Bookcases and Catching Up

There have not been too many doll-related things going on here. Mr. BTEG bought me a couple of IKEA Baggebo bookcases to display some of my collection. They're a nice size for the 1/6 scale, leaving enough room for dolls to stand, but not so high that the bookcase gets too tall. So far, I have a couple of Barbies and most of my Rainbow High dolls moved in. Please excuse the lighting. I have to get better photography lighting into that room. 

Jaye mentioned on Instagram that there were some different styles of those jewelry boxes that also work as doll couches and chairs at a store called Home Goods. My store didn't have any, so Mr. BTEG also got me the couch and chair above from Amazon. I'm sorry you really can't see them very well, but they're certainly fine for doll furniture. The brunette Barbie is new. She's one of the Little Debbie Barbie dolls. She came with a straw hat and a cardboard bag full of cardboard Little Debbie boxes of snacks.

 

 

RM, we've had quite the weather up here. Last week, there were high winds for several days. A few big trees were knocked down, which led to our power being out for 25 hours. I'm so thankful for our generator. It's not one of the whole house ones, but Mr. BTEG was able to run our furnace with it, as well as a few important appliances. Then on Monday morning, we heard a very loud boom that seemed to shake our home to the foundation. Turns out it was a meteor exploding in our area and creating a sonic boom! I've seen some video of it; it looks like a shooting star, only in our atmosphere. It came what looked like rather close to the ground, but probably wasn't, before it self-destructed. I haven't seen for sure whether any of the pieces, or meteorites, made it to earth.

I guess I might as well mention my back issues here, since I'm talking about other things. Turns out I have arthritis degradation in my lower spine, which was causing the pain. I got an epidural block in the region, which has cleared up the pain quite a bit. I may need to get more as time goes on, but it's very easy procedure. MoonGirl, I hope your back problems get resolved as easily!

Long Shot Wish List

I think that it was Treesa who suggested I make a blog post about dolls that I would like to add to my collection but probably never will, either because they're expensive or hard to find. This seems like a good time to make that post, because for a little over a month now, I've been dealing with a pinched nerve in my lower back. When the pain is at its worst, everything hurts, from getting dressed to doing laundry, even to just sitting. I really haven't felt up to much doll photography or crafting. I had my first physical therapy appointment a few days ago, and it went well, so I'm hopeful about the future. In the meantime, here is my list of dolls that are on what I call my long shot wish list.

1. Sugar Cups

Sugar Cups is a line of small dolls (13cm) made by Azone. They're only available for a limited amount of time after they're announced, they're over $100 a piece, and since Azone is a Japanese company, they're not easily accessible in the US. Azone has released some of their dolls to Japanese toy stores in the past, which does make them easier to buy. I've bought from HobbyLinkJapan previously.

2. Rainbow High Lily Cheng

Lily was released in 2022 to celebrate the Chinese New Year. She came with two outfits. She was a limited edition doll, and the only holiday edition type doll that MGA ever released. Rainbow High also released Lila Yamamoto from Japan as a regular doll, but she can't hold a candle to Lily Cheng. Lily NRFB will put you back at least $280 currently.

3. Madeline's friend Nona, by Eden

I have all of the dolls in this line except for Nona. I hate to say that it is because Nona has long blond hair that makes her so desirable, but there is definitely some reason she will cost you so much more to add to your collection. Madeline herself new in box will cost you around $30. Nona recently sold NRFB for $150. Picture taken from Fandom Wiki.

4. Effanbee Petite Filles Babette

These dolls were made with the same bodies as the Tonner 10" Ann Estelle dolls. I already have one Mimi, who was the other doll from the line. 

 

Mimi and Babette's earlier outfits were meant to resemble 1850s style, but both Mimi and Babette were released several times in different outfits. I'd take any NRFB Babette, but they weren't huge releases, and now they'd cost a pretty penny. I have my eye on another Mimi on eBay, and the buyer is asking $200 for her. This picture of Babette is from tonnerdolloutfits.org, but she acquired it from an eBay auction, which is long since gone.

5. Old Releases of Kurhn Dolls with Fashions

I found the doll pictured below on AliExpress, many years ago. I tried to order her, but got the message that she was not in stock. I'm presuming that she was made at some point? If she was, she was probably only sold in China and maybe surrounding countries. Yes, Kurhn dolls are still available now, but I really liked the outfits. I doubt I'll ever find one like this, if they were ever produced.

I am thankful that I know how to sew. I could make clothes for the Mimi doll that I have, and also a Kurhn doll that I own. I may someday pick up at least one Sugar Cup, and if I found some of Lily's accessories loose, I could make clothes similar to what Lily is wearing. I'm resigned to never adding Nona to my Madeline collection, but Madeline and her other friends can get on without her.

