Brotherly love in playscale: finding diversity in fashion dolls and action figures from the 1960s to now: Barbie, Fashion Royalty, Momoko, Susie, GI Joe, Power Team, Mixis.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Winter Sweaters on Playscale Dolls - Thanks Brini!
The playscale sweater slide show is up.
Can you guess the dolls and action figures shown?
Thanks for looking!
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Brief Update and Random Pinterest Discovery
Good thing I didn't photograph the DAFs I thought were going. I re-dressed one doll I knew was going. Who'd have thought she'd look great re-dressed? Not I. But on the balance, I decided another doll that I thought would stay, well, she's going. Can you guess which one?
The dolls shown are all Black Barbies with the Nichelle face mold. They are from left to right: Halloween Fun, Avon Representative, 101 Dalmatians.
Aside: there is a Pinterest board for glamorous camping. (No, I'm not going for that after I've finished my January activities.)
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| Who was slated to go? Who's leaving instead? |
The dolls shown are all Black Barbies with the Nichelle face mold. They are from left to right: Halloween Fun, Avon Representative, 101 Dalmatians.
Aside: there is a Pinterest board for glamorous camping. (No, I'm not going for that after I've finished my January activities.)
Monday, January 26, 2015
Organizing a Doll Collection, Part 2: List of Assignments
Okay, I confess. I slipped today. For about 20 minutes, I sorted dolls, action figures, fashions, and accessories. Me, smiling. Good? No, no, no. I'm supposed to be writing to do lists first. Sigh.
Me: Look, I'll just clear off the printer, okay?
My conscience: Just the printer.
What happens next? My conscience drifts into a brief nap. It's tiresome being the Enforcer. So much more fun seeing the Stay and the Go piles growing ...
My conscience: Enough! Time to write those to do lists. Let's get the task tally started!
Psst ... before I share the lists, wanna see what I did? Here goes.
Me: Look, I'll just clear off the printer, okay?
My conscience: Just the printer.
What happens next? My conscience drifts into a brief nap. It's tiresome being the Enforcer. So much more fun seeing the Stay and the Go piles growing ...
My conscience: Enough! Time to write those to do lists. Let's get the task tally started!
Psst ... before I share the lists, wanna see what I did? Here goes.
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| Dolls to go |
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| Dolls to go side view |
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| Dolls to be sorted |
FRONT ROOM
- Open IKEA bags holding boxed DAFs - who stays? Who goes?
- Open cardboard boxes with doll magazines - what stays? What goes?
- Check DAFs against Excel spreadsheet
- Refill IKEA bags with Stay or Go labels
MY BEDROOM
- Open IKEA bags holding boxed DAFs - who stays? Who goes?
- Sort loose doll magazines - what stays? What goes?
- Sort loose dolls and action figures and accessories
- Check DAFs against Excel spreadsheet
- Sort receipts for past purchases
- Underbed plastic box with men’s clothes and accessories – keep as is?
LAUNDRY
- Sort loose dolls and action figures and accessories
- Check DAFs against Excel spreadsheet
- Sort saved opened boxes and packing materials
DOLL & ACTION FIGURE ROOM
- Open IKEA bags holding boxed DAFs - who stays? Who goes?
- Sort doll booklets, papers - what stays? What goes?
- Sort loose dolls and action figures and accessories
- Check DAFs against Excel spreadsheet
- Clear off rest of desk
- Note where items stored
- Sort loose and boxed doll accessories in plastic bins
Friday, January 23, 2015
Links to Hispanic/Latino Dolls/Action Figures
Black Doll Collector asked if I would submit a post about Latino dolls and action figures. I had compiled a list of Hispanic/Latino dolls and action figures so I am happy to share that information as well as posts from other bloggers. If you know of additional sites about
Hispanic or Latino dolls and action figures, please leave the web address(es) in the Comments. (Thanks in advance.)
Note: additional posts about Hispanic or Latino dolls and action figures on this blog can be found under the word, "Hispanic."
Note2: usually, I have used the word, "Hispanic," because my understanding had been that "Hispanic" was the "correct" North American-centric term or ethnonym for people who live in the United States whose ancestors came from Spanish speaking countries. "Latino" is the "correct" North American-centric term or ethnonym for people who live in the United States who have Latin American origin or ancestry and who may or may not speak Spanish.
The dolls below may help clarify what I mean. On the left, I have Mattel's Shakira doll, representing the Latina singer. On the right, I have Haschel Toys' Olga Tañón representing the Hispanic singer. (Olga Tañón has also been described as "Latina.") Shakira is Colombian, thus, Latina; Olga Tañón is Puerto Rican, thus Hispanic.
Lauriko's Teresa section on BarbieWorld, 1987-1998 (Smaller Places mentioned this site)
Roxanne's List of Hispanic/Latino dolls and action figures
Smaller Places Review of Nicole by Kenya's World LLC
Black Doll Collector's Review of Nicole by Kenya's World LLC
Male Doll World Hispanic Heritage Tribute 2012
Male Doll World Hispanic Heritage Tribute Tribute 2011
Hispanic or Latino dolls and action figures, please leave the web address(es) in the Comments. (Thanks in advance.)
Note: additional posts about Hispanic or Latino dolls and action figures on this blog can be found under the word, "Hispanic."
Note2: usually, I have used the word, "Hispanic," because my understanding had been that "Hispanic" was the "correct" North American-centric term or ethnonym for people who live in the United States whose ancestors came from Spanish speaking countries. "Latino" is the "correct" North American-centric term or ethnonym for people who live in the United States who have Latin American origin or ancestry and who may or may not speak Spanish.
