Registration to attend an Integrity Toys (IT) Convention is not cheap. If you paid up front in one payment, it was still $550. For $550, you get access to the Salesroom, Style Lab, Room Sales, Bazaar, two dinners, one luncheon, and pizza was served during the Bazaar (nice touch!). This year there was a Welcome Doll (Fresh Perspective Agnes Von Weiss = #34 of 2019), a Gift Doll at the Welcome Party (Vivid Paradise Tatyana Alexandrova #49 of 2019), a Gift Doll at the Poppy Parker Luncheon (Pink Powder Puff - #48 of 2019), and the Convention Doll (Spring 2017 Elyse Jolie).
(#50 of 2019 is Spring 2017 Elyse Jolie.)
You also got the opportunity to purchase at least two of the centerpiece dolls.
At the Welcome Dinner, the centerpiece was Sting To The Heart Agnes Von Weiss.
That's right Agnes #2 and #51 of 2019.
The centerpiece at the Banquet was Ethereal Beauty Vanessa Perrin.
Yes, she is mold 1.0! #52 of 2019.
Even though they are considered "Gift Dolls", they are part of the registration cost. Excluding Fresh Perspective Agnes, most the "Gift Dolls" have received a very lukewarm reception by collectors and are not fetching very high prices on secondary market.
The doll least preferred by collectors seems to be Vivid Paradise Tatyana Alexandrova. Here is a photo of her NRFB.
And a closeup. IT has had quite a bit of trouble over the last three years with heads that are slightly different in color to the dolls' bodies. Unfortunately, this is the case with my Vivid Paradise Tatyana.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) At the W Club Luncheon, attendees got to view a slide show with embedded videos that walked us through the entire production process. It was very eye-opening. Each doll's head is individually rooted by hand. After the rooting process, the makeup is sprayed on by hand using copper molds placed over the rubber face. There are as many as 24 molds/steps to putting on a doll's face up. Eyelashes are then applied by hand. IT is having trouble keeping a trained workforce because employees are so transient. There is no "formula" for skin tones. Each head is produced by a colorist mixing the dyes by hand. The bodies are also produced in a similar fashion, and because the material for the body is different from the material used for the heads, they sometimes come out slightly different. Add to that the fact that the heads are "cured" by warming them and that process isn't uniform either, it's a wonder things aren't worse than they are. It made me look at my dolls very differently. It's near impossible to get a perfect doll.
(Back from Commercial Break) Vivid Paradise Tatyana Alexandrova came with some lovely blue shoes and a pair of awesome parrot earrings. There was also a simple bracelet and another pair of hands (without the long nails).
Since Tatyana is selling so reasonably on secondary market, I decided to buy a nude second one to use as a body donor (she has the "Sunkissed" skin tone which is a good match for the earlier "Tan" dolls). When my body donor arrived, I found that her head actually matched her body better than mine! Although her hairline isn't as perfect, she isn't quite as yellow. I decided to spend some time redressing her before turning on the heating pad.
Here she is wearing a pair of Elen Priv pants and an artist's blouse. She seems to redress rather well.
I am not usually a fan or lavender colored eyes, but I do like the face-up on this doll. I had to wash and boil perm her hair to make it more manageable. I also had to take a needle and remove some of the eyelash glue from one of the eyelashes. The workers at the factory have gotten very "heavy handed" with the eyelash glue this year. Sometimes there are really big globs of glue all over the lower eyelash.
While room shopping, I came upon a dress for which I had been stalking secondary market. I had seen this dress on someone's flickr page and loved it. I bought it at a room sale for $35!
Although she may be an underdog, I think she is seriously under-rated. This is probably due to the fact there were so many beautiful dolls produced for this convention. It's like saying one rose is the least beautiful in a bouquet. It's still a rose!
#35 of 2019 is Vivid Paradise Tatyana Alexandrova. (My "Tan" girls are still waiting for the body donor...)
