Great dolls without going broke

This is actually a repost and expansion of an e mail I sent to my doll group, some of whom were oohing and ahhing about the size of my Tonner doll collection - I had just reported acquiring doll number one hundred.

People think I am rich, because of the size of my Tonner collection, but the truth is, I am one of the biggest cheapskates in the world. I buy nudes about 99% of the time - there a few I have bought dressed were mostly the male dolls that I knew would sell out quick. Lee Scoresby, Star Crossed, and Green Lantern are three examples.

Ghoulish as it sounds, I buy heads only many times. One of our members is learning THAT lesson fast, since he just got hold of his first Kit, for a terrific price as a head only. Now, all he has to do is make up his mind which body he is going to Frankendolly that head onto.

Checking doll boards around convention time can yield AMAZING deals, too, with folks trying to raise quick cash for the latest and greatest.

Here is an assignment for my fellow Tonner collectors. Make a list of the must-have, sold out dolls you liked from this convention, and watch the boards and groups closely over the next year. I am willing to bet you could probably get at least ONE doll off that list for a price that is a fraction of what some of those folks are trying to get selling the dolls on eBay, come the next big release or convention time.

Research helps - KNOW the value of the dolls you want, and shop for bargains whenever possible. LAUGH at eBay sales utilizing what I call "action figure" language in the descriptions - "Rare!", "Collector's Item!" "Limited Edition of only (fill in edition size) worldwide!" and ANY promises of how valuable the doll/action figure will become over time should be viewed with suspicion.

This is hard-earned wisdom from years of collecting Star Wars and similar themed action figures. I am definitely not the only collector who thought their retirement was going to be easily funded by that big bin of mint on card figures in their garage, which aren't even worth the price paid initially. Unfortunately, a lot of other collectors/future entrepreneurs had the same idea, hence, a case of market saturation.

The Wonder Woman deluxe one member of my doll club just bought was far LESS than the $3000 one seller on eBay was asking for, because she knew the actual value of the doll, and was willing to shop around. I wonder if that eBay seller ever did reel in a naive customer to pay $3000, using tried and true "action figure language."

I was lucky with the auction I just won, for a Dream Dolls Gallery exclusive Angelina doll, which took place during the convention weekend; I was the only bidder, getting the doll for the original bid amount set.

15% off from The Doll Genie

Save 15% off your entire order at The Doll Genie. This is a site I often use for contemporary Barbie reference, as they have so many dolls in stock, but I haven't shopped from them in the past (yet!).

Use the code DG-SUMMER2011 at checkout. Valid on all in-stock orders while supplies last. A note from their promotional email:

Because we manually update our website, during a sale like this, we will make every effort to post all sold out items hourly. If your order came in and a Barbie Doll that you selected has sold out, we will contact you and give you the opportunity to either replace the item with another, or cancel your order. All orders are time stamped and will be processed accordingly.

This offer is valid June 1 through June 5, 2011 only.

JennyGrey Designs shows at the Strawberry Festival in Vista, CA!

On Sunday, one of our contributors, Jen, presented both human- and coordinating doll-sized fashions from her fashion line, JennyGrey Designs, in a real-life fashion show at the Strawberry Festival in Vista, CA.  You can see the runway show above, and find out more at her shop on Etsy.

I'm hoping she will be posting large-sized photos of each of the doll's fashions (and hopefully the people's fashions, too) on the Fashion Doll Review within the next few days! The show turned out perfectly. Congratulations, Jen!

Vintage Barbie On the Go sheath PAK

Barbie's On the Go PAK sheath was available on the market from 1964-1965 in a floral print or in cherry red, rust, forest green, olive green, or blue with white mini-dots. The hardest sheath to find is the floral pattern. In 1962 and 1963 this PAK was issued only in the red, green, and blue shades and was titled simply, "sheath with gold buttons". The sheath was cotton and is the same pattern that was used in Barbie's Sheath Sensation fashion. There are four gold-tone buttons, 2 front pockets, and it ties in the back with snaps.

Nokia N8 Pink - Freedom ad, featuring Dynamite Girls!

Those of you who know me personally know I'm kind of an Apple girl. I know, I know, I can't help it. I just can't stand messing with my phone or computer. I'm too technically inept to do anything but "plug it in and turn it on." (Plus, I've had a nerd-crush on Steve as early as I can remember. Black turtlenecks! *swoon*) However, I won't let my bias interfere with posting an adorable Nokia commercial.

Check out the cute (and rather disturbing) video featuring a soundtrack by Sugababes and (Wave I) Dynamite Girls (perhaps among other dolls?).

Is it me, or am I the only one thinking, "Ouch, ouch!"

It's very fun, just the same. However, some shots break the cardinal rule of doll photography: If a person can't pose like that, it won't look natural for a doll to pose like that, either.