Barbie Basics update...

If you aren't on the BarbieCollector.com website, you may have missed the latest updates and sneak peeks at the new Barbie Basics. As a BFC member, I'm not permitted to post Mattel copyright images. Here are some updates on the rest of the Barbie Basics lines to be released this year with some links to photos.

I apologize in advance for the photo links. At this point, they are for BFC members only.

First, Target will be releasing three new Black Label exclusives and an accessory pack. If you're a BFC Member, you can the thread here. The dolls are dressed in white jeans (or pants, anyway) and red tops. Let me just state here that I am not a sculpt expert, but I will guess on these.

#1 Mackie sculpt with a platinum bob (no bangs) hoop earrings, asymmetric red shirt, white belt, long boot cut jeans, two red bracelets. Try this for a photo.

#11 Teresa (I really need help with this one!) sculpt with brunette highlighted shoulder-length hair, hoop earrings, red tunic, white belt, white skinny jeans and red pumps. Try this for a photo.

#3 Steffie sculpt with hoop earrings, dark brown ponytail and bangs, puffy sleeved asymmetric tunic, skinny capris, white belt, red and white bracelets, and cage sandals. Try this for a photo.

The accessory pack contains cute red and white shoes and booties, sunglasses, a Target-print shopping tote, silver belt, two magazines, and a rather fantastic red patent "leather" jacket.

My favorite of the three dolls is the Steffie sculpt, of course. But she also reminds me of Katy Perry, who has been an odd inspiration to me, of late.

Now, the news about the metallic collection from Barbie Basics Collections 2: Model #14 (Louboutin sculpt), Model #4 (Goddess sculpt) and Model #8 (Mbili sculpt) will be on the articulated body, not Model Muse. (You may already know this from the Toy Fair release.) Two accessory packs will also be released. The first includes a tuxedo style jacket, gold sequin top, several pairs of gold and black shoes and boots, and a magazine. The second includes lots of fun shoes, jewelry and purses, in bronze, silver and gold.

Second, and this is a rumor, these dolls will be limited edition. I have heard these dolls will not be Black Label, and that they will be available from BarbieCollector.com and select dealers only. The edition size will be cut down significantly, so if you see one available for sale and you'd like to add it to your collection, buy it.

All right. I've done enough fear mongering for the day. Thanks!

Peak's Woods news... really!

Yulli, Fairy of Color, normal skin. Photo property of Peak's Woods.

About ten days ago, while Peak's Woods was attending the LDoll Festival in France, I posted a message on the Inquire Board on their website in order to help me start planning next year's doll budget. Those of you who know me well also know I'm an obsessive Peak's Woods fan. I asked the following three questions and received answers recently.

Question:

I've seen several sleeping Peak's Woods dolls on DollHeart's website (Sleeping Yami and Sleeping Cue). Are these dolls still available to order, or will either be available again?*

Answer:

Yes, we used to have some sleeping version dolls for sale. But not anymore. I think those dolls will be possible for sale next year since we've been talking about that, too. :)

Question:

Without spoiling surprises, do you have plans or dates of new limited edition (especially tan versions) dolls for next year, and do you know how many you will be producing? (Just to help me budget a little better...)

Answer: 

Well... preparing LE or events for fans and customers are our such pleasures but even though we thought our plans through, we can't still put our finger on it like who will be the next tan doll. 

However, I can tell you that we have some projects for next month, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Our newest FOC is almost ready to be shown to the public which we are so excited about.

And for the Merry Christmas, we will provide full set dolls each limited no more than three as Christmas presents.

And nothing changes and we stick to the plan with no problems, we will have LE with our newest doll and her wake up version as sisters.

Question:

Have you sold many Yulli dolls? I've searched all over for owner photos of her, but I can't seem to find any.

Answer: 

I think the reason that you can't find many pictures of Yulli must be that she's been adopted by mostly fans in Asia. And many of our fans are not that active online. :)

I don't know about you, but the Christmas/New Year special sounds like fun to me, as does the new FOC girl and her wake-up sister. I can't wait!

