Steffie of the Day: European Standard redhead

Untitled, a photo by alington on Flickr.

From 1974, this is stock #8587, a hard-to-find Standard Barbie with red hair and a TNT waist. She uses the Steffie face mold and has straight legs.

I thought for years that redheads and brunettes were Australian exclusives, but I came across this one on eBay, thanks to Nikki's Barbie Shopper.

You can see a few more photos of this lovely lady on Flickr.

Barbie Convention Room Sales

Just eight days until I leave for the National Barbie Doll Convention taking place in Garden Grove, CA, from July 11th through the 14th. However, I'll arrive at the Hyatt Regency Orange County on July 7th in order to help set up our room for room sales.  There will be four of us selling dolls and doll related items from our room.

Kathie will have a variety of vintage goodies including near mint and complete outfits as well as some rare dolls including a titian side part bubble cut and a platinum color magic. Alicia is bringing over 100 nude dolls each priced at $10 or less...many at just $1, $3 or $5. Perfect for one of a kind (OOAK) work or making table gifts, or for play. She'll also have about 25 boxed dolls and a variety of other things. Tamara will be selling Momoko dolls and one SD13 Volks doll. I'll have a large variety of doll and doll-related items to include never removed from box (NRFB) dolls, de-boxed dressed dolls, nude dolls, clothing, and furnishings. Most of my items are contemporary, but I'll have the odd vintage piece here and there.


Once I check in at the hotel, I'll be able to post our room number. The really nice thing about room sales is that customers don't have to be registered for the convention; anyone can shop room sales. So, whether you're attending convention or not, stop by and check us out!

Jem and the Holograms - a San Diego Comic Con Exclusive

Hollywood Jem, photo property of Integrity Toys

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Integrity Toys and Hasbro have announced a new line of collaborative dolls, which will debut at San Diego Comic Con: Jem and the Holograms.

With a retail price of $125, Hollywood Jem stands 12" tall, and stays true to the 1980s look. She is fabulous!

Here is a link to the new website. And this is the press release:

Integrity Toys, Inc. in collaboration with Hasbro, Inc. Announce JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS Collectible Fashion Dolls First of the High-End Collectible Fashion Doll Line Based on the 1980s Animated Series Available at the 2012 Comic-Con International in San Diego Integrity Toys, Inc., under license from Hasbro, Inc., today announced a brand-new series of high-end collectible fashion dolls based on the 1980's ground breaking animated series JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS, launching at 2012 Comic-Con International in San Diego.    Inspired by the "truly outrageous" characters created by Hasbro over two decades ago and cherished by fans and collectors alike ever since, this nostalgic retro doll line is designed to pay homage to both the animated series and its original companion doll line, originally marketed from 1985 to 1987. Created for fans by fans of the rock 'n shock pink haired pop-culture icon and her outrageous world, this classic commemorative line will feature the high-end details, quality accessories and ultra-limited edition sizes that fans of Integrity Toys have come to appreciate through the years.    This first doll in this exciting commemorative collection will be JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS Special Edition Doll: HOLLYWOOD JEM, one of the most requested animated-based looks.  This doll will be available for purchase at the HasbroToyShop booth #3329 during Comic-Con International in San Diego at an approximate retail price of $125 and following the convention, at www.HasbroToyShop.com.    The dolls, created by noted collectible manufacturer Integrity Toys, will mark the debut of a newly sculpted fully articulated body and likeness of the rock star wearing a high-end costume, delivered in collector grade packaging. Future additions to the line will be announced in the months following Comic-Con International in San Diego via a dedicated web page located at http://www.integritytoys.com/jemandtheholograms, which has been created to bring fans all the latest information about the Classic JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS collectible line moving forward.    "As children of the 80's ourselves, working on this project with the Hasbro team was a dream come true for our entire team. JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS has been a major influence for us," says Alain Tremblay, marketing director of Integrity Toys, Inc.     "We wanted to remain true to the spirit of the original doll line, while paying homage to the animated series, which is something that we as JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS fans always wanted through the years," says Vaughn Sawyers, Integrity's head designer.    JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS made a noted return on television in 2011 airing on The HUB TV Network in the U.S., followed by the much anticipated release of a sleek DVD box set last fall that features all 65 episodes of the original animated series. "We wanted to pay homage to the characters and offer collectible dolls to fans that would showcase the essence of their favorite characters.  We admire the high quality dolls produced by Integrity Toys, so this relationship made perfect sense," says Bryony Bouyer, Senior Vice President, Global Franchise Development for Hasbro.     Get ready for some serious glamour fashion and fame; it's show time Synergy!    About Hasbro Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company's world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Company's Hasbro Studios develops and produces television programming for markets around the world. The Hub TV Network is part of a multi-platform joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), in the U.S. Through the company's deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens."Learn more at www.hasbro.com.    © 2012 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved    About Integrity Toys, Inc.    Integrity Toys designs and markets a variety of fashion and celebrity dolls and related accessories, with a specialization in high-end fashion dolls.  Founded in 1995, Integrity Toys' extensive experience and capabilities in the field of doll making allows them to create products and programs for many of the world's best-known retailers, consumer products companies, celebrities and other intellectual property holders.    Integrity currently produces high-end fashion dolls ranging in size from approximately 12 inches to 16 inches tall, under a number of brands, including Fashion Royalty, the Dynamite Girls and Poppy Parker among others.   The Company's products typically retail from $60 to $250 each, with most of the products retailing in the $130-150 range.  Their products are known for their superior engineering, high-end aesthetics and of course, fashionable, detailed clothing.    For more information about Integrity Toys, Inc. please visit www.integritytoys.com.

