Maud asserts her ability to stretch like action figures can.
Judith curls her back against her chair and curls her legs up to reveal the elegance of her arched feet.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Dancers and Chairs: Maud and Judith Strike Poses
In these two photos, two Mattel fashion doll dancers drape chairs. Behold, Cabaret Dancer Barbie and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre Barbie.
Maud asserts her ability to stretch like action figures can.
Judith curls her back against her chair and curls her legs up to reveal the elegance of her arched feet.
Maud asserts her ability to stretch like action figures can.
Judith curls her back against her chair and curls her legs up to reveal the elegance of her arched feet.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Second Target Visit - New Target in Cheltenham
This time, I visited the "new" Target near the Cheltenham and Ogontz Avenues intersection. (Note: it's located behind the Shop Rite Supermarket, if you face the market and then walk or drive to the left. It's almost hidden away.)
Target had LOTS of the BFC Ink. Calista's and those cute Moxie Girls. Nice selection of Barbies, too. The H2O dolls with their molded on bras. Some Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Wizards of Waverly Place dolls. A few Only Hearts Club dolls but no Kayla Rae doll.
I would almost not mention this, but I noticed there were a LOT of Black dolls available. I thought: well, I guess I can figure out who this Target expects to visit. Interesting, how stores select merchandise to fit their expected clients. Good, I am NOT complaining, but it made me think, you *get* who the target (ouch, bad pun intended) is for this store.
The official address for this new Target is
2450 Shoppers Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19150
(267) 628-3280
Target had LOTS of the BFC Ink. Calista's and those cute Moxie Girls. Nice selection of Barbies, too. The H2O dolls with their molded on bras. Some Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Wizards of Waverly Place dolls. A few Only Hearts Club dolls but no Kayla Rae doll.
I would almost not mention this, but I noticed there were a LOT of Black dolls available. I thought: well, I guess I can figure out who this Target expects to visit. Interesting, how stores select merchandise to fit their expected clients. Good, I am NOT complaining, but it made me think, you *get* who the target (ouch, bad pun intended) is for this store.
The official address for this new Target is
2450 Shoppers Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19150
(267) 628-3280
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Treats at Target: Calista, Juku Couture, Moxie Girls
I went to Target and got permission from a store clerk to take a few photographs of their stock. Behold the ones that lit up my morning.
Ah Calista! Must have, must buy. Not today, but soon. And I might add a few of the Juku Couture dolls by Jakks Pacific, too. But first, Calista and her friends from the BFC Ink, Group by MGA Entertainment. I like their delicate look.
MGA Entertainment should thank Mattel for the lawsuit. The Moxie girls are MUCH cuter than any of the tarty, freakish-looking Bratz. And the Moxie girls have small noses. Noses! Sigh. The heads are still a little large, but the bodies seem taller and possibly a little wider. I'm tempted by the Art-titude dolls with bicycles included. Another 1:6 scale collector has some Bratz dolls that he describes as "aliens" in his doll setting. I guess there is room for alien dolls here.
Mercy lives: the Liv dolls are too big-headed for me so I have NO interest in them. That's good for me because I save money for others I AM interested in. But they have this playset that just might do for me. I'll have to see more of it before I decide.
There was a Walking Tuesday Taylor doll years ago. I didn't understand the walking fashion doll appeal then; I don't understand it now. But the dog is cute. Then again, there are those acid-vision lollipop trees. I'd have to inflict them on someone else.
Ah Calista! Must have, must buy. Not today, but soon. And I might add a few of the Juku Couture dolls by Jakks Pacific, too. But first, Calista and her friends from the BFC Ink, Group by MGA Entertainment. I like their delicate look.
MGA Entertainment should thank Mattel for the lawsuit. The Moxie girls are MUCH cuter than any of the tarty, freakish-looking Bratz. And the Moxie girls have small noses. Noses! Sigh. The heads are still a little large, but the bodies seem taller and possibly a little wider. I'm tempted by the Art-titude dolls with bicycles included. Another 1:6 scale collector has some Bratz dolls that he describes as "aliens" in his doll setting. I guess there is room for alien dolls here.
