Barb the Evil Genius asked about starting a doll club. When I spoke to the librarian where we - me, Ms. Leo, Miya, and Kev - met last week, I used the words, "doll club," but here I wonder if I can call our get togethers club meetings? I like the sense of unity, but I don't know about charters and rules and fees. Anyway, I found some relevant links online:
About.com offers a doll organization guide with a link to The United Federation of Doll Club or UFDC. Unfortunately, the UFDC website is not working now. I do not know when that site will be available again, but if you are on Facebook, you can get updates about it there. Note: About.com has supplied helpful doll collecting information from Denise Van Patten, the former Doll Collecting Guide, and the current Doll Collecting Guide, Ellen Tsagaris.
Angelfire has advice that remains relevant although some of the links lead to empty pages. Remember Angelfire doll websites?
Mimidolls article that can be downloaded from her Classics articles. Six pages detailing steps to take. I learned about this source from Lillian Alberti's doll magazine, The Doll Club.
Does anyone else have suggestions or favorite relevant links to share? Leave the url in your comment, and I'll add them to this post along with your doll/action figure website. Thanks in advance.
More notes: Lisa of The One Sixth Scaled Dollhouse shares her doll club experience in the comments below and in her Flickr page.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Saturday's Doll Enthusiast Meeting at West Oak Lane Free Library
It was a dank, rainy Saturday in Philly. The kind of Saturday morning where you want to pull the blanket over your head to sleep just five more minutes. Had chocolate, tea, books to read, DVDs to watch, blog posts to write ... I did not have to go out. But I had something planned. Saturday was my second doll enthusiast meeting. I would get to talk dolls and action figures with others who knew the lingo. Bye bye rainy day routine. Checked that I had stuff I hoped to get rid of - doll clothes and accessories - and stuff to show - hello Opal and Rosa.
This time we met at the West Oak Lane branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. I entered and let the front desk staff and the guard know that I was there to attend the Doll Club meeting. They sent me to the librarian. The librarian introduced herself and then lead me to a good-sized room. The room had huge windows, several long tables, and those molded plastic and metal chairs. It was clean and scentless. I would recommend using that branch again.
Ms. Leo followed, and she had Dunkin Donuts and coffee. Oh and stuff to show and stuff to trade or give away. We pulled out two of the long tables - one for showing, the other for trades/giveaways. I had doll fashions and accessories that I hoped to give away. Limited Edition Rosa and First Edition Opal were there to be seen - along with their footwear and backpack. Ms. Leo brought a Kenya's sister, Keyshia, the new Hunger Games guys, and the Divergent guy. Also some accessories and fashions to trade.
My comments/thoughts?
I would rebody Keyshia. Her head is too big for that tiny body.
I would use the Keyshia body to age progress one of my kiddies.
Hunger Games Peeta is cute - his face is more spread out than the actor's.
Hunger Games Finn has a craggy face - no way he's a teenager. Bet he's at least 38. And I would kitbash him to become my Peter Cushing. I mean "my" playscale Peter Cushing. And he should have a castle or mansion. He gives off a horror movie vibe.
Next Miya and Kev came. Squeal and jump up. New doll enthusiasts. Playscale doll enthusiasts. Yippee.
They brought stuff, too. An almond pastry that I savored later that day and cream cakes that I passed on. (I try not to be greedy.) The pastry was not as sweet as Entenmann's, but it had a velvety texture, delicately crunchy almond slivers, and a subtle flavor. Good different. They came from a bakery called "Bread Top House." Are you screaming, "Shut up about the food! What did they bring?!" Okay, here goes.
Miya and Kev brought a tall suitcase. They laid it on the floor and oh the wonders that came forth. Doll clothes they made - tweedy pants, floral dresses, leggings, a mini mountain of fabrics and fashions. Ohhhh ... Then the dolls. Sakurana, Momoko, Daisy, Havoc, High School Musical characters, a Rebelde head, One Modern Circle Barbie, Fashion Royalty dolls including a new Black Kiyori, some Japanese fashion dolls I have seen online but NEVER in person, oh ... what else? These cool pop-apart fashion dolls whose names I missed.