If you were able to attend the Integrity Toys (IT) Fashion Week Convention and are a fan of the (IT) line of Poppy Parker dolls, you were definitely in Poppy Nirvana. I have "casually" collected Poppy since she first debuted in 2009.
In the past few years, the W Club has been offering a special doll that can be purchased in advance of the IT Convention by all members of the W Club. Attendees get a break in price. This year's offering was Gardens of Versailles. Attendees were given the option of paying in advance and picking the doll up in Baltimore. I figured sales tax was cheaper than shipping. Here is the photo by Integrity Toys:
She is a gorgeous doll and unlike anything currently in my collection related to Poppy Parker. I am thrilled with her! She will get her own post soon. Poppy Parker Purchase #1 and #42 of 2019.
As I explained in my last post, when collectors were put in the queue for going into the Salesroom/ Style Lab all of the dolls that could be purchased were on display. Collectors got to look at each doll and study them for about 10 minutes before they were let in to make their actual purchases.
There were two versions of Poppy Parker in the original convention lineup. They were:
Kimono Go Go (Photo property of IT)
And Young Romantic (Photo property of IT)
I really liked Young Romantic but I knew my OCD with stray hairs wouldn't let me love her. Kimono Go Go looked a lot like one of the dolls from the Style Lab (which was less expensive and you were able to choose which ensemble went with her). Additionally, they have a screening I really don't like (they have painted upper lashes AND applied eyelashes which just looks messy in photos). I decided they were both a pass for me. (Again, I was thinking in terms as a collector, not as someone who could resell the dolls on secondary market.) I really did prefer the dolls from the Style Lab that were on display.
When I got to the Style Lab, collectors were in a frenzy! I've never seen anything like it. Poppy's designer, David Buttry, had explained that his inspiration was, "What if Poppy Parker had been made into a doll?" He was obviously paying homage to Mattel and its "Twiggy" line of dolls. Not one person was complaining!
Unfortunately, there was so much external stimulus that I think I got overwhelmed and stopped thinking rationally. I got caught up in the moment and stuck everything in my bag! Then I had to stop ... take a deep breath ... and think about what I actually wanted to add to my collection.
There were six different versions of Poppy Parker. They all wore the same pink one piece swimsuit. (My ONLY complaint - which is more of a "missed opportunity idea" - was that had each swimsuit been a different color or each's dolls' swimsuit be cut differently, I think collectors would've needed all six to make a "complete set".)
I really like the packaging concept! A LOT!
You could actually see the dolls' faces through the little windows! Many collectors were looking through the stacks of boxes looking for that face they most loved! I enjoyed doing this as well, knowing that the dolls that I purchased had lovely faces and hairlines that I handpicked myself!
My personal favorite was "Cool". There have been several collectors who have compared her to "Go See". Poppy Parker Purchase #2 and #43 of 2019.
I have been unable to attain "Big Eyes" from the IT Supermodel Convention due to secondary market prices (upwards of $1000 now). "Kicky" was an immediate fan favorite for both those who do not have "Big Eyes" and many of those who do!
She is similar to "Big Eyes" but with "Kicks'" screening. It seems she is demanding the highest secondary market price. Poppy Parker Purchase #3 and #44 of 2019.
I immediately made the connection between "Far Out" and the vintage bang Francie whose hair oxidizes.
She was a must for my collection! Poppy Parker purchase #4 and #45 of 2019.
I had put "Keen" in my bag, but when I saw the "Heads Up" pack, I put her back. (Photo property of IT.)
I preferred the "Heads Up" redhead by far. Another nod to Vintage Mattel and the Color Magic Barbie. I had this in my bag, but there was a rule that you had to purchase two bodies to go with it. (Accessory pack was $50 and the two bodies were similar in price for each one.) I didn't want the bodies because I had plenty of bodies at home. I left the Heads Up pack behind and forgot "Keen" somehow in the shuffle. Sadly, had I considered the resale opportunity, I could've made some serious coin!
But I did decide I needed the Elizabeth Taylor via "National Velvet" doll called "Fab". (Photo property of IT.) Poppy Parker Purchase #5 and #46 of 2019.
