Dark and Light
So in case you have not seen enough of these new Muse dolls by JAMIEshow/OwenSu, here I am again with some more visual reasons to consider these dolls. One of the things I like to do most with the dolls and clothing available within the 1/6 collecting community is to mix and match. I like to mix outfits from one manufacturer and put it on a doll of another manufacturer. Taking the best from one and matching it to the best of another or at least what I see as the best.
For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you have seen some of these image already. I am finding it difficult to navigate Instagram, Flickr, FB and the blog all at once. I’m lucky if I get images done and processed and it’s simply easier to get them up on Instagram first. The blog however helps to explain more of the behind the scenes stuff and what my thought process was when I did something sometimes. We consume and process so much visually that honestly, more people just like to see the pictures. I get it. Some of us, however, are happy to get more information or delve a little deeper.
I love doing these shots that are all about styling an outfit and not necessarily a doll. It becomes my mood board for a future shoot and I like how it starts a story for a blog post. Here is my mood board shot for a set of images using the new Ginnie Muse doll. Red is a signature color for the design house Valentino. 
Model: Ginnie Premier Muse Doll( Summer Kisses edition now available)
Wig: Dark Brown Premier wig style 3 Muse Doll from JAMIEshow/Owen Su
Gown and Boots: Lovetones 3rd Anniversary Lena
Gold veil: Gold glitter tulle
Japanese maple branches: Designed and made by me for this shoot
Yes..this dress has pockets!! Sometimes it’s the details that just kill me. I admit, am a little obsessed with these Japanese maple branches.
So clearly the pictures above are dark. The doll, the wig, the rich tones of the gown and the background. I have one diffused light left side and another diffused accent light in back right
So….where there is dark, hopefully there is light. Lest you think this doll only projects well in darkness…..
Model: Model: Ginnie Premier Muse Doll(Summer Kisses edition now available)
Wig: Premier Wig style 1 from JAMIEshow/Owen Su
Gown: Shantommo
Shoes and earrings: JAMIEshow/Owen Su
It doesn’t even look like the same doll right?!! The versatility of these dolls is amazing!
-Rebecca
Della Dazzles
Well it’s a new month and I have a new muse. Rather..I have a couple of new muses. First off, I received the new East 59th ladies from Integrity Toys designed by Chris Stoeckel a couple weeks back and finally had a chance to debox them. Beautifully tailored clothing as one would expect from Mr Stoeckel. He never disappoints. My must have from this particular capsule collection was Miss Della Roux. Here are the promotional photos.
Merry & Bright
Della Roux™ Dressed Doll
The East 59th® Collection
Limited Edition: 550 Dolls
Expected Ship Date: Late Winter/ Early Spring 2021
Suggested Retail Pricing: $160.00
AVAILABLE ONLY FROM IT DEALERS
Head Sculpt: Victoire Roux 2.0
Body Type: E59 1.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: FR Black
Hair Color: Raven
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
The original gown pictured is based, I believe, on a 1954 Dior gown.
And I had seen another rendition in a paler color that I was inspired by…
I adored the fur cuffs on this one so I set about making some for Miss Della. I had some trim I had acquired years ago when in NYC with friends. We spent an afternoon shopping for embellishments and trim. Such great memories so I was happy to be able to use this recycled fur trim I found on something.
Hope this blog post finds you all healthy and fully vaccinated or soon to be vaccinated.
-Rebecca
Celebrating Easter with Poppies and Daisies
Happy Easter everyone!! Since we are all at home and anxious during this global pandemic ( and there is a sentence I never expected or wanted to write) Hilda Westervelt of Bellissima Couture and I wanted to bring a little pastel beauty to everyone’s day and week. I hope these images bring some joy to your day and some hope into your hearts. We will get through this together and come out stronger for it. And with that…lets get on with the photos. Hilda and I have collaborated again with Laduree as our inspiration.
All dresses were made by Hilda and are up for sale through her blog Bellissima Couture . She has a limited supply of each color. I have also made some coordinating bags and boxes for these. The dresses do not come with the hats. I added those for these images.
