Review: "Hot Shot" Nigel North

Nigel North arrived today. He is the second 2015 male doll I ordered this year. The other one was Vice Effect Ollie Lawson. I'm not disappointed with Nigel but he does need some work on his coiffure and the pants have to go.

I'm not a fan of faux velvet on 12" dolls. The fabric is too bulky and just doesn't lay correctly. I think I'd like white pants with this outfit. There is so much color that between the gorgeous jacket and the shirt a neutral or no-color slack would look better. Destroyed jeans would look good, too.

On the topic of faux velvet, I don't like it on any doll because it shows every piece of dust and lint in a photograph.

Nigel's shirt is very form fitting and I was surprised to find that the sleeves are sewn shut at the cuff! I wanted to press the shirt when I pressed the jacket and slacks but I wasn't going to open the stitching when I was just going to redress him right away. I've never come across that on any IT doll. Of course it makes for less bulk but still...

I planned to show him with his jacket closed but it's too tight and the fabric bunches and pulls a bit. The hooks can be moved, of course, to make it fit better. 

In the promo, above, the jacket looks perfectly fitted. His hair is shoulder length. Below is how it arrived...very weird. I'm sure that in order to drop that flipped up part, I'm going to have to dunk it into boiled water. His hair is the biggest disappointment with this doll.

 I love the sculpt. He would look good with straight hair in a pony tail. Looks like I have a little work to do.

I wonder if adding eyelashes, painted or applied, to the guy dolls would improve their somewhat bland faces.

Nigel comes with a little metal SLR that can be attached to his clutching hand with a clear rubberband. His ring has a purple stone and his sunglasses have purple lenses - no surprise there.

The bottom line: Nigel was $120. which is the same price as the rest of the Poppy Parker line. It's rapidly creeping upward.
He's a LE of 600.

Anyone wanna buy a pair of purple velvet pants?

Review and Comparison: Sybarite Chandelier

This Sybarite arrived faster than the previous 4. She is the last in this series and I decided to debox this one. I have been asked many times about the differences between resin Sybs and the new ones and now I can answer the questions.

Deboxing was not fun. It reminded me of the process we used to have to go through to get an ordinary Barbie out of a box. Chandelier was attached to the back of the box to within an inch of her life. Clear, flexible plastic was pulled taut around her arms, legs, chest and elsewhere. Finally there was a coated wire which could be accessed only by tearing the back of the box open. Her hair was held in place with thread that was stitched to the box on both sides.
Prior Gen X dolls had loose items inside the boxes; this one did not. However, I dislike this packaging immensely. It feels cheap.

Reminder: clicking on the photos will enlarge them.

I like the fashion and all the bits and bobs included in the ensemble. She comes with a tiara, two 'gold' necklaces, a ring, several thin bangles (not shown.) The outfit consists of a t-shirt which is actually a bodysuit, pantyhose, shoes, handbag, skirt, rhinestone buckled belt and a Chanel-like jacket. It's an interesting mix of sophisticated and bling.

The skirt is too large and sits very low on her hips. I would have liked it better if it were shorter.  I order to remove the crown necklace, one has to open a jump ring. The other chunky necklace fits over her head but be careful not to screw up her hair.

The fabric used for the skirt is beautiful. It's like a miniature upholstery material blinged up with the coppery gold points on the hem. The jacket is very nice but be very cautious about the rhinestone settings catching fabrics and causing pulls.

The belt is adorable. It has two purses which can be slid off if desired so the belt can be used as a conventional one...as if a hot pink belt with a rhinestone buckle is anywhere near conventional.

The fingers are all separate and rings work very well. It arrived attached with a rubber band. What I do to secure rings is put some Elmer's glue on a toothpick and touch the back of the ring's band so the glue also touches the finger. It's easily removable when dried and the ring won't fall off on it's own.

Look at that cute pony! While I'm not a huge fan of hot pink faux fur, the bag is adorable.

