Integrity Face Mold Correction - Not Alysa But Icon Sooki

My final post for 2013 features a correction to a face mold identification. The dark complected fashion doll in the center of this post's photo is NOT Alysa as cited, but the Icon Sooki aka Jade (used by the last Jade dolls). I learned this information from a long-time Integrity playline - Janay et al. - collector on Facebook. So please update your notes on that matter, if you have not done so already.

May you all have a Happy New Year.

Collectors Three, Mixis Three, and PrettieGirls One

Last weekend, Ms. Leo invited local doll enthusiasts to a doll play meet. She brought coffee and Dunkin' Donuts doughnuts. A date and location were set. Cyndy Bee and I were able to attend. I cannot speak for the others, but I had fun. How often do you feel free to discuss dolls and finding things for them? We discussed other collector-enthusiasts whose work we admired and learned of "new" photographers and artisans. Shared blog addresses and Flickr accounts.

We unpacked the Show and Tell items we had each brought. Cyndy brought a charming hostess gift for Ms. Leo - which I will leave for Ms. Leo to describe - and a well-constructed wooden doll trunk created by her husband. Cyndy explained how he put together two shadow boxes and how she decorated the interior of the box.

Ms. Leo brought some of her new dolls: Max, Marie, and Lena of the Prettie Girls. (So Cyndy and I got to see a Prettie Girl doll in the vinyl. Very helpful. Now I want at least THREE of those dolls ... sometime next year, but THREE. Pleased to have decided that.) Ms. Leo also brought a doll clothes pattern book, some accessories, and two neat rug coverings that I claimed along with a pair of men's sneakers when we made trades. My printer is out of ink so the rugs were a welcome accessory since I would not have been able to print them online anytime soon.

I brought a NRFB YNU Group Inc. Limited Edition Emerald, a LE Rosa, and a First Edition Opal as well as accessories and my extra Mixis doll fashion. Ms. Leo had wanted to see the Mixis dolls and the series was new to Cyndy. I got to see Lena of the Prettie Girls. Yes, the Prettie Girls and the Mixis dolls can wear each other’s clothes with only two off elements:



The Mixis dolls are a little wider in the torso so more fitted Prettie Girls fashions may not fit them properly. Lena's blouse barely fit Opal. The Prettie Girls' torso is closer to Barbie's with an inward curve at the lower back similar to the new JLo doll and/or the early Shani dolls. The distinction between the waist and the hips on the Mixis dolls is not as exaggerated.







The Prettie Girls have slightly longer legs so Opal’s jeans might seem high-water on Lena. However, Lena’s pants (which I thought were high-water) fit Opal's leg length.



See how the Prettie Girls body dips at the lower back.




As I mentioned, I had fun. Thanks, Ms. Leo for making the arrangements for this meet and for bringing me out of my home doll cave ;-) Thanks Cyndy for coming along and contributing to a jolly time. See you both next year.

Winter is Coming ... 2014 Update

Hey, Game of Thrones fans - yoo hoo! Gather near. Guess what famous franchise is going sixth scale? Yeah, baby - Game of Thrones! But didn't I say that Dark Horse was NOT producing sixth scale figures? Yes, I did and no, they aren't. So whoa - who is?

ThreeZero. Who? A toy company called Threezero has the license to produce sixth scale Game of Thrones figures. Eeekkk! Excited? One of the first figures likely to be available next year is Tyrion Lannister. I first learned this news from The Rebel Page and found additional confirmation at ActionFigureFury.

You can like ThreeZero on Facebook.

So it seems we will have Game of Thrones playscale figures. Only problem ... the cost. Something tells me that these figures will not be cheap. Unless Mattel or a similar company also gets permission to create them ... now that would be fun.

Happy Kwanzaa!

Four years ago, Deidre shared this greeting duty with her friend Keeya. Since Keeya was featured on another blog, we decided that Deidre could go solo this year. So here is our East Philly Kwanzaa ambassador. Alas, she is too pooped to answer any questions tonight. I took the photo a few hours ago; little Deidre has long since gone to sleep. Sigh. In addition to the Black Doll Collecting blog post, I offer this link to an Integrity Toys' Kwanzaa family. 

And here is a Pinterest board dedicated to Kwanzaa. Enjoy!

toyhaven: Check out Ace Toyz preview of their 1/6 scale Blac...

Call out to Vanessa and other Morgan Freeman fans ...

toyhaven: Check out Ace Toyz preview of their 1/6 scale Blac...: Finally, a really decent and complete 1/6 scale Morgan Freeman 12-inch figure. There have been quite a few 1/6 scale Morgan Freeman head scu...

