Eighth Doll of 2014 - Montaigne Market Elise

Keeping a running list of changes to my collection has been a major improvement in my purchasing habits.   Anytime a new doll comes into my home, she is added to the list - regardless of whether or not she is removed from her box (helps provent me using the excuse "I forgot I had her ….").  If a new doll comes in that is removed from box before another doll, she is moved up in the list.  I have only added 11 dolls to my collection and it is almost halfway through the year!   I have sold 12, so I am in a good place.

I purchased the next doll in my collection nude to see what all the fuss was about.   Her secondary market price consistently runs about $500, so getting her nude was a good compromise for my finances.  She was an exclusive to the retail store Montaigne Market in France.  She was released in an edition size of 300 and cost 150 euros plus shipping.   Here is the stock photo of Montaigne Market Elise,  property of Integrity Toys.

Because most of the original Fashion Royalty clothing will not fit the FR2 body (many ensembles by  Mattel, Dressmaker Details, Randall Craig, and various artisans won't either), I am faced with the problem that I have few clothing and shoe options for these new FR2 dolls.  When Clear Lan advertised their most recent line, they included "FR2" as a new size.  I was elated.  Montaigne Market Elise did not remain nude long!

This girl does not take a bad photo!

Her face up is amazing.

Joining Elise to help model what I purchased is Renegade Dasha (another doll I purchased nude because I couldn't afford NRFB secondary market prices).

Here she is alone.

And a faceup!

In addition to the ensembles worn by Elise and Dasha, I had recently added a photo of October Issue Agnes wearing an older Clear Lan ensemble.  I will include it here.

I usually place an order with Clear Lan each time a new line is presented.  I just cannot resist them.  Here is a link to their site.  Have fun shopping!

Link to Clear Lan's Website

But I digress … which I often do … this entry was supposed to showcase Montaigne Market Elise, so how about one last closeup.  I think she's awesome.  So awesome, in fact, I didn't preorder the new Elise from the Spring 2014 FR line.  This is probably one of the very best uses of the Elise mold Integrity Toys has ever produced.  It will be near impossible to beat!

Integrity Toys - Spring 2014 Reveal - Poppy and Everything Else

W Club members got the special treat on Saturday, May 17, of being the first to see Integrity Toys Spring 2014 dolls.  We were not allowed to share this information until Monday, May 19, at 12:00 noon EST.  All photos are the property of Integrity Toys and used here, with permission, for informational purposes only.  I have nothing for sell.  You can contact an Integrity dealer to place your pre-orders.   If you don't have a dealer you can find one through this link:

http://www.integritytoys.com/page/dealers

The first dolls shown this year were the Tulabelle girls.  The storyline for this doll is that she is Poppy Parker's granddaughter.  She is a fashion blogger!   These dolls are 16 inches tall.  The clothing for this line is phenomenal.  Each doll retails for $140, will be released in late summer 2014, and were in an edition size of 300.

This season Tulabelle is taking off to Europe for Paris Fashion Week.
Left: French Kiss Middle: Touch of Grace Right: Player Slayer

IT often polls the viewers during the webinair, and Touch of Grace was the collector's favorite from this line.  That hair is just excellent!  I think her name may be a reference to Grace Adler of the television series Will and Grace.  She reminds me of that character!

I had to include a photo of the accessories that come with Player Slayer because the shoes are little works of art!

There was a fourth doll in this collection called Front Row.  The storyline for this outfit is that she is wearing a gold lame coat that is vintage that was given to her by her grandmother, Poppy Parker.  It's a lovely coat.

Last year I got sucked into this line.  I purchased two dolls - both below retail.  If these dolls go on sale, I'm sure I will be in trouble.  I don't have a lot of space for bigger dolls and have limited myself to only a handful.  If 16" was the focus of my collection, I would've purchased all four dolls.  I love the story line and the design of the collection.   Excellent job IT!  

Next we got "The Girl from I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y. "-  I hope IT has a contest for filling out this acronym.  I think it would be great fun!  I may even start a thread on this on the W Club.

