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!

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.

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.

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.

2010 Fashion Royalty - Be dazzled!

Two new lines have been posted in the Fashion Royalty section of Integrity Toys' website. The dolls are ready for pre-order from your Integrity dealers. First, the Foundation collection:

• Model Citizen, Lukas M. LE 500. Brown hair. Dressed in a black, gray and white pin-striped suit with a bow tie.
• Staying Power, Darius Reid. LE 500. Black hair. Navy blue suit with subtle pin-stripe, white shirt with removable collar.
• Fire Within, Jordan. LE 600. Black hair. Pale pink skirt and jacket, sheer black mesh top, dramatic hat.
• Tricks of the Trade, Eugenia Perrin Frost. LE 600. Auburn hair. Faux fur wrap over gray bustier dress with dotted chiffon overlay. Feathered shoes.
• Private Goddess, Natalia Fatalé. LE 500. Golden brown hair. Blue taffeta gown with black mesh overlay on bodice.
• Winning Ensemble Luxury Wear, LE 300. Coral skirt with white sequined top, black trench coat.

Next, the Dazzle Collection:

• Temptation Vanessa. LE 500. Platinum hair. Pink sequined cocktail dress with 3/4 length sleeves.
• Soul Deep Adele. LE 500. Brown hair. Gold sequined sleeveless sheath cocktail dress. 
• Careless Love Dania. LE 500. Titian hair. Silver sequined sleeveless sheath with rounded neckline.
• Deceptively Yours Kyori gift set. LE 500. Raven hair. Sleeveless red sequined cocktail dress, black and white tweed suit, red ruffled strapless gown with nude bow at the waist.
• Flash Star Luxury Wear, LE 300. White sleeveless cocktail dress with black and white embroidered wrap.

2010 Nu.Face dolls

The 2010 Nu.Face dolls are posted on Integrity's website. Three new dressed dolls are available for preorder from your favorite Integrity Toys dealer (all are limited editions of 800):

• The Great Pretender, Lilith. A platinum doll, dressed in a pink and black boucle jacket, over a long-sleeved mesh top and matching layered tulle and satin skirt.
• Perk! Colette. Raven-haired doll dressed in a layered black and white ribbon skirt, long-sleeved blouse and gray faux-fur jacket.
• Mais Oui! Giselle Diefendorf. Auburn-haired doll, dressed in a purple blouse under a black satin jacket, with a short forest green tiered lace skirt.

Photo property of Integrity Toys.

2010 FR Monogram Dolls

Five new wigged and rooted dressed dolls will be available from this line from Integrity Toys, the FR Monogram collection. For full descriptions and photos, visit Integrity Toys' website:

• Enigmatic, limited edition of 250. She's a wigged red-head, dressed in black cocktail dress and a leopard print fur coat. Her black pumps have red soles.
• Brilliance, limited edition of 250. This doll is available now. She's a wigged brunette, dressed in a houndstooth suit.
• Dreamscape, limited edition of 250. This doll has a raven bobbed wig, and is dressed in a gorgeous pastel pink gown.
• Incandescent, limited edition of 250. This doll has rooted auburn hair, and is dressed in sleeveless pink and white sheath dress with a white jacket.
• Disclosure, limited edition of 350. This doll has rooted raven hair, and is dressed in an off-the-shoulder black bodysuit with attached garters, black fishnet stocking and pumps.

Photo property of Integrity Toys.

2010 Poppy Parker is up!

With new facial screening, featuring 1960s era cat-eye make-up, be sure to check out Poppy's new line. Several new dressed dolls and outfits are available:

• Coney Island Poppy is a basic brunette doll with bangs and her hair in a ponytail. She's a limited edition of 600. She's dressed in shorts and a shirt with a sailor collar.
• Beatnik Blues is a platinum doll with bangs, dressed in a pastel blue suit with a black beret and matching turtleneck. She's super cute, and a limited edition of 500.
• The Look of Love is a auburn haired doll with an up-do, dressed in a gorgeous white and cream gown with a beaded bodice and lots of tulle and satin layers for the skirt. Limited edition of 500.
• She's Arrived is a bobbed blonde doll gift-set with mix-and-match pieces, featuring a fuchsia suit and a gorgeous patterned day dress, two pairs of shoes, luggage and shopping bag. Limited edition 350.
• A Night to Remember is a gorgeous yellow evening gown fashion with a white satin overcoat. Limited edition of 300.
• Sealed with a Kiss is a fun day dress with a scaled teal and navy print over white. Limited edition of 300. (I love the prototype doll modeling this dress!)

Check out Integrity's website for all the promotional photos.

