Shadow of a Smile Poppy Parker

Shadow of a Smile Poppy Parker is a 2010 Integrity Convention table centerpiece. I won her in this year's raffle room drawing. She has green centered eyes, pink lips, and red hair with bangs. Her gown is a purple and black version of Look of Love and she also has the same silver shoes from that fashion. Completing her ensemble are long black gloves and a small black purse. Her microphone was a purchase from this year's IT salesroom.

Tonner Halloween convention coverage

The Beast Within and The Beauty

 Lots of great new dolls have been released for Tonner's Halloween convention. You can see a nice summary at Dreamcastle Dolls website, including photos. While you're there, be sure to check out the Consignment Corner, where you'll find lots of older dolls, repaints and hard-to-find items. She's got some terrific items at great prices in stock.

Tonner's Facebook page also has a lot of video available. You may have to scroll down this list at this point to the older posts to see the actual video.

Of the dolls released, the events had an Alice in Wonderland themed event (ugh!). They must be out to get me! Of course I love Blue Alice and the Amelia Thimble Sweet Treats set. Other dolls include Never on Time (Tonner's version of the White Rabbit), Madness and Queen of Hearts. I love her outfit. The Knave of Hearts was the souvenir.

A new Sydney BJD, The Way Sydney Does Halloween, was a limited edition piece of 50. Unhappily Ever After was the Cinderella themed event, including the Prince, Cinderella, Ferse and Zehe (the two stepsisters) and the Stepmother.

Black Flame is an interesting Antoinette centerpiece, shown here. Additionally, there were the souvenir dolls The Beast within and The Beauty.

Harry Potter lines were introduced as well, including a new Harry Potter and Hermione.

I believe, though I'm not sure, Tonner may have picked up the license for Avatar, which will also be done in resin.

Black Flame

Photos property of Tonner Doll Company.

In the Air Poppy Parker

Another Poppy Parker from Integrity's Jet Set convention is In the Air, gifted to attendees at the Poppy Parker luncheon. She has very pretty purple eyes, straight brown hair, and pale pink lips. She wears a mod mini-dress, red shoes, and white fishnet stockings. Her only jewelry is faux pearl earrings. She will be a very versatile doll for redressing. This makes a total of four Poppy dolls and one companion (Darla) available at this year's convention. I love them all!

Ready, Set, Go! Poppy Parker

The table centerpiece doll for this year's Integrity convention Poppy Parker luncheon was called Ready, Set, Go! She is totally mod with her pink, yellow, and orange dress, dangly earrings, pink bracelet, pink hose, and fishnet stockings. Her long blonde hair is tied in a ponytail and she has green side-glancing eyes. She is ultra-limited as only one lucky person per table was able to "win" the opportunity to purchase her and one other (table host/hostess) were given the doll as a gift.

New Bellissima Couture fashion for Victoire Roux

Victoire Roux

A Visit to the Musée de Cluny

Are you a fan of Integrity's new Les Silhouettes line featuring Victoire Roux? If so, you may want to check out Bellissima Couture's latest creation now for sale on Ebay. Bellissima Couture's ensembles are of the highest quality construction and fabrics. The fashion consists of a dress, tulle underskirt, capelet, and beret and has a current bid of $76. The auction ends on 10.29.

Jet Set convention workshop Poppy Parker

This year's Integrity convention workshop Poppy Parker has black wavy hair, right side-glancing eyes, and pink lips. She is the prettiest and most sultry of the Poppy dolls thus far released. She came to us as a loose head and body with no clothing. She's meant to be a doll that you can practice different hairstyles on but I like her hair as is. She is perfect for the display of contemporary fashions and is wearing a pink sweater purchased in the IT salesroom (for $5!) and Barbie Basics jeans. Workshop Poppy is currently selling on Ebay for about $200.

New Dynamite Girls announced - In the City collection

Convention attendees were given a chance to preview the new Dynamite Girl collection, "In The City." These dolls will be shipping in early January 2012, and may be available for preorder from your dealers. They are limited to 350 each and retail for $60. The fashions are inspired by 1970s fashion. I love the color! They've introduced another new character, too.

First up is Good Times Dayle. (I don't recall seeing a platinum Dayle before!) She's wearing a sun visor, color mesh shirt, satin miniskirt, sleeveless hoodie, blue ankle socks and purple pumps.