Model #03 from Mattel Shop

BARBIE BASICS Model #03 Collection #002 The Barbie Basics dolls rock their trendy denim looks with plenty of sass and attitude! Collect the entire line, which features nine breathtaking beauties and three ruggedly handsome males each in a cool T-shirt to coordinate with the jeans. Personalization and play has never been more chic, fun, or fabulous!

BARBIE BASICS Model #03 Collection #002

I just adore the Steffie sculpt. This girl is one of my favorites!

Getting Ready for Convention

This is the post that I originally started in April. Then I got sidetracked. I've come back to it, but I'm still getting sidetracked. I've decided I better post it now, or it'll never get posted!

The National Barbie Doll Convention is being held in Garden Grove, CA, July 11 -15. One of the first things I learned about the convention is that "room selling" is a huge part of convention. Attendees will arrive to the convention hotel several days in advance of the convention start date and sell doll related items out of their hotel room. I am planning on taking full advantage of this time honored tradition by selling items from my own collection.  Luckily the convention is a 75 minute drive away from home so getting my wares there will be a little easier than if I had to fly.

The first thing on my list is to gather all the 1:6 scale doll clothing, try each and every piece on a fashion doll, and then place each piece either in the keep pile or the sell pile. I'm amazed by the quantity of clothing that I have amassed over the years. Some of the pieces have me scratching my head and wondering what I was thinking when I purchased the item.  Others I find looked better in the package than they did on the doll. And then with other pieces, I find I'm just tired of them. It's really a lot like going through my own closet every Spring.

I ended up choosing A Girl I Know, Holly Golightly from Integrity Toy's Breakfast at Tiffany's line to be my model. She was a perfect choice as her neutral coloring went with just about everything. The fact that her hands are removable made dressing and undressing a snap.

Holly in later Fashion Avenue outfit

Above is an example of an outfit I'm keeping. Funny, it's been a while since I first began composing this post and some of the clothing that I planned on keeping is now in the sell pile.  This outfit is not, but it's amazing what I'm learning I can live without.

The next category of items to sort is the furniture. This one's a little easier. I used to buy a lot of the plastic stuff, but ever since Maryann Roy and her Welcome Home line of furniture came on the scene, the plastic has taken a backseat. Occasionally I can work a piece of plastic in with the more realistic furniture, but not always. One thing I'm realizing at this point, I'm dusting the for sale doll-scale furniture more than I've ever dusted my human-scale furniture. That is a sad statement.

Lastly, I'm gathering dolls to sell, from never removed from box (NRFB) items to nude dolls. Some are duplicates, either because I forgot that I already had the doll or my logic told me that if I like the doll that much, I'd really love her if I have two. Although I will have to say that some dolls just look good for redressing purposes. That's probably why I just opened a cabinet and found four more Birthstone Beauties Model Muse dolls that I had redressed in Fashion Fever outfits. Really, I thought I had already found them all and finished pricing them. Oh well, more dolls to go in the doll bin and more outfits for the clothing bin. I'm even culling my Silkstone dolls. That's something I thought I would never do. I guess this downsizing thing is serious.

