Welcome Spring - Opal, Lukas, and Mai at Play

Spring is here - at last!

Horrid, horrible winter here in Philly. Seventy inches of snow. Seventy. Here. In Philly! Shudder.

Ah, but we've been having balmy days recently. Mixis Opal, Fashion Royalty Nu Face Lukas, and Girl's Mission Mai are off to exercise - Opal stretches before a run while Lukas and Mai have dusted off bicycles to ride. Opal wears separates from the Get Real Girl line and sneakers from Playmates' everGirl. Lukas wears Mattel My Scene shorts and M & C Toys' sneakers (not shown here, alas) while Mai wears a Mattel Ken shirt, Kmart's Joe Boxer pants, and Get Real Girl sneakers with her Mattel Cali Girl helmet. The bicycles are by Mattel for the My Scene (Lukas) and the Cali Girl (Mai) lines.

I should have had lights BEFORE the dolls to better capture Opal's face. Sigh. It is a side issue, my photography learning, but I do consider it ;-}

Playline Giselle by Integrity Toys for Pat's Potpourri

Initially, the Janay/Alysa/Jade dolls were Integrity Toys' ethnic contribution to the 1:6 doll world. African American Janay, Asian Jade, and Latina Alysa were to capture the ethnic doll market left "open" by larger toy companies. Then, Integrity Toys extended their playline series to produce a fourth "regular" doll, Caucasian Giselle.

The first Giselles were my least favorite. Her face seemed biggish while her eyes seemed small. At least that was what I found with my first Giselle, the Photo Hunt Giselle whom I sold about two years ago.

However, I came across three exclusive Giselle's created for Pat's Potpourri circa 2004. The dolls were sold separately or as a three-doll set. Viewing the photos, I bought the three-doll set. Now these 3 swimsuit Giselle dolls with 2-toned blond, red or black hair are lovely dolls. They all have vibrant green-yellow eyes, lower hairlines or banged fronts, richly-colored hair, and vivid, warmer make-up. My favorite is the 2-toned blond doll. Amazing how a hairstyle and coloring can make a doll "sing" for a collector.




Want to see more photos? I've found a slow-to-load link to the original, Pat's Potpourri advertisement for these dolls. Here is that web page which lists the dolls by name along with their original prices. If you click on the links by doll name, you might be able to see close up photos of the dolls' faces. (Archival links sometimes work; sometimes they do not.)

Happy viewing!

Going, going, gone ... Project Emigration

What is Project Emigration? This Project is how I reduce my doll and action figure collection AND get to help other collectors, missing longed for items. Interested in improving the look of a Mattel playset like Mary-Kate and Ashley's Dressing Room? Want to buy nude vintage dolls? Check my TheDollPage. I intend to go through my collection and to pull the dolls, action figures, etc. that I no longer want here.

Poll Results: Which Ken Wears the Coolest Jeans

Sixty-one votes were received for the Which Ken Wears the Coolest Jeans? poll. The poll results for which Ken wears the coolest jeans is

6 votes for 1 Modern Circle Ken
22 votes for Fashionista Ken
20 votes for Harley Davidson Ken 1
13 votes for Harley Davidson Ken 2

Fashionista Ken received the most votes (22) and 1 Modern Circle Ken the least (6).

Thanks to all who participated.

Happy Birthday, Ken!

Who's forty-nine years old today and still hasn't lost an iota of the charm shown on his debut? KEN!

Who's the best pal and companion any girl or woman could ask for? Patient and a great sport? KEN!

Three cheers for Ken? No, let's give him a real cheer - 49 times. KEN! KEN! KEN!

Happy Birthday, Ken. May you grace our world for many years to come.

Surprise Keeper: Blossom Russo by Tyco

Any Blossom fans out there?

Well, I did not follow the television series although I recall there being a Blossom television series. Something about a teenager and her dumb brother - probably why I didn't watch it then: extravagantly stupid characters have always annoyed me. But when I saw the doll, I thought, "Oh, new face." So she joined the rank of dolls whose face I liked. She's got character. And I love the dated outfit ;-D




Here is a close up of her face - and yes, she has great teeth. Great size, but hey, remember the adjective, character ....



So she's headed for the debox lot. A surprise keeper because she is not Barbie-pretty or flexible. She has a nice nose, squinty eyes, and a dazzling smile. Ten inches of charm. I would eventually like to add her brother Joey and her friend Six to my collection - they were also produced by Tyco. (I can and do overwrite provided story lines.) These dolls are still available and can be reasonably priced - say under $20.00 each or possibly for even less given today's economy.

And NOOO I have NOT been mesmerized by the teeth.

Downsizing - No, Rightsizing! And Decisions ....

I was going through my doll and action figure stuff when I realized that - as fellow collector Kim stated, I am NOT downsizing, I am actually "rightsizing." The difference is that "rightsizing" means I am removing stuff I no longer need to keep. That removal allows space for the things I want to access. On the other hand, "downsizing" makes me think "loss" and "reduction."

So I am "rightsizing." Grin.

Thanks, Kim, it sounds nicer already. Less punitive ring.

I've found some more things to add to my Exit List. Three playsets: an extra Power Team gym I forgot that I had, Skipper's Teen Slumber Party Bedroom, and the Stylin' Dressing Room of Mary-Kate and Ashley. Those are to go. No problem. I have someone who might want the gym. Will check with him before offering on The Doll Page. Some more difficult decisions, too.

Like the 2004 and 2008 Barbie for Presidents dolls. I have both the Asian American and the Hispanic dolls for 2004 and the Asian American doll for 2008. Problem? I want the red pants suit from the 2004 doll but I prefer the Asian doll for 2008. (The 2008 doll has a more interesting hairstyle. Seems less "dolly.") So I'm trying to decide whether I will debox the Hispanic or the Asian 2004 doll for the suit and if I will keep the 2008 Asian American doll. I also have a Fashion Fever doll with similar coloring only different facial screening and hairstyle from the 2008 Asian American Barbie for President. Sigh. Time for photo help.



And here's another photo with the two Asian American dolls that I may or may not keep. They don't look so very alike. The Hispanic Barbie for President has the Teresa head mold and an average face screening. So I might debox her so that I can keep that outfit. Sell the 2004 Asian American NRFB and the 2004 Hispanic doll nude and keep the other two. (Sell the cheesy blue-multi striped suit of the 2008 Asian American Barbie for President.)





I can adjust as I see the other dolls being sold. Just have to remember that I am rightsizing. Right ....