Let's start with the actual Poppy dolls.  There were three Poppy Parker dolls plus one Chip.  All four dolls retail for $120.  The girls will be released in and edition size of 800, whereas there will be 100 less of Chip.
Left: Agent Lotta Danger Middle: Mayhem in Monte Carlo Right: Arm Candy

I see a lot of play value in this line, but it isn't "my thing".  Fortunately I was able to resist.  I do love the catsuit Lotta Danger is wearing.  Mayhem reminds me too much of Barefoot in the Park.

I loved how IT made the story lines connect this time around.  The fourth doll was Spy-A-Go-Go and the ensemble features the coat that was later given to Tulabelle!

Poppy sometimes needs a little help from her friends.  As accomplices, we have Agent Kimiko Gunn (left) and Agent Penelope Chase (right).  Your eyes are not deceiving you!  Kimiko is the older Ayumi mold and Penelope is Colette in a different skin tone.  EXCELLENT!

And what would a good spy story be without a counter-spy?  IT did not leave the storyline hanging.  How about Loni Lawrence as Sabina Havoc: Mistress of Disguise?  And what if we give her the improved QuickSwitch body with a separate head for when she poses as Poppy?  WHAT?  And if that wasn't enough - what if she has a male counterpart - her brother Sebastian Havoc - Brother in Arms.  And what if he was a blonde Francisco Leon?  STOP THE PRESSES!

I don't want to purchase the Loni Lawrence gift set but I NEED that Poppy head.  It is my favorite Poppy head EVER!  These dolls also retail for $120 and will be released in an edition size of 700.  All Poppy dolls are due for release this summer.

JEM fans got four new dolls.  As I have mentioned before, the JEM series came along after I graduated from college and had started my "grown up life".   I was too busy dating, clubbing, finding work, moving, etc. to get involved with JEM.  I know the followers are ecstatic, but I miss this one completely.  (Thank goodness for my budget!)  They are all due to be released in June.

Three of the dolls will be released in an edition size of 500.  Left: Video Montgomery ($119), Middle: Danse Dvorak gift set ($125 with two outfits), Right: Regine Cesaire ($119)

The fourth JEM doll was Clash Montgomery.  She is on the QuickSwitch system with three heads.  She will be released in an edition size of 750 and will retail for $125.

So the grand totals:
4 Tulabelle Dolls - $560
8 Poppy Parker Dolls - $960
4 Jem Dolls  - $490

How much did I, personally, spend:  $0.  However, I'm not sure how I'm going to fare on resisting the silver-haired Poppy head!

Integrity Toys - Spring Reveal 2014 - Fashion Royalty

W Club members got the special treat on Saturday, May 17, of being the first to see Integrity Toys Spring 2014 dolls.  We were not allowed to share this information until Monday, May 19, at 12:00 noon EST.  All photos are the property of Integrity Toys and used here, with permission, for informational purposes only.  I have nothing for sell.  You can contact an Integrity dealer to place your pre-orders.   If you don't have a dealer you can find one through this link:

http://www.integritytoys.com/page/dealers

I decided to give one entire blog entry to the Fashion Royalty collection since that is the focus of my collecting.   The entire collection will be available in August/September.  Each doll retails for $135.  I believe the edition sizes reflect the popularity of the dolls.  Natalia and Eugenia will be released in an edition size of 800.   Elise, Veronique, and Kyori will be 700 each.  Adele, bless her heart, will be released in only 400 dolls.  Please know that these are my personal views in what I say.  Many may disagree with me, but that is why doll collecting is so much fun!

First up we have Elusive Creature Natalia Fatale.  

Oh yeah!  We can do some talking on this one.  The skirt, although similar to Fire Within Jordan's skirt, works quite well with this outfit.  LOVE the boots and handbag.  The hat is great.  I love the neutral color palette.  Although Natalia usually wears her hair this way, it continues to be effective.  COME TO MAMA!

The second doll is On the Rise Elise Jolie.  

