2015 Resolutions and Goals

That time again. L.A. Luxe Susie opens her arms to 2015. Resolution and goal-setting time.

I have been thinking along these lines.

1. Decide what I want to keep

2. Sell what I no longer want

3. Post more frequently on my blog; schedule posts

4. Experiment more with doll photography

5. Participate more often in doll group activities

6. Join Barbie Club and Integrity W Club


Not much to do, hey? Anyone else with doll-themed resolutions? Share ;-)

The Wearing of the Christmas Sweaters from Brini

Happy New Year!

Before we discuss 2015 plans and themes, let us check those lovely Christmas sweaters Brini sent. Now the sweaters are not one-size fits all: I think of them as being small, large, and extra large. The blue ones are small, the button-trimmed one is large and the pom-pom tie one is extra large. The bodies modeling the sweaters are a Disney Mattel adult male, a YNU Group, Incorporated female, a Spin Master Liv female, and a Mattel young male teen. Or Kocoum, Emerald, Snow, and Harry.

 

Emerald, Kocoum, Snow, and Harry

Here are two closer photos of the Disney duo: Kocoum from Pocahontas and Snow from Snow White. If you have bent armed Kens from the late 1970s-2000s, you can use Kocoum's fit for how your bent-arm era Kens (or Ken buddy) would fit this size of the sweaters. The sweater fits over his head without the need to remove his head, but the torso is a little short. (The back view exposes more of Kocoum's waist than we think looks "nice." Fortunately, he has a toned torso.) It might be possible to stretch the sweater longer. The sweater arms are a perfect fit for this Mattel body.

Snow's head is on a Liv body. She is wearing the large sweater. The arms are a little long; the body, wider than needed. But I think it looks becoming on her. (Plus: it balances her head.)

Kocoum and Snow heads and torsos

Kocoum and Snow back view

Here are Emerald and Harry in the extra large and small sweaters. The small sweater fits Harry fine. It is just a little wide for him. You can expect a similar fit for your other 10 3/4", straight-armed young male teen bodies - think Teen Skipper's boyfriend Kevin. 

Emerald is slightly swamped. The sleeves are a little long and the body a little wide. Still, she can wear it well. The sweater looks like a sweater-coat on her because she has a heavier build than the Liv body or basic Barbie bodies.

YNU Group Emerald and Mattel Harry Potter

Emerald and Harry show the back view of their sweaters

I had so much fun placing these sweaters on various dolls that I've decided to create a separate page, possibly a video showing them. I'll leave the link on this blog, of course.

If you have any requests, let me know. Please note, some dolls and action figures refused to wear the sweaters. More on that with the follow up. 

Thanks, Brini, for making this holiday and post-holiday fun possible.

Quantum Mechanix Presents 1:6th Scale Captain Mal Reynolds

Any Firefly / Serenity / Castle fans reading? Next year, Quantum Mechanix is producing a sixth scale Captain Malcolm Reynolds action figure. Yes, sculptor Trevor Grove has produced a  prototype  that resembles actor Nathan Fillion. A foot tall prototype with 38 points of articulation. Molded hair, unfortunately. Wearing Mal's iconic long brown coat, brown shirt, and tan "tight" pants. (Alas, not with a Hot Toys butt, but the face looks accurate.) Even more exciting, the Malcolm Reynolds figure is the FIRST in a line of Firefly figures. For only $179.95 - before postage.

Am I pre-ordering him? Um ... no. If I were working, would I? YES! 

I enjoyed Firefly, and I like what I have read about Nathan Fillion. Not stalker-like, but I'm-glad-this-person-exists-in-my-timeline like. Usually, I buy a doll or figure because I like something about that figure; this time, part of the purchase joy will be for this actor in this role.

Where can you find this figure? Vantage Collectibles and Entertainment Earth are two places I've seen the figure listed. Entertainment Earth expects to have him March 2015 - and they are offering FREE shipping.

Joss Whedon's Firefly disc 1 showing Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal Reynolds

Then again, I should wait to see the actual figure - should I become able to afford him. Anyone else considering him?

They're Here! Christmas Sweaters from Brini!

They're Here! They're Here! Christmas Sweaters from Brini! 

