New stuff from Azone... but I'm not an Alice fan anymore (Ack! Help me!)

Himeno, Osumashi Mouth

I'm seeing three new items released from Azone this morning that are actually still available for preorder from Hobby Search. In the 1:6 size, Ex Cute series, it's Himeno, only my favorite face, in two versions with a Winter 2014 release date for 11,400 yen (about $112) in two versions - her normal mouth or a straight Osumashi mouth. She's called Classic Alice Tick Tock Rabbit on the S Pure Neemo body.

Next, there's a large gorgeous 50cm girl, only wait list available from Hobby Search, for 42,750 yen (about $419), called Time of Grace Alice. She's really pretty!

Himeno Ex Cute Osumashi Mouth

Himeno, normal mouth

Alice, Time of Grace

Photos are property of Azone, International.

New dolls from Azone from Hobby Search

Check out these new cuties from Azone, available to reserve from Hobby Search Japan. I've ordered lots of things from this company before, and they are vey reliable with great prices. Don't wait, though, as these dolls go quickly!

Above, it's Ex Cute Pureneemo Aika with a pouty mouth as 10th Best Selection Classic Alice Cheshire Cat. She's on sale for 11,400 yen (about $111.46), and as of the post, was available for reservation. She's due to ship this summer, and she's the 1:6 size.

A similar version is also available at the same price, with Aika's traditional smile.

Unfortunately, I missed out on Picco Ex Cute Neemo Himeno, who is a 1/12 size in an adorable school uniform. She's due to ship in later May, retailing for 6,460 yen (about $63.16). I have her on my waiting list. Himeno is one of my favorite faces!

Photos are property of Azone.

Alice: Out of the Box featured in Epic Indie Book Fair of Awesome!

Alice: Out of the Box has been featured in the Epic Indie Book Fair of Awesome, as shown on Saturday Sequins blog.

Check it out if you get the chance--it looks like there are a lot of interesting titles on there.

Thanks!

It's all in the details!

Deboxing Rogita, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Oh my! So maybe I'm still a little in love with Alice in Wonderland--and Christmas has arrived a little early. (I had to peek, and unfortunately, dolls have a really hard time going back in the box. It's like putting toothpaste back in the tube!)

This is Rogita's hat--part of her Red Alice outfit created by DollHeart. From the cameo charm, to the beaded ribbon detail, to the chiffon roses on the top, I think it's perfect.

You can see Rogita (and the rest of her outfit) on my post over at BJDs for Beginners.

Alice: Out of the Box - Look Inside the book!

Finally - you can use Amazon's Look Inside feature to peek inside my latest publication, Alice: Out of the Box. I'll have it for sale at IFDC, so come see me if you'd like a signed copy!

I look forward to seeing you there!

We're in Europe!

Hooray!

For my European customers, Steffie: Out of the Box is available today in Europe. The Look Inside feature should be uploaded and functioning within a week.

Amazon.com.uk
Amazon.de
Amazon.fr
Amazon.it
Amazon.es

Alice: Out of the Box is also available:

Amazon.com.uk
Amazon.de
Amazon.fr
Amazon.it
Amazon.es

Some of the prices are updated with a 5% sale. Also--if you're an Amazon Associate, I'd love it if you posted Associated links on your blogs for my books--that would just make my day! Thanks for looking, and thanks for your support!

Alice: Out of the Box has also arrived!

As if working on one project at a time weren't enough:

Alice: Out of the Box is an eclectic scrapbook of Alice in Wonderland-themed dolls that have graced the author’s collection over the years. Alice fans and doll collectors alike will enjoy this friendly showcase, including both traditional and contemporary dolls.

From vinyl to resin, the editor of the Fashion Doll Review introduces both restyled, one-of-a-kind, and manufactured eye candy, from girlish befuddlement to Lolita-style ball-jointed beauties. While the author herself does not profess to be a photographer, she hopes to bring her passion for Lewis Carroll’s timeless heroine to the page--in a tiny, redressable, posable art form.

The Out of the Box series is a casual visual reference for doll collectors and fans of the Fashion Doll Review blog. An affordable paperback collection, this series examines specific doll styles, sculpts, and collections in pages filled with color photographs with descriptions. Fashion dolls are styled, dressed, and fashioned according to the book’s theme. Resources and references are included.

Currently for sale on CreateSpace directly, this print-on-demand title is also for sale on Amazon--I'll keep you posted as soon as a preview is available. If you live in Europe, check out this post. I will have copies of this book with me at the Barbie convention and also at IFDC.