And we talked dolls, we talked Internet Wayback Machine, difficulties of doing doll research when sites get removed, Sindy furnishings and those uber-Seventies colors like harvest gold, avocado green, brown and orange, Gayle, Japanese fashion doll book projects, sewing by hand vs. sewing on machine, doing a kitbash with a Disney Snow White doll, etc.
Darn, but that was the day that my camera's batteries died. I'm ducking. But not for long ... cause Ms. Leo will have photos up for her blog post. And I'll update this post later this week with photos I can show with the outfits I got from Ms. Leo and Miya and Kev. Promise.
I look forward to our next meeting. Date has not been set yet, but the month mentioned was June.
This time we met at the West Oak Lane branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. I entered and let the front desk staff and the guard know that I was there to attend the Doll Club meeting. They sent me to the librarian. The librarian introduced herself and then lead me to a good-sized room. The room had huge windows, several long tables, and those molded plastic and metal chairs. It was clean and scentless. I would recommend using that branch again.
Ms. Leo followed, and she had Dunkin Donuts and coffee. Oh and stuff to show and stuff to trade or give away. We pulled out two of the long tables - one for showing, the other for trades/giveaways. I had doll fashions and accessories that I hoped to give away. Limited Edition Rosa and First Edition Opal were there to be seen - along with their footwear and backpack. Ms. Leo brought a Kenya's sister, Keyshia, the new Hunger Games guys, and the Divergent guy. Also some accessories and fashions to trade.
My comments/thoughts?
I would rebody Keyshia. Her head is too big for that tiny body.
I would use the Keyshia body to age progress one of my kiddies.
Hunger Games Peeta is cute - his face is more spread out than the actor's.
Hunger Games Finn has a craggy face - no way he's a teenager. Bet he's at least 38. And I would kitbash him to become my Peter Cushing. I mean "my" playscale Peter Cushing. And he should have a castle or mansion. He gives off a horror movie vibe.
Next Miya and Kev came. Squeal and jump up. New doll enthusiasts. Playscale doll enthusiasts. Yippee.
They brought stuff, too. An almond pastry that I savored later that day and cream cakes that I passed on. (I try not to be greedy.) The pastry was not as sweet as Entenmann's, but it had a velvety texture, delicately crunchy almond slivers, and a subtle flavor. Good different. They came from a bakery called "Bread Top House." Are you screaming, "Shut up about the food! What did they bring?!" Okay, here goes.
Miya and Kev brought a tall suitcase. They laid it on the floor and oh the wonders that came forth. Doll clothes they made - tweedy pants, floral dresses, leggings, a mini mountain of fabrics and fashions. Ohhhh ... Then the dolls. Sakurana, Momoko, Daisy, Havoc, High School Musical characters, a Rebelde head, One Modern Circle Barbie, Fashion Royalty dolls including a new Black Kiyori, some Japanese fashion dolls I have seen online but NEVER in person, oh ... what else? These cool pop-apart fashion dolls whose names I missed.
And we talked dolls, we talked Internet Wayback Machine, difficulties of doing doll research when sites get removed, Sindy furnishings and those uber-Seventies colors like harvest gold, avocado green, brown and orange, Gayle, Japanese fashion doll book projects, sewing by hand vs. sewing on machine, doing a kitbash with a Disney Snow White doll, etc.
Darn, but that was the day that my camera's batteries died. I'm ducking. But not for long ... cause Ms. Leo will have photos up for her blog post. And I'll update this post later this week with photos I can show with the outfits I got from Ms. Leo and Miya and Kev. Promise.
I look forward to our next meeting. Date has not been set yet, but the month mentioned was June.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Ta Da! PhillyCollector Blog Update - You Like?
I have thought that I needed to do something to de-clutter my blog's appearance. I tweaked a few things myself, but I didn't feel that things were as I wanted them. Only I was not sure what I wanted. Then I learned about this new service through a FaceBook blogging group. There were people who would test the usability of my blog at no cost. No cost, I exclaimed to myself. Sign me up, now. So I submitted my blog url to Peek and waited to received the feedback.
Because that was what I felt my blog needed - to be cleaned up. It looks Spartan now, but I like it. It looks crisp and professional. It needs additional layers - pages and photos and maybe some font tweaking. Overall though, it made me think of something that experienced a thorough spring cleaning. Or as if I had lost some weight - smile.
