The Alice Project, Day 25

Mame-Momoko Baby Blue Labyrinth, originally uploaded by alington.

This doll, Mame-Momoko's Baby Blue Labyrinth, is a vinyl doll who stands 9 cm tall (about 3.5"), and she's dressed as Alice. The same company that makes Momoko dolls makes these as well. Read more about them here.

They've even designed some of these dolls to match the Momoko dolls. They are really cute.

I picked this little one up at IFDC last summer when my friend was selling her. I could hardly pass her up! You can see another photo of her on Flickr.

The Alice Project, Day 18

Planetdoll Emma as a Victorian Alice.

My daughter Lauren's first BJD was offered for the Alice Project, so I felt like I should use her as well. (Lauren helped with the apron, so we're using it for "authenticity.") This is a normal skin MSD-sized Planetdoll Emma. Face up is by me. She's wearing a Hope wig by Monique Gold and is dressed in a DeeAnna Denton outfit by Tonner Doll. You can see another photo of her on Flickr.

I think I'll add a little blurb here on children and doll collecting.

As you may have noticed, my dolls are not usually in pristine order. I'm a mother of four, and nothing in my house is pristine anymore. (My mother assures me it will be again someday--and hers is, but I don't enjoy cleaning like she does!) My own dolls get regular play (is that bad grammar?): I love styling and playing with them, changing their wigs and eyes, painting them (well, I have body blushing down--face-ups, not so much), and "designing" for them.

Additionally, it's important to me that children grow up with a love of art--making it and enjoying it--and it doesn't have to be dolls. Whether they love to paint, draw, sculpt, design, sew, craft or play an instrument--it's welcome here. I try to encourage the girls to get involved with their own dolls, when they are in the mood, and before they decide it's not cool to hang around Mom anymore.

Lauren saved (and saved and saved) her allowance and some bonus money she wheedled out of Dad for this nude and unpainted Planetdoll (which an excellent quality for their price), and she adores her. We looked to see what her money would buy, and this is what she chose. Lauren is young--and yes, it kills me when she "borrows" my wigs without asking, or I see her brushing her own too hard, or, worse, see her resin doll lying around on the floor. But I try not to nag. I've rescued her a few times. And I did panic a little after her second face-up, when Lauren had drawn on her body with pencil. (It comes right off with Magic Eraser--so my panic was unnecessary.) I have to remember this is not my doll. Now, I'd love my own Planetdoll. (I think Riz, the half-eye version or maybe the regular version.)

At any rate, our Alice group is getting more crowded each day, and so far, my husband hasn't said anything about the Alices sitting around on the hearth. But the girl next door was quite impressed when she came to play yesterday! (By the way--you can click on the photos to make them larger.)

A Pullip and J-Doll Feast with... Lily?

For this post's pictures, I had a little trouble, because one of our cats, Lily, wanted some of the plastic food I was using. She mostly wanted a little cake with some paper on the bottom of it.

On the right is a picture of a J-Doll and three mini Pullips. They are having a feast of Italian foods like manicotti and pizza. It's nice and quiet until somebody comes and "eats" everything. If you look closely, Lily is licking her lips as if she's ready to eat every single piece.

As Lily tries to get a piece of plastic food, she knocks down a Pullip named Moonstone. She also knocks down the cake she's trying to get and then sniffs it, but doesn't even bother it anymore. She goes to bother the other cats.          

 But before she knocks down Moonstone, she goes to sniff the J-Doll and Virgo (Virgo is the Pullip with yellow hair. ). I'm just glad I didn't put any glass on the little table or any flowers!

So sometimes it isn't a good idea to leave very breakable dolls out with a very curious cat! Otherwise, you'd have to say good bye to that doll!
I think I should've kept Lily out of the way.

How to turn those extra bookshelves into Barbie real estate!

My two-year-old niece, Emma (whom I absolutely adore! all you Aunties out there know what I'm talking about) is starting to express some interest in Barbies. So, when she recently came to visit, I wanted her to have a doll house to play with them in.

If you've ever been to my 600-square-foot condo, you know that there is not much room inside for an additional residence, Barbie-sized or not. So, to save room and cost, I cleared off two bookshelves and transformed them into a brand new housing development!

If you have a niece, granddaughter, neighbor or friend coming over, or just want to create your own display diorama, here are a few tips I've discovered:

My Liv Dolls

Hi everyone. As for my second post, I will show you a few pictures of my Liv dolls, who I have just recently collected. You may not recognize them because they are wearing each other's wigs.

I know who they are by their skin and eyes, and in which order I got them. I got Alexis, Daniela and Katie from Target, and Sophie from Las Vegas (but she didn't come with any clothes). Although a month after I collected them all, the back to school Liv dolls came out!

Why we love some dolls and not others, Part I: Purchase decisions by guest blogger Milady Blue

Guest blogger Milady Blue begins a new post series on her "years of yore": what young doll collectors once had to do in order to bring a new doll home into his or her own collection. How she may have discovered a new doll or new manufacturer, and the actual process of shopping for, and the decision to buy the doll are covered here.

Why We Love Some Dolls and Not Others
Part I: Purchase decisions
Special Guest Writer Milady Blue