May 1st Doll Word Ramble

I just wanna ramble about how I feel about dolls, and this is my blog, so I'm gonna do it.  I have hyped up and bought into numerous brands trying to replace Rainbow High, and there's just no replacing them.  They're my dream dolls.  I'm seriously considering making a mini-me and mini-husband out of a color and create girl and an Aiden Russell doll.  I'm trying to stop looking for the new best thing so I can just enjoy what I have.  It's hard, when we live in a consumerist nightmare that's always trying to get you to buy stuff.  It's exhausting.

Monster High G3 Torelei Stripe Unboxing

Here's Torelei Stripe, g3, in the box.  She came out 2 years ago and is now on clearance for 9$ at my local Walmart.  Since I heard a rumor she's Clawdeen's gf now, I couldn't pass her up anymore.  I couldn't stand her in g1, but she comes around in g3, so she's allowed in.  I was gonna get the 3pack with her cousins, but it was too expensive and hard to find.  So, I got this one.  Ironically enough, this gets me into an odd number of MH dolls, so I have plenty of excuse to get Catty Noir when she comes out.

Rainbow Brite Unboxing

She arrived today!  This is the newest Rainbow Brite doll.  She's 13cm tall, and really well articulated, and super cute!  The packaging is delightfully retro with original artwork from the 80s.

Rainbow Brite Hype

Another hype post?  Yeah, but this time, one of the dolls is out already and I've ordered it.  I'm a sucker for 80s franchises, so when I heard Rainbow Brite and Strawberry Shortcake were getting reboots at a toy show last year, I was interested.  I didn't pay it as much mind then, because I had Rainbow High and Monster High to think about, but now that I'm pretty much done with both of those, I'm looking for something new to look forward to, and this might be perfect.  It's got 80's nostalgia, but modern mechanics, seems like a good balance of quality and affordability. 

2024 Doll Collection Goals Checkup

It's been two and a half months of 2024 so far, and things have happened.  Some things have changed, become less available, etc.  So I'm going to go over my goals and talk about how they've been affected so far.

My last Rainbow High in store purchase

So, you guys know, Rainbow High as we know it is basically over.  So a lot of shit is on clearance now.  These are the Rainbow High blind packaging shoes.  They originally cost 10$ a box.  Since they're on clearance, they're only 3$ a box now.  That's a really good price for doll shoes, so I thought I'd pick up a few.

My husband and I went to Walmart, to pick some up, and my husband picks up THE ENTIRE DISPLAY.  I was so shocked, I couldn't argue with him or tell him to put it back.  We checked out with a mostly FULL DISPLAY of clearance doll shoes.  My husband is wild.

Barbie Dream Besties Hype

Yes, another hype post.  I'm completely over Decora Girlz.  I decided I don't like their giant heads or cartoony faces.  At least I came to this decision BEFORE buying them.

What I DO like, are these face sculpts.  They're very Ever After High.  Also, 11 points of articulation.  That's what I like to see.  I know I swore I wouldn't get involved in the Barbie VS Bratz war, but damn, I need these girls.  They're even split into couples for me already!  These might be the cutest Barbie dolls I've ever seen in my lifetime.

Decora Girlz Hype

I don't normally make hype posts for doll brands, but I'm depressed and dolls give me serotonin.  This is a preview pic of the Decora Girlz 11 inch fashion dolls, revealed at a toy fair last September.  Decora Girlz is a new brand by Cepia, the company behind Zhu Zhu Pets.  They're starting the brand with 2 lines, 4 fashion dolls, 9 minidolls, and a minidoll playset.  All dolls come with sheets of stickers to decorate the dolls with.

Gallery: Briar and Snow pics

This is why I needed a second doll this month.  I couldn't wait another minute to put these two together.

Unboxing: Sleeping Beauty

Yes, I got another one, in the same month.  You don't understand, the BriarSnow ship has been living rent free in my head, and I could not cope until I had this doll, and had the two dolls together.  I have been obsessed.

