Organization - Cabinet 1 Shelf 1

I have received comments from followers that they would like to see my collection and cabinets.  Unfortunately, I don't think anyone would be very impressed because I had been keeping my dolls, nude, in two bookcases. 

My dear sweet husband gave me a couple detolf cabinets for Valentine's Day.   He reasoned that the cabinets would help me organize my collection and get it under control.  Bless his heart!

So, I decided to start at the beginning.  

I pulled all of my older dolls out first.  It turns out I have 10 dolls from 2004 - 2005 that have been rebodied to taller bodies.   When possible, I decided to dress the dolls in their original ensembles.  (When a doll can no longer wear their original ensemble, I put them in an ensemble pre-2006.)

They all fit nicely on one shelf!  So Cabinet #1, Shelf #1 is finished:

Back row includes ...

Sheer Goddess Veronique Perrin (2004) in her original ensemble

Born To Gamble Kyori Sato (2005) in her original ensemble

Diamond Dusted Veronique Perrin (2004) in her original ensemble

Second Row includes ...

Age of Opulence Isha Kalpana Narayanan (2005) in her original ensemble

Glam Slam Kyori Sato (2004) - She is wearing Purple Factor (2003)

Poesie Sans Couleur Vanessa Perrin (2005) in her original sheath

Perfect Skin Adele Makeda (2004) - She is wearing Perfectly Suited (2002)

Front row includes ...

Ginza Blonde Kyori Sato (2005) in her original gown

A Fashionable Life Raven Vanessa Perrin (2005) in her original bustier and skirt

A Fashionable Life Platinum Vanessa Perrin (2005) - She is wearing Silver Society (2002)

Cabinet 1 - Shelf 1

Back Row:      

Sheer Goddess Veronique Perrin (2004) Wearing Sheer Goddess (2004)

Born To Gamble Kyori Sato (2005) Wearing Born To Gamble (2005)

Diamond Dusted Veronique Perrin (2004) Wearing Diamond Dusted (2004)

Middle Row:   

Age of Opulence Isha Narayanan Kalpana (2005) Wearing Age of Opulence (2005) 

                   

Glam Slam Kyori Sato (2004) Wearing Purple Factor  (2003)

Poesie Sans Couleur Vanessa Perrin (2005) Wearing Poesie Sans Couleur (2005)

Perfect Skin Adele Makeda (2004) Wearing Perfectly Suited (2002)

Front Row:    

Ginza Blonde Kyori Sato (2005) Wearing Ginza Gown (2005)

A Fashionable Life Raven Vanessa Perrin (2005) Wearing AFL (2005)

A Fashionable Life Platinum Vanessa Perrin (2005) Wearing Silver Society (2002)

Veronique Perrin: 2

Kyori Sato: 3

Adele Makeda: 1

Isha Kalpana Naryanan: 1

Vanessa Perrin: 3

Best of 2020 - Number 8: Little Day Ensemble Veronique Perrin

2020 was riddled with so much anxiety and stress related to the COVID19 pandemic.  Unfortunately, this stress sometimes poured over into my hobby.

This year Integrity Toys (IT) released a mini capsule, Maison FR Paris Collection, sold directly through dealers.  There were only two dolls.  At first I wasn't that impressed and wasn't planning on ordering either of them.   The more I looked at them, I decided I should take the plunge and just "go for it".  After all, there weren't a lot of new dolls being released this year.  

It turned out that it wasn't difficult to find Siren Silhouette Korinne Dimas.  (Photo property of IT)

This character had never appeared on the FR2 body and hadn't even been produced since 2012.  There were 1100 in the edition size and the price was $175.   Collectors were a little shy about buying her.  I think she will be an interesting addition to my collection, and I believe I will really like the ensemble.  She is already paid for but hasn't been shipped yet to IT.

The other doll was Veronique Perrin, mold 1.0.  If you follow my blog, I had just thinned out my Veronique collection and had even gone on to eliminating doll versions with blonde ponytails!   After all that work, did I really want to stir things up again?   Apparently, the answer was "yes"!

