Back on Track

Sometimes my train stalls out at the depot and takes a little time to get rolling again.  Sometimes, it may take an unexpected detour.   And, sometimes, it jumps the tracks altogether.

During the past two weeks, I turned a critical eye to my collection and moved some of the dolls to new homes:  Five Star Dolls, Private Goddess Natalia, Easy Elegance Korinne, Modern Comeback Veronique (Noir),  Sweet Confection Poppy, Purple Factor Adele, Two Monster High Dolls, Boogie Beach Jasper, Boogie Beach Gavin, and the first Dynamite Girl Jett have all moved to new homes now.  If counted, you would find the total to be fifteen dolls.

This need to purge came after my pre-order frenzy from the Integrity Spring 2012 unveiling.   Even though my orders made me nervous, I only purchased seven dolls, not including the three I purchased from the IDEX show.

All of this reflection, leads to the doll I am showcasing this week.  In my last blog, I posted that I would spotlight a different mold/character in each blog.  This week, I am doing a doll that has only been produced once.  Her name is Fauboug Saint-Honore Victoire Roux Dressed Doll.  She is from the Les Silhouettes Collection from Integrity Toys.  She was an Integrity Direct Exclusive that was offered at the 2011 Convention.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I did not attend the convention but really wanted this doll.  As a seasoned collector, I knew that Integrity would sell off their remaining stock from the convention to W Club members.  I waited for the announcement, but unfortunately Victoire had sold out almost immediately at the convention; there were no extras available.  I rushed over to e-bay and snatched one up for $125 ... before sellers realized she was a "sold-out" edition.  Her secondary market price now is $200+.

I even like the presentation of this doll.  The box is classy!

The paper banding has a little story about Victoire on the back.  It says, "Welcome to the World of Victoire Roux, Parisian fashion model.  An Integrity Toys exclusive original fashion doll with character."

I think she represents the finest of what Integrity has to offer.  The tailoring is immaculate.  The shoes and accessories are perfection!

They used the Dynamite Girls Jasper mold for her head and face.  Her body is the Brides of Dracula Body, which is shared by all Integrity Direct dolls so far.  They used this same mold with NuFantasy Malicious.

Another outfit was available for purchase, Avenue Montaigne.  It is still available through http://www.integritytoys.com in the "shop" section, under IT Direct Exclusive.  It cost $90.  There has been criticism that the outfit is similar to clothing we have already gotten from IT in the past.  I still love it!

Unfortunately, IT must make money on its merchandise, and it tends to "refresh", "redo", or "eliminate" dolls and lines that lack retail support.  From the items presented at the Convention for the IT Direct Line, two of the five dolls and the outfit are still available for purchase.  I hope this wasn't the reason we did not see this line at the Spring 2012 unveiling.   I was very disappointed she wasn't there.  I had already informed my dealer to pre-order me everything in the Les Silhouettes Line.  I was worried, but then nothing even showed.

I had an older outfit "Apertif at the Balthazar" that had never been tried on another doll.  I knew this belonged to Victoire.

It was waiting for the proper model.  She arrived.  I love her in this.

I can't wait to try some of my Vintage Barbie items on this doll.  As I work my way through my doll clothing, I have a feeling that Victoire will acquire a nice "private" wardrobe designated especially for her.  Right now, she is lonely and needs a friend; there really isn't another Integrity doll that fits her haute couture feel.  I hope there will be soon.

The Drama of Eugenia

First, I have a funny story.  My husband and I visited a nearby town this past spring; we were looking for antique iron plant stands.  As we were driving through,  a mural on the side of a building caught our attention:

(The bottom says "See Great Falls")  We decided to come back to explore these when the weather got warmer.  This week, we loaded up the car with the camera and some wine, deciding to pick up some sandwiches on the way.

We went into the store where the mural was painted to look around because they had some beautiful Amish outdoor furniture for sale.  We asked about places to pick up a sandwich.  The sales lady was very nice and pointed us in the right direction.  My husband asked, "Will there be someplace nice to eat at the water?"

She looked at us strangely.  "There's a little area outside the cafe with tables and chairs."

We thought she misunderstood.   "We want to take the sandwiches down to the waterfalls," my husband explained.

She shook her head in comprehension.  "I'm sorry ... they made a movie here last year and painted that on the side of the building.  It looked so nice, we just decided to leave it up.  There isn't any waterfalls around here that I know about."

We were so embarassed; we hurried out of the store.  "The movie comes out this weekend ... it's that American Pie movie," she called after us.

So, if you go to the American Pie movie and you see this mural, you can get a little chuckle at our expense!