Next up is You Sexy Thing Jasper. This gorgeous girl has qua eye shadow and bubblegum pink lips. She's wearing teal hot pants and a graphic printed blouse. Her accessories include a silver bag, aqua platform wedges, pink beaded necklace and a a pink woven hat.

Next is the Mighty Real Reese. She's got a lovely facial screening, super soft, and her dark hair pulled behind her. (She reminds me of one of my favorite Steffie-faced Barbie--African American Magic Curl

from 1980, I think.) She's wearing salmon short-alls with a pink blazer, gold platform peep-toes, a flower choker, and carries a purple bag.

Meet the new boy in town, Hot Stuff Cruz. He's dressed in dark jeans, a blue New York t-shirt, a yellow leather jacket. I think he's pretty cute, "faux-hawk" and all.

Jet Set convention Simply Simpatico Poppy Parker

Here is Poppy Parker from this year's Integrity convention Poppy and Darla giftset. She has long blonde hair, blue eyes, and nude lips. The facial screening of this Poppy doll is the same as that of I Love How You Love Me. I've redressed her is this two-piece byShane fashion called "Block Party".

Jet Set convention Simply Simpatico Darla Daley

I must admit that when I first saw this Darla doll I didn't like her at all. But, once I got her out of her pantsuit and into this cute dress I fell in love with her. Her facial screening is quite pretty as is the new facial sclupt. (Only one Darla was produced with the original sculpt.) Darla's dress (Flarin' To Go), belt, and bracelet are from byShane. The blue shoes are from the convention Poppy Parker shoe set. Furniture by Planet Janet studio.

Taking my Liv dolls camping

My husband and I went camping a couple of weeks ago, and I decided to bring a couple of Liv dolls with me and try doing a photo shoot with them. Why Liv dolls? Their multiple joints give them many posing options, including double-jointed knees that allow them to sit. Plus, they're inexpensive, so I didn't mind getting them dirty and smokey, which everything that comes camping becomes.

The story in my head while I was shooting these photos was that a boy and girl get lost in the woods. The girl is concerned that they won't find their way back to civilization before they run out of daylight, while the boy is a "jokester" who takes nothing seriously and sees the situation as more of an adventure than a problem. Sadly, I ran out of daylight (and needed to cook some supper on the campstove), so they never did find their way home. Maybe in the next episode.

I think I enjoyed this way too much.

OOAK Poppy Parker Doll by Matt Sutton

Here is an acquisition form Integrity's recent Jet Set convention, a one-of-a-kind Poppy Parker doll by Matt Sutton. Matt created this beautiful Poppy from a former Coney Island doll that was restyled and repainted. Look for Matt's OOAK dolls at Barbie and Integrity conventions. (Shop early as he sells out quickly).

Poppy's bridal ensemble was handmade by Fashions by Gail. You can shop Gail's fashions for Poppy, Silkstone, and Fashion Royalty dolls in her Ebay store here.

Grace Kelly Silkstones, Sinatra, Elvis and more Barbies on sale at Gilt!

Check out Gilt.com for some great sales starting today at 9 AM PT on brand new Barbies from this year's line-up!

I don't have price information yet, but they are usually pretty good. The dolls I've seen in person are really gorgeous, especially the Grace Kelly bride.

I perhaps should go back and fix my tweets so I can at least get her name spelled correctly. Whoops!

Update:

I have some price information for you. First, the Rear Window Grace Kelly doll is available as a pre-release (she's officially due in December 2011) for $34.95.

The Romance, The Bride and To Catch a Thief are at their prospective retail prices: $125, $150 and $35.

Sinatra, Elvis and Dynasty's Alexis are listed at $25 ($10 off their retail prices).

Pillow Talk gift set is listed at $58 (instead of $70), and Lucy & Ricky are listed at $47 (from $70).

Unfortunately, this sale isn't as stellar as their last Silkstone sale, which has items listed at 50% off retail prices.

Poppy as Alice

Poppy as Alice, a photo by alington on Flickr.

You know how I keep saying I'm over Alice? Well, it turns out I may have been slightly mistaken.

So here is I Love How You Love Me Poppy Parker (the longest-named doll by Integrity Toys) dressed in the 2010 IFDC Companion Doll's Curiouser's outfit. I think she makes a perfect Alice. See more photos on Flickr.

