Barbie Basics 2.5
They can move! The 2.5 Barbie Basics are articulated. I know that many people have been waiting for these beauties. I include myself in that group. I am really enjoying the additional pose options with these ladies and I have yet to redress them. I particularly like the skinny jeans on the blond model…cute, cute, cute.
Models: Barbie Basics 2.5 (model #4, 8 and 14) http://www.barbiecollector.com/shop/browse/term/1195
Haute Couture for Elise
Model: Fashion Royalty Squared Dark Swan Elise
Gown: T.D. Fashions (http://www.ebay.com/itm/T-D-FASHIONS-DOLL-Fashion-Royalty-Silkstone-/180685810534?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a11b6ab66)
Shoes: Mattel Market Day Silkstone
Hat: …..um…It’s a secret
Secret…..the hat is a fabric scrapbooking element. “ Shhhhhh!” Don’t tell Elise that….she thinks it’s the highest in haute couture.
It’s that time again….Bogue’s Vogues Vendredi
I have had this crisp little lemon yellow number for a couple of months now and simply did not have the motivation to photograph it until after convention. I am glad I waited because the flowers in the hat have so much more meaning to me than they did before convention. I believe these flowers were given to James Bogue by two special sisters who found these gorgeous vintage miniature flowers in their late uncles things and gifted them to Mr. Bogue. I dedicate these photos to Joan and Pinky(Denise) for their generosity and for being just some of the nicest people I had the pleasure of getting to know at convention. I also dedicate these photos to their late uncle and the warm memories they have of him. Thank you so much for sharing the story about where the flowers came from!
Model: Fashion Royalty Monogram “Extravagance”
Dress and Hat: Bogue’s Vogues ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/boguesvogues )
Shoes: Mattel Christian Louboutin Barbie shoe pack
2012 Barbie Sneak Peek’s from NBDCC
Well…I was apparently incorrectly under the impression that this information was not supposed to be shared outside of the Barbie Fan Club(BFC) but since everyone else is sharing it and posting photos outside of the BFC, I might as well join the club 
The BFC hosted an event at NBDCC this year where they showed some things that are coming up in 2012. First and foremost, the BFMC is going back to its roots with classic styling. They had one of the silkies on display and I think she is gorgeous!!
a little blurry but thought I would include it….
And Mr. Best with his beautiful creation.
Next up was Bill Greening with next years vintage reproduction offerings
It is my understanding that you can have your pick of blond, brunette or redhead and you will receive all four reproduction outfits with the doll. One for each season…Spring( Garden Party), Summer ( Resort Set), Fall( Dinner At Eight) and Winter(Winter Holiday). Eeeeeek! Too much loveliness!!
Lastly, they showed us what is in store for the final Barbie Basics line. It is Barbie Basics 3.0 and they will be in swimsuits.
I believe these are the accessory packs that will be available with this line…adorable!
I can’t wait for 2012!!!
Grace Kelly Silkstone–Studio Shots Part II
Okay..so I wanted to use my trifold mirror in the worst way so I used that for the first set of photos. Then I used my favorite graduated black to white background because I thought It would look good with the white gown. Hope you guys think so too. I really love how these shots turned out! No major photoshopping folks…she really is this beautiful.
W Club has a new Poppy Parker exclusive!!
Integrity Toys W Club announced a Poppy Parker exclusive to it’s club members a couple of days ago and most Poppy Parker fans are in agreement….WE WANT IT LIKE YESTERDAY! I have been a member of the W Club for the past couple of years and I have to say…each year gets better and better. I think I broke my own personal speed record ordering this beauty. They had me at…POPPY…and a tan skinned one at that!
Sweet Confection
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
2011 Exclusive W Club Doll
Limited Edition: TBA
Estimated Arrival: Fourth Quarter of 2011
**All photos are property of Integrity Toys, Inc.**
And alas….the waiting begins.
Grace Kelly Silkstone–Studio Shots Part I
Just spent the last two days taking and processing the photos of Grace Kelly Silkstone “The Bride”. I thought I would go ahead and post the first batch. I have been saving this tri fold mirror for a special shoot. It always gave the feeling of a cathedral window. I felt it worked perfectly here with Ms. Grace in her beautiful wedding gown. Here face screening is some of the best I have seen on a Barbie bar none. This lady and her gown love the camera and I hope you all enjoy the photos a much as I enjoyed taking them.
Coming tomorrow……
Grace Kelly Silkstone is Here!!
Grace Kelly The Bride has arrived. I was ready and waiting for this lady to hit the Barbie Collector shop. I can’t remember when I have waited with such delight for a doll to arrive…well…okay so I can remember…when my convention boxes arrived with Matt Sutton OOAK’s ..but that’s not the point. The point is I was very excited to receive this new Grace Kelly Silkstone. She does not disappoint. She is exquisite!! I can’t believe the attention to detail on this lady. I love, love, love the plain gold band on her ring finger and the little prayer book.
And this is just with my point and shoot! Studio shots coming soon…….
NBDCC 2011 – Why we keep going back.