2010 Dynamite Girls Vintage Vinyl

Be sure to visit the Integrity Toys Dynamite Girls page today to see the full collection details, including photos. The dolls have new leg and knee sculpts as well as new facial sculpts. Four new Dynamite Girls have been announced in their thrift store chic outfits, all are limited editions of 500 and retail for $40:

• Rufus Blue, long brunette hair in twin ponytails, this year you'll see her dressed in pink shorts and a white blouse patterned with pink and black polkadots, tied with a tie. Over all that she wears a short-sleeved vest, belted with a patent belt. Black pumps complete her ensemble.
• Reese looks super sweet with her long black hair tied back with a green bow, in green button-trimmed shorts and a chiffon blouse with a ruffled neckline and puffed sleeves. Yellow socks and turquoise open toe sling-backs give her just the right vintage feel.
• Sooki makes her first appearance as a blonde, with her hair long and wavy. She's wearing a belted mod purple patterned dress with ruffled trim and white thigh highs, with black sling-backs completing her sweet and sexy look.
• Gavin wears her gorgeous red hair tied back with an oversized navy bow. She's dressed in a chic layered chiffon floral dress with ruffled trim down the front. Navy leggings and pink pumps finish her look.

Photo property of Integrity Toys.

2010 ITBE photos are up!

Integrity Toys is busy updating the website with its 2010 collection. The first new additions I've found are the new 2010 Integrity Toys Basic Editions. There are five new dressed dolls. All are limited editions of 1000:

• Desirable, a platinum caucasian dressed in a black cocktail dress with matching belt and pumps, and silver bracelet.
• Luscious, an African American doll with black hair piled in a dramatic up-do, dressed in an elegant white dress with puffed shoulders, belt and bracelet, and white pumps.
• Complicated, a caucasian doll with honey blonde hair in a double-layer royal blue dress with black trim, black pumps.
• Confident, a caucasian doll with light red hair, in a chic belted pink shirt dress, gold bracelets and pink platform sandals.
• Romantic, a caucasian brunette doll with long hair, wearing a flowing pink day dress with ruffled trim at the neckline, bracelet, and pink open-toe sling back shoes. 

If the clothing looks half as good as the promotional photos, I think we'll be in for a real treat for these lovelies. Last year, ITBEs ran for $25 each. I wonder if they will be increasing the price, due to the detailing of the outfits. They look really nice, I have to admit!

Update: Since this original post, I have discovered that these new 2010 ITBE dolls will be sold for $25 retail. Hooray!
Photo property of Integrity Toys.

FR Nippon dolls announced at Doll-Collectible

Two new FR Nippon dolls have been announced. They are asking that you pre-order by February 17, just to be assured that you get your order in. These dolls are a collaboration between Jason Wu and LoveSound.

• Misaki Lady Like - a high fashion, tailored look gives this elegant doll an intellectual feel. She's a brunette doll with brown eyes, neutral make-up. She's wearing wide-legged tailored trousers, a corseted blouse with puffed sleeves. Beaded jewelry and a cute purse complete her look. She's listed at $199.55 US (regularly $221.72).
• Amelie Lady Like is another  high fashion, tailored doll. Amelie is blonde with bangs. She's dressed in a black and grey plaid strapless dress with an elegant fitted jacket overall. Adorable heels, patterned tights, beret and a fun Wu-logo purse complete her look. She is also currently listed at $199.55 US (regularly $221.72).

Three exclusive Poppy Parker dolls

Integrity Toys has officially announced the release of three exclusive Poppy Parker dolls that will be sold at three different Integrity Toys dealers beginning next month. Each is a limited edition of only 100 dolls and retail for $80. All go on sale February 2, and it's first-come, first-serve.

• The redhead is dressed in a teal dress and is a Canadian exclusive to My Favorite Doll online.
• The blonde is dressed in a pink dress and an exclusive to Gigi's Dolls & Sherry's Teddy Bears and will be available at 773-594-1540.
• The brunette is wearing a purple dress and is an exclusive to The Doll Peddlar and will also be available online.

Photos are property of Integrity Toys.

Brides of Dracula

The second series of couture dolls being designed and produced by Jason Wu and Integrity Toys and produced and marketed by Ashton-Drake for the Couture Fantasy line are the Brides of Dracula. According to My Favourite Doll, this line uses brand new face sculpts and a new body sculpt, but will be similar in size to the 12" Fashion Royalty body.

The first of three in the series is the lovely blonde Contessa (with yellow eyes), dressed in a deep burgundy gown, accented with a black corset and accessorized with black lace gloves.

Mina is dressed in black and red, a fitted jacket and a super short skirt with red tulle, finished with top hat and knee-high boots. Her black hair and crimson eyes are less overpowering when you see her exposed fangs.

Lucy is the youngest of the trio, and she is dressed in a gorgeous blue gown, trimmed with black. She has wonderful red hair and glowing crimson eyes.

These ladies are certainly both sexy and appealing to the goth fan! Each retail for $149.99.

Photos are property of Ashton-Drake and Integrity Toys.