You may remember that I won the "His and Hers Christmas Sweaters" giveaway distributed by doll enthusiast, storyteller, and blogger Brini. See the treats below! 

The lovely, festive gift wrap. Bright and cheering. 

Peep through to the tissue paper layer.

Ah! The sweaters themselves. Cheers!

 Who will model the sweaters? They'll be seen in an upcoming post. I think you'll be surprised.

Michelle Decorates a [Christmas] Tree

Usually, I don't do the decorative stuff. I am not pretty, and I don't make things pretty.

Now you don't have to contradict me. I yam as I yam to borrow from Popeye. I'm here by default. Yes, de fault of T.J. who's off on a snit. De fault of Naomi who is grieving the death of Joe Cocker. Somebody needed to decorate this Christmas tree. I agreed to do it. Yes, de fault of me volunteering.

Last year, Kenya decorated the white Christmas tree. She didn't like the size of the bells, but they were what she had. My turn. I'm not doing bells. Okay, I have a white Christmas tree - think theme. Okay ... snow and ice. Cold. Glittery. Sharp. Could use some brightening up, hey? Silver and gold? I considered creating silver foil balls or brown paper bag gingerbread men. Maybe even spray-painting a paper chain of gingerbread men gold. But hey, I don't do pretty so I found an easy alternative.

Flavor. What has a sharp, icy flavor? Mint. And the specific mint of the season? Peppermints.

Course I didn't have many in-scale candy canes. You know by now, I was not going to make any. But I found some peppermint discs and propped them in the tree. Voila. Mission accomplished.

The fashionistas among you might want to know what I'm wearing. Well my "tunic" is a Barbie Fashion Fever dress over Get Set Club black knit flare slacks. Sigh. I thought its icy blue color with the delicate silver trim matched the tree. Oh and, heck, I confess. I wanted to wear something pretty in case [No]Angelus appeared. It would be nice to be pretty just once. But there's no magic potion to beautify this face.

D'oh. I digressed. Merry Christmas!

Kenya's New [Hair] Do

Remember I bought a Beverly Hills Kenya doll by Kenya World? Well, here's Kenya now with her new hair style. Yes, she decided on a cut.

Back view first

Side view

Full-face shorter glory

Kenya: You might wonder why I chose to have my hair cut.  Now when so many women are donning extensions. I don't want people to wonder about my hair - is it hers by birth or hers by credit card? Cut this length, you can notice my face. My head and neck are warm in the winter. I feel more professional. I LOVE my new 'do.


What do you think?

Smartees Alert - Handle With Extreme Care

Do you have any of the Smartees fashion dolls? These are the Barbie alternatives produced between 1999-2001 whose focus was careers outside the fashion and modeling industries. Amanda the Architect, Destiny the Doctor, Emily the Entrepreneur ... yes, those dolls. If you do have them, I suggest that you handle your Smartees dolls with extreme care because they are more frail than they seem. Several of mine have had the legs break at the right hip connection.

Taylor the Teacher was the first doll whose right leg snapped off. She fell from my hand to a table. Okay, I suppose I should have been careful. The fall distance did not seem far to me. I have dropped click bend kneed Barbies from greater distances than that. Oh yes, I winced. Then Caitlin the Cook's right leg cracked when I tried to cross her leg. Oh no, I wailed. Then Amanda the Architect's right leg snapped when I was taking off her black stockings. Oh sh-t, I said. Three breaks at the same place - what are my Smartees trying to tell me?

Sigh. You can see the break in this photograph.

Smartees leg-hip break

Okay, these fashion dolls are from 13-15 years old. While the material is decent enough for a "small name brand" doll, it was not intended to last for centuries. So I and others interested in "playing with" these dolls should be careful and gentle with them. Or be prepared to find them replacement bodies.

I would rather not swap articulated bodies for the Smartees dolls because their original bodies are good quality. No leaky plastics, no sticky residue. The waist twist. The knees bend. The arms bend at the elbows - although they have no articulation at the wrist ("paddle arms"). I prefer to save my articulated bodies for dolls with limited posing ability.

Smartees Amanda and "paddle arms"

So handle your Smartees with care, but if they should break as mine have done, please remember their age. They aren't antiques or "vintage," but they are mature in doll years.