If this isn't the post with the worst grammar in the universe, well, I don't know what to say. Next thing you know, I'll be making up words.

The latest (yawn) Barbie scandal - Tokidoki's tattoos

It never ceases to amaze me how here, in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, how many people there are who don’t seem to appreciate precious freedoms. I am not talking about immigrants still learning our history, culture and customs, I am talking about people who were born and raised, here in the USA, who have,  presumably, been through our education system, read the constitution, and understand the rights that were earned by the Founding Fathers via the American Revolution.

Or do they?

Perhaps I have a different perspective, since I grew up with my father as a role model. He was originally from Czechoslovakia, a small country in Eastern Europe to which history has been most unkind. Dad barely managed to survive two brutal, absolute dictatorships, first Hitler, then Stalin. When he arrived in the US in the 1950s, well, let’s just say my dad discovered “Freedom of Speech” and made it all his own. He was a very opinionated soul, and was, perhaps by definition, what one could call highly conservative.

Except in one instance.

Maybe it was due to the regimes he lived under, but my dad had an absolute loathing of censorship. What really surprised him, coming from the background he did, to a country where freedom was the rule and not the exception, was finding so many people who wanted to take away the freedom of others to choose, because the naysayers found something offensive. To best sum up how my dad felt about this, I’ll even use his own words:

If that book or magazine offends you, don’t read it. If you don’t like that song or TV Show, either change the channel or turn off the player. If you don’t like the movie, don’t buy tickets to it. No one is holding a gun to your head!

Yes, I am aware this is a blog about dolls, and yes, I do have a point. Today’s target is the latest (yawn) controversy over a Barbie doll, specifically the Tokidoki Barbie, which  Fashion Doll Review's own Alison reviewed only a few posts ago.

What amuses me the most about the scandals that keep coming up about Barbie – which, sadly, don’t seem to be slowing down in the slightest – is how hysterical some of the alleged consumers get to be, as if there actually was a gun, held up to their heads, forcing them to fork over their hard earned money for these dolls.

The scandal specifically focuses on Tokidoki’s tattoos. Hand wringing, hair pulling  adults, this time led by a woman named Marianne Szymanski, founder of Toy Tips, an independent toy researcher, who was interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor, which can be found here.

I am not belittling the Ms. Szymanski for being concerned about the toys her children and other children play with – though I am not a parent, I know I would be concerned with how age-appropriate a toy would be, and even more importantly, how safe the object would be for a young child. There are legitimate concerns – small pieces a child could choke on, lead paint, toxic materials, age appropriateness, and so forth.

But Ms. Szymanski is defeating her own self-appointed mission, namely the protection of her own and other children and risks making herself a laughing stock by her own words. She notes that Mattel points out that this doll is meant for adult collectors only, not children, which is stated on Mattel’s website, and is sold, not in brick and mortar stores that are easily accessible to children, but online, at select retailers who cater to adult collectors. Tokidoki is not available to collectors at the regular Mattel site which is frequented by children, but rather at Barbiecollector.com, which is geared for adults.

How does she manage this?

“It doesn’t matter if it’s not for kids. It’s out there.”

“The argument that you’ll get from the toy companies is: ‘Oh, it’s for adults.’ But those companies need to know what parents’ concerns are.”

I really don’t understand this mindset. She has already defeated herself and her concerns. The item is clearly an adult collectible, she, herself says that is Mattel's official statement on the subject. Yet Ms. Szymanski, someone who is allegedly a parent, and the founder of what otherwise seems to be a very helpful organization for fellow parents, sounds incredibly naïve. Is someone holding a gun to Ms. Szymanski’s head, forcing her to purchase this doll? I find that highly doubtful.

There is a pattern at work here, which makes me wonder about a segment of "alleged modern parents." I say alleged, because I don’t want to demean genuinely good mothers and fathers who do their best for their children.

"Alleged modern parents" are people who do not stand up to their little darlings and being a parent,  saying to their little darlings, “No, you can’t have that.”  This variety of "parent" usually caves in to a carefully waged whining and/or tantrum campaign by said little darlings. Most times, they will finally buy the item just to get some peace; or so their children, “Won’t hate me,” or “View me as the bad guy.”

