Day 1 at the Museum
Model: Integrity Toys Out of Sight Nadja
Dress: Mizi Dolls Fashion “Paris”
Purse: Phillip Nuveen on Etsy
Earings and Shoes: Integrity Toys
Glasses: ITFDS
Miniature Portrait: Kelly Rinaldi ( contact her @ you_are_a_doll on Instagram)
Day 2 at the Museum
I don’t know about you guys…but one day at The Metropolitan Museum of Art is never enough for me. Apparently it wasn’t for Nadja either.
Model: Integrity Toys “Out of Sight” Nadja
Jacket, Dress, Hat, and Boots: Integrity Toys “Female Icon” Dasha
Floral jacket pin: Scrapbooking element….swear…to God LOL!
Purse: Tiny Frock Shop
Earrings: Integrity Toys
–Rebecca
Inspirational Thursday
Good Morning readers! Or for some of you it is afternoon or evening. Well, wherever you are in the world, are you ready for some inspiration? I was recently at the Integrity Toys Convention in Baltimore MD and I was captivated by some mini portraits that were so cleverly done I immediately snapped them up and look forward to adding more to my collection. The clever and talented artist is Kelly Rinaldi and she is seriously multi talented. She walked away with the the judges choice award for diorama and wowed shoppers with these mini portraits.
Sometimes, it’s one item that sends me into a whole different level of creativity. This past week, it has been these mini portraits…or rather just one.
Mini portrait: Kelly Rinaldi ( contact her on Instagram @you_are_a_doll )
Purse: Phillip Nuveen on Etsy
Dress: Mizi dolls
Shoes and jewelry: Integrity toys
Shopping bag and sunglasses: ITFDS
Above is the mood board going forward into the next week of posts. One of my favorite places on the planet to visit is NYC. Specifically I LOVE visiting The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Frick Collection art museum and Laduree ( which happens to be just around the corner from The Frick). I give all the credit to this trifecta of NYC loveliness to my sistah friend Hilda Westervelt of Bellissima Couture who used to be Young Fellow of the Frick and encouraged me to explore it when I was in NYC for my daughter’s Carnegie Hall performance ( yes, proud Mom name dropping ). It is truly a jewel box of a museum. That love of museum hopping in NYC and the new love for these mini portraits plus some stellar fashions I have recently added to my collection have Inspired the next couple of blog posts. I hope you enjoy them as much I have enjoyed creating, styling and shooting them.
–Rebecca
Giselle in the Flowers
Wow!! Do I even know how to do this anymore? {snort}. I’m not going to lie people…it felt like rusty gears starting to work again setting up for this photo shoot and getting it done. When all was said and done, I have to honestly say…”Dag it felt good!!”
I have always been a fan of Vogue style editor Grace Coddington and her work. When I first had the idea for this image, I thought of her and her styling and went from there. I had to use this glorious background and then I needed natural light. For those who follow me on Instagram, I teased a few photos there.
Here are a couple quick behind the scene shots and a little peak at my new studio space….will be sharing more of that through the holiday season 
.
And after some post production magic…this is what we have.
I think this Giselle was the breakout hit from last years Integrity toys convention. Many people had difficulty seeing past the the retinal searing yellow outfit she sported. I have to admit, I almost didn’t get her. But then I took a second look at her soft makeup palette and decided, “yeah…I can work with that”. Believe it or not, I had an image in my mind close to this final floral image when I first bought her over a year ago. Yes…I really do have images sitting in my head that long and longer before I can get it on film. So often, it never gets rendered. I was happy to get it and bring it forth today. Hope you all enjoy.
–Rebecca
NBDCC 2019- The OOAK Parties
Many collectors show up days in advance of the actual start of convention to take part in room shopping and to participate in the One of A Kind (OOAK) parties by various artists. There is a rich and varied pool of artists that repaint and redress Barbie in haute couture. It’s one of my favorite parts of convention to be honest and I was honored to be allowed to photograph many of the shows. I apologize in advance for the shows I did not cover…namely Ninimomo. There were simply not enough hours in the day and too many amazing artists to photograph. I encourage you to scrounge the internet to find images of Nick and Marie’s amazing creations. They are not to be missed.
