Quickie Notes to Keep My July 1, 2011 Promise

Working on some projects - story line with Izzy, gathering stuff to sell, and checking on the Prettie dolls and the Mixis dolls. Oh and saw reference to some NEW fashionistas called "light up."

Reflections of "The Queen of Motown": Mego, Mattel, and Diana Ross

Diana Ross is a well-known American singer and actress. So it is not surprising that two major toy companies created likenesses of her. Mego created their 12 1/4" Diana Ross in 1977; Mattel produced their 11 1/2" version in 2004. I like both dolls: they both capture different aspects of the singer.

Both Diana Ross figures are dolls although Mego usually produced action figures. Back in the mid-seventies,  Mego had plans to have a doll series bigger than Barbie so they made their fashion dolls 12 1/4" tall. Okay, you can recover from laughing. Barbie before Bratz was a juggernaut. But Mego had the license and they produced their Diana Ross doll first.

Mego's face is larger and stronger than the Mattel face. Oddly, in spite of the hugeness of the doll - which bears no similarity to the physique of the singer-actress - I find her face looks more like the real person. Something about the half-mast eyes, the nose and the mouth shape, and the complexion. And what talons she has for nails.

Mattel's Diana has more grace

... but her face doesn't capture the vividness of Mego's Diana

Here the two are side-by-side

Which do you think - if either - best captures the likeness of Diva Diana Ross?

Related links with additional links

Diana Ross on Facebook

IMDB - International Movie Database

International fansite

Wikipedia entry

Coke, Kumbaya, and Why I Sometimes Ship Internationally

Can I confess to having hippie leanings? You know, the people united theme. For example, the television commercial that I felt had the strongest impact on my youth, would be this one. Note: if my YouTube link does not work, you can find the video under this title, "Coca-Cola 70's Christmas Hilltop Commercial."

Why? The variety among the people, the people all singing together. Sniff. That Coke commercial embodied a kumbaya moment and event to be achieved.

So what has Coke and kumbaya have to do with me shipping international? Motive. Reason. That sentiment is why I ship dolls and action figures overseas and outside of the United States. And why despite the international shipping snafu I am currently experiencing, I will continue to do so. See my SIX reasons here ....

Global neighbor

Selling dolls internationally seems to bring the world closer. Like, no, there aren't mountains and oceans and land masses between us. Let's trade: dolls for cash. I can't teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. But I can sell dolls.

Fair play

I buy from international vendors and/or international collectors so it is fair to turn provide a similar service to someone outside the U.S. Back in the 1990s I bought Takara Jenny and her friends from David Hammon, an American collector who traveled overseas and then brought those otherwise unobtainable fashion dolls here. If I could buy Jennys then later Momokos and Susies from the East, I could spare some American dolls and/or action figures to send East.

Active market

The strain on the U.S. economy has affected doll buyers. Fewer, more cautious sales happen now. Modern playscale dolls and action figures are a small category in the world of doll collecting. It makes no sense to keep pitching to the same people, at the same places. It's time to seek new buyers. Buyers beyond the state lines. Sales and returning buyers has made selling overseas worth the attempt. Bienvenue, monde!

World-traveling dolls

Nice to think that dolls once mine now live overseas. I cannot travel; they can and do. I don't get to know about their experience after they are gone, but it sounds sophisticated to write that my playscale figures have gone further afield than I have. Like launching my "babies" off into the world of other collectors.

Paperwork, Packaging

Ever experience the challenge of using the correct custom form by weight and/or postal service? What about considering whether first class international plus registered mail service is cheaper than global express? How about figuring out which services are available for which countries? And never forget the fun of packaging dolls and action figures for overseas voyages: cannot be too heavy or you miss letter rate postage; too light and worry about the figure having enough protection.

Helping the U.S. Economy

When I sell dolls, I help the U.S. economy. Yes, every trip to the U.S. Post Office adds to their coffers. I pay for their services. People can stay employed. Isn't that worth a little of my time and attention?

Happy Independence Day! July 4, 2011 in Philadelphia

Whatever you think I am doing, I am not. I could explain this, but that would mean airing dirty laundry.

Just passing through to say, "Hi! Happy Fourth." This is my day of liberation, too. I used to be on a undeveloped ballerina princess body. Now I have a Liv Daniela body - yes, my new body is just a hair lighter than my stunning face, but that's okay. I am free to move now. And move, I shall.

Just remember for now though ... you did not see me.

Izzy-Never-Bella

New So in Style Pastry Dolls at Walmart

Have you seen them? And what about all that PINK?!

Too much pink for my tastes.

Seen at Target Today

Thirty-one Days of Blog Posts

I'm taking up a July Challenge this year: I want to submit at least ONE post every day. A while back, another collector/blogger wrote about doing a blog post a day. Well, this is my birthday month, so I am going to try it. A post a day. See what will come of it, hmmm? Yes, let's.