This is not turning out well.

Today I worked on Dasha's hair and it finally looked nice. I put on her jewelry and shoes all the while handling her extremely carefully. In order to put on her solid bracelet, her hand must be removed. I pulled gently on the left hand and it came out. Unfortunately the plug end stayed inside the forearm with nothing protruding. 
This has gone beyond frustrating.
I wonder if I can drill it out. I have a Dremel and fine jewelers bits. If I can drill the pin to make it slimmer, I might be able to remove it and use one of her replacement hands. So now I will have to undress her in order to wrap her for protection. Not fun.

Renegade Dasha Needs a New Hair Stylist and So Does Integrity Toys

She looked gorgeous when I opened the box. Renegade is stunning in her red fashion. Her screening is gorgeous. Her hair color is a blend of light blondes. I love the color. But look at the back. WTF?

What is this?

I was so hoping I would love everything about this doll. The pony tail hair is divided into two sections. One is rolled under and ends are caught up in the hair that wraps around the ponytail. Did you get that?
Who thought up this stupid hairstyle?  It does not work and it looks ridiculous. Someone at IT had to approve it. The prototype was different but I never examined the back.
I will fix it by taking the end of the curled clump out and boiling it straight. I'm quite certain that I will have to take it all out. It ruins the joy of a new doll. That's two ruined dolls because of the hair. I am still waiting for my Flawless Elise replacement head.

Don't turn around.

 Maybe that's why she has side glancing eyes.

I Love How You Love Me — Poppy Parker Gift Set

A great benefit of being a shipping buddy to a collector who lets me debox to lower the weight of their shipment is that I get to play and photograph their goodies.
"I Love How You Love Me" is a Dolls Magazine exclusive of only 300 pieces and the retail price was $150. There was a huge brouhaha on the day half of these items went up for order as the link crashed and an alternate link was put up. Many who would have ordered did not know of the alternate link and it caused a great deal of angst. It's my opinion that this is part of the reason that the secondary market rise in price of this gift set.
This season's Poppy Parker fashions do not appear to have the same styling as prior years. Although this set is primarily white, the clothes on the rest of the season's Poppy's and Darla are darker and more sophisticated. Something is changing.

 She comes wearing a white a-line dress that has lovely bodice detailing with a pleated back and the omnipresent bow. This set has a total of eight bows. I may have missed one or two.
The coat is a different fabric from the dress. It is a thin brocade with silver thread running throughout. The jumper is simple and goes over a frilly white blouse. Her pajamas are a smooth fabric, perhaps a polished cotton, with ruffled lace and ribbons and matching panties. The accessories consist of 3-fingered gloves, clutch bag, hair bow, red flats, white low-heeled shoes, fuzzy slippers, lace pantyhose, regular pantyhose, pearl stud earrings and a hat pin.

The best pictures I've seen of this doll show her hair restyled. As it comes it is styled into 3 hard rolls without butter.

Out of The Box: Ekaterina and Roger Sterling

Buying Ekaterina was a mistake. It was the red hair and excellent promotional photos that threw me. I love my redhaired Silkies. I did see her in another fashion last week and she will be redressed.
I knew it the minute I opened the box that her hair was going to be a problem. It may look good in the picture because I used Photoshop to push pixels around.  She has more hair than my dog and it's a lot harder to comb.
The hat was sewn on in a strange way so that removing it also removed the stitches that were holding back part of her hair. Seen here, I have replaced the hat towards the back of her head and used a pin to hold it on. When I have an hour and nothing else to do ha she needs a trim.

I am planning to sell off her fashion as it looks like and reminds me too much of Je Ne Sais Quoi seen below.

Here are her boots which aren't bad but I could definitely live without. I think they'd look better without the golden tassles.

How many Silkstones came with this exact bracelet or a variation? Tiring. 

No one forced me to buy her and in a weak and needy moment I deboxed. There is a pleasure in deboxing: untying ribbons, snipping threads, lifting the freed doll from her cardboard prison. Ahhhh.
The same needy time period saw Roger Sterling come out.
I bought him because the suit looked really good and because I have no other Silkstone male dolls. His suit is excellent! I was impressed.
If he looks weird in this photo it's because of the awkward bend in his arm. They should have given him straight arms.

If I saw a man whose shirt collar was too short to come into contact with his chest when he was wearing a tie, I'd say he wasn't well groomed. This is a problem. I'm thinking (when I have time) to use a needle and thread to create the look of a tiebar to hold the points of the collar down. It would make a huge difference. That neck joint is awful.