I have put the full set of images on my Flickr ( you can find the link on my sidebar…too the right on your screen) I have included a few of my favorite shots here.
The collection was sublime as always. Such a pleasure to see and be able to photograph these lovely pieces of art.
This year the talented duo of Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi payed tribute to the history of Barbie. They reimagined all the famous and popular looks of Barbie from her 1959 beginnings up through the current day. It was a thorough and imaginative collection with some truly stellar examples of couture Barbie.
Madame du Barbie interpretation
And the original…
Malibu Barbie interpretation
and the original…
Roman Holiday interpretation
and the original…
Every piece was a work of art!!! And lucky me…my number was chosen early and I got to come home with this lovely!!
Evening Splendor interpretation
and the original…
Another show that many collectors will show up early to ensure they won’t miss these works of art.
So many artist dolls to enjoy and photograph!! My cup runneth over 
Again, if you want to see the full set of images, head over to my flickr. All photos from the OOAK parties will be there by end of the day.
–Rebecca
NBDCC 2019–Let It Begin!!!
I have just returned from the National Barbie Doll Collector Convention which was held in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a big year this year as it is Barbie’s 60th birthday. The actual convention began on Wednesday, July31st but most avid collectors show up as early as the Sunday before to take advantage of amazing room shopping. Hilda Westervelt of Bellissima Couture and I opened on Monday for room sales. Here are a few of the shots of what we had available in our room.
Hilda’s exclusives for room shopping and sales room
And some fun eyewear and neck scarves from me….
Needless to say, we hit the ground running upon landing in Kansas City on Sunday 
Stay tuned….more blog posts on ooak designer parties and convention events coming up!!
–Rebecca
The Elyse Chronicles: Purple Passion
I was going back through photo files this past weekend and what do you know…I found a few images I had not shared last year!
Model: Net a Porter Elyse
Gown: Eifeldolldress ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/eifel85/)
Earrings: Party Dress Silkstone Barbie
Love, love, love the feel of the velvety skin texture on these Jason Wu specialty Elyse’s he did last year. I love how it feels and I love how it translates through a lens. There isn’t as much glare from lights, less shine.
-Rebecca
Resurrecting the Blog
Resurrection…defined, it means
res·ur·rec·tion
[ˌrezəˈrekSH(ə)n]
NOUN
-
the action or fact of resurrecting or being resurrected.
"the story of the resurrection of Osiris"
synonyms:
raising from the dead · restoration to life · rising from the dead · return from the dead
-
(the Resurrection)
(in Christian belief) Christ’s rising from the dead.
-
(the Resurrection)
(in Christian belief) the rising of the dead at the Last Judgment.
-
the revitalization or revival of something.
"the resurrection of the country under a charismatic leader" ·
-
It’s an appropriate word for many people at this time of year as Easter is the remembrance of resurrection. I feel like this is more of a revival so I will go with the revitalization of something. I am going to be completely honest here. This will be an insanely personal blog post for me and one of the most difficult things I have ever written. For those of you who follow me on FB, you have a small idea of what late 2017 and 2018 were like for me and my family. For those of you just now tuning in…lets just say life tilted off its axis for me and my family in November of 2017 and the blog took a back seat. I needed a year to kind of readjust, reevaluate and frankly…do the the whole freak out and then sit back and deal with it all. That meant walking away from the blog for a time. It also meant….walking away from collecting and photography for a time. I just needed to get re-centered.
Why did I need to re-center? In a word…Cancer.