Anyone interested in this figure? The likeness to the actor is striking. I don't know the cost yet, but you can keep it in mind for your future doll and action figure budget.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Ballerina Barbie

Who's That Janay? Test Your Integrity Playline Knowledge

I was photographing four of my Integrity Toys Janay dolls to show body differences.* Then I took a photo of the four dolls in a cross pattern - one in the center, two flanking on either side and a fourth above the first. Such lovely and unique facial screenings they have. Such a variety in hair textures and styles. Integrity Toys did some wonderful, creative fashion dolls in the mid-2000s. See the photo below. Anyone recognize these dolls by their Integrity title?

One of the dolls, I believe will be easy to identify because she recently appeared on another collector's blog; but I wondered about the others. So I am putting you to a Janay ID test. Here are the individual Janays:

JANAY1

JANAY2

JANAY3

JANAY4

Here are the titles to match to these Janay dolls 1-4:

Fashion Fling = ?

Tribal Treasures = ?

Icons = ?

Fashion Fling = ?

Studio It - ?

 

(While there are four dolls, I list five titles because one of the four may have been packaged under two titles.) If you recognize any of the dolls with a specific title, submit your answer(s) in the comments. I am eager to see who's a savvy Janay fan.

Can you guess which Janay has which title?

Celebrity Links - KISS, Dallas, Gilligan's Island by Figures

Figures Toy Company plans to expand your playscale collections with their caricatured celebrities from the 1960s-1980s. (Note: their Kiss figures, however, have more realistic features than the usual Figures offerings. Alas, they all have the 1970s KISS make-up so unless you remove the original face paint, you are stuck with the KISS persona.) Shrug. Here are some of the attractions produced or to be produced:

KISS figures in their Love Gun gear or in their Dressed to Kill business suits

J.R. Ewing from Dallas in two versions at $79.99 each or $159.99 for both

Gilligan and the Skipper from Gilligan's Island

Bo and Luke Duke, Rosco and Boss Hogg from The Dukes of Hazzard 

Evel Knievel, 1970s stunt performer

Happy viewing!

  

Playscale Reindeer from Disney Movie Frozen

If you want a reindeer to act out parts of the Disney movie Frozen, you are in luck. Walmart has a playscale gift set with the two Frozen sisters, Anna and Elsa, Sven the reindeer, and Olaf the snowman. Walmart online is out of stock for this item so if you cannot find it at a Walmart near you, try Toywiz. Yes, Toywiz has this Walmart exclusive. BUT there is a BIG price difference. At Walmart, this set costs $39.97; at Toywiz, it costs $64.99.

A Midnight Magic Pets Collection Doll I Almost Bought

Midnight Magic Pets Collection Alexis and Pet Owl Snowy

Last year's Midnight Magic dolls were clearly based on Mattel's Monster High series.  They were a little cute. I didn't buy them, but I looked at them and smiled. (Yes and that pleased everyone, lol.) This year's Midnight Magic Pets Collection borrows the vivid, sparkly-translucent bodies of the Novi Star dolls and the odd-scaled pets of that series. And I winced, shuddered, and turned my head when I saw the first 2013 Midnight Magic doll, Alexis. Why?

Translucent head

Translucent, sparkly body

Odd-sized pet

Ten dollar price

Then I saw the Makayla doll from this series.

Midnight Magic Pets Collection Makayla and Pet ? Persia

Oh, now this one is much cuter. I LOVE her curly white hair with orange highlights. The translucent brown face does not seem as ghastly as the pink, green, and blue heads. But the glittery, bone-thin body takes away the pluses for me. So I did not buy her.

If you would like to see more photos of this and other Midnight Magic collections, see

MM website

Facebook page

Tumblr site by Kate's Creations

Photos of these dolls

Happy viewing!

Ron Burgundy Doll - Ouch - Action Figure Alert

Are you a fan of Anchorman?

If you are, Paul of Idle Hands shares this neat news: a 13" Ron Burgundy doll er action figure is available on Amazon.com. (Yes, that makes him a little taller than most playscale figures, but what else could you expect of the always classy Mr. Burgundy?) Beeline Creative presents their first action figure, a 13" Ron Burgundy figure and 8" versions of Ron and his KVWN Channel 4 News Team.

To like Beeline Creative on FaceBook, go to this link.

For previews of the upcoming Anchorman 2, go to this link.

Think you will be adding this pseudo-1970s icon to your collection? 

