Fashion Dolls 101

Life in the Castle: Tonner Marley & Malfoy dolls

2012-01-25T16:07:00.001-06:00

Life in the Castle: Tonner Marley & Draco Malfoy dolls

The Robert Tonner Doll company recently released their 12" dressed character Draco Malfoy doll. This limited edition of 300 dolls comes with platinum saran hair, the Tonner highly-articulated child body and Tom Felton head sculpt with hand-painted details including his blue eyes.

More: Life in the Castle: Tonner Marley & Malfoy dolls - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

EmpireAvenue

2012-01-22T21:27:00.000-06:00

{EAV:09386dd741d0373c}

Join me on EmpireAvenue - a social network.

Bald & Beautiful Barbie -- Will a Bald Doll Sell?

2012-01-20T16:47:00.000-06:00

The past few days I have been flooded with calls and Facebook posts from friends who want me to jump on the Bald Barbie Bandwagon. "A lot of people are doing it," a friend told me on the phone. "It's been on the news and Facebook."

I pointed out that Mattel has already done a OOAK bald Barbie in 2011 for a little girl, Genesis Reyes, who is battling cancer, and that Mattel had probably already considered doing a bald Barbie. Personally, I think it is a nice idea, but for a company -- is it a VIABLE idea?

The Problem with Diversity

More and more lately, various demographics and minorities have clamored for a Barbie in their image, and Mattel has usually aquiessed. African Americans demanded more dolls of color and Mattel obliged even though historically the African American dolls do not sell as well and remain on the shelves until 1st or 2nd markdowns. doll makers and doll sellers alike lose profits when dolls go to markdown.

In May 1997, presumably after some clamoring from disability groups, Mattel introduced the $20 Share a Smile Becky in her hot pink wheelchair as a Toys R Us exclusive. However, there was soon an outcry because the doll would not fit into the elevator of Barbie's Dream House and Mattel had to redesign the house to accommodate the doll - a doll sold in comparatively lower numbers than a basic Barbie doll.

The Future of Bald Barbie

What does this mean for a "Bald Barbie?" In all likelihood, Mattel will issue one to appease the public. When the doll is first issued, some buyers and collectors will snap them up either because they know someone who has lost their hair, or because the doll is a novelty or just to show how diverse and PC they are. After that, the chances are very good the rest of the Bald Barbies won't sell well unless they come with cute wigs. More than likely they will sit on shelves until they are marked down or clearanced out.

I think the Bald Barbie is a great idea, but I will let Mattel make up their own minds. I also think everyone who signs the petition should be 100% obligated to buy a Bald Barbie at full price to put their money where their mouth is.

For more thoughts on this topic, read:

Bald & Beautiful Barbie petition -- but will it sell?

Actress & singer Samantha Newark brings Jem to Bellevue - Nashville doll collecting | Examiner.com

2012-01-07T00:01:00.002-06:00

Nashville actress and singer Samantha Newark, best known as the voice for both Jem and Jerrica on the highly popular animated television series "Jem & The Holograms" was the special guest speaker at the January meeting of the Plantation Belles Doll Club. More at:
Actress & singer Samantha Newark brings Jem to Bellevue - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Also see:

Samantha Newark, Star of ‘Jem & The Holograms,’ Talks Beauty

via Samantha Newark on Jem & Beauty - YouTube.

Samantha Newark of "Jem & The Holograms" talks about what makes someone truly beautiful.

via Samantha Newark of 'Jem & The Holograms' on Beauty - YouTube.

Actress & singer Samantha Newark brings Jem to Bellevue

Samantha Newark, voice of 'Jem & The Holograms' to speak at Bellevue doll club - Nashville doll collecting | Examiner.com

2012-01-02T14:00:00.002-06:00

Samantha Newark, voice of 'Jem & The Holograms' to speak at Bellevue doll club

Presented by the Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club at Shoney's Restaurant in Bellevue, TN, Nashville recording artist Samantha Newark, the voice of Jem and Jerrica on the hit 80's animated television series "Jem & The Holograms," will talk about her career as "Jem," other characters, and her music career at the January 5 meeting. (See Samantha Newark of Jem & The Holograms to speak at Jan. 5 doll club meeting)

Read more at Samantha Newark, voice of 'Jem & The Holograms' to speak at Bellevue doll club - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Also see:

Jem and The Holograms Dolls - Truly Outrageous!: One of the iconic TV shows of the 1980s was "Jem and the Holograms," an animated series about an all-girl rock band -- The Holograms. The show ran from 1985...

Samantha Newark of Jem & The Holograms to speak at Jan. 5 doll club meeting

As previously reported in Belle Meade Plantation Belles celebrate Christmas with doll displays & gifts, recording artist Samantha Newark, the voice of Jem and Jerrica on the hit 80's television series "Jem & The Holograms, ...