Before the questions come, not me. It was never me and I wish to God it had been me,but it wasn’t…it was infinitely worse. It was one of my children. You might as well have taken my heart and ripped it from my body. When you have no heart, it’s hard to create. It’s hard to look at anything and find the beauty and wonder of it. All you see and feel is relentless uncertainty and pain. I was wounded and scared and I needed to heal. Thankfully, through the strength, love and wisdom of amazing doctors, friends, family and the power, love and grace of God, our story continues, our daughter’s story continues and for that I offer unending thankfulness.
I am going to go into specifics now because I feel like this is a chance to give a testimonial and a public service announcement. I would be happy if the last year and a half of our experience could possibly help and guide another family facing similar circumstances. If I can offer anything to anyone…specifically parents or caregivers….its this. If you think something is odd, go check it out. Don’t wait. If your child complains of something odd, go have it checked. Don’t wait.
Background:
In mid 2017 our daughter Megan came to me and complained of a “stitch’ in her side that persisted for more than a few days. She was 17 at the time and was dancing every day of the week so we wrote it off as some minor dance strain. It went away and we thought all was well. A few months later, she complained again of a “stitch” in her side and we ( by the guidance and grace of God) decided to have it checked out with her pediatrician. We had an ultrasound performed the day after Thanksgiving 2017. Three days later, we were told our daughter had a large abnormal mass in her liver and she needed an MRI. The MRI confirmed that the mass in her liver was a very rare liver cancer - Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FHC)
Doctor #1 told us that the tumor was inoperable and that there was nothing that could be done. Second opinions are always a good idea and in our case, it saved our daughters life. Doctor #2 told us that he believed the tumor could be removed and that it would be difficult. Doctor #3 told us he believed the tumor could be removed and that it would be difficult. On December 14, 2017 doctors 2 and 3 ended up performing the 9 hour surgery necessary to save Megan’s life. Over 30% of her liver was removed. Our thanks for the skill and knowledge of the Doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital and University of Washington Medical Center are without limits. They were and continue to be the best team of doctors we could ever wish to have for Megan’s care.
Right after Christmas of 2017 our prayers were answered again when the pathology of all 7 lymph nodes removed during Megan’s surgery showed no signs of cancer. It had not spread and her chances of surviving were greatly improved. There is no treatment or cure for this cancer. The only chance of surviving it is 1) if the cancer has not spread outside of the liver 2) if the tumor can be successfully resected (removed) and 3) if the cancer doesn’t come back. This type of cancer typically has no symptoms until the tumor has grown so large that it is inoperable and/or has metastasized to other parts of the body. It affects mainly children and young adults. We had caught it early. Praise The Lord!
2018 was a year of quarterly rituals we affectionately called “scanxiety”. Each quarter brought the requisite MRI and sometimes CT scans and I am happy to report all have been clear and clean. No sign of regrowth of the tumor. I am also very happy to report that Megan bounced back as only a young and healthy teenager who has danced for most of her life does. By May of 2018 she performed all of her dances AND her senior solo at her dance school and in June she graduated with honors from High School and was accepted into University of Washington as a pre law student. She continues to grow and thrive in college while maintaining close contact with the team of doctors that monitor and are studying this rare form of liver cancer.
We don’t know what the future will hold but for now all is well and that is good enough for me. We ( the entire Berry Clan) want to say a huge “Thank You!” to the collector community who absolutely enveloped us with love and care. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced in my life. It was the essence of “community” made manifest and we could not begin to thank everyone enough.
(Photo is courtesy of Stan and Peter from 2018 Barbie Convention in Arizona. Thank you so much for this!)
Now, I am finally starting to feel like I can and want to pick up the camera again and create. Look for more blog posts soon and “Thank You” for sticking with me during the hiatus.
-Rebecca
Let the Fun Begin!! 2019 WClub Registration is Open!!
Oh my word…do I even remember how to post to the blog anymore LOL! After a very slow year for Inside the Fashion Doll Studio and very minimal postings, I am looking forward to getting back to the studio and back into a regular blogging schedule. If you are still here, thanks for sticking with me.
