New outfits from Ebay

I splurged on a few new outfits from a seller on Ebay, and I couldn't be happier with my purchases. I know Ebay can be hit or miss, but this was definitely a hit.

I got the following items at least 50% below retail, most even less than that:

• Sweetheart Dreaming (my Eternal Love Sydney looks great in this outfit)
• Precious Steps metallic shoe set
• Ruffled Confection skirt
• Fuchsia Beauty skirt

I have to admit, the shoes in particular are fun. The ankle straps with buckles are so cute!

Photos courtesy Tonner Doll Company.

Justice Protector

This gorgeous limited edition (300) Wonder Woman doll is only available through participating Previews Magazine comic shop retailers. She has rooted raven saran hair with 13 points of articulated movement.
I tend to lean towards fashion dolls, but her face is just to die for!

Photos courtesy Tonner Doll Company.

How to collect dolls without breaking the bank

Especially when you collect 16” dolls, you may find your budget is expended quickly. I’ve done a little research online, and here are some ideas I’ve gotten from other doll collectors on sticking to your budget.

• Make a monthly budget--like you do for the phone bill--and stick to it. I’ve heard some collectors put their monthly budget into their Paypal account at the beginning of each month, and then use only those funds for doll purchases.
• Make a wishlist for the dolls you’d like to add to your collection, and wait for them to go on sale. Check out my post on retailers’ specials site, and visit them regularly for sale items.
• If you don’t require dolls in mint condition, Ebay is a good way to go. Decide how much you want to spend at the beginning of the auction, and realize that if you get into a bidding war, you may go over budget. I decide in advance the maximum I will pay, and bid that amount with proxy bidding. Don’t forget to include shipping costs--these can be steep from some sellers, so buyer beware!
• Collect older dolls. Many retailers put older editions on sale when new ones are released. While you might not have the newest dolls in your collection, you will build one without breaking the bank.
• Don’t hide purchases from your spouse. You shouldn’t feel like you need to if you've discussed your budget in advance. If you feel tempted to hide purchases, realize that you may have the same problems with displaying them.
• Settle for nude dolls or dolls in less than mint condition. Hair problems can be fixed easily. Doll hospitals are available if you need to have more serious work done.
  
• Decide on a yearly splurge fund, just in case the doll you’ve been searching for goes on sale after your monthly budget is depleted. Decide in advance how much you’ll spend, and don’t go over that amount.
• Avoid spur-of-the-moment purchases. My rule is that any purchase over $50 (if it’s not on my wishlist and budgeted) has to wait at least 24 hours. That little bit of stewing time is often just enough to keep you from going over budget.

Shopping: Links to retailers' specials

Looking for the best place to find your Tonner fashion doll--at a reasonable price or on sale? Me, too. I'm compiling this list for a quick way to find sales, specials and clearance items on all the dolls on your wishlist.
I'm sure every retailer has specials now and then, but I didn't list it here if I couldn't find a sales or specials page. Also, some companies do not have any Tonner dolls listed currently on specials.

• The Alcove 
• Angelic Dreamz
  
• Annette & Friends
• Atelier Kathy (The Netherlands)
  
• Atelier Kreative (Germany)
• Brooks Dolls
  
• Carytown Dolls & Bears
• Chelsea's Collector Cottage (Australia)
• Cherished Friends Pennsylvania and New Jersey
  
• Country Loft
• Dazzling Dolls & Collectibles
  
• Dear Little Dollies
  
• Denver Doll Emporium
• Diane's Doll Shoppe
• The Doll House Super Buys, Clearance and Weekly Specials
  
• The Doll Market
  
• Doll Peddlar
• Dollsville
• Donna's Korner
• Dream Dolls Gallery (Their clearance sales are listed with their regular prices as well.)
• Elegant Doll Shop
  
• FAO Schwarz (you can go through Ebates.com to get a rebate on your purchases)
• Forget Me Not
  
• Gigi's Dolls & Sherry's Teddy Bears
• Happily Ever After (specials and exclusives)
  
• JR Toys (Hong Kong)
  
• Katherine's Cottage (sale items are listed on Ebay)
• Kay Poppenatelier (The Netherlands)
  
• Lane's Collectibles
• Lindsey's Doll Cottage
  
• Lollipop's Fine Dolls
• Mary T's Doll House
  
• The Matilda Company (5% discount)
• Miss Vinyl (France)
  
• My Dollmakers
• My Doll Shop
  
• My Favourite Doll (Canada)
• Patt and Billy's Dolls and Bears
• Porter Emporium
  
• Samantha's Collectible Dolls & Bears
• Shirley's Doll House
• Still Plays with Dolls (club members get even better prices and specials)
• Sweetheart's Dolls
  
• Toni's Collectibles
• The Toy Shoppe
  
• Two Daydreamers weekly special and clearance
• Vogue Collectibles Inc.
• We Love Dolls
  
• Windy City Dolls & Collectibles

I haven't shopped at every store, so I can't be held responsible for their prices or customer service.
Have a link of your own? Please add it to the comments section!

My kind of sewing...

I just found a great website for those of us learning to sew doll clothing. Be sure to visit Advanced Embroidery Designs! They carry embroidery designs for imitation knit and freestanding Battenburg lace fashions for 16" and 11-12" dolls. I chose the cocktail dress and cape design.

You will need water soluble stabilizer for this project and thread. I've just finished the stitch out for all three pieces of the cape--two sides of the front (30 minutes each), and one for the back (60 minutes), and I've removed the stabilizer and am waiting for the pieces to dry.

The dress will take a little longer--the dress front (complete with darts to assemble after stitch out) takes 85 minutes on my machine, and the two back pieces will take about 80 minutes. Then, there is the trim and skirt, which are done separately. I'll let you know how it turns out.

So far, I am very pleased. There are hardly any needle jumps, which eliminates the need for trimming threads. The lace cape is really pretty. And my machine is doing a gorgeous job--so far!