New Pin To Win 2014 contest from Tonner Doll!

Check out the latest Pin To Win contest from Tonner! (And you can use Alison Rasmussen as your referral if you heard about it from me, LOL! We both will get an extra chance to win if you do!)

All you have to do is:

1. Visit the 2014 Tonner Pinterest board
2. Pin 3 or more dolls from the 2014 release to a board of yours (one board per person).
3. Email the URL of your board to tonnersocialmedia@gmail.com with the Subject “2014 Tonner Pin To Win" and my name (Alison Rasmussen) as your referral. (We both get an extra entry if you use me as a referral, it turns out!)

That's it. A random name will be drawn on July 15, 2014. The winner will receive the doll or outfit that is pinned the most! Five runners up will receive a 15% off coupons for use at TonnerDoll.com.

For the complete details and rules, check them out here.

And the winner is...

The prize: One of my latest publications, Steffie: Out of the Box. This is an unauthorized soft cover visual reference book on Mattel's Steffie sculpt. I use all my own photography, and it could be considered to be a little, well, artsy.

The back of the book - actually, one of my favorite dolls. This is a Miss America, Quick Curl Brunette, who has been restyled by Roberta Marino.

We had nine participants in our drawing last week. Thanks so much for reading The Fashion Doll Review and participating!

According to the theme, I thought I use a Barbie cup for the container. I seem so organized, don't I? Just don't look at the rest of my house, or notice how closely cropped my photos are.

Oh--the anticipation. I have to include one of these photos, of course.

And our winner is... Ada in Romania! I believe one of our wonderful contributors had the pleasure of meeting Ada in person at the Italian Doll Festival this past year. Ada, if you would contact me at alison at fashiondollreview dot com (well, with the @ symbol and . of course) with your mailing address, that would be great! I'll get your book out ASAP!

To the rest of you, thanks ever so much for participating. I realized today that drawings are one of my favorite things about doing this blog and I don't do enough of them, so keep your eyes peeled.

Also, if you would like to purchase a copy of my book, you can contact me at the above address. The retail price is $20 plus shipping. It's also available on Amazon.com, and also on Amazon Europe, so that might be a cheaper option for some of you as well.

Incidentally... in the last week, we've had about 10,000 page views (and no, I don't count my own). That's fantastic!

Our most popular post is on Monster High dolls. Would you all like to see more posts about these dolls? Any other requests?

Also, are you aware of our sister blog, BJDs for Beginners? I've moved all the BJD-related posts over to that blog, since I was clogging up the fashion doll section a little heavily with BJD items.

Drawing today! I'm running a little behind this Monday morning, but I'll be announcing the winner of the drawing shortly!

Waaa! Our view counter! It's time a for a PRIZE!

Scroll down to the bottom to the page -- and check out our page count!

1,003,234 pageviews!

Woo hoo! (And no, I actually do not track my own pageviews.)

It's time for a prize!

This week, I'll be giving away a free copy of my new book, Steffie: Out of the Box, signed.

All you have to do is a leave a comment on this blog post, if you're interested in receiving one. Make sure you leave a piece of identifying information on there--like your first name, and maybe your location. Something like this:

I'd like to enter! Alison in San Diego.

You have till Sunday, September 9, at midnight PST to leave a comment. Monday, I will put all the names in a pot and announce the winner, and have you contact me with your shipping information, and I'll send you a book.

International readers are, of course, welcomed. (Authors of this blog, you don't qualify for this drawing, but I'd love for you to have a copy of this book. So if I've flaked and not sent you one yet--please email me.) And let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks so much for reading The Fashion Doll Review!

Notice our counter?

I think I see a prize coming up!

The Fashion Doll Review's total page views--well, since we started counting in May 2010--is 929,058 as of this morning's post. That is getting very close to one million! I think it's nearly time for another prize drawing...

I'll come up with something good, I promise!

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Elisa E. in California! You've won a free copy of my book, Ball-Jointed Dolls for Beginners, just for posting a comment on the blog.

If you could contact me--perhaps through Facebook or leaving a comment on this post, I will send your book out right away. Thanks so much for playing!

Drawing #2 - One more chance to win: Facebook followers

Get a second chance to win a copy of my book, Ball-Jointed Dolls for Beginners, for free!

For this drawing, I'm waiting till the number of Facebook fans on our webpage has reached 400. At the time of this post, our followers are 392.

To enter, leave a comment below this post, including your first name and last initial, and state or country you are located. International players are welcome, too.

Again, get a chance for more entries if you have links posted to either of our blogs on your website. Post a separate entry for each link. Use the graphics provided, or a text link to The Fashion Doll Review or the BJDs for Beginners blog. (Contact me if you need assistance.)

Only one link per drawing is needed, so if you're already linking to our websites, just post them here as a separate entry!

WIN at the Fashion Doll Review - through Google

It's time for another prize drawing.

I've noticed our Google followers have reached 296. When the total number of followers reach 300, I will raffle off a free copy of my book, Ball-Jointed Dolls for Beginners. This is a free drawing, no purchase necessary!