Patricia Alice Albrecht adds Pizzazz to Plantation Belles doll club meeting

Actress and poet Patricia Alice Albrecht was the special guest speaker at the September meeting of the Belle Meade Plantation Belles doll club on September 1 at Shoneys in Bellevue. Several guests joined regular club members to hear Albrecht talk...

Jem & The Holograms' Pizzazz Patricia Alice Albrecht to speak at doll club

Patricia Alice Albrecht -- the Voice of Pizzazz Patricia Alice Albrecht, best-known as the voice of Pizzazz on the 1980s animated television program Jem & The Holograms, has just announced will be the special guest speaker at the September 1...

Meet Jem & The Holograms' Pizzazz -- Patricia Alice Albrecht

Patricia Alice Albrecht -- the Voice of Pizzazz As mentioned in Jem & The Holograms: Hasbro doll line & TV series, the Jem line of dolls was launched by Hasbro in 1985 and became a popular animated television series during the...

Jem & The Holograms: Hasbro doll line & TV series

Jem and the Holograms is a colorful line of rock 'n roll dolls which began production in 1985 and which spawned a television cartoon series that ran from 1985 to 1988. The animated "Jem and the Holograms ...

Interview with Original Jem-Girl, Samantha Newark, the Voice of Jem on 'Jem & the Holograms'

Interview with singer and voice actress Samantha Newark, best known for her work on the popular 1980s animated television series, "Jem & The Holograms" where she provided the voices of Jerrica and Jem.
Patricia Alice Albrecht, Voice of Pizzazz on 'Jem & the Holograms' at Nashville Doll Club Sept. 1

Patricia Alice Albrecht, best-known as the voice of Pizzazz on the 1980s animated television program Jem & The Holograms, will be the special guest speaker at the Sept. 1 meeting of the Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club.
Patricia Alice Albrecht, the Voice of Pizzazz, Talks About TV's 'Jem & the Holograms'

'Jem and The Holograms' rival band, The Misfits, was headed by spoiled bad-girl Pizzazz, whose voice was provided by Patricia Alice Albrecht.

Merry Christmas from Barbie

2011-12-25T07:55:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas from Barbie

Barbie doll has been a fixture in homes for the holidays since 1959. Not only has the teenage fashion model been at the top of almost every little girl's Christmas list, but for the past two decades, Barbie has made a grand entrance in toy stores, drug stores and grocery stores every Christmas. The dolls are generally referred to by collectors as grocery store Barbie dolls and are prized by collectors.

Merry Christmas from Barbie & the National Barbie Collecting Examiner

Holiday Sparkle Barbie an elegant grocery store collectible - a review - National Barbie Collecting | Examiner.com

2011-12-03T00:56:00.001-06:00

Holiday Sparkle Barbie an elegant grocery store collectible - a review

Holiday Sparkle Barbie Doll Review

The pretty new 2011 grocery store Barbie dolls is now out at grocery stores and drug stores. This elegant Holiday Sparkle Barbie doll wears a drop-waist full-length silver gown with a silver bodice trimmed with sparkling red snowflakes. A large red bow with silver edging is attached to the waist, and a sparkling red stole drapes gracefully around Barbie's shoulders.

Via: Holiday Sparkle Barbie an elegant grocery store collectible - a review - National Barbie Collecting Examiner

Samantha Newark of Jem & The Holograms to speak at Jan. 5 doll club meeting

2011-12-02T14:28:00.002-06:00

Samantha Newark of Jem & The Holograms to speak at Jan. 6 doll club meeting

As previously reported in Belle Meade Plantation Belles celebrate Christmas with doll displays & gifts, recording artist Samantha Newark, the voice of Jem and Jerrica on the hit 80's television series "Jem & The Holograms" will talk about her career as "Jem," other characters and her music career at the January 5 meeting of the Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club in Nashville.

Continue reading: Samantha Newark of Jem & The Holograms to speak at Jan. 6 doll club meeting - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Plantation Belles Doll Club Celebrates the Holidays

2011-12-01T22:49:00.002-06:00

Belle Meade Plantation Belles celebrate Christmas with doll displays & gifts

The Belle Meade Plantation Belles celebrated Christmas tonight at the Bellevue Shoney's and packed the party room with doll displays and members. Every table was overflowing with food and dolls, and an extra table had to be brought...

Plantation Belles Doll Club plans Christmas party, January events

Plantation Belles Doll Club Christmas Party

The Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club is meeting on December 1 at Shoneys in Bellevue to celebrate Christmas. Although the annual Christmas party is a little early this year, there will still be...

Belle Meade Plantation Belles start holidays with an early Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Doll Displays

There was plenty to be thankful about at the November 3 meeting of the Belle Meade Plantation Belles with a new member joining the club as well as three colorful Thanksgiving Displays to admire and help...

