Come to My Window ... Halloween Photo Idea

What does September mean? October is coming. Yes, September is the unofficial start of the year for me. Why? Because it heralds Fall TV previews, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas! Whooo hooo! Yes - the Fall and Winter fun times. And what among these dates is the most fun? All together - Halloween!

This Halloween, the DOLLS and the ACTION FIGURES will get dressed up. Dress up to what end? Party time? Partly. We usually have an East Philly DAF Zone party around Halloween. Nothing big - oops, don't let T.J. know I said that. Gulp. Party, partly. Remember, Vanessa of Van's Doll Treasures is throwing a parrrr-tayyyyy. But beyond the parties, my playscale folk are going to dress up for a photo shoot, Come to My Window.

It's an iconic scene, isn't it - the dangerous vampire at the window. You know that he or she is going to get in. Whether the human inside lets him or her in willingly or as a result of being mesmerized, the vampire reaches the window. But what happens next, well, that's a whole different story. I figured, let's do a vampire-themed photo session/contest. Let's have a window and a vampire in the center of the photo. See what happens next.

So, what do you think? If you'd like to share photos with this theme at your blog, I would be happy to see them. Let me know by September 30th and I'll add your name to my list. Or you are invited to share your photos here - provided the photos pass my PG rating.

Awwwwww - the Cutest Skipper-Chelsea Set

Ada from Romania wrote about these dolls. I had also seen them on Walmart.com, so I include those links below:

Barbie Loves Disney Barbie and Stacie Dolls

and

Barbie Loves Disney Skipper and Chelsea Dolls

I am not a big Disney fan - as far as going to Disneyland or Disneyworld, that sort of thing. But ... I want that Disney Skipper and that Disney Chelsea. First, I love the burgundy red of this Skipper's hair. The platinum haired Chelsea looks adorable. Nice face screening for both dolls. And aside from the denim skirted Skipper in another set, this has to be the most attractive Skipper outfit. And the black leggings can go with other tops. Sigh. So even though I feel that the price is much for the set - $25 - I am going to look for this set.

The Barbie and Stacie set though is a definite PASS for me. I see one word: skanks when I look at them. Sorry. The mini skirt is too mini. And those shorts on Chelsea ... did her PARENTS see her leave the house dressed like that? Tsk, tsk.

Kelly Kids for Sale, Part 1

I removed a Melody from the original set of 10 deboxed dolls. Others that I will sell that are still NRFB are

Nurse Kelly

Teacher and Rock Star Kelly

Checkup Times Kelly

and some Halloween dolls I have not yet photographed separately. If you are looking for something specific, write and I'll let you know if I have it and am willing to sell it.

Thanks for looking ;-D

Fashion Fever Dolls to be Sold

Here are some Mattel Fashion Fever dolls that I no longer want. Between 2004-2008, I avidly followed news of each and every Fashion Fever "Wave" produced, including the Girls Aloud dolls that I never got because they were overseas exclusives. Shrug. I had fun. My best find was when I nabbed a NRFB Desiree at a Rite Aid store on Aramingo Avenue. Score! Now I am selling some of them. Shrug again. That's the nature of collecting for you.

Some of you might have fond memories of these dolls? Maybe you missed getting some of them. I will also post a link to nude Fashion Fever dolls that I am selling through The Doll Page. Please check that site later tonight and tomorrow. In the meantime, here are some NRFB dolls for you to look at and to buy if you are interested.


Barbie Fashion Fever Wave N - Styled by Me
27084 34555 H0644
Pink-taupe-white-black print shirt; tan miniskirt; black suede belt; denim sparkled cap; dusty pink wedge-heeled boots. $15.00



Barbie Fashion Fever Wave R - Modern Trends
27084 29702 H0644 J1326
Purple spangly top; pinstriped faded jeans w. floral cornucopia on upper left leg; silver chain belt w. heart lock; silver dagger earrings; purple sheer w. iridescent sprinkle plastic handbag; purple platform sandals. $15.00



Barbie Wave R - Modern Trends
27084 33808
Gray-taupe-pink tweed on white jacket; white name midriff tee; navy jeans w. pink floral applique on left thigh; pink boots. $15.00



Barbie Fashion Fever Holiday
27084 40589 K0841
Red net over silver dress; silver fox "fur"; red platform heeled sandals; tiny red plastic bag. $20.00




Barbie Fashion Fever 2006
27084 44745
Tiered pink knit mini dress; white purse. $15.00

Barbie Fashion Fever 2007
27084 48621
Black bolero jacket w. puff sleeves; pink w. black dots blouse; black capris w. pink polka dots; pink flats w. black polka dots. $15.00

Thanks for looking.