List Price: $16.00
8.5" x 8.5" (21.59 x 21.59 cm)
Full Color Bleed on White paper
76 pages
The Fashion Doll Review
ISBN-13: 978-0983681625
ISBN-10: 0983681627
BISAC: Antiques & Collectibles / Dolls


I am so excited to share the Out of the Box series of books with you. I can't wait to share what else we have in store!

Unusual Alice

Elfdoll Olivia, resin BJD, restyled as Alice in Wonderland

Just a little sneak peek at a photo from my next work-in-progress, my next book, Unusual Alice [working title]. This book is a photography book of Alice in Wonderland-themed dolls, including resin, vinyl and plastic, and cloth. Designed as a delightful book of eye candy, I'm hoping to finish this book in time for the IFDC.

I'll keep you posted!

Tonner Doll Company, I'm done with Alice, I tell you!

Blue Alice, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Please, dear loving designers at Tonner Doll Company, I'm really trying to be good. I'm trying to get over my obsession with Alice-themed dolls, and you aren't helping me. How am I supposed to get better and get my budgeting issues under control when your dolls keep getting cuter and cuter?

I hate to be so forward and ask you to stop creating Alice-themed dolls, simply for my sake. Surely there are plenty of other collectors out there who are able to order just one doll. That collector isn't me.

Dear readers, I'm due to post you my "holiday themed" display cabinet pretty soon. I tend to display the dolls I'm most thankful for during the holiday season (we celebrate Christmas, but start holiday decorating at Thanksgiving, as you may be able to tell from my photos). Those dolls happened to be dressed as Alice this year.

On to this doll: This limited edition of 200 dolls is called Blue Alice, and is from the 2011 Halloween convention. She is the Shauna/Queen of Hearts/Sweetheart sculpt on a cameo Antoinette body. She has blonde straight rooted hair and painted blue eyes, which I have enhanced with a little Liquitex gloss--just to add a little shine.

Her dress is two pieces: a lovely couture chiffon tunic with black ribbon trim, and a blue organza skirt with attached black petticoat. She includes blue striped tights and matching fingerless gloves, antiques silver necklace, black ribbon headband, and black and white shoes.

Blue Alice is still for sale at TonnerDirect. I just adore this doll. Don't you?

Why I Love Robert Tonner, Joe Petrollese and Crush on Jack Kralik

Everyone has his or her favorite doll line or character. Take for instance, my fellow bloggers: for Alison it's Peakswoods BJDs; Kathie & Valerie are Poppy Parker crazy; and Shuga, well, she’s an Integrity girl. But for me, it's Tonner & Wilde Imagination, pretty much all the way.

Recently I was counting my dolls on display, by company (I'm a counter, who knows why, a bit of OCD perhaps?) and here's what I came up with: BJDs - 1, contemporary Barbie - 3, vintage Barbie - 6, Madame Alexander - 2, Integrity - 7, Wilde Imagination - 10, Tonner - 31. And trust me, there are many more Tonners and WIs currently in storage that used to reside in my second bedroom, before my son moved home after graduating from college. It was a tough call there for awhile, but flesh and blood won over hard plastic and vinyl.

Which got me to thinking; why Tonner? What is it about his dolls that call to me so much? The other dolls pretty much come and go around here, but every time I think I'm going to let some of my Tonners or Ellowynes go, it doesn't happen.

So why do I love Robert Tonner? Two words: Tyler and Imagination. Tyler is by far my favorite sculpt. There is something so sweet about her face, she looks like the type of woman you'd like to have as a best friend (lucky Sydney!). She can also look so different and versatile from wicked & naughty (Charmed), to sweet & classy (Nights in White Satin), fun (It’s My Party, Harlequin, Look of the Season), whimsical (Believe) and elegant & stunning (Fire Opal, Casino Jade, Autumn Gold). And her clothes are to die for.

Fire Opal Tyler and Autumn Gold Tyler

Blues Skies Glinda in Winter Forest and Basic Witch in Griffin Splendor

Robert's imagination seems inexhaustible! The Oz line (think Blue Skies Glinda, Witchcraft), Alice in Wonderland (Alice Through the Looking Glass, Wonderland Costume Ball, Blushing Queen), Cinderella, Reimagination, Sinister Circus, Fashion Zombies, and on and on. The dolls are beautiful, the costumes divine and the quality is unsurpassed. I've always wondered how he comes up with all of his ideas. Does he dream dolls?

And let's not forget Ellowyne. She has her own Yahoo Group and Doll Board. I know many who have pretty much quit collecting anything else.

