Have a Very Poppy Christmas!!
For those of you who follow my instagram account, I shared a little teaser photo back in August of these holiday photos.
I decided to do a shoot of a few of my favorite things. 1) Poppy Parker 2) That gorgeous Tiffany Blue color 3) 1/6 French furniture and 4) All things Christmas. And here is the result of that shoot.
Enjoy!!
Model: Out of this World Poppy Parker
Dress: Sanglian on Etsy
Set is comprised of furniture I ordered from China, lamp and boxes were handmade and white feather tree was purchased at Target.
–Rebecca
The Power of Pink Continues…
Yep…not ready to let go of the pink theme this week and I am sticking with the same designer as well. As we approach this years Integrity Toys convention, I though I would pull out one of my favorite gift dolls from last years convention…Paper Doll Poppy Parker.
From Rimdoll on Etsy
Love this Poppy and love this pink confection of a dress!
— Rebecca
Poppy Goes to Paris–A Recap
This years theme for the Poppy Parker collection by David Buttry hit a chord with many collectors. I know it hit this collector right in the wallet. I absolutely adored it and can’t wait to see what David has in store for us Poppy collectors at the Integrity Toys convention in October. While we wait for convention, I thought it would be fun to get a group shot of the Poppys we have enjoyed so far this year. Since Poppy is in Paris, I drew inspiration from one of the most iconic Parisian fashion houses of all time…Dior.
Ma Petite Fleur Poppy Parker – WClub 2016 Registration upgrade doll
Powder Puff Poppy Parker – IT Direct Lottery doll
Paris in the Springtime Poppy Parker – 2016 Poppy Parker The Bonbon Collection
Night at the Ballet Poppy Parker – 2016 Poppy Parker The Bonbon Collection
C’est Si Bon – 2016 Poppy Parker The Bonbon Collection
Miss Amour Poppy Parker – IT Direct Lottery doll
Magnifique Poppy Parker – 2016 Poppy Parker The Bonbon Collection
Très Chic Boutique Poppy Parker – 2016 Poppy Parker The Bonbon Collection
Ooh La La Poppy Parker – WClub Exclusive doll
Bonjour Mademoiselle Poppy Parker – 2016 Poppy Parker The Bonbon Collection
-Rebecca
The Sleeper has Awakened
Ok..I have to admit the title was for all you “Dune” geeks out there LOL! This line may be from the book and movie “Dune” but we have a bit of a sleeper situation going on in the Poppy Parker Bon Bon collection. Her name is Night at the Ballet Poppy Parker and she has turned out WAY better than the promo shots.
Here is what we were expecting…
Not bad but I have to admit…she was my least favorite in the whole lineup and I almost didn’t order her. Boy oh boy am I glad I did because this is what arrived on Saturday. Check out the gorgeous green eyes on this lady!
Night At The Ballet
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
The Bonbon Collection
Approximate Ship Date: Late Summer/Early Fall
Limited Edition Size: 700 Dolls Worldwide
Suggested Retail Price: $120.00
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: Poppy Parker™
Head Sculpt: Poppy Parker™
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: Japan
Hair Color: Ash Blond
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-Applied
Couple things to note:
1) The hair on my doll needed a little tweaking after I took the hair net off. It didn’t take too much to put it all back in order.
2) The necklace is just gold, no stones. This seems kind of weird to me as the bracelet has beautiful blue stones in it but there you go. It looks like it should have a few stones in the necklace or it looks like there was space for it but there aren’t any. Don’t know if this is an oversight or just a last minute budget cut but a number of people have commented on FB that they don’t have any stones in their necklaces either so I don’t think it’s just me. The promo shots of the accessories don’t really show the necklace that well so it may have been intended to be just plain gold all the way along. Just wanted to make people aware.
Huge thanks to my dealer Barb at Windy City Dolls for getting these new Poppy’s to me so quickly!! You are the best.
Let the redressing and photographing begin!!!
-Rebecca
Singing in the Rain
Trying to photograph things in natural light in the Pacific Northwest is pretty much a crap shoot even on a good day. Last week, we enjoyed days and days of 90 degree weather and loads of sunshine. This week it’s 62 and what else…rain. I would have shot this last week, if I had had what I wanted to shoot last week. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive the item I wanted to shoot until this week. Here was my perfect location…
Loved the natural texture of this and the green moss that spindled out like vines. But…
It was rather wet.
And not looking like it was going to change any time soon. So what do you do? You change your shoot location and make the best of it. So this is the rain part of the title so where is the singing?