I'm hoping to have it all done before convention so that I can take everything that I want. But I suppose being done is a little nebulous. Regardless of where I am in this process, once the date to leave for the convention gets here, I'm done. Wish me luck!

My pathetic attempt at doll sales.

So... you know those annoying dolls-for-sale posts you've been seeing lately? The point: to get a little extra spending money for the upcoming Barbie convention.

Here's a brief update:

First, every person who I've dealt with so far has just been nothing short of angelic. Thank you!

Second, I have to confess that my goal has fallen short. Instead of getting more money, I've actually gotten more dolls. I've been trading, trading, and trading. While I have managed to sell a few, I've ended up trading far more. I've been able to add several grails--like, the I'll-never-be-able-to-own-one-of-these--to my collection. It's fantastic!

But at the same time... well, what can I say? LOL!

Barbie Convention, Exercise, and Contests

What do those three things have in common? Three things I hope to be participating in two weeks from now. The National Barbie Doll Convention kicks off on Wednesday, July 11th, at the Hyatt Orange County in Garden Grove, CA. However, I'll actually arrive at the hotel on the preceding Saturday in order to set up room sales with three friends with whom I'll be rooming.  I'll provide more information about the room sales in a future post.

The exercise is something that I'm currently doing, but I can easily get sidetracked...like at a Barbie Convention.  I took up running over the past year and while I'm getting better at it, I find that I need to practice it routinely.  Unlike Alison, I'm not a very good multi-tasker.  I'm more of an all or nothing kind of gal and I can see Barbie consuming all of my time at the convention.

The contests? Well, that's where I'm hoping you, dear reader, will keep me honest with my exercise. If you plan on attending the Barbie Convention this year, please look for me and ask me how my exercise for the day went. The contest will run from Sunday, July 8th through Wednesday, July 11th. The first person to ask me about that day's exercise will win a doll-related prize.  What are the prizes?  That's a surprise!

So you know who to look for!

The fine print: One prize per person per convention, I need to be able to print your first name and last inital in a post to show that a real person won a real prize, and sorry roomies, I need to exclude you from the contest..

How do you feel about multi-tasking?

Generally speaking, are you a multi-tasker? As it turns out, I'm not so much. However, I do go in productive creative spurts that border on mania. Well, perhaps these spurts could be described that way. Possibly another way to describe this phenomenon is inspiration and procrastination--combined with artificially and unrealistically set goals.

Or maybe I just really don't want to do the laundry.

I uploaded the proof for my next project, the next in the Out of the Box series, all about Mattel's Steffie sculpt late last night, after I received the proof via UPS for Alice: Out of the Box.

My goals are:

• Finish Steffie: Out of the Box by Barbie convention. 
• Finish Alice: Out of the Box in time for IFDC. 
• Stay off the news.

We shall see.

Really, though. It makes me wonder why I'm doing this. Wanting to throw all PDF-related products out the window, never to be seen again? Terrible reviews on Amazon? $2 per book?

No! Because I love dolls, I love photography, and I love writing, darn it! Tears and all.

Activa by Cipsa and...

Activa by Cipsa, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Activa is a Steffie sculpt on the Free Moving body, and created in Mexico by Cipsa under Mattel's license--available just in Mexico. My girl was originally in terrible condition, but has been repainted and had her hair fixed by Roberta Marino here in San Diego.

I just love her unique look.

On that note... do you want to take a little guess what Out of the Box project I'm working on next?

The Blonds Diamond™ Barbie Doll

Coming in August, the Blonds Diamond™ Barbie will be released. No news yet on price or edition size, but she is sure to be a hit.

I have to confess, I'm not always a fan of simply white fur, sparkle and pink, for some reason... if this girl looks as nice as her promotional photos, I'm pretty excited! I love that it's the lining of her coat that's lined--and I can't help thinking how cool and versatile that diamond encrusted cocktail dress would be in my collection.