As for Joe: the man who created Evangeline Ghastly and Amelia Thimble (I recently saw my first Amelia in person and could she be any cuter? The Halloween gift set was quickly added to my Grail list.) Evangeline is just fabulous! Everything about her from her story, her armoire, her pets and her incredible outfits. Joe is also responsible for many of Tonner's fabulous outfits: The Devereaux Sisters, many, if not all, of the Oz costumes. So loving Robert and Joe, you may ask why the "crush" on Jack? First off; he's pretty cute and sexy. And secondly and more importantly; I have a fairly strong suspicion that Jack is one of the reasons Tonner Doll Company is so successful. Every good company needs a good businessperson. And unless Robert is one of those rare individuals who is a great Artist and a good businessman (as an Art Major, my experience has been that the two don't go together very often) Jack probably fulfills a much needed dose of reality. Without Jack, it might be a little shaky. And did I mention he's cute? :)

And finally, the Tonner Doll Company does a lot for various charities. I work for a non-profit in South San Diego that shelters battered women (and men) and their children. Every year we hold a fundraiser with a silent auction. Since I first wrote requests letters for donated items for those auctions, both Tonner and Wilde Imagination have sent one or two items, every year. The rest of the doll companies; MA sent a doll once, and we've never heard back from the others.

So for Robert, Joe and Jack; my heartfelt love and admiration. Keep up the good work, Gentlemen. (And for Debra & Michelle too!)

xoxo

New Tonner items released!

Madame Bovary American Model, $399.99 LE100

Tonner Doll's last release of 2011 has been announced, and there are quite a few gorgeous new dolls. Visit your favorite Tonner dealer today to place your order.

I'll go through the list alphabetically.

Above, two new dressed dolls have been added to the American Model collection, Madame Bovary ($399.99) and Platinum Luxury ($349.99). Madame Bovary's shipping date has yet to be announced, but Platinum Luxury (who reminds me of Sydney Candescence) is shipping now. Both are limited to 100 pieces, and have inset acrylic eyes. Madame is rooted, Luxury is wigged. Wow!

The latest addition to Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland collection is Mallymkun the Doormouse, a dressed Tonner Character Figure, made from resin. He's limited to 250 pieces, and retails for $69.99. Ship date is to be announced.

Two wonderful new dressed Antoinette dolls have been released. First, dressed in yellow (she says hello) is Allure. She's limited to 300 and retails for $169.99. She has light brown rooted hair, Tyler's skin tone, green painted eyes, and a gorgeous gold dress, which appears to me to be inspired by the 1920s. She includes a black feathered hair piece, gold and black jewelry, black shoes, gloves, and black hose.

Second, is Simplicity. This gorgeous red-haired, grey-eyed Antoinette is dressed in a lovely navy outfit, including pants, jacket and halter top, and includes boots and a silver necklace. She's limited to 300 and retails for $179.99. Both dolls shipping dates are to be announced.

Several new exciting items have been added to the Cami & Jon collection. Two new wigged Basic dolls (Cami and Jon) will ship on December 21. They both have inset acrylic eyes (Cami's are green, and Jon's are brown), and both include two wigs (Cami: blonde and black, Jon: brown and red). Both dolls are limited to 500 and retail for $109.99.

Next, three new outfits for Andy Mills (and Matt and Russell) have been announced. Central Park, Washington Square, and Chelsea Look retail for $89.99 and are limited to 300 each. Chelsea look will ship December 21, and the others will be determined.

The most exciting additions to the line are two new Theatre de la Mode dressed dolls. Both dolls use the TDLM sculpt on the Antoinette body. Midnight #83 has blonde rooted hair in a braided up-do with blue eyes in a cameo skin tone. She is wearing a black velvet and chiffon dress with crystal buttons, black feathered headband, crystal earrings and black shoes. She retails for $199.99 and will ship December 21.

My favorite of the two is Royale #2, with grey eyes and fancy auburn updo of curls. She's dressed in a pleated purple gown with a petticoat, gold and rhinestone jewelry, black gloves, hose, and black shoes. Her shipping date is to be announced, and she retails for $224.99. Both dolls are limited to 100.

Available for shipping now, this lovely 16" Scarlett O'Hara doll, Christmas 1863, retails for $249.99 and is a limited edition of 300. She includes a green printed gown with embroidered collar and cuffs, antique cameo brooch, petticoat, gold earrings, green shoes and a green and red hair decoration.

Lots of excitement from the Gowns by Anne Harper collection. Two new outfits are available for preorder. Anna Karenina (sized for 16" dolls) includes the wig shown, black dress with silk flower trim, rhinestone jewelry, black shoes and white gloves. It's limited to 150 pieces for $149.99. It's gorgeous!