I'm hoping to be doing well enough to work on a Thanksgiving diorama, since October's obviously isn't going to happen. :)

Rainbow High Accessories and Skyler in New Clothes

I mentioned in my last post that I completely forgot to share the accessories that Priscilla came with, in lieu of a second outfit. Since several of those accessories match the ones that came with a rolling makeup case that I bought separately, I decided to put all of that in this post, as well as Skyler in a new outfit made up of separates from other purchases.

Here are Priscilla's accessories. It's ironic that that Rainbow High collectors would have liked hangers, but not in place of a second outfit. It makes sense from a financial standpoint, I imagine. In addition to the two hangers, there is a cellphone with case, a laptop computer open to a designing program, three makeup brushes, an eyeshadow palette, and a tube of lipstick. MGA did a good job making the laptop screen look like an actual illustration program, but it's too bad that the cellphone just has the same image cut down.

 

To me, it's odd that the little clip on the case, so that the doll can hold it, means that the doll holds it in her left hand. Right-handed folks out there, what hand do you generally hold your cellphone in when you're checking things out on there? I'm left-handed, but somewhat ambidextrous, as left-handed peeps are often required to be.

Here's Skyler standing next to the makeup cart to demonstrate its proportions next to a doll. Her shirt and shoes came with RH doll Cecilia. Her jeans came from a clothes rack full of clothes that came with an Avery Styles doll. The makeup case came in a Rainbow High gift set. There were three dolls that each came in a different color, dressed for a stage performance, and the makeup cart and makeup, each matching the dolls' dress colors, were included. Thanks to eBay, at least in the US, it is fairly simple to pick up part of a doll set, if you don't want the whole thing.

This makeup case is very nicely made. The handle of the case pulls up so you can roll it like a suitcase. The two doors open to reveal a storage area and a drawer that pulls out. The top of the case flips open (once the handle is down) to two compartments, that can also be hung on the outside of the case.

The case came with a hair dryer, three makeup brushes, an eyeshadow palette, and a tube of lipstick. As you can see, the makeup is exactly the same as Priscilla's, just a different colorway.

 

The eyshadow cases, the lipstick tubes, and the front of the makeup case, all have the same 3D image. To me, it looks like a Greek goddess cameo, sort of a Victorian Greek goddess.

What accessories would you like to see with a doll? I can think of so many things, depending on era and type of doll. I think I would like detailed jewelry the best, because I'm not very good at making small doll jewelry.

Rainbow High Priscilla Perez

There isn't a lot to say about Priscilla, because she didn't come with a lot, compared to other Rainbow High dolls. She's still a beautiful doll. I especially love her eyes, and the way her hair glows almost neon in some lights. Her dress is pretty typical of what teens wear to special events these days, but the boa and the gauntlets are an interesting choice to pair with them. I think some jewelry would have been nice, but the fabric accessories probably appear to be better value for the cost, so that's one possible reason for the choice. Anyway, you've seen Priscilla in pajamas, now you can see her all dolled up in her original outfit.

I love her, and I'm interested to see how she looks in other outfits. We're moving out of the heat of summer and into prime sewing and knitting times for me. As usual, I probably have more plans than I can carry out, but I'll do my best.

I forgot that I didn't add a picture of her in box, and realized that I'd forgotten all of the little accessories that she came with, which I guess is an indicator of how much I was impressed by them. Still, I'll get a photo or two of them up before I post any more dolls. 

Total dolls: 89

Rainbow High Dream and Design Fashion Studio Playset

Since MC mentioned playsets, I decided to review the Rainbow High playset that I got for Christmas, which included a Skyler Bradshaw doll. This set is not exactly 1:6 scale, but then the Rainbow High dolls aren't either. I still think it's a nice addition to my doll displays.

This set obliviously includes items for sewing play, but first Skyler has to create a design. For this, she has some paints, brushes and a palette, what I think is a pencil, and what I think are oil pastels. She also has a large portfolio, with pictures that will appear when treated with water. She can use these on her worktable, which can be flat or tilted. Her work stool is not that sturdy. I didn't think of it until now, but I wonder how it would work for Barbie. She also has a potted orchid to give her a touch of nature.

