Tag Archives: Dolls

The Serial Designer thrills Diet Coke

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 ”Oh Please I beg you , you can have ME just don’t ruin my style!”  This series of three shorts for Diet Coke are too Haute or HOT if you prefer.  A must SEE for DOLL fans around the world.

Hello to everyone out to all of you in SUPERDOLL land!!! I have been bombarded from every possible direction one can take in life. Safe to say it is getting better, however my beloved SuperSite or SUPERDOLL on WordPress and my other BLOGS have really suffered.

I promised myself and my readers I would do everything I could to not let my avid readers down, so with no further adieu’ I thought it wise to share the latest Diet Coke Campaign featuring none other than Jean Paul Gaultier himself. The print ads are FAB, however it is the commercials which really take shape and I know doll LOVERS around the world will agree.

Innoquii Simple Saturday?

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My Innoquii Dolls by Superdoll of London

Innoquii dolls in the hear speak see no evil pose

Having all 5 dolls in my media room posed in their stands staring at me and I back at them have thought of a photographing session I want to shoot. Early this Saturday morning around 6am I wanted to find some outfits online to buy for the Innoquii’s. I found this website along with Alwin Roos designer clothes. and then started to snap photos with my Android mobile Sprint camera. Having fun just snapping photos without all the stress of lighting, dressing, posing backdrops you get the idea. After snapping about 20 photos I then decided to edit them before posting just the photos.

My phones editing program was not up to my standards so I spent the 2.99 on camera FX zoom app promising all the tweaks and edits of the many popular camera programs. So I uploaded one of the photos NOT USING the brand new FX Zoom APP I just bought only to then switch gears and started writing what was originally supposed going to be JUST a photo post of my dolls on an early Saturday morning into a 5 hour later expose’ on the Innoquii’s, selling, buying, stands, contacts, holy grail dolls, my friend Jim. Etc.

Welcome to my bewildered blogging mind. I know I am really tough on myself due to my own insecurities based on my novice knowledge on the Sybarites fearing I am not doing them justice. I use to not care what others thought and basically still don’t, but for some reason the Sybarites and blogging about them for other long-term collectors like you to read is a a bit scary.

I finally did send my 8 page essay to Lady L of Sybeau Monde and Adrian of Dollphilia to be fact checked and hoping they enjoy it giving myself permission to finally post this long hard-worked and awaited piece. If you are a long term Sybarite collector and are willing to read some of my not yet posted information on the Sybarites like my latest work on the dolls EVOLUTION please email and ask me to send it to you.

Facts are far better than Fiction. I have so much content written, spell checked, and ready for your eyes to read if interested.

The Innoquii dolls by Superdoll of London released in December 2008. There will be a series of 4 dolls. These are strung dolls, made of porcelain, fully articulated and only 14″ tall. All four dolls have fantastic painted on body tattoos in various themes. The dolls are not named, but numbered. Feeling hesitant at first upon discovering these slightly smaller dolls along with the material used to create them using Porcelain instead of the Resin.

One other concern was if the Innoquii’s were or going to be discontinued? I do know or have heard about another doll possibly to come by the Super Duo later this year? IF you know more do comment here on this post as others would also like to know let alone I would too…

During this ever-changing and exciting journey into the world of The Sybarites I recalled purchasing Sage one of the Fashion Victims of 2008 having never seen nor held, or touched an actual doll. When seeing the gorgeous Superdolls in Haute Doll and FDQ magazine from past years had me transfixed promising myself to own one someday.

I had never seen anything like them. The Innoquii’s are no different.

Click here if interested in reading how my Doll collecting came started..

Getting get back on topic the once body art which caused me to hesitate in purchasing one along with pricing at the time was half the amount of a basic Sybarite doll. Jump ahead a few months bid and won the Innoqqui Traveler MIB for 175.00. At the time of this buy I happened to be deep into in the midst of a serious eBay addiction issue. I can still remember buyer’s remorse after paying for my winning bid.

Some of you can relate to the “Sybarite MUST BUY NOW” thought process. Blinded by the hypnotic gaze of The Sybarites and getting lost in this new exciting world put all my reasoning and responsibility paralyzed my mind-set. This head space had taken over and soon stopped putting any real thought into my purchases. Remember I was really not fond of them and this was an impulse buy I would soon gratefully not regret.

When she finally arrived I was pleasantly surprised at how interesting they were in person and the size was perfect. Those body art issues I had went out the door especially when your first doll is the Traveler as you can’t miss her circled solid black eye. Giving her unique appeal well made of course with mini suede joints, and the outfit/lingerie was Haute Couture at its smallest.