Mercy lives: the Liv dolls are too big-headed for me so I have NO interest in them. That's good for me because I save money for others I AM interested in. But they have this playset that just might do for me. I'll have to see more of it before I decide.
There was a Walking Tuesday Taylor doll years ago. I didn't understand the walking fashion doll appeal then; I don't understand it now. But the dog is cute. Then again, there are those acid-vision lollipop trees. I'd have to inflict them on someone else.
Disney Princess Seven Pack - Princess Tiana
Target's newest Disney Princess multi-doll pack - seven Disney princesses in one box - has Princess Tiana. So the princess line-up includes:
Jasmine
Belle
Sleeping Beauty
Tiana
Cinderella
Snow White
Ariel
And what of Mulan? Couldn't eight princesses fit in the box?
Friday, August 7, 2009
New Follower, Hana Frančová - Welcome!
Hello, Hana Frančová, and thanks for following my blog.
I am glad to have a new icon and would love to hear from you.
I am glad to have a new icon and would love to hear from you.
Dearth of Black and Hispanic Dolls?
This past Wednesday, I read an article titled the "Dearth of Black and Hispanic Dolls" from March 2009 The New York Times. Hmmm ... I thought. Granted there are many more White dolls on shelves, could I describe the Black and other ethnic dolls scene as sparse as "dearth" implies? I have not seen a single Black doll in the Hannah Montana series; Lola and Oliver might be Hispanic so I can't rule out Hispanics from that series. Barbie's friends still include Teresa (Hispanic) and/or Nikki (Black), but Kayla/Lea or the multi-ethnic and the Asian friends seem to have been replaced by "White" Raquelle and "White" Summer. (No objection to either - I am just commenting on the current racial/ethnic Barbie friends line-up.) The High School Musical cast includes Black and Hispanic dolls.
Possibly, the New York Times' authors are referring to dollar stores? But even there, I recall seeing Black and White dolls if none overtly Hispanic. By "overtly Hispanic" I mean black or brunette haired dolls with tan or tawny complexions or dolls with Spanish names.
[Aside, for smaller doll lines like Playmates' everGirl dolls or Chic Boutique's Flower Power line, the Black dolls are distinguished from the Hispanic dolls thus: the Black dolls are medium-dark brown, the Hispanics are caramel brown.]
Below I report what I have seen in two local stores.
Walmart Wyncote -
1. These Mattel Black dolls were available: Beach Party Steven, Clean Up Pup Barbie, Cut & Style Rapunzel Barbie, Happy Birthday for You Barbie, Holiday Barbie 2009, Reissued Julia, Sea World Trainer Barbie, Ultra Tattoo Barbie.
2. I just noticed that the Think Pink Barbie line does NOT seem to have any corresponding ethnic dolls. None were seen here.
3. The larger MGA Entertainment Best Friends Club, Ink. dolls available were Addison and Kaitlin. No large Calista. No smaller dolls.
3. Three Black baby dolls were on the shelves.
Toys R Us Wyncote -
1. These Mattel Black dolls were available: Doggie Park Barbie, Sea World Trainer Barbie, Space Camp Barbie (on clearance), Sponge Bob Barbie, and Twin Musician Prince. Two Grace-Courtney sets from the So in Style available, but NO Trichelle-Janessa or Kara-Kianna sets were out.
2. These Mattel Hispanic dolls were available: Gabriella from High School Musical, Cha Cha from the 30 Years Grease series, and Alex Russo of the Wizards of Waverly Place series as a single doll and as a single doll plus extra outfit package.
3. The MGA Entertainment Best Friends Club, Ink. series had the smaller Addison and Kaitlin dolls. (Oh, they are sooo cute. I must have them ALL.) But NO Calista.
