The Fiery Reds of Autumn

I was at a shopping center yesterday morning and noticed that the maple trees were putting on quite a show.  They are the first colors I've seen this Autumn.   Fall is my favorite season of the year.  For some reason, I think of the Sex And The City episode where Carrie wakes up and has to put a blanket on the bed.  (I love when the first chill fills the air.)   Then Carrie goes to see Big and he puts on the LP Moon River.

So, I've been in a little bit of a romantic mood this weekend.  I had recently ordered some clothing from Clear Lan.  I decided my Fiery Redhead Erin was the perfect model.  I just love this ....

Two posts ago, I wrote that I had made enough money selling my Dynamite Girl/Guy collection to purchase the Platinum AFL Vanessa.  I thought I still had enough money in my Paypal bank for one more doll from my "Grail List".   However, I was actually able to acquire two dolls.  I am only going to highlight one of them this weekend.

I believe one of the most beautiful Eugenia dolls produced so far is the Helper Version of the Point of Departure doll from the 2011 Jet Set Convention.  The brunette version was No. 9 on my top ten of 2011 list.  As much I love the brunette version, I think the strawberry blonde is even better.  There aren't very many strawberry blonde Integrity dolls.

This doll is very difficult to find on the secondary market, but I was very fortunate to find one at really good price recently.   Her edition size was only 75 as she was given to individuals who helped out as table hosts, workshop organizers, or supported the Integrity Convention in some other venue.

Such a beauty for Autumn.   I'll probably relax her hair some time in the future, but she's just so classy looking right now.  I should've spent more time redressing her, but I wanted to see how she looked in High Profile's gown.  Can't you just hear Moon River playing in the background?

OCD can be a real b***h!

As my followers know, I honestly do have issues relative to Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder.  Sometimes it makes it difficult to be a doll collector because you have to find ways to accommodate the subtle problems in the artistic development in a doll.  Sometimes an eye may be a little off, the lipstick not exactly on the lip line, a seam not perfectly straight.   My husband makes fun of me because I actually look at my dolls under a magnifying glass.

When I started photographing my dolls, it heightened my anxiety over many of them.  Thank God for Photoshop software!   I've become pretty adept at "fixing" some of the minor problems my dolls have.

If someone were to visit my doll room, they would notice that the majority of my dolls have either "up-dos" or straight hair.  Dolls with longer or curlier hair are wearing hairnets to keep the hair as close to factory as possible.  I've even taken the time to tie hair in place with fishing line!  That's because "stray hairs" just drive me totally nuts!

As much I loved Irresistible Dania (last post), I knew there was going to be an issue with her hair.  I tried to keep everything in place.  I carefully removed her hairnet when deboxing.  I strategically put clear rubber bands in place near the waves and curls.  The results were great.  I was proud of my efforts.

I believe that this dolls just screams for pastel colors.  Last weekend was the first day of Fall.  Before it officially began, I decided my "Malibu" girl needed a day in the sun.  I dressed in her Point of Departure Eugenia's swimsuit.

But no matter how hard I tried, stray hairs starting sneaking out.  (I think there is a stray hair demon living upstairs and I need to hire an exorcist!)  You can see them in the photo above.

Eventually, I wound up trying to comb the hair.  You would think by now I would know better.  I found that I had to tie the hair behind to even photograph her again.

The only possible solution was boiling water. Now the hair is straight and manageable.

But ... I think I am missing the curls.  (This is the ensemble from Shanghai Veronique).