More:
The color of her vinyl is sallow. She looks a little sick. In the comparison pictures, you can see it accurately. I think the previous 4 vinyls were a better color but I don't have them here to compare and I never deboxed them to take pictures.
The dolls are very close in size but not shape. Gen X has an incredibly high arch. The shape of her breasts are different and possibly larger.
The sculpt has changed somewhat and I think the original is prettier.
Chandelier weighs 18 ounces (1 lb. 2 oz.); my resin girl weighs 21 ounces (1 lb. 5 oz.) I was surprised at Chandelier's weight; I thought she'd be lighter.
The vinyl doll sits well with her knees together.

Superdoll's vinyls come with 4 sets of hands and instructions for changing them. They are like the Fashion Royalty hand-speak hands and Tonner's removable hands but these are hard to remove. The brochure suggests warming in hot water for a short period of time. I could not remove the hands on my own.

My biggest pet peeve is a doll stand that doesn't support the doll. This stand is a piece of crap. The wire saddle is too high to allow the dolls feet to rest on the base. If she were wearing platform shoes, it would be fine but she's not. The funny thing is, the stand is adjustable albeit in the wrong direction.  Poor engineering.

Look closely at the saddle part. There's a raw end of wire ready to snag pantyhose or scratch the body.  Of course I know that I can coat that on my own with something to protect my doll and her clothes but why should I have to?


The parts of the outfit I tried out fit my resin Syb, including the shoes. No, she will not be wearing the crown. 
I want to shorten the skirt!

Bottom line:
The first three Gen X dolls were the nicest ones of all. Superdoll needs to up their packaging and engineering

PEONIE - GEN X - DD_087 Sybarite Rebel Princess

Today another in the new line of vinyl Sybarite dolls was offered for sale.
Here is the description posted on the Superdoll sales page.

With eyes of sour apple, jetted for attitude brows in chocolate and charcoal with shadow of nude. Lids in translucent soot. Lips the colour of candy with day old pomegranate accent.

Huge auburn blend wig bearing side parting and jaw length fringe, in a 'voluptuous' state; cascading down and swirling into waist length big loose curls.

It's hot outside... maybe a champagne lunch with the gurls?!
Venus had booked the bandstand in Hyde Park, had it cornered off with velvet ropes and sent in her decorators. For this privvy broad daylight affaire, she chose colour and pattern to make her statement. Bias plaid hotpants, a psychedelic halter collared shirt, a hot pink grosgrain tie, and lime all in one suspender hose with attached 'girly socks.
Looking herself up and down in her mirrored dressing room and tugging her shirt tails to peek out her hotpants 'just so', she popped on a few rose coloured bracelets, and giggled as she attached her acid yellow tutu around her waist. Doing a little Prima Diva spin, she placed a red rose and pink fluoro band on her head and flung a huge big gold 'chain & key' around her neck. Opening her accessory closets, her acid yellow handbag screamed 'grab me', so she did.
Not knowing where today may end, she opted for a dark violet base custom floral print jacket trimmed in 'ivy' and huge multicolour stones, slipped on her gold and pink sandals and headed for the door.

As her handmaiden hurried to keep up with her she asked 'did you remember the Vodka?'
Her handmaiden ran off in the opposite direction to call the caterers.

Of course she comes with the following standard accessories:
-manic_cure hands (see booklet for hand change instructions)
-booklet
-stand

ED:100

Price  £239.19 plus postage £42.95

 $373.24 + $67.00 = $441.24 shipped

Superdoll: REBEL PRINCESS Generation_X

 Go for it now. There are plenty of them.  
 http://www.superdollonline.co.uk/acatalog/SYBARITES2.html

MANSION - GEN X - DD_090

After years in development we are delighted to present
our ALL NEW Vinyl formula. version T-5 sample.

REBEL PRINCESS Generation_X
Clone: 1000 Venus d'Royce
*please note different monitors may show colours differently.
*production may vary individually and from prototype shown.

Icy blue duo coloured eyes, arched for attitude brows in charcoal and black with shadow of coal and muted blacks. Lids in matte opaque grey. Lips the colour of poisoned apple.

Black wig bearing side parting, in a 'voluptuous' state; drizzling over one eye and swirling into waist length big loose curls.