Now, this is where the stress comes in.   Many IT dealers take preorders of dolls following promotion, and it is a total feeding frenzy when new dolls are released.  Some dealers just list the dolls on their website at "first come, first served".   Because I couldn't make up my mind, I had to act quickly when websites starting posting her.

I waited around on the internet for the Couture Dolls site to go live with these dolls.   I completed the checkout process immediately and even got an e-mail confirmation from PayPal at 1:02 that my payment went through (the site went live at 1:00).  That was followed by a a confirmation e-mail from Couture Dolls at 1:16 p.m. that my order was processed.  I was ecstatic!   Done and Done! 

Then at 2:38 p.m., I got a cancellation e-mail from Couture Dolls.  It stated that they didn't have enough dolls to fill the orders.  ... But I was in and out by 1:02 p.m.?  This was the second time this year that I was told I missed out on something by seconds.  (Remember Alain's e-mail about the Legendary Convention ticket?)

Here's where the stress comes in.  It seems Couture Dolls did not have enough allotment to process their online orders, but they got enough to sell the dolls on their website for $300 (that's almost double her retail price).  The sad thing is that dealers can get away with doing this because IT does not police this type of behavior or prohibit it.  Since IT keeps the edition sizes low, there is more demand than supply, so many collectors go to secondary market and pay the inflated prices.  Several dealers are actually guilty of doing this.  It should be stopped, but I guess it will continue as long as collectors allow it.

I had decided that I did not need this doll in my collection and had decided to ignore her completely.  Unfortunately for me, actual photos of the doll captured how beautiful she was.  I had to break one of my collecting rules and purchase the doll secondary market.  

Although Veronique has appeared in my countdown previously:  

2011 - Breaking the Mold was #3

2014 - Full Spectrum was #7

2018 - Fetish Fatale was #9

all of these were mold 2.0 versions.  This is the first time Veronique Perrin, mold 1.0, got into my countdown.  I always claimed that mold 1.0 suffered from poor screening choices after IT switched to the taller bodies.  Here is an example (Onyx Veronique)

The designers refused to believe it could be their choices for screenings and blamed the mold itself.  This was ridiculous reasoning since prior to 2006, there were some amazing versions like Diamond Dusted 

and Sheer Goddess

2020 proved that mold 1.0 could produce beautiful, highly sought after dolls, with the right screening.  This year we go Velvet Rouge Fragrance, Cover Story, and Little Day Ensemble.  All of these were countdown-worthy!

Here is Little Day Ensemble in box.

Full length in box ...

One thing I need to mention is that there is an inconsistency in quality control this year.   With all that is going on globally, it probably should be expected, but it does affect these dolls since they are hand-screened and rooted.  I watched e-bay until an example came up with great eyes and hair.  Here she is out of box.

Full length with jewelry, shoes, sunglasses, and purse (she also came with two additional sets of hands, one of them being a lovely rose colored gloved hand).

If it hadn't been for my bad experience obtaining her, she could've easily been much higher on my countdown.  In any other year, she could've easily been a Number 1 doll.   The ensemble looks a little bulky, but the fabric is very soft.  Her hair is luxurious without a hint of product.  This doll is everything Veronique stands for: exquisite taste and class!  One of my very favorite dolls added to my collection in 2020. 

Number 8 in my Best of 2020 Countdown (and number 31 added to my 2020 collection) is Little Day Ensemble Veronique Perrin (mold 1.0).  

 

Moving forward ...

It would only seem logical to move from Veronique Perrin to the doll that joined her for the launch of Fashion Royalty, Adele Makeda, but that would've made too much sense.  A second option, would be to move to another member of the Perrin family.  Again, too simple.

In 2011, Veronique's mold was changed after a short hiatus.  A couple other characters debuted during this time.  Many collectors believed these characters were "off shoots" of the redesign process for Veronique.   Conspiracy theories are always interesting, aren't they?

