Popular fashion doll photos from 2014

Here are the top ten fashion doll photos (sorted by number of favorites) on Flickr. Above, it's On the Rise Elise Jolie, taken at IFDC in July. She was displayed in the Integrity Toys booth. This photo has 30 favorites.


Elise was popular this year, and one of the dolls I did not order from the collection. This photo has 28 favorites, and was also taken at IT's display booth at IFDC.


On the Prowl Eugenia was another favorite, coming it at #3 with 25 favorites. She too was on display. I didn't add her to my collection, either.


Interestingly, this photo of the yellow dress Barbie Look Red Carpet collection doll (I think with the Louboutin face) comes in at #4 with 25 favorites (and fewer views). I took this photo at the Grant A Wish convention in April.


A second Grant A Wish photo from April comes in at #5 with 24 favorites. This Barbie Look Red Carpet doll uses the Lea face and is wearing a silver gown.


Those sneak peeks of the Barbie Look collection were quite popular this year. This doll takes the #6 spot with 22 favorites. She uses the lovely Aphrodite face.


Weirdly, this dark photo comes in at #7. It's another photo from the IFDC convention, at Integrity's booth. Elusive Creature Natalia Fatale has garnered 21 favorites.


A blurry shot takes up spot #8, also with 21 favorites. This showcases the Mackie, Aphrodite and Lea sculpts of the Red Carpet Barbie Look collection previewed at the Grant a Wish convention.


Agent Lotta Danger (Poppy Parker) was manufactured by Integrity Toys, and displayed at IFDC in July. She comes in at #9 with 18 favorites.


French Kissed Tulabelle is a 16" Integrity Toys doll. She comes in at #9 with 17 favorites. I actually ordered just the fashion from this doll, and it's amazing.


Finally, coming in the 10the place with 17 favorites is Vivid Encounter Adele Makeda. I ended up ordering this doll, and she is great! I think her dress is amazingly detailed, and I really like her makeup.

After perusing these photos myself, I realize two things: 1) I should continue to attend conventions and doll shows, and 2) I need to take some more photos of dolls that are actually in my collection.

Things I didn't do before I collected dolls

Goldie as Alice, originally uploaded by alington.

I haven't posted a top 10 list in a while, and it's time. Here are the top ten things I do (as a doll collector) that I didn't do before I got into the hobby.

1. Dream about dolls
2. Stay up late obsessing about how I am going to get my latest grail
3. Stay up late worrying about how I am going to pay for said grail
4. Stay up late worrying how I am going to explain my doll budget to my adoring husband
5. Run out of room in my doll cabinets
6. Buy special cabinets for the dolls
7. Spend X amount of time online per day, doing research on dolls, where X is an embarrassingly large number
8. Spend the evening redressing my dolls, and actually look forward to the evening redressing my dolls
9. Write a book about dolls
10. Write a blog about dolls

What about you? Have you started doing anything that surprised you? I wouldn't call myself a hoarder, per se, though perhaps some of my relatives might disagree. And my dolls actually do rotate through my collection--they move on to new homes occasionally, much to the chagrin of some other doll-collecting friends of mine.

Top 10 pet peeves in doll collecting

1. Waiting for new releases to ship.
2. Waiting for the UPS truck or the mail carrier.
3. Waiting for ball-jointed dolls to be manufactured. (The Queen Bee does not like to wait.)
4. Smokey smells on "NRFB" and "mint" dolls.
5. Super limited editions on dolls I'd love to own.
6. Limited dolly funds, especially when above limited editions are released.
7. Promo photos that misrepresent the doll.
8. Catty message forums (fora? What is the plural of "forum"?).
9. Too much red (or pink) lipstick!
10. Great doll lines that get discontinued--I'd love to see the rest of Theatre de la Mode by Tonner, or more of the Victorian Tea collection in Barbie.

Top 10 reasons doll trades are a good idea

I've been resorting to doll trading recently, instead of buying and selling. This works great, especially if you're a member of a doll group. Or, if you know a vintage Barbie dealer who lives in your area and is able to find any Barbie you want to your collection, and you might have been able to convince her she needs a cute little Berdine Creedy BJD or two in her own collection.

In my opinion, it's easiest to do trades in person. However, I've also completed successful trades online. It helps that I have a public blog from which I can establish myself as a real person. So be careful that you "know" your trading partner, and possibly have done business with this person before. On to the list:

1. No money has to change hands (if it's an even trade). This is the coolest part. Your dolly dollars stay intact!
2. Your collection becomes more streamlined and organized, if that's what you're trying to do.
3. Both trading partners get a new doll, and you both end up happy.
4. It's a green way to do business--think of it as recycling.
5. You can honestly say, "No, I did not buy a new doll."
6. This is often a great way to get a grail doll.
7. Somehow, traded dolls seem like extraordinarily good deals--especially when you were going to sell the traded-away doll anyway.
8. When you're pinching pennies and you're itching for something new, this is a great method.
9. Consider doing this with outfits, furniture and doll accessories, as well.
10. Your trash might be someone else's treasure--you never know what your stuff might be worth to someone else!

