Passport to Pink Reproduction Barbie is on her way!

Attention, Barbie 2012 attendees: Passport to Pink gift sets, designed by Bill Greening, are shipping!

You can check out the status of your shipment on BarbieCollector.com. Here's how:

• Sign in, and then click under the Hello, [Guest] drop down menu at the top menu bar.
• Select Order Status from the menu.
• Your latest order should be added--mine was shipped August 29. 
• Click on the pink order number for details.
• To track the order, go back to the previous screen, and click on Track my order. 

Orders should be arriving soon--my gift set is scheduled to arrive on September 7. Hooray!

Photos property of Mattel.

Animal Magnetism

Animal Magnetism, a photo by alington on Flickr.

From the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Dinner, this is Animal Magnetism, Tonner's 16" Marilyn Monroe sculpt.

She is on a new Starlet body, which uses a Tyler Wentworth bust, and a curvy bottom, and high heel feet. She has rooted blonde hair, blue eyes, and an open mouth.

Her jewelry and her outfit is really nicely done in this piece--and I believe she was limited to 200 dolls. Her jacket is lined and closes in front with a rhinestone clip. Her black gown is also lined, and uses a black on black printed satin.

She wears black peep toe mules with bow detailing at the toe.

I wasn't at first sold on this sculpt--but the more I take her out an play with her, the more I can see her as Marilyn. I really love her!

See more photos on Flickr!

The Raven

The Raven, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Another bird centerpiece the Raven - also on the Antoinette body, using the Precarious head sculpt. She has a fascinating partial updo with crimped raven hair, and painted brown eyes. She was also deigned for the Flights of Fancy Tonner Convention banquet.

Her outfit includes black lamé tights, faux suede pumps with feather trim, crinkled luminescent chiffon and tulle, styled in a short high-necked gown with puffed sleeves and trimmed with marabou.

Her tail even includes wire for easier posing. She is fabulous! She was one of only 100 dolls created for this event.

See more photos on Flickr.

The Peacock

The Peacock, a photo by alington on Flickr.

This lovely Duchess sculpt is on the Antoinette body, and is another bird from the flock from the Flight of Fancy banquet. She is limited to 100.

She is a gorgeous blue-eyed girl with wonderful curled hair in a high ponytail. Her facial screening includes bright pink lipstick and green eye makeup.

Her gown is a sweetheart neckline, sheer strap a-line dress (lined in white), and her outfit includes a glorious, iridescent, glittering tulle cape.

The cape was styled at convention with wire (I believe) to look like a peacock's fan. I sort of prefer the more traditional cape look, however.

Her shoes are side-zip blue bootlets, trimmed with chartreuse feathers. Adorable!

See more photos on Flickr.

The Cardinal

The Cardinal, a photo by alington on Flickr.

The Cardinal is another in the flock of birds from the Flight of Fancy banquet from Tonner Convention. She is also limited to 100.

She uses the Antoinette face and body, and has gray blue eyes, and rooted raven hair, with an addition piece of rooted bright red hair in the front, which has been twisted up to look like a hat, with a feather attached.

The Cardinal's facial screening is quite dramatic--her eye shadow is done in reds and pinks. She includes jewelry--a velvet choker and drop beaded earrings.

Her gown is reminiscent of Symphonic (just a little--with the Spanish feel), only with an asymmetrical hemline and more glitter and feathers worked into the dress.

The boa adds a fun piece for play as well. She also includes red satin pumps, and fingerless mesh gloves.

See more photos on Flickr.

The Toucan

The Toucan, a photo by alington on Flickr.

This lovely wigged Daphne is called The Toucan, and is probably tied for first place among my favorite two dolls from Flights of Fancy Tonner Convention.

I adore her colorful facial screening, which contrasts with her asymmetrical bob.

Her bolero, with attached fingerless gloves (lined in nude lining to prevent staining), is removable. This then reveals a sheer strap black dress with a white ruffled neckline.