Here's the information about the designers, Philipe and David Blond:

Phillipe and David Blond met in New York City and launched The Blonds in 2008. Together they have created collections that have taken the design world by storm.
Featuring over the top looks full of glamour and spectacle embellished with crystals, chains, sequins and spikes, their pieces have garnered rave reviews from editors, fashion writers, stylists and celebrities alike, including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez, Fergie, Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Beyonce Knowles.  Quickly gaining global stature, The Blonds have been featured in Vogue, L’Officiel, Dazed & Confused, Prestige, GQ, Elle, Marie Claire , InStyle and V Magazine. Supermodels Gisele Bundchen, Helena Christensen, Naomi Campbell, Karlie Kloss, Chanel Iman and Iman have all been photographed in The Blonds custom couture.
In 2008 The Blonds were nominated for the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award for Womenswear.   In 2009 The Blonds were the exclusive designers at the Life Ball in Vienna, Austria - one of the largest AIDS charities and runway shows in the world - hosted by President Bill Clinton, Katy Perry and Eva Longoria. The Blonds received the esteemed Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award for Womenswear in 2009. With the EDFF grant, The Blonds presented one of the most exciting shows at New York Fashion Week. Since then, they have continued to deliver captivating runway shows, season after season!
In 2010 The Blonds collaborated with Mattel to design three one of a kind Barbie dolls.

Images property of Mattel.

Evening Gown Barbie at Barbie Collector!

Perhaps my favorite from the new Atelier Silkstone Collection series so far, Evening Gown Barbie is now available for order--from BarbieCollector or your favorite Barbie dealer. Her retail is $125, and she is a Gold Label doll designed by Robert Best.

The sheer bodice overlay of her gown is embellished with white beads, iridescent sequins and silk flowers, displaying a floor length elegance pink flared skirt beneath. A white pleated overlay adds drama to the outfit. Accents include pink gloves, rhinestone and pearl drop earrings, and cross strap shoes.

The doll herself has ultra-soft facial screening with neutral pink lips, and smokey eyes with winged eye liner. Her two-toned hair is styled in a classic updo.

Photo property of Mattel.

Rick Genest Doll -- San Diego Comic Con Tonner Doll

I've heard Zombies are sort of the thing, and that Tonner Doll would have a celebrity at their booth at Comic Con this year in San Diego... but oh my gosh!

Zombie Boy Rick Genest--direct from Tonner Doll's website! (Rick's tattoo styling was featured in Lady Gaga's Born This Way video.)

Wow. Carolyn, you'd better get me one.

Photo property of Tonner Doll Company.

Superfrock fans, save the date! June 14, Neurotica, the third in the Hell's Belles series of Sybarites will be going on sale at Marl & B, and she's an exclusive.

She's limited to just 120 dolls, and retails for $820.

She will be posted live for sale at 10:00 am EST on Thursday, June 14.

I love the combination of color, tattoos, fashion forward couture and yet somehow retro feel in the design of the dolls.

Photos are property of Superfrock and Marl & B Inc.

More dolls on the secondary market...

I've continued adding to my for-sale listings on my DollPage show and sell listings. My two newest arrivals:

• Nude (but as yet never-removed-from-box) Rocking Ever After Lilith from the W Club exclusive Rock Wedding, by Integrity Toys and
• NRFB Isn't It Romantic? Poppy Parker as Sabrina--she is is brown-eyed girl of the bunch and just gorgeous.

I still have many other items listed for sale--can you tell I have another convention coming up?--and while I do have some trades listed, I'm a little more choosy in those trades than I have been in the past.

I'm looking for a few outfits, and a stunning Tyler. You can see my complete want-to-trade list here. Thanks for looking, and thanks for your support!

Sneak peek - what's uploading today?

Alice: Out of the Box

I'm uploading the manuscript to CreateSpace today--I hope, if it will ever in a million years finish! I'll keep you posted!

Collecting...hmmm, hoarding?

So, I hope this will be a short post. I need to get back to organizing, pricing, and packing my "stuff" to sell at the Barbie Convention next month. I actually tried writing a post back in April about my endeavors, but it is still in draft mode due to my inability to prioritize, organize, and just plain not buy anything new to add to my ever increasing pile of...well, you get the idea.

Anyway, I had to write this because I wanted to share my elation over finding a doll that I just knew was somewhere in the house, but was eluding my efforts at finding her. There she was, in the bottom of a box, under plastic baggies stuffed with 1:6 scale accessories and play line clothing. Said box was shoved under a piece of furniture, off in a corner of the room inaccessible due to all the other stuff I had placed in front of it. Agnes was not amused.

