Showing posts with label Tonner Doll Company. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tonner Doll Company. Show all posts

12/23/2016

My Tonner Doll Retrospective Part I

Of course now, that we all know that Tonner's proprietary lines are retired, our older dolls become more precious. I'll be taking look-backs at some of my favorite photos. I don't remember the names of all the dolls and I have at a few thousand Tonner doll photos. This may take time.
Hope you enjoy as I enjoy looking through my archives.


Kit wearing Ghost of Christmas Present


Angelina


Antoinette - I could do an entire page on Antoinette!




Ava Gardner


Cami

Spring Flowers Ballet

That's it for now.

3/19/2016

Joe Petrollese Leaving Tonner Doll Company

Another star of the Tonner Doll Company will shine elsewhere from now on. Joe is leaving to "take advantage of an incredible opportunity," according the the Facebook page of TDC.
Considering all that's taken place over the last few months with Tonner, I am not at all surprised. Who is next? There's not much left.

Joe has richly influenced both the company as well as our design aesthetic and his impact will carry us forward for many years to come.



He's young and talented and wherever he goes I am sure he will do well. He's always been a smiling personality at every event I've been to.

What will become of Evangeline? Miette? and the other characters whose stories he created? I think they will keep on going. 



3/04/2016

Tonner Introduces Miette

Another new doll joins the Tonner Doll Co. Tribe.

Here is Miette's back story:

Once upon a time, in a far off corner of a very southern part of France, lies a tiny village called, Faire Croire. Don’t bother to look on any map, you’ll never find it. It’s a lovely village where the people enjoy a life of beauty and peace. Every house in the village is a different color and has window boxes filled with flowers of all kinds. The moss covered thatched roofs slant in all angles. There are no locks on any doors or windows. The narrow cobblestone streets are lined with fragrant flowers growing in beautiful pots adorned in jewels. The air is always thick with the scent of freshly baked pain au chocolat.  It seems like a place you would hear about in a fairy tale.  Although Faire Croire is well over 500 years old, no one knows it’s there.  But, Faire Croire does have a quality, something sinister that hangs over the heads of all the villagers. Something like a dark cloud.  Could that feeling be coming from the castle on the hill?
How could a village be over 500 years old with no one except the people that live there knowing of its existence? Miette, the lovely daughter of the Mayor of Faire Croire, intends to find out.
 It's a good story with excellent fairy tale possibilities. No one does fairy tale and fantasy like Tonner.

Miette is Tonner's newest 16" vinyl entry. I see her as a toned down Deja Vu with a less open mouth, a softer aspect and a much better, although still vinyl, body. If I could choose the best features of both, I'd pick Deja Vu's eyes and Miette's mouth and nose.  (Below, Deja Vu is on the left.)


Facial Comparison



For this initial release there are 2 basic, 5 dressed dolls, 2 outfits and 1 accessory cape.

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2 Basics $99.99 each.
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2 Outfits $89. each.
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1 Cape Accessory $30.

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5 Dressed dolls range in price from $179. to $199.
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From what I've seen on the boards, Miette seems to have been very well received. She has the Chic body.


Note the big difference between the Deja Vu body (hands included) and the Chic body. 


I always thought Deja Vu's body was an exaggerated and distorted teenage body. The Chic body has more curves and is a bit more realistic and those freaky spread-fingered hands are gone.  Nice improvement.

The only low spot as I see it is the blue and pink outfit. Mrs. Oz seems to have wandered into Miette's village in her sleep. It's very strange. It's even described as having so much going on that you don't know what to look at first. I do like the shoes.
Read the description:
Soft and stunning is how Miette approaches life and as a vision in pink and green, this outfit is no exception.  With so many intricacies, it’s hard to say what garners your attention first. Her boucle´ coat is an understated seafoam green with the finest details of delicate pink lace and tulle trim while boasting a pink flower at the point of closure. Her pink hat with green lace trim and floral decoration is a lovely juxtaposition with the rest of Miette’s ensemble. Her pink ruffled dress sits atop green ruffled cropped pants while her dainty pink floral lace tights peek out leading down to her pink ruffle trim faux leather shoes accentuated with an elegant green bow. Simply charming!  LE 200

 Only Royal Miette and the cape are available at this time. I wonder why they have offered a 10% off event when barely anything is ready to purchase. Were there so few pieces available on the first day of the sale? That surely doesn't seem right.

