And I'm back!

Well, the move that never was never happened, and I've recovered from my "dolly burnout".

I actually went an entire year without buying any dolls, and I went through a lot of my things and decided to get rid of them. Since most of them came from the thrift store, this was no hardship.

So much has changed in this last year - LIV dolls are no more except for a few really ugly dolls that I'm never going to buy. I was never really a fan of the dolls, but I loved their accessory packs! I'm still kicking myself for not buying that Union Jack outfit when it was around. (Maybe I'll find it on Ebay, and hopefully it won't cost the earth.)

So what tempted me out of my dolly malaise? Well, it was a LIV doll I found at the thrift store. She was missing her wig, but she still had her outfit and her boots, and I actually think she's prettier with her short, painted on hair. I found her, and two of the three Wee Three Friends dolls (the Hispanic one and the redhead), and she immediately became the mom to the Hispanic dolly.

I wish I could take pictures, but I need a new camera. I had to get a new computer last year, and my old camera doens't work with Windows 7 (damn you, Microsoft!)

Well from there, the floodgates were opened. I went and bought the Stardoll Barbie I'd been eyeing like FOREVER (the dark haired one with the vaguely Bettie Page haircut.) Last paycheck I went and bought the Monster High Coffin Bean cafe set with the only Clawdeen Wolf doll I've ever wanted! I have the first wave dolls of Frankie and the Deuce and Cleo set dolls. I had the pajama Ghoulia (missed the first wave of her doll with Sir Hoots A Lot - curses!) But this was the only Clawdeen I've ever wanted, and I love the cute little cafe set!

(I heard that Costco exclusive of this set also comes with Draculaura - meh. She's my least favorite of all the dolls because all of her things are so PINK. Bleh!)

Today I bought Skulltimate Roller Maze Operetta, who has the coolest red/green/black streaked hair ever seen on a Mattel doll. I also bought two of the Design Lab add-on packs, so Operetta is sporting some kicking new purple heels (from the "Three Eyed Ghoul" pack).

I'm going to buy the Create a Monster sets - esp. the boy one. You can never have too many boy dolls, esp since the Monster High line usually has the boy dolls as limited editions instead of including them in the regular line. Deuce likes the ladies, but he is missing having some testosterone around the diorama! And since I missed Clawd and Jackson last year,  the Vampire and Gargoyle boys will have to do.

Of Mattel's other dolls, I'm only interested in the Stardolls,  in the  Tim Gunn Barbie and in the 3.0 Barbie Basics line. Which I hear is supposed to be the last Barbie Basics line. I'm not surprised. When you have one or two black or Asian dolls and shitload of blonde dolls - well, it's called MATTEL NEVER LEARNS.

Which might explain why Monster High is so insanely popular. I've seen black mothers and their daughters at TRU and Target and Wal-Mart eagerly discussing which Monster High dolls they already have and which ones they want. Maybe they don't feel weird letting their daughters play with the dolls because the dolls can be enjoyed by everyone.

The black and Asian and Hispanic Barbie Basics were the fastest selling ones in my neck of the woods, followed by the dark haired Caucasian and the Redhead Caucasian Barbie Basics. The blonde ones are still hanging around. And my neck of the woods ISN'T predominately black or Hispanic.

Thank god there is a redheaded Tim Gunn Barbie for me to buy. I'm just saying.

Open your eyes, Mattel.

Stop Your Whining!

The Russians are coming! They're NOT vintage looking! Let the WANGST begin!

(And Welcome to Squarepeg78!)
I never thought the day would come when I would be DEFENDING Silkstones...

Seriously! Back in the days of Barbie Bazaar Magazine, I was really tired of them. Every freaking issue was like "Blah, blah, blah, Silkstones...Look how we made yet another vintage knockoff for Silkstones! Look how great they redress in vintage fashions, blah, blah, blah..."

I had ONE Silkstone at the time - Lingerie #5. The lone African American Silkstone (at that time), and I hardly played with her. She seemed too locked into a particular time period to be much fun, and all I did was look at her.

It wasn't until I saw Kelsie's Mutant Goldfish website and her dolly stories with her Silkstones that I realized, hey, they can be fun to play with as well! (Well I had tried back in the day to make a "Star Trek" story with Number Five, and it was okay.) And to redress into something besides the usual vintage wannabe outfits. And her Silkstones even dated - GASP! Clutch the pearls! - PLAYLINE boy dolls!

(Don't bother looking on her site for the original stories - they're no longer there. Apparently when you go Fashion Royalty, you're no longer allowed to play with other dolls anymore!)

So, now my girls (yes, I bought more Silkies!) have "Silkstone Manor" where they laugh and love and rage and just live dolly lives like the other inhabitants of my doll nation. It's nice to be able to play with you dolls and not just look at them!

Getting back to the reason for this article - Mattel has announced new Silkstone dolls for 2011 with a Russian theme. Now, normally, you know what I think of Mattel - endless, boring blonde dolls who's only differing feature is their outfits, which are all usually pink.