Ken's New Fashionista Closet Pieces

Seen at Walmart today:

Casual closet includes: charcoal and light gray hoodie, mesh turquoise blue basketball tank and shorts, gray pants to match hoodie. turquoise sneakers, white sneakers with chartreuse trim.

Formal closet includes: dark blue pinstripe suit with PINK topstitching, blue floral short sleeved shirt with pink satiny ribbon tie, red plastic roses, dark lace-up shoes, gray vest, and small dark blue plastic box (gift for Barbie?).


The photo below shows the back of both packages and how three complete outfits emerge from these two packages.

Thoughts/reactions: The casual closet looks okay. I cannot say that I am eager for my Kens to have a basketball outfit, but this one is okay. I like the vest in the formal closet and the idea of the suit and the floral shirt. The David Tennant Doctor Who wore a suit similar to this one. But this suit fabric looks cheesy while the shirt looks like the minimum of fabric possible was used. The sleeves almost looked clipped. (Siren shrieks "cheat" or "cheap" ... your guess which.) There are no cool accessories or complex pieces here to enhance the clothes.

If I hated to sew menswear, I would snatch these sets up as being half-decent Kenwear. Since I used to sew for my dolls many years ago, I am thinking I might skip on these closets and set aside time to create my own Kenwear. Yes, the looks would likely be dated - lol- but they would fit better in my sense of what my Kens and male figures should wear. Because the Kens in my world live under my fashion preferences. And this D is stronger than any B - wink.

Happy Labor's Day to Us, One and All!

Happy Labor's Day to those who work so hard at our play - the doll and action figure storytellers and bloggers and photographers and artists and miniaturists and sewers and readers. You know who you are! Thanks for your time and efforts in making the world a brighter and happier place. Your diligence eases my brow and uplifts the corners of my mouth. I appreciate your industry.

Sincerely,
D7ana aka Dana Cooper
A PhillyCollector of Playscale Dolls & Action Figures.

New Mystixx Vampire Teens A-Prowling

"Creatures crawl in search of blood ... "

Thriller lyrics by Michael Jackson

I have not seen them yet. But they are out there - now - possibly in a Target or a Toys R Us near you. They are the new vampire girls in Toyland. They are called "Mystixx." Playhut manufactures them.

The Mystixx Vampires - Azra, Kalani, Siva, and Talin - join Mattel's Monster High Draculaura and MGA Entertainment's Bratz vampires Kirana and Penn as hip, teen vampires. These dolls switch from "girl face" to "vampire face" by turning the doll's head. One doll enthusiast photographer shows the Janus-headed doll without the wig that covers the second face. Yes, this is an update on the antique two-faced dolls.

(Aside: yes, I would have found this doll terrifying when I was a child. As an adult, I merely winced. Child me would have had nightmares for weeks. I suppose they tested the dolls for the target market though.)

Now you might wonder if these dolls could be used as replacement Barbie bodies. They are roughly the size of the Monster High dolls per another doll enthusiast's report. Unfortunately, these dolls have limited articulation ... rather like the Stardolls.

Additional out-of-box photos of the Mystixx Vampire dolls are available in the Flickr Group, Mystixx Vampires.

If you seek Azra or Kalani, they are available now at

Toysrus.com

eBay

Amazon

Siva and Talin do not seem to have hit the market yet. None of the collectors from the Flickr Group or any of the sources advertising these dolls has links to those dolls. The company website mentions them, but it does not show "in real life" photos of those two characters. Possibly the company is holding off to see if the first two dolls sell or to see if Mattel initiates any legal action.

I am curious to see these dolls although - partly due to the over-sized heads and partly due to the double-headedness - I doubt that I would buy them. Maybe the Kalani - if she were on deep sale reduction. Maybe. I do like her green hair.

What do you think?