Mixis Doll Sale - $19.95 ANY One

HOLIDAY SPECIAL
ALL MIXIS DOLLS $19.95
TWO WEEKS ONLY!

(Price valid from Nov 28 to Dec 13)

Go to the Mixis store and take advantage of this wonderful deal. Mixis First dolls  wear the denim bottoms and either the knee high, back zipped leather boots (Emerald and Rosa) or the black leather slip-on loafers (Opal). They also carry a leather backpack and an additional pair of footwear, black high-heeled sandals. The Mixis Limited dolls have lace-up leather sandals, an attractive sundress, and a fabric handbag.

Articulation, you will ask. The Mixis Limited dolls have articulated elbows. The Mixis First dolls have standard, straight arms. Both sets of dolls have click bend knees and can sit and move their arms up/down and turn their heads. Additional posts about the Mixis bodies are here, here, here, and here. DBG and Roxanne have written several posts about the Mixis dolls.

The Mixis store now ships to the United States as well as Canada. And if you need shipping to another country, send an email query to them first. 

Note: American customers, there are additional fees outside the sale cost. Please read the relevant information on the Mixis store shipping page.

Good luck and may you get the Mixis you want.

 

Play Hut's Mystixx Dolls Return

Remember I wrote a post about the Mystixx dolls? The creepy two-faced dolls by Play Hut ... well, some people like them because they are back. Moreover, Azra and Kalani have brought friends with them. Yes, the Vampire quartet is complete: Siva and Talin have joined the line-up.

Azra = blue

Kalani = green

Siva = purple

Talin = pink

The face looks the same (probably is the same), but they have different wig styles and outfits in goth or punk themes. Read ... additional fashions, yes! Most of the Vampire dolls listed above are also available in these themes:

Zombie dolls play "beautiful human girl by day or mesmerizing zombie by night"

Grimm dolls play fairy tale girl or masked forest creature

Articles on the Mystixx Dolls

Of Toys and Games sales site
(P.S. can anyone explain how Kalani can be a vampire AND a vegetarian?)

Reviews of the Mystixx Dolls

Emily Toy Philosopher

Ashley Confessions of a Doll Collector

jpopluvr1000 Mystixx Zombie Azra review

Monica J of Sofamilyonline

Mystixx on Social Media

Mystixx dolls have a Facebook page in addition to a Flickr Hive site brimming with photos of them. Play Hut claims the brand on their website.


Happy viewing and reading.

New Source for 12" M&C Power Team Action Figures!

There is a NEW toy store at 1708 Chestnut Street in Center City. Yes! Was I surprised? Yes. Did I go there? Yes. I had to see what they had - just in case.

Oh the name of the store? ToyZam. Their motto: It's Okay to Play! And there was a lot of playing going on at the store. Kids and at least one staff member riding an Ezy Roller, noise-making toy animals sounding off, tormenting of musical instruments, and other "fun" activities. I checked the doll line - nothing outstanding - Disney princesses, Chic Boutique princesses, Monster High dolls, and some playline Barbies. The prices seemed a little high: the 2013 Holiday Barbie costs $49.99. Monster High dolls ranged from $19.99 for the Dead Tired, Dance Class, and Skultimate Roller Maze dolls to $34.99 for the Sweet 1600 and Ghouls Rule dolls.

I'm pleased to see a toy store on Chestnut Street, but I'm not overwhelmed until I came to a wall of green boxes and black boxes. Well now. Green boxes ... yes, you guessed right. The M&C Power Team guys were on the shelves. About eight to ten figures. Price? They are $12.99 a figure. The basic PT guys with some extra accessories thrown into the box. Not enough or big enough accessories to warrant $19.99. Although the $20 sets usually had useful accessories - animals or vehicles, furniture, etc. - so the price bump didn't matter so much. But think: Power Team figures outside of Big Lots! Happy dance time.

Because I know someone will ask: no, they did not have any Black or Asian figures in the store. However, that the store carries the Power Team guys at all, that gives me hope that someday, I might find them there. The "them" I mention are the ethnic guys. Or, let me honest, any race or ethnic playscale male figure whose face pleases me. How can I resist them - they are World Peacekeepers, after all.

So check your East Coast neighborhoods for Toyzam stores. Best of luck finding your Power Team crew.