4. New 10" doll series by Playmates, H2O Just Add Water based on the television show with the same name offered three "White" dolls; no recognizably ethnic dolls appear in the series.
5. Hasbro G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra Ripcord action figure was laid flat behind other figures in this series. My guess is that someone was hiding him, but I can't state that as a fact. I returned him to his hidden spot because I didn't want him at this time. The Best Friends Club, Ink. dolls are higher priority for me now.
As a frequent shopper at these two stores, I would say that they usually have good coverage of Black dolls with a sprinkling of Hispanic dolls, depending on what is available. If I do not see a specific doll or dolls, I assume that the existing stock was bought (for example, the small Calista from the Best Friends Club, Ink. doll.) I take this assumption because I have bought the last Black doll on their shelves before. Shrug. Someone else beat me to that doll today. I'll call or stop by without calling another day.
The stock in these two stores did not support the dearth of Black and Hispanic dolls statement, but I'll check other stores in the area to see how the ethnic doll showing appears.
Possibly, the New York Times' authors are referring to dollar stores? But even there, I recall seeing Black and White dolls if none overtly Hispanic. By "overtly Hispanic" I mean black or brunette haired dolls with tan or tawny complexions or dolls with Spanish names.
[Aside, for smaller doll lines like Playmates' everGirl dolls or Chic Boutique's Flower Power line, the Black dolls are distinguished from the Hispanic dolls thus: the Black dolls are medium-dark brown, the Hispanics are caramel brown.]
Below I report what I have seen in two local stores.
Walmart Wyncote -
1. These Mattel Black dolls were available: Beach Party Steven, Clean Up Pup Barbie, Cut & Style Rapunzel Barbie, Happy Birthday for You Barbie, Holiday Barbie 2009, Reissued Julia, Sea World Trainer Barbie, Ultra Tattoo Barbie.
2. I just noticed that the Think Pink Barbie line does NOT seem to have any corresponding ethnic dolls. None were seen here.
3. The larger MGA Entertainment Best Friends Club, Ink. dolls available were Addison and Kaitlin. No large Calista. No smaller dolls.
3. Three Black baby dolls were on the shelves.
Toys R Us Wyncote -
1. These Mattel Black dolls were available: Doggie Park Barbie, Sea World Trainer Barbie, Space Camp Barbie (on clearance), Sponge Bob Barbie, and Twin Musician Prince. Two Grace-Courtney sets from the So in Style available, but NO Trichelle-Janessa or Kara-Kianna sets were out.
2. These Mattel Hispanic dolls were available: Gabriella from High School Musical, Cha Cha from the 30 Years Grease series, and Alex Russo of the Wizards of Waverly Place series as a single doll and as a single doll plus extra outfit package.
3. The MGA Entertainment Best Friends Club, Ink. series had the smaller Addison and Kaitlin dolls. (Oh, they are sooo cute. I must have them ALL.) But NO Calista.
4. New 10" doll series by Playmates, H2O Just Add Water based on the television show with the same name offered three "White" dolls; no recognizably ethnic dolls appear in the series.
5. Hasbro G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra Ripcord action figure was laid flat behind other figures in this series. My guess is that someone was hiding him, but I can't state that as a fact. I returned him to his hidden spot because I didn't want him at this time. The Best Friends Club, Ink. dolls are higher priority for me now.
As a frequent shopper at these two stores, I would say that they usually have good coverage of Black dolls with a sprinkling of Hispanic dolls, depending on what is available. If I do not see a specific doll or dolls, I assume that the existing stock was bought (for example, the small Calista from the Best Friends Club, Ink. doll.) I take this assumption because I have bought the last Black doll on their shelves before. Shrug. Someone else beat me to that doll today. I'll call or stop by without calling another day.
The stock in these two stores did not support the dearth of Black and Hispanic dolls statement, but I'll check other stores in the area to see how the ethnic doll showing appears.
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