Best of 2014 - Number 5

My very favorite dolls molds were so well represented this year.    I do have more of one mold, though, than any other.   So the rest of my "Best of 2014" list will be given to characters, with my favorite version featured on my list.

The character today would have fared higher on my "Best of 2014" list had I not experienced so many problems with her issues this year.

The last W Club doll from 2013 was Touch of Frost Eugenia.  She arrived in late spring of 2014.   This edition slipped right through Quality Control with more eye issues than any IT product in recent memory.   I had to send mine to a friend who is a repaint artist to have her pupils corrected.  With the enhancement, she is perfect.

When Integrity Toys revealed their mainline collection, I knew City Prowl Eugenia was easily my favorite.  Those who have been following my blog, know that I had to return the first doll for a replacement, then the replacement had screening problems.  In fear that I would never get a good replacement, I even purchased an additional doll on secondary market.   When the third head arrived, I was so relieved.

Although I don't care for the sheer skirt, I love everything about this doll.  She has more of a scowl than some of the more recent Eugenia versions.

The third version of Eugenia was Cold Shoulder.  She part of the Gloss Convention Collection.  (I have to admit that I was surprised that she didn't show up on a table this year!)   I still haven't released mine from her box yet.  She will be the subject of a future blog, but here is a closeup.  She has a facial screening very similar to Fine Jewel while her coloring is similar to Most Desired.  Both of these dolls are "grails" for many collectors which has made Cold Shoulder very popular.   (I truly like this doll quite a bit and love the highlight and lowlight tones used in her hair! that is a very nice symmetry to her.)

Eugenia Perrin Frost is my Number 5 doll of 2014.   From the three offerings this year, my favorite would have to be ...

Best of 2014
Number 5
City Prowl Eugenia

Why I Am Bothered

First, and most importantly, I hope my readers know that I am not a chronic complainer.   I really do love my Integrity dolls.   This hobby is my escape from the stress I experience in my profession (I teach elementary school).   When the hobby becomes stressful, it is doubly upsetting.

If IT didn't have the responsive customer service component in its business that it does, I would probably have already moved on.  The staff at IT is incredible at trying to correct problems and provide replacements.  I know there was recently a death in the family, and my deepest condolences go out to everyone.

I guess I wouldn't be so aggravated with my latest acquisitions, if IT hadn't set their own bar so high.  It's difficult to not compare this year's dolls to those from the last convention.  Here is one of my favorite FR dolls ever, After Tonight Eugenia Frost.

She was a centerpiece doll and cost $130 if you were lucky enough to have your number drawn.  (I paid $5 less for her than the dolls from the mainline this year.)   Since IT was able to give me this for $130, I get frustrated to receive some of the dolls I've gotten this year.  This doll is gorgeous.

Here is Midnight Star Elise Jolie, also from last year's convention.  Another exquisite example of what IT is capable of producing.

This is what I've come to expect, so, naturally, I am disappointed with what I've received this year.

Eugenia Frost is my favorite character.  I had high hopes for City Prowl.  I am still awaiting the second replacement.   I decided to take out Touch of Frost Eugenia.  She arrived this past spring, and her eyes had to be corrected by an artist.   Even though there was an additional cost to have this done, she is one of my favorite dolls from 2014.  (She is wearing the dress from Hard Metal Lilith - an ITBE offered to last year's convention attendees.)

I don't want to have to get in the habit of sending new dolls out to be "corrected".   It is an added expense.  In this case, it was worth it.

I just contacted IT for another replacement.  This time it's Elusive Creature Natalia.  Here is a photo of what I received.  Her left eye screening is definitely off.  I've already been contacted and told a replacement would be sent.

There are problems in every doll line - I've been around a long time and have experienced most of them first hand.  As much as I like collecting dolls, I think it's the miniature fashions that appeal to me most.  There really isn't any other company producing doll fashions that rival those of IT.

I've purchased nine FR dolls this year.  So far, four of them have had problems with their eyes.  I don't like this statistic.  I thought long and hard about my "bad luck" and come to realize that my luck shouldn't be this bad.   I know the dealer I use allows local collectors to cherry pick their inventory before sending out their orders by mail.  That's probably a big reason why I have so many dolls arriving with problems.  I am being sent the "leftovers".   My first step with all of this is to change my dealer.  If anyone knows of a great dealer who doesn't add a premium to their FR dolls and doesn't allow local collectors to pick over the dolls, please let me know.

If this doesn't help, I guess I'll move on to a different solution.

Summer Vacation Day 44

I started this series with the intention of spotlighting only Fashion Royalty dolls, but yesterday the mailperson brought me a very special package.   I had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this box.  (By this,  I mean I was very excited about receiving it, not that the artist had them for any length of time.   The artisan actually only had them for a little over a week.  Incredibly fast turnaround.)

When I opened the package, my eyes filled with tears.   There were three "refreshed" faces ready to greet me!

If I had to list my favorite character molds they would be in this order:
1. Eugenia
2. Vanessa 1.0
3. Agnes
4. Adele 2.0
5. Elise
6. Dania

Earlier this spring I gave a quick review of the last doll offered to W Club Members last year, A Touch of Frost Eugenia Frost.  Here is the link: Touch of Frost Review

I had high expectations of this doll, especially after receiving After Tonight Eugenia Frost from the 2013 Integrity Convention.  Unfortunately, there was something off with her eye screening.  A doll friend and I were discussing it and thought it would be an easy fix.  I tried to photoshop a picture and put that in another blog entry:

Touch of Frost Eye Correction Photoshop

So, I turned on the heating pad, removed her head, and she got mailed off for a little cosmetic eye fix.  I figured while I was doing that, I'd send two others who were in bad need of tweaking.  To help my readers understand the difference, I will include two photos.  The original followed by the enhanced version.

First, we have the original with the odd eye problem (to me she looks like she has a "sleepy" right eye):

And now, with the pupils brought down and enlarged a little,  drum roll please …

Another photo to show you a more direct look at the eyes:

So, this blog also spotlights the 9th Doll added to my collection in 2014.  With correction, she truly supports being a member of my favorite Fashion Royalty mold and the perfect doll for Summer Vacation Day 44.