But about the service ... what was that like, you may want to know. Okay, I submitted my blog url and then, I received a link to an audio file. I clicked on the link and heard a man with a British accent mention my blog title. Squeal - confession - I LOVE British accents. I could listen to Roger Tabor talk cats for hours on end and smile all the while. Ahem. Well, there I was all enchanted when slam! I got knocked sideways. Because Mr. British Accent moved on from describing my blog as "quirky" (me likes), "unusual" (ditto), to "fun for hobbyists" but as not particularly interesting to him.
WHAT!!!!
Splat. Deep breath. OMG. You mean there is someone - people - who do not find playscale dolls and action figures FASCINATING? Pant, pant. I - I - I - I am so accustomed to being surrounded by friends and allies online, that someone who could NOT understand how I and others like me feel passionate about dolls ... well, that was ... um ... startling. Shocking. I know that most of my family members and most of my friends in my vicinity do not find my hobby interesting. But to hear this Voice state that my blog was ... gulp ... whisper: "boring." Oh! Sigh. Well, that was not pleasant. However, it was good for me to hear and good for the blog.
WHY?
Because I learned that red text against a multi-colored background is difficult to read.
Because I learned that my blog needed layering to avoid being "flat."
Because I am aware that I need to tweak my fonts to provide visual stimulation.
Because now I have a challenge to make my blog so fascinating to read that even the most disinterested non-collector - British accent or not - has to pause to skim its contents.
Yes! By the wit of my mind and the manipulation of words, I WILL conquer other audiences.
Cough. Descending from my soapbox - the height was going to my head, I want to thank Arlett from the blog Chasing Joy for suggesting Peek through the Philadelphia Area Bloggers FaceBook Group. Thanks, Artlett. Thanks Peek!
Because that was what I felt my blog needed - to be cleaned up. It looks Spartan now, but I like it. It looks crisp and professional. It needs additional layers - pages and photos and maybe some font tweaking. Overall though, it made me think of something that experienced a thorough spring cleaning. Or as if I had lost some weight - smile.
But about the service ... what was that like, you may want to know. Okay, I submitted my blog url and then, I received a link to an audio file. I clicked on the link and heard a man with a British accent mention my blog title. Squeal - confession - I LOVE British accents. I could listen to Roger Tabor talk cats for hours on end and smile all the while. Ahem. Well, there I was all enchanted when slam! I got knocked sideways. Because Mr. British Accent moved on from describing my blog as "quirky" (me likes), "unusual" (ditto), to "fun for hobbyists" but as not particularly interesting to him.
WHAT!!!!
Splat. Deep breath. OMG. You mean there is someone - people - who do not find playscale dolls and action figures FASCINATING? Pant, pant. I - I - I - I am so accustomed to being surrounded by friends and allies online, that someone who could NOT understand how I and others like me feel passionate about dolls ... well, that was ... um ... startling. Shocking. I know that most of my family members and most of my friends in my vicinity do not find my hobby interesting. But to hear this Voice state that my blog was ... gulp ... whisper: "boring." Oh! Sigh. Well, that was not pleasant. However, it was good for me to hear and good for the blog.
WHY?
Because I learned that red text against a multi-colored background is difficult to read.
Because I learned that my blog needed layering to avoid being "flat."
Because I am aware that I need to tweak my fonts to provide visual stimulation.
Because now I have a challenge to make my blog so fascinating to read that even the most disinterested non-collector - British accent or not - has to pause to skim its contents.
Yes! By the wit of my mind and the manipulation of words, I WILL conquer other audiences.
Cough. Descending from my soapbox - the height was going to my head, I want to thank Arlett from the blog Chasing Joy for suggesting Peek through the Philadelphia Area Bloggers FaceBook Group. Thanks, Artlett. Thanks Peek!
Saturday, March 22, 2014
The Fashion Doll Chronicles: Elusive Icons: Black Fashion Dolls 1968 – 2013
The Fashion Doll Chronicles: Elusive Icons: Black Fashion Dolls 1968 – 2013: The Elusive Icons exhibition was a chronological visual illustration and comparison of Black fashion dolls over the past 46 years to the pr...