Instead of reflecting on how to actually be the adult in the relationship with their children, these "alleged modern parents" will create an uproar in the media, and/or file lawsuits against a toy company for an inappropriate item, such as a doll that is clearly not for children.

Perhaps the size of Mattel's bank account, real or imagined, is too much temptation for these "alleged modern parents."

I am not in the habit of defending a doll company or other large corporation, because these folks have their own legal departments who can do that for them; as well as publicity departments for handling inquiries from the media and other concerns. But the fact of the matter is, Mattel is clearly aware of "parental concerns," since they are marketing the item for adults only, and not placing these dolls in venues where children will see – and possibly covet them –  such as regular brick and mortar stores, Mattel’s Barbie website which is frequented by children, or online stores where they can be seen and purchased by children.

Perhaps Ms. Szymanski’s energies would be better focused on finding toys she finds appropriate for her children. After all, a $200,000 plus Ferrari, which is also an adult collectible, is inappropriate for children, yet she is not calling for a ban on those, is she?

New items from Wilde Imagination - and SAVE!

Valentine, Evangeline's new kitty!

Use the promo code FALL11 to save $13 off any order $100 or more from Wilde Imagination. This offer expires at midnight (ET) on November 5, so don't wait!

Some new items of interest:

• Positively Negative - a new dressed Ellowyne with painted blue eyes and red hair wearing the cutest black and white knit set, ready for winter.
• Feeling Fatigue - inset aqua eyes and brown hair Ellowyne dressed in a bias skirt, leather jacket and bouclé scarf
• Check on Me - blonde Ellowyne with painted green eyes, navy and red checked dress with peter pan collar, white stockings and boots.
• A new Essential Prudence
• Two new cute outfits, Bay Breeze and Olive Drab
• Three new hats, several new clothing items, and two new wild wigs in the Accessories section

And don't forget to check out the End of Edition specials.

Three gorgeous new Evangelines have also been released:

• Dandy of Death, wigged platinum vinyl doll with inset blue eyes.
• Ipswich Fog, wigged red haired vinyl doll with inset blue eyes - I love her chiffon gown.
• My favorite of the three, Wilted English Rose, a wigged raven doll with inset grey eyes and a gorgeous red gown.
• Two new outfits for Evangeline and one for Mortimer (I love Smoke & Mirrors)
• Several fun new accessories, including Valentine, a brand new resin ball-jointed friend--they are out to get me--I love her!

You can also use the special to shop with Amelia Thimble. I want to see your photos!

Positively Negative Ellowyne Wilde 

Wilted English Rose Evangeline Ghastly

All photos property of Wilde Imagination.

New Barbies!

A new Gold Label doll has been announced for this year. Her name is Pink In Pantone™. She's been designed by Linda Kyaw, and she's due to ship in December. You can see a photo and pre-order at Marl & B, who has her listed at $49.99.

Additionally, FAO will have an exclusive doll released in Spring of 2012, a pink label, also designed by Linda Kyaw. You may be able to see a photo on BarbieCollector.com.

New Monster High dolls available from Angelic Dreamz!

These lovely new Monster High dolls are arriving in stock from Angelic Dreamz on this weekend, October 20. Each is currently listed as out of stock, but you can put yourself on their waiting list today!

They each retail for $19.99, and they are limited to one per household. The collection is called Skull Beach. 

Angelic Dreamz has flat-rate shipping US shipping of $7 per order, no matter how much you buy.

The second edition of Abbey Bominable

New character Gil Webber

An adorable Ghoulia Yelps

A darling Lagoona Blue

Draculaura

Images are property of Angelic Dreamz.

Budgeting continued...

Evermore Vanessa, FR2

So, you know that painful budgeting thing I mentioned in the podcast earlier today? Well, here goes wave one.

Check it out on eBay, if you're on the upside of your budget. I've got some recent arrivals, and a few grails up there, as well as some vintage items. I'm sure I'll be listing some more items as the day continues.

You'll be supporting a (very) good cause.

A few items to tempt you, aside from the lovely Vanessa...

Pink Splendor Barbie from 1996
Billions of Dreams Barbie from 1997
Talking Stacey from 1968 (and yes, she talks!)
Shock Bon Bon Vanessa Perrin NRFB

And lots more, including another round of my Steffie-faced girls!

Thanks for looking, and as always, thanks for your support!