I used to call myself a collector. I believe I have passed that stage and entered the realm of hoarding. Please, someone come over and save me from myself!

Support your local conventioneer!

I have a couple of dolls available for sale--Mint in box, never removed from box, or gently used and photographed, and displayed behind glass--which are looking for a new home. Maybe that home is yours! You can see all my listings at the DollPage. Contacting me is easy, too. You can even see my extensive Want-to-Trade list on there as well. Thanks for looking, and I hope you have a dolly-worthy week!

Save the date: Tonner Doll Sale

Coming soon:

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 Noon EDT
Tonner Doll 24-Hour One Day Sale
Ends
Thursday, June 14, 2012 at Noon EDT

According to Tonner Direct's Facebook post:

Get ready, peeps, because we're having a ONE DAY SALE next week!! Mark your calendars and synchronize your watches for Wednesday, June 13th at Noon EDT! There will be crazy discounts on already marked down items, but for 24 hours only, so don't miss it! Ends Thursday June 14th at Noon EDT.

W Club Lottery Doll - Summer

W Club members were treated to a lottery ordering opportunity earlier this week with the release of Summer, a new Dynamite Girl IT Direct Exclusive. She's scheduled for a June 11 delivery date (that is soon!) and she's limited to just 250 dolls. She retails for $50.

She's a brown-eyed raven-haired girl (who also looks like Jasper, the same sculpt used for Spring), with soft pink facial screening, and is dressed in a yellow cocktail sheath.

These dolls are limited to W Club members only, which will be drawn by lottery on June 11. Members have till June 20th to pay.

Two more dolls are still scheduled for release - Fall and Winter of this year. What a great set these four dolls would make for your collection! (I'm maybe wishing I had held onto Spring now, LOL!)

 Photos are property of Integrity Toys.

Monster High Rochelle Goyle in stock June 12 at Angelic Dreamz

Rochelle Goyle Monster High

Available June 12, 2012, and for preorder today for $29.99, Rochelle Goyle from Monster High's Core 2012 collection, she's limited to two dolls per household from Angelic Dreamz. This cute ghoul includes her pet gargoyle griffin Roux--and I of course am in love with her two-toned pink and blue hair.

This doll was previously sold out and is being restocked. You can see the rest of the Monster Highy collection from Angelic Dreamz here.

Image property of Angelic Dreamz and used with permission.

The Parrot

The Parrot, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Oh dear. The Flock is complete!

The lovely (Antoinette) Parrot arrived this week, and she is just to die for! I wasn't going to keep all my birds, but just for a little while, I thought I needed the entire set. I'm just pathetic.

I bought the set of five (the Flamingo was the convention doll) at convention for a discounted price, and originally sold Parrot to my fellow conventioneer Carolyn. When I saw the Parrot in my post-con photos, I had a slight change of heart.

And here is my new one. I was able to snag one at the post-convention sale. What is my problem anyway? It's truly a sickness. And man, are my kitties ever tempted!

You can see a few more photos on Flickr.

Suggested reading: OOAK Zoo Blog

OOAK Zoo blog

Love repaints? You must subscribe to James Mitchell's blog, OOAK Zoo. For fabulous repaints of ball-jointed dolls, and 16" fashion dolls (both resin and vinyl), you simply must check out his amazing work.

He has done repainting of every brand from Tonner to Sybarite, Fashion Royalty to JamieShow. He creates his own eyelashes for each repaint, and also does restoration, body blushing, and french manicures. He has even been featured in DOLLS Magazine (in the March 2012 edition).

Additionally, you can subscribe to his photo stream on Flickr, for more fabulous photos.

This is just a fantastic site for eye candy! Subscribe--and then request your own time slot!

More shameless commerce...

Lots more fun stuff posted for sale at the DollPage this evening... if you have some cash (or trades!) available, check out my listings!