I went to visit my friend Jim who sold me most of his Sybarite Collection including Sage here in OKC had kept all 4 of his Innoquis loving Ants dd/02 the most. Of the four dd/02 was my least favorite. However looking back now realizes she is more versatile when dressing than the others.

He mentioned he was thinking of selling them and naturally I asked when and if he did to call me first. He did and this is how my 2nd Innoqqui’s the dd/04 Nurse released in 2009 who was the last doll of the Innoquii’s series joined my group of girls. The Nurse was not only beautiful her raven hair and deep lavender eye shadow, distinct mole below left eye, and blood-red lips were seductive. Add a bit of “camp” humor mimicking the health issues my partner David and I live on a daily basis seemed fitting into our life world.

Real Nurses still come weekly and enjoy her as well making dd/04 my favorite.

When the holiday sale came the first thing I had to buy was the Bride released in April 2009. This doll is wearing a stunning glittering wedding gown, silk panties, garter, stockings, white shoes and veil. Her tattoos are her wedding gifts, all done in white, silverware, lamps, clocks and lace detail on her wrists and lower tummy and a fantastic skeleton of her backbone on her back! I couldn’t resist at the prices being asked for a new Innoqqui

Just before the first of the year I owning to own a complete Traveler, Nurse, and Bride. What more could I buy? Ants? I am still kicking myself for not buying her along with the Bride during the holiday sale. You win some you lose some.

Even though the dolls are back up in price they are not as much as they originally were I am still thinking of buying Ants but there is no rush. Why?

Just last month upon finding out a favorite seller of mine was selling two naked Travelers one with a broken hand and missing earing for 100.00 I I couldn’t pass up.. They arrived at the first of the year which is how this post and/or story came began Pretty, Posed, and wanting only to be photographed

How Doll Collecting Changed my Life

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This “novel” below I wrote for my entry into the WClub contest on Why we Love to Collect dolls?

Never one at a loss for words I just happened to see the contest entry in the WClub newsletter a few minutes ago so my entry is rough, LONG, however it comes from my heart having no time to edit my thoughts or feelings to make this “Topic ready” I didn’t see a word limit but if their is one, I am sure to have disqualified my entry.

I can still see my mothers face as she a New York Italian Catholic would yell at my grandmother for letting me brush the old “toilet holder dolls” which would sit in a knitted dress hiding a extra toilet roll, remember those? Anyway the hair was not made for brushing but at 5 years old it was one of my happiest memories one which I held onto for years to come hoping someday to feel the childlike excitement once again. Jump ahead to the 1970′s and me begging for a Bionic Woman doll and every holiday would be made to believe she was there but never was. Cruel I know. :mad:

Finally 1996 my 30th birthday a friend with whom heard the Bionic story hundred times sent me a gift via FEDEX. Opened it and low and behold there was Jamie Sommers a MIB he found on Ebay. I truly couldn’t speak and later would cry thanking him by phone and I cherished her. However, the feeling I had long for so many years earlier now was relived and my friend unknowingly opened a Pandora’s box. One which would consume every minute of every second not to mention every dollar to relive again.

Prior to all of this it use to be me, myself, and I getting in the car and going to the local Toys R US to buy up all the new Barbies. They had a website but it was mainly for young girls and the adult section was not very interactive so basically my collecting was done by Quantity and not always Quality. My poor partner and non doll collecting friends of the time did there best to entertain my excitement and show interest. But nothing like what I would experience years later.

I learned as much as I could back in 1996-2003 but in a million years did it occur to me there was a WHOLE ONLINE Culture of Doll enthusiasts and collectors.

Buying my first two Doll magazines were by accident at a Barnes and Noble one afternoon in 2007 when I laid my eyes upon a HIGH Gloss FDQ and Haute Doll magazines. Having stored all my dolls away from viewing eyes in a spare bedroom I flipped the pages and my jaw dropped. I was in awe and couldn’t believe there were DOLLS prettier than BARBIE! I bought those magazines and read them as if they were doll bibles. This is how I discovered the WClub and Integrity. :cool:

Telling the story of how I then collected NRFB barbies and sold them all last year so I was able to set my sights on another line, this line being Fashion Royalty. But first I had to get into the WClub. Oh I tried in 2010 and missed my confirmation by Luanne which sadly she informed me I was unable to join in. DAMN I hate SPAM. But I was not defeated as there was always 2011.

What a year it has been and we still have another month. LQQking back to my first Private Exclusive Webinar which was unlike anything I had seen or participated in and enjoyed so much. My heart is racing just looking forward to next year.