I have a fun thing to announce with this resurrection of the blog. The WClub for 2019 is now open for registration!! You have until noon Eastern Time on March 3rd to get your registration in if you want to be part of the 2019 WClub. This is one I simply don’t miss. It’s a complete no brainer for me. This year the designers at Integrity Toys have some special perks and upgrade dolls available to lucky members. Let’s take a look…
The upgrade dolls are what everyone is excited to see….Here they are
Loving this modern look and that bag….swoon!! Designed by the Jessy Ayala.
Many of us are enjoying the return of the hommes! Designed by Jessy Ayala.
Well well well…Mais que nada!! Yes, this is playing on my headset as I type this 
. Yummy, yummy, yummy. I love the bangs, the dark hair color paired with the sun kissed skin. Also really digging this coral, aqua and bronze sun dress. Time for some caipirinhas people!! Designed by David Buttry.
Ok, so if you are interested in joining the WClub , click on the link below to get all the info about the club and how to purchase. Base Membership is $50 and upgrade dolls are additional.
https://www.wclubforum.com/2019clubregstart.html
You have until noon ET 3/03/2019 to join.
It’s a small window to sign up and once it’s over, registration is closed until the next year. If you enjoy collecting Integrity Toys products and want a chance at attending their convention, this club is a must. Just sayin’
-Rebecca
Integrity Toys 2018 Reveal: Fashion Royalty Sacred Lotus Collection
Jessy Ayala is helming this years entire Fashion Royalty collection as well and he has done a remarkable job. While he brought out the youthful, edgy and stylish designs for Nu.Face he has also managed to master high fashion, Chic and refined for the Fashion Royalty 2018 line. Using many of the same inspirations as Nu.Face he has given collectors “Sacred Lotus”. There are regal along with bold moments in this cohesive collection but the one word I keep coming back to is “sophisticated”.
Goddess
Tatyana Alexandrova™ Doll
Fashion Royalty®:
The Sacred Lotus Collection
Approx. Ship Date: October
Suggested Retail: $155.00 US
Available Via Dealers
Edition Size: 950
Head Sculpt: Tatyana 2.0
Body Type: FR 6.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Japan
Hair Color: Pale Blonde
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
That face!! That color!! Goddess indeed! I have always been partial to Tatyana’s facemold. I adore those cheekbones just like I do in Elyse. I love that Jessy chose bright green peridot for the stones on the jewelry to go with the tomato red of this sari inspired dress. If you like jewelry, this entire collection is for you. There is more than enough mix and match pieces to go around.
It looks like Jessy may have gone to the runway for inspiration as well though not Gucci. This one appears to come from a few years back (2013 Spring RTW) and the talented ladies at Marchesa.
Karma
Kyori Sato® Dressed Doll
Fashion Royalty®:
The Sacred Lotus Collection
Approx. Ship Date: October
Suggested Retail: $155.00 US
Available Via Dealers
Edition Size: 850
Head Sculpt: Kyori 2.0
Body Type: FR 6.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Latino
Hair Color: Bronze with Golden Highlights
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
Again with the glasses!! Love! I also adore the gloved hands and bag. The fabric on this one is so rich too.
For this look, the master John Paul Gautier appears to have been some inspiration (2017 Fall Couture)
Resurgence
Natalia Fatalé® Dressed Doll
Fashion Royalty®:
The Sacred Lotus Collection
Approx. Ship Date: December
Suggested Retail: $155.00 US
Available Via Dealers
Edition Size: 950
Head Sculpt: Natalia 2.0
Body Type: FR 6.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Sunkissed
Hair Color: Silver
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
Sooooo Elegant! The short silver hair sold this doll for me but the turban was the icing. Also love the refined tones in this entire package…reds, greys, aubergine with gold….yummy. This Natalia is fierce elegance. Add in a cape and a turban and you have a fashion superhero. Actually, all those bracelets may in fact ward off bullets. 
I could have sworn this cape was inspired by Valentino but alas…I have no fashion inspiration on this one.