 There are several terrific details like Roger's initials on his shirt sleeve. The suit is well constructed with tiny faux buttons to camouflage the fact that the closure is with snaps. Very well done!

 The hat is a squishy plastic that fits well and stays on.

The stand he comes with is a waist gripper type which must be used under his jacket.  He does stand on his own but I wouldn't leave him for long without support.

Sandra Stillwell Presents Golden Gate Glamour

The long awaited announcement regarding Sandra's 2011 event in San Francisco has been revealed.  Here is the outline of the event which will be more detailed as the date approaches. 

Golden Gate Glamour!

Please mark your calendar and make plans to join us June 3-5 in San Francisco, at the Embassy Suites SFO Airport South, for Sandra Stillwell Presents: Golden Gate Glamour! 

 Limited to only 60 attendees, this intimate soiree will be a celebration of friends, dolls, tradition, and timeless couture in San Francisco, a destination widely known as "America's Favorite City"!

Golden Gate Glamour will pay tribute to the haute couture master Cristobal Balenciaga, and the unparalleled legacy of his landmark career, as well as highlight San Francisco's rich fashion heritage, and explore the connection between the two.
 

Your convention registration will include a trip to the De Young Museum in San Francisco's beautiful Golden Gate Park, where we will view Balenciaga and Spain, the fascinating exhibit highlighting Balenciaga's magnificent creations and exploring Spain's influence on his designs.

http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/balenciaga-and-spain

 

You'll have some time on your own to tour the museum galleries or explore other sites in the historical Golden Gate Park, which is also home to the breathtaking Victorian-styled Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tearoom, Botanical Gardens, and the Museum of Science, among other things

Optional tours will be offered to other not to be missed San Francisco sights!

Our souvenir will be a fabulous fashion ensemble gift set designed to fit your favorite 16" fashion doll. Inspired by Balenciaga's designs, the collection was designed and manufactured especially for this exciting event. Centerpiece dolls modeling stunning haute couture fashions will be showcased at each meal function. I believe you'll be as blown away as I am by the beauty of this collection! I can't wait to share it with everyone!

In addition to fashions, the registration fee will also include a desert reception and 3 meals, including a gala Saturday night banquet. We will also have illustrious guest speakers, interesting displays, table gifts, raffles, swap tables, and more surprises!

Expect a fun filled, activity packed weekend of dolls, friends, and fashion!

Registration:
The registration fee is only $360 if paid in full, by cash or check, by May 2nd. (After that date, the fee is $375). A $15 charge will be added to other payments options. A non refundable deposit of only $50 will reserve your spot for this very special event.

A $50 cancellation fee applies to all cancellations prior to May 2nd. After that date, no cancellations are allowed.

Companion registration will be available if purchased with a full registration. Please contact me for details.

Please send payment for registration to:

Sandra Stillwell
8305 Blue Lick Rd
Louisville, Ky 40219

Please contact me if you need to pay by PayPal or make special arrangements.

Hotel:
Our convention hotel is the lovely Embassy SFO Airport/South San Francisco, located only 10 miles from downtown San Francisco! Each room is a spacious 2 room suite complete with refrigerator and microwave...perfect for room sales or socializing with dolly friends! 

We will have a special code to make reservations in our group block, which will be forthcoming soon. Please do not contact the hotel or make reservations online until this is announced.

Our special group room rate is $119 plus tax. Our group will receive complimentary hotel parking.

The hotel offers complimentary WiFi and computers in their business office, and in room Internet access at a discounted rate.

The Embassy Suites offers a complimentary shuttle to shopping and eateries within a 3 mile radius (based on availability), and an airport shuttle which runs every 35 minutes. BART conveniently travels directly from the airport to San Francisco and other suburbs.

There is another Embassy Suites SFO in Burlingame, so please be careful not to confuse the two when making reservations or taking the hotel shuttle.

The group rate is available from Monday, May 30, through Wednesday, June 8th (based on availability) for those who would like to come early or stay over to take advantage of the many fun sightseeing opportunities in the area. If you need rooms on other dates, please contact me directly.

I strongly encourage all attendees to stay at the Convention hotel for a complete "convention experience"! Besides all the fun and camaraderie those who don't stay at the hotel will miss out on, our room and food rates are based on our meeting a guaranteed minimum, and it is crucial I have your cooperation to meet that guarantee.
There are other great reasons to stay at the convention hotel....with our many planned activities, you'll find being onsite much more convenient, plus the Embassy Suites includes a fabulous cooked to order complimentary breakfast and manager's cocktail reception daily in their beautiful atrium. (We may have our banquet room opened so that we can all eat together, but if so, we will give details once the agenda is announced.)

