So you’ve removed your Blythe’s scalp and you want to reroot her hair, or sew on weft. You’ll need to prepare the scalp as follows:

1. Take a pair of scissors and cut the hair short, preferably half a centimetre or less.

2. Turn the scalp inside out.

3. Use tweezers to pull the loops of hair out of the scalp.  If you take breaks during the process, turn the scalp right-side-out between hair-pulling sessions.  Leaving it inside out for long periods might stretch the rubber and leave the scalp misshapen.

4. When all the hair is removed, turn the scalp right-side-out.  If the scalp is painted a colour that doesn’t match the hair you are rerooting or wefting with, you’ll want to remove that paint.  Use a sanding sponge or very light-grain sand paper and gently sand off the paint.

Now you’re ready for new hair!  Stay tuned for rerooting tutorials coming soon

Just when it seems like you’ve been waiting for ever (and there certainly was a fair bit of frustration expressed on Blythe forums), suddenly CWC announce a bucketful of new releases. In order of release date, we have:

• The latest batch of prima dollies



They’re a bit of a mixed bag, these ones.  Ashlet has never been a favourite with me (ADG-alike lippie – bleurgh!), but the new centre-parted hair with a fringe on Ashletina looks very cute.

Aubrey, on the other hand, has always been a favourite with me.  I have referred to her as the perfect doll, and I stand by that; her skin tone, make up and hair are all beautiful.  But for her boring stock eyechips, she’d be right up there with PAM for me.  This version, Aubrena, is just the same, but with longer hair.  As the only RBL amongst them, I predict she’ll be the first to sell out.

The new Violet, Violetina, appears to be identical to the last one.  *stifles yawn*

All three have just become available at the Junie Moon online store at 8,400 yen.

• Limited prima ~ Marigold

  



Marigold is the latest limited prima, following the neon-bright Peony and Amaryllis. I don’t usually like yellow-haired dolls, but this one might just be orangey enough to tempt me, particularly as the colour is nicely complimented by peachy blush.

Her retail price is 7,875 yen, but as she is limited to 1000, expect her price on the secondary market to skyrocket.

• Matryoshka Maiden



With fair skin and blonde wavy hair, she does bear a resemblance to Angelica Eve.  Matryoshka Maiden has blushier cheeks and a stronger lip colour than AE though, who can look a bit washed out.  Her outfit, “the quintessential babushka, apron and dress with vivid patterns” is fantastic and I must have it, preferably the very second she’s released on boxing day.  She is priced at 13,440 yen.

• Princess Milk BisQuit de Q-pot



Those sneaky folks at CWC have been driving Blythe and Q-pot fans crazy of late with little hints of the loveliness to be unleashed on the world. Then, suddenly, an animation appeared that knocked socks off! This girl is deliciously milk chocolate themed from her eyelids to her shoes. I especially love her sheeny lip colour on that small pouty lip-shape. We can only hope that the slightly coarse dry look to her hair is just an unfortunate promo-photo-thing. Fingers crossed!

She is released in January at a price of 16,590 yen. She’s limited to 3000 and details on how to be in the running to purchase her are yet to be announced.

• Cappuccino Chat



Last, but most excitingly, a cartoon picture was released this morning of another RBL release.  This one is also due for release in January and she has long silver hair. *faints*  I think she might be my fave.  I’m already thinking of a name for mine….

If you have an ADG, BL, EBL or SBL Blythe (see Alana’s post on facemoulds if you’re not sure which yours is), you may want to change her eye colours without the extra work of taking her head apart. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Go buy some glue sticks (the kind used in glue guns), a lighter and some craft glue. I’m using Mod Podge, but any craft glue that dries clear, such as gem glue, will do the job. Don’t be tempted to use super glue – I tried it despite warnings and my beautiful sparkly eyechips went milky and patchy the next day when it was too late to change my mind!

2. Choose your new eyechips. My favourites are Brainworm chips, but CoolCat and Ixtee are developing new patterns and effects, including enlarged pupils, that are definitely worth a look. Remember to check our links page for online stores.

3. If you want to keep your doll’s original eyelashes, you’ll need to keep them out of the way while you change her eyechips. Sticky tape can be used to stick them back above the eye so they that don’t get gluey.

4. Melt the end of a glue stick. This can be done with a lighter. However, you may burn your fingers like that (I always do when I try it), so I’d recommend lighting a candle and melting the glue with the candle flame. Working out the right level of meltiness is a bit of a trial-and-error affair, though I can tell you that it should be melty, but not drippy, if that makes sense. You want it to stick to the eyechip you’re trying to remove, but not spread glue all over the eyeball, faceplate, your hands, etc.

5. Press the melted end of the glue stick onto the eyechip that you want to remove. Press it as firmly as you can, then leave the glue to cool and set:

6. Pull on the gluestick. You may have to pull hard – don’t be scared! Hopefully the result will be this:

If not, try again. You might want to try leaving the glue to harden a little longer on the next attempt.

7. Your doll should now be giving you this kind of look:

Try not to be freaked out by the empty eyeball or the grumpy look she’s giving you. She’ll forgive you when she has fabulous new eyes. Repeat with the other eye.

8. Now comes the fun bit.

From these blank eyeballs you can create your new look for your Blythe. Try different kinds of foil or coloured paper behind the new eyechips to see the different effects you can achieve. I’m loving Brainworm foils at the moment, but any kind of thin paper could work. (I should also add that the black rings on the eyeballs in this picture are characteristic of BL and EBL eyeballs, SBL and ADG ones are all white.)

9. Put in the new chips. You’ll need to add a bit of your craft glue around the post of the chip. Don’t add too much, or it’ll squish out around the edges of the chip:

Press the new chips in firmly.