The gown's skirt has unfinished strips of fabric attached to the hem, some with iridescent sparkles, giving it dimension and a feeling of feathers. I love it.

Her shoes are peep toe pumps with black on black sequins and stripes--just wonderful.

See more photos on Flickr.

The Flamingo

The Flamingo, a photo by alington on Flickr.

The souvenir doll from the Flights of Fancy Tonner Convention banquet, The Flamingo, uses the Cami sculpt on an Antoinette body. She's limited to 300 dolls, and she has blonde hair in a braided up-do and blue side-glancing eyes.

She is my very first Cami, and I could not have been more pleased to add this girl to my collection. Pink, glittering tulle, ribbons, feathers, and just a touch of pale blue on the underskirt make this off-the-shoulder gown a true princess dress.

Gold strappy heels, pink rhinestone stud earrings, and a feathered headpiece complete her look.

Check out more photos of her on Flickr.

Impressions from a first timer

Parnilla Ghastly, a photo by alington on Flickr.

This was my first time at a Tonner Doll convention, and I really had a blast. I'll start my post-convention coverage with a list of things that really impressed me about Flights of Fancy:

• The staff. Oh my goodness! In my years of collecting Tonner Dolls, I've always had a wonderful experience dealing with the Tonner Doll store, so I was expecting to meet some great people at convention. But I had no idea! These people--there were employees from the IT department, even--who were helping out, working crazy long hours--with crazy doll people (in which I of course include myself, less you, dear reader, take offense) no less--from oh-dark-thirty to past midnight, I'm sure. That salesroom--I've never seen anything like it. I only saw smiles and enthusiasm. Really--I can't believe how nice everyone I met was. Michelle--just amazing. Eric (aka Daddy) was such a great sport. Nancy--I had no idea her favorite color was purple. And wow--just terrific. All of them! I have to just say--I really hope they get a huge bonus or something--and they all deserve dolls and big bucks for all the work they did!
• Robert Tonner. I had the honor of meeting him--thanks to my fellow conventioneer and friend, Carolyn, who stalks the booth at San Diego's Comic Con every year, and Michelle. He really loves his collectors, really listens to them, and he's truly an artist. He has a great sense of humor, and the presentation of the history of the fashion doll was amazing and informative. I love that he was willing to take questions from the audience--even some that I found a little... well, rude. I was taken aback by his humility, his pleasure at audience participation and his honest eagerness to please the attendees. Did you know: His current favorite doll (that he worked on) is Chairman of the Bored Ellowyne Wilde?
• The fans. Carolyn and I didn't really know a lot of people attending convention--my first time and her second. Nancy sat us at Kathy Moreau's (Paris Fashion Doll Festival) table, and it was really a perfect fit. I even got to sit with Charlie Riley (Dolls Behaving Badly) and Martie! Also, it was great to meet a lot of different people, put names to faces, and see so many enthusiasts--so many who had come from so far. I love enthusiastic people! And there were so many wonderful collectors to meet!
• The hotel. It was nice, quiet and clean--and apparently, we were fortunate to have had a room on the fifth floor where there was no wedding party! I believe it was also non-smoking, which may be unusual for Chicago (but coming from California, I suppose we are spoiled out here).
• The guest presenters. I have to confess, I was wary about both the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and the Wonder Woman event. I'm not much a comic book or celebrity doll collector, so I wasn't sure if I should sign up for these breakout events, but I figured--when in Rome.... I was more than delighted! Scott Fortner, who runs the website The Marilyn Monroe Collection, gave a wonderful, informative, and touching presentation on this often misunderstood icon. For the life of me--I cannot remember or find the name of the woman who presented at the Wonder Woman event, but she was terrific!
• The raffle and door prizes. I didn't win any, but Carolyn did. I loved it, and the enthusiasm (for the most part) that the other collectors showed when people won prizes!
• The charity auction. I didn't know about the auction event before I left--and I think I should budget for it next time. There were not only gorgeous dolls, but the money goes for a fantastic cause!