Our room block is extremely limited. Though we are not yet ready for hotel reservations, it would help me greatly to know as soon as possible how many nights and what dates you are planning to stay, so I can increase the block if necessary. June is a busy time for the hotel and I may not have the opportunity to do so at a later date. Once the room block is sold out, reservations will only be taken on availability.

Airport and Flights:
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is serviced by all major airlines.
Oakland International Airport is also very convenient to the hotel. Both are directly connected to BART and Caltrain for travel to San Francisco or neighboring areas for sightseeing on your own.

When booking your flight, don't forget to allow a few extra days, if possible, to enjoy the multitude of tourist attractions and unique activities that San Francisco has to offer!

Tours:
I'm excited to say that Casey LaLonde, Joan Crawford's grandson, will again be joining us for convention this year... and, if all goes as hoped, we are planning a surprise "wrap party" on Sunday night to celebrate Sandra Stillwell Presents 10th Anniversary! An optional event, this exciting evening will follow a day of sightseeing in San Francisco. For a taste of San Francisco elegance, I am proposing that we begin the day with a delicious breakfast buffet in the glistening Garden Court at the opulent Palace Hotel.

Details are not available yet, but I am also planning a very interesting excursion on Thursday that all doll lovers, vintage fashionistas, and sewing enthusiasts will be sure to love!

Depending on interest, we may also plan something on Wednesday.

If there is anything in particular you would like to see or do, now is the time to let me know!

Raffle Donations:
We will be having a raffle to help offset convention expenses. Donations of all sizes are greatly appreciated. If you would like to contribute to the raffle, please email me at dls6643@aol.com.

Please remember that this special event is extremely limited, so do not hesitate to register. If you plan to attend, please RSVP as soon as possible so I'll have an idea of how many to count on.

I hope you'll join me in San Francisco this June for an event to remember!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions...
Sincerely,
Sandra Stillwell

dls6643@aol.com

An Amazing Wig by Anthony in Hawaii

My good dolly friend ParadiseBlue-Jay sent me some pictures of his new wig.
This wig is from Anthony's "Extreme Couture Collection: Shaolin Collection" and is inspired by John Galliano's 2010 Haute Couture.
The doll is Aphrodisiac Avantguard. She is wearing an early Gene Marshall (Ashton-Drake) costume called Bird of Paradise.
Spectacular!

 

Randall Craig Fashion: New Sizing?

Recently I received one of Randall's new fashions, Delightful. It's a very pretty coral sheath with a bolero jacket that has puffed sleeves. The accessories include a black patent clutch bag, black patent belt, black plastic shoes and black bead earrings. Retail price, with shipping, was $62. from Mary T's Dollhouse.
According to the promotional text this item is "Fitted to Monogram dolls but will also fit Silkstones, ModelMuse, Poppy, NuFace, etc."

One of my Monogram dolls, Dreamscape, never had a photoshoot since she was first photographed in her pink gown. She was one of my (many) impulse purchases as I really didn't like her face.
I was not happy with the fit of the bodice on the Monogram. It was too big. The bolero pushed the bodice of the dress together at the front. There is too much  fabric at the sides and underarm seam so the doll can't have her arms at her sides. And...there is a really strange seam on the back of the jacket. It's as if it was made incorrectly and it was seamed to make it smaller.

The arrows point to the seams. What is this about? It's definitely not a design detail. They're like little puffy wings.

I had to take it off her and try it on another doll who was hanging out in the area.

 

It fits beautifully on a regular Fashion Royalty body but the seams under the arms are still too thick for the doll to lower her arms properly.
Both of these dolls have the side-glancing eyes that I mentioned in the previous post. Neither was popular. I had to cover Kyori's eyes as not only are they side glancing, they're flat and shiny.  If they're going to re-do a sculpt, Kyori needs new eyes.

Dasha in HJ Couture

Huck (Huckleberry Jackson) offered this dress during the event to raise money for Japan and I jumped on it. I am so happy I did. It's gorgeous and perfect for Dasha. I love this doll. The body is so attractive in spite of the ragged edges of the vinyl at the joints. (hint, hint) In the first image, Dasha is actually balancing on her own which, if nothing else, proves that the shoes were made properly. Yay.
These shoes are her originals and just happen to look amazing with this outfit. Even her original jewelry which has pink and green is perfection.