Have you ever had that moment when you dressed a doll in something and it just “sang”? You know what I mean right? It just makes you go “ Oh man…that looks so amazing on her!” I had that happen this week and while my first choice for background did not pan out, I found a couple alternate solutions that worked out just fine. I was still singing even though it was raining.
Model: Out of Sight Nadja
Dress: SL Doll Fashion
Jewelry: Integrity Toys Inc. ( Lash Out Poppy Parker, Perfectly Suited Giselle and As Dusk Falls Eugenia)
Shoes: Bellissima Eugenia
This gown is gorgeous! Very well made and tailored. It arrived quickly and well packaged. Love this vendor on Etsy and have purchased a number of things from them.
-Rebecca
Naughty or Nice?
Ok, I have to explain the title a bit. As you all know, I am a huge fan of Poppy Parker and her creator David Buttry. For me, she was the gateway drug from Barbie to Integrity Toys. I realize I need a 12 step program for my addiction but I’m not ready to commit to the program just yet.
Recently, Integrity Toys held a lottery to purchase two beautiful Poppy Parkers and I was lucky and incredibly thrilled to be picked to purchase not just Miss Amour but the fabulous Powder Puff Poppy Parker as well. I have to thank my daughter for the opportunity as it was her membership that won it and she willingly handed over the option to purchase. Collectors are receiving these dolls and posting some amazing images. This doll is so sweet. Mostly she is portrayed as “nice” and I like it that way.
For these images, however, I decided to portray her in a slightly different way. David Buttry had mentioned in his webinar announcing the Bon Bon Collection that one of his inspirations for this particular doll was the movie “Valley of the Dolls”. I decided to go a little more with that theme. So Poppy comes off as a bit more on the naughty side in these pictures. I want to point out however..that Chip has appeared to have “put a ring on it” at least.
-Rebecca
Emerging Rebel Kyori – Will The Eyes Have It?
The first doll of Integrity Toys’ Fashion Royalty “A Delicate Bloom” Collection is starting to hit collectors’ doorsteps. Her name is Emerging Rebel Kyori and true to her name she is entering the collecting world with some controversy. The title of this blog post is kind of a play on words. When you vote to pass a measure for something the verbiage is always, “Those in favor say ‘AYE’“ and if there are more yes’s than no’s the motion passes or “The Aye’s have it.” There is a current issue being voted on by collectors of Integrity Toys and it’s all about the eyes.
Let me explain: Integrity Toys is trying out a new process with the eyes on some of their dolls. Instead of painting the inner eyes (outline, white, iris, pupils and "catch light" dots) they are using water decals. Per IT, the reasoning for going to these decals was to offer more consistency in eye placement and facial screening. (Too many “wonky eye” issues with the previously used methods.) Some collectors are concerned about the durability and quality of these decals. Given all the concerns, I was curious to see for myself if there were negative aspects to these decals from an aesthetic perspective as well as a photography perspective. I was concerned as to whether or not these decals would make the eyes appear more “dead” in a photograph. If something is too matte, it won’t reflect light effectively and gives off a dead appearance. On the other side, if something is too shiny (especially the eyes) it can create too much of a reflection that you have to clean up in Photoshop afterwards… and… that is a big pain in the back side, believe me. Who wants to spend hours in post-process just because of shiny eyes? Not me.
So… I was curious to see what would happen when I photographed one of these dolls with these decal eyes. What did I find?
1. From an aesthetic aspect… just looking at her… I wasn’t noticing anything concerning. Her screening is appealing and I think she is a pretty doll. The eyes don’t stand out as odd or off in any way. She does have a very far “to the side” eyeball placement and some are finding that fact unappealing. I can understand this. That doesn’t work for everyone.
2. From a photography stand point… there are some differences.
First and foremost, the eyeball is printed not painted so there are dots of color not continuous color. Is this a problem? Not normally in my opinion. As you see this image on your computer screen or phone, you are seeing it as dots of color as well — they are just really, really small dots. Let’s face it, most of us are not going to be looking at this doll under a microscope.
Can you see the dots in the picture above? Maybe a little but not much. Our eyes and brains are really good at melding those dots together to make it look like one cohesive color.
Secondly, I’m not going to lie — these decals catch the light differently, so when photographing, that needs to be factored in. Is this a deal breaker? For me, not really. It’s just something different. Now, as to whether these decals will hold up over time… only time will tell that one. For now, I am willing to give them a chance. For now, I’m voting “aye”.
Enough about the eyes — let’s talk about the accessories and dress! I love this dress!!! It is so elegant and fits her beautifully. The lavender shoes are perfection and the grey glasses and oversized bag are refined and chic. I don’t know who is taking over jewelry at IT but all I can say is, “Keep it going!!” The earrings and bracelet are a new design and I adore them.