I have a lot of fun NRFB stuff available for sale, including:

• 13" Wonder Woman (DC Stars by Tonner Doll) for $50
• Let It Sew Amelia Thimble Gift Set (Wilde Imagination ) for $200
• Let It Sew exclusive Christmas ornament for $20
• Baby It's You Poppy Parker and Chip Farnworth III Gift Set for $215
• Fashion Royalty 3-pack of shoes for $30
• You Look So Fine Erin $140
• Back to Brooklyn Neve and Jasper

Additionally, I've still got some convention dolls available from the Tonner's Flights of Fancy, including:

• Captain Paul for $159
• Amazonia Wonder Woman 16" for $175
• Animal Magnetism Marilyn Monroe 16" for $199
• Judy (Glinda sculpt) Airline Stewardess for $95

In addition to some other goodies.

My trade list is long and hardy (tee hee), and you can see it in full here. Thanks so much for looking!

Suggested Reading: The Toy Box Philosopher

The Toy Box Philosopher blog

If you're interested in the latest reviews of dolls, subscribing to The Toy Box Philosopher is an absolute must! Emily's blog is an honest, down-to-earth and extremely detailed account of reviews of all sorts of dolls and collector items--ranging from Monster High dolls to Tonner Dolls to Sybarite--with a lot of detailed photos and humor thrown in as well.

I love her photography--it's really fun to look at, and she considers all sorts of things collectors consider (and things I often wouldn't even think to consider) when purchasing dolls. She purchases the items and reviews them, but I bet if we can get her some additional readers, and doll companies start discovering her site, manufacturers would be wise to start sending her free goodies to review!

You can follow Em's blog directly and also on Facebook.

Seriously, people, I know I get a lot of readers here looking for photos and reviews of Monster High dolls--you must go check out some of her reviews of these products. Here's another courtesy screen shot and a link to one of my favorite reviews--Howleen and Clawdeen Sister set:

Also--did you know she did a giveaway in May? Of Cupid?

Stop wasting your time reading my drivel and go start reading the Toy Box Philosopher. And as always--don't forget to support your local bloggers by leaving thoughtful comments, clicking on their ads and buying their previously loved items.

Plus, I have to say--if you ever do business with Em on Prego--she is just totally 100% awesome, too.

Rush of Rose Gold - from new BFC Exclusive

Photo is property of Mattel

Rush of Rose Gold is the fourth and final doll of the precious metals collection, following Splash of Silver, Glimmer of Gold and Pinch of Platinum--all Barbie Fan Club Exclusive dolls from Barbie Collector. She is designed by Robert Best and a Platinum Edition, priced at $85. She's limited to less than 1000 dolls worldwide, and is scheduled to go on sale to Barbie Fan Club members only on June 13, 2012 at 9:00 am, PST.

Members are limited to one doll per membership, while supplies last. Get your membership now, if you're interested in purchasing this lovely girl. Memberships are still available for $24.95, and this year, memberships have been limited to 7500 worldwide.

I didn't realize this earlier, but international members are welcome, if they have a US or Canadian shipping address. It's really quite a good deal--even still--with the exclusive dolls and the quarterly $20 discounts!

Ultra rare Platinum Hope Diamond Barbie

Hope Diamond Barbie, Italian Doll Convention

Don't wait--if you love Barbie, get your act together and pick up this fantastic ultra limited Platinum edition Barbie from the Italian Doll Convention.

Signed by Robert Best himself, who attended this convention in person, this gorgeous Hope Diamond Barbie is a rare platinum-haired version and an edition of just 180 pieces. You can pick her up from Kathie's Fashion Dolls in mint never-removed-from-box condition at a starting bid of just $379.99 on eBay, or better yet, buy it now for $425.

You get this fantastic price just because of a minor dent in the box on the box cover, as shown in the eBay listing--but don't wait! This doll won't last long! This doll has been selling for $550 and up, and is currently listed at Marl & B for $599! You won't be able to beat this price.

Kathie is known for her fantastic customer service, she is a US dealer, and she ships worldwide. I can personally vouch for her amazing service! Plus, you'll be supporting one of the absolute sweetest doll dealers I know and a dear personal friend. She is a top-rated seller on eBay, has 100% positive feedback, and over 37,000 of them, if I might add!

Hope Diamond Barbie, Italian Doll Convention

Images are property of Kathie Tilton and may not be used without permission.

Wilde Weekend -- Register Now!

Registration is now open (and limited to 200 guests) for A Wilde Weekend - Wilde Imagination's first convention in Louisville, KY, October 5-7, 2012.

The cost is $349, or you can hold your spot for a non-refundable $50 deposit, with the rest of the payments due of July 1, August 1, and September 1. You'll be staying at Seelbach Hilton hotel, with room rate at $149 per night. All the information can be found here.

