Surfing the internet looking at doll photos is one of the most financially dangerous things a collector can do, especially when paired with a "dolly drought" like we've had this year. A couple entries ago, I posted that I had (at first reluctantly) started collecting The Industry line from Integrity Toys (IT) When I First Started Collecting The Industry.
It all started by my being seduced by the Style Lab ensembles from the past couple year's conventions and the fact that IT had even produced some Poppy Parker convention dolls on the The Industry body. Since pre-convention prices on secondary market were quite tempting, I added the first two Tulabelle True dolls to my collection. It sort of "released the flood gates".
Earlier this summer, IT announced that they were changing the Tulabelle True mold, hoping it would help jump start collector interest in this line. This caused me to check out the prices on a couple of the later versions I hadn't added to my collection. It was very easy to acquire the caucasian Fairytale Convention Tulabelle at almost convention cost. She was sold nude NRFB. I believe this girl is extremely under-rated!
#30 of 2019 is Fairytale Tulabelle True
I was surprised to find the last mainline Tulabelle True still available at dealers! Snatched one up on sale even! Strawberry blonde hair and green eyes! How could you go wrong? I believe this is the best version of mold 1.0!
#31 of 2019 Come Thru Tulabelle True
While I was visiting dealers' websites, I found a Style Saviour Liu Liu Lang still at retail. Following my rules for not making spontaneous purchases, I went on flickr to view IRL photos of this doll companion of Tulabelle. Unfortunately, I found this photo: Style Saviour Perfection. Did you click on it? Do you want one now, too? I had to have one after seeing this photo. I, eventually, hope to customize my own as a copy.
#32 of 2019 Style Saviour Liu Liu Lang
All of this brings me to the doll released by IT using the Tulabelle True mold 2.0, Yeti For It. I won the "Right To Purchase Lottery" for this doll. She is an actual 12" version from the 16" line that is now retired. (I'm hoping to see a Pomp & Circumstance and Sweet Tartan.)
Here are the preview photos from Integrity Toys:
I was so excited when she arrived. She reminds me of a young Marie Osmond. I remember watching the Donny and Marie variety show when I was a little a girl, so I love the reference. Here is a "real life" photo. This giftset came "fully loaded"!
Here is a close up in the box:
One out of box! (My only complaint would be that the body and head have slightly varying skin tones. This seems to be a common production flaw this year.)
She redresses so well!
#33 of 2019 Yeti For It Tulabelle True.
As I've stated numerous times, there are some great perks about being a member of the W Club. One of the best is the exclusive dolls offered to members only. When a collector joins the W Club, they are offered a couple "upgrade" dolls to add to their membership fee. This year the W Club offered Bossa Nova Beauty Poppy, Level of Suspense Lukas Maverick (NuFace Line), and French Kiss Vanessa Perrin (FR2 line using the 1.0 mold).
There are a handful of Integrity Toys molds that I have a serious weakness for as a collector. Mold 1.0 of Vanessa Perrin is one of those. This is the first time the mold has ever been offered in the "Sunkissed" skin tone, which has quickly become a favorite. It was a "no-brainer" to add this doll to my cart.
Here are a couple photos from the original offering (Property of Integrity Toys)
And here is IT's photo of the accessories.
This is another case where the actual production doll can be better than the promo photos. I use the term "can" because there is a lot of variance in production between dolls. I know this seems odd, but these dolls are created by hand. The rooting of the hairlines, the application of screenings, and even the facial paintings can be significantly different within one edition.
I was very fortunate to get one with a great hairline and facial screening. My only problems were: 1) The head is a slightly off from the body, which is a common problem with IT dolls over the past few years, and 2) One of my doll's eyelashes was placed a little low. I have found that I can heat the head slightly and use the "eye end of a darning needle" to carefully nudge a misplaced eyelash into a better position.
Here is my doll in the box.
And a closeup -
NOTE: Now that IT is using a rose gold liner for their boxes, the camera tends to pick up on the yellows and make the faces look more greenish/yellowish tinted than it looks in real life. BUT WHAT A FACE!!!
Here she is out of the box, so you can see the difference in skin tone isn't as pronounced as in the "in box" photo.
I adore this doll. I think she is easily in the top 10 of FR2 dolls ever produced.
For me, the proof of any doll is how she redresses because I actually like changing their ensembles. Here she is wearing Charlotte Olympiad's jacket and Modern Sensibility Dasha's shorts. Her hair is very thick and luxurious. It's style is easy to manage.
Let's try Coquette Jordan's ensemble! With her hair pulled back, you really get a good look at that incredible face!
She looked so good in casual, I had to keep going. How about an inexpensive Barbie ensemble? Oh my!
This girl is definitely a "keeper". Although several dolls have arrived before her, she came out of that box before many of them. She clawed her way to the front of the line easily. #29 of 2019 is French Kiss Vanessa Perrin; I bet you'll see her often on my flickr page.