Although I love Elise, I already have four dark-haired Elise dolls.  The dress is lovely and a great color, but I don't see it getting much time in my collection.  I do love the shoes though!  I am trying keep within budget, so this one was a reluctant pass.

Next up is City Prowl Eugenia Frost.

Anytime I hear the name Eugenia Frost, I know I'm a goner.  At first I told myself, "I already have Diamond Society Eugenia.  They look similar."  Then I rationalized, "I'll pick the outfit up on secondary market."   I finally just gave in and signed, "Resistance is futile!"  Already confirmed on her purchase at my dealer!  That leopard blouse will get worn out by the girls residing here!  I'm a little concerned by the eye makeup, but I know the closeup photos are always more extreme than how the doll looks in person.  Outstanding presentation head-to-toe!

The fourth doll was Faded Desert Kyori Sato.

As beautiful as this doll is, I believe her looks are too similar to Love the One.  I didn't want to get readers confused by including a photo of Love the One, but you can check it out at the reference page.  I hope to pick the entire ensemble up on secondary market though.  Passing on her may be my biggest regret of the Spring reveal.   When on the fence though, I tend to lean to the cautious side.

I totally freaked out at the next doll.  Here is Full Spectrum Veronique Perrin:

This doll had me at "thatched eyebrows".   It is rare for any doll manufacturer to release a short haired doll.  It is even rarer to get that short hair style to be effective.  I can't wait to get this doll in my hot little hands.  I love the dress and had to show the photo highlighting the cut out in the back.  I adore how the lip color is a perfect match to the shoes and dress.  

I thought we were finished at five dolls - but there was a sixth!  Here is Vivid Encounter Adele Makeda.

Again, I realize the diversity of our doll collecting community.  One of my very best doll friends loves this outfit.  I, on the other hand, don't understand it in the least.  I think it would have been much better as a jumpsuit paired with a baggy safari jacket and some tan suede boots and hat.  The dolls is just too much like the Convention doll from last year.  She was my only "easy pass".  I think IT needs to retire the word "Vivid" - it always translates to a hot mess.

So here is a photo of the six dolls together to get an idea of the collection:

It is a pretty cohesive collection.   I was very impressed.  I still struggle with the FR2 body, but I have enough extra bodies around here to make any changes I believe necessary.  Some dolls, at least to me, just look better on the older version body.

The event doll - available to all W Club members only - was a big hit.  No matter what's going on, Agnes always seems to get the center of attention.  This webinair was no exception.  I give you High Visibility Agnes Von Weiss.  This doll was a mini gift set and collectors get quite a bit of bang for the buck.

This doll has a beautiful face up which deserves a bigger photo.

Her cost was the same as the rest of the FR line - $135.  What a steal!  The edition size will be based on how many members actually order this doll.  My bet is that it will be well over 1000!

If you purchased the entire collection (including Agnes), you would wind up spending $945 (not including shipping).  Collecting FR dolls has gotten expensive!

I was conservate this time around.  My collection will only be increasing by four dolls:  Elusive Creature Natalia, City Prowl Eugenia, Full Spectrum Veronique, and High Visibility Agnes.

Did anyone survive unscathed?

Touch of Frost Eugenia - Part Deux

A good doll friend of mine and I were e-mailing about Touch of Frost Eugenia.  She explained to me that forward-glancing eyes could be a bit "finicky" to get right.  She wrote that the pupils had to be centered and needed to be the right size - bigger than what was done with Eugenia.

I took her description and tried to capture it with Photoshop.  Do you see a difference?  The eye opening itself was not changed at all.  I only adjusted the pupils and made a very minor correction to the right iris - widening it a little and making it less "rounded".  (I also took balanced the iris color a little).

This girl is being sent off for a spa "refresh" pronto.  I love this enhanced version of Eugenia.  Now we are talking!

What do you think?

My dear husband responded with, "Couldn't they figure that out in quality control?"  Maybe they should consider getting a camera and laptop with photoshop installed in the factory.   They took a picture of a doll right off assembly and blow the photo up to see if the screening was off.  Just a suggestion….