Tonner's Marley Wentworth doll celebrates Halloween

2011-10-31T00:45:00.002-05:00

Tonner's Marley Wentworth celebrates Halloween

Tonner's Marley Wentworth has been celebrating Halloween all weekend long, enjoying the cooler weather and fall leaves but most of all, the Halloween activities. She went to trunk-or-treat at a church in her community on Sunday night, and she is getting ready to go trick-or-treating on Halloween night. She is so excited about dressing up she even dreamed she was in a magical Halloween forest with her friends.

Here you can see Marley in the Bunny Costume that comes with the Marley Halloween trunk, as well as dressed up like Alice in Wonderland and like Lucy in Chronicles of Narnia. In her Halloween dream, you will see the same Marley dolls plus a Sugar Plum Party Marley.

All costumes were made by the Tonner Doll Company for their respective series.

Have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN from Marley and Me!

Pet peeve: Plagiarism & copyright Infringement of doll articles

2011-10-29T11:33:00.001-05:00

Pet peeve: Plagiarism & copyright Infringement of doll articles

As recently reported in Pet peeve: 'Rare' & 'HTF' dolls on ebay, one of my pet peeves is sellers using descriptions that amount to fraud on ebay. Another way that doll collectors and sellers defraud others is by plagiarism and copyright infringement of doll articles, photos and other intellectual property.

Sometimes I find my doll articles and photos on blogs, websites, and Facebook, often copied WORD-FOR-WORD, with only my name and links removed. This week I found where a very well-known doll dealer had copied my article Gallery showing of dolls in East Nashville combines fashion with history to his blog, changed the title, removed my byline and any reference to Examiner, and inserted a link to his own sales page. The man Happily copied my article; he knowingly removed my by-line and changed the title; and he deliberately linked to his sales page so he would make money off of my work!

Pet peeve: 'Rare' & 'HTF' dolls on ebay

2011-10-26T12:25:00.002-05:00

Pet peeve: 'Rare' & 'HTF' dolls on ebay

One of my pet peeves is visiting ebay and seeing all the plethora of dolls marked "rare." I recently saw an entire page of Boo-tiful Halloween Barbie dolls marked "rare." Hello! If there is a page full of them -- they AREN'T "rare," especially if they originally sold in large quantities in grocery stores! Simply because a smaller quantity of mass-produced dolls was sold does not make them "rare."

Continued at: Pet peeve: 'Rare' & 'HTF' dolls on ebay - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Barbie Halloween Treat a 2011 Target exclusive with Halloween Chelsea dolls

2011-10-24T21:03:00.001-05:00

Barbie Halloween Treat a 2011 Target exclusive with Halloween Chelsea dolls

As reported in Barbie Halloween Party doll now haunting stores shelves for $9.99, the new 2011 Halloween Party Barbie dolls has been haunting Nashville grocery store and drug store shelves since earlier in October. Another Halloween Barbie has been spooking up the place at Target, and this time she's not alone!

Read more: Barbie Halloween Treat a 2011 Target exclusive with Halloween Chelsea dolls - National Barbie Collecting Examiner

How to make Barbie a haunted house for Halloween: crafts - National Barbie Collecting | Examiner.com

2011-10-23T15:05:00.001-05:00

How to make Bar bie a haunted house for Halloween: crafts

Halloween is coming up soon, and that means Halloween Barbie doll displays! One thing collectors like to do is display their dolls in seasonal settings, and what better setting for the various Halloween Barbies than a haunted house? This is one time when an empty cardboard box makes a perfect ramshackle doll display without a lot of work. This craft idea is so simple even a child or the least creative person can make a great Barbie haunted house for kids, grandkids or display.

More at: How to make Barbie a haunted house for Halloween: crafts - National Barbie Collecting Examiner

Related:

Plantation Belles Barbie Doll Club holds Halloween party in West Nashville - Nashville doll collecting | Examiner.com

2011-10-22T23:43:00.001-05:00

Plantation Belles Barbie Doll Club holds Halloween party in West Nashville

The Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club members were spooktacular at an Oct. 22 Halloween Party on Fleetwood Drive in West Nashville. Members came dressed in costumes ranging from kitty cats, to witches, to Ren Fests and literature and enjoyed a party under a covered gazebo on the rambling, multi-level hillside deck that covers most of the back yard.

More: Plantation Belles Barbie Doll Club holds Halloween party in West Nashville - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Newest Barbie controversy: Tokidoki tattooed Barbie doll

2011-10-20T21:54:00.001-05:00

Newest Barbie controversy: Tokidoki tattooed Barbie doll

Barbie Controversy Over Before It Begins

Barbie is in the news again, causing another flurry of controversy over a doll that is already sold out! Although the new Tokidoki Barbie doll is for adult collectors and won't be appearing on store shelves, photos of the new doll have been shown to parents who are a bit aghast at the doll's appearance and accessories.