BUT LO! And behold! Mattel actually made some different looking Silkstones! Check out that opening pic! OMG! I want "Darya" (the one in the red dress) and HUMINA! HUMINA! Check out Russian Ken!

But OMG! You should hear the WHINING and WANGST on the doll boards --- "These are not the Silkstones we love!" "I want high fashion dolls!" "These are ugly!"

Uh, no.

The only reason they don't like them is because they're not another Mad Men/Vintage Wannabe Silkstone. I mean, enough all ready! How many of those damned dolls do you have to have? You have actual vintage; you have vintage repro, you have original Silkstone, you have dressmakers who do nothing but remake the same vintage fashions over and over again in different colors and fabrics --

The whiners need to STFU. Go play with your million other boring dolls.

More Fun With Erasers!

My boss decided to "enable" my collection by giving me these erasers the other day - they are the COOLNESS!!!

Most are going to the Barbies, like the smaller sushi pieces and the veggies (with the exception of the carrot), but the larger pieces are going to my bigger dolls like the Tonners and the 18 inch BFC Ink dolls (well, DOLL since I only have one so far!)

I decided to make an impromptu display of the cake erasers I had so far using some erasers I'd gotten earlier this year--

Hee! Looks like I'll have enough cakes to start my own eraser cake bake sale soon!


My boss mentioned that she got them from the Christmas Tree Shops, so I decided that I would head over there on Sunday to see if they had any other erasers that I'd want. She also mentioned that she got them for the ASTOUNDING price of seven cents apiece cause they were 90% off! Well, whoo hoo! Nothing like a bargain to really make me go look for something!


So off I went to the Christmas Tree Shops, and I went back to the area she said she'd found the erasers. After digging around for awhile, these are the erasers that I found:








I got the "Big Sushi" because they'd be perfect for my BFC Ink Calista (and I love the little tray they come on!) The ice cream cone and sundae from the second set are her size as well, and of course, the carrot from the veggie set. (Yay! Now I have two carrots!) Also, that slice of pizza should work for her as well. And of course, more Barbie sized cakes and veggies.







After the Christmas Tree Shops, I decided to hit some of the craft stores in the area. I knew from my friend Lady Rhian that she had gotten some of the erasers from my last post at A.C. Moore, so I decided I'd go there. But first, I went to Michael's to see if they had anything I wanted. I found out they were having a 40% off sale on their scrapbook paper (more on that in a later post), but I also found a set of Crazerasers that have been my holy grail since I first saw them...

That's right - the cereal set of Crazerasers with the "gallon" of milk! I have wanted this set SOOO BAD since I first saw it, and now I have two!

And of course, to celebrate the finding of this set, I had to make an impromptu scene featuring them:

That's Hermione enjoying the taste of "Crazy O's" cereal. And with a glass of juice, it's part of a complete (dolly) breakfast!

Grandma enjoys a large slice of homemade bread, slathered with homemade grape preserves! Yummy! And with coffee and juice, it's part of a complete breakfast -uh, maybe!



OH!!! I forgot to mention I got some loose erasers back at the Christmas Tree Shops - turns out the packaging isn't too tight, and they tend to fall open. So I got these loose pieces for a discount (not seven cents a piece, but still...)







That's Darren having a "Big Gulp" and some cake in his dorm room. (Watch out for that "Freshman Twenty", Darren! )

So I finally got over to A.C. Moore where I didn't find more of the sushi erasers - however, I did find an unusual set of Crazerasers:

And YES --- that brown item is EXACTLY what you think it is -- a DOODY!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Well... it DOES lend itself to some interesting dolly scenes:

"MOMMY!!! Princess made a boo-boo!!!"

...and on that, ahem, note, let's end this post!!!

Story of a Doll with No Name

This is my project for the doll group, Figurvore. This week's challenge is to profile a doll from our collections. I chose a doll that I haven't really bonded with. I wanted to see if I could create a story for her.

------------------



She wakes up, unsure of the time. What does time mean in a place like this, anyway?

She gets from under the bedsheets. The bed is comfortable, but plain. She's not sure about the nightgown she's wearing. She doesn't think pink is her color, but it fits, and that's what matters.

The dresser is the only other piece of furniture in this place. Inside is a blue plaid shirt. It's man's shirt and it's definitely not hers.

Holding it close, she feels she should know the man who wore it. She cannot remember his face, nor anything about him.

Was he friend or foe? A lover? All she knows is that she feels a distinct sense of loss.

That 80s House!

How anyone can anyone be blue looking at this thrift store beauty - esp. when she whips up breakfast for you!

I may as well admit defeat - I simply don't have time to post the last completed episode of "The Real X Files".

I'm working on a novel - well, several novellas. I'm pursuing my goal of becoming a published novelist this year, and I no longer have time for my dolly stories. A sad fact, but there it is.