Halloween Photo Contest Kelly and Friends Leaving for New Homes

Halloween Kelly and Friends to be Chosen

Okay, the kiddies will be going to their new homes: Super Cool Doll House chose Dragon Tommy and ethnic Peppermint Kelly. So the remaining contest prizes are

Mummy Tommy (blond) and Spider Belinda (black hair pulled back)

I Can Be a Nurse Kelly (blond) and ethnic The Princess and the Pauper Kelly (brunette)

Pumpkin Nikki and Clown Kelly (both blond)

I'm contacting the remaining contestants to remind them of their prizes and to ask them for their choice of doll and sites to be tweeted.

toyhaven: Comparison of 1/6th scale 12-inch Action Figure Bo...

Here's a link to @lex of Toyhaven's recent post showing the pose-ability of three playscale action figures. MUST see for those seeking new articulated male figures. These are not your average Kens or Joes. Enjoy the photos AND the descriptions ...

toyhaven: Comparison of 1/6th scale 12-inch Action Figure Bo...

Okay, I will say it for you: bring on the buff guys. LOL. Could not resist.

New So In Style Prom Dolls

L'ubo, a regular on Facebook's So in Style and other doll groups, shared links to the new So In Style Prom dolls. I am sharing those links here for S.i.S. fans to view. Alas, these are basic dolls - limited articulation, but they have new hair styles and new fashions.

(Ack! What am I typing?! At this time? New hair styles and outfits? But hey, it is news. Maybe the new fashions will inspire someone? Sigh.)

Well, here are the links:

Grace

Kara

Trichelle

Please note: the Amazon web site and the links have some typos for Grace and Kara. Grace has become "Chandra" while Kara is called "Chandra" on one line. Huh? You say. Check the photos, I answer and wink.

Thanks again, L'ubo for sharing the photos and the links.

More Disney Princess Doll Collections - Nine and Eleven Doll Sets!

Dear Disney Princess Doll Collection Fans:

J.C. Penney is offering a nine-doll Disney Princess set. The dolls are NOT articulated, but here is a chance to own a Disney Princess set including Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Tiana, Rapunzel, and Merida. No Mulan. No Pocahontas. Remember, the new Frozen dolls will not join the Princess doll sets until next year. Penney offers a few glowing reviews from parents. I found some collector-enthusiast reviews on Flickr. 

 (Aside: J.C. Penney also has a sale on the individual playscale Disney Princess dolls - 2 or more for $10.00. A single doll is $12.00.)

Whoa, but what about the ELEVEN doll set? That set is available through the Disney Store in the U.S. AND in the U.K. On the plus side, these dolls are articulated. The 11-doll set includes Mulan and Pocahontas. Yay! They are articulated at the elbows and at the wrists; I am not sure of the knees. The knees look like click bend knees. Well, you cannot have everything.

What are the U.S. collection costs? For the 9-doll set, $90.00. For the 11-doll set, $119.95.

Were I in a buying frame, I would buy the larger set because I like the Pocahontas, the Mulan doll, the Tiana, the Snow White, and surprise - the Merida in this set. Why? Except for Merida, they seem to have smaller heads than usual. Yes, Merida has her usual golf ball head. But she and Tiana are my favorites among the princesses so the extreme roundness of her head ... meh ... not so intolerable as usual. 

Then again, since I only like five of the dolls, I would buy wiser getting them individually. 

What would your preference be?

Halloween Photo Contest: The Kelly and Friends Prizes

"©Heather"

Snap! Strike a pose: here are the photos of the award dolls. A request first.

Dear Contest Winners,
Super Cool Doll House gets first choice of any two dolls. Mark, please send your choices to me at this email address - d7ana AT yahoo.com - AND please include a mailing address where you can receive the dolls. Madeboxer, Niel, and Patti, let me know how you would rank the dolls in order of preference and a mailing address; I will get back to you with the doll you won. Thanks again for your participation - I could NOT have done the Contest without you.

Mummy Tommy (blond) and Spider Belinda (black hair pulled back)

I Can Be a Nurse Kelly, Ethnic Peppermint Kelly, and Ethnic The Princess and the Pauper Kelly

Pumpkin Nikki, Dragon Tommy, and Clown Kelly (all blond)

NOTE: I am aware of the harrowing conditions in the Philippines. Running a contest at this time, while people are struggling for basics like fresh, potable water, food, clothing, and shelter, does feel a little bizarre and a lot callous. I don't know if Niel is safe let alone able to access the Internet.

Thirteen million people affected. I can barely think of that many people in those conditions - but that's what is happening now. It is good to see others working to help those in need. Wishing and praying for as prompt and safe a restoration as possible to all there.

Mixis Girls on Pinterest

It's happened. The Mixis dolls are on Pinterest. Yes, that fab quartet ...