One of those was Korinne Dimas, which has never made an appearance in the FR2 lineup!  I believe there has only been seven versions of this doll even released.  Some collectors do not like this mold due to its strong nose.   Although I've owned a few of them, the only one with any staying power here was the original blonde version of Shake It Up, an IFDC exclusive with an edition size of only 300.   (She was recently put on a FR2 body.)

The reason I brought Korinne up is that I would like to keep at least one version of each mold in my collection.  Since Shake It Up is the only version I own, she will remain in my collection by default.  This lead me to the realization that I didn't need to keep Royal Treatment Veronique Perrin, especially since I was also keeping Stage Presence Veronique.  Three blue-eyed, platinum blondes, with red lips and smoky eyes were just too much.  It was especially obvious that Royal Treatment was leaving when I put her next to Shake It Up.

The other mold that came out during this time was Anja Christensen.  Again, this mold sadly has never transitioned into FR2 territory.   There have been at least ten versions of Anja.  I have owned several, and I have five actually living here, just recently finding a new home for Wrap-ture.

Just as I did for a Korinne/Veronique comparison, I found that one of my Anja versions, Agent 355, actually was a little similar to one of the versions of Veronique I planned to keep, Nocturnal Glow.

Although they are different enough, there is still the blue eyes, nude lips, curly long brown hair with smoky eyeshadow connection.  I actually prefer Nocturnal Glow's screening.  

I purchased In Sequins Anja for her dress.  I had a lot of trouble bonding with her hair, so I tried fixing it.  I really prefer her this way; she reminds me of a young Priscilla Presley.

But ... she also reminds me of another NuFace doll residing here, Fame by Frame Imogen.

I have only attended two conventions ever, and Fame by Frame was the convention doll at Tropicalia.  Not to mention that my table host was Veronica Hage who corrected this doll's eye for me.  She has become a good doll friend, and Fame by Frame has such a good memory attached to her.

Veronica also corrected another doll for me, Dark Side Anja, by completely redoing the eyes.  She recently transferred to a FR2 body, so she is another "no-brainer" for putting in the "Staying Here" pile.

That leaves me with two more versions of Anja.  Both of which are quite under-rated in my opinion.  The first is the Carol Roth version called The Entrepreneur Equation.

She will joining her sister, Dark Side, here.  

The last Anja in my collection is Dovima, A Woman Who Thinks. 

I'm not sure why I like this doll so much, but I do.  I keep telling myself that AFL Raven Vanessa Perrin is a much better version of a dark haired doll with a widow's peak, blue eyes, and red lips, but I'm not listening to this argument.  

That gets me through three characters.

When I started this process:
Veronique - 15 
Korinne - 1
Anja - 6

What is still here:
Veronique - 9
Korinne - 1
Anja - 3

I'm moving in a good direction!  Can't stop now!




  

The Best Place to Begin ... Veronique Perrin

After last year's purchasing frenzy and attending the IT Convention in Baltimore, I was hit hard with the realization that major changes had to occur in my collection.   I have too much of everything!  

I'm not sure why, but modern doll collectors seem like locusts.  We get totally consumed by a doll for a few short weeks and then move on to something new.  That causes dolls to lie around in boxes, be shoved to the back of the display, or just go neglected.   I'm just as guilty of this as the next collector, but I have made up my mind that it is time to stop.

I have decided to take a very serious look at my collection, and only keep those dolls that seem to stand the test of time - those dolls that still bring me joy when I look at them, that I still play with regularly, that still make me want to redress, admire, and photograph them.  

But when I look at my collection, I am completely overwhelmed.  Instead of dealing with the situation head-on, I have been neglecting my doll area.  (Out of sight, out of mind!)   Any success story though starts with the first step.

I decided my first step would be to begin at the beginning.  I need to evaluate each character separately, and then compare them to similar dolls of different molds.  So, I guess I need to start with the very first character I collected, Veronique Perrin.

It's hard to believe but six years ago, I made the same decision.  I actually created a collage of my collection of each mold.  

Please notice how many red "X's" there are.  As a collector though, I know that new girls often arrive to replace those that have left.   There were sixteen dolls living here in 2014.  Ten of those are no longer here.