However, as you can see, I'm still taking time to play with (and acquire) new dolls. The latest one pictured above I got from the thrift store during 25% off day. I named her Crystal, after the chick on Dynasty, because of the big, pink, frou-frou, Barbara Cartland-ish dress she came in. Normally, I'd pass on a blonde Barbie in pink, but something about the expression on this one made me buy her. Also, I'm a sucker for the dolls from the "Big Eye Era", especially when they're PLATINUM blondes. I just think it makes Barbie look a bit more mature - the platinum Barbies from that era always end up as glamourous grandmas, and Crystal is no exception. She's now the "mom" of Rocker Barbie, and is visiting her and Rocker Ken in their house ("That 80's House" as I call it.)

However, I felt that the frou-frou was a bit much to hang out with the grandkids in, so she slipped into this floral sheath. It's really hard to find Barbie clothes that aren't too dowdy or too skanky for "ladies of a certain age". (Pretty much like the real world, huh?)

With the sheath and the pearls (which I twisted with a clear hair deely to form that shape), she gives off a sort of Betty Draper-ish vibe (at least style-wise - Crystal would have kicked Don to the curb ages ago!) And she's happily married to Carlos, the father of Rocker Derek!

Aww! Just look at the love-birds! Cuteness overload!

Now you're saying, "Hey, Rocker Derek never had a dad!" Well, in this universe he does! That's another thing about the Mattel universe that bugs me - where are these people's parents and grandparents and other relatives? Barbie has sisters (and a brother) but no parents? What's up with that?

Rocker Derek shows how it's done! Taking care of his cute little niece! Aww!

I'm working on the 80s house - I put away some dioramas that weren't coming together and I have more SHELF SPACE! Rocker Barbie and Rocker Ken now have their own "little pink house" (actually a BIG pink house on a set of shelves.) I'll post pics later when I get things looking a little more together.

I'm BACK!!!

:::And welcome to Milk, Ms. Leo, TM, Sally and Reality Forest!:::

Yes, it's been awhile - sooo glad to be back here!

Feeling kind of bleh today (actually a whole lot of BLEH as I had to leave work with a headache and nausea - I really think it was something I ate), I came home and found a box waiting for me. It was from my friend Lady Rhian, and inside were candy, a couple of books and these:

That's right - those are the Tomiko sushi erasers everyone has been talking about! Where she got them, I have no idea. Doesn't matter - I kiss the ground she walks on! Many thanks, my friend!

The girls are very appreciative of the gift as well:



And look how well they work with both Re-ment and Bratz sushi items!
AWESOME!

Okay, okay... I know you want to know when the next episode of "The Real X Files" will be out! I'm aiming for sometime this weekend. However, from now on, episodes will only be once a month. In addition to real life stuff, I think I was getting a little burnt out from doing an episode every week. After all, unlike the "real" show, I don't have hundreds of people putting these episodes together!

Anyway, I'm happy to be back!!!

Well, this is a Happy/Sad state of affairs...

You may have noticed that there was no new episodes of "The Real X Files" last weekend or this weekend. I've been trying to post an episode every week (with the exception of the past two weekends I would be out of town and away from my dolls.)

Last weekend, I realized, "Holy Cow! There's only a week and a half before Script Frenzy begins and I need to work on my "script bible"!" If you don't know what Script Frenzy is - it's the sister contest of NaNoWrimo (National Novel Writing Month), except that you write a 100 page script or play. Well, okay, I had already shot last weeks pictures for "The Real X Files" and I figured, okay, I'll start writing some notes for ideas and then I'll get back to posting the story. No such luck. I was more tired than I realized from my trip, and well, last week's episode didn't get posted. Sorry about that.

And then I was going to post it during the week, but then something else came up - it looks like I might have to MOVE. And no, I'm not happy about it as it means I will be putting the dolls (among other things) into storage for the foreseeable future. Did I mention that I have nearly 200 dolls and did I mention all the crap -- uh, "accessories" --- I have for them? And now I have to pack every last diorama and diorama item up and make sure they are secure and not get lost? Can you see where I might want to scream and throw things, especially since this move is NOT my idea? Okay, I think you get the picture.

ALSO (we're back to the "happy" part here), I'm writing a steampunk story that I'm hoping to have finished by the end of this week -- no, strike that -- it will be finished by the end of this week! And I'm going to be sending that out, as well as doing Script Frenzy this month.

The upshot? There will be ONE last episode of "The Real X Files" and then dolls get packed away until who knows when. I won't even be able to finish the story because of all the other things I'm doing, which makes me sad, but at the same time, I'm glad to have the chance to have my writing published and to become an honest to god PAID writer. And then maybe I won't be so upset about moving. (I don't mind moving when it's MY idea, but this? Just... NO. I don't want to go into details, but suffice it to say that I'm pissed at certain members of my family who let it come to this.)

Doll Nation will continue for as long as I have some dolls and doll related things out and about.

I'm cross posting this to the Doll Nation Network site. Thank you.