1969 Vintage Talking PJ

1969 Vintage Talking PJ, originally uploaded by alington.

Another part of my recent trade: a restored 1969 Talking PJ. I don't have her original shoes, but she actually talks! She is so cute. She's the original Midge sculpt (before PJ used the Steffie sculpt). I just adore her.

I got her in a trade (when I was trying to restore my doll budget and failed miserably--but I did get three amazing new dolls). See more photos of her on my Flickr photo stream.

1968 Vintage Talking Barbie, Brownette

1968 Vintage Talking Barbie, Brownette, originally uploaded by alington.

One of my new additions, she's older than I am. :) Can I just say... I'm smitten?

She's a brownette 1968 Talking Barbie, and yes, she actually talks. I got her nude, and I need to probably find some real vintage clothing for her next--as soon as my budget starts to recover. She's in very nice condition--her face has yellowed a bit, compared to the rest of her body, but her hair and rooted eye lashes (and talking!) distract me so much from this that I just can't help but love her to pieces!

For those of you who haven't been following my budget issues, you can read about them on my blog. Click on Newer Post for the next one. There are three posts about this issue, if you're interested, or if you are currently arguing with your loved one about your dolly dollars. Read through my posts and then you can talk to your significant other and claim, "Look at this girl. I'm not nearly as bad as she is!"

See the rest of this lovely lady's photos on Flickr.

Doll-worthy Reading

[I apologize for a duplicate post, if you also follow the Fashion Doll Review, but it's really good reading, and I think you should visit this site!]

If you love sewing for your dolls of all sizes (including BJDs!), be sure to check out Lori's blog, Sew Many Doll Clothes. She has great articles and fantastic photos, and her sewing is really cute! 

Her latest post includes photos of Berdine's Creedy new ballet cutie, Pepper-Mint. Pepper-Mint includes a ballerina costume, but Lori actually made her a real tutu with tights. She's just adorable. So go find her post and follow her blog!

April Doll Meet

April Doll Meet, originally uploaded by alington.

According to our Spring Green and Easter Dress theme, here are several Silkstone Barbies and a Joe Tai doll in front. A Jazz Baby Barbie is wearing Dressed to Thrill (Integrity) in front. Also I believe that's Metal Maven Vanessa in the black and pink cocktail dress in the front row. More photos from this meet are on Flickr.

I love doll meets. Especially when you know the rules of the club in advance, like if children are permitted or not. I prefer clubs with very few rules, which are run more like a get-together of doll enthusiasts who like to sit around and talk dolls for hours. And eat. And drink.

But that's more my style. To each his or her own, I say!

Solo in the Spotlight

Solo in the Spotlight, originally uploaded by alington.

Another eBay find, this is a 1994 repro of Solo in the Spotlight and my second vintage Barbie sculpt doll. I think her face is just wonderful. I also adore her outfit, and the fact that her hair is brunette.

I am not sure that these repros are such a great idea. For one, they have sort of ignited a hidden passion for the original Barbie doll in me that I didn't even know was there. These repros and also seeing original mint Barbie in other collections possibly was an influence. But what a wonderful way to broaden your collection's horizon!

Deficit spending and collecting dolls?

This item I came across today, and it's really essential reading for every doll collector out there. 

Perhaps you are a follower of my Fashion Doll Review blog, and perhaps read my rather desperate attempt at saving both my doll budget and marriage--why is it so hard to keep both afloat? Just in time, another doll collector comes in to save the day!

We are really doing a patriotic duty to our country, especially in this time of patriotic crisis, with our doll collections. Be sure you visit Random Doll Blathering's post, and see her valuable points on why we should consider Deficit Spending when it comes to buying dolls. She's very persuasive!

(Like I am getting my credit card out of my wallet as I type...) 

Enjoy!

Vanessa Switcheroo

Vanessa, originally uploaded by alington.

I allowed Queen V to pose in True Royalty's gown, much to Vanessa's grumbling. But Vanessa even got her own turn in Queen V's lovely cream silk outfit as well, and a new updo (just ignore all the flyaways--updos are not yet my forté).

You can see all Vanessa's shots on Flickr, and leave me a comment, to let me know if you think Vanessa or Vero carries off the best switch!

Veronique redressed

Veronique, originally uploaded by alington.

I've redressed Queen V Veronique in True Royalty's (Vanessa) outfit for photos. I think it suits her quite well--it really make's Vero's eyes pop. She's got such a nice pale (almost glowing) skin tone.

Jewelry is by LVNV Dolls and matches well, too. I love it! See thre rest of her photo shoot on Flickr.

Anemone Barbie pre-sale list is now open

The Anemone Barbie by Christian Louboutin is up on the BarbieCollector.com website. Only 7,700 will be made (2,500 for the BarbieCollector online store), and you will be able to purchase this doll for $150 online. She will also be available from your favorite Barbie dealers, but you probably should pre-order her now, just because she's such a small edition number.

The pre-sale event is April 28, 2010. If you fill out your information online, you will be put on the contact list for the event on April 28.

True Royalty Vanessa

True Royalty Vanessa, originally uploaded by alington.

Please check out my latest gallery creation on Flickr. I'm officially addicted to creating galleries now.

It's filled with twelve photos of True Royalty Vanessa (photo above is my doll, however). All different shots of the same doll, including some that have been rerooted as a platinum, brunette and even with silvery-pink hair.

