Summer Vacation - The Day After

Although I listed 60 different dolls this summer, I tried to focus my efforts just on those dolls that were FR.  Three dolls on FR2 bodies did sneak in unexpectantly.  Even with 60 days, I managed to leave out a few other dolls living here.  Doing this photo shoot was very time consuming and helped me in many ways:

• I was able to make decisions about letting some dolls go
• I was able to identify body problems and upgrade all dolls staying to the latest handspeak FR bodies
• I found dolls whose face ups needed a "tweak" and they got sent off to the spa

Since I was working on doll bodies, I also took some time with my "hybrids".   A hybrid doll is when you take a doll from one manufacturer and put its head on the body from a different manufacturer.  In one of my earlier blogs, I mentioned that Integrity Toys didn't have enough ethnic variety in their releases.   In my personal collection, I have remedied that where possible.

A favorite of mine is Top Model Nikki.  Here she is wearing the Truly Madly Deeply Agnes ensemble from 2012.

She is a lovely doll and deserves a spot in my FR collection.  She is on a fully articulated Josephine Baker body.

Adele Makeda has so many skin tone variations - some quite subtle - that it is difficult to color match heads with bodies.   Last year I saw some 12" resin Jamieshow bodies for sale on e-bay.  I grabbed them up.  Although a little expensive, they were still cheaper than what FR2 bodies were selling for at the time.  I got three - two AA and one Caucasian.  I was thrilled that the dolls had a neck knob where you could slip the head on and off easily.  It allows me to switch off my dolls.  The bodies are strung, so the hands are not easily removable for dressing options.  Another favorite Mattel doll is my Lt. Uhura.  She had to be dressed in something appropriately futuristic, so I gave her Shake It Up Korinne's ensemble.

Insert obvious pun here - "Set phasers to stunning!"  The bodies are similar to the FR2 bodies but are a little shorter.  Their feet are smaller.   (If you are curious about the Jamieshow 12" body, I reviewed it last year.  Here is the link Jamieshow 12" Body Review - hope you enjoy it.)

Apparently Jamieshow produced different versions of the caucasian skin tone.  My FR dolls wouldn't work with this body!  I was so disappointed until I found out that my favorite Barbie Basic Collection 002 - No. 14 was a perfect match!  I have a whole story line for this doll (after all, who can call a doll "Barbie Basic Collection 002 - No. 14).   Her name is "Scout".   Her mother is an American Literature professor at the local college who has been praying with the Episcopalian priest, Father Tim, that Scout's rebellious phase will be short lived.

Scout is wearing a hodgepodge of clothing.  The dress is Ayumi's, the jacket is form Color Infusion, the hose is Mattel.   Scout is so gorgeous - it doesn't matter how she dresses.

The final doll I am going to spotlight is the most important doll in my collection.   Some of you may wonder the background story about my mascot doll, Chaundra, who appears in the upper right hand corner of my blog.   It was almost four years ago that I spent nine days in the hospital with my mother who was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.   She was released from the hospital and returned home to hospice care.   I always took Chaundra on my visits home.   Mama really liked Chaundra, often commenting that she looked like my Aunt Lou.   I hadn't made the connection, but she was right.  Aunt Lou was a favorite aunt from my childhood- always fun to be around and full of life.   After Mama passed, I started this blog to help cope with my loss.  Chaundra has always been in the upper right hand corner of my blog.   Chaundra is more special to me than I can write in words.  More than reminding me of Aunt Lou - she reminds me of the last weeks I had with Mama.

Chaundra was a Mattel Barbie Basic Model 08 from the Target Exclusive Red Collection  (Thank you Phyllis).  I put her on a Dynamite Girl body.  She has always been sassy and fun.   It was a very difficult decision to "upgrade" her to a different body.  I like the idea of being able to give her more clothing options, so she is now sporting a Jamieshow resin BJD body (as of this weekend).

I think she looks great.  I guess it was time for her to grow up a little and a time for me to move forward a little.