Top 10 reasons to stay within my doll budget

This is a hard one for me. But there must be ten reasons, right? Or I wouldn't be trying so hard. And I am trying. Really.

1. I'll appreciate the dolls I do buy when I save for them.
2. Instant gratification is for the weak.
3. I'll be modeling good financial behavior to my kids. (This is my top motivator.)
4. I will stay out of arguments with my significant other.
5. I won't have to hide boxes or bills.
6. It relieves stress and tension. ("Although, so does shopping," says the devil on my shoulder.)
7. It prevents the impulse doll purchase. Those dolls just haunt me.
8. It increases creativity--I can sew for my dolls, style them, photograph them, instead of just buying.
9. Uncontrollable debt is partly what caused the US banking system to fail, and not where I want to be.
10. Anticipation is half the fun of doll collecting.

10 Ways to subtly hint to your significant other that you'd like dolls for the holidays.

Peak's Woods Yulli. Photo property of Peak's Woods.

At one of our recent doll meets, I heard one of our regular attendees talking about how her husband had purchased her a particular doll--while it was on sale, even--as a birthday gift for her. Naturally, we were curious, and that has lead to today's top ten list.

1. Open your web browser to the corresponding doll page during the promotional period, and walk away from the computer. Pointing your browser to the actual doll you'd like isn't a bad idea, either. Then casually remark, "Gee, honey, such-and-such is having a terrific sale today on this doll I've always wanted. It's nearly XX% off! It would make such a great birthday/anniversary/insert-your-holiday gift this year!"
2. Does your doll dealer know you on a first name basis? (Oh, come on. I can't be the only one!) You might suggest she or he might send your significant other a short email message with gift suggestions.
3. If that doesn't work, you might want to email him yourself.
4. Talk enthusiastically about what you enjoy most about your collection, and specifically, what you'd like to add. For example, "Oh, Peak's Woods has had this wonderful sculpt in their line for a while, and I've been wanting to add her to my collection forever! She looks like a sister to my other girls, but she has an open-mouth sculpt, and she's just so lovely. And they often take a long time to order. Her name is Yulli--she's the model on a bunch of the wigs on their website. I think she's so sweet.... Do you have something in mind already for my birthday?"
5. Make a Wish list on Amazon.com--they actually have a lot of dolls now! Froogle.com is another easy way to make a wish list as well. (Ask your other dealers if they will do a wish list for you as well, if you provide them with a list of your dream dolls and email addresses.)
6. Don't forget to keep mentioning what you'd like for your birthday or the holidays. I can't state how important this is.
7. Leave magazine clippings or catalog clippings of your grail dolls around the house, with a website link attached (handwritten, if must be).
8. My experience--ask and you shall receive. So if you ask for a $20 doll, that's what he'll think you want. In my opinion, you should aim high. And have a variety of priced dolls and accessories on your list, just in case.
9. Turn up the sweet factor. Clean up a little more, make his favorite foods, bat your eyelashes, hand over the remote more readily than usual--and since my daughter reads this blog, I'll stop right there. ;)
10. Finally, comment on this blog (I'll be posting a wish list article soon) or post your wish list somewhere else online (Facebook is great, too), and make sure he sees it. Or just go for cash. That's a good alternative. (Honey, are you reading this post? I have to check sometimes, you know.)

10 Reasons you should follow netiquette on doll boards

1. You might meet some of your online nemeses at doll conventions.
2. You might meet some of your online nemeses at doll meets.
3. It's hard to interpret "tone" online, and in writing, generally. To be on the safe side, if you think a message to you sounds negative, it's usually best to ignore it.
4. It could be your message that sounds negative when you don't mean it to be.
5. Just because they can't see you doesn't mean they can't find out who you are or where you live.
6. Didn't your mother teach you the golden rule? Do unto others before they do you in! (Oh wait. Maybe I'm confusing the rule a little.)
7. What if your children or grandchildren knew you just posted that?
8. Is it really worth getting worked up over?
9. It would be a very boring world if all doll collections/companies/dolls were exactly the same.
10. If you post it on my blog, I might delete your comment. ;)

10 Reasons you should consider playline items for your collection

Dynamite Girl Feelin' Fierce Dani surrounded by Barbie playline furniture and accessories, and a Rement tea cup.

1. The price is right. You can't go wrong with a $15 Barbie play set for your diorama display.
2. Interchangeability: Did you know Liv doll clothes (nice quality) will fit Model Muse Barbies, for example?
3. Accessories: Check out the purses included with Moxie Teens!
4. Variety: Every girl needs a variety of clothing, shoes and accessories. Sort your dolls' wardrobe by color, and you'll be surprised what outfits you can put together!
5. Thrift stores and garage sales: You're much more likely to find playline dolls here than collector dolls. Don't snub them--check them out, see if sanding or painting them would fix them up to your liking and style.
6. Vintage Barbies were all playline dolls at one time!
7. You never know what sorts of tiny items will be in that play set.
8. Playline stuff is a lot of fun to play with--plus, you can pass it (or unused items) on to younger collectors when you're finished with it.
9. If you break it, it's not a big deal.
10. You'll have more money to spend on dolls!