Tonite was the big night…. The May Ball, and Venus had no intention of socialising with the hoipoloi, so she decided on her tiny 'shrunken' zip up cardigan over a twist front daisy print top. The shortest skirt in her vast closet, a black and white op geo weave and black panties! To beat off the chill, she wore 2 part hose (which are indeed a one piece), bearing garter belts in black. Adding that post punk vibe, she opted for her 'gold' multi stud belt as an accent.

Jumping from her palace window and sliding down silk sheets to her awaiting carriage, she held on tightly to her white 'kill the mouse' heels and her 'monster' carryall.
Society was having their grand affaire tonight, but this Princess is out on the town with her gurls!

Additional accessories: loads of black bracelets, her monogram V bling necklace her glittering taxidermy cat ear headband and of course her larger than life personality.
of course she comes with the following standards:
-manic_cure hands (see booklet for hand change instructions)
-booklet
-stand

ED:100
Please alow 40 days and 40 nights for delivery

In stock and ready to be delivered

Price: £232.62 (Excluding VAT at 20%)

Buying in the States? You will pay:
$354.32 in US dollars plus $60.17 postage

Superdoll's Solitaire GEN X - DD_085

A few minutes past 1:00 PM EST Superdoll posted Solitaire, their first vinyl Sybarite, for sale on their website. The edition of 75 was sold out in less than 5 minutes.

These are the photos:

I swear I wasn't going to go for her. I'm very happy with my existing resin Sybs and similar 16" dolls. I knew she would be ridiculously expensive for a vinyl doll but after a moment's hesitation, I clicked the dreaded button.

Here is the description, copied directly from the post,  that accompanied the doll:

After years in development we are delighted to present
our ALL NEW Vinyl formula. version T-5 sample.

the DEBUT Generation_X
Clone: 1000 Venus d'Royce
*please note different monitors may show colours differently.

Ginger and marshmallow coloured eyes, zef brows in rust and charcoal with shadow of deep red and muted blacks. Lids in icy translucent white. Lips the colour of blood.

Blonde wig bearing hand rooted centre parting, in a 'bedhead' state with backstage Queen of Hearts playing card set.

2 piece 'shrunken' suit consists amazing miniature tailoring with concealed shoulder pads and pocket kerchief. Pocket flap detail and functioning centre front buttons. 3 button detail to jacket cuffs. Trousers have beltloops, working front slash pockets and bum welts on back.

Further accessories include 'patent' belt, 'patent' B*TCH elongated purse with gold foil interior and the cutest hugest hot pink 'fur' pompom ever!

The piece d'resistance of course is her huge double baguette pillow cut ring that gleams like a solitaire rock in the midnight sky or is it the slither of velvet spot netting she has in her purse?

'Patent' strappy stiletto sandles with the highest heels ever on a sYbarite (sans platform)

Necklace and cuff set in silver 'leather' and chained bead detail.

and of course she comes with the following standard:

-manic_cure hands (see booklet for hand change instructions)
-booklet
-stand

ED:75
In stock and ready to be delivered
Price: £274.00

She's got an intense, angry look about her.  The wig? We'll see. I do hope all Sybarite clothes will fit and that the quality is top notch.

Cost breakdown:
Doll         £274.00 = $421.15
Postage  £39.50    = $ 60.72  (Ridiculous for a vinyl doll unless she gets here in two days.)
Total       £313.50  = $481.87

Do you have any thoughts on why Superdoll seemingly has gone backwards in their production of dolls from beautiful resin to ordinary vinyl?

Why do they even bother?

Every year the little gift from the Barbie Fan Club gets more insulting. Last year it was a crappy business card wallet. I'd give it to a 3 year old who would probably throw it away like I did.

This year it's a crummy eyeglass case. OK maybe it's a tad better than the wallet as my glasses actually fit inside and I can snap it shut. But it has the smell of a blow up pool toy and probably causes eyelashes to fall out.

 

Honestly, if the offerings this year are not better than last year, it will be my last year in this "club."

Where are all the people? They died from the vinyl fumes.


Membership is still open. Get your own eyeglass case and geninue membership card. Silkstone collectors from the early days will get the misspelled word.

http://www.barbiecollector.com/shop/doll/2015-barbie-fan-club

Shamrocks and Ladies in the Woods in Barbie-Land

Shamrock Celebration Barbie Doll, a Barbie Fan Club Exclusive, became available today on the Barbie Collector website. This is a Gold Label doll meaning that no more than 5500 units are produced worldwide. Price is $75.