This contest about why we love dolls is not simple to answer. My partner of 28 years and I both have AIDS and he has declined over the past year and I have almost lost him twice. Prior year he was very clear NO MORE DOLLS, unless I got rid of the spare room which I filled with my NRFB Barbies mentioned above. So to his amazement and mine they all sold on EBAY which allowed me the luxury to indulge in the WClub and Integrity offerings. Both of us successful in our joint venture starting a Home Health agency in the early 1990′s having lived already a mixed message life. Knowing we could die but spent our fortune as fast as we could.

Financially we were blessed, but as soon as one starts to feel to comfortable LIFE has a way of throwing you a curve ball. In 1999 he fell ill first and I soon followed causing us to sell the business and today live on SSDI. I never take anything for granted and live my life as if the day were my last.

The last 4 months have been a living nightmare learning his liver is failing him and to say I am not completely out of my mind is an understatement. Those of you who may have contacted me this last year may have noticed my somewhat inability to remember, comprehend, or write an email which made sense without rambling. Now you know why.

The one thing I can say is without the WClub, Boards, and most of the DOLLS have brought me more happiness in what is a very dark time for me. Seeing the dolls for the first time makes me forget everything and anything except the goosebumps once felt when first laying eyes on a new offering. But those goosebumps are now felt over and over again with every new release.

I have to learn to NOT over order dolls this year but it will not be easy. Each day that goes by I could lose the love of my life but what keeps me going is my email WClub newsletters, magazine subscriptions, Doll boards, and most of all just knowing soon the doorbell will ring and the joyful excitement will take over my being and all my worries and frustration will disappear nowhere to be found, at least for a while.

Collecting Barbie in NRFBoxes keeping them hostage and not truly enjoying them was a HUGE mistake on my part. I made a promise to not do that with the dolls of Integrity. However, this is harder than I thought. They all look so perfect in their boxes and up until recently repeated the same offense. Plus if I decided to put one of my treasures up FS: I would find myself taking photos of them to upload with my listing only to realize I was making a big mistake. Falling in love all over again.

Reading a thread on people falling in love with a doll they had thought they had no connection too seems to be more common than not. Example would be my Vanessa Perrin Monaco Royal, I had planned to sell her never taking her out of the box and struggled with the decision because she was my first and hopefully not my last Vanessa. After reading this thread and another on the age-old question of to box or debox helped me make my final decision to take out EVERY NEW DOLL I had acquired this year and displayed them with the ones I wanted to keep.

Just before Thanksgiving I took her out and she is proudly on display with my Dynamite girls, FR2, FR, Monogram, ITBE, NUFace, etc. in my all glass Integrity cabinet which I will post photos taken real soon.

Having dolls in common with others and the ability to share my joy with all of you makes it worthwhile. Many have been so supportive of my personal struggles and the contacts made soon became acquaintances, then flourished into true friendships. I never thought doll collecting would connect me to so many wonderful people AROUND the WORLD and the role they play be so important as they have been my lifeline for what would have been a year of despair facing my issues alone.

Sob stories are a dime a dozen and if you were to take my personal struggles out of my entry

My short answer to how your doll collecting has touched your life for the better would simply be..

Entering the lotteries, finding a retailer, the forum, the website, the Ordering, the Tracking, and the Arrival to most of all the virtual FRIENDSHIPS I have made all because of the love of DOLLS. The child in me and the goosebumps rush use to be the only reason I collected dolls. However, Collecting and loving your dolls is one thing, but I have come to discover the doll COMMUNITY is the added PLUS to this equation. Members, Doll board moderators, Retailers, and Integrity Reps etc.are just as rewarding, and to date an even bigger part about why I collect today. :)

Well that’s it. Thank you for the consideration and for a wonderful unforgettable year in the WClub. Waiting with bated breath for my Sophmore year and all the unseen treasures which awaits all of us.

God Bless,
Thom

Indulge me for just one more minute. By now you have guessed I am a Freshman WClub member and if not for Luanne who has helped me in every imaginable way from questions to a few “minor missteps” has helped me become a better more productive WClub member and a better collector. I am sure many of those before me know and have their stories with LuAnne. But I couldn’t let this opportunity get away from me without a much deserved SHOUT OUT of ThankYOU

My past and present

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Years ago I tried and obsessed for The Cabbage patch kids, baby alive, and moved to Barbies. Today I look back fondly and laugh at how naive I was thinking TOYS R US was the only place to buy a doll other than garage sale.
One can only imagine my discovery and scream at the top of my lungs to discover Haute Doll and FDQ Magazines by accident in 1997 at a Barnes and Noble. Ahhh great warm memory though expensive and have come to realize my dolls dress better than I and have the larger room in the house.

HOW to Fix Doll wigs-hair.

