenir: one of the debut dolls... and you'll be one of the first to hold one in your hot little hands. Do NOT miss this event, Doll Lovers!

The Summer Launch Party is limited to just 200 attendees, so sign up now! Registration is $199 per person, and includes admission to the Tonner Meet and Greet Friday night.

Click on the rocket ship for registration information.

2013 Tonner Summer Launch Party

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Azone Announces New Misaki and Amelie Dolls

2013-05-03T14:01:00.000-04:00

An email went out to W Club members announcing two new dolls from FR: Nippon.
These are the first Misaki and Amelie released in two years.

The retail price is 13,000 Yen which is approximately $132. You will pay shipping from Japan.

What happened to the amazing Misakis of years gone by? After 2009, this line went downhill dramatically as far as design. Someone let the ball drop.
The two new dolls are the most boring examples of a line of dolls that wowed me when they were introduced. The best thing about these gals is their shoes.

Amelie Revisited "Tokyo Here We Go:

Misaki Red Rabbit

Brilliant examples of the heights FR Nippon reached when someone creative was in charge. What a difference!

Below: pictures of some my own pre-2010 Misakis.

Tokyo Here We Go

Tokyo Here We Go, Get Graphic, Patent Please, Sassy Stripes

Paranormal

Back row: Anti-Social, Autumn Champagne, Best in Brocade

Front: Dreadfully Cute

Ciao Japan, Harajuku Honey

Barbie Collector Queen of the Constellations

2013-04-30T22:51:00.002-04:00

Just a reminder for those who have been waiting for the Gold Label Barbie Doll, Queen of the Constellations, she is due to be released on 5/16/13. You must be a member of the Barbie Collector Club to purchase one.

I think she has a gorgeous face and her hair is stunning. Hopefully for those who buy her, she will look as good as the promotional photos. Unfortunately, her dress is not removable although the cape is. She's not my cup of tea but she's definitely eye candy.

The description from the BC.Com page:

Regally dressed in a golden metallic dress with a bejeweled corset and dramatic black metallic-striped cape, the Queen of the Constellations Barbie doll is a commanding presence. Unique golden embellishments include a futuristic flared crown, collar adornment, and intricately shaped epaulets. This doll is the third and final in the futuristic space goddess series.

Body Type: ModelMuse^™

Skin Tone: Peace

Facial Sculpt: Mermaid

Fashion Sewn On?: Cape is removable, dress is not removable

Eyelashes: Applied

Included with doll:
Shoes, stand, crown, corset, collar.

Price is $100 (for a vinyl Barbie) but if you've saved, you can use your 2nd $20. club reward on her.

Ficon Leonie

2013-04-29T15:16:00.000-04:00

I've rarely played with Leonie although she is my only Ficon doll. She has a serious posing issue. Her knee joints are not strong enough to hold a pose - even when she's on a stand - without major fiddling. She is a candidate for wiring. (Oh, Adrian...) She's got a little head, too. I like it as it is really more proportionate than most other 16" BJDs.
Here she is in her new Ilaria Time of Doll wig. She's wearing Ficon designed fashions and the shoes are Paul Zhangby. (eBay/China)

If you do not already know, the Doll Peddlar is the best source for Ficon dolls, clothes and accessories once they have sold out on Ficon's website. Ficon fashions fit Jamieshow dolls beautifully.

Perhaps if I put a pair of these boots on Leonie, she'd stand up without buckling knees.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fashion-16-Doll-White-Long-Sexy-Shoes-Boots-JamieShow-Sybarite-V3-Ficon-6-SB-2-/290893895388?pt=US_Dolls_Bears_Toys&hash=item43baa096dc

I Don't Believe It

2013-04-26T12:09:00.001-04:00

A Style Mantra Eden just sold on eBay for $1,026. The winner has a feedback score of 15. There were 35 bids from 19 people. Seriously? Why would someone pay so much for this doll? I know she's popular but come on.

Integrity Toys Photo

Do you think they will debox her?

Wilde Imagination Candlelight Rufus Basic

2013-04-26T12:00:00.002-04:00

I did a double-take while browsing the Ellowyne Wilde catalog earlier. Listed in among the Basic Dolls was a doll called Candlelight Rufus Basic. He looked so much like another Tonner doll - at first.