Additionally, there is another outfit, Matinee Luncheon, a pink suit with black "fur" cuffs, including a pearl necklace and black feathered hat and black shoes, which has photos yet to come. This outfit is limited to 300 and retails for $99.99. Both outfits have delivery dates to be decided.

Tow gorgeous new basic wigged dolls are also available. Ready to Dress Carol Barrie retails at $119.99. She's limited to 500, and includes a black swimsuit with a white collar. She's in the cameo skin tone with painted blue eyes, and includes red and platinum wigs.

Ready to Dress Diane Evans is also limited to 500 dolls, and includes the same swimsuit as Carol. She has brown painted eyes and uses the Friday Foster head sculpt. She has the spice skin tone. She includes brown and black wigs. She also retails for $119.99. Both dolls have delivery dates to be announced.

Delightfully, three new outfits are available for the 13" Revlon dolls. Silver Shimmer retails for $79.99 includes a black and silver dress, sparkling tights, beaded earrings and matching shoes.

Midas Touch retails for $84.99. It's a gold sequined dress with gold shoes and rhinestone bracelet. Photos are still coming.

Velvet Dazzle retails for $79.99. This outfit includes a velvet strapless dress, matching black gloves and sash with a rhinestone buckle, red lamé coat, rhinestone necklace, and black pumps. All three of these outfits are limited to 500 each, and have shipping dates to be decided.

Evening in Paris Vintage Revlon has also been announced with a shipping date to be decided. She is limited to 500 with a retail price of $139.99. She includes a solo-in-the-spotlight style black sparkling gown with white stole, black gloves, tights, crystal jewelry, and black molded shoes.

Dazzling Tyler Wentworth is a gorgeous dressed doll with wigged platinum hair, green painted eyes, and a purple sequined metallic dress. She also includes matching fingerless gloves, a crystal necklace, and silver shoes. I love her facial screening! She's limited to 300, retails for $224.99 and her shipping date is to be decided.

Additionally, several other products have been added to the line:

Betsy McCall Prints, Prints, Prints gift set, LE500 $149.99, includes wigged 8" Betsy and two wigs, three outfits.

To the Harry Potter collection:

19" Viktor Krum, LE300, Photos still coming, $249.99

12" Draco Malfoy, LE300, $124.99

7" Small Dobby, LE500, $99.99

12" Slytherin House Robe, open edition, $29.99

17" Deathly Hallows Harry Potter, LE350, $170 (in stock)

16" Deathly Hallow Hermione Granger, LE350 $170

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.

I know I said I was tired of Alice, but...

8" Alice Kingsleigh, a photo by alington on Flickr.

When I saw the new releases two weeks ago from Tonner Doll Company, the 8" Alice Kingsleigh and Mad Hatter dolls from the Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland collection, I knew I had to at least have Alice's outfit.

Well, she made her arrival yesterday, and she's caused nothing but trouble. Her arrival caused me to redress three of my 16" girls--also into a variety of Alice outfits in my stash--and rearrange my display. She's just adorable.

Yes, she has an eerily large head. But her little smile reminds me of Wilde Imagination's Prudence. She has long medium blonde curls--not crimps!--which still need to be rinsed from their crunchy gel.

Her outfit is just amazing. When I compare it to Tonner's original Alice Kingsleigh (seen in the photo below on Euphemia), it's practically identical. The details of the embroidery and buttons are perfect. She's wearing blue and white striped tights. Even her boots are perfect. She's missing the gold necklace with the red bead--but that's an easy fix.

And the doll can stand on her own! I don't own a single Tiny Betsy doll, and wasn't planning on keeping her--since my YoSD dolls can share these outfits. However, Alice's large head and distorted eyes are really growing on me. I just adore her!

See more photos on Flickr.

Carol at Dreamcastle Dolls still has a few in stock, so pick one up if you can.

Basic Euphemia in Alice Kingsleigh, 8" Alice, Jacqueline Frost, Voyage of Wonder (in the back), Alice in Wonderliddle (by Mattel), Ghost of Christmas Past as Steampunk Alice (Daphne sculpt)

Alice in Wonderliddle

Alice in Wonderliddle, originally uploaded by alington.

This is the first vintage Liddle Kiddle set in my collection, courtesy of vintage Barbie dealer Kathie, who picked it up for me at Grant A Wish. She said, and I quote, "I saw it and thought, 'I bet this is an Alice that Alison doesn't even know about!'"

She was right, and I'm no less impressed! She is so cute. A vintage Mattel brand toy, she's from 1968, and she uses one of the little sister sculpts--we thought perhaps Tutti.

Her dress is all vintage fabric and ribbon, and her hair is rooted and soft. Her blue socks are painted on. High color face with a smile.