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When I began to collect a new line prior to my success selling my Barbie collection was financially limited.

Having a Wclub membership realized the Avant-garde 16 inch was more in my price range. But there were so many BJD’s to choose from.  My main focus was GORGEOUS High Fashion model looks with articulation.

The more she could pose the better.  Jamieshow had basically just launched a year prior and was made of a special Resin.  I had no idea what resin was and had thought it was porcelain.  NOT!

So I went to the Angelic Dreamz site where Jamie show is sold. Though the articulation was superior and lifelike I didn’t bond with the faceup.

I later would collect two 12 inch Demi Jamie show bodies to pop on a FR, Dynamite girl etc. head.

So early July I was wanting to get my first custom repaint.  I now owned 7 Sybarites and 2 Inooqui dolls.  The idea of repainting a Sybarite crossed my mind but why mess with perfection.

My first thought was an avant-garde, however their bodies are less than desirable and plastic. Then I thought Jamie show would be perfect.

To my excitement I was also taken aback at Jamie shows new basic dolls called St.Tropez collection.  There she was Angelica with her deep long black Saran hair.

I know had forgotten about a repaint and ordered her straight away.  An added plus was the girls have a magnetic rooted wig cap and a bald cap for wigs as well.

Which brings me to this post.  Sometimes doll manufactures overdue the “goo” in the dolls hair making it appear greasy and unmanageable.  Sadly I read on Terri golds blog her opinion on her brand new Jamie show dolls and how disappointed she was and basically advised not to invest in the other colored shapes and styled wig caps for $30.00 each

As a licensed Hair traffic controller from my youth thought if hair is involved I can fix it.  Integrity’s FR girls like Kesnia  and to my surprise Youthquake Poppy Parker had awful greasy looking hair.

Kesnia  worse than Poppy’s so I got to work.  Photos will post of them later today.  But not to keep you waiting here is my recipe for making Angelica’s or any other long haired doll or wig fierce, beautiful, and most important manageable.

SUPPLIES:
1. small amount of Dawn liquid soap. (Any dish soap which cuts grease will do.)
2. 1 quarter teaspoon of Downy fabric softener.
3. Hot water from tap
4. Hair dryer
5. Fine tooth comb
6. Wired dog or wig brush
7. Clothes Iron
8. Towel.

OKAY I think you get by my items listed above is to was the hair with Dawn soap in hot water running from the tap.

2. Now while rinsing use the brush while rinsing out the soap.
I did this step once and then repeated it.  You will know when this step worked when the hair seems to get stiff and tangly.
Remember whenever you are washing doll hair in water especially if it is rooted not to TUG the tangles out.

3.  After the hair is rinsed and combed thru take the 1/4 teaspoon of fabric softener and with the tap now running cool not COLD begin by pouring the softener from the crown down.
Work it in the hair easily and then comb not brush under the cool runnig water until rinsed out.

4. It is always best to use less softener than too much as is combing and brushing choice all depends on how much hair be it straight or cutlet.

5. With the hair now washed take a medium tea towel and allow it to absorb the water and shake the hair.

6. Blowdry on Med setting and brush or comb the hair.  Don’t put the hair or really any synthetic doll hair too close to the dryer and set too hot as well.
By doing that you are risking breakage and dryness making the hair dull with split ends.

7. Now taking the damp tea towel or actually a medium bath towel as I just glanced down to my own towel. You want to fold it in half and then turn on your clothing iron.  My iron is set to steam while hot it has the ability to add moisture.

8.  If you don’t have a clue on settings on an iron that’s okay. With the moist towel section the hair and lay on the towel combing it out straight.

9. Now take the double folded towels other side laying it over the hair.  Take the hot iron and move it around ontop the towel for a few moments.  As I said earlier if you have just a iron not knowing its settings but know it does get hot.  This is the reasoning for using the damp towel from the previous hair washing step.

(Pending on how anal you are such as myself I do this all in sections. Front, back, sides, top etc.)

10. FINALLY as you finish the first section I get my fine tooth comb and place it close to the folded towel where the doll/wig meet.  Taking the hair with my left hand I have my comb in my right hand then slowly pull the just ironed hot hair thru the comb.

That’s it.  I just realized I did not take a before photo of Angelicas hair but I do have kesnias hair as an example to be posted later.

Well I need to get back to Sunday doll play on this very sad day September 11th.  My hearts and prayers are with those lost and affected in this horrific tragedy.  God bless America!

My apology on the photo set styling as I have used my mobile phone camera and have not edited yet.  On the plus side if the hair looks this amazing in a camera phone imagine it under the right lighting and camera.

Always looking for the best way no matter how small to keep in touch! Sent 2 WordPress for Android