Blogger Stratos Bacalis shares some photos from the Elusive Icons exhibition. That March 2014 exhibition featured Mattel's Black fashion dolls whose face molds include the original Francie mold for "Colored" Francie up to the Mbili-faced So in Style dolls. Aside: I do not see the personalized molds like the Brandy or the Halle Berry faces. But there might be other photos not shown in the blog. My vision isn't strong enough to distinguish all of the dolls: I see the first Raven doll with the Mbili face. I recognized her by her distinct orange and turquoise outfit. The display interested me so I share the link here.
Additionally, there are some photos of Sonadoll, an original 16-inch fashion doll by Mr. Frantz Brent-Harris, whose interest in Black fashion dolls has been mentioned in a Black Doll Collecting blog post. Lovely though these dolls are, I will not be getting them any time soon. First, because they are bigger than my range - whew! Second, because they cost a few hundred dollars. Worth it as an art doll, yes. But not affordable for me. Shrug.
You can find the Sonadoll page on FaceBook, too.
Blogger Stratos Bacalis shares some photos from the Elusive Icons exhibition. That March 2014 exhibition featured Mattel's Black fashion dolls whose face molds include the original Francie mold for "Colored" Francie up to the Mbili-faced So in Style dolls. Aside: I do not see the personalized molds like the Brandy or the Halle Berry faces. But there might be other photos not shown in the blog. My vision isn't strong enough to distinguish all of the dolls: I see the first Raven doll with the Mbili face. I recognized her by her distinct orange and turquoise outfit. The display interested me so I share the link here.
Additionally, there are some photos of Sonadoll, an original 16-inch fashion doll by Mr. Frantz Brent-Harris, whose interest in Black fashion dolls has been mentioned in a Black Doll Collecting blog post. Lovely though these dolls are, I will not be getting them any time soon. First, because they are bigger than my range - whew! Second, because they cost a few hundred dollars. Worth it as an art doll, yes. But not affordable for me. Shrug.
You can find the Sonadoll page on FaceBook, too.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Amusing Review of the Recent Anti-Barbies - Mixis Dolls Included
Could you use a laugh today? I suggest this article about some of the recent "anti-Barbies" dolls. Erica Tempest grades "Anti-Barbies" from Bratz to Only Hearts Club. Who gets the best grades and why? Read the article to see.
Note: I would have rated the Mixis higher, but I think it is cool that they are recognized enough to be part of an "anti-Barbie" line-up. Progress, yes?
Monday, March 17, 2014
PhillyCollector Wins a Liebster Blog Award - Thanks, DBG!
First, I want to thank Debbie Behan Garrett for presenting A PhillyCollector of Playscale Dolls and Action Figures with a Liebster Blog Award. I am pleased that you deemed my blog worthy of this Award. Pause for Snoopy dance. I accept this Award not just for me, but for all the little people - hey, at 1:6 scale, they are "little people" who bring joy to my life and the lives of those who visit here. Sniff. This blog would not exist without them. Arm wave over the masses of cheering, a few jeering dolls and action figures.
Next? If you have seen this Award given to other bloggers, you know that part two means questions and answers. I answer the 11 questions Debbie submitted:
1. What prompted you to begin blogging?
In August 2008, I was laid off. So I combined my two
favorite hobbies – writing and doll collecting – to see if I could express myself and if I could reach others.
2. When do you usually write your blogs?
I usually write at night.
3. What inspires or otherwise motivates you to publish a
blog?
a.) The dolls and action figures produced
b.) Expressing my enthusiasm about them
c.) Getting responses from fellow enthusiasts
4. What is your
favorite pastime?
“Collecting” dolls and action figures – which means finding them,
thinking about them, buying them, discussing them with others,
posing them, photographing them, and writing about them.
5. If your favorite pastime involves collecting dolls,
answer this question and the next two (otherwise skip to question 8): What
dolls do you collect?
Modern playscale fashion dolls and action figures – emphasis
on variation of races and ethnicities
6. How long have you
been collecting and what prompted you to begin?
