Wisdom in the comics…….
December 30, 2011 Doonesbury strip by Gary Trudeau
See….we are not alone LOL!
Happy 2012!
Sweet Confection Poppy is ringing in the new year with a glass of bubbly and wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2012.
Model: Sweet Confection Poppy Parker
Gown: Monaeglow (http://stores.ebay.com/monaeglow)
bracelet: Mattel Trace of Lace Silkstone
Ehhh hmmmm!! Well Miss Poppy…what’s with the honkin’ rock you are wearing on that all important digit??!! Word is that Poppy’s boyfriend Chip will be making his debut in 2012. Perhaps it’s a bit more than “boyfriend”??? Will have to see about that.
Preferably Pink for early Bogue’s Vogues Vendredi
Preferably pink refers to the doll in this photo but it really could be the gown as well. This was perhaps my favorite Bogue’s Vogues purchase of the year though choosing a favorite Bogue’s Vogue is like choosing my favorite child between my two kids….impossible. This delicious pink cotton pique number with rolled black velvet collar is paired with a black velvet hat with netting bow. TO DIE FOR! Once again Mr Bogue…that hat is off to you. Ms. Preferably Pink has had her hair restyled at the salon de Berry.
Model: Preferably Pink Silkstone Barbie
Gown and hat: Bogue’s Vogues (http://www.etsy.com/shop/boguesvogues)
Shoes: Mattel
Wall panel: made by me ( tutorial is available here…https://insidethefashiondollstudio.com/2011/03/19/the-wall-panel-background/)
Bottle Brush Tree: Bethany Lowe Pastel bottle brush tree
** tree is sitting on a miniature stone urn. The urn does not come with the tree**
Black Diamonds Anyone?
One of the highlights of going to doll conventions for me is the opportunity to see, photograph and sometimes purchase a One of A Kind doll ( okay so that’s my favorite part LOL!). I feel extremely blessed to have some truly amazing OOAK works of art in my collection and they mean even more because I have come to know the artists behind the work. One of my all time favorite OOAK artists is Matt Sutton. This past summer at the Ft. Lauderdale Barbie Convention, I was able to add this beauty to my collection and have finally put her in front of the camera. It is always a joy to photograph something sooooo beautiful.
OOAK Silkstone “Black Diamond” by Matt Sutton (http://mattsutton.com/)
And…because the front shots don’t really give the full story of the detail that went into this lady…here are some closeups of more detail.
Happy Holidays! from Inside the Fashion Doll Studio
Hope you all have a blessed, happy and healthy holiday and new year!
I would like to thank Photoshop. For without it’s amazing ability I would not have been able to achieve the white, white background. I can’t tell you how long I have been trying to achieve this LOL!
P.S. Matty….I hope I did your beautiful gift justice with the photos 
The 2012 WClub Registration is Now Open
Integrity toys announced yesterday morning that the 2012 WClub was open for business. Registration will be open from now until January 18th, 2012 at 10:00AM CST ( Central Standard Time) Yipeee! Purchasing a membership is only offered for this small window of time. Once it closes, you have to wait until next year to join. If you love Integrity Toys, I would recommend checking into this. I have been a member for the past three years and have never regretted it. Not only are there club exclusive dolls and lotteries for even more exclusive dolls but there is a very active collecting forum and perks and discounts given by various doll dealers…but you have to be a member. This year there will be two Fashion Royalty club exclusive dolls, one Poppy Parker doll and one FR16 doll offered to WClub members. Integrity Toys released information and photos on two of the club exclusive dolls. ** photos are property of Integrity Toys **
Item # 91258
Ready to Dare
Natalia Fatalé™ Dressed Doll
2012 W Club Exclusive Upgrade
Item # PP030
Dream Teen
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
2012 W Club Exclusive Upgrade
For more information on WClub Membership and how to sign up go to WClub registration
The first 2012 Silkstones are announced!
The people attending the BFC ( Barbie Fan Club ) event at this summers Barbie Convention in Ft. Lauderdale Florida were shown a preview of one of the 2012 Silkstones . The Silkstone designs, according to their designer Robert Best, are going back to the classic lines of the 1950’s. The line for 2012 is being called “Atelier” which defined means artist studio. I am looking forward to a return to the classics and the photos from these first two offerings have me very excited to see what the rest 2012 will hold for this fabulous line of dolls from Mattel.
BFMC Walking Suit Barbie
Release date: March 2012
Est. retail $ 75.00
** Photos are property of Mattel Inc. **
BFMC Party Dress Barbie
Release date: April 2012
Est. Retail $ 100.00
Photos of the next BFC club doll were also shown to the BFC members this past Tuesday. I can’t show photos of this lovely lady until I get an okay from Mattel but all I can say is that if you like Silkstones, gorgeous day suits, hats and Dior….RUN don’t walk to sign up for the 2012 BFC. The BFC will be open for new members sometime in February of 2012. Check the Barbie Collector site( www.barbiecollector.com ) for more information.
Sweet Confection has arrived!