The dolls below may help clarify what I mean. On the left, I have Mattel's Shakira doll, representing the Latina singer. On the right, I have Haschel Toys' Olga Tañón representing the Hispanic singer. (Olga Tañón has also been described as "Latina.") Shakira is Colombian, thus, Latina; Olga Tañón is Puerto Rican, thus Hispanic.
Identification
Teresa's List of Hispanic Barbies and friends, 1980-2009Lauriko's Teresa section on BarbieWorld, 1987-1998 (Smaller Places mentioned this site)
Roxanne's List of Hispanic/Latino dolls and action figures
Smaller Places Review of Nicole by Kenya's World LLC
Black Doll Collector's Review of Nicole by Kenya's World LLC
Male Doll World Hispanic Heritage Tribute 2012
Male Doll World Hispanic Heritage Tribute Tribute 2011
Comparison
Black Doll Collector's Mattel So in Style Marisa and YNU Group, Inc. Mixis Rosa postControversy
NPR post about Mexican BarbieThursday, January 22, 2015
How to Work a New Year's Resolution: Organizing a Doll Collection, Part 1
HELP!
I am falling ...
Falling ...
FALLING down a rabbit hole lined with dolls and action figures.
Oh the agony of the unorganized doll and action figure collector!
"J'accuse," the voices cry. "Guilty!"
I turn left. Eyes turn right. As I raise my hands to cover my ears, I dislodge brightly colored booklets, old catalog pages, and hardbound collectors' books. The heaviest book strikes my bare foot. I howl and pull my knee in to reach my sore foot. My butt dislodges sixth scale motorcycles. Furniture and diorama sets follow. Mini fingers and feet and elbows also jab as I descend.
"HELP," I cry again.
A calendar sheet falls to [my]eye level. I notice it is for the magical month of January when organizing tips abound and resolutions shine.
"I'll do it! I'm taking an Organizing Challenge."
And as if by magic, I am restored to my computer desk where I draw up this list.
1. Why I must get organized. Because ...
- I bump into things (awake - as do others in my doll rooms)
- I'm not sure what I have
- I want to downsize
- I'd like to get some Want List dolls
- I'd like to enjoy my collection more creatively - sewing, crafting, writing
2. What "organized" is for now:
- I know what I have
- I sell what I need to sell
- I know where things are ... those are my goals for January
3. Where will these actions occur?
- Front room
- My bedroom
- Laundry
- Doll room
4. How I will achieve "organized" state?
- List organizing actions by room
- Schedule actions
- Publicize completed actions
5. When
- January - March 2015
6. Who?
- Me - but I welcome your suggestions.
How about a few pictures from the front room?
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| Boxed dolls in IKEA bags |
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| Loose dolls and action figure |
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| Boxed and bagged dolls and boxed magazines |
Next step? Sweeping floors and getting citrus fruit. (I do not "do" cut flowers.) Then writing my "to do" lists for each room holding dolls and action figures. And taking photos!
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Seeking a Quick Martin Luther King Day Project? Philly Locals Only
I had not mentioned Martin Luther King Day as a January holiday, have I? No.
The 6th District Police Department is hosting a children's book drive for their Martin Luther King service day project this year. Well, Greater Philadelphia residents and/or visitors can help by leaving any new or gently used children's books at
Happily Ever After
1010 Pine Street
(on "Antique Row" between
10th and 11th Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
BEFORE 5 p.m. today, January 18th. You will need to call to confirm that someone is there before you go. (They usually open around 11:00 a.m. Their telephone number is 1-215-627-5790.)
Why am I happy about this?
1. I got an early start on an 2015 Martin Luther King service day project!
2. I left six near-new Smartees career books for some children to enjoy.
3. I reduced my doll stuff!
Yay! Happy dance ... well in a few hours after I've had some rest.
Here are 3 of the books:

The 6th District Police Department is hosting a children's book drive for their Martin Luther King service day project this year. Well, Greater Philadelphia residents and/or visitors can help by leaving any new or gently used children's books at
Happily Ever After
1010 Pine Street
(on "Antique Row" between
10th and 11th Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
BEFORE 5 p.m. today, January 18th. You will need to call to confirm that someone is there before you go. (They usually open around 11:00 a.m. Their telephone number is 1-215-627-5790.)
Why am I happy about this?
1. I got an early start on an 2015 Martin Luther King service day project!
2. I left six near-new Smartees career books for some children to enjoy.
3. I reduced my doll stuff!
Yay! Happy dance ... well in a few hours after I've had some rest.
Here are 3 of the books:

Friday, January 16, 2015
January Update: Organizing, Updating, and Collaborating on Pinterest
It seems as if I have fallen off from blogging. I have. Been busy on these fronts:
"Organizing"
- which at this time means separating dolls to stay and dolls to go.
"Updating"
- adding new blogs to my Blog List; there's a doll fashion site that looks distracting
"Collaborating"
- following up on an invitation to add pins to CorsetKitten's new 1:6 Scale Doll Stories Pinterest board
"Organizing"
- which at this time means separating dolls to stay and dolls to go.
"Updating"
- adding new blogs to my Blog List; there's a doll fashion site that looks distracting
"Collaborating"
- following up on an invitation to add pins to CorsetKitten's new 1:6 Scale Doll Stories Pinterest board
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