10. Admire your doll’s new eyes. Accept praise.

Remember to be careful when removing the sticky tape you’ve used to protect her eyelashes. You don’t want to scratch her eye shadow with your fingernails.

11. Leave your doll for 24 hours to give the glue time to set. Resist the urge to pull that string! If you turn the eyes before the glue has set the chips may come loose and drop into the doll’s head. (Another lesson I learned the hard way.) After 24 hours, you can start the process again on the next set of chips. Have fun!

Hi everyone,

As some of you may have seen on my flickr stream, I recently made a lightbox for Blythe photography. Many of you expressed interest in them, so I thought I’d give some hints for anyone who is thinking of making one.

I followed instructions I found on the internet, and in particular looked at other Blythe lightboxes for inspiration (well in particular, Robots for Magnolia, who takes beautiful photos!). It’s really easy, and you can really make it to suit your needs.

Ok here goes. Since I already made one yesterday, but didn’t take any progress shots, I made another one today just for this tutorial! (Note: photos are a little weirdly lighted, sorry about that!)

**

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

* cardboard box – size doesn’t really seem to matter, I used both a small one, and a large one, and they both get great results. As long as it fits into your camera’s shot, it doesn’t really matter I don’t think.

* scissors

* razor

* tracing paper

* masking tape/duct tape

* ruler

* pen

ONTO THE LIGHTBOX!

1. First, tape the bottom of the box, inside and out.

2. Cut off the flaps that usually close the box. I’ve seen some tutorials that say you can keep them to control the light entering, but for the two I’ve made I’ve cut the flaps.

3. Here’s what it should look like

4. Now, you need to choose three sides for attaching tracing paper. On the sides you have chosen, draw a frame about 2.5 cm in from the edges.

5. Here’s what I mean.

6. Cut it out with a razor.

7. Repeat for three sides. Don’t worry about it looking a bit messy at the moment, you’ll clean it up with tape in just a second.

8. Use tape around all the edges to make it neater.

9. Cut tracing paper to fit, and attach it with tape again.

10. Continue for other 2 sides, and you’re done!! Here is the new one (the one on the left) with the one I made yesterday. They both work really well, despite the size difference.

11. When you set it up, you have many options. I don’t have any professional lights, so I took all the floor lamps in our house (parents weren’t too pleased when they wanted to read in bed… lol). I placed one directly above all of the sides. However, you can also use only one light from the top, or none at all! (Natural light and its powers!)

12. Here is a comparison shot of what different lightsources look like (no photoshopping).

From left to right, top to bottom: Natural light, 3 lights, 1 light from top, 2 lights from sides.

For backdrops, you can use paper, cardboard, fake grass (above), fabric… scrapbooking material… anything really! You can attach it with blu-tak or tape.

I’m still experimenting with light sources and the such, but so far photos have been turning out well. I think if I get more white bulbs, the effects will be even better.

Have fun everyone

xx Sophia

If you’re going to reroot your BL, EBL or SBL Blythe doll, swap scalps with another, boggle her eyes or lift her gaze, the first thing you’ll need to do is pull off her scalp.

1.  Choose your hapless victim.  I’ve chosen an SBL Blythe, a Feel the Sky, for her extra-pale complexion:

2.  Give her hair a good tug all around the hairline to see if there are any areas where the scalp can be persuaded to come away from the head:

3.  I found a slight gap on the side of her head.  Don’t be afraid to pull hard – you won’t break anything:

4.  If you’ve found a gap, insert your craft knife into it and begin to slice across.  Remember you’re trying to separate the scalp from the hard plastic head-piece, rather than cutting into it.  Also, be careful not to slip with the knife and scrape the head – or yourself!

5.  If you didn’t find a gap to insert the knife, simply find a likely spot on the back of your doll’s head and begin to cut.  Again, remember that you are trying to slide your knife between the scalp and head-piece as far as you can:

6.  Make a small cut, then try pulling the hair again, close the the hairline.  Blythes have differing amounts of glue holding their heads together, so some will require more strength than others.  If the scalp isn’t pulling away, cut a little further and try again:

7.  Keep pulling until the whole scalp lifts off the top of the head.  (This is an SBL head – EBL and BLs look a different):

8.  Be amused by your doll’s shiny boiled-egg head:

I haven’t blogged in ages (actually I think I’ve only ever blogged once), so pardon my first blog being blatant plagiarism!!

I received a great dolly article recently titled ‘Ten ways to Collect dolls in a Down Economy’:

http://collectdolls.about.com/od/dollcollectingresources/tp/collectingandeconomy.htm

I had a good read and decided to share some tips mentioned. Not sure if there will be ten, so let’s not count.

· Stop looking forward, start looking in!!! Love what you have! With Blythe, I HAVE to see them in front of me at all times. If I find myself getting over how they look, I re-do the WHOLE display. Sometimes I add furniture, sometimes I prefer to be minimalist because dusting the tiny tables gives me the shits. Recently I have devoted an entire expedit square to displaying my lovely dolly clothes – it’s so much better than having them stuffed in a box and it never fails to be admired even by the most non dolly person ( the ladies go ga-ga over the cute little dresses).

· Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise!! Can’t afford a doll? By her a pair of shoes or a new dress instead. I’ve gotten to the point where a new item for my dolly is more exciting than a new dolly altogether. Or, even CHEAPER, remix ur dolly’s wardrobe and try new crazy combinations. Another idea I might try that I’ve seen others do – dress ur doll like a scene or character from a movie. You don’t need to have the perfect accessories, see below pic; it took