Rudolph Valentino - The Eagle - 1925

I love this photo of Rudy - The Eagle is one of my favorite Valentino films.

Another Correction, Please

First off, I'd LOVE to own a doll like this one! It's Rudolph Valentino in his "The Eagle" costume. The French auction catalog makes it sound like this doll was made by Lenci. I'm not too sure about that.....I always had the impression, this doll was made by another Italian company - Messina-Vat, but, that, too, could be wrong. Another company I've seen attributed to Valentino dolls is LaRosa. It's mentioned the doll is tagged, but didn't say what the tag read. Gives the reader the impression it's a tagged Lenci. Again, not too sure about that. If anyone knows for sure, I'd appreciate the information.

Anyway, there is one error for sure - "The Eagle" was released in 1925, not 1922......but, they're probably correct that the doll is circa 1925.

Correction, Please

Sue sent me this scan of a French auction catalog that claims this is a French-made doll. It is, in fact, Italian and made by Lenci. This doll is a Fadette.

Photos of a doll Christmas

We're starting to get ready for Christmas! I made the above outfit. It's not to late to purchase it. Shipped first class. See http://www.etsy.com/listing/53292405/happy-birthday-jesus-t-shirt-outfit-to
I also like Willow's photo from her album "An AG Christmas"
Anybody else have some doll Christmas pictures, you'd like me to link to?

Do You Lurk?

Having done so much traveling this past week without my laptop, I often turned to the web on my phone  for the latest happenings in the doll world. I got to thinking how doll boards have changed my collecting experience.
When I was collecting Bratz dolls I found a Yahoo board that specialized in Bratz. That was my first. It was so much fun. I created my first doll story and had a very positive experience sharing my photos and looking at the photos other collectors posted.  I was already a collector of Tonner's Tiny Kitty, Tyler and Sydney dolls but looking back, I don't know how I survived without a network of collectors at my fingertips! The Tonner site, eBay and dealers' websites were all I had.
Sometime in 2004, I purchased my first Fashion Royalty doll on eBay and after that from other collectors. As I look back through my database, I see names of sellers that I could only have met on the boards.  Many have moved on to other pursuits or are collecting other types of dolls. One is running his own doll forum. Several have gone out of business.
One amazing experience was reading someone's post about a BIC exclusive Kyori coming out soon.  I wrote to BIC and that got me on the pre-order list to get the Ginza Kyori Gift Set. I had no idea what I was doing as I wasn't familiar with the big scramble for Fashion Royalty dolls. I think Ginza was the first FR doll I got at retail and that was no mean feat for a beginning FR collector back then. It was also the first year I attended a Fashion Royalty convention. That was in Toronto. If I hadn't been a board member, I wouldn't have known anyone in advance.

Like so many other collectors I became addicted to FR and the rest is pretty much history but I wanted to give a plug to the public doll boards I frequent most often.

The board which I have been a member of for the longest time is the Pink Parlor. The management has changed and the board is getting back to it's former lively self again. The (unstated) focus of the board is 1/6 scale dolls such as Fashion Royalty, Barbie and similar but many of the collectors have dolls that run the gamut. Registration is necessary and is free.

Logo Property of Pink Parlor. Click on it to go to the Pink Parlor.

Prego is the doll board I go to for the larger dolls like Tonner's Tyler, Sydney, Character Figures, Antoinette and similar 1/4 scale dolls. Again, the collectors there have eclectic collections and enjoy seeing pictures of other dolls. For a long time I thought that I couldn't post anything but repaints because many of the members have the most gorgeous collections of dolls that have been repainted.
I have learned that Prego is a safe board and that "factory" dolls are welcome as well as OOAK.  Many post pictures of Sybarite, Deva and Asian BJD dolls as well. If I post a question about something Tonner related, someone is bound to come up with the answer in minutes.  Registration is necessary and is free.
Here is the link to register to post at Prego:
http://tools.boardhost.com/reg/user=prego

Logo Property of Prego. Click on it to go to Prego.

If you collect Gene Marshall dolls and love fashions from that era, check out The Studio Commissary.
Every day the board posts a different vintage image in the header of either models or movie stars.
The Studio Commissary also hosts a link to the Fashion Sleuth which is a collection of images of real fashions which have been inspirations for doll fashions. For example, Azalea Ice Zita's gown was inspired by a Valentino. Board owner,  Mike Basala, has a great Flickr collection to which many sleuths have contributed. The board is open to all.