Kyori’s hair color was described as medium brown in product write-ups. Have we seen Kyori with these lighter brown tresses before? I like it.
-Rebecca
A Terrace in Paris
For those of you awaiting the next installment of “The Art of Fashion Doll Photography and Blogging”, it’s coming. Most likely tomorrow. I forgot to factor in that we were running our son to college ( 5 hours away) this past week so that cut into the available time I had. Fear not…it’s in process for publication in the next couple of days. This also explains why I have not responded to comments in a week. I will be getting to those as well.
In the meantime, I have been sitting on these shots since the initial posting of “J’Adore Miss Amour” and I can wait no longer. These shots came about because 1) I can’t get enough of this pink confection Miss Amour and 2) I had these fun pink balloons and had to use them and 3) I didn’t get a chance to include the adorable little perfume bottle in the last set of shots.
Now…is she looking at the tray like “I love this perfume and I need to use some” or is she saying “This shoot is boring…I need a drink!” You make the call.
P.S. I have to send a shout out to my friend Rogier at Dutch Barbie World for a little bit of art direction on this one. You were right and It was much appreciated!
-Rebecca
J’Adore Miss Amour
The title speaks for itself. When I first saw this doll my reaction was this…
And..that has not changed upon receiving her. She is EVERYTHING I was hoping for and more. David, I bow down!
Miss Amour
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
The Bonbon Collection
IT Direct Exclusive
Approximate Ship Date: Mid-Late Summer 2016
Limited Edition Size: 700 Dolls
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: Poppy Parker™
Head Sculpt: Poppy Parker™
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Ash Brown Mix
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-Applied
Head Sculpt: Poppy Parker™
This amazing creature is gorgeous. The dress is beyond people…just…BEYOND.
It’s inspired by Dior I and many believe, what is not to love about that. Fashion inspiration image find goes to Nata-Leto on Flickr. Big THANKS to Rogier Corbeau of Dutch Barbie World for letting me use this image.
The jewelry is fabulous!
Me likey!!….Me likey a lot!!!!
-Rebecca
A Picnic in Paris
Now that Integrity Toys has announced their collections and all of our collector wallets are sad and limping, I thought it was time to return to Paris for some fun. If I was returning to Paris, Ms. Poppy was going to join me. This new “Ooh La La” Poppy Parker is my current muse and I am loving the giftset mix and match options.
You have to love rement!
-Rebecca
Procrastination and … a Poppy Parker
So, I may not be the queen of procrastination but I believe I would be voted onto the court of princesses of procrastination. I kind of like the sound of that…”Princess of Procrastination”. Anywhoo, I am supposed to be finishing up my presentation for this years NBDCC. I am supposed to be putting the finishing touches on it, wrapping it up and putting it to bed so I can start getting packed for the flight I am taking in a little over 36 hours from now. Am I doing any of that? Noooooooo. Instead, today I received a couple new Poppy Parker’s and I am playing instead. Guess this means I am finishing up the presentation on the airplane.
Love the lavender eyes!! Everything about this set that was promised…was delivered. She is adorable and the little poodle is to die for. Well done David!! I will have to come up with a suitable Paris themed set when I get back from convention.
Now…back to the presentation. If you are attending the NBDCC and are interested in learning more about the photography that I do here on the blog, I will be presenting on Thursday, July 28th at 5 pm in one of the Riverfront rooms at the Hyatt Jacksonville. The time had to be changed from original schedule due to scheduling conflicts.
-Rebecca
A New Muse
Last week, Integrity Toys and David Buttry gave us an amazing Poppy Collection. In the same week I received, from SeloJSpa, my latest repaint from Jon Copeland-Childers. The second I opened this one up, I knew I was going to be obsessed for a while. Jon, I don’t know how you do it, but you continue to surprise, delight and amazing me. Since David Buttry left me dreaming of Poppy Parker in Paris, I simply couldn’t wait to take her there.
Model: Lash Out!, Poppy Parker repainted by Jon Copeland-Childers
* note* Poppy has been rebodied onto a FR2 FR white body
Gloves: Poppy Parker black gloved hands
Suit and purse: Fashions by Shane
Jewelry:Traveling Incognito Poppy Parker
Beret: Integrity Toys Monogram “Escapade”
Shoes: Idol Worship Kyori
Dog: Randall Craig poodle
The eyes in this image are almost reptilian. I took the shot and just went whoah…that’s a cover.