Somehow I had "Groovy" in my bag, then she somehow escaped my bag? (Photo property of IT). I must've put her down in all of the confusion about which ensembles to buy and forgotten her. She is sort of the "Malibu P.J." of the group. I really hate that I missed this one! I wound up purchasing her secondary market and paid more than I wanted, but her price just keeps climbing! #47 of 2019.
Each doll only cost $55. That's right, $55 for a Poppy Parker in a swimsuit.
BUT ... in order to purchase a Poppy Parker, you had to pick an ensemble. There were six different ensembles (cost $65 each). You could only purchase ONE of each version of Poppy and ONE of each ensemble. I think this is where I started getting confused. I didn't like all the ensembles. Here are the six ensembles, shown in the order of my personal preference. (I purchased the top three and the first one on the bottom row.)
(Starting Top Left: Beauty Blossoms, Cocoa Puffs, Cherry Pop, Bottom Left: Lime Time, Sparkle Spotlight, Styled Wild). Photos property of IT. When I found out Sparkle Spotlight was actually two pieces, I liked it more. I think there was just too much to see and consider. It was quite overwhelming!
There were also six single fashions that came without shoes or jewelry that cost $25 each. I only purchased the first one.
(Starting Top Left: Swirly Girl, Color Blocks, Licorice, Bottom Left: Negative Space, Kitty Kat, Seeing Spots) Photos property of IT.
In addition, there was also an Accessory Pack which I had to have for the yellow boots and matching purse to Swirly Girl. Cost $50. (Photo property of IT.)
I chose Swirly Girl and the accessory pack because they matched the packaging. Does this look familiar. If you are a vintage Barbie collector, I bet you recognize it.
I wound up with four basic Poppy dolls, four ensembles, one separate fashion, and the Accessory Set. I guess I don't "casually" collect Poppy Parker anymore.
There was an advantage to have a later registration number this year. Since there were Poppy Parker dolls in the convention collection and the Style Lab was a 10-year Anniversary Celebration of Poppy Parker, you had to choose your purchases not knowing what dolls would be at the IT Poppy Parker luncheon on Friday! Those who shopped following the luncheon went in knowing what other Poppy dolls had been revealed.
The centerpiece doll for the Poppy Parker luncheon was a color variation of the popular Miss Amour Poppy Parker. It was called Love is Blue. My number was not drawn, and I was okay with that. I didn't feel like I had to have this doll. During the program, Carol Roth announced that the centerpiece was sold out. It wasn't until I photographed my roommate and best doll friend's doll that I felt a pang of loss.
Look at that face!
David Buttry, explained that he tried to find two "companion" dolls that he could match with different color ways. The gift Poppy Parker was a pink version of Powder Puff Poppy Parker, aptly called Pink Powder Puff Poppy Parker.
I'm sorry but this doll just proves that you CAN "have too much of a good thing". I have seen some beautiful shots of her redressed though. Poppy Parker #6 from Convention and #48 of 2019.
The next day at the W Club luncheon, it was announced the staff found enough Love Is Blue Poppy dolls that a "ticket to purchase" was randomly hidden under a saucer on the table. Another collector at my table won but said she already purchased this doll and graciously gave it to me!!!
The outside of the Poppy Parker boxes for Fashion Week shows that the color of the dots is a dark pink.
Here is a photo of the doll in the box.
A Close-Up.
Here is a full length shot out of box.
Another Close-Up.
But this is what I was anticipating.
I knew in my heart that this doll was going to be a dream to redress. Here she is wearing a dress I purchased from Squish Tish at the Bazaar ($17) and a bag from the bazaar ($5) which matches the shopping bags used by IT for the Fashion Week Convention. (I added the belt and jewelry).
What a gorgeous doll to redress! Such perfect makeup and hair! She is going to be extremely versatile and classy! #35 of 2019 and Poppy Parker Number 7 from the Convention is Love Is Blue Poppy Parker.