Receive an extra entry for the drawing for linking to The Fashion Doll Review from your blog or website.

Receive one more entry for posting a link to my BJD-related website, BJDs for Beginners, on your blog or website. Feel free to download the graphics provided, or use a text link. If you need help posting a link, let me know.

To enter, leave a comment below this post, including your first name and last initial, and state or country you are located. International players are welcome, too.

If you've posted link(s) on your blogs, post a separate entry for each link, including the website where my link is posted.

A day late, but we have a winner!

"Working" cover art for the upcoming book.

Congratulations to Deborah Goerz, who is the winner of our latest drawing! Congratulations, Deborah!

Your name was chosen at random this morning (I know, I know--I had "a day" yesterday) as the winner of my upcoming book. Let me know how to get in touch with you--you can drop me a line at alington at mac dot com, if you like.

I'm still aiming for the end of June for the official publication date. As another teaser, I'm posting a photo of the working cover art. Cute and corny, don't you think?

A drawing and a comment about drawings

Viyol, by Peak's Woods.

Dear readers, I hope you're enjoying your weekend. By this, I mean, specifically, that you're spending it with your families, relaxing, shopping for or photographing your doll collection, and not spending hours online searching for hard-to-find QR codes, that may very well be the mark of the beast. As you might have noticed, I am still blogging, which means the world didn't actually end this weekend as Mr. Camping predicted.

In honor of this lovely occasion, and my horrible realization that I, a college-educated 38 year-old mother of four, have just spent an embarrassingly quantity of time searching for little code squares online, I've decided to offer my own free drawing. 

The prize: 

A free copy of my upcoming book, Ball-Jointed Dolls for Beginners, to be released by the end of June. (Now I really do have to finish it!)

To enter, all you have to do is go back through each of the Fashion Doll Review's blog posts, and count how many times I've used the words "Tonner Doll" and email me your answer.

Just kidding!!

No, seriously. To play, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post, here on this post, with some piece of identifying info, like your first name, last initial (or a handle is fine) and your state. If you don't mind checking that no one else has already used your ID, I'd appreciate that.

I will be doing a drawing on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, and will post the winner by noon PST, and contact you (or ask you to contact me). Thanks for playing!

I'm really counting on you, dear readers, to enter this free contest. This way I will have a good reason to finish the damned book. 

And as usual, my contributors aren't permitted to enter. You'll have to suffer through reading the book's proof soon enough, so don't be too disappointed.

Updates from Peak's Woods - a new sculpt!

Photo property of Peak's Woods.

Ack! Another new sculpt by Peak's Woods is making a sneak peek on the home page this morning: Lavin. I think this looks like a large doll, but no official news yet! Also, I should note, the face-up style looks like the original older version--just lovely.

Other news: Briana and Lottie (open eye version) heads are now available for purchase separately. Plus, you can also buy the Fairies of Fairies body, Naomi head and Hucky head separate as well.

Additionally, Peak's Woods is now carrying clothing, I believe both its own line and items by Nine9 Style available in FOC, FOB and FOF styles. These fit other sized dolls as well. And for the next weeks, there will be drawings among the people who order these clothes--seven names will be drawn each week--and a fortune cat (in random colors) will be sent to each lucky person whose name is drawn.

The last three drawing dates are: March 7, March 14, and March 21. Good luck!

We have a winner!

Who will it be?, originally uploaded by alington.

Congratulations to Rosemary, who is the winner of our drawing on Facebook! You've just added a Model 10 Barbie Basic to your collection, along with the Gold Accessory Pack from the brand new 2.0 line as well.

I had lots of help in the neutral party department, and a total of 28 entries. You can see the full photo series on Flickr.

Thanks to all the fans who participated, and thanks for all your gracious comments. To those of you who aren't on Facebook--I promise our next contest will be coming soon, and it will include all our readers!

Yippee! It's time for the drawing today!

I'll keep you posted, and check back with you soon!

Two days left to enter our Facebook fan contest...

Don't forget--you have till 11:59 PM PST, February 2, 2011 to become a fan of the Fashion Doll Review on Facebook at this link leave any comment on this link to be eligible to win our prize, which is shown in the photo!

As of this evening, I have twenty entrants. You have a one in twenty chance in winning this gorgeous Model #10 and her Gold accessory pack!

For detailed rules, check out this original post.

If you're not on Facebook, please don't have your feelings hurt--I didn't realize the drawings were so popular. I'll be sure to have another one soon, which will include everyone again. We just wanted to celebrate out new Facebook followers out there for this one!

Fashion Doll Review's latest drawing!

You can win this doll!

Barbie Basic 1.0 Model 10

No, it's not exactly a contest. And yes, you have to follow us on Facebook to enter this one. Here's how it works.

To win the prize, which consists of a Barbie Basics 1.0 Model #10 (my favorite controversial Barbie Basic), brand new in her box, and a 2.0 Gold Accessory pack from the new Jeans collection, you must post a comment on the photo album I've posted on our Facebook fan page.

You have one week. The drawing closes on Groundhog day, February 2, at 11:59 PM PST. Please make sure you've posted your comment by then. Please, only one entry per person.