Unboxing: Disney Princess Tiana from the Princess and the Frog

Tiana is my third Disney Princess doll.  She is the protagonist in the Princess and the Frog.  I enjoyed the movie.  I think it would have had a better reception if made a decade earlier, but better late than never I suppose.

Unboxing: Lala and Ella from BFF

Here's my last unboxing for dolls I got for Christmas.  Ella and Lala from Cry Babies BFF.  These will prolly be the last BFF dolls I'm getting.  I now have 6, and the next series might not have stands.  I dunno, we'll see.  Series 3 was previewed half a year ago, and there's been no sign of them.  I'm not pressed.

Stitches: Sunny and Violet's Pajamas

Yesterday, I finally finished Violet and Sunny's nightgowns.  I've been procrastinating on them for forever, but finally got to them this month.  With the bathrobes I made a couple years ago, I think they look great!

Maine Doll Lovers January Doll Meet

This is not only my first meet of the year, but also my first meet since last summer's anime convention!  It is a virtual meetup over Discord.   So far, only two people have joined, Eseme and Razliel.  Raz appears to be an American Girl collector.  So far, they're talking about American Girl dolls.

Razliel is a nice person who lives in the state South of me.  She started with a Kirsten American Girl doll and has expanded from there.  She has a few Barbies too.  I think she mentioned BJDs too.

Eseme is the leader of the group, who organizes most of the events.  She collects mostly Barbie, but dabbles in other brands.  While we chatted, she was sewing up a red polkadot dress that looked like it had a handkerchief hem.

While chatting with the two of them, I got some doll crafting done.  I finally cut out the night gowns I've been planning for Sunny and Violet.  I sewed up the sides of Violet's nightgown, and started on Sunny's.   The meetup wrapped up in an hour and a half, so I got plenty done in that time.

Unboxing: Disney Megara from Hercules

This is the 2019 edition Disney Store Megara from Hercules doll.  I got her for Christmas from my aunt.  I unboxed her yesterday.  This is the front of the box.  Very nice and straight forward.

From Christmas: Amaya Raine and Gabriella Icely

This is my final Rainbow High unboxing; Amaya Raine and Gabriella Icely.  It was bittersweet, because I love these dolls, but they'll never be the same again.

New Year, New Goals

Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2024!  So, what are my plans as a doll collector for 2024?  Nobody asked, but I'm barfing out my thoughts here.  My blog, my barf.

1. Buy less dolls! - My collection has doubled in the past year and a half!  Time to tap the breaks on this shit.  I had a bit of a gravy train last spring and summer, but that ship has sailed and I need to be more responsible with my money.  Fortunately, my favorite, and most expensive doll line is being brutally murdered at the altar of Bratz, so they won't be making any new dolls for me to drool over.  I have 16 Rainbow High dolls, my largest line ever, and it's gonna stop there.  All their 2024 releases have less articulation and crappier quality.  Yes, Rainbow High is in it's Budget Phase, the phase prior to extinction.  It was a wild ride, and I will cherish the memories.  I have ENOUGH DOLLS.  I will not be trying to fill a Rainbow High shaped hole anymore.  It's not empty.  It's full.

2. Arts and crafts! - I intend to do lots of doll related arts and crafts.  Fanart, fanfiction, photography, sewing doll clothes, beading doll jewelry.  Maybe I'll learn how to 3D model accessories and get them printed!  I have a ton of dolls and they all need wardrobes, accessories, and a modeling portfolio!  The possibilities are endless.

3. Dolly House Con 2024! - Yes, I'm gonna have a doll convention, in my house, largely by myself, but videocalling and hanging out with my sister, a fellow doll collector.  We're going to do doll art, doll crafts, and watch doll videos together!  I'm planning on making some convention t-shirts for some of my dolls.  Maybe I'll make a badge too.  Anyways, that'll be in the summer, so I have time to prep.

4. Socialize Carefully - The Barbie VS Bratz war is coming back this year, with the new Bratz dolls, and collectors edition My Scene dolls.  I will tread carefully in doll communities online, and not engage with arguments between fans of either brand.  I will share pics of my dolly arts and crafts, but I will not get involved in toxic situations online.