Little Mix Dolls ... Will a Girl Band Take Your $$$?

Bring on the Girls ... as in girl band Little Mix, winners of the 8th X Factor.

The Little Mix quartet includes:

• Perrie Edwards
• Jesy Nelson
• Jade Thirlwall
• Leigh-Anne Pinnock

Vivid Imaginations are to launch the Little Mix fashion dolls this November. As I have mentioned before, I have scant interest in the various groups from which new fashion dolls are created. But I LOVE having new face molds. When the new dolls are boys, that is even better because ... well, we don't get many boy dolls. Ken, Steven, Ryan, and the other guys are few and far between compared to the many female dolls produced. Partly, that has been because female dolls have more clothes.

I wonder though, how many collectors will buy these dolls.  (Alas, I do not have any promotional photos of them.) They should have new doll faces. The quartet have fresh, young faces - not particularly glamorous or stunning. Do you think that the Little Mix dolls will generate as much collector interest as the 1 Direction dolls or the JLS dolls or The Wanted dolls?

Me? I confess, I am interested, but not as keenly interested as I was about the "boy dolls." That is my opinion at this time though ... when I see the actual dolls, my opinion might change.

Here is a recent interview with two of the singers for any Little Mix fans among you.

Limited Edition Emerald on Sale for $19.99

This is a super great deal: the Limited Edition Emerald - that's the YNU Group fashion doll wearing the turquoise tank, the blue denim mini skirt, and the black FAUX LEATHER boots! She also has a knit cap and knit shrug and a pair of plastic black high heeled sandals. So if you have held out, now is your time to buy her. From whom? Gile Toys!


Here is the post where I received the two Mixis dolls I received from Gile Toys. Gile Toys provided excellent service - I received the dolls in great condition and in a timely manner. I would recommend them as a doll dealer.


My guess is that these are the last of the Mixis dolls sold here. For the original line anyway. Hello ... oh, guess you have all left this page. Good luck scoring this incredible doll in her best outfit ;-D

Paper Accessory Query for Vintage Barbie Fans

Calling all and any vintage Barbie fans. I have a tiny Barbie-sized "envelope" that I think is a vintage Mattel Barbie or Francie accessory because I found it in a mod Francie hatbox. It is 3/4" long and 5/8" high. It is one piece, slightly shiny cardboard-like paper. The cursive writing is not legible due to the size - and I do not think that it was intended to be legible. It has two red marks to represent that it was postmarked. Due to its size and my camera skill limitations, it is tricky to show, but here is my best photo of it.

Does anyone recognize it as an accessory to any 1960s Barbie or Francie outfit? If yes, could you please let me know which one or ones. Also, if anyone has an idea of what it would sell for, I would appreciate knowing that. Thanking you in advance.

Toy Violation

When I wrote Careful When Buying 1Direction Dolls, I had not realized the prevalence of toy substitution theft. Sure, I have seen dolls placed in other dolls' boxes. But I had naively assumed that that only happened occasionally. Well, it seems as though that is only ONE of the many tricks criminals use to steal toys. Yes, STEAL because that is what the criminal is doing. Stealing dolls. If this subject interests you, read Paul Nomad's short article about additional misdeeds. My favorite part was reading how some criminals were caught. Gotcha!

"Bad boys, bad boys ... "

IKEA Furniture for Playscale Collectors

IKEA furniture and doll/action figure collectors seem almost like peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter and chocolate, oh and peanut butter and bananas. A given, right? I have a Detolf glass cabinet and 2 Billy bookcases. The Detolf cabinet displays scenes at times or boxed favorites at other times. The IKEA products are cheap - relative to what a wood and glass display cabinet would cost - and easy to find or order. So it is not surprising that we collectors - preferring to spend our spare funds on dolls, action figures, and their props - seek IKEA furniture

Alison in CA from The Fashion Doll Review suggests the Billy bookcases.

Another collector uses Bonde bookcases.

Rebecca from Inside the Fashion Doll Studio shares her doll room plan that includes IKEA glass cabinets and book shelves.

How many of you use IKEA furniture to house or to display your playscale collectibles? Which pieces would you recommend? Which pieces need additional support and/or alteration?

Are there other mass produced furniture or storage units that you use? I have three black-gray Sterilite plastic storage units that have held part of my boxed and deboxed collection for years. They are not pretty, but they are efficient. My only caveat is that the upper shelves on the wider unit seem to tilt forward.

Another Barbie Face Guide Online - For BDE et al.

Black Doll Collecting blogger DBG asked for information on more recent head molds. I found one site that has Barbie head molds AND the dolls that use those face molds. The site is called, "Model Muse Wiki." Felicity K is the chief moderator. She and her team of doll enthusiasts have even added the new Stephen Burrows Pazette doll to their head mold list. Impressive, huh?

If there is any other Barbie face mold website - other than Katti's - please share that news. Nice to pool our resources. Thanks in advance.

Say, how many of you knew that the Mattel Joan Jett, Cleopatra, and Zac Posen's sister dolls share the same face mold as Nichelle? Can Mattel work their face paint magic, or not? Uh oh, I hope there isn't a surge of collectors denouncing the authenticity of Nichelle as a Black doll. Naughty me, hahaha.

Takara's Action Boy: Angels Garden Shou, Part 1

Most of Takara Jenny's male friends have limited articulation. Think Mattel Ken with faux-bendable legs. These teens - Jeff, Charles, Raph, and Tom - can turn their heads from side to side, move their arms up and down, and sit with their legs extended before them. Forget about bending their elbows or knees or about having them taking any wide stances. Yes, that limited. But Jenny has one male friend, A.G.I.S. Shou, who can boogie with other articulated dolls and action figures. With a LOT of patience on the part of the person posing him.

But what does this A.G.I.S. mean? A.G.I.S. is the abbreviation of Angels Garden International School, a fictional high school that Jenny, Ferice, Valerie, and Lilian attend. I remember that Valerie was a senior who worked in Kyoko's clothing boutique. Kyoko's shop assistant is Moe, whose brother Shou is a friend of Jenny. This Jenny wave was the MOST anime-influenced as you will see in the photo showing Shou with two other Jenny male friends, Charles and Tom. Super-sized eyes with giant highlights.

Time for Shou specifics. Shou has the Takara Ken face mold. He is about 11.5 inches tall and very thin as you will see in his underwear advertisement photos. His hands seem large for his frame - then again, he is a growing teenager. His joints leave him a little on the floppy side; he easily topples over unless propped up. So he doesn't stand well on his own. However, the extra articulation points along his lower arm allows him to touch his face. Here are two photos demonstrating Shou's posing ability.

Shou plays peek-a-boo!

Okay, tight hamstrings won't allow him to touch his toes.

Shou shown among other Jenny boy friends stands out. All of my Toms seem to have a tough guy aura while my one Charles looks distinguished and aloof. Shou on the other hand, has an alert, friendly air. He's a buddy boy guy.

From left to right: Chinese Tom, A.G.I.S. Shou, and Prince Charles all by Takara

I will do a follow-up post showing Shou with Mattel Fashionista Ken and SpinMaster Jake. You'll be surprised to see who masters the gentleman's crossed leg pose best.