This is from the email that arrived on March 1.



http://www.tonnerdoll.com/wilde/miette?utm_source=Collectors&utm_campaign=66633a6f00-Meet_Miette3_1_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6e7f0b2ba7-66633a6f00-74926109&ct=t%28Meet_Miette3_1_2016%29&goal=0_6e7f0b2ba7-66633a6f00-74926109&mc_cid=66633a6f00&mc_eid=d9d30ea598


Have fun with the website. :-)



1/21/2016

Tonner Doll Company...Gradually Slipping Away?

The well-known and admired Doll Dr. from the Tonner Doll Company, Noreen Morris, let me know today that she was let go due to company consolidation.

Many businesses cut back in hard times but when a very popular representative is let go, it affects customers' feelings towards the company.

No one can replace her cheerful demeanor and swift attention to detail.


I feel a personal loss as I met Noreen at the beginning of my collecting. I've written about it previously. The event was at an outdoor Tonner trunk sale. I only had Tiny Kitty dolls at that time. When I saw Tyler, I fell in love with her and bought several. Noreen predicted that it was "over" for me. If you don't get what "over" means...she meant the beginning of a joyous collecting adventure, which it was.
I still have many beloved Tonner dolls in my collection. I really wonder if I'll ever add more. Is Tonner done?

Waiting to see.

You can send Noreen a message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nightdobes

http://www.the-doll-hospital.com/

Dr. Noreen's Doll Hospital

I know that she would love to hear from all the collectors she's met over the years.

10/10/2015

More Photos from the Kingdom Doll and MetroDolls Events

I finally moved most of my new goodies into my studio in order to take better photographs.
Here are Liberty in her gorgeous Dior inspired suit and Chaucer in the optional purchase pink version of the suit along with close-ups of the jackets.







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Here are some photos of the amazing Bashettte bed that I won in the auction.




The Marley doll was included along with her original outfit and box with shipper.
The bed is metal. The mattress, two pillows, sheet and top sheet are pink and white criss-crossed striped. The first coverlet is white with lace and embroidered and gathered inserts. Matching pillow covers on two more pillows. The quilt is a true miniature quilt with embroidered details that include tiny buttons. Two pillows use one of the quilt fabrics and another pillow is has a quilted face. As if that weren't enough there is also a crocheted throw. This is really a work of art that I just love owning.
The night gown on Marley is another handmade item along with her headband of flowers.
Since Marley is 12" tall, this bed is the correct scale for my Fashion Royalty dolls although the pink metal frame might be on the girly side for these sophisticated ladies. If I wanted to, I could always change the color of the frame.

This Marley is originally Ocean Mist Basic.


I've had a few of the original Marley dolls but not for years. The line ended before the body was updated to bending wrists so she's a pretty stiff one. I think Tonner's Patience and the younger Sister Agnes use the same body with full articulation. I wonder if the vinyl is the same tone.

2/23/2015

Jupiter Ascending Doll

Last week at my doll club meeting I saw the IRL Jupiter Ascending doll.  She looks exactly like the promotional photo and in no way resembles the actress Mila Kunis or the gown in the movie.
Mila Kunis is a hot-looking woman.


This sculpt does her no justice. It's all wrong. The mouth is pinched and dark and it really looks plastic (besides being plastic.)


"Jupiter Ascending"
Limited Edition of 300

I'm not oblivious to the fact that the movie costume is a true work of art with fabulous details, blah, blah and that a doll costume would cost a fortune to compete but this costume falls short of the sense of delicacy which is the main beauty of the gown in the first place. It looks like the flowers were thrown at it instead of gracefully encircling it. Something went very wrong with the interpretation of the flowers.



I'm a big fan of many of Tonner's extravagant gowns but not this one. One thing it has in it's favor is no glitter has been applied.

The film's costume designer was Kym Barrett who enlisted Filipino fashion designer Michael Cinco to create the wedding dress.
Cinco created a custom made couture dress for Mila, a sparkling red and white gown elaborately adorned with delicate flowers and jewels, with a matching headpiece. Cinco told us that "as the premise of the film was in outer space, with Mila Kunis as a reincarnation of the Queen Mother, the challenge was indeed immense. I was inspired by heavenly goddesses and came up with a beautifully surreal bride in Mila Kunis, in nude mesh embellished with red ceramics. The three other gowns I made for the film were equally stunning and well, heavenly."
Quoted from  "Mila Kunis is working some gorgeous couture in Jupiter Ascending " 
written by Joanna Crawley



8/20/2014

The Leading Ladies of The Wizard of Oz

I've been MIA for a while attending convention and a family holiday which were just a few days apart. I'm exhausted!
I'm currently occupied getting a submission ready for FDQ.