I heard a rumor (on Wilde Imagination's event page, actually) that the breakout events are actually included in the registration price. Here is the quote:

However, this Wilde Weekend will have no break outs, so your cost of registration will include every event. Your registration price includes your admittance to the entire weekend. Certain meals will be included, and of course there will be a souvenir doll. An agenda of events will be announced at a later time, so stay tuned. 

Tonner Convention goodies for trade

Animal Magnetism, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Hi all,

I've got a few Tonner convention goodies for sale or trade available. You can see my original post here on Prego. I'll also be posting on the DollPage in a few moments as well. I have:

• Animal Magnetism 16" Marilyn Monroe
• Judy Airline Stewardess
• Captain Paul, the new 17" Matt O'Neill sculpt and
• Amazonia Wonder Woman, 16"

If you aren't set up on Prego, you can register here, or you can wait just a few moments, and I'll update my DollPage listings.

I have quite a few trades on my wish list as well, which I will also be posting! Thanks for looking.

Wilde Weekend - Registration begins tomorrow!

While there isn't a Tonner Halloween convention scheduled this year, you can save the date for the following event:

A Wilde Weekend
Secret Garden
October 5-7, 2012
Seelbach Hilton Hotel
Louisville, KY

Registration starts tomorrow, June 6, 2012, via this link, and is limited to 200 guests. The cost is $349, and includes and Ellowyne souvenir doll. Additional activities are also planned, which will include Amelia Thimble, Evangeline Ghastly, and Imperium Park's Thea and Phin.

Notes about the Seelbach Hilton: This is where Tom and Daisy Buchanan had their wedding reception in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The hotel appears on the National Register of Hisotical Places, and is rated as a 4-diamond luxury hotel. Room rates are $149 per night when you mention 'Wilde' while making your reservations.

Suggested reading: My Darling Dolls

My Darling Dolls blog - screen shot

I just came across this wonderful website, My Darling Dolls, as I was perusing Tonner's blog this morning. Marie's blog is fantastic resource for fashion doll collectors looking for real-life photos of dolls of all shapes and sizes. You really should subscribe.

If French isn't your first (or second) language, you can turn on Google translate on the right, and translate the page into the language of your choice. On this blog, you will find many gorgeous images of Marie's doll collection--ranging from Tonner Dolls to Fashion Royalty to Barbie--redressed and restyled in assorted fashions.

Each photo shoot is labeled with the outfits used, and the colors are lovely and cheerful. When I see this site, I see a collector in love with her dolls.

The site is easily navigated, so you can click on the sculpt or doll you'd like to see on the left, and this will bring on the posts which use this doll.

She has been publishing since February of 2010, and has very few followers--so let's get her some more! Go subscribe to her blog! It's wonderful!

New items from Barbie

The Dolls of the World collection dolls are now in stock, with another--Hawaii--on the way in the middle of June. The Doll Genie currently has the collection of the four in-stock Passport Dolls of the World (Australia, Ireland, China and Argentina) on special for $99.95. These dolls retail for $29.95 each.

Additionally, you can find a new Dolls of the World Mexico, India, Holland and Chile, which will be in stock soon. Currently, they have just arrived at Barbie Collector, and should be arriving at your favorite Barbie dealer as well.

Each Passport doll includes a passport, special pet, country stickers and brush.

A quick note about the Doll Genie: If you're a contemporary Barbie collector, you should definitely consider becoming a Magic Carpet Club member. There are lots of fun benefits, including special sales, secret points (which are addicting), monthly raffles, dented box sales, and lots more fun stuff. They have their own message board, get sneak peeks on new dolls, can get free shipping on special days (I just won free shipping today!), and win extra prizes. It's kind of a fun little perk!

Photo is copyright Mattel, and used with the intention that you might order it from your favorite Barbie dealer.

Tropicalia? What is it?