-Rebecca
The Black and White Ball Gown
I had the hardest time coming up with a title for this post. Usually, something comes to me right away and that is what I go with. For these set of photos, nothing was jumping out at me so I asked myself “ What are these pictures about?”. The answer that came back to me was…the dress. These photos are primarily about this amazing black and white ball gown made by Eifeldolldress .
Model: Mood Changer Poppy Parker repainted and hair redone by Jon Copeland-Childers of SeloJSpa
Gown: Eifeldolldress
Necklace: made by me
Gloves: Integrity Toys
A Passion for Pink
This title should be a weekly entry at Inside the Fashion Doll Studio…maybe it will be now that I have said it. I recently discovered the beautiful work of Antonio Realli and was very pleased to add one of his recent collection pieces to my ever growing 1/6 clothing hoard.
For those diorama artists out there, the flooring I used in these shots is a new contact paper I used found here. I love that it is super shiny like real marble. Love the reflection it gives of the gown! We are finally starting to get some sunshine in the Pacific Northwest. The forecast for the next week is SUNNY!! I will be taking advantage and photographing many projects.
Some of you have already noticed that I have started an Instagram account ( see sidebar to the right just under archives). Feel free to follow me there for sneaks of upcoming items or additional photos of some behind the scenes stuff. It’s my goal to post something daily there. A goal….to be reached at some point in the future.
-Rebecca
Lavender Luxury
Easter weekend is upon us and everything is coming to life in the garden again. The trees are all blooming pink and white, the daffodils are up and the lilacs are on the way. Life is good. With this symphony of pastels booming in the yard, I had to do something in the studio to celebrate it. I had the perfect model in mind too. Recently, I sent the lavender haired Mood Changer Poppy Parker head over to Jon Copeland-Childers for a “spa” treatment and what he sent back to me had my jaw dropping.
Model: Integrity Toys WClub exclusive Mood Changer Poppy Parker repainted and restyled by Jon Copeland-Childers of SeloJSpa. Poppy has been re-bodied on FR2 body.
Suit, shoes and earrings: Integrity Toys Breathless Veronique
Fascinator hat: made by me with a scrapbook flower and a bit of birdcage veil
Fur: IT Le Smoking Adele
Luggage: Poppy Parker as Sabrina Most Sophisticated ( trim color has been altered via Photoshop)
Pin on suit: rhinestone fleur de lis purchased at Facets by Marcia
Here is what she looked like originally
There are spa treatments and then there are Jon treatments. I stand by the Jon treatment.
**Note** Before I get a gazillion questions, I have to declare here that the luggage I used is not OOAK. It is the set from the Poppy Parker Sabrina series but I have photo shopped the trim to lavender.
This suit is a favorite of mine. It is from the IT 2013 Premier Convention Collection. I was searching through some Edith Head sketches a couple months back and stumbled across what might have been the inspiration for this one.
-Rebecca
To The Manor Born
I never saw the BBC show of this name but am interested in the phrase. It is believed to be originally from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the actual line is “To the manner born“. Language and time have morphed this line into today’s “to the manor born” which essentially means someone born into affluence. The well known phrase “being born with a silver spoon in your mouth” is another example of similar meaning. Now…why am I going into this? Excellent question. When I first saw promo photos of Black Tie Ball Vanessa, my first thought was “This is a party girl and she is inebriated.” She had the half-open eyes of someone who has imbibed just a bit too much. When I opened the box and saw her in real life, my opinion changed a bit. I still saw the party girl but I thought it would be fun to portray her as the trust fund baby party girl. I love the platinum tresses on this lady and while the sleepy eyes kind of bother me, it definitely set my imagination flying and produced some fun shots. I have nothing to complain about…oh…except perhaps the skirt on the dress she came in. It doesn’t hang right. The jewelry, shoes and top of the gown are all exceptional though. Photos of Miss BTB Vanessa in her original gown are on my Flickr page.
The gown in these shots is by Eifeldolldress. Love it!!
For those interested in the set for these shots, here is the info:
Champagne glasses are exquisitely delicate and in correct scale. They are from Facets by Marcia.
Champagne bottle…have absolutely no idea where I got this. Most likely from a Gloria furniture set.
Bombé chest is a repainted plastic jewelry chest. My friend and artist Carolyn Grentz did this for me.
Gold chairs were custom ordered from China. You can find more like them here. Frankly though, you should just get ahold of some Barbie Fan Club chairs from this year and spray paint them gold…it would be cheaper.
Floral arrangement: Made by me of various silk and fabric flowers.
And this little adorable Maltese!! I found her on Etsy.
-Rebecca