Valentino

Zita "Azalea Ice"

Dolly Daily is a forum as opposed to a message board. One big difference is that on an active message board, a topic can scroll off quickly. On a forum, there are tools to see the latest posts in a threaded or hierarchical structure. Here is a link to Wikipedia's explanation of the different types of on-line discussion sites.
Dolly Daily has areas for all different types of dolls, general questions, birthdays and introductions, selling and buying, member blogs and more. Contributors get access to a game arcade and a steam room.
Posts do not scroll off and are searchable by topic and poster's name.
Although I am a member there, I mostly lurk, but I do recommend this forum for it's huge resource of collectors and information. Registration is required and general membership is free.

Logo Property of Dolly Daily. Click on it to go to Dolly Daily

For ball jointed dolls I go to the Den of Angels. This is a very closely moderated forum containing more information than most collectors will ever need. There are many specific sub-forums so it's easy to navigate and find what you are looking for.  They have a huge membership from all over the world. Right now as I type this there are 541 users online. There are 30,852 members of which 10,319 are active members.
Membership is by invitation and free.

Logo Property of DoA. Click on it to go to Den of Angels

These are by no means all the doll boards out there. There are scores of Yahoo groups and other hosted boards in a multitude of formats. One or more is certainly right for you!

Are you still lurking?

She Died Too Young

Cool pic of Iris Stuart (read her bio by clicking on her name). Click the photo to view the auction on eBay.

Back to crochet

    I couldn't put down my crochet hook last week, and the crocheted heads have been growing on my desk.

Gypsy Cubeb Smoker

This all composition Gypsy "Cubeb" boudoir doll is ready to tell your fortune.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Portrait

Here she is: the doll I told you about last week. As you can see, her face has already been painted...

Sadly, I had to part with her this weekend, as she was a custom order, which I have created based on photos of the "real" her.
It was a long and complicated process, and I got the feeling that although it was only a sock doll, I had to be extremely accurate in my work. Maybe this was the reason for my apprehension last week before applying the paint to her face.

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm sending wishes to all my US readers for a peaceful, joyous and delicious Thanksgiving.
I'm thankful for the luxury of being a doll collector. When I think about how lucky we collectors are compared to so many in the world I can't help but appreciate what I have.

If you are traveling, be safe and aware and save me some pie.

I'll be a little quiet on the blog for a few days but after Thanksgiving, I'll be back.

Three things to mention:
—There is a sale at BC.Com on Wednesday, November 23. That's tomorrow.

—The Franklin Mint is at it again with their fake doll images that use a photograph instead of a doll. This time it's Kate Middleton, the future Princess of Wales. They are using a picture of Kate on a stick.

—On December 11, 2011 there will be a Tonner and Wilde Imagination warehouse sale at the Holiday Inn in Kingston, NY from 9AM to 1PM. After the sale there will be a signing with Robert Tonner at the Tonner Company Store, 14 Hurley Ave., Kingston, NY.

If you are planning to stay over at the Holiday Inn Kingston, I recommend that you reconsider your choice of hotel. There are two new hotels near the Hudson Valley Mall that are much higher rated. It's a 10 minute drive from those places to the Holiday Inn.  It will cost at least $30 more per room but you won't be sorry. Come with friends and split the cost.

Courtyard Kingston Marriot  (Most costly)

Hampton Inn Kingston  (Free Breakfast and Internet)

Sculptural crochet workshop-סדנת קרושה בתלת מימד

אשמח לענו לכל שאלה כמו גם למסור פרטים נוספים לפנות אלי במייל או בטלפון

מזכירה גם את רשימת הקשר שלי בה אני מעדכנת לגבי סדנאות עתידיות, שילחו לי מייל אם אתם מעוניינים להצטרף

.

Finally, the invitation is done and I am very excited. It is really going to happen next month, right here in my home studio. I will conduct my first sculptural crochet workshop, which will include three sessions of 3.5 hours each, during which I will be sharing my crocheting technique for the first time.
I know most of you are not from my part of the world, but I am still glad to share the news with you.
There are some other good news: now, after I've had to think so much about how I can share my principles, I began to realize that maybe one day I will even be able to write down some kind of tutorial, as some of you ask me from time to time.
Of course, if you do live in this part of the world, I would be more than glad to see you! The first session will take place on Friday, December 17, at 9:00, and the two other sessions will take place on the two following Fridays.
You can phone or e-mail me for more details or if you'd like to join my mailing list.

* I have just noticed Ariel Hirschfeld's article from last Friday about knitting and other needlcrafts, it is more then beautiful and you can read it here in English.

רק עכשיו שמתי לב שהמאמר של אריאל הירשפלד מיום שישי הוא על סריגה ומלאכות יד אחרות  * 

Frightening to Rightening

Doesn't she look great?