Candlelight Rufus Basic $119.00

Put your finger over the face and who do you see? I saw Jeremy Voss for an instant. Too bad Rufus is so weird-looking. I wish Jeremy would make a comeback. I need one with black hair.

It looks like the same body except for the neck. What do you think?

I wonder if this Rufus outfit would fit the Matt/Jeremy body? I like this outfit called "Totally Natural."

Rufus - Totally Natural (Outfit Only) $89.00

It vaguely reminds me of something Rex Harrison wore in My Fair Lady.

The Mattel version is kind of cute, too.

Mattel's Ken® Doll as Professor Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady™

Phoenix Gene in Superfrock and Comparison Photos

2013-04-23T11:08:00.000-04:00

I'm definitely enjoying photographing the new resin Gene doll. It reminds me of the days when I'd get one doll at a time and spend a week changing her clothes and taking pictures. I haven't done this in a long time.
In the images on this page, Phoenix is wearing Sybarite Neurotica's dress. It fits
very nicely except the straps of the dress are extending above the natural shoulder. I like it anyway. The shoes fit, too, but because Gene's ankles do not bend the shoe's angle, when she is standing up, is off. The wig is by Cheryl Wood. She's wearing her own gloves smooshed down and folded over.
This doll looks great in everything!

Above you can see the detail of her glove hands. This is the set of hands that is painted white. They were easy to switch to the regular color hands without tools but did require a third hand. In my case I held the doll between my legs and switched the hands. You can see the other hands in prior photos I posted of Phoenix.

__________________

Tom in CA has graciously allowed me to reproduce his Gene comparison photos.

First we have blonde versions of all three Gene Marshall dolls. On the left is an Ashton Drake, center is Integrity Toys and right is the new Phoenix. Do you have a favorite?

In this particular picture, I like the IT version primarily because of the hairstyle which makes her forehead smaller than either of the others.

Here is another comparison which is great because it shows the head shape differences. Phoenix has a much more realistically proportioned head. The Gene on the left looks as if she's missing part of her skull!

Tonner's 22 Inch Scarlett's Wedding Day Ready to Pre-Order

2013-04-22T18:08:00.000-04:00

A new Gone With The Wind Scarlett is being previewed by the Tonner Doll Company. She is a 22" "Scarlett's Wedding Day." The gown looks lovely— it had better be because the retail price of this beauty is $399.99.

22" Scarlett's Wedding Day LE300

Beautiful and delicate details.

According to the description this doll has a "new Vivien Leigh portrait sculpt." Hmmmm. She has a pretty face but I don't see the resemblance to Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara at all.

22" Scarlett's Wedding Day

16" Scarlett's Wedding Day

All photos except the last three are the property of the Tonner Doll Company. The other three are owned by MGM.

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite the fact it's been 72 years since Scarlett O'Hara first pulled down a green curtain to make herself a dress in "Gone With the Wind," that outfit has remained one of the most iconic looks in cinematic history. It's going to stay that way for many more years, too, as that dress and the burgundy ball gown from the 1939 film have been restored by the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas.The Center has been part of a $30,000 conservation effort to protect the two costumes from deteriorating. Now both of the dresses, which were famously worn by Vivien Leigh in "Gone With the Wind," are on display at London's Victoria and Albert Museum. This is the first time the public has been able to see them in nearly 30 years.After first being announced in 2010, the team at the Ransom Center set to work on making sure that the weak stitching and other problems with the dresses were repaired. The goal of the conservation was to make the costumes last, not return them to new conditions, so there still are stains and other imperfections. Other pieces, like Scarlett's wedding dress and veil and her blue velvet night gown, were too fragile to be repaired and are being returned to storage with no plans to work on them in the future."All of those areas would have gotten worse. All the vulnerable parts have been stabilized," Jill Morena, the Ransom Center's assistant curator for costumes and personal effects, tells the Associated Press. "It has been a success. We would not be able to display them without this effort."The Harry Ransom Center first acquired the outfits in the 1980s. Following their time at the Victoria and Albert Museum exhibit, which runs through Jan. 27, the two "Gone With the Wind" dresses will be shown at the Center's 75th anniversary celebration of the film in 2014.