Everyone has their own personal favorites of convention. We all enjoy the room shopping, the events, the sales room and the convention dolls. But let’s face it….we don’t go to convention primarily for these things. At the end of the day, we go to convention because of the people. We go because of the Barbie friends we have made in the past and the new friends we hope to make at each and every convention. We go to share a love for a hobby that has grown beyond our own personal sphere. We are compelled to share this love with others who feel the same way. We leave with our emotional cups full to overflowing and many of us move forward with the exciting knowledge that we will have the opportunity to see friends and share again the following year.
Each time I have attended the National Barbie Doll Collector Convention I feel I have left the convention a better person. That is due entirely to the people I have met. This year I had the supreme pleasure of sitting at Judy O’s table 19. Words alone cannot express my appreciation for their generosity and welcoming kindness. I am never someone who feels they can effectively convey something in words….my preference is to pick up the camera and show it in a picture. So….here is the reason I go to convention……
New Barbie friend Debra and I (photo below is courtesy of Brad (starboy9 on BFC….Thank you Brad!!))
Barbie Buddy Supreme….Sheree
Fantastic Barbie buddies Barb, Mary and Barbara
The lovely ladies of Judy O’s Table 19!
And because a few photos is never enough for me…..a video with more photos LOL! Hope you enjoy.
Hope to see every one in California next year!!
NBDCC 2011–The Official Convention Doll
Typically, the last evening of convention there is a final dinner and you receive the official convention doll. At this years convention, as it was Ken’s 50th anniversary, we received a doll set. A beautifully designed and crafted Barbie and Ken set designed by the very talented Matt Sutton and Matt Trujillo. I just can’t say enough about this pair of gentleman….LOVE YOU GUYS!
Here is a quote from Matt Sutton about the inspiration and ideas behind the dolls….
“They weren’t designed as “formal”– the thought expressed to us was that they were a young couple in 1961 in Ft Lauderdale, went to a lovely dinner, and found themselves taking a long romantic walk on the beach at night. It’s dinner jacket and party dress, not tux and ballgown. Matching ties and/or a cummerbund seemed too “formal” and “prom”, which wasn’t the esthetic we were going for. Plus we loved the idea that she was dressing in “his” color (the aqua) as a tribute to him, vs the matchy matchy…
We actually did a TON of research for the era, and made sure things were as accurate as possible, and still within our design sense. Ken’s jacket– did you notice his little gold cufflinks? (another subtle homage to the 50th) Her dress is very much of the era, and the sash is sort of a signature of mine– again, the aqua is Barbie paying tribute to her main squeeze. ^_^”
Still in the box…..
And…..out of the box and in the studio………..
NBDCC 2011– The Raffle Room
Many people may not be aware that the NBDCC raises tens of thousands of dollars for designated charities each year. The money is raised through three functions. 1) The silent auction event where amazing items are generously donated( see blog post Beach Party and Silent Auction) 2) The live auction where doll artist like Magia2000, Matt Sutton, Artist Creations and Steven Frasier of Dressmaker Details donate some exquisite pieces of work that are auctioned off. 3) The raffle room where fantastic donations from Barbie lovers from every corner of the world are displayed and you put a ticket in the box in front of any item you hope to win. You can buy your raffle tickets in advance or they can be purchased at convention. Many conventioneers buy hundreds of tickets and help support the designated non profit charities of the convention. This years charities were The Children’s Home Society of Florida and The Poverello Center. Here are just a few of some of the amazing things you could dream of winning in the Raffle Room.
And the room was full with these amazing gift baskets!
To all those generous collectors who donated to the raffle room a big round of applause. To the lucky individuals who won something, “Congratulations”. A big personal “Thank You” to everyone who was in the raffle room when I shot these photos. I was constantly in the way with my big camera and monopod but everyone was so nice and patient letting me get the shot before depositing their tickets.
NBDCC 2011–The Competition Room
There is so much to do at the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention. We had 6 main events over 4 days that people attend plus a multitude of workshops and “talks”. One of the most popular “extra” events is the Competition Room. Every year the convention has a theme and that theme typically drives the competition ideas. This year the theme were Ken and Spring Break 1961. Here are a few examples of what you could see in the competition room.
The Dioramas…………………………
The detail these competitors go into is absolutely amazing!
The Dolls…………
To all the people who participated in competition this year, You are simply amazing! There was so much talent in that competition room it was ridiculous. Let’s also not forget that to put this competition room together and keep it properly supervised during viewing, you need many volunteers. A big thank you to the many, many volunteers who gave up some of their precious convention shopping and visiting time to volunteer. 
NBDCC 2011–Beach Party and Silent Auction
The first scheduled social event of the official convention was a beach party. As we waited to enter the ballroom during cocktail hour, we were given Ken hand tags . A big “Thank You” to Pam for being my tag model!
There was such an atmosphere of joy and anticipation. It was so much fun to renew Barbie friendships and have the opportunity to make new Barbie friends.
The fabulous Barb and Rocky
Cheryl, Matt, Jenny,Ann and Cheryl
The nicest sisters you could ever meet, Joan and Pinky(Denise)
…and the silent auction too. I was too busy visiting to take photos of all of the silent auction entries but here are a few that I did get. There were some really phenomenal entries this year!
NBDCC 2011–The Fashion Show
I am jumping a bit ahead in the schedule because I was excited to share these photos. The Fashion Show at NBDCC is always a favorite. Crowds start to gather at least 30 minutes before the door opens for good seats. If you are a photographer, you want to scope out the best vantage sites early. While I wish I had sat in a spot that did not have the auction dolls in the foreground (they have never had the live auction held after the fashion show before so dolls were never there), I was generally happy with my vantage point for photos. I especially liked the fact that I could catch the wonderful expressions from the Mattel crowd in a number of my photos. They looked like they were really enjoying the show and I hope so as the show is really a way of showing them how much we love what they do.
Here are a few of my favorites from the show.
Stan – how adorable is he! And…Bill Greening is smiling in the bottom corner.
Loved her attitude!!
Adorable Citris Obsession
Steven Frasier’s daughter stole the show with her outfit. She was fantastic on the runway!
The Palm Beach entries were a huge crowd pleaser…….all strutted to the theme from Austin Powers. It was fabulous!
Congratulations to all the organizers of and participants in the fashion show. It was a wonderful event!
NBDCC 2011 Day Three–Artist Creations
Tuesday was definitely the day for OOAK unveilings. Magia2000, Ninimomo and Artist Creations all had their parties within hours of each other. It was a challenge to make it to all of them not to mention I was volunteering during some of the time too. Thank you all for your patience in waiting for updates and photos. I had such great plans of posting photos and blogging while at convention. You know what they say about best laid plans. Oh well…. perhaps I will be better organized next year.
The last party of the day was Artist Creations and they did not disappoint. I must say these was the most exquisite work I have ever seen them do.
The raffle doll for Artist Creations was gorgeous and sadly I did not win it…booohoo. But, it did go to a lovely Barbie friend and I am sooooo excited for her. 
NBDCC 2011 Day Three–Ninimomo
The second stop on my OOAK photo trip was the Ninimomo party. They had amazing displays of the most jaw dropping creations.
They did a trio of dolls for their live auction entry and they are simply stunning.
NBDCC Day Three–The Magia2000 party
For many collectors, the Magia2000 party is a must see. They are truly artists and it is a pure pleasure to photograph these beauties.
The crowd gathered and waited with great anticipation!
There was even a press release!
Then the doors opened and mad buying ensued
It was an amazing event!
NBDCC Day two continued…..
Barb ( Barbaddicted ), Jenny ( JennyM) and Cheryl(proopschick)
Magia2000 – Mario and Gianni with friends
The venue is just beautiful. Here are a few snaps of the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort and Spa
The buy a Matt Sutton then go get a cocktail club meeting
Last year a group of us who purchased Matt Sutton’s work started the “ Buy a Matt Sutton then go get a cocktail” club. We had our second annual meeting!
The club members all had fun doing show and tell with their new Matt purchases.
Oh, and I managed to walk away with some goodies too….
These beauties are “ Le Cirque” and “Black Diamond”
NBDCC Day Two
The official convention has not even begun yet but the room shopping is in full swing. We were given a bonus today in that there was an extra early registration announced and we could receive our registration packets between 5 and 7 PM this evening. The big event today, besides the amazing room shopping, was Matt Sutton’s and Matt Trujillo’s room opening for sales. The line started around 4:00 PM and by 5:00PM the hall was rowdy and ready to see the amazing works of art by Matt and Matt.
Waiting for Matt and Matt’s room to open
Sheree and Peter ( PeterVermont) waiting for Matt Sutton’s room to open
The line grew and grew throughout the 1 hour wait from 4pm – 5pm
Matt and Matt had the most amazing group of dolls for sale! Yes I walked away with a Matt Sutton and photos of her will be up soon.
NBDCC Day one
Hello everyone from the NBDCC in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. It is midnight and I have just finished my first round of room shopping. There are quite a few rooms open for shopping and many people arrived today. I met Sheree for dinner and we had fun shopping in Randall Craig’s room as well as Steven Frasier’s Dressmaker Details room. Here are a few photos to share. I will share more tomorrow but it is late and have to go to bed.
Sales board on one of the room floors
Dressmaker Details room
The adorable Steven Frasier of Dressmaker Details
Wonderful new Dressmaker Details fashions available at convention
Rob and Steven’s live auction collaboration
Randall Craig’s convention collection….I believe I left with a few items….LOL!
My dessert after dinner – a key lime dessert martini and the reason I need to go to bed! More to come tomorrow……
Celebrating One of a Kind Barbies–Part 4
The unparalleled Joshard
And last but certainly no least the wonderful and gifted Dan Lee
Celebrating One of a Kind Barbies–Part 3
The amazingly talented pair of Nick and Marie who are Ninimomo
Inside the Fashion Doll Studio 