And the White Rabbit--oh my! Such a vintage guy! He has a watch that was also used in another Barbie set--I'll need to ask Kathie which sets. It's so cute.

Alice in Wonderliddle are on my Alice shelf--you can see more photos of my display on Flickr.

Um from Umbridge

Um from Umbridge, originally uploaded by alington.

Um from Umbridge, by Tonner Doll Company, made her arrival on Saturday. She's an enlarged Alice Kingsleigh sculpt on an American Model body (not the new one with articulated wrists, unfortunately).

Her outfit is amazing. I think it's very much like the one from the movie--lots of layers of black and white striped chiffon, red tulle and satin, tassels, a petticoat, you name it. Her shoes are adorable wedges (she has high heel feel), made of black and red polkadot satin.

Her face is lovely, also. She has the pensive, puzzled look of Alice in the movie.

My three pet peeves:

1. The American Model body's hands. They are sort of lifeless looking. I think for such a large scale, Tonner could make these dolls have lots of details (like separated fingers and gorgeous hands and feet), and he didn't.
2. No rooted eyelashes. Does it add that much cost? This doll retails for $299.99, and I think eyelashes (which seem to be included on previous American Models) would add a lot.
3. Her hair. It looks nothing like the promo photo, and there are bald spots in the back. I'm sure I can fix this with a rinse and restyle, but to me, if I pay anywhere close to $300 for a fashion doll, I expect perfection. The original Alice Kingsleigh came with perfect hair--why not duplicate that hair style, only in a larger scale?

Even those three pet peeves aside, and her larger than life price tag, this girl is simply lovely. Her face more than makes up for her hair. I'll post more photos after I fix her up.

For now, you can see more photos, including close-ups, on my Flickr photostream.

Um from Umbridge, by Tonner Doll Company. 

Tea Party Crasher

Tea Party Crasher, originally uploaded by alington.

Tea Party Crasher is the name of this gorgeous doll by the Tonner Doll Company. She stands only 10" high. She's a miniaturized version of the Alice Kingsleigh sculpt on a bendy-wrist Tiny Kitty body.

She's wearing the tea-pot dress from the Tim Burton movie. I've washed the copious gel from her hair and have restyled in slightly.

She has high-heel feet and flat "ribbon" shoes. No jewelry. But she is simply adorable!

Check out lots more photos on Flickr!

Alices in Wonderland

Alices in Wonderland, originally uploaded by alington.

So, you know how I've been telling you all I'm tired of Alice in Wonderland-themed dolls? Well, maybe just one more photo. My DollHeart order arrived from Boutique Doll a few days ago. The Pink Alice set actually belongs to a friend, but she let me borrow it for Briana for a day, just to try it out.

From the left: Dollzone Morphoa is modeling the Queen of Hearts and a new wig, Peak's Woods tan Briana is in Pink Alice (wig and boots included), normal skin Segi is in the Duchess and DollHeart wig, and Yeru is in Blue Alice, wig and boots included.

See more photos on Flickr.

Oh yes. And it turns out, those silver things on the boots are indeed snaps. Thanks, Melissa! Now it won't take me 20 minutes to get those boots on or off. (I'm so embarrassed.)

Final post for the Alice Project

Click to enlarge.

42. According to Douglas Adams, the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything. If we only knew the question!

This will be my last post on the Alice Project. I've run out of Alice outfits to use, and frankly (I never expected this to happen), I'm ready to move on. 

Please feel free to check out my entire series of photos in my Flickr account, as well as more shots of the entire group of dolls. (I counted them many times to ensure there are indeed 42. Needless to say, it's been a long day.)

Hope you have a lovely weekend, readers, and thanks for following me (and putting up with my obsession) during this project!

The Alice Project, Day 42

Day 42 is upon us already. It's the answer to life, the universe and everything. Also, my final doll for this project.

This is Luna, a Design-a-Doll by BIC International. This is a Luna sculpt that belongs to my daughter Kate, and she's dressed in a simple Fashion Fever outfit with Barbie Basic boots.

If you don't have one of these dolls, you really should. They have something close to Monsieur Z bodies, so they can stand alone. They are fun! See more photos of her on Flickr.

The Alice Project, Day 41

For Day 41 of the Alice Project, I'm introducing another Tonner Doll. This is Marvelously Morose Sister Dreary. She was a Tonner Halloween convention exclusive from the Agnes Dreary luncheon several years ago and remains one of my favorite spooky girls.

She's dressed in her own hat, a Mod Alice outfit by Nancie of Nankatts, and jewelry and some items from a Fashion Zombie outfit by Tonner.