To be clear, your comment needs to go here, to this link directly:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=39132&id=142781762409712

And you must be a fan of the Fashion Doll Review page, which you can do here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fashion-Doll-Review/142781762409712

On February 3, 2011, I will put all your names into a bowl and have a neutral party draw a single name. I'll post the winner's handle (your first name and last initial) on my blog and contact you through Facebook if you're the winner to get your shipping information. US and international players are welcome!

A note about the prizes:

Barbie Accessory Pack Collection 002 Look 02

• The Barbie Basics doll has a small smudge of lipstick colored paint on the inside of the window box. It's not on the doll's face--just the box. Her lips look fine, but I thought I should mention it. 
• The accessory pack is complete and NRFB. However, the sunglasses have slipped out of their packaging place, and onto the purse, as you can see in the photo.
• My home is non-smoking. I do have cats, however, who stay away from my Barbies. But keep this in mind if you are highly allergic--you may want to sit out this contest.

No purchase is necessary. I'm sorry, but our blog contributors are not allowed to enter. Please remember The Fashion Doll Review is not in any way affiliated with Mattel, Barbie, Integrity Toys, Tonner Doll, or any other doll company. Views expressed in this blog are the opinions of the writers.

Some news and updates

PukiPuki Ante
dressed in Elfdoll Tiny Olivia's outfit

Thanks for hanging in there with us the past week, dear readers. I feel like I, as the editor, owe you an explanation:

First, I have the prize for reaching over 200 fans on Facebook--217 readers as of this post!--and I think you'll like it. Well, like them. I am hoping to have photos up on the blog later today, and I also am going to post how you all will have a chance to win this prize. This is a drawing, not a contest. So, no, I'm not going to ask you about my photo background, LOL!

Second, let me just emphasize how important it is to stay and get in contact with real people in the doll world. It's totally worth it to post on your regular doll groups to see if there is a doll group who actually meets in your area, even if you think you will be too young or too old, or you feel like your collection is too shabby or too ornate, or if you're afraid to leave the house or talk about your dolls. You won't be sorry. I have been having some medical issues of late, and I have to say, my real-life doll friends have really been a saving grace for me.

Third, I never did get a chance to introduce our newest blogger to you: Melissa. She collects Asian ball-jointed dolls (at this time), and she and I have a pretty notorious tendency to, well, sell each other dolls. I just bought her limited edition Dollzone Shoyo from her on Sunday. Eeek. Well, my daughter Kate did, but she is buying Shoyo from me on lay-away. (And no, I don't charge her interest.) ;)

At any rate, I'm thrilled to be adding another BJD fan to our authors. I have some BJD info to be adding shortly, plus I've recently redone my doll shelves and redressed all my many Steffie sculpts--some who have been added since Christmas--and I think some new photos are due.

In the coming weeks, Shuga-Shug is attending IDEX in Florida. I'm thrilled to announce she will be doing some blogging from there. I hope she also has the time to post to our site as well as her own blog, which you also should be following.

I also have a few customer-experience stories to share with you on products, and these won't be as raving as some of the others I've had in previous posts. But when friends of mine buy items marketed as "will fit Antoinette, Tyler and Sybarite," and they don't, well, you ought to know. And, when BJDs appear on eBay that are being sold by a distributor other than the artist who created them, you ought to know that, too.

I look forward to your feedback, and thank you for your patience and support.

Are you a fan of the Fashion Doll Review on Facebook?

We are up to 199 fans on Facebook! It's time for another prize! Go sign up there and become a fan if you want to play!

When we get to 200 fans, I will do a random drawing on all names who wish to participate (on Facebook)--I'll have everyone make comments on a particular photo, say, of the prize--and give you a a few days to do it.

I promise I will have a fabulous prize for you. I'm trying to decide which one it should be. Leave me a comment and let me know which you prefer? Barbie or Monster High?

Another wish list tool for the holidays!

You can now use Amazon.com's wish list tool universally. This is a great way to add dolls to your wish list and send it to your loved ones (or the ones who love you).

You simply drag the wish list into your Firefox, Chrome or Safari browser toolbar,  or you can install the "Add to Wish List" button to your bookmarks toolbar. Or you can visit online stores that feature Amazon links (like ours) and save the items that way.

Plus, enter each week (by adding an item to your wish list) from now through December 19 to win a $100,000 sponsored by MasterCard. Click here for the official rules.

  

Save the date - November 3!

Barbie Basics No 5, Lea sculpt.

BarbieCollector.com is launching their new website on Wednesday, November 3, and will be offering shoppers some specials.

• For 24 hours only, get 25% off all in stock items, from midnight 11/3 CT through 11:59PM CT. The discount will appear in your shopping cart.
• Get a special gift when you purchase Barbie Basics or Christian Louboutin products.
• Enter a chance to win the Barbie Collector Grand Re-Opening Sweepstakes 11/3-11/9. No purchase is necessary, nor will it increase your chances of winning, but you must be a legal US resident to enter.

Take a sneak peek of the new homepage here!