This week's photos were taken with architectural backgrounds to celebrate our mistake.  I thought a great way to help organize my dolls and get control of my collection would be to FOCUS on a different character each week.  Since I "found" Going Public again and love re-dressing her so much, Eugenia will be the first.

It was 2007 when Eugenia Frost first appeared in the doll world as Spectacular, Spectacular.  She was introduced as an FAO exclusive and was one of the most expensive dolls in the history of Integrity Toys because she was wearing a miniature version of an actual Jason Wu gown.  Her retail cost was $250.  Even with that price point, she sold out immediately and appears on many "Holy Grail" lists.  I was able to snag her nude, from a doll collector who posts on Doll Diva.  I paid $100 for her and was ashamed that I spent that much on a nude doll.  She does get a great deal of re-dress time in my collection.

There were three four more versions of Eugenia released in 2007.  Face Time was created for the regular retail line-up.  In Full Regalia and High Drama were convention dolls.  High Drama remains on my list of "most sought after" dolls.  She was a Table Centerpiece with only 150 of her produced and remains the smallest edition size for any Eugenia.  One of my followers, Gatsby, reminded me that Overachiever, a fiery redhead, and the only redheaded Eugenia, was also produced in 2007 as a dealer exclusive for My Favourite Doll in Canada.  I believe I left this doll off my list because I owned her at one time and sold her NRFB to a fellow collector.  It's a mistake I regret as I will never be able to afford to replace her with secondary market prices!  Thank you, Gatsby.

In 2008, Eugenia's popularity continued to soar.  Sporting a tan, she became the first "premium" doll for the W Club that year.  Going Public holds the record for the highest W Club edition size with 1300 being produced.  Even with this high number, GP is on many grail lists and continues to command a high price on the secondary market.

Another version made it into the regular retail line, Most Desired.  I owned this doll, but she has moved to another home.  The convention Table Centerpiece, Fine Jewel, is probably in the top 10 of best all time Integrity Dolls ever produced, with only 160 in the edition.  Raven hair and red lips is always a winning combination.

In 2009, Eugenia found herself as another W Club Exclusive.  Deconstruction Site picked up on the raven hair/red lips combo.  This time she had a mod asymmetric hairdo.  I decided to trade this doll with Kazue for Red Riding Hood Yuri.  (Since I own Fine Jewel, I thought I wouldn't miss her.  When I see fantastic photos of DS, I have sharp pain.)  Once again, Eugenia made it to the convention.  This time as Diamond Society.  I still haven't taken this doll out of her box.  Her presentation is so beautiful.

It seemed that Eugenia was one of the crown jewels in the Fashion Royalty crown.  Every version was sought after.  But we collectors are a fickle group.  In 2010, Eugenia tumbled from her high position among collectors.  Another W Club Exclusive, Spring Forward, was released to less than warm reception. (If you are keeping up, 1/3 of W Club Exclusives from 2007-2010 were Eugenia.)  After switching her head to a NuFace body, I finally bonded with this girl.

The main retail line presented us with a mesh of styles that collectors couldn't get behind with Tricks of the Trade.  The hair was kinked and tied in a severe ponytail; the outfit looked like something a street walker might go out wearing.  Her face up was very strong with eyelashes hooding her eyes.  It took some work, but I boil permed that hair straight and removed the eyelashes.  When she is redressed, I think she is an attractive doll.

Other lukewarm receptions that year included two versions that appeared at the convention:  A workshop head used in a hair class and a dressed doll called Fine Romance.  The only doll collectors clamored for in 2010 was an exclusive Venus Secret.  This doll remains on my "would-love-to-have-but-will-never-be-able-to-afford" list.

In 2011, Eugenia continued to struggle.  The retail line doll, Pencil Me In, quickly became a clearance doll.   Fortunately, Integrity realized they needed to get back to Eugenia's roots.  The convention "build-a-doll" was Point of Departure.  She came in two versions:  a brunette and a redhead "helper" doll.  Both dolls were popular but suffered from poor wardrobe choices.  I have her re-dressed in my collection.

Eugenia has been unable to reclaim her popularity from 2007-2009.  Recently, Integrity previewed their 2012 Spring Collection.  Again, Eugenia is mish-mash of ideas.

I wonder why Integrity is struggling so with this mold.  She was so perfect in her earlier versions.  (I believe the hair is rooted a little too low on the new one.)

These photos were sent to members of the W Club by Integrity who owns the right to them. 

Needless to say, I did not pre-order this doll.  Seven versions currently reside in my collection.  They will have to work hard for me to include another in this group.