*Note: DollHeart is no longer a dealer of Peak's Woods dolls. To order these dolls, you must order them directly from Peak's Woods website now, or from a dealer who still has them in stock.

Tonner Doll dealer rumors...

No links or photos... but I did hear some interesting talk from one of my dealers. In the special dealers-only room, possibly:

• New line of smaller Harry Potter dolls, with better character likeness (Hermione especially!), waiting for studio approval
• Jacob in Twilight series is next on the release list
• Tron figures and licensing is still in the works
• Tim Burton dolls are really fabulous--just waiting on studio approval
• I hear the Lord of the Rings prototype dolls are also fantastic. Just waiting on studio approval
• Cami&Jon™ - Jon is actually a Jac sculpt in Honey skin tone on Antoinette body--if you hadn't caught that yet. You may be able to catch a sneak peek of her on some Flickr photostreams.

Kerli - "Walking On Air"

Kerli - "Walking On Air"

Check out the ball-jointed doll in this video by Kerli. The doll has a face-up done by Pepstar, and the doll is a Doll In Mind Flora, according to this article by BJD Collectasy.

Plus, I heard (through the rumor mill only) that Paulette Goodreau may have an opportunity to provide some dolls for an upcoming Alice-themed video for this same musician. I would love to see Goodreau boys and girls on MTV!

Tonner Doll gossip and rumors

Here are some totally unfounded rumors regarding Tonner Dolls. Actually, not entirely unfounded. These are a result of some questions and answers by Robert Tonner himself on a chat with the collectors on Sweetheart's Dolls Yahoo group. (If you're not a member, go join!)

• Ann Estelle is taking a vacation right now.
• Mary Englebreit (the 16" doll) was sidetracked and eventually dropped.
• As much as he likes Kitty Collier, he thinks he did as much as he wanted with her.
• Tonner never says never about a character. (Take Mei Li as an example.)
• On Dr. Who: The samples were approved by the Dr. Who group many months ago. Now they are waiting on the BBC. Recently they received positive news that they are about at the end of that process (possibly even before Christmas).
• Rita Hayworth would be a great addition to the movie star line, but there aren't any plans as of today.
• About an UltraBasic™ version of Daphne: There aren't plans for her now, but they eventually get around to everything.
• Tonner is a huge Joss Whedon fan (Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Those characters got a lot of votes on the last poll (yay!), but he's not going to spill his guts right now.
• He has considered doing a resin version of Ellowyne Wilde, but nothing is in the works yet.
• He is very excited about what will be released at IDEX. He hinted that if you love Cinderella, you should go, but didn't say much more. He said he "has big plans for the Cinderella head, but not quite the way it was." Also, he will be unveiling Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" and Disney's "Prince of Persia."
• In response to his favorite doll, he is currently loving one of the new ones to be released at IDEX, and also Ellowyne.
• The human-sized clothing gig is going great, and he's having a good time with it!

The rumor mill at Tonner Doll...

Part of any blog is to provide my readers with new information. Please don't hold me to account on any of this information--these are just rumors so far--but here are my sources.

1. Alice in Wonderland, by Tim Burton. Apparently Tonner Doll Company has picked up the license for these dolls, according to their Facebook site.
2. Kiss, yes, like the Gene Simmons Kiss. This is apparently in the works, according to Robert Tonner's blog--see this entry. His words, "To discuss a licensing deal." So who knows?
3. Then--and I'm most excited about these--according to Sweetheart's Dolls, one of Tonner's dealers--there are some production dates in 2010 for the following dolls in the Lord of the Rings series: Gandalf the Grey, Legolas Greenleaf and Elrond Lord of Rivendell. Possibly scheduled for release later this year are Strider Ranger of the North and Arwen Evenstar. Wow! Though this information is too early to be confirmed.