By Terri Schwartz October 25, 2012 4:46 PM ET

(No relation :-))

Tiny Kitty To Make A Comeback

2013-04-22T11:25:00.001-04:00

I forgot to mention that Robert Tonner announced the return of Tiny Kitty at the IDEX breakfast last week. They showed the line but it was a slide show so I didn't get to see enough. I thought the dolls looked more like Simone Rouge than Tiny Kitty. Simone is less innocent looking.
The bodies will be the same...boo hoo. I would have liked if they could sit without their knees spreading apart. In any event, I am pleased that there will be some new Tiny Kitty dolls to join my collection.

This is a really old photo. My first Tyler and possibly one of my first Tiny Kitty dolls.

One of my favorites, "Little Miss Kitty."

I love the blonde TKs.

Wearing a Poppy Parker outfit. Seated on her own bed.

Tiny Kitty loves to wear Fashion Royalty clothes! The shoes do not fit (the boots do) and the bust is a different proportion but many of the multi-piece outfits from the 2nd generation FR work well.

Tiny Kitty and Simone Rouge share the same body. They can also wear modern 10" Cissette fashions.

This is a picture of Simone wearing a Madame Alexander Cissette (or Coquette) fashion.

My girls get along with each other. The big ones look after the small ones. Antoinette and Simone.

Phoenix Wears Tonner Designed Fashion

2013-04-21T17:11:00.000-04:00

Phoenix is quite photogenic. She is pretty and her resin glows.
More good news, she can wear most Tyler sized fashions and shoes.
The wig she is wearing in these shots is a fantasy style of mixed platinum, opalescent, pink and a slight metallic. It was made by Fetique Clinique.

The fashion is by Robert Tonner and is called Florentine. It was a 2002 dressed doll and is one of my favorite Tonner fashions-ever.

Emilia Wins Award for Mirrorball at IDEX

2013-04-19T22:10:00.000-04:00

In the category of One-of-a-Kind Dolls, More than $1,250., Emilia Nieminen has won first place.

Congratulations!

Phoenix Gene Photo Shoot

2013-04-19T19:36:00.000-04:00

Today I photographed Gene in her own fashion but I used other wigs. The first two wigs are Sybarite sized hardcap wigs. The third wig is a hardcap Avantguard sized wig. The last wig is a Jamieshow wig that came with another Jamieshow doll.

Cheryl Wood made wigs 1 through 3. Gold chair is by Clea Bella made for Sandra's Nashville event. Director chair is an Ashton Drake for Gene Marshall prop. The cigarette holder is from the Jamieshow event in Canandaigua.

Heading Back to PA from IDEX 2013

2013-04-17T10:15:00.000-04:00

I have a little time this morning before having to leave for the airport so I wanted to talk a little about the new Gene doll and post a few pictures.
Phoenix is a pretty doll who comes with two wigs caps and a plain cap for use with your own wigs. She comes with a set of white gloved hands and standard hands. They are easy to switch out once you get the hang of it.
Monday night Sandra Stillwell came over and we spent about 4 hours dressing and redressing Phoenix and an IT Madra in Sandra's designs from her last convention. My rudimentary photo studio consisted of an ironing board, a few dim lamps and a good camera with a small external flash unit attached. Certainly not optimal conditions but we made do.

Yes, the IT dolls were taller. Even blocking out Madra's hair, you can see that the legs or torso contribute to the height. Phoenix is closer to the old AD height. Every other part of the body appears to be the same size.
Here she is with her brunette wig cap.

Phoenix dressed in her own gown without her jewelry and train.

Phoenix dressed in one of Sandra's lovely fashions.

These are just teasers. I will have more pictures of the doll herself later on.

Here are pictures from Saturday, the day of the presentation. The room itself was very dark so there is only one picture from there. Most of these are from the hall outside the venue and from nearby.

Mel went around like a proud Papa showing Gene to attendees. He was glowing with pride and joy.
During his verbal presentation he talked about how much he enjoyed the collectors over the years, sharing with them and traveling around the country to events. Sounds like he wants to pick that up again.
There are a handful of naysayers complaining about the price which was $525. at the event and $550. on line. But there were many more who defended the price of this exclusive resin convention doll as being similar to other resin BJD event dolls.
Apparently there is a market in this price range for resin BJD Gene because Phoenix Gene sold out lightning fast. Another one is on the way from FDQ according to the magazine distributed to attendees by Pat Henry. More information on that doll will be forthcoming. What we do know is that she will be in day wear a la Dior.
This revival will be very interesting to watch. I'm looking forward to any individual fashions that may be designed and released. No, I do not have insider information on that aspect - I'm just hoping.