When she's got a design she likes, it's time to start draping fabric and sewing her creation. She has a sewing machine, cutting mat, two pairs of scissors, an iron that sits kind of oddly, a rainbow shaped pincushion, a measuring tape, and a cup of coffee to keep her going. There's also some fabric included in rainbow colors. The tailor's dummy is a little odd. It's made for pretend draping, which makes sense since it's for kids, so there are no real pins, just these oversized pins that go into holes in the dummy. I think the ruler-like piece that has a circle on the top, sitting to Skyler's left in the second picture, is supposed to help insert the fabric into the slits in the dummy, especially some narrow ones in the back. I do like the fact that two pair of scissors were included. Anyone who sews will find out quickly that fabric should be cut with different scissors than pattern pieces or thread.

Since Rainbow High has a storyline for the dolls that takes place at an exclusive high school for fashion design and related studies, it makes sense that this playset is about designing clothes. It actually comes from a short series of episodes where Skyler wins a Project Runway type competition that included students from Rainbow and Shadow High. The stool can be used in many displays, and the work table could go from sewing to a computer table, a crafting table, or even a table for your doll to take pictures of her doll displays. :) The main item that I'm not sure I like from this playset is Skyler herself. To me, her head doesn't work with her body. Of course all Rainbow High dolls have oversized heads, but this one looks off to me as the other dolls I have don't. On the other hand, I hate to get rid of her, since blue is my favorite color. I'm going to try re-dressing her, and maybe a lip repaint. I'm going to include her in my collection count, since if I sell this one, I will probably buy a Skyler from another line that I like the look of more. What theme would you like to see for a playset?

Total dolls: 88

Nothing Like a New Outfit

Mr. BTEG and I had to go to Wal-Mart a couple of months ago to pick up something he needed. I of course hung out in the doll aisle while he was shopping, and I found two outfits and an accessories pack that I had to bring home.

Rainbow High fans have been begging MGA for years for separate outfits (for that matter, most doll collectors want these.) What we got, however, was not the same fashionable, detailed looks that Rainbow High was known for, but simple sets that looked one step up from dollar store quality. To my mind, the pajamas set is the pick of the bunch. Meet my model, Priscilla.

 

Are these slippers cute, or nightmare fuel?

 

I got Priscilla for Christmas, but I've been terrible about blogging about my new dolls. I'll talk about what she came dressed in on another post. For now, she's warm and cozy and ready to hit the sack. The set also came with four barrettes, and a hair straightener and curling brush.

The pajamas are adorable, and we don't often see nightwear made for our dolls, so they're nice to have, anyway.

Next is an accessory set for Barbie, that mostly centers around sweets. Barbie chose this sleeveless plaid dress to model. What's up with the shoes, though? They look like you'd wear them with another type of outfit. I was worried Barbie might be as messy with ice cream cones as I am, but she's Barbie. She doesn't get messy. And her hair bow coordinates nicely with her outfit.

Next is a blue Popsicle, with heart-shaped glasses and an ice-cream shaped purse. That's a lot of sweets there, Barbie.

I don't gain weight, either.

The watch looks nice in this picture, but as gravity will have it, the heaviest part of this watch (the face) will slide around to the underside of Barbie's wrist unless she's posed just right.

Lastly is this all-purple beverage, a pink tote with a faux fluffball key chain and a faux cupcake key chain, and a strawberry-shaped wristlet.

 

It's a cute accessories pack, and everything in it is useful except for the watch. I guess the ice cream purse is a bit weird too. It doesn't look like something that you could carry anything in.

A new doll line has been produced, by a company named Far Out Toys. As you might be able to read on the box, the doll line is named LUV, which stands for Limitless Unique Vibrant. I'm guessing that the VP Sharon Zuckerman is probably the same one who used to design for Mattel, so that's interesting. However, the name of the line reminds me way too much of the late lamented LIV doll line. If someone produces a group of dolls named LAF, I'm going to riot.

There are four core dolls, and each also has a separate outfit made for her. At least they have the separate outfits thing going for them. Problem is, despite wanting to go with a fashion forward concept, and having a fashion show where human models showcased all of the outfits in human sizes, some of the concepts are a bit dated and don't always make a cohesive look, in my opinion. My favorite outfit is the one that I bought that was made for the doll named Autumn. I was hoping that my Pullip could pull this outfit off, but instead, the only doll body type I own that can fit into this is Ever After High. Ashlynn Ella is a great model, since she has the same basic coloring as Autumn.

This outfit has a boho feel, which makes sense, since Autumn is "the boho one." It also gives me images of strolling through Rome; perhaps some of that is because of the bag that this outfit came with, and the rose neck accessory. The shoes that were included do not fit Ashlynn, so I tried a couple of EAH shoes with her look.

Bon giorno. Il mio nome è Ashlynn. Mi piacciono le tue scarpe.

I'm impressed by the tulip sleeve in such a tiny blouse, but the (faux) pockets on the boho skirt feel a bit odd.

