Wishing for a Directory for Doll Enthusiasts?

Well, save your wishes for something else. There is a new online doll yellow pages created by Simon Farnworth that you, my fellow doll enthusiasts, can likely join. At no cost. That's right - it's called Doll eDirectory, and here are three reasons to join.

1. More doll enthusiasts can find you. The Directory has 600 members since it opened in February 2013. Maybe you know them all; maybe not. Isn't it worth getting more readers for your blog or Etsy shop or website. Free advertising.

2. You can find other doll enthusiasts. Need a nude, good condition Integrity Toys' Ayumi? Check the Buy and Sell Group. You might find her at a good price.

3. We doll enthusiasts can imprint our hobby online. Collecting and playing thrives online and off. Hooray for us.

So do stop by and see the Doll eDirectory. o

Wishing for a Directory for Doll Enthusiasts?

Trichelle's Plum Ride

Last year, Grace got one. This year, it's Trichelle's turn. Alas, it seems to be the same purple convertible that Grace got, maybe in a little bit lighter shade of purple. Plum? Sigh. This time though, the car actually belongs to Trichelle, courtesy of the back of the box photo shown here.

Here is a close-up showing the new Animal Print Trichelle seated in her purple convertible.

Anyone else of the opinion that the So in Style gals could use another color and style of car? o

Trichelle's Plum Ride

Barbie's New Career Involves a Rabbit

No, I did not find a pregnant Barbie. Barbie never has taken on the role of "Mother;" my guess is that motherhood would impact her role as fashion model. (Really though? What about Cindy Crawford, etc. But that's never been an option for Barbie ... probably because it would bring in the taboo of sex and a children's toy. Shhh.)

No, the new career is Magician. Alas, I cannot upload my photo of the new "I Can Be ... Magician" Barbie doll. Yet. But this Barbie has a cute rabbit companion nestled in a purple top hat. It is the third playscale rabbit - after Liv doll Hayden's brown rabbit and the thin white rabbit that accompanied one of the 2009 "Think Pink" Barbies - that I would like to add to my collection. The rabbit is the best part of this doll set even if its head is slightly oversized.

I suppose the purple gown and accessories could be an improvement over the omnipresent pink, but not by much, I find. I would have given this doll a black sequin dress with a black felt top hat and a black or silver wand. But I suppose purple is a preferred color for the target audience that begins at 3 years old. (Wince. I forget how young the current Barbie doll target age is.)

So if you have been waiting for a magician Barbie, there is one in the "I Can Be" group. What do you think? o

Barbie's New Career Involves a Rabbit

Happy Mother's Day

 

They were dubbed "The mother and the baby of today" in 1973. That's right I'm talking 9" Jenny Jones and 2.5" Baby John. No Mr. Jones was included or mentioned on the box or in any of the advertising. Jenny wears a silver "band" on her left ring finger so the assumption was that Jenny was married. No one complained about the lack of a husband in the box, but those were different days. Sigh.


Mothers appear in other fashion doll series. Jenny reminds me of other playscale mother dolls even though she was a little "hipper" than most. I will be posting a list of playscale mothers this week.

Happy Mother's Day!

o

Happy Mother's Day

Ada Has a Promotion Photo of

Ada of Papuslie Mele has a promotional photograph of a new Monster High doll, Catty Noir. Ms. Noir is a rock star. So for Monster High fans keen on werecats, there is a new one. Additional photos of Catty Noir can be found online.

Enjoy! o

Ada Has a Promotion Photo of

May Notes

What will PhillyCollector discuss this May? Well, this is Asian and Pacific-American Heritage Month. And looking over my last two years' coverage on this topic, I think I need to update my list of Asian and Pacific-American Heritage dolls and action figures. So that's one topic.

What else does May hold? Mother's Day. That means a special Mother's Day post. I can share photos of established (by manufacturers) doll and/or action figure mothers and their children. Midge and her parents, etc. Then I can also show mother(s) and child(ren) pairings created by me like Color Rave Janay and a Mattel Prince.

And how can I forget the International Black Doll Show held at the end of this month? Alas, as most of you probably know, the Philadelphia Doll Museum will NOT be doing the Show this year. I might have a tribute post about that.

I am organizing my collection so I'll share insights and tips on that project.

And I want to do a Mixis doll promotion ... so I can be sure that I can someday have those unreleased dolls ....

Projects galore, smile. o

May Notes

It's Been Good to "Know" You (Denise Van Patten)

Denise Van Patten, the Guide of About.com's Doll Collecting, has retired from that post.

Longtime doll collector-enthusiasts may be familar with Ms. Van Patten as author of The Official Price Guide To Dolls or as "proprietress" of Katherine's Cottage. I have gleaned many tips from her About Doll Collecting pages from basic information such as doll terminology and more advanced information like organizing a collection. She has covered a variety of dolls, from antiques to Barbie.

Thanks for your many years of service to the online doll collecting community, Denise Van Patten. o

It's Been Good to "Know" You (Denise Van Patten)