In addition to this collage, I had already owned and sold:
2003 Silver Society, 2003 Midnight in Monaco, 2004 Social Call, 2005 She Means Business, 2006 Lights, Camera, Royal, 2006 Shine, 2007 Mastermind, 2011 Modern Comeback Noir, 2011 Style Counsel, 2011 Air Apparent.

So, last year I decided to make a new collage:

There were five versions of mold 1.0 living here.  Last year, I repurchased Stylish Escape at an insanely cheap price, primarily for her ensembles, which increased my number to six.

I sold two of the ten versions of mold 2.0 (see red "X's" again); however, I added a version that I had been watching for a long time, Stage Presence.

New total for mold 2.0 is now nine.   That's a grand total of 15 Veronique Perrin dolls living here.   Even though they represent two different molds, I need to cut that number.  I would like to keep it below 10 total.  So, who goes ...

Diamond Dusted was the first FR doll I ever purchased, right after my divorce.  It was a financial sacrifice at the time, but I couldn't resist her.  She remains a favorite, so she isn't going anywhere.

Sheer Goddess has been the subject of many photo sessions and actually has her own name, Eris.  She has the shortest rooted hair of any FR doll living here (she reminds me of Lisa Rinna).  She's staying...

My version of Sound Advice is a OOAK by Vin Trapini.  I won the "repaint of any doll" when I participated in the "America's Next Top Doll" competition online.  I chose Sound Advice and told Vin what I imagined; he created it perfectly.  She's sticking around also.

Although I have no strong connection to Shanghai In Bloom, she is the only doll on her original short body.  I put her in my favorite Mattel gown, Serenade in Satin, and have her in a glass display.

Buxom is the only black version of Veronique ever produced, so she rounds out my first five.  

Stylish Escape has already been listed on e-bay.

It seems odd to me, but I don't have as strong feelings for mold 2.0.  If I am going to only keep five of them, I guess my list would be:

1.  Stage Presence 
2.  Fetish Fatale
3.  Nocturnal Glow (Seriously under-rated doll)

The main reason I was keeping Breathless was the ensemble, so I stripped her and listed her nude.  Likewise for Reception Versailles, except I really like her hair.   Breaking the Mold was getting no attention here, so she will be going somewhere she can be more appreciated.  

That leave me with Royal Treatment, Full Spectrum, Reception Versailles, and Love of Luxe.  What do you think?  Which should stay, if any?

Best of 2018 - #9 Fetish Fatale Veronique Perrin

I really love it when IT gives us a mini-boudoir capsule.  They did this in 2015 with dolls using the older FR handspeak bodies and I was able to acquire all the lingerie ensembles and most of the dolls. I was so excited when they announced a similar line in 2018.  Two of the five dolls from the collection were available through a W Club lottery.

I was very fortunate to win the opportunity to purchase Fetish Fatale Veronique Perrin in April.  She was immediately released from her box and showcased in a blog post Blog Review of Fetish Fatale Veronique Perrin.

This doll has been commonly compared to Bettie Page.  Integrity Toys (IT) used the amazing Haute Societe screening.  It is so dramatic with deep red matte lips and black hair.

She's been enjoying her time in my collection and I love redressing her.  #9 of 2018 is Fetish Fatale Veronique Perrin.

Love of Luxe Veronique Perrin - #16 of 2018

I resisted this doll.  I really tried.   I had purchased her ensemble separately for Walking On Gold Adele Makeda, so I wouldn't be tempted by the doll herself.   Unfortunately, the more photos that are showing up post-convention, the more I had to have her.

This year's Welcome Gift Doll was Love of Luxe Veronique Perrin.   She has red hair (which is a shade that is difficult to catch in photos - it often photographs brighter than it actually is in person).  The hair is a high ponytail which was one of the hair themes this year.  It is straight and easy to maintain - you have no idea my fear of flyaway curly hair!