See: Newest Barbie controversy: Tokidoki tattooed Barbie doll - National Barbie Collecting | Examiner.com:

Halloween Dolls & Halloween Doll Displays

2011-10-14T00:17:00.001-05:00

Halloween Dolls & Halloween Doll Displays:

Halloween dolls are popular for gift giving and for displays at Halloween. You can find Halloween dolls everywhere from doll stores, to eBay to grocery stores. Most doll manufacturers make Halloween dolls and/or Halloween costumes for dolls.

Continued at: Halloween Dolls & Halloween Doll Displays

Plantation Belles Barbie Doll Club celebrates Halloween

2011-10-07T01:03:00.002-05:00

Plantation Belles Barbie Doll Club celebrates Halloween

The Belle Meade Plantation Belles Barbie Doll Club celebrated Halloween a little early at their Halloween meeting on Oct. 6 at Shoneys in Bellevue. Tables were full of Barbie dolls and their friends dressed in their Halloween finery.

Keep reading at: Plantation Belles Barbie Doll Club celebrates Halloween - Nashville doll Collecting Examiner

Also see:

Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club plans two October/Halloween meetings - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club plans two October/Halloween meetings

2011-10-03T17:58:00.001-05:00

Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club plans two October/Halloween meetings

The Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club will meet twice in October 2011 -- once for their regular meeting at Shoney on Oct. 6 and again on Oct. 22 at a member's house for their Halloween party.

Read more: Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club plans two October/Halloween meetings - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Tonner Direct sale -- 20% off Tonner dolls with free shipping 3 days only

2011-09-13T17:58:00.001-05:00

Tonner Direct sale -- 20% off Tonner dolls with free shipping 3 days only

Tonner Direct is offering a special 20% discount on Tonner dolls as well as free shipping for five days only within the continental US when customers use the promo code FALL2011 at checkout.

Continue reading at: Tonner Direct sale -- 20% off Tonner dolls with free shipping 3 days only - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Ask an expert -- Identifying a 40" collectable doll - Nashville doll collecting | Examiner.com

2011-09-12T00:41:00.002-05:00

Ask an expert -- Identifying a 40" collectable doll

This doll was purchased in Atlanta a number of years ago. It is approximately 40 inches tall and about the size of a two year old.

Continue reading at: Ask an expert -- Identifying a 40" collectable doll - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

More Collectible Dolls:

Tea Time at the Plaza Gene doll a remembrance of 9-11

2011-09-09T13:03:00.001-05:00

Tea Time at the Plaza Gene doll a remembrance of 9-11

A Doll Collector Looks Back at the Twin Towers

Tea Time at the Plaza Gene doll was an FAO Schwarz exclusive doll released by Ashton Drake in 1991. Wearing her tailored A-line navy blue georgette dress with white soutache braid trim, the Gene doll was ready for an afternoon tea at New York's famous Plaza Hotel.

Continue reading at: Tea Time at the Plaza Gene doll a remembrance of 9-11 - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

More Gene Dolls:

Happy Labor Day Weekend from Barbie - A look at Barbie doll's careers - National Barbie Collecting | Examiner.com

2011-09-03T16:58:00.001-05:00

Happy Labor Day Weekend from Barbie - A look at Barbie doll's careers

The first Monday in September is set aside as a special holiday from work and has become the annual United States federal holiday we fondly call Labor Day. Who needs to celebrate Labor Day more than Barbie? Barbie has had more careers than anyone else in the known universe!

Continue reading at: Happy Labor Day Weekend from Barbie - A look at Barbie doll's careers - National Barbie Collecting Examiner

Patricia Alice Albrecht adds Pizzazz to Plantation Belles doll club meeting - Nashville doll collecting | Examiner.com

2011-09-02T01:06:00.001-05:00

Patricia Alice Albrecht adds Pizzazz to Plantation Belles doll club meeting

Actress and poet Pizzazz Patricia Alice Albrecht was the special guest speaker at the September meeting of the Belle Meade Plantation Belles doll club on September 1 at Shoneys in Bellevue. Several guests joined regular club members to hear Albrecht talk about her time on the "Jem and The Holograms" animated series

Continue reading at: Patricia Alice Albrecht adds Pizzazz to Plantation Belles doll club meeting - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Jem and the Holograms Dolls - Truly Outrageous!

2011-09-01T13:26:00.001-05:00

Jem and The Holograms Dolls - Truly Outrageous!

One of the iconic TV shows of the 1980s was "Jem and the Holograms," an animated series about an all-girl rock band -- The Holograms. The show ran from 1985 to 1988 and featured the Holograms' computer --- Synergy, and their rivals, The Misfits and The Stingers. This page is full of articles, links and photos about Jem & The Holograms

Also see:

Doll Collecting 101