Integrity Toys Princess Tiana

Intgerity Toys has teamed up with Ashton-Drake for a stunning new line of dolls called Couture Fantasy. The dolls are being designed and produced by Jason Wu and Integrity Toys and marketed and distributed by Ashton-Drake.
The first in the line is Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. According to My Favourite Doll, this doll uses a new face sculpt and the Dynamite Girl body sculpt. You can preorder Princess Tiana in her green and yellow lily pad gown now, and she retails for $149.99.

She's also available in a blue sequined gown--and includes gloves, jewelry and a tiara. The gown even has a sash tied below the waist, just like the one in the movie. She also retails for $149.99. They will be available from your favorite Integrity and Ashton-Drake dealers.

Photos are property of Integrity Toys and Ashton-Drake.

Wednesday Tea for Me and Thee

FR Nippon On the Go Destination: Tokyo and Posh are taking a break from their busy work day for a nice cup of tea. Take it from them--there's always room for tea.

We're actually having serious weather conditions in San Diego--we had a tornado warning out here yesterday, which has not happened in the past 20 years, to my knowledge. And we're supposed to have more rain this week than we've had all last year combined. We need the water! It's a perfect day to stay inside and enjoy a cup of tea.

OK, and maybe I'll take some more doll photos, too.

Tea set by Rement. Both dolls are Integrity Toys. All furniture is by Mattel.

This blog post was inspired by Wanda Lee of Silken Purse, where she posts Wednesday Tea for Me and Thee warm and cozy inspirational and creative photos. Check out her blog when you get a chance.

New Integrity Toys Slide Show

Check out my latest slideshow on Flickr. You can see my entire collection of Integrity Toys dolls, including Fashion Royalty, FR Nippon, Dynamite Girls, and Monsieur Z, with real-life photos. Or, you can visit my Flickr photostream. Browse around and leave a comment -- make me a contact if you like! I'd love to hear from you.

The W Club - 2010 registration is open

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Integrity Toys has opened the W Club registration through 2010. I haven't decided yet if I'd like to join--but there is a doll I really like. You can read all about it on their website, and see the registration brochure here.

Here are the details. Club membership entitles you to the following benefits:

• sneak peeks at upcoming dolls and fashions
• member-only forums
• VIP customer service
• purchasing right to Club-only dolls (including two Fashion Royalty and one AvantGuards doll)
• discount coupons from Integrity dealers and Club exclusive dolls
• VIP invite to online Toy Fair event (with exclusive event doll available to purchase)
• priority convention registration
• Q&A sessions with Integrity staff
• online subscription to one year of Dolls Magazine 

There are one membership level for 2010, with several upgrade options:

1. $50 will get you the base membership, which includes all the perks listed above.
2. $210 will qualify you for the base membership and the AvantGuards "Freeze Frame" doll
3. $125 will qualify you for the base membership and the "Spring Forward" Fashion Royalty Eugenia Frost doll
4. $285 qualifies you for the base membership and both "Freeze Frame" and "Spring Forward" dolls.

I love the Freeze Frame doll--she includes a brunette wig with a "hair bow," styled a la Lady Gaga. She's amazing. Almost enough to make me want to join the club this year!

The dolls are both scheduled to ship in May, with the other portion of the payment due in April.

Registration closes at 10 AM Central Standard Time January 22, 2010, so I should make up my mind before then, I suppose. And as the W Club is an on-line club, you must have a valid email address.

Boogie Beach Jasper

Boogie Beach Jasper, originally uploaded by alington.

Another new arrival (via my daughter's birthday) is Boogie Beach Jasper. She's a unique Dynamite Girl--we own quite a few DGs, and her body feels like it has a little "grip" to it, like Splash, from the Wave II collection of the Monsieur Z dolls (also by Integrity Toys). But it makes her skin very matte, and it gives her a nice feel.

He hair is blonde and heavily gelled, but it's pretty. Her eyes are green with applied brush-type lashes, lips shocking pink. She comes wearing a fuchsia bathing suit, a windbreaker and platform sandals, which make her slightly too tall for her stand.

She has some fun accessories: aviator-style sunglasses, hoop earrings, a bracelet, a clear vinyl tote with rainbow striped handles, two 33rpm records and a magazine called "Feather." As in, that's what you do to your hair. So late 1970s. And funny.

Her hands remove for easy dressing, and she's a dream to pose. She's really fun. See more photos on my Picasa photo album or Flickr photostream.

Jolly Jett...

Along the Dynamite Girls theme... This is Jolly Jett. She's such a fun doll. She joined us last year, as part of my daughter's collection. See some more fun photos of this adorable and affordable doll at my Mac.com Gallery. What I wouldn't give to have the red FAO version of this girl!

Just between us, I have added this year's holiday Dynamite Girl to our collection, but the girls don't know this yet. (No, they don't read my blog. That wouldn't be very cool, would it?)