Doll Collector as Villain or Humanitarian?

A recent post on the DollyDaily blog laments the negative image of doll and action figure collectors on television shows [and in movies, my addition]. According to this stereotype, doll collectors are weird and dangerous nutjobs who either prize their plastic "idols" more than they do live people OR they seek to trap real humans into "doll" form for control.

Ooga booga ... BOO!

I'll take "weird" - my Mom disagrees, but she's a Mom. "Nutjob?" I'll argue that down to "creative" and "imaginative." Moving on ... "dangerous" ... meek little (cough, gasp) me? No way. Sure, I take dolls and figures off shelves and possibly deprive children of that doll or figure. Mostly though, I try to help people. I click on the Hunger Site daily. And there are lots of other collectors like me, who not only TRY to help people, they actually do help people.

Example: Rudi Teruel of R and D Dolls has found a way to help victims of the Filipino typhoon - please read more at his other blog

Example 2: Niel, a Filipino collector and dear contributor to Comments here at PhillyCollector, shares additional helpful information

Granted, they are two collectors, but there they are - helpful and concerned doll collectors. Concerned about living people. Because collecting dolls doesn't negate love and fondness for living people.

Linh Found - Surprise Visit to the 1970s

I almost suspect that my dolls and action figures come alive when I leave them. How else can I explain finding missing Dragon Linh in a bag with Ideal Tuesday Taylor and her half-sister Taylor Jones (their relationship as I recall it from my childhood years)? While my action figures and dolls interact - I put them in scenes together - I don't recall placing these figures together.

Here they go, Ideal Corporation's Tuesday Taylor and Taylor Jones flanking Dragon Linh. Tuesday and Taylor both wear Ideal Tuesday Taylor fashions that are NOT their original bodysuits with miniskirts. Linh wears her original pants, top, hat, and sandals. No original scarf for Linh: I bought her and the clothes she has separate.



Talk about dolls that make you go "hmmm ..."

More information about the now mysterious Linh can be found here and here.

More information about Tuesday Taylor and Taylor Jones can be found here and here and here.

Mixis Outfits Modeled by Opal(s) - Link Included

The two denim Mixis fashions are shown on Sunshine Edition Mixis Opal on the ever informative Black Doll Collecting blog. Debbie Garrett, the blog author, provides beautiful photos of both the curly-haired Opal and the straight-haired Opal, each wearing one of the Mixis denim outfits sold separately.

I like both the Red Vest and the Pink Vest outfits, but I have to say I LOVE the shoes. The red-white checked espadrilles are novel and look sublimely comfortable. The pale pink "suede" boots with fur trim also look trendy yet comfy. Sigh. These are must have fashions.

Mixis Pattern Query Results

The poll question was "Mixis dolls need this kind of clothes". Twenty-two visitors responded to these choices:

Vote Counts / Choices:

18 for Casual pants, skirts, tops

11 for Tailored suits, coats, shirts

8 for Formal gowns and/or tuxedos

8 for Ethnic-themed costumes

6 for Other ... thus described in Comments:

Sports
Swimsuits and underwear



Visitors were allowed to select multiple answers

Poll opening date 9/16/09
Poll closing date and time 9/23/09

Houda Holds a Meeting

Houda and some other fuller-figured dolls and action figures meet to discuss what patterns they would like to have for the Mixis dolls and similar sized females. There is strength in numbers!

Goodtime Sunday ... the Flavas at Ease

Here are some of my Mattel's Flavas dolls enjoying the gorgeous, summery day.

Tika has been re-bodied onto a poser My Scene Madison body while Happy D has a My Scene Barbie body. The dog once belonged to Hilary Duff. Kiyoni Brown and Liam are all original. Tika holds a camera; today, she wears an extra Cheetah Girls outfit and a Jakks Pacific handbag. Where did she leave her shoes? Standing next to Tika, Kiyoni dances and waves at an approaching friend as Liam leans into Happy D to ask if she feels chilly.

Sewing Samples from My Past

Back in the 1970s, I used to "make" my dolls clothes. Funds were limited: I had an allowance of $1.25 a week and daily lunch money. Even skimping on lunch, I needed to choose between dolls or action figures and accessories for them. Dana the budding collector would usually choose a doll or an action figure. I had about three patterns for doll clothes OR I could trace the outline of outfits my dolls wore. My pieces were serviceable. I could "make" the outfits more like what a real person (i.e., ME) would wear.

Here are some pieces I made. I photographed them and then turned some of them inside out to show seams and hemming. In the first photo, I have a rose polyester blouse, a brown corduroy jumper, a white cotton full slip, a denim miniskirt, a gray midi skirt, a white polyester shirt for Michael of the Young Sweethearts, and a reproduction of a 19th Century set of white cotton bloomers.






I didn't have a sewing machine. Nor did I want one at the time. I used old clothes or small fabric swatches from fabric stores. Nothing elaborate. But I had fun. And my dolls had "original" clothes ;-D