Image from FlyGirlBlog.com

Based on the Integrity Toys upcoming convention, I found the following article on Tropicália from Wikipedia:

Tropicália, also known as Tropicalism, is a Brazilian music movement that arose in the late 1960s and encompassed theatre, poetry, and music, among other forms. It came under the influence of avant-garde artistic trends and pop culture and foreign (such as pop rock and concreteness); mixed traditional manifestations of Brazilian culture to radical aesthetic innovations. Tropicália was influenced by poesia concreta(concrete poetry), a genre of Brazilian avant-garde poetry embodied in the works of Augusto de Campos, Haroldo de Campos, and Décio Pignatari, among a few others.^[1] However, Tropicália is associated almost exclusively with the musical expression movement, both in Brazil and internationally, which arose from the fusion of several musical genres, like Brazilian and African rhythms and rock and roll. 

Additionally, I found more information on The Barbican's website. Apparently, this movement was formed in response to the military dictatorship in Brazil at the time. While it only lasted from 1967-1972, its influence can still be seen today in musicians such as David Bowie, David Byrne, Beck and The Bees.

In doing an image search for "tropicalia," I came up with quite a range of images, which I'm including with links to their original sources here as well. Psychedelic colors, flowing fabric, large prints, fruit hats, beads and feathers seem to be recurring themes--just from my short searches.

Image from www.barbican.com

An example of Tropicalia inspired shoes - for kids today - just adorable and cute:

Integrity Toys Convention - register now!

Registration is now open for the 2012 Integrity Toys convention:

Tropicalia
2012 Integrity Toys Convention
Hyatt Grand Cypress Hotel and Resort
Orlando, Florida
September 27-29, 2012

Convention costs $400 if you are staying at the Hyatt Grand and $525 if you are staying off premise. Here what's included:

• Three complete sit-down meals: welcome dinner, luncheon and final gala dinner
• Themed costume party with door prizes
• Convention swag, multiple dolls and bonus gifts
• Chance to purchase at least one of each limited edition doll in the convention collection
• Room sales
• Access to the IT store
• New revamped Create-a-Doll Studio (no longer Dynamite Girls)
• New optional breakout event: "16 at 1600 High-Tea"
• New optional workshops with higher edition sizes on workshop kits
• W Club Members luncheon optional event

Hotel cost is $169 per night for up to 4 guests per room with the special IT convention rate. You can register for the convention now and find out all you need to know here. There are several payment plans available.

Registration for the breakout events are scheduled for a late June release. The convention is limited to 450 guests, and is open to everyone--not just W Club members. So sign up now!

Amazonia Wonder Woman

Amazonia Wonder Woman, a photo by alington on Flickr.

From the Amazonia Wonder Woman breakout event from Tonner Convention, this lovely lady is the souvenir doll.

Amazonia is limited to 300 dolls, and retails for $175. She uses a blue-eyed Diana head sculpt on the 16" Heroic body. She includes both regular hands and painted blue fist hands. She has rooted black hair, with painted ringlets.

Her outfit includes a burgundy faux leather bodice with gold bird topstitched on the front, attached blue panties, and a burgundy waist wrap with silver star accents. She also includes navy blue gauntlets and silver gauntlet bracelets, blue choker, nude hose, metallic boots, and a gold crown with a red star.

She includes a stand.

She is still available on Tonner Doll's website. You can see more photos of her on Flickr as well.

Captain Paul

Captain Paul, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Also from opening night at Tonner's latest convention, Captain Paul uses the new and revised Matt O'Neill sculpt.

He's wearing a handsome pilot's uniform, cap, and plastic shoes. I believe he is limited to 100, and is still available on Tonner Doll.

More photos can be seen on Flickr.

Crazy cat lady and Shelley

Shelley, a photo by alington on Flickr.

That would be me.

I'll introduce Shelley, the blonde Tonner Air Stewardess centerpiece from the opening night dessert. She's a limited edition of 100, and is a brown-eyed, forward-glancing Supergirl sculpt.

I was taking photos of her the other day, and I had a little helping hand--or paw, I should say. Technically, I need to revise my doll listings when I state "my cats state away from my dolls," as one obviously is interested in them now. I keep my dolls behind glass--and you can see why.

Chanel, our two year-old ocicat, thinks she is very helpful and photogenic. (She is rather photogenic, actually.) However, she isn't always helpful when she sneaks into the photo frame.

See more photos on Flickr--most without Miss Kitty. And yes, I've hidden those feather-laden Birds from convention well. Chanel Pea knows how to open some cabinets, but hasn't mastered the doll cabinets yet!

By the way--as of this afternoon, Tonner Direct still has this doll for sale on their website for $159.