Love of Luxe shares the same screening with many other Veronique versions.  The first time this screening showed up was Sweet Smell of Success for 2012 and the convention Veroniques that year, Haute Societe and Workshop.  It turned up again in 2013 at the convention with Breathless and at the 2015 convention with Stage Presence.  This year we saw it again in the spring with Fetish Fatale.  Although it is a favorite among collectors, I think it needs to be retired for a  period of time.

Here is Love of Luxe Veronique Perrin in the box.

And a closeup.  I finally found a version with a hairline I could live with.  Most versions of this doll have truly messed up hairlines.  I think this issue needs to be addressed by IT.

She came with black shoes that tie up her ankles (not sure why because it totally ruins the look of the dress).   She is wearing cute pink lace panties (one of my favorite things about the ensemble).  The jewelry is a simple bracelet and flower shaped dangle earrings with a "green" stone in the middle.  It isn't a cohesive look, but I like the pieces separate for other uses.

As has been the case with most of the dolls from the Luxe Life Convention, they look much better redressed.  (I will probably be selling the extra ensemble on e-bay.)   It is cold and rainy here, so Vero had to put on a sweater.

She's a very cute doll and I think she will redress quite well.   I like the pale skin tone with the coppery red hair.  (When she is in the pink the dress, the camera wants to make her hair brighter red.) I thought the doll I was purchasing had a better hairline.  This one isn't horrible, but I it could be better.  She is easy to pick up around the $125 mark.   The ensemble and body are worth that.

Summer Vacation Day 24

Doing this summer countdown has returned some control over my doll collection.  By looking at each character and mold separately, I've been able to identify the dolls that are most important to me.  It has helped me let go of many dolls.   The section on the left hand side of the blog, where I list dolls added to and sold from my collection, has changed considerably.  I have sold off almost all of my silkstones, keeping only my favorite three:  Fashion Editor, Tea and Savories, and Capucine.  I am doing a great job of lowering my FR numbers as well.

In addition, I have been able to upgrade those dolls who are permanent fixtures here by finding appropriate handspeak bodies and selling off the donors.  It is liberating to know I have these dolls on the best bodies currently available that match their skin tones.  The Muse Adele finally got a Bionica Jordan body.

It is past the midpoint of my summer, so I am revisiting the beginning.  We will start with Veronique 1.0 who was one of the first two FR dolls produced.

Sometimes I get a doll and she becomes a character in my make-believe world.  This doll is one of the first dolls to come live with me.  Her name is Sheer Goddess Veronique Perrin.  She was produced in 2004 with an edition size of 1000 and sold for $100.  I gave her the name "Eris", and she has been the subject of many photo shoots.  She tends to be an eclectic dresser and is a highly creative individual in my dolly universe.

Short haired dolls are quite uncommon in the doll world.  They don't come along often and they aren't easy to get "right".   Sheer Goddess Veronique (Eris) has always reminded of a  Liza Minnelli/Sally Bowles and Lisa Rinna combination.  She is fun to photograph and is always willing to try on whatever I put together!

RECAP for Veronique 1.0:    Since I started the summer review, I have sold Flame Rouge/2003, Chic Escape/2003, Traveler by Nature/2004, and Stylish Escape/2006.   (Owned and sold in the past are Lush Life/2002, Midnight in Monaco/2003, Social Call/2004, Lights Camera Royal/2006, New Versailles/2006, Shine/2006, and Body Double/2008.)

That leaves six Veronique 1.0 dolls who are safe in my collection at this time are:

Diamond Dusted (2004)
Sheer Goddess (2004)
Shanghai in Bloom  (2004)
Girl of the Moment on a Nuface Body (2004)
Sound Advice/Ondine (2006)
Onyx (2008)

There is only one Veronique 2.0 doll living here and she was already the subject of a blog post:
Breaking The Mold/2011.  (Gone but not forgotten are Modern Comeback Noir/2011, Sweet Smell of Success/2012, Haute Society/2012, and Convention Hair Workshop/2012.)

So out of 22 Veroniques I have owned, only seven remain on my shelves.