Karen sent me these photos of a composition/cloth boudoir doll she owns that had been altered by a previous owner from its original condition.

It's one thing to restore and another to reinvent, which is what had unfortunately been done to this doll.

So, Karen went about setting things right - First, she took off "that God-awful braid only to find the original hair under that had been doused with glue." Karen spent some time removing the goop off the doll's head. She also cleaned the doll's face, removing "a layer of yellow scum covering her." It appeared to have been caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. Finally, Karen added an old wig, appropriate to the doll. She plans to make her a silk brocade gown for her one day.

Wow, the doll looks like it once did instead of something out of the 1960's. Great job, Karen!

What's with the 1960's braided beehive!?

Coming soon-Crochet workshop

Recently I have been busy getting ready for a new crochet workshop I will be conducting next month here in my new home studio. It required a lot of thinking and concentration on my part, since when I create my items; I just crochet freestyle, finding my way with the hook and stitches. I have a raw idea in my mind which comes to life loop by loop, and I don’t follow any patterns. Actually, it is not that simple. Many times it required countless unpicking until I got the form I wanted; a long trial and error process would perhaps be a better way to describe it. I have developed this process over the years, and came up with new ideas and techniques from doll to doll.

Many times I was asked to teach my own unique crocheting technique, I didn't feel confident enough to do so. But as I received more and more requests, I decided to give it a try. At first I made those trials by my own, and then asked a friend to be my guinea pig. I taught her my principles and it seemed like they were clear enough, she managed to come up with a crocheted head on her own, following my instructions. There still remain some issues like creating the workshop schedule and deciding on the number and duration of meetings, as well as some details about the process I have to plan, but  I will publish the invitation in the following few days.

Send me an e-mail if you'd like me to e-mail you when the invitation is done or if you'd like to join my mailing list, where I send updates about upcoming workshops.

Hannah and Nellie are practicing for the Christmas Concert at Church. Mrs. Sylvia just finished their choir robes. Lots to do. There will be a Children's choir. Nicole, Ryan and Hannah will participate. Hannah has a solo. There will be a live Nativity Scene featuring some of the other dolls. Everyone is excited! More pictures to come. I am preparing my heart for Christmas. How about you? Let's get ready!

Amazon.Com for Toys and Dolls?

I have purchased many dolls and other items at Amazon through the years. 

A doll collector friend sent me some information yesterday about a book which is directed towards pedophiles and instructs them on how to avoid getting arrested and more. Amazon was challenged on several fronts about their selling of this book.

Re: Pedophilia's Publication Promoted on Amazon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUmnGY8TYrw&feature=related

Though they  removed the book after being inundated with protests Amazon already legitimized the pedophiliac's written publication and the very act of pedophilia by putting it on the mainstream website

They said "Amazon does not support or promote hatred or criminal acts"

I guess they do not deem molesting children a criminal act!!!

I am asking everyone I know to NOT purchase anything from Amazon for the months of November and December (I am hoping they are hit hard enough financially to see how outrageously unacceptable their actions were).
http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/10/amazon-defends-pedophile-how-to-guide/

She asked me to let people know about this on my blog.

Well if you feel like reminding doll collectors on your blog that their toy purchases from Amazon might be better spent at an online store that doesn't support and profit from pedophilia - feel free.

I am hoping for there to be some financial impact (at least during Nov/Dec)  for their promotion of this pedophile - and their profit off of this entire situation.

It was and is beyond disgusting and the damage has been done - perhaps fiscal damage will be something Amazon understands.

They certainly don't recognizing the rape and molestation of children as damaging as they vehemently defended the issue as a "free speech" one.

You decide.

Boudoir Dolls in Film - His Woman - Gary Cooper, Claudette Colbert 1931

Here is a composition/cloth boudoir doll smoker in the film "His Woman," starring Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert, 1931.

Aphrodisiac in Jamieshow and Alex in Stolen Moments

Aphrodisiac Avantguard wears a Jamieshow gown from Angelic Dreamz. I was so happy to get this at the convention from George.

Here's the new Virtually Stunning Alex once more. I've changed her wig and dressed her in "Stolen Moments" an outfit from the Ashton-Drake Gene Marshall line.

Alex is starting to look really good. I need to darken her lips and move away from the red to a plum tone. I was trying out some colors using Photoshop. If only I could transfer those results from the monitor onto the doll.

I like her better this way. I also made her eyes look better by decreasing the size of the pupil.

Not Doll Related - Music Soothes the Soul

Billy Joel and Elton John sing and play "Piano Man"

New doll in progress

 

A tense moment when I began to paint the new doll’s facial features,the paint can't be removed, and the process requires so much concentration.