Serenity
Vanessa Perrin® Mini-giftset
Fashion Royalty®:
The Sacred Lotus Collection
Approx. Ship Date: November
Suggested Retail: $175.00 US
Available IT Direct Lottery **(note)**
Edition Size: 950
Head Sculpt: Vanessa 3.0
Body Type: FR 6.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Dark A-tone
Hair Color: Soft Ebony
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
What is not to like about this giftset…other than it’s a lottery. Well crap! I love the dark skin toned Vanessa on this and the outfit is super chic but the accessories really steal the show in my opinion. The shoes! EEEEE!! And, thanks to the super sleuths on the WClub forums, we know that the bag is inspired by the Chloé Nile Minaudière bag. As the life size bag goes for roughly $1500, this is the closest I will ever get to it.
Also, the pants have a wrap style belt that appears to be inspired by Haider Ackerman (2018 spring RTW)
Divinity
Isha Kalpana Narayanan™ Doll
Fashion Royalty®:
The Sacred Lotus Collection
Approx. Ship Date: September
Retail: $155.00 US
Available Via Dealers
Edition Size: 850
Head Sculpt: Isha
Body Type: FR 6.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Hungarian
Hair Color: Auburn Brown
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
I love that she has henna tattoos and a nose stud! Beautiful and sultry feel to this lady who is all in white and gold.
Going back to JPG 2017 Fall Couture for some inspiration here….
And to cap off all of this refinement, Jessy Ayala and Integrity Toys also threw in an event doll that wowed the crowd.
Devotion
Agnes Von Weiss® Doll
Fashion Royalty®:
The Sacred Lotus Collection
Approx. Ship Date: Winter 2018-19
Price: $155.00 US
2018 W Club Event Exclusive
Edition Size: TBD
Head Sculpt: Agnes Von Weiss
Body Type: FR 6.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Cream
Hair Color: Auburn
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
Wowza!! Hail to the tuxedo sari! I’m all in on this one. From the vibrant red hair down to the strappy sandals. I’m IN. A glorious way to cap off the webinar. There were many happy collectors after the webinar on Saturday. Well done designers and Integrity Toys!!
Another JPG fall couture 2017 inspired creation…
Signing off as my keyboard is smoking after posting 4 reports today and I have no more adjectives or superlatives to add that I have not already used LOL! Also, it is apparent to me that my empty and weeping wallet will need to be filled soon to accommodate these new collection additions coming into my doll room….time to get to work!
–Rebecca
Integrity Toys 2018 Reveal: East 59th Cocktail Collection
Even though the actual collection is not called the “cocktail” collection the designer Chris Stoeckel affectionately referred to it as such in Saturday’s webinar…so I’m going with that. Chris shared that his inspiration was Dior and the fashions of the 1950’s. He also shared that the fabrics he found really guided him on this collection. I have to say that nobody tailor’s a garment like Chris. His attention to that is impeccable and one of the reasons I adore this line so much.
Cocktails for Men
Laird Drake® Fashion Figure
The East 59th® Collection
Approx. Ship Date: October
Suggested Retail: $135.00 US
Available Via Dealers
Edition Size: 400
Head Sculpt: Laird Drake (New Sculpt!)
Body Type: Homme 1.5 (With Disassembling Joints)
Skin Tone: Cream
Hair Color: Raven
Eyelashes: No
Quickswitch: No
Oh my word!! You had me at the polka dot ascot but then you had to go and add a cheroot!!! ( technically it’s probably a cigar because it is indeed tapered at one end but…cheroot sounded better to me). Add in the plain black banded watch ( in my mind it’s Cartier) and that cognac snifter and its fabulousness. Again, the details in these collections have me obsessed. Truly wonderful.