Dolls to the Wall - a new podcast on budgeting

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Finally, a new Dolls to the Wall podcast is available. My kids have been on fall break the past week and this one, to explain the delay.

This week's podcast is a themed podcast on budgeting. ("What? Are you crazy? What do you know about budgets?") Well, I'm hoping to learn from my mistakes this time. For real.

Enjoy!

BJDs for Beginners - the book

Ball-Jointed Dolls for Beginners: Finding the Doll of Your Dreams

We've had a surge of new readers to the blog within the past month, so I'd like to introduce you to my book, Ball-Jointed Dolls for Beginners.

Do you feel like you're too young, too old, too poor, too clumsy, too stuck in your ways, or too afraid to buy a ball-jointed doll? Do you have too many other types of dolls to add one more to your collection? Do you think BJDs are for advanced collectors only? Do you feel like they are exclusive? Too breakable for your household?

They aren't. There is a brand and size for every budget. You're never too old to get into a new hobby. In fact, if you've always been mesmerized by the eerily realistic glance of these lovely modern dolls, first introduced into the mass market by Volks in 1999, don't despair. My book, Ball-Jointed Dolls for Beginners, was written with you in mind.

I'll introduce you to the ball-jointed doll's history and terms and definitions, help you discover your style and aesthetic, and then guide you through the budgeting and ordering process. I'll help you get connected to the BJD community (online and in person). Plus, you'll be have a visual manual of how to care for your doll.

It's easier than you think, and it's within your reach.

My book is available from CreateSpace directly, from Amazon.com (you can peek inside the book with Amazon's Look Inside feature), Denver Doll Emporium, the Doll Peddlar, and Think Pink in the Netherlands.

I will be attending the San Diego BJD Convention on November 5 if you'd like to introduce yourself. I will be the one with black and turquoise hair and a smile.

Steffie of the Day: 1979 Black Barbie

Black Barbie, a photo by alington on Flickr.

While I'm posting dolls of the day... our Steffie of the day is 1979 Black Barbie. I have her dressed in Beauty Secrets Barbie's outfit.

I think this doll is one of the most gorgeous Barbies ever made. She's just lovely.

Vanessa of the day: Current Pursuits

Current Pursuits, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Well, I'm sure to some she's "Fauxnessa" of the day. I really like this doll. Mine needs just a little work on that front curl--but for a doll-cabinet shot, not too shabby.

Personally, I love dolls with light lips and smokey eye shadow. Maybe a bit extreme here, since Vanessa's shadow matches her blazer. But in any case, I think she's lovely.

Angelic Dreamz sale this weekend

Save 20% off all in-stock Barbie, Integrity, Tonner and more, plus get free shipping on orders over $200, at Angelic Dreamz. This offer requires coupon code 3DAYSALE and expires at midnight on October 16.

Some items are excluded: JAMIEshow, Patience Brewster, products already on sale, pre-orders and special orders.

Color Infusion Rebel Spirit - short review

Rebel Spirit, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Rebel Spirit has made her arrival and been deboxed. She is from Integrity's Color Infusion collection. She is the Amelie sculpt on the Poppy Parker/Misaki torso with Vampire legs. Overall, I think she is a lovely, well-made and versatile doll, with the one exception of her hair needing a slight restyle upon arrival.

Her facial screening is really well executed. It uses a lot of metallic gold--in her eye shadow and lips--it gives her face a lively and dimensional look.

Her clothing has excellent tailoring, and the accessories have great details. The belt is a single piece and closes in the back with a hook and eye. She's wearing a jacket and a sheer silk chiffon blouse. Both the jacket and shorts have functional pockets.

The rest of her accessories are to die for: oversized sunglasses, a star shaped gold ring, earrings, purse with magnetic closure, sheer navy socks, gorgeous shoes (which are gorgeous but have no closures, so they were difficult to put on--a tiny shoe horn would help), and lots of colorful bracelets.

Plus, she uses the new style of stand: a waist gripper/saddle combo--and the waist gripper is perfect for dolls with shorts.

Now... to her hair. Well, I was a little disappointed after seeing her promo photos and the doll from IFDC. In the box--I should have taken before photos--she had a swirl/bun in the front which was just not executed well. I was able to rinse it, and if you wanted, you could straighten it into a cute asymmetric bob. The color is really nice.