There is an interesting, charitable function in the works and the best way to describe it is to copy here a letter from Joanne Canapini who handles PR at the Tonner Doll Company.

Hi there Terri!

My name is Joanne and I handle PR at the Tonner Doll Company.  We’ve met at many an event at the Tonner Company Store and Factory Sales over the years – I’m the gal with short dark hair :D  We are big fans of your blog, and you’ve been a great supporter of what we do, so I wanted to take the time and reach out to you because we have some super exciting stuff going on that you might want to cover! 

We’re currently in the middle of a major partnership with Warner Bros. and Habitat for Humanity on a thrilling design program called The Leading Ladies of The Wizard of Oz, in celebration of the 75th anniversary (the anniversary of the actual premiere is actually this Friday, though we have been celebrating all year long!).  Here’s a little background:

Twenty of the world’s top fashion, costume and accessories designers have reinterpreted
doll-sized couture versions for “The Leading Ladies of The Wizard of Oz” design program in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the classic film and in support of Warner Bros. and Habitat for Humanity’s “There’s No Place Like Home” campaign, supporting Habitat for Humanity’s work to create decent, safe and affordable housing in partnership with low-income families.

Each designer has created a unique makeover from head to toe, featuring hand-crafted outfits, dramatic hairstyles and makeup, and perfectly petite footwear for “The Leading Ladies of The Wizard of Oz.” The full collection of Tonner Dolls, starring Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch, and The Wicked Witch of the West will be unveiled at The Museum at FIT in New York, September 4-10, after which the collection will be showcased at the flagship Bloomingdales location on 59th and Lexington from September 12 - October 9.

The Tonner dolls that the designers have used for their creations are the 22” American Models – and they are stunning!

Bottom: Chris Benz

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Stay tuned for more pictures of the dolls along with some of the backstory.





6/26/2014

Dolly News Updates

Convention season is almost upon us and there are things going on all over.

Kingdom Doll announced that they will be working with renowned doll artist/manufacturer Doug James. They're not saying what Doug will be doing exactly and that will be an interesting revelation. Fashions, perhaps? KD states that "Doug is the owner of JDJ International, creator of the "S: series of resin fashion dolls as well as the popular CED 19" fashion doll line. In addition, James has designed...for the Madame Alexander Doll Company, Integrity Toys, L.L. Knickerbocker and Ashton Drake."
Also, stay tuned for the announcement about the release of the next doll, Hadrian. 



Integrity Toys 2014 "Gloss" Convention sold out in two days. That's probably a record setting sell- out. There is a wait list. Link will take you there.
The second W Club exclusive doll was made available for pre-ordering by Club members only. She is the ultra popular Poppy with the favored so-called "Bergdorf" screening. (Right)


Why not release a redo of the Bergdorf doll? I have seen ridiculous prices for this gal. I sold a few for ridiculous prices myself. It is a very pretty doll.

Tonner Doll Company  continues to try to offload unsold goods at retail prices by calling them Warehouse Finds. Seriously, how messed up is their warehouse? 
If these items were sold out, there wouldn't be any for sale. We do have brains.
Lady Arabella was the convention souvenir. Carmen was the special optional purchase doll. None of these is at a reduced price but if you still want one, go for it.  Ordering is by telephone only. To place an order call 845-339-2960.
I've written many times about how selling convention dolls shortly after a convention detracts from that special feeling of getting a truly exclusive doll. It's disrespectful to those who paid to go to the convention. 

The Junky Spot announced Jun Planning's Groove Pullip "Make It Own" blank Pullip Kit.
 

This looks like fun and the price is so right at $34.99. I want one but do I have the motivation? Not really.
Made from ABS plastic.
Completely unpainted doll with disassembled head, ready for customization.

Comes with: body, head, eyelids, eyelashes, transparent eye chips, and screws.
You can paint the eye chips whatever color you want.
Measurements:
Height: 31cm
Bust: 10cm
Waist: 6.8cm
Hips: 10.7cm
Head: 24.5cm

Takes a size 9-10 wig (not included)