Tangier Tangerine
Constance Madssen® Doll
The East 59th® Collection
Approx. Ship Date: September
Suggested Retail: $135.00 US
Available Via Dealers
Edition Size: 500
Head Sculpt: Constance Madssen
Body Type: E59 1.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Platinum
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
That tangerine cocktail actually looks kind of good! Wish it existed in real life to try! LOVE the period accurate color explosion going on here. I also love how Chris gives us two different looks in his designs that improves the playability and versatility of these dolls. Well done! That vibrant orange hat and gloves will be a favorite addition to my collection along with the yummy suit!
Mai Tai Swizzle
Constance Madssen® Doll
The East 59th® Collection
Approx. Ship Date: September
Suggested Retail: $135.00 US
Available Via Dealers
Edition Size: 500
Head Sculpt: Constance Madssen
Body Type: E59 1.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Cream
Hair Color: Deep Auburn
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
Ok…so Mai Tai’s are a particular favorite of mine given my family and I vacation in Hawaii a lot. It’s no surprise that the name alone had me interested. The doll itself with her auburn locks and swooped bangs are exquisite. I adore the boat necked striped day dress as well as the sunny short set and jacket. Add in those fantastic wedge sandles and charm braclet and this doll has it all. The Mai Tai helps too.
Turquoise Sparkler
Evelyn Weaverton® Doll
The East 59th® Collection
Approx. Ship Date: September
Retail: $135.00 US
Available Via Dealers
Edition Size: 500
Head Sculpt: Evelyn Weaverton
Body Type: E59 1.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Raven
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
What is it about this color?!!! I just go gooey inside. I am not the only one either…there have been studies done on this Tiffany blue color and it’s just one that people have a strong response to on average. I can’t even quantify how much I love this gown . The elegance of it plus the grace of a brunette Evelyn wearing it just makes my heart sing. The story card for this doll states that the gold gift box is empty for a reason…there is another story there to be told. Looks like a champagne bottle box to me . This was first doll in the shopping cart for me from this collection but frankly…they all ended up in the cart by the end of the presentation.
The Americano
Evelyn Weaverton® Doll
The East 59th® Collection
Approx. Ship Date: September
Retail: $135.00 US
Available Via Dealers
Edition Size: 500
Head Sculpt: Evelyn Weaverton
Body Type: E59 1.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Wheat Blonde
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
First question…where is the Americano cocktail?? LOL! Guess she knocked it back and is well on her way or perhaps that is where she is headed after a day of shopping. I have to admit, my first thought was not a cocktail but in fact a cup of “Americano” coffee when I saw the name of this doll. Don’t judge…I’m from Seattle and coffee is a religion here. So my thinking was a delicate cup of espresso would have been perfect here. I’m planning on adding it. Drinks aside, the accessories are to die for. That Birkin bag…faint. The shoes with the cut outs…swoon. The additional white shirt to wear under the sheath….brilliant!! The little box of cannoli…ok I’m done…who do I throw the money at for this doll.
Blue Gold
Victoire Roux™ Doll
The East 59th® Collection
Approx. Ship Date: December
Retail: $135.00 US
Available Via Dealers
Edition Size: 500
Head Sculpt: Victoire Roux 2.0 (New Sculpt!)
Body Type: E59 1.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Cream
Hair Color: Copper Penny Red
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
She’s back!! And…fortified with a bottle of fine gin. 
LOL…ok so I was very surprised (pleasantly so) to see Miss Victoire making her comeback before the IT convention. Technically she will indeed arrive after the convention but to have pictures of the new face mold before the convention was nice. I’m not sure how I am feeling about this new “updated” face mold. She is definitely younger and I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about it. The fashion though is wonderful! How yummy is this brocade?!! Absolutely love that she is a redhead in this version and coupled with this blue brocade…fabulousness.
Love the playability and wonderful accessories in this line. The vibrant colors and rich storylines work well together. Hats off to Mr. Chris Stoekel and his eye for details and historical couture fashion. How he manages to translate some of the iconic 1950’s fashion trends into 1:6 scale is beyond me. He has a gift.
Last line..Fashion Royalty Collection reveal post will be up this afternoon.
–Rebecca