I restyled mine--with gel, and not enough, apparently, after I see the photos up close and all the loose strands through the macro lens, LOL. Probably it would have worked better to sew the bun in place. I imagine most collectors would end up restyling anyway.

All and all, she's adorable. I love her. She's still pretty widely available for $125, and is a limited edition of 300.

More photos can be seen on Flickr.

tokidoki® Barbie® Doll | Barbie Collector

tokidoki® Barbie® Doll | Barbie Collector

Tokidoki Barbie is available for sale for $50 from Barbie Collector. She's that lovely Steffie sculpt we've all (read: I've) been waiting for. Plus, you can take advantage of $1 shipping per order--with no minimum or maximum--through November 19. I believe that special will automatically be calculated in your shopping cart.

Happy shopping!

Air Apparent Veronique (IT Convention Souvenir Doll)

So this gorgeous gal was the souvenir doll on the final night.  I absolutely adored her when I got a good look at her faceup.  The only thing I was not a fan of was the updo because I don't like updo's in general.  So today I took down her hair and restyled it into a ponytail.  When I took down her hair it was sparsely rooted and the cut was uneven due to how the original style was.  So I thought the best thing to do would be to pull back her hair into a ponytail and curl the ends under.  I think she looks even more amazing now!

A new Tonner record--The Rose of Versailles is sold out!

Wow--a new record for Tonner Doll Company! The limited edition of 100 outfits, The Rose of Versailles, sold out around 10:45 this morning PST, within an hour and 45 minutes of its release.

The outfit is a gorgeous Rococo era fashion: an ivory and blue printed gown, including incredible lace and ribbon details, a platinum wig, matching choker, pearl earrings, adorable blue period style shoes and feathered floral hat.

It retails for a whopping $139.99 and is scheduled to ship on October 25.

If you didn't get one--don't give up. I was able to pick one up from Dreamcastle Dolls (who is now sold out), and one for a friend of mine at Toni's Collectibles. 

Did you know Toni's Collectibles ships orders over $100 for free? Check out their amazing selection of older Tonner items--especially the 13" Revlon dolls. They have one of each one--including the wigged one! Plus, if you happen to be addicted to finding clothes for your Poppy Parker doll, check out these outfits for Simone Rouge--I find they usually fit pretty well.

Last I heard, you might be able to pick one up from Rose & Rouge in Canada, if they haven't already sold out.

Photos property of Tonner Doll Company.

IT Jet Set Convention Dolls on eBay

This was my first year attending an Integrity Toys convention. It won't be my last. The folks at Integrity Toys do a fantastic job of running a convention as well as providing great free swag and other things that are not so free. The latter is the reason for this post. My dear hubby caught a glimpse of my credit card statement on line. Oops! So, I'm listing dolls that while I just have to have them, I won't die if they find their way to another home. I'm also going through the other dolls that I've purchased over time doing the same. You see, in addition to the bill paying factor, I've decided that Poppy Parker is my one true love when it comes to Integrity dolls and don't you know that I did not win the right to purchase the Ready Steady Go Poppy centerpiece at the Poppy Parker luncheon. So, money to pay bills and money to buy Poppy. It never ends.

Please check out my eBay listings. I might be selling something that you just have to have!

Color Infusion crazy - Cosmic Love makes her debut

Cosmic Love from the Color Infusion collection of Integrity Toys made her arrival this week from Happily Ever After. She's a limited edition of 300 dolls, and retails for $125. After seeing this doll in person at IFDC in July, I decided to pre-order her, and I'm not disappointed.

These are photos taken of the doll right out of the box. She's gorgeous.

A few things make this doll special. First, she uses the Amelie sculpt. This sculpt is hard to find in the US--well, at least at a reasonable price. I'm thrilled to see her not only in use for dolls intended for sale here, but also in a darker skin tone.

Second--I have to say this--she has pink hair. I was a little worried about her bangs, but I shouldn't have been. I haven't even rinsed her hair, and they look just fine. Integrity Toys is amazing when it comes to dolls with bangs. And pink. I love dolls with funky colored hair. (It might be because my own changes every four weeks from pink to green to blue to purple.)

Third, her facial screening and eye lashes are to die for. She has applied eyelashes, and her eyeshadow has a metallic flavor (read: gold), perfectly executed. She has bubblegum pink lips, which you might think is too much, but it suits her overall look.