Hope you enjoy it, and that you are inspired to create a gallery of your own. You can see my various photos of True Royalty Vanessa here. I just redressed her yesterday, and she's due for a photo shoot.

It's a Major Award!

I feel like the father on A Christmas Story (you know, with the leg lamp)! I got a nice comment to one of my blog entries recently, stating that this blog has directed some of the most traffic to the Mini Treasures website in the past year. Fantastic!

I'm #24 out of the top 25 traffic producers. So I get to post an award on my site. 

Let me again mention the Mini Treasures blog and Wiki--anything you ever wanted to know about miniatures, you can find on this site. It's really wonderful!

Glimmer of Gold Barbie

Glimmer of Gold Barbie, originally uploaded by PrinceDonte.

The first Platinum Label™ Barbie Fan Club Exclusive, Glimmer of Gold™ doll will go on sale tomorrow, April 14, 2010 at 9:00 AM PST. The doll was created exclusively for fan club members, and is available at the price of $84.95. Items are limited one per fan club member.

She's dressed in Grecian-style draped ivory cocktail dress embellished with gold embroidery, gold shoes and coordinating purse and earrings. The listing on BarbieCollector states that the fashion is actually designed for Silkstone® dolls, so she must be using a new facial sculpt. I think she's gorgeous. Almost pretty enough to make me join the Barbie Fan Club!

Those lucky W Club members!

I knew I would regret passing on the W Club this year! They recently were given the opportunity to enter a special lottery for a limited edition, lemon-colored hair Valia Pivione doll. I just adore her neutral make-up.

The cost of $275 may seem outrageous at first--until you hear that the price also includes a second doll! Each order will include either the brunette Valia Pivione or the Valia Raison d'Etre. Wow!

So jealous am I! I just think she is amazing.

Photo property of Integrity Toys.

Sweet Roses PJ

Sweet Roses PJ, originally uploaded by alington.

Another Ebay find, I got her for a song. She needed some hair work, and still isn't quite perfect. But here she is after a bath.

I think her shoes aren't the right ones, and she probably needs earrings. But I find her adorable.

I'm pretty sure she was a rose-scented doll--I never owned her as a girl. My neighbor did, and I coveted her something awful. (Great grammar for a blog, don't you think?) At any rate, I'm thrilled to have her in my 1980s collection now!

Jasper, after hair wash

Jasper, after hair wash, originally uploaded by alington.

My six year-old daughter's doll, Boogie Beach Jasper, was a special Christmas gift. She sees a lot of play and was overdue for a spa treatment.

She got a nice shampoo and fabric softener soak recently. I think she's pleased with her After look.

Peaches N Cream

Peaches N Cream, originally uploaded by alington.

I still need to take some real photos of her, but here is a fun silhouette shot of the new 2009 repro Peaches.

I had the original when I was growing up. The repro is not as tan as I remember. Plus, I could have sworn the original Peaches had purple eyes (I bought her when I lived in Germany). I could easily be mistaken.

Even with the differences, this doll is truly gorgeous in her own right, and I don't mind at all that she isn't as tan and has blue eyes and purple eye shadow. LOL! It's almost less embarrassing to my daughters.

Superstar!

Superstar!, originally uploaded by alington.

Another shot of one of my Ebay lot Barbie purchases. She has straight arms, and the blue eyeshadow of the original Superstar Barbie, but her hair is too light, and her arms are straight.

Here she is dressed in Day to Night's bodysuit and Dream Date's convertible skirt with stole.

Dream Date Barbie in Springtime Magic

Dream Date Barbie in Springtime Magic, originally uploaded by alington.

One of my favorite outfits of the 1980s era, Springtime Magic, is being modeled by classic 80s icon, 1982 Dream Date Barbie.

I grew up in Germany, and when I originally owned this outfit, it was actually sole on a dressed doll. Neither the doll nor the outfit is in my collection anymore, unfortunately, but I'm trying to rebuild the collection I once had. Without, of course, digging too deeply in my BJD pocket. It's not going too well, as you might imagine!

At any rate--a lovely outfit, in the spirit of a Easter dress. Happy spring!

Crystal Barbie

Crystal Barbie, originally uploaded by alington.

She was the envy of every girl on our block growing up, and at the risk of sounding dated, I went to one of my formal dances (or a prom) wearing a Jessica McClintock gown with a similar iridescent fabric.

It's Crystal Barbie! I'm nearly 40, and she's finally in my collection! Now, I feel like I have accomplished something.

(I am so just kidding! She is adorable, isn't she?)

1980s ID help?

Maybe Dream Glow?, originally uploaded by alington.

I found a lot of dolls for cheap on Ebay. I believe many of these may be 1980s dolls (I hope), but I'm not sure. The only one I'm pretty sure of is Dream Date (not the one shown here, which might be Dream Glow (?), but this photo).

Can you help me ID any of these lovely Barbies? If so, leave a comment on my blog or on my Flickr photostream? Thanks ever so much for any help!

Barbie® I Can Be...™ Computer Engineer* Doll - Shop.Mattel.com

Barbie® I Can Be...™ Computer Engineer* Doll - Shop.Mattel.com

The computer engineer Barbie I Can Be... doll is now available for pre-order from Shop.Mattel.com. She's $12.99, and has a shipping date of October 15, 2010. That's a pretty heavy lead-time, but heck, I guess if you're sure you want her...