The information:

Designed by: Bill Greening

Release Date: 1/28/2015

Product Code: CGK93

Barbie^® doll is keen on green and decorated with shamrocks! Her short sleeves feature satin ribbon accents and the bodice is edged with lace. Her apron and underskirt repeat the lace motif. Includes top hat, leprechaun’s pot of “gold,” a wee greeting card and necklace.

Doll Details
Body Type:	1959 Vintage (holes in the feet) -Vinyl
Skin Tone:	Nostalgic
Facial Sculpt:	Nostalgic with straight rooting line
Fashion Sewn On?:	No
Eyelashes:	Painted

Included with doll:
Shoes, earrings, necklace, hat, pot of gold, greeting card, doll stand with prongs.

I think she's quite pretty but I don't buy $75. non-articulated vinyl dolls.

****************

While I'm looking at the Barbie site, I may as well talk about Lady of the White Woods Barbie. This is another Gold Label doll with a production rum of 7700 units. She went on sale on 1/14/15 for $100.

She looks pretty nice from here but...

...I do not like the organic swirls and seashell scallops on her face. I guess she's supposed to look like she grew from the forest floor.  Love the crown, the neckpiece and wrist pieces. If anyone out there has this doll, please post a review in the comments section for the rest of us. 

Designed by: Bill Greening

Release Date: 1/14/2015

Product Code: CGK94

This mythical beauty is second in the collection and is adorned in a gown with coppery branches, ruffled tiers of ethereal chiffon and a bodice wrapped in nude lace. Her crown, neckpiece and shoes share the natural motif and are accented with a feather design. Bold armbands complete the look.

Doll Details
Body Type:	ModelMuse™, Straight Arms
Skin Tone:	Peace
Facial Sculpt:	Louboutin
Fashion Sewn On?:	No
Eyelashes:	Painted

Included with doll:
Shoes, Crown, Headpiece, Arm Cuffs, Doll Stand
There is a limit of 5 dolls per order.

Yellowing Bodies and Something New

The other day I took this nude Gene doll out of the closet where she's been stored for a few weeks and noticed something other than her yellow body which she's had for almost a year. Look at the dark line coming down from her ear and going around the back of her head.
I posted this picture on one of the doll boards and the consensus of opinion was that it was from a hair net. I wondered how could this be? I got her several years ago and her hair hasn't been netted for a long time.

Here is an interesting explanation:

It looks like a mark from the rubber edge from a hairnet:
I do repair and restoration of dolls and have seen this before. the rubber in the hairnet edge will deteriorate and before it even does it can make a mark, sometimes not showing up for a while even years. It all depends on the hairnet, and the rubber used, mostly now they wrap the rubber in white poly thread but if the rubber is strongly "unstable" or badly produced (just like the plastic parts of a doll oxidize) it can react and start to seep into the vinyl and may not change color until later, we must remember that plastic,vinyl and rubber are all rather "fluid " materials atomically, and their structure is constantly moving. so what shows up on a surface now may disappear or move inward to the interior or outward to the surface. the color of the mark has distinct properties, green being a color that appears with a stronger copper content, and the rubber used could have been exposed to copper somehow (or brass etc) therefore making the greenish mark. An example of rubber affecting plastic is evident in many dolls like Dawn, that have rubber vinyl legs and plastic hips - they melt into each other sometimes and it really depends on the way the rubber and plastic is batched before being used in a mold part. 

Posted by mikemade on August 1, 2013

This is an Integrity Toys manufactured Gene Marshall. 


When does one just give up? I have no more replacement Gene bodies. I've used up all of them replacing deteriorating IT bodies and replacing a few non-articulated bodies on Ashton-Drake Genes.

New Evangeline Ghastly: Dandy of Death

I don't understand the name but I've seen this doll in person and she's gorgeous. The ensemble is definitely collector-worthy and if I were still collecting EG, I'd get it.
The price for this vinyl doll raises by $15. the usual dressed vinyl EG price to $190.  Ouch.