Tentative Plans: Sandra Stillwell Presents Convention for 2011

San Francisco here we come for "Golden Gate Glamour" on June 3-5, 2011.

Details are not finalized. More information forthcoming.

Please let Sandra know that you are interested in attending.  502 3775153

http://sandrastillwellpresents.blogspot.com/ 

Mr. Moto

I watched one of the Mr. Moto series for the first time. Loved it! Here is a YouTube compilation of Mr. Moto films I found that is very cleverly done. I look forward to seeing more Mr. Moto films, starring Peter Lorre.

"Out of the Past" 1947

"Out of the Past" 1947, starring Robert Mitchum, with Kirk Douglas, Jane Greer, Rhonda Fleming and Virginia Huston. This is a really good movie!

Tonner Tuesdays

Every Tuesday at noon EST, Tonner Direct posts sales which last until 5PM. The items are an assortment and are different every week. 

Tonner Image

 I want this Antoinette outfit called Incendiary. I'm not a fan of the gloves but I love the style of the dress and the print. Antoinette fashions fit the Avantguard dolls. Most of the Antoinette outfits were originally in the $99.99 (MSRP) range which is not exactly user friendly. Now it is on sale for $49.99. Unfortunately, there is also shipping and NY tax which brings it up to an unfriendly price again. So I will wait until nearby non-New York dealers put it on sale or hunt it down on the boards.

Tonner Photo

Most dolls are categorized as "Dressed Dolls" or "Ultra-Basic Dolls." Here's one that's classified as "Semi-Dressed."

Tonner Photo

Kermit is not on sale but the 11 inch Basic Miss Piggy is. She is $39.99.

I really wonder how popular this line has been as I haven't seen collectors posting photos of these characters. If you have these dolls, I'd love to hear from you about them.

EBay - Opting Out

Yesterday another collector informed me that a seller was using one of my photographs in their auction. How did he know? My name and copyright were clearly on the image. Today the auction was ended either by eBay (I filed a complaint) or by the seller, who apparently did not understand English or thought he was doing the right thing. He may have been!
I  checked eBay's rules about intellectual property and was dumbfounded by what I found.
First of all, there are so many links to follow that I felt like giving up.  One has to opt out of a program in which eBay can add your photos to their catalog for other sellers to use. I can't even find the catalog to see if any of my other pictures are in there. I checked my preferences and apparently I am already opted out.

I'm not going to waste space here copying the text of eBay's skewed policy so here is the link. 
What I want to know is where is this catalog? I did a search for 'doll' in their catalog and came up with nothing so how did this seller find my picture? He claimed that was where he got it.

I have sold books and cameras and the eBay system offered images and text for those items but I have never been offered a picture of a doll. Maybe the jerky seller thinks my Flickr account is an eBay catalog.

Meaningless, random, cute elephant image.

Harem Cubeb Smoker

This all composition "Cubeb" smoker is a boudoir doll collector's dream! Dressed in her original Harem costume, she is a fine example of a film-influenced boudoir doll. In her era, Rudolph Valentino was the big heartthrob, and "The Sheik" and "Son of the Sheik" were all the rage. The ladies of these films, Agnes Ayres and Vilma Banky, both dressed in costumes similar to this doll.

This doll has the molded heel, and you will notice that her slipper has a hole at the heel for it to slip in.

Thank you, Sara, for allowing me to post these photos. She has a shop on Ruby Lane. Check it out!

Sara Bernstein's Dolls

Click this link to view previous blog posts on "Cubeb" boudoir dolls - Link

Jason Wu's Alex - Redux

I've been playing dolls for more than two weeks now and it's time to get back to real life if I can figure out where I left it. Before I do that I wanted to get Alex just right. I was working at that when I just had to get out the scissor and hack off all of her hair. I fitted a 5/6 RnD wig to suit her face. She is dressed in an older Madame Alexander Amanda outfit called Unmatched Elegance. Shoes are Gene's.

 She will stay like this for a while. I'm not so sure about her lips. They're flat looking because of the way they're painted. I'd like to give them some depth with shading. And I will try other wigs on Alex.

 I love the way she can sit upright and cross her legs.

Here is Aphrodisiac Avantguard wearing Alex's dress and hat. The dress had to be pinned in the back to make it fit properly.

For the first time since getting the Mini Gene dolls, I redressed several of them. I love these dolls. For me the Mini Gene sculpt is Jason's best ever! I wish there were going to be more.

Red Desire wearing a Monogram Suit

Midnight Lace Wearing Smoldering Monogram Outfit