Her bag looks like a smaller version of a market bag. It's cute, even though her arm has to be posed rather high to keep it from falling off.

The shoes that came with this outfit do fit Barbie, even though they are a bit big for her.  I don't know how I would like them with the other pieces in this look. What do you think?

Do you have a favorite from my three new sets? I'm happy with all of them, even if I don't find every piece useful. Isn't that always the way? I'd like to get some sewing for dolls done this year and create my own things. The hottest days of around 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32C) this summer have really been tiring me out. Thank goodness for air conditioning, and that the temps haven't been even higher.

Doll Show - Toledo, Ohio - April 27th, 2024

I see by one of Tam's latest posts that she was here too. We were hoping to bump into each other, but it was not to be this time. Fortunately for me, the photos that I took are almost completely different from hers, although I took a lot fewer.

This table near the front attracted me, because the dealer arranged some of her dolls in a holiday type theme. I took pictures of Easter and Independence Day displays. I know RagingMoon likes the red, white and blue, and I do as well.

 

 

This was technically a Doll and Bear Show (most of them are around here) and there were plenty of stuffed animals for sale. The adorable bunnies appear to mostly be Steiffs. I'm not sure who manufactured all of the cats, but I'm guessing that the Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood character Daniel Striped Tiger was a cousin of one of these felines. (By the way, Daniel's middle name is pronounced like bi-ped.) At least one seems to have the Steiff logo, so they may all be Steiff animals too.

When Mr. BTEG and I were in Hamburg for several weeks, one of our favorite places to visit was a local toy store. Mr. BTEG loved the LEGO and building toys, and I looked at all the dollhouses, but we each ended up with a Steiff animal too. The new ones at least are a lot cheaper there, although I suppose ours are vintage now, since they're over 30 years old. Yikes! I got a sweet stuffed lamb named Laemmchen, which literally means Little Lamb. Not very creative, I know, but it suits her. She measures around 7" inches long.

This dealer is building up her own Tammy army. Barbie, Midge and Ken are not very far behind, but no match for the wall of Tammy.

There were very few modern dolls compared to the vintage and antique dolls. There was one Ellowynne. I was tempted by the Mattel Teen Trends Gabby to the bottom right behind Ellowynne, but her white pants were badly yellowed.

I also saw my first Leeann doll in person. Leeann is a doll created by Canadian doll enthusiast and creative, Denis Bastien. He was mostly involved with doll sewing until he got the idea to create his own doll, a girl with endless energy and curiosity. Leeann was eventually joined by a whole group of friends. I have linked to his website, but there will be nothing on it until August 15th, as he has journeyed to France for the summer. Leeann is about 12" tall, if I remember correctly. Judging by her box, this particular doll was a UFDC convention souvenir.

I saw one My Child doll, a boy in a very pastel get-up.

I loved this doll, but also her outfit. When you get closer to her, you see that her jacket is a very tiny check pattern.

I took a few pictures of dolls to share with people. The Disney Fairies were for my youngest daughter, who loved the Disney Fairies series when she was a girl. I think these were Disney Store exclusives.

And the Terri Lee dolls photo is for RagingMoon, who shared pics of her own Terri Lee recently. My favorites here are the one in the blue velvet coat, and the one in plaid.

Unlike Tam, I did not buy any dolls. I don't have the money or proper storage space for antique or vintage dolls that I would consider right now, and antique and vintage were the huge majority of this show. I didn't see any newer dolls or clothes that I couldn't live without, either. I did buy three pieces of doll jewelry, though. Cecilia from Rainbow High will be my model, as she was handy and has appropriate clothes that won't detract from the baubles. I got a pair of blue teardrop earrings. Cecilia is merely holding one up to her ear. The posts are very long, and I'm not ready to trim them until I figure out which type of dolls will be wearing these.

 

The chain is also rather long on this necklace with the porcelain rose pendant. You can see it to Cecilia's right going down her back, if you look. This means a larger doll will probably get to wear this.

Lastly is this petit point pin. This is also a little bit large for a 1/6" scale doll, but I love petit point, so I had to get this. It will certainly look nice on a Tonner size doll. It's even about the same size as a petit point pin and earrings which are supposed to be for humans. My set is also vintage now.

Sadly, most of these dealers at this show seemed to be based out of Michigan or thereabouts, which is further west from me than Toledo, so I won't see many of these people in Strongsville at the next doll show there. It was an hour and a half drive from home, and I think any large area in Michigan might be a bit too far for a day drive. If I want to go to something badly enough, Mr. BTEG and I can always make a vacation out of it, I suppose. What would you most want to see/purchase at a doll show?