Next--let me go in to the quality of her outfit. Her dress feels like silk chiffon. It falls perfectly, without any pulls or gaps. The fur gives it just enough class. The only black on her outfit is one of her many tiny bracelets, her belt and her socks (which she wears with purple shoes). I know black is an easy color for mixing and matching, but for me, I like a little color in my life--or at least in my dolls' lives.

Finally, Cosmic Love's accessories are wonderful and numerous. She includes a bunch of slim bracelets and one wide one, a belt, earrings, oversized glasses, a necklace, socks, a fur wrap, and a purse. It's a fun set! The purse is a warm metallic gold with a magnetic closure. I love the details.

If you've been on the fence about these dolls, let me convince you--buy one. Cosmic Love is ready to go, right out of the box. She's fun and gorgeous. Plus, she includes the new style of stand--both saddle and waist gripper. You can see more photos of her on Flickr.

Tonner's latest release--I'm gonna die!

Wow, wow, wow! 

The new release from Tonner is here, and there is one particular outfit I won't be letting slip by!

The Rose of Versailles is a limited edition outfit of 100 pieces. (I believe this outfit may have been originally designed for a cancelled event, but I'm not sure. I'm thrilled to see it was produced!) Check out that hat!

The outfit retails for $139.99 and fits the 16" Tyler body. The pieces include the ivory and blue printed dress, the feathered floral hat, blue shoes, pearl earrings, platinum wig, and a blue choker with lace and cameo. Expected ship date is October 25. (I think the model is Carol Barrie.)

 From the Antoinette collection, putting in the holiday spirit is a new dressed doll, Chilled. She has blue eyes and platinum hair (it looks like it's pulled back in a ponytail). The doll has the bloom skin tone. She's wearing a gorgeous dolman sleeve bouclé dress, trimmed trimmed with faux fur, an off white matching faux fur hat, grey gloves and boots, and crystal bracelets.

Chilled retails for $179.99 and is a limited edition of 300. She's scheduled to ship October 25.

The next new release from the Antoinette collection has amazing facial screening. She's called Delightful and is dressed in a gorgeous fall/halloween toned printed suit with an over-sized collar. She includes burgundy gloves, pumps, and a fun multi-colored beaded necklaces. She is the bloom skin tone, and has auburn hair and blue eyes.

Delightful is a limited edition of 300, retails for $179.99, and is scheduled to ship on October 17.

From the Cami&Jon collection, we're treated to a gorgeous new Basic Platinum Cami. She's got inset acrylic eyes (blue) and long, rooted platinum hair (straight). She comes on the Antoinette body and is in the lily skin tone. She also has applied lashes. She doesn't include a stand--and she isn't shown with shoes. She may be an Ultra Basic doll.

If you weren't able to pick up a wigged Cami earlier this year, now is your chance. She retails for $89.99, and is expected to ship on October 25. She's a limited edition of 500.

Bridgehampton is a new outfit offering for the Cami&Jon collection. It's a pale blue and gold long dress, and includes matching beaded bracelets and gold shoes.

The expected shipping date is October 25, the outfit is limited to 300, and it retails for $79.99.

Next, a new collection has been introduced: White Christmas. The licensing for these dolls limit sales to the United States. Rosemary Clooney as Better Haynes is the first doll. She's limited to 500 and available for $199.99. 

The doll is a new sculpt on the 16" Tyler BW body. She has blue eyes and blond hair with the bloom skin tone. She includes a gorgeous red gown, white muff with beaded decorations, red gloves, beaded earrings, and red shoes. She's expected to ship on October 25.

Next is Judy Haynes. She has a new head sculpt on a bloom skin tone Tyler BW body. She has brown eyes and blonde hair. She includes a gorgeous red gown with cape. She also includes red gloves, beaded muff, red shoes, beaded earrings and a white faux fur hat.

Judy is expected to ship on November 8, and she's a limited edition of 500, and retails for $199.99. 

I love the new promo photo photography style--though I'd love to be able to see the shoes! Kudos to this new release! I'm thrilled. 

Go place your orders at your favorite Tonner dealer today.

Photos property of Tonner Doll Company. Like their new photographer? It's Ernesto Padro-Campos.