Shimmer!

Shimmer!, a photo by alington on Flickr.

San Diego hasn't even had any rain, and look who's out of the box!

It's Shimmer, a Mattel Dazzle doll. She's super sweet--a tiny Steffie sculpt with auburn hair and violet eyes. She came with a red swimsuit and this lovely 1980s era dance outfit. (Well, if it's from the 1980s, it's probably an aerobics outfit.)

I'm so glad I deboxed her. Her hair is fine, but these dolls are so much fun to pose and photograph. (Wait till you see what's coming up!)

I am trying out the new background again--doesn't it add a little bit of nice texture to the photo?

When do you debox a doll?

Shimmer, a photo by alington on Flickr.

I'm having a collecting dilemma right now. I don't know whether I should debox this particular doll, which has lead me to consider my "deboxing policy."

Normally, with vintage dolls, it's hard to debox them NRFB. Now, I consider whether you can actually tell if the doll has already been removed. If she has, I don't have a problem. I will remove her, possibly even redress her, and then put her back. If she is sold, I mention I've removed her from the box, and that she isn't NRFB--I'd call her MIB, if she is mint. (It's just a little pet peeve of mine, when sellers call a doll "NRFB, except removed for these photos."

But for less than vintage--take this 1982 Dazzle doll Shimmer, for example--I have to take several things into consideration.

1. Is the package pretty? If it's pretty--this one has nice graphics (see photos on Flickr for examples)--I have a harder time messing it up.
2. Is the package mint? If the package isn't in great condition--and this one, the plastic has yellowed and the card is bent just a bit--it's not quite such a big deal to rip into it.
3. Is the doll hard to find? This doll is from the 1982 release. There were many dolls released in 1981, and Shimmer was only released in a smaller edition size in 1982. She is a bit pricier, and, yes, harder to find.
4. Is the doll in peril? Sometimes, a doll may be wearing clothing or earrings that can cause staining or green ear, and removing the offending articles is a must. In this case, Dazzle dolls often have rubber bands that turn to liquid glue over time. I can see them in her hair, and they appear all right. But I really don't want them to ruin her hair.
5. Can I open the package without ruining it? In this case, the nature of a blister card makes it difficult to keep its beauty intact. I could keep the back of the card, of course, but it won't be nearly as nice as before it's opened.
6. Exactly how badly do I want to play with the doll? Oh, how to answer this question! I can't answer the last time I had so much fun with a photo shoot as I did shooting Crystal and Glossy. (It made me want to add the entire line of Dazzle dolls to my collection, which is just ridiculous... isn't it?)

Truthfully, in spite of my hesitation to simply rip into the package, what will probably happen is this: I'll keep the doll unopened in her package today. One rainy day, I'll put aside all logical reasoning. I'll just need a little pick-me-up and open the doll for a photo shoot and redressing session. It'll be fun.

Fortunately for me, it's going to be 78° and sunny today.

By the way, did you notice Shimmer's miniature Steffie face? Isn't she adorable?

Crystal

Crystal, a photo by alington on Flickr.

This is Crystal, from Mattel's Dazzle collection, 1981. She's 4.5" tall. Articulated at the neck, shoulders, waist and hips, this miniature Steffie faced beauty has rooted auburn hair that can be brushed and styled.

She includes a unique stand--her molded heels have holes that snap in at the base in a model style stance. She also includes a comb, and a removable outfit, that reminds me a little of Fabulous Fur Barbie, just because of the color scheme.

I think she's just adorable. You can see a few additional photos on Flickr.

Glissen from Dazzle collection

Glissen, a photo by alington on Flickr.

One of the dolls from Mattel's Dazzle Collection, Glissen uses a mini version of the Steffie face. She is only 4.5" tall, and was released in the early 1980s. This line designed to compete with Kenner's Glamour Gals collection, released around the same time.

These girls include a removable outfit and are articulate at the neck, shoulders, legs and waist.

I believe Spangle and Crystal also use the mini Steffie face mold as well.

You can see a few more photos of Glissen on Flickr.