 The description:
 It's our newest vinyl Evangeline with inset blue eyes,* applied lashes, and a changeable platinum wig. She's approximately 17" tall and completely ball jointed, with delicate hand painted features.  She comes dressed in a bodysuit, golden cravat and trim, lined brocade vest with golden buttons, pants, velvet jacket with ribbon ties, hat, pantyhose, and faux suede boots with laces and silver grommets.  The most fitting of looks for a day at the office, a picnic by the moors, or just writing in her diary.  LE 350 

The eyes on these vinyl dolls cannot be changed although there is one person I know of who can do it but it involves head surgery.
Stands should be included at these prices. It's not like she can stand on her own. Goodness knows she can barely sit properly. I've mentioned previously that the inability of EG's joints to move well into poses is the reason I will not buy them any longer. They look cool - like Barbies look in their boxes - but I play with my dolls and I need dolls that can pose and hold poses.

I predict that she will sell out as she is quite different from prior releases, she's wigged and the fashion is very cool. I hope she's not stained under all that black fabric!


BTW Shipping is free until October 8 for purchases totaling $75. or more. Use the code SMILE15. Wilde Imagination ships worldwide. Yay them!

______

This 90 Million Dollar skull was created by the notorious artist Damien Hirst. This one-of-a-kind piece of art is titled “For the Love of God” and is the most costly piece of contemporary art ever made. This piece is encrusted with over 8,601 diamonds and has a total of 1,106.18 carats. It weighs 63 pounds and is made from a real skull and teeth. Damien is not planning to sell this piece of art and created it with his own money. Now all he has to do is stick this skull on top of a cane and become the ultimate Puff Daddy. -Trifter

Male Dolls - One Collector's Pictures

We'd probably agree that the majority of doll collections are populated by female figures with a male doll thrown in here and there. I realize that I rarely post pictures of male dolls. Today on Prego, JinCincy answered this week's theme, the color black, with a few picture of her own Men in Black. Droolworthy.

RHage, Iple EID Akando

Kamal, Iple EID Luo by Lyn Raftis

Ian by Tracy Weston

Adam by DAO

There's much more. Jackie's blog, Vinyl Connections and Resin Residents are two sites where you can see more hunky guy dolls and her girls, too.

Skin Tone Database

There is an excellent resource for skin (vinyl) tones of Integrity Toys dolls maintained by Mandy aka Amanda. The number of vinyl colors keeps growing so keep watching for updates.
Here is a sample image from the blog:

Skin Tone Database

Under the Spell of Tonner's Evangeline Ghastly

I have never fallen so fast for a doll. My first hasn't even lived here for an entire week and a second one is on its way. Outfits and accessories are finding their way to my home. Michelle over at Wilde Imagination's customer service is my new email pal. I'm sunk.
This is an extreme case of not liking a doll at first and then falling in love with her. Even her freaky big hands aren't bothering me anymore!

This doll is "Tangled Web" Evangeline. I dressed her in red during a major redressing event last night in which 4 dolls were changed into 'holiday' colors. She is vinyl, wigged and has gorgeous big blue eyes.  I didn't realize prior to getting her last week that she was a ball jointed doll. She's bigger than my other Tonner gals at 17 inches tall. I haven't tried any clothing switches yet and I don't think I'm going to need to do that because she's already got a nice wardrobe of her own stuff.

I had mentioned change was coming a little while back and this is one part of that change.

Thanksgiving Feast Barbie Doll

The Thanksgiving Feast Barbie has arrived and I am very pleased that I ordered her! She looks even better in person than the promotional photo.

I will be leaving her in her box. Just look at the background. It's perfect!

Her stand appears to be a vintage type with pins that insert into the bottom of the foot. Yay!

The food tray is nicely detailed and executed and although the doll's hands can't really hold anything, the rubber bands are supporting the tray at a 'believable' angle.

The box was completely tissued and came in it's own mint shipper box inside of another peanut filled box. So how did the upper right corner get smooshed?  It doesn't really bother me but it is noteworthy.

This doll is available for purchase to Barbie Fan Club members for the retail price of $50. One doll per membership. She is a Gold Label and part of the Holiday Hostess Collection. No more than 3100 units will be produced worldwide.

I heartily recommend this doll.