Let's talk about side glancing eyes, shall we? There's side glancing and there's suspicious. Dasha's eye screening borders on the latter. Look at this. She looks afraid....gorgeous but afraid.

Even in the profile view you can see her looking at you. This is not normal. I wonder if this is the reason she was not terribly popular. I'm getting a second head of this same doll and having the pupils repainted to look straight ahead.

More on side glancing eyes in the next post. Stay tuned.

Joan Greene Shows Rare Prototype Dolls for Nashville Fashion Week

Click here to see article.


Click here to see Joan's company website, Greene & Lam Studios 

How much profit is acceptable?

It's a topic that comes up over and over again. How much profit is acceptable?

 The newest Poppy Parker gift set, "I Love How You Love Me," has been shipping to collectors throughout the US this week. The retail price of this set was $150. plus shipping. I have seen three different people asking $500. for the set since yesterday. That's pretty shocking  I wonder if anyone is desperate enough to pay that much.

I'm not saying that I don't resell and make a profit on certain new items because I often do, but when I see someone asking for a really huge markup right on the W Club board before most even got their new doll, I cringe because of the "in your face" timing and location of the sale. You see this all the time on eBay and sometimes on the Show & Sell pages but there it's different.

A few years ago when I was buying the FR grails I needed, I paid way over retail especially for Poesie Sans Couleur Vanessa and Cosmetic Takeover Natalia. These dolls had been out for quite a while and were in extremely high demand. I did not resent the sellers for taking their profits at all. Many of the other early dolls I purchased were also high priced. I am happy to have most of these still in my collection - most notably the Veroniques from conventions.

One of the wonderful things about being part of a good doll community is trading. Once you have established a good reputation as a seller/trader, you can find people who have stuff you want and can trade. No money needs to be exchanged and you both get what you want!
My last Vanessa grail, raven AFL, was a result of a trade. I had a convention Agnes and she had the Vanessa. We both got what we wanted due to the successful completion of a trade.

Then on the other hand, maybe it's good that collectors are upping the prices. Doll values had fallen or stayed flat for the last two+ years. Is this a sign of economic recovery?

What I would really love to know is how much this set (or any doll) cost to manufacture.

SouoL by LouoS - Supporting Relief Efforts in Japan

In support of the relief efforts in Japan and other countries hit by the recent natural disaster, 50% of the sale of items from his "May You Blossom Again" series will be donated via Paypal to the Salvation Army.

One example from the collection:

Visit LouoS ArtFire site by clicking on the image above.

Coupons and Bargains

—Thursday, March 31 is the last day to redeem your first $20. reward at Barbie Collector.

—At Noon (EDT) on Thursday, at Tonner Direct, gift sets are 40% off and shipping is free!
The sets that the company is offering didn't originally come packaged as sets but they definitely work together.  The sale ends on april 8th at 11:59PM EDT.


13" Women of Power Gift Set of Three Dolls

 LOTR Elven Gift Set of Two Dolls

 

 Ladies of Oz Gift Set of Three Dolls

Twilight New Moon Gift Set of  Three Dolls

 Clash of the Titans Gift Set of Two Dolls

It would be fun to have those OZ dolls. I think they are so creatively designed. Of course I want them. I want everything I like but I'm not getting them. There is one tiny bit of impulse control left.

Perhaps if the 13" dolls had an attractive sculpt...well, I've said it already. They are mannish-looking.

Update: Renegade Dasha will come to Woodstock

A wonderful doll collector friend has allowed me to take over her lottery win for Dasha! I am thrilled.

But my darn GPS can't find the location of this tree.


In the meanwhile, Red Rabbit Misaki would like to say hello. Beware. She will eat your crops.

W Club Lottery Results

I was not lucky in this one. Apparently my luck has run out permanently as I haven't gotten a bite in more than a year! The spousal unit's account wins once in a while. So far joining the W Club this year has been a waste of money. I didn't order any of the upgrade dolls and I didn't get the opportunity to purchase a darn thing. 

Bah Humbug.

Photographical Elise

I love this doll's face.
 

 

 
She is so photographical...there's a song that uses that word:

My funny Valentine, sweet comic Valentine,
You make me smile with my heart,
Your looks are laughable, un-photographical,
Yet you're my favourite work of art.

Is your figure less than Greek ?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak, are you smart?
But don't change a hair for me,
Not if you care for me.
Stay little valentine, stay!
Each day is Valentine's Day .