In the meanwhile, Sandra Stillwell has some beautiful, era appropriate designer fashions for sale on her website. I photographed many of them for her on Monday and will be sending her the images shortly so she can post them on her site. I'll post some of them on my blog, too.

Robert Tonner

John Dean, Philip Myers

Not Doll Related Orlando Stuff

2013-04-16T11:35:00.005-04:00

I was obsessively careful in arranging our trip: limo to airport, flight, pay for luggage, pre-check-in online, tickets to parks, car rental, hotel reservation. It seemed endless but finally came together. The limo arrived exactly on time. We got to the airport with plenty of time for coffee and for the long walk to the gate. Why is it that every flight I take is ALWAYS the last gate in the terminal? So we're We get through the full body scans without a problem and get to the gate. We were told that the gate on the ticket was still the same gate. Well it wasn't and we didn't realize that until 15 minutes before boarding. Then when we got there, the overhead bins were already filled so they had to take our carry-on luggage in which things I didn't want to be checked had to be checked. Ugh. You can be sure I will not be at the wrong gate on the way home because two Gene dolls will be in my carry-on and no one is going to come between me and those dolls.
The flight was fine. The luggage arrived quickly in un-tampered-with condition. We go to the car rental desk and they can't find my name or Bob's name. I never remember whose name I use for these things. But it didn't matter because we were at the wrong rental company anyway. Embarrassing but pretty funny. Got a car at the right desk. Drove to the hotel picking up our Universal tickets on the way.
Check-in at the hotel was a little delayed as our room wasn't quite ready. The lady at the desk gave me a big spiel about how our room was upgraded and that we were getting free bottles of water because I'm a Hilton Honors member. The room has a very nice view overlooking Universal but other than that, the hotel needs a major upgrade. They are about 10 years overdue for a face lift. It's kind of dark in the bathroom. The bed, however, is very comfortable and clean.

View From Our Room

I can sum up Universal Studios in a few words: go to Disney World instead. Universal doesn't hold a candle to the professionalism and operation of Disney. We enjoyed a few rides yesterday but otherwise, it's a mess of disjointed buildings and lame employee scripts. Our favorite ride was had to do with the Minion characters from the movie, Despicable Me. I love those little creatures and this ride is a 4D event that is lots of fun. We went twice. The second time I had my eyes open. Ha ha.
The Mummy ride was dumb and not scary at all. Terminator was OK. The disaster thing had an awful narrator who made the wait to get to the real thing interminable. Skip it. The one at Disney is 100% better. The Men In Black 'ride' was cute. No great shakes.
Don't eat at Mel's diner. Ugh.
The patisserie was lovely but all we had there was cappuccino and gigantic oatmeal (delicious) raisin cookies.
Every ride exits through a related gift shop and there's very little that worth buying. They do, however, have several Hot Toy's character figures for sale. But they are just worth looking at for their perfection.
I did buy this little Minion and a Mr. Potato Head type toy that has a Minion body instead of a potato.

Today we're going over to the Universal park that is Harry Potter themed. It should be interesting just for the character of the buildings.

The best thing about Universal is their City Walk. The Disney equivalent (I forget the name) is very tame by comparison.

Disney World is beautiful and big and the rides are memorable, from the spinning tea cups to the haunted house. Universal is a mess - an expensive mess, at that.
______________________________________________

Monday, April 15, 2013 at Islands of Adventure, Universal

This part of Universal is much newer. It's divided into several areas each of which has it's own theme structures and rides. It's much more attractive and a little more interesting. The Spider Man ride was pretty good. My expectations were lower so I wasn't disappointed.

I focused on trying to take pretty postcard pictures.

I will post more pictures on Face book.

When I return home, the doll related posts will go up. Last night Sandra Stillwell and I played with the new Gene, dressed and photographed her and an IT doll in Sandra's fashions. I also shot nude pictures of three versions of the Gene body. The major difference I see is that the new Gene seems slightly shorter. Everything fits the new body including shoes.


Body Type:	ModelMuse^™
Skin Tone:	Peace
Facial Sculpt:	Mermaid
Fashion Sewn On?:	Cape is removable, dress is not removable
Eyelashes:	Applied