The bags and boxes are available now. Very limited quantity. The pillows and rose filled little box will come out a bit later. The flowers are not available…sorry folks ( my supplier for these is not producing currently). If you are just interested in the bags and boxes, contact me via email at raberry65@msn.com. If you are interested in the dress and bags/boxes, contact Hilda through her blog. Bag with 2 boxes is $15 plus S/H ( pink, blue, white). Bag with 1 box $10 plus S/H( mint green). Hat boxes are $12 plus S/H. Shipping and handling on the these especially internationally will be a bit more because items need to be shipped in boxes.
The lovely Lemon Frost Poppy Parker in her Easter bonnet by Rogier Corbeau of Dutch Fashion Doll World
The adorable Groovy Poppy Parker and hat by Judy O’Connell of Aponi Designs
Split Decision Poppy Parker with hat by Tiny Kitty Collier ( I think this was from the charity luncheon outfit??)
Keen Poppy Parker with another hat from Rogier Corbeau of Dutch Fashion Doll World.
Digital Hugs to all and please, please, please keep up social distancing. Remember that we are doing it for others as well as ourselves. Also, if I have any followers who are health care workers in any capacity…you have my continued whole hearted respect and admiration for the valiant jobs you are doing.
-Rebecca
Tulip Festival!
There is a tulip festival about to happen over at Bellissima Couture. As many of you know, Hilda Westervelt( Bellissima Couture) and I are good friends and frequently collaborate on projects together. I met Hilda through this wonderful world of collecting and I am so thankful every day for that friendship. That’s why when we get to work together on something, it becomes extra special.
Recently, Hilda and I worked on developing a set of fabrics for some of her divine fashions. I came up with a tulip fabric that Hilda then helped me tweak to bring it into better scale with her fashions. This is how the collaboration turned out. I love working with my amazingly talented friends!
Model: Double Agent Poppy Parker
Dress: Bellissima Couture
Shoes: Mattel
Jewelry: Integrity Toys
Purse: Mydollhouse2005 on Instagram
So if you are interested in this lovely creation, look for it on Bellissima Couture’s website today!
-Rebecca
Loving Natalia
Here we are in the days preceding Valentine’s Day and I had a chance to photograph one of the new additions to the studio…Make Me Blush Natalia. This doll is the second wave of the highly popular “Boudoir Collection” from Integrity Toys. It’s designed by Jessy Ayala who is himself a collector and understands very well what his fellow collectors want. His designs usually include accessories that go directly to the heart of what people like to collect. This last capsule collection was no exception.
In 2019 pictures were released to WClub members…
Of the three dolls offered in this WClub lottery collection, Natalia in the middle came out as the big favorite.
Make Me Blush
Natalia Fatalé™ Close-up Doll
The Fashion Royalty®
Boudoir Collection (Wave 2)
Expected Ship Date:
First week of December 2019
Special Member-Only Pricing: $135.00
**OFFERED VIA RIGHT-TO-BUY LOTTERY
Edition Size: 800
Head Sculpt: Natalia 2.0
Body Type: FR 6.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled Foot
Skin Tone: Japan
Hair Color: Strawberry Blond
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
This lucky collector was one of the lottery winners!! I am so thrilled to have this one in my collection. She photographs like a dream!!
She is definitely giving off the Hollywood starlit vibe. I adored photographing her and using this chaise lounge that I had repainted and have had forever ( pullip petite luxury furniture). She is the perfect model to convey romance for any Valentine’s Day.
-Rebecca
Spring Fever-Casual
It’s a known fact that in the Pacific Northwest we many times don’t really see sunshine for months and months from November through February. The holidays take up some of that time and normally we Pacific Northwesterners deal with it well during that time. Once the holidays are over though…all bets are off. I normally hit January with a hunger for the sun. If the sun doesn’t come to us, I will invent it in my photos. I’m bringing out the pastels and dreaming of sunshine!!
Model: Looks a Plenty Poppy Parker
Dress: Bellissima Couture
Shoes: Paul Zhangby on Ebay
Sunglasses: ITFDS
And because it’s fun to play around with Lightroom and Photoshop sometimes…. Love this silver haired Poppy!