Over 30 years … I started “collecting” as a way to justify
buying, hoarding, and writing about playscale figures. I
slapped the “right” label to "make" the activity acceptable.
7. Are your dolls
confined to one room or are they in more than one room in your home?
They are all over my home. The bulk of them are in one room,
but there are plenty hanging about in other areas.
8. If questions 5-7 do not apply to you, but you are a
former collector, why do you no longer collect?
I cannot imagine ever not “collecting.”
9. What was the last movie you saw either in a theater or on
DVD?
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor on DVD.
10. What was the last book you read?
Ultimate Guide to Pinterest for Business by Karen Leland
11. If you could live anywhere other than your current
location, where would it be?
Love my current location.
Now to pay forward this award, rather than duplicate bloggers Debbie or someone else has already chosen, I am putting a D7ana twist on the Award process. The first ten bloggers who contact me here via the comments will win this Liebster Blog Award provided the blogger meets these criteria:
1.) You have not been chosen for the Liebster Blog Award this year. (No sense making you work a second time, hmmm?)
2.) You follow "A Philly Collector of Playscale Dolls and Action Figures" blog.
3.) You have a blog that posts about playscale fashion dolls and/or action figures.
4.) Your blog has fewer than 500 followers.
Your actions - should you seek this honor - will be to answer the 11 questions Debbie Behan Garrett provided OR to answer any 11 doll-related or action figure-related questions of your choosing. I am sharing the link Debbie had provided for more information about this blog award. Thanks again, Debbie, for this fun opportunity.
1.) You have not been chosen for the Liebster Blog Award this year. (No sense making you work a second time, hmmm?)
2.) You follow "A Philly Collector of Playscale Dolls and Action Figures" blog.
3.) You have a blog that posts about playscale fashion dolls and/or action figures.
4.) Your blog has fewer than 500 followers.
Your actions - should you seek this honor - will be to answer the 11 questions Debbie Behan Garrett provided OR to answer any 11 doll-related or action figure-related questions of your choosing. I am sharing the link Debbie had provided for more information about this blog award. Thanks again, Debbie, for this fun opportunity.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Found: New Source for M&C Toys Power Team Guys!
"I wasn't looking, but somehow I found them ..."
"Them" meaning M&C Toys' Power Team guys. Yes, playscale Power Team guys - wolf whistle. Where? At a Deals store in Philly. For how much - $8.00. When? Yesterday. Which ones? These two cuties shown below. Now I cannot guarantee that these same two will be available at any and every Deals store. And I am really hoping that there are even MORE Power Team guys available at other Deals stores in the city and in the near suburbs. Great news, yes? Fine, articulated male figures for our dioramas under ten dollars - oh, yes.
Here are photos of the two guys I saw and the back of their boxes. (Alas, I have not seen any ethnic figures yet, but we *know* that M&C Toys makes ethnic figures so it's just a matter of time.)
So if you are looking for any M&C Toys Power Team action figures to increase your male playscale population, stop by the Deals stores in your area. You might be pleasantly surprised.
P.S. if you want to treat yourself to photos of these action figures, peruse the photos uploaded at this Flickr site.
"Them" meaning M&C Toys' Power Team guys. Yes, playscale Power Team guys - wolf whistle. Where? At a Deals store in Philly. For how much - $8.00. When? Yesterday. Which ones? These two cuties shown below. Now I cannot guarantee that these same two will be available at any and every Deals store. And I am really hoping that there are even MORE Power Team guys available at other Deals stores in the city and in the near suburbs. Great news, yes? Fine, articulated male figures for our dioramas under ten dollars - oh, yes.
Here are photos of the two guys I saw and the back of their boxes. (Alas, I have not seen any ethnic figures yet, but we *know* that M&C Toys makes ethnic figures so it's just a matter of time.)
 |
| M&C Toys Power Team figures at Deals |
 |
| Power Team blond hero with blue eyes |
 |
| Power Team brunet hero with black-brown eyes |
 | |
| M&C Toys Power Team box back |
So if you are looking for any M&C Toys Power Team action figures to increase your male playscale population, stop by the Deals stores in your area. You might be pleasantly surprised.
P.S. if you want to treat yourself to photos of these action figures, peruse the photos uploaded at this Flickr site.
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