Things I am glad I did before convention:

• Budget! Enough said.
• Color my hair. I think it made me look much more extroverted than I am, which helped me talk to people. (I'm really a shy person, and large crowds tend to be a little out of my element.)
• Bring business cards.
• Bring a few dress-up outfits.
• Bring a camera.

Things that were slightly disappointing:

• The shuttle service. I'll just spring for a cab next time. The shuttle was late and dirty, and packed to the gills on the way home.
• Chicken, chicken, chicken. I know, most people eat chicken. I eat chicken. That's why it's always served. But wouldn't it be great to have sushi? (It's just me, isn't it?) Seriously, though--the food was great! I was just tired of chicken by the end of the weekend. I'm glad there were other choices, too.
• Lines. Oh my goodness. I'm always surprised at how well people are (or are not) able to stand in line at conventions. Maybe it would be better to raffle off numbers at the events, and then stand in line according to number.
• Crowds. See above. Thank goodness I'm not claustrophobic.

Things I should have been aware of before I left for convention:

• Tonner Doll boxes are bigger than they seem. There's no way all those dolls I brought home would fit in my extra suitcase, and I can't even fit leftovers in extra containers!
• Don't clean out your wallet too well before you leave for the airport. (It's a long drive back home for your driver's license at 4:45 am. Ugh!)
• Your traveling companion might be more extraverted than you. Meaning: she might tell everybody about your driver's license experience and make you dance, even when you don't know the Electric Slide!
• Bring a keyboard. IPads are awesome for travel--I don't have a laptop--but my fingers are too tired at the end of the day for typing.
• You really miss your kids. Oh my. I really missed them.
• I really missed my husband. (Did you know he didn't even gripe about me leaving my license at home? He's the best!)
• I even missed my cats! (I am a crazy cat lady and a crazy doll lady.)
• Exhaustion. You don't know how busy you're going to be until you get there. I'll use my phone's calendar next time.
• You can't bring too much spending money.

Back from my first Tonner Convention

The Parrot - Antoinette sculpt, LE 100, Flights of Fancy centerpiece - so gorgeous!

I'm back from my first Tonner Convention - and I really had a blast! I'm exhausted, and ended up shipping some dolls home, which will be here Friday. I do have some to shoot, which I plan to do today, and a lot of blogging to catch up on, and more will follow.

For now, please check out some (really lame, I'm so sorry!) photos on Flickr from the convention. I can say I am really thrilled about the convention dolls. And I have to say--I really am most surprised and delighted about the new Marilyn Monroe doll. I think she is gorgeous--the photos I've seen of her so far really don't do her justice, and I can't wait to see her more.

We saw an amazing presentation of her--so much I didn't know!--including that this "curvy" lady was 5 feet and 5.5" tall, and 140 pounds at her heaviest. To me, that's not very curvy! And certainly not today's size 14. At any rate, her usual weight was 117 pounds.

At any rate--lots more to come!

Toy Fair updates...

For the latest on Toy Fair releases and photos, check out and subscribe to Idlehands1.blogspot.com by PaulNomad.

You can find lots of great information and photos on Mattel's new releases, including both Barbie and Monster High dolls (new dolls, plus the Monster High High School), plus Jakks Pacific dolls, Tonner's Avatar dolls and Tron: Legacy, and Living Dead Dolls by Mezco.

Some items of interest from Tonner Toys:

City Girls is a new 15-16" line that will share clothing with LittleMissMatched dolls with a modern, sophisticated edge. Price point will range from $20-50, and Tonner Toys is hoping for a Toys R Us distribution, similar to LMM.

Maudlynne Macabre, also from Tonner Toys, also shares a LMM body type. WI is estimating fourth quarter for shipping, and a retail of about $30.