After waiting approximately 4 months, the much anticipated WClub exclusive “Sweet Confection” Poppy Parker has arrived. ** promo photo is property of Integrity Toys, Inc.**
Her skin tone is a bit darker than the promo pictures would indicate but the face is beautiful. The mod clothing is not something I really collect or a design aesthetic that I prescribe to so the second she arrived…it was time for a redress. All in all, I would have to say I really like her. The really tan skin tone is something I think I am going to have to get used to. Time will tell if she stays or not…but I do love the rooted eyelashes on this lovely lady and the absolutely scrumptious platinum blond tresses set against that very tan skintone. Very, very pretty.
Model: Sweet Confection Poppy Parker
Dress: Bogue’s Vogues ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/boguesvogues)
Shoes: Mattel
Jewelry: Mattel
Come home to Mama…..
When I attended the Fashion Royalty convention in October this year, they previewed a doll that was going to be available later in the year by lottery to interested WClub members. It was a beautiful blonde doll with the old Veronique facemold on a FR2 body wearing an amazing purple gown with accessories and a fabulous updo. The lottery was held Monday the 19th and I am happy to report that I won the right to purchase one of these beauties. I hate lotteries because I never seem to win any and I am glad that everyone who entered the lottery seemed to have won the right to purchase. I am hoping she will be shipping soon!!
10th Anniversary “Forever” Veronique
*Photos are property of Integrity Toys*
The Inner Sanctum….of the doll room
First of all, let me thank my friend Jenn for her comment on Flickr that prompted the idea for the title. Yesterday I shared photos of the landing area right outside the actual doll room. I have never really decorated this area for the holidays before so it was fun to show off some of the displays and ideas I have done this year. Today, I will share photos of the actual doll room. I normally have a table in the middle of the room ( it comes out from the wall which is also a wall bed) but for the tea party I needed to allow for as much space in there as I could get so people could see the collection and displays.
The doll room displays have changed from previous years. If you want to see displays from previous years check out my youtube video here….
Perhaps the biggest change in the doll room for this holiday season is that the vintage reproduction section was put into storage and the Silkstones took up residence in the corner area. My “ Belles Choses” boutique moved to the spacious venue bellow the display area and more silkies were moved there to shop. Shopgirls office( at the top of the stairs) had to downsize and Fashion Designer Silkstone ( always Edith Head in my mind as I believe that is who Mr. Best designed her after) got her own space and it looks like she has designed a red gown for the young starlett looking in the mirror. I did manage to maintain one vintage reproduction shelf as an homage to the fabulous Barbie conventions I have been to.
Peeking around the corner as you enter the doll room…..
Christmas comes to the doll room
I love the holidays. I start decorating in November and am usually done by the first week of December to be ready for my Ladies Holiday Tea. This year, my ladies tea was followed immediately by weeks of dress rehearsals for my daughters Nutcracker ballet performances. So…I have been a little swamped. Now that my little ballerina has hung up her dancing shoes for the holiday, I can finally get back to the studio and some fun doll time. The doll room has gone through some changes in the past couple of months and I thought I would take the opportunity to share these fun changes. First off, the landing outside the doll room gets a holiday makeover….
I found these fun acrylic boxes at Micheal’s craft store and I have been wanting to use them for displaying. Like many collectors, I am always looking for new and different ways to display my collection. I new I was going to be putting this new tree up to display all the Barbie ornaments I have collected over the years and these boxes were the perfect “presents” to put under the tree.
Again I am always looking for ways to display my collection and I love when people show photos of what they do. Here are some of the things I have done in this upstairs landing area.
I will continue tomorrow with photos of the doll room itself.
Oh….and one little proud Mamma moment….my daughter as a flower in this years Nutcracker ballet
It’s a Rocker Wedding!!!
I know, I know….you thought I had been hit by a bus or something since it has been so long since my last post. No bus…just holiday decorating. The Ladies Holiday Tea is this weekend so I hope to have some more time and a chance to take some photos next week. I hope to get on a more regular blog posting schedule. Hope being the operative word LOL! To tide us all over, Integrity Toys just released information on the last W Club exclusive doll for 2011 and what a packet of info that was! We are getting the opportunity to purchase not one, not two, but three different dolls and it’s a wedding theme. Yipeeeee!!! Now, normally my taste in collecting goes for the more classic lines but I have to admit, my hands could not hit the “BUY” button fast enough when I saw the snaps for this mini collection. The W Club board has been buzzing for the past few days about this amazing set and here is a little taste why.
** All photos are property of Integrity Toys**
The Rock Fashion Wedding Collection
Coming Spring 2012
“You Look So Fine” Erin S.
“Rocking Ever After” Lilith
“Rock Steady” Romain Perrin
This new version of Romain is so cute!!!!
Many W Club members are hoping beyond hope that the actual production dolls hair will come out looking like this( Jim Morrison hair and all). Please, please, please with a big red cherry on top. I did not like the look of the first Romain very much as his face reminded me immediately of a bull terrier….don’t know why….just did. Now this guy….. HOT! No terrier vibe coming through at all. Also, the versatility of this set is amazing. Lilith’s dress can be worn so many different ways…so inventive and fabulous.
And because I love to play around with my slideshow software…I did a slideshow set to music of the entire set of photos that Integrity Toys shared with us. Hope you enjoy!
In order to purchase these dolls, you needed to have signed up for the 2011 W Club. That group is now closed. The 2012 W Club should opening up for subscribers in December. For more information about the W Club go to http://integritytoys.com/page/w_club
Inside the Fashion Doll Studio 