Model: Midnight Decadence Poppy Parker
Dress: Munle on Etsy ( he sells through HOANGANHKHOI on Etsy)
Shoes: Mattel
Purse: @MyDollhouse2005 on Instagram
This gown is all kinds of yumminess. I adore it!! Pair it with this adorable 1/6 scale Hermes Kelly bag and all is well in the world.
-Rebecca
For those interested in the scarf and sunglasses set from previous blog post, you need to email me at raberry65@msn.com
Bringing the Versace
Integrity Toys spoiled it’s WClub members with a gift set that was Versace inspired in late 2019. Club members just received this gift set and I would say we are very happy. Thank you Jessy Ayala for this stunning design!
Ocean Drive
Baroness Agnes Von Weiss™
Dressed Doll Mini Gift Set
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
2019 W Club Exclusive
Head Sculpt: Agnes
Foot Sculpt: High heel
Skin Tone: FR Black
Hair Color: Dark Espresso
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
The inspiration is clearly Versace’s 2018 Spring RTW tribute collection to Gianni Versace.
The accessories with the gift set are truly amazing!
Very mermaid like
And because this is Versace inspired…I felt Agnes need to be in an ad campaign for them.
The glasses and the silk scarf were made by me. If interested, contact me.
-Rebecca
Black and White Forever Barbie
2020 will be the final year for the BFMC Barbie adult collector line. While it is sad to see the end, I think it is time to let this one go. The line since the articulated body made it’s appearance and economy measures were installed at Mattel have really taken this line down to the basic level. Case in point, the first doll of the final series in 2020 is “Best in Black”
- Label: Gold Label®
- Designer: Robert Best
- Release Date: 11/20/2019
- Eyelashes: Painted
- Body Type: Poseable silkstone
- Included With Dress, pair of sheer socks,pair of shoes, & Doll Stand
- Facial sculpt: Vintage Silkstone
- Fashion Sewn On?: No
- Fashion: Jet-black mini dress with stylish leg-of-mutton sleeves
Ok…so if you were looking to design and offer a doll to symbolize a funeral for the BFMC line….Mattel hit the nail on the head. This doll is indeed headed to a funeral with all the austerity and solemnity that would entail. No jewelry, no handbag, socks shoes and a black dress. Okie Dokie. Not the way this amazing BFMC line of dolls should begin the end of its career in my opinion but here we are.
Who knows what the last entries for this line will entail but at this point, my hopes are not high. For it’s last offering of 2019, the BFMC managed to at least give us collectors a ball gown so I have decided to celebrate that with a blog post. Don’t get me wrong, the BFMC has thrilled and blown this collector away many times since 2001. I am happy to have been able to collect this line for the past 19 years. I am just sad to see it ending on such a low note.
This past season, I was able to add a tree to the ITFDS studio. The theme for the tree was all black and white. Chanel was an inspiration.
And it inspired me to give the 2019 Black and White Forever Barbie a photo shoot.
Barbie® Black and White Forever™ Doll
- Label: Gold Label®
- Designer: Robert Best
- Release Date: 6/04/2019
- Included with doll: Slingback shoes, Earrings, Doll Stand,gloves, petticoat,wrist tag
- Eyelashes: Painted
- Fashion: Petticoat, Slingback shoes
- Fashion Sewn On?: No
- Body Type: Posable BFMC
- Doll Stand: Yes
- Facial sculpt: 11590
She at least has some earrings 
. I’m not a huge fan of the articulated body or the glitter eye shadow but at least she has a ballgown. I also like the two toned white with black hair in an elegant updo. Is she worth the $100 price tag? I would wait for a sale on this one.
-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
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
The Elyse Chronicles: La Vie en Rose
The first doll released from the Jason Wu 10th Anniversary collection was the La Vie en Bleu Elyse. The option to purchase her was given to each 2016 Integrity Toys Convention attendee.
So in keeping with the theme I started, since she came to us originally in an evening look, I thought to put her in a daywear look. I looked no further than a new uber chic suit I received from Etsy designer and seller HoangAnhKhoi.