Emerald

Houda

Opal

Rosa

I mean OFFICIAL YNU Group Incorporated photos. Check them out on their new board.  Like the photos, comment on them, and pin them. If you like them on Facebook, extend that love on Pinterest. Then they can produce the next line of dolls.

(Yes, I am blatantly transparent. No, I am NOT getting a kickback. I just really, really want those dolls ;-D)

Happy Veteran Day and Related Links

Happy Veteran Day!

I would like to thank all veterans for their service to the United States of America. So I am sharing these Veteran Day links:

Salute to Our Favorite Playscale Veteran

List of G.I. Joes modeled after real people

Relevant quotes

A "humorous" military mini video - warning, adult language and references

I hope you enjoy them and pass them on to your favorite veteran(s).

Veteran Day Sale

11% Off Any US Military Forces
Complete Figure Sets
or Complete Uni Sets

Cotswold Collectibles is having a Veteran Day Sale!

Offer Expires: November 13th, 2013 at 6:00 pm (Pacific)

NOTE: New Orders Only of In-Stock Items

Veteran Day Sale items cannot be combined with any other special or discounted pricing.

Qualifying Sales Items must be paid by Friday, November 15th, 2013 to retain the discount. Unfortunately, they are not accepting rain checks for this sale.

Halloween Photo Contest Update: The Super Cool Results are In!

"©Heather"

First, let us applaud the artistic skills and generosity of

Heather for her adorable witch banner

and these contributing doll and action figure photographers:


SuperCoolDollHouse

DollDelusions

TheMadeBoxer

and Pattisdolls


 Drumroll ...

The Grand Prize - goes to SuperCoolDollhouse. Whooo whooo! Stomp, stomp; clap, clap. Please e-mail me your list of any 20 webpages - your blog or other website(s) - so that I can tweet them. I will be posting the Halloween Kelly/Kelly friends dolls next so you can let me know which two dolls get to move to the Super Cool Doll House world.


First Prize - is a tie between DollDelusionsbyNiel and "TheMadDeboxer" Whooo whooo! Stomp, stomp; clap, clap. Please e-mail me your list of any 10 webpages - your blog or other website(s) - so that I can tweet them. Then, let me know your choice of a Halloween Kelly/Kelly Friends doll - after SCDH submits his choices - you would like.


Second Prize -  goes to "Pattisdolls" Whooo whooo! Stomp, stomp; clap, clap. Please e-mail me your list of any 8 webpages - your blog or other website(s) - so that I can tweet them. Then, let me know your choice of a Halloween Kelly/Kelly Friends doll - from those remaining - that you would like.


Thanks to all participants - both art contributors AND art appreciating voters. You all make the doll and action figure enthusiasts world that much brighter.


I will be posting the doll prize photos next, waiting for requests, and then tweeting those pages.

Studio 126's Action Figure Hand Replacement Tutorial

How many of you - like me - have at least one ham-fisted Power Team or glove-hand Action Man whose hands you would like to upgrade to "normal?" If you would like to see a tutorial on how to replace those over-sized mitts, check Studio 126's post on his Adventures in Playscale blog.



May you enjoy the photos.

Bern Nadette (Good Times) Stannis Fans? Doll Alert

Okay, some of you might be ready to scream if you read the words, "Prettie Girls" at this blog one more time.


I sympathize. I do. But I want to slip in one last bit of news. Promise. This will end the Prettie Girls post for this week. This being Sunday, ha ha.


Angelic Dreamz alerts readers that One World Doll Project, creators of the new Prettie Girls dolls, will have a new Celebrity Collectors doll based on actress Bern Nadette Stanis who played Thelma, the smart-mouthed daughter, on 1970's sitcom "Good Times." You can check for this new doll in December 2013. And the price will probably be higher than the basic Prettie Girls dolls as the other Celebrity Collectors Cynthia Bailey doll is at $69.95.


So celebrity doll fans or "Good Times" fans or Bern Nadette Stanis fans rejoice. Another new celebrity doll will be available. How close the likeness is, though, cannot be determined. Wouldn't a personalized face sculpt be nice? Guess we will see next month.

Prettie Girls Review Links

They've barely been out but there are two review for the Prettie Girls Lena doll. Lena is the African American doll in this multi-ethnic group. Debbie B. Garrett of Black Doll Collecting and RoxanneRoxanne of Roxanne's Dolls have head to toe reviews. Debbie also has an additional blog post showing Lena redressed in a Stardoll (Barbie) fashion.  So if you wanted to see how the Prettie Girls dolls look among other playscale dolls and action figures, go see those blog posts.


If you write a review for any of the dolls in this series, let me know the URL for the review if you would like that shared here. Each person reviewing these dolls or any dolls/action figures will see something different that might help others decide to buy or not to buy them.


Angelic Dreamz has joined The Doll Genie as an alternate source for the Prettie Girls dolls.


Say, Debbie and Roxanne, would either of you mind if I pinned one of your Prettie Girls Lena comparison photographs to my Pinterest Prettie Girls Board? I will link back to your blog post. Good to get the description of the dolls out before the Black Friday rush, hmm? Thanking you in advance, regardless of your response.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Finnick Doll | Barbie Collector

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Finnick Doll | Barbie Collector

We thought he would only be available at Toys R Us.

We were wrong.

Hunger Games Catching Fire Finnick Doll is available through Barbie Collector online. That opens the buying field wider. Happy snaring, Enthusiasts!

November Highlights: Holidays, Heritage, and Sales!

What is happening in November? Aside from the end of Daylight Savings Time? Let's see:

• Native American Heritage Month
• Veterans Day
• Great American Smokeout
• Thanksgiving
• Hanukkah ... yes, Hanukkah
• Black Friday
• SALES, SALES, SALES!

So you can expect at least one article on Native American dolls and action figures, tributes to Veterans Day, the Great American Smokeout, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Black Friday as well as sales notices. Cold weather aside, this will be one hot month for sales. Buy wisely though.

Halloween Contest 2012 Re-visited: Vote for Your Three Favorite Photos

"©Heather"

2012 was a rough year for me.

One of my biggest regrets was not presenting all of the entries for my Halloween Contest, "Come to My Window." All of the photos were winners in my opinion, but I'm asking you, my readers, to vote for your top three favorite photos so I can determine who wins Grand Prize, First Prize, Second Prize, or Third Prize.

You can vote from October 31, 2013 until November 8, 2013.

What are the prizes?

Grand Prize - I will tweet any 20 webpages - your blog or other website(s) AND your choice of TWO Halloween Kelly/Kelly Friends dolls

First Prize - I will tweet any 10 webpages - your blog or other website(s) AND your choice of any remaining Halloween Kelly/Kelly Friends dolls

Second Prize -  I will tweet any 8 webpages - your blog or other website(s) AND your choice of any remaining Halloween Kelly/Kelly Friends dolls


Third Prize  - I will tweet any 4 webpages - your blog or other website(s) AND your choice of any remaining Halloween Kelly/Kelly Friends dolls

Unofficial prize to Heather for her stunning exclusive graphic - tweets for any 20 of your webpages. Send me the list, Heather, and I'll start tweeting.

The entries are:

"TheMadDeboxer"

The Cat's View

"TheMadDeboxer"

Dracula and a Bride

"TheMadDeboxer"

Vampiress A-Gory

SuperCoolDollhouse

"I think I hear something."

DollDelusionsbyNiel

The Visitor

"Pattidolls"

BeWitch[ing] the Kiddies

Happy Halloween to Everyone Celebrating It.

Prettie Girls Soon to Ship - Thanks, Debbie

DBG of Black Doll Collecting blog shared the news that two of the One World Project Prettie Girls, Lena and Valencia, will be shipping soon. Price is $21.95 EACH - a sale price since the website, the regular cost will be $24.95. (That regular cost is a little higher than expected, but given that the dolls are articulated and the clothes look quality, not too extravagant.) So if you were interested in these dolls, check the updated photos and additional information at their website, The Prettie Girls! Dolls. Or check DBG's Black Doll Collecting blog and Roxanne's Dolls blog for coming photos.

Me, I want Valencia first. I know I had said Lena before, but that's before I fell in love with the pink Chucks Valencia has. Lena's shoes have heels. I hate heels - well, to wear them anyway. So I prefer to have my dolls wearing what I would wear. When I can that is - smile.

More posts about the Prettie Girls can be found on this blog (yes, some links outside this blog, smile) and more information can be found in my Pinterest board for the Prettie Girls. Happy reading and viewing.

Target-Exclusive Barbie Giftsets: Ballet and Wedding Play

Have a Target gift card that you want to use? Here are two Target-exclusives with perennial play themes. One is ballet-themed; the other, wedding-themed. Anyone remember Tomy’s Nina Ballerina? “The beautiful dancing doll?” Here's a photo of Nina on the box cover.

Fast forward to the first giftset called "Barbie Holiday Ballet," which reminds me of Nina and her pink star stage. These four dolls come packaged on a “performing stage” where they perform a ballet: they turn right, left, or spin around. Wheeee! The dance troop consists of

Barbie as Kristyn Farraday
Ken as Prince Siegfried
Poinsettia (ballerina wearing red)
Snowflake (ballerina wearing blue)

The second Barbie giftset uses the ever popular wedding theme. Stifle that yawn. In the Barbie Fairytale Wedding Party Doll Giftset, the wedding party includes

Bride Barbie
Groom Ken
Bridesmaid Stacey
Flower Girl Chelsea


Stacey swaps out for Skipper. That’s different, yes? Mmmmuh. If I were to create a Wedding Party Doll giftset, I would have

Bride Barbie
Groom Ken
Bridesmaid Female Barbie friend
Best Man Steven OR Ryan
Flower Girl Chelsea


Barbie’s younger siblings are cute, but I would think that the bridesmaid should be – well, around the bride’s age. Flower girls can be and should be young: the function is to look cute and to strew flowers along the bride’s path. (Note to self: if I ever marry, no flower girl – those cutesy flowers might cause me to fall. Hobbling about on crutches is not my idea of honeymoon fun. Do people ever think of that? What romance is there in trampling dead flowers?)

What and who would your doll wedding party include?

Janay Research - Pinterest Update

I submitted this query to MasterCollectors online contact:

Hi, I have followed your Toy Fair Reviews since 2002. May I pin your Integrity Toys Janay and Friends photos on Pinterest? Your photos have your logo and I would leave your link in my comment. It is difficult to find good photos of those dolls. The Pinterest board I would load them to is Integrity Janay & Friends.

Thanks for maintaining your Toy Fair archives and for your response, whatever you decide.
Sincerely,


And the result? Permission granted! Yay! So Janay and other Integrity playline doll fans, go check out my newly expanded Integrity Janay & Friends board. I have annotated the photos with doll identification when I recognized the dolls shown or other information gleaned over the years. Please let me know if any notes need correcting. Enjoy!

P.S. Debbie, this post is part 1 of the promised "sister" post to your Janay post.

Zica Toys' Action Jackson - No NOT Carl Weathers

First, no, we are NOT talking about Carl Weathers or the "Action Jackson" 80's movie.

No, I am talking about the re-issue of a classic action figure, Action Jackson, by a new toy company, Zica Toys. Action Jackson originally was an 8-inch tall jointed action figure created by Mego Corporation. Raise your hand if you remember Mego Corporation. Oh Mego ... producers of the Waltons, Cher, Diana Ross, Dinah-Mite, and many other 8-inch and over 12-inch action figures and dolls.
 
Aside: I still remember firmly grasping the Waltons' farmhouse in both hands while standing in the checkout line of a South Philly toy store. My Dad stood in line after me. He kept tapping his fingernails on my shoulder. He told me that I was not going to waste my money on "that junk." I was all the more determined to get it so I stood my ground. He went to wait for me in the car. Alas, the farmhouse was not only too short for my Barbies, it was 95% cardboard with plastic steps and porch posts. (Lesson for me a la caveat emptor; lesson for my Dad in that he ought to have gotten my glasses replaced. Sigh.)

Those were the golden days for Mego. But there may be life after cancellation for one Mego brand: Action Jackson. Today, Zica Toys shows some prototype head on this Facebook page. They will produce African American figures if the initial dolls sell. Maybe even a Carl Weathers' Action Jackson figure ;-)

P.S. Zica Toys also have a Yvonne action figure whose head sells on eBay. Additional reference? Check this article on The Joe Report,


* * * * *


Nostalgic about the original Mego figures? There is an online resource for you; it's called the Mego Museum. Enjoy!

Correction to Tanned Raquelle Post - She Ain't Raquelle!

In my last post, I wrote about a thrilling "discovery" - a tanned, purple-haired Raquelle. Well, first Jewel Snake asked about the identity of the doll. Was I sure that the new doll is Raquelle? I looked at the photo I took and  dolls with the other Barbie face mold. Back and forth, back and forth, I looked. But I couldn't see the Barbie in the purple-haired doll. Then an anonymous reader and Ms. Leo questioned the identification of the purple-haired doll as Raquelle. I felt a less certain about the identification I had made.

So I thought: check the head molds. Before I could ask that info though, I found myself in another Walmart store. (Yes, that easily, ha ha. Poof.) Once there, I could not resist the lure of the toy department and the Barbie aisle in particular. The Eureka moment occurred. This store had both an "In the Spotlight" Raquelle AND the new purple-haired Mariposa doll on the shelves.

Okay, I see now. Raquelle's nose is smaller; her mouth is wider with thinner and flatter lips. The Mariposa friend has larger eyes that tilt up more than Raquelle's.
Her smile is less toothy. Raquelle's face seems a little flatter. Hmmm ...

So - alas - no tanned Raquelle's yet. I apologize for any disappointment caused.

But good news for Muff - the purple-haired Mariposa doll seems to have a normal-sized head.

Let's thank Jewel Snake, Ms. Leo, and Anonymous for their keen eyes! Applause.

Tanned Mattel Raquelle Anyone?

Raquelle face doll fans, alert! There is a suntanned Raquelle doll available. Usually, Raquelle has light or fair complexion. But if you'd like to see her with a tawnier complexion - and you do not mind purple hair OR re-rooting fashion doll heads, this doll is for you. She's one of the Mariposa co-star or friend fairy dolls. Walmart calls this doll a "co-star," while Amazon calls her, "friend."


 

There is a close-up photograph and a full length photograph. What do you think of her? Happy searching!

Frozen Dolls

The movie will be out November 27, 2013, but you can find the dolls from the Disney movie Frozen in stores now. Frozen is about two sisters, Anna and Elsa and their adventures as they attempt to restore their kingdom of Arendelle from an eternal winter. Anyone thinking a modern, cheerier version of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen with siblings replacing Gerda and Kay and the Snow Queen?

Here are the two wide-eyed sisters: Elsa (left) and Anna (right). Elsa has the power to create snow and ice. She accidentally triggers the "eternal winter." Anna, the younger and optimistic sister, wants to reconnect with her sister and to restore the land to its former four season glory. Head nod. Maybe the commission of the story will be more exciting than the premise, but I see a definite pass on this one. I never liked the fairy tales where the younger siblings win out over the older ones. Why not? I AM the oldest sibling. Sigh.

And here is the back of the box for these dolls.

If any of you see this movie this Thanksgiving, do let me know how you found it. I thank you in advance for that favor.

Kenya's Male Friends Found in Philly

Hooray! Remember Kenya? What about her boyfriend, T.J. and his cousin Dwayne? Well, Kenya's male friends have finally reached the City of Brotherly Love.

Cousins Dwayne (left) and T.J. (right)

Here is Dwayne. He has painted, close-cropped hair. Medium brown complexion.

Here is T.J. He has a bald skull. Dark brown complexion. He and Dwayne both have straight arms and articulated knees as guessed by the angle of the bent knees.

I did not buy either of the guys. While I would like to try the fashions on my taller guys - Integrity Toys' Lukas Maverick and Mattel's Scottie Pippin - I'd like to wait until they are on sale. On the other hand, suppose they get bought up entirely? Suppose I cannot find them later? Male dolls appear and disappear so quickly. What to do? What to do?

P.S. Select Kenya dolls are for sale online. I am hoping that little sister Keyshia makes her appearance next.

More Hunger Games Dolls! Yay Again to Sandra and The Doll Cafe Facebook Team

I finally saw the first Hunger Games movie this year. Many of you may have seen the movie or read the book by Suzanne Collins. It was okay. Better story and characters than Stephanie Meyer's Twilight. Lovely scenery. So so story - entertaining enough for me to watch the whole thing, but nothing earth shattering. Shrug. But guess what? So far, I love all the new dolls Mattel made based on the trilogy. Thanks to L'ubo, Leo, Joel, and Sandra from The Doll Cafe Facebook page for my first alert about these upcoming dolls. Frannie and William have also posted about this Mattel Pop Culture series.

Mattel produced a Hunger Games Katniss doll last year. The 2012 Katniss doll uses the Goddess face sculpt. For this year, Mattel has created a new Katniss and added Peeta, the male love interest; Effie, the future fashionista guide; and Finnick, a male character to be introduced in the upcoming 2013 movie, Catching Fire based on the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy.


Katniss New Katniss face sculpt!

Peeta  New Peeta face sculpt! New broader male face, whoo hoo!

Effie  Barbie closed mouth sculpt (probably Mackie?)

Finnick  TRU Exclusive! (No face details yet, but he looks cute. Interesting hair style. Alas, no details about this doll on the TRU page OR on the Mattel page so I do not know whose face sculpt this doll uses.)

Entertainment Weekly offers a video showing designer Bill Greening discuss the new dolls that are expected to be released when the second Hunger Games movie launches November 2013. That's right: next month.

May the Odds be with you, should you decide to nab any of these dolls. (Aw, I could not resist.)