10 Reasons you should attend a doll convention

1. You'll have a lot of fun.
2. You'll meet new people who love dolls and get out of your comfort zone.
3. If you're not crazy about the convention doll, you can sell it to help cover your costs.
4. It's worth it for the experience and the vacation.
5. Two words: sales room!
6. The workshops are a great time to increase your knowledge base and skill set. Even those of us who are less creative can learn photography skills and styling tips from the experts.
7. Take your chances and enter a doll into one of the competitions--the prizes are great, and you'll have a great time.
8. You can meet people you've only met on message forums and email lists. It's cool to put screen names with faces.
9. Lots of door prizes and goodie bags will make it worth your while.
10. That cleaning thing I mentioned earlier--well, it will be off your mind for at least a weekend. Isn't that worth it alone??

10 Reasons you should attend a doll club

1. You'll see many different types of dolls in person.
2. You might discover a new brand type of doll to collect yourself.
3. You'll learn something new each meeting (including the club rules).
4. You'll meet new people who have something in common with you, even if it's only collecting dolls.
5. Most doll collectors are delighted to meet other doll collectors--and I've found they are very nice people.
6. You'll discover other doll-related sales, workshops, conventions and shows in your area.
7. It's a great way to step out of your comfort zone.
8. Two words: sales and swaps!
9. You might meet a customizer, older collector, or someone who sews who is willing to share their knowledge with you.
10. Chances are, you'll meet someone who is saner than you, and someone who is nuttier than you!

10 Reasons playing with dolls is better than cleaning house

1. It's a lot easier to involve my kids in playing with dolls than cleaning house.
2. I can share photos of my dolls with my readers, but you probably wouldn't be as interested in photos of my house.
3. My cats are afraid of the vacuum, but they are entertained by my dolls.
4. The dolls stay where they are after I put them away, redressed and all brushed and styled. My house gets dirty immediately after cleaning.
5. Two words: instant gratification.
6. It's a fun way to clean up the living room.
7. It helps me plan future blog posts.
8. It keeps me from spending money by enabling me enjoy the dolls and clothes I have.
9. I'd rather spend my last day on earth enjoying art than mopping the floor.
10. I'm not Martha Stewart.

10 Reasons your doll makes a better model than you

16" Goodreau "Secret"

Here are a few reasons that your dolls - from Barbies to BJDs - are much more pleasant models to deal with than their human counterparts. (If you think of any additional ones, please add them.)

1. She has a perfect body.
2. Her weight doesn't fluctuate (unless an arm falls off).
3. She doesn't require any undergarments for support - those plastic parts aren't going anywhere.
4. Her outfits require less fabric.
5. Her wardrobe takes up less closet space than yours.
6. She can hold a pose for a LONG time.
7. Labor laws don't require you to offer her a salary or benefits.
8. If sleeves or pant legs are too narrow, you can pop her hands or feet off to get her clothes on. (Okay, so this probably can be achieved with a human, but it would be a long, painful, expensive & messy process.)
9. She doesn't require food or water, which means she can't spill them on your clothes and ruin them.
10. She won't give you any attitude. (Actually, scratch that. I don't know how the manufacturers do it, but the occasional dolls seems to have some "sass" built in.)

A response to my last blog entry...

I asked my husband to become my first "follower" of my blog (which is a new Blogger feature), and he sent me an email yesterday. I think it deserves its own post!

Top Ten Reasons you should not buy a doll.

1. You already have that one.
2. It gives your husband the willies to see more dolls in the dark of the night.
3. Your mailman asks your husband how he likes his new doll.
4. Your kids keep asking, when you die, can they have your dolls?
5. Your kids keep asking for food.
6. Your don't have any more space in the closet for another 16" x 6" x 4" box. [He must have measured, or taken a good look, I guess.]
7. Your friends refer to you as "that doll lady."
8. Your family refers to you as "that doll lady."
9. Your husband starts to refer to your collect as "the mutant fashion army" and mumbling about a preemtive strike.
10. Your husband comes up with what he thinks are ten good reasons why you don't need another doll.

When to buy a new doll...

Top ten reasons to add a doll to your collection:

1. A long-awaited release you've been waiting for finally arrives at your local doll shop
   
2. You find a great deal on Ebay
   
3. You find a great deal on a message board, online forum or doll club
   
4. You come across a grail at a great price
   
5. You discover a small inheritance
   
6. You get into an argument with a loved one and get really angry
7. You're in a shopping mood
8. You gain ten pounds unexpectedly
   
9. You lose ten pounds unexpectedly
   
10. Who needs a reason to add a new doll to your collection?  That's why it's called a collection, isn't it?