And what blog post called “La Vie en Rose” could not include a link to this…
The Elyse Chronicles: Here Comes the Bride
So I have decided to do a series of photos using these 10th Anniversary Jason Wu Elyse’s. My first choice of photos for this series was a bride and it’s using one of my favorite dolls from the 10th anniversary series and a favorite OOAK gown I had commissioned during 2017. I hope you all enjoy!
I love following wedding photographers on Instagram. While I have never photographed a wedding professionally ( oh the pressure!) I have photographed some candid images for family and friends from their weddings. I love to see some of the images that professional wedding photographers capture. I am always in awe.
The gown was a special commission done by the talented Natalia Kunafina. She has an ebay shop 2010Chizhik
The brides flowers are from Etsy seller Beadspage.
Playing around with lighting on this shoot was fun. You will notice a different color cast to this shot as I was using mostly natural light as opposed to augmented or artificial lighting. I’m not sure which one I like better…both have their positive and negatives.
Also tried out some really cool little LED lights I found at IKEA! Really cool effect and sooooo inexpensive!! You can find them here.
In case you are wondering…the paper is there to shield the light from the dress and just shine on her face LOL! I have some master paper folding skills I never knew I had.
What can I say about this doll that this picture doesn’t….absolutely nothing. She really is this beautiful.
And just because natural light can say it so much better than augmented light can…here she is…in all her ethereal beauty. Thank you Jason for your gifts and for sharing them with collectors.
And if any of you are wondering what the soundtrack was for this shoot…go to Spotify and listen to “Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons”
-Rebecca
Coquettish in the Sunshine
The first release from Integrity Toy’s 2017 Fashion Royalty La Femme collection has entered The Fashion Doll Studio! I really didn’t think I was going to be able to do any shots in the natural sunshine today as we have smoky haze( welcome to the Pacific Northwest and all of it’s summer forest fires) but it has turned the light this really cool pinkish red so I thought “ why not!” Keep in mind that these shots are done through a pinkish red filter which gives Jordan’s skin a rosier hue than normal.
Coquette
Jordan Duval™ Dressed Doll
La Femme
The 2017 Fashion Royalty® Collection
Edition Size: 725
Estimated Delivery: September 2017
Retail Price: $145.00 US
Head Sculpt: Jordan
Body: FR 6.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: A-Tone
Hair Color: Sand Blond
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Quickswitch: No
Love this mocha skin tone and the honey blond tresses on this lady. One of the softest Jordan’s I have seen in a while. The clothing is on trend and the quality is good. the fabric is nice and supple as well as the pants. The bustier has a nice leather feel and fits well. The real stars of this show are the accessories though.
Gorgeous from head to toe! That purse though….oh…my…word!!! I am loving the details of this first release from the Fashion Royalty 2017 collection. Can’t wait for future releases!!
-Rebecca
A Bridal Still Life
I am continually inspired by miniature couture. In particular, I adore any and all images that come out of Le Petit Théâtre from Dior.
I love how they use real size items with miniatures. I had a free day in the studio…almost unheard of these days…so I thought I would try my hand at something like this. I decided to use my most recent bridal shoot as inspiration. For those of you following my instagram story…you got to see a little taste of the shoot. But…as most things go in the studio, you saw the prelim shots and not the final part of what I actually used in the processed images.
I have to give a shout out to my dear friend Rogier Corbeau of Dutch Fashion Doll World who did some additional art direction on this shoot. Your vision is always valued and appreciated my friend.
And…a chance to bring out the pearls! 
It’s always a treat to use my Laduree boxes.
But let’s face it…this entire shoot was all about this fabulous dress from Rimdoll on Etsy. 
For those of you interested in the set up for this shoot, it was all done in natural light with one reflector. Be prepared people when using natural light to be waiting half the day for optimal lighting. Since I always love to see behind the scenes from others, I will share a behind the scenes shot here of the set up. Yes…I have a flash in the picture below but I didn’t end up using it.
-Rebecca
