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Tropicalia–Day 1.02

So…after my morning cup of Joe…it was off to the races.  I went in search of registration and the place to pick up my workshop dolls.  I signed up for two classes.

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Here is what we received in our registration bags.  It looks like we may be getting another giftset this year!!!  The accessories are GORGEOUS!

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After Registration, it was time to get in line and wait for the sales room to open.

 

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Many choose to view this 4-5 hour wait ( some people were reportedly in line since 4AM!! ) as a time to socialize and visit with friends.  There is a general party like atmosphere and today the time went incredibly fast for me because I was able to spend time with some of my favorite people like…

OOAK artist Matt Sutton and Hilda of Bellissima Couture

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Some people are very productive with their time in line and they work on table gifts and fill out raffle tickets

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But not me….I just talked….the entire time LOL!  Oh and took and uploaded photos to my flickr account.  While we were waiting, Integrity Toys put the convention collection on display

 

Haute Société Véronique Perrin Dressed Doll

Main Event Adèle Makéda Dressed Doll

Peak Season Kyori Sato Dressed Doll

Sweet Victory Natalia Fatale Dressed Doll

Hot Dots Poppy Parker Dressed Doll

Lady in Red Erin S. Dressed Doll

All in White Now Collette D. Dressed Doll

Infallible Dasha FR: Squared Dressed Doll

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More closeups are on my flickr.

In our registration packets, we had a coupon for one “Place Vendome” Victoire Roux.  Hooray!!  When I saw her…my jaw dropped.  I couldn’t buy this lady fast enough!

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And the running total so far is….

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And we have not even gone to the first dinner event yet.  More later on that.

Posted by  |  September 27, 2012 | Categories: 2012 Fashion Royalty Convention Tropicalia, Fashion Royalty | Tags: , , , , , | 8 Comments

Tropicalia–Day 1

After a day of uneventful travel ( the best kind ), I arrived in Florida just in time to have a few drinks and dinner with friends.  The hotel is gorgeous and HUGE.  It will take me a while to figure out the layout but that is definitely on the plan for today.  I’m up and ready to see the fabulous convention collection that Integrity has for us in their sales room.  That will entail a couple of hours waiting in line while we wait for the room to open but most people are not upset at all about waiting…it is a big social time.  Will have a blog post up later today with the goings on but feel free to check out my flickr for photos of what is happening throughout the day. 

 

Command central for the convention:

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And a look at what the day will look like…Thanks to my better half for writing a special phone app so I can have my schedule on my phone (LUV it and you!)  Yes, I am a complete clutz and drop my  phone  OBVIOUSLY.  I am waiting for the new windows phone to come out later this year to replace it.

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See you all later with more to report from 2012 Fashion Royalty Convention “ Tropicalia”

Posted by  |  September 27, 2012 | Categories: 2012 Fashion Royalty Convention Tropicalia, Fashion Royalty | Tags: , , , | 3 Comments

Tropicalia!!

Tomorrow, or today depending on where you are in the world, I am flying to the Fashion Royalty extravaganza that is convention.  This year’s theme is Tropicalia and if you want a really good explanation of what that means and perhaps the inspiration for this year’s convention go to Shuga Shug’s blog.  She has the most fantastic write-up on “Tropicalia”  http://www.shugashug.com/2012/09/25/tropicalia/

I am taking my trusty point and shoot and hope to be able to upload photos quickly with my cool eyefi/IPad set up.  I hope to be blogging every night just like last year but cut me a little slack if I don’t.  A girl has to sleep too.  Be sure to follow my flickr for photos as I go through the day.   You can find my flickr by clicking on the photo to the right.  It should take you right there.

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Wish me luck as I wind my way through security in a few hours.  coffee emoticon

Posted by  |  September 25, 2012 | Categories: 2012 Fashion Royalty Convention Tropicalia, Fashion Royalty | Tags: , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Lure of Bellissima Couture

I am headed to Florida in a couple of days for the Fashion Royalty convention and my thoughts have turned to what I am hoping to find at convention.  I am always on the lookout for OOAK clothing for the girls so Hilda of Bellissima Couture’s room will be a definite first stop for me.  It helps that she is one of my dearest doll friends so it’s not just the clothes but her fabulous self that is the draw for me.  I snagged a couple of her creations at Barbie convention and her last online show and wanted to share them here.  Her fashions evoke the feel of 1950’s couture so I was inspired to have my monogram trio Envied, Passionate and Bemused model her work.  Hope you enjoy!

Models:  Fashion Royalty Monogram. (from left to right) Bemused, Passionate and Envied

Clothing:  Bellissima Couture ( http://bellissimacouturefashions.wordpress.com/ )

Jewelry:  Mattel

Flower hat: scrapbooking elements

Fur:  Fashion Royalty Starry Night fashion

Kissing Chair:  Pure Dreams for dolls on ebay (http://stores.ebay.com/PureDreamForDolls/Barbie-Furniture-/_i.html?_fsub=2237637017&_sid=480609367&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322)

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Posted by  |  September 23, 2012 | Categories: Fashion Royalty, Monogram | Tags: , , , , , , | 7 Comments

New Silkstone Info for 2013

There was a designer chat over at the Barbie Fan Club yesterday and here is what we learned about our beloved Silkies …

1.  New Silkstone sneak.  I can’t publish the photos because it was designated for BFC members only but once it’s been released to retailers, I can share it.  If you are a member, run on over to the BFC and check it out under “Sneak Peaks” in the forum.  She is a lovely redhead wearing a spring floral pink print day suit ( dress and coat) and ….a pink turban hat.  Yes, I called it from the video. ( Wow!! can you hear Rebecca tooting her own horn there?!…shameless!).  She has a beautiful face with blue or green eyes and rose pink lips.  Her name at this point is “Luncheon Ensemble” Barbie.  She should be available early 2013.

2.  The “Luncheon Ensemble” Barbie will not be the club doll.

3.  There will be more AA dolls in the BFMC lineup next year. That’s dolls with an “s” so hopefully more than one.   Yipeee!!  This is definitely an underrepresented skin tone in this line.

4.  Robert Best confirmed again that the Atelier theme will continue into 2013 and that there will be day looks, evening gowns and…wait for it….maybe a tuxedo.  Quoi!?  Does he mean a tuxedo for Barbie or a BFMC Ken??!!  Have absolutely no idea as it was not clarified.  Let the speculations begin.

5.  Drum roll please……There is a platinum Silkstone planned for 2013.  Should we all put aside that big bucket of valium now?  I can only imagine the nightmare server error mess that will ensue on the day this baby becomes available.  I may have to enter the quagmire for this one folks.  We have not had a platinum Silkie since FAO’s pink Soiree right? … If you don’t count the Golden Gala Silkies given at 2009 BarbieCon.  How do I feel about the idea of a platinum Silkie???

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I may look on with prim disapproval…but the reality of it is…I will be down in the mud with all the rest of the collectors fighting over the limited number like it was a Kmart blue light special.  Yes, my name is Rebecca and I am addicted to Silkstone Barbies. 

Posted by  |  September 21, 2012 | Categories: Barbie, Silkstone, Sneak Peaks | Tags: , , , , | 7 Comments

The Birth and Upkeep of a Diorama…..

I love to build dioramas.  I don’t seem to make much time to do it though.  Most of my inspiration goes in fits and spurts.  Once I start a project, I tend to finish it but it’s the getting it started that is my main hurdle.   When Robert Best did “Shop girl” I knew I needed to do a shop for her.  After thinking about it for a while and doing some research, I finally had an idea in my head and put a plan into action.  When shop girl arrived, a new home was ready for her.  Belles Choses, as it came to be known as, had it’s grand opening.IMG_2691editedsized

I was so happy with how it turned out that I decided to move it to a larger venue so the vintage fashion shop was packed up and “Belles Choses” moved in to the newer and bigger space.

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When I originally did the back wall of the diorama, I used a beautiful soft blue paper and used spray adhesive to fix it to foam core to give it a nice smooth finish – like wallpaper.  What I did not take into account was that this type of adhesive will lose it’s hold over time.  So..fast forward a year later…and you have this

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The heavy picture frame I was using for the  inset display case was pulling the paper away from the backing and I was seeing these big voids…like the one above this frame.  YIKES!  I knew if I left it as is, the frame would eventually pull away and fall taking the paper with it…not good.  So, I went about trying to come up with a fix.

First, the space had to be vacated……so sad and lonely in there.

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The displaced horde….LOTS of little pieces in this diorama….good excuse to dust everythingSmile

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Let the repairs begin!  I decided to swab behind the paper gaps with adhesive and see how it went.  It’s not as smooth as the spray adhesive but…it may do.  I shored up the heavy plaster frame with an equally heavy candlestick while it dried.

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et voilà!

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What did I learn?  If you are using spray adhesive, you may also want to swab with some additional adhesive in key support points.  I will be doing that from here on out.  A big “Thank You” to all who commented on flickr and emotionally supported me through this weekend while I fixed it.  It always helps if you know someone is pulling for you Smile

 

Posted by  |  September 17, 2012 | Categories: Barbie, Doll Diorama, Silkstone | Tags: , , , , , | 28 Comments

Evening Gown and a Matisse….Take Two

Nobody expects to win the lottery twice but amazingly enough some people have.  I was lucky enough to be able to add another pink Matisse to my collection a few weeks back and  it is fabulous!  I knew that Ms. Evening Gown was going to look stellar in it so had to wait for her to arrive to photograph.  On a side note, if you ever want to spend some time looking at the most exquisite Barbie fashions, take a moment to look at the collection of sold items on Brenda’s ( Matisse) Etsy site.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/MatisseFashions/sold?ref=shopinfo_sales_leftnav

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Model:  Evening Gown Silkstone Barbie

Dress, wrap and hat: Matisse ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/MatisseFashions )

Gloves: Dressmaker Details

Jewelry, shoes and clutch purse:  Mattel

Diorama:  See previous blog post https://insidethefashiondollstudio.com/2012/09/07/evening-gown-and-a-matisse/

 

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Posted by  |  September 15, 2012 | Categories: Barbie, Silkstone | Tags: , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Yuletide Yummies Barbie

If you are a member of the BFC ( Barbie Fan Club) and a fan of the Holiday Hostess Barbie series Bill Greening has been giving us over the past year, tomorrow is a day you should have marked on your calendar.   The next installment for this series will be available tomorrow and the fun begins at 9:00AM PT.  As this is not a platinum edition….I don’t expect to need my valium. Winking smileShe will set you back $75.00 and I suspect this one will sell out quickly so if you want her, get her soon.  Christmas is my all time favorite holiday so I plan to be online at 9AM PT  with bells on for this one.

** Photos are property of Mattel, Inc.**

 

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How cute are these accessories I ask you??!!!  It’s almost worth it for the Santa mugs alone!  Here is a shot I took of her at Barbiecon.  Hair on this one at Barbiecon looks like its been messed with quite a bit.  I am kind of liking the promo shot better than the one we saw at Barbiecon although…the IRL photo makes her look softer.  LOVE the cat eye eyeliner and holiday red lips on this one.

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Posted by  |  September 11, 2012 | Categories: Barbie | Tags: , , , , , | 5 Comments

Evening Gown and a Matisse

For those of us in the 1/6 OOAK clothing arena, scoring a Matisse can be a bit like winning the Lotto.  She sells on her Etsy site( info below) and if you happen to be at the right place at the right time ( i.e. online when one of her notices hits your inbox that she has something new on her Etsy site), you may be lucky enough to get one.  Her work is truly beautiful.  The attention to detail is superb and the accessories never disappoint.  I only have a few of her pieces and I treasure each and every one.  I even managed to snag not one but two pink little works of art by her and I was waiting for Ms. Evening Gown to make her way here to model them.  Now that I have shown you Evening Gown in her original Robert Best couture, I hope you will enjoy her in one of Matisse’s pink confections.

Model:  Evening Gown Silkstone Barbie

Dress and veil:  Mattise Fashions ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/MatisseFashions)

Wall Panel and gold urn with flowers:  Made by me

Pink and White 1/6 Kissing Chair: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-6-Scale-Lover-Chair-For-Fashion-royalty-barbie-Momok-BJD-1-6-Scale-dolls-/320977023146?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4abbb8b0aa

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Posted by  |  September 7, 2012 | Categories: Barbie, Silkstone | Tags: , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Envied, Bemused and Passionate…A Second Look

I was moving the displays around in the cases the other day and decided these guys needed a second look.  I had these ladies displayed on this couch just as I have them posed for a while but it is time to move them out and display some different dolls.  I know that most people ordered these gals for their cute little dresses but I actually really like the dolls.  I know that Barb at Windy City Dolls still has a few on sale http://www.windycitydolls.com/frmonogram.htm#Sale

Models:  Fashion Royalty Monogram “Envied”, “Bemused” and “ Passionate”

Couch: Horseman Urban Environment ( meant for 16” dolls so scale is slightly off for this shot)

Birdcages: Found at favorite flea market.  I think they were holiday ornaments.

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Posted by  |  September 5, 2012 | Categories: Fashion Royalty, Monogram | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments