The Mist

I read the book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan with my gifted third graders.  If you are unfamiliar with this series (there has been a rather bad movie made from the first book), it is about Greek mythology in modern times. 

But how does this relate to a doll blog?  Well, the author knew that he was writing for students of the technology age, children who are not easily fooled.  How can you explain weird mythological occurences happening in a world where everything must have a reasonable explanation?  He came up with "mist".  As it turns out, "mist" surrounds regular humans and blinds us to things extraordinary.  It helps our minds make sense of things that are not rational.

It is my personal belief that "mist" surrounds the collecting community - no more so than at conventions.  Collectors become dewey eyed and giddy with excitement.  They are so overwhelmed and caught up in the moment, the surrounding mist keeps them from readily seeing problems or mistakes.

The mist wasn't strong enough on Saturday night in my hotel room.  As soon as I got back, I checked my dolls from the banquet.  Both my Imogen dolls had one eye bigger than the other.  I wanted to go down to the sales room and try to trade them out but the crowd was incredible, I was tired, and I needed rest. 

The first one was more obvious than the second.  (The glare from the light didn't help matters any!)  A new owner is enjoying this doll now.  Most of the photographs I have seen of Imogen show similar issues.  I am very surprised more hasn't been said about that.  Maybe the mist is working.

Unfortunately, once I know there is a problem I can't get past it.  The second doll had a problem with its right iris.  I was fortunate that my table hostess was Veronica Hage.  When I asked her about it, she said that she had the same problem and was planning to correct it.  I had her correct mine as well.

Now, she is perfect.  She is one of the most sensual dolls I believe IT has ever produced.  She is my favorite NuFace girl ever.

While she was working on Imogen, I turned my attention to another favorite, Hot Dots Poppy.  My previous post was all about this doll.  Once placed on a Dynamite Girl body, I found her irrestible.

I decided to continue playing with my Color Infusion ensembles.  Here is Model A wearing Ensemble 2. I had two of this ensemble.  I had one for sale and a potential buyer asked me to photograph a doll wearing this outfit. 

Here is a warning:  If you unzip the military vest on Ensemble 2, make sure you are very careful.  The bottom of the zipper frayed off the first time I unzipped mine.  I can no longer get it to re-zip and have notifed IT Patient Care. 

I knew that the male Ensemble 5 was destined for my DG Cruz who I call "Lambert" after Adam Lambert.  He looks perfect in it.

Since everyone was experiencing Eugenia-mani, I thought I would take her out next.  Imagine my surprise when I found that her right eye was missing its eyelash.  It must have come off when wet because there appears to be spots around the eye.  Her hairline is also rooted with a "skipped" stitch over the left eye.

This makes me very sad because she has extraordinary hair and faceup otherwise.  I now have claim #2 in Patient Care.
I guess the "mist" has lifted. 

Finally ... A Chance To Play

First a story about "A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to the Convention".

Before going to the convention this year, I made plans to meet face-to-face with one of my favorite doll people - RichFL.   He is one of the most generous and kind individuals you could ever hope to know.  Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy to meet up as I anticipated; we kept missing each other.

On Saturday morning, Rebecca Berry (another truly amazing person), ran into me and said, "Rich has been looking all over for you!"  I asked her what he looked like.  She described Rich and told me he was wearing khaki shorts and a plaid shirt.   

So, I went on "The Great Rich Hunt!"   If I passed a man who fit Rich's description, I asked, "Are you Rich?"  It was surprising how many men were wearing plaid shirts and khaki shorts.  Even if the gentleman wasn't wearing a convention badge, I asked them, "Are you Rich?" I was set on finding my friend.  In the lobby, a man responded with "Exactly how rich do I need to be?"  I don't know precisely how many heavy, older women are pushing their personal wares at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, but this man seemed amiable to the experience if the price was right.  Needless to say, "The Great Rich Hunt" ended right then and there.   It may have been a creative alternative for acquiring those elusive table centerpieces, but it wasn't going to happen.

I only posted this because my husband believed my blog should be an equal opportunity for embarrassment since I posted about his stage experience.

Now ... to our regularly scheduled program.

Choosing my first doll from the convention to write about was a very difficult decision.  There is the glamorous Eugenia who is getting alot of web time right now.  But the doll that caught my attention immediately and has been calling my name is Hot Dots Poppy.

This is not your traditional Poppy Parker.   I've always thought of Poppy as a young girl, late teens to early twenties, who is trying to make it in the Big Apple.  This doll transcends the Poppy story line.  She is a doll who has already made it.

Hot Dots Poppy is in a mini giftset.  She is wearing a one piece bathing suit with a little skirt tied around it.  The ribbon on the skirt matches the ribbon on the espadrilles - which was nice attention to details.

The bathing suit itself is too modern for Poppy's storyline.  The legs of the swimsuit are cut very high - too high for her body.  The fabric in the crotch doesn't fit snugly enough.

She comes with a beach bag that has the coolest little applique of a purse on the outside.

There is also some very nice jewelry.

The hairstyle on this Poppy is excellent.  Had Flawless Elise had this style, she would've definitely been flawless.

I wanted to show both profiles.

Here eyelashes are perfect.  The hair color is almost "frosted" looking.

The additional shorts outfit is my favorite part of the giftset.

There are a few Poppy Parker girls that hang out around here.  Somehow, I knew this girl was a little different.  She needed something else.  I had wanted to change her body, because she needs to be taller.  Her skintone is very different than the first tan version of Poppy.  I read that Christine (Shuga Shug) was putting her Poppy on a Neve body.  When I was putting things away from the convention, I found a Vinyl Vintage Sooki head in a drawer.  Where was the body???  I found it on a Barbie Basics.  It was an excellent match!

Now she truly belongs here.  She is perfect to me.  She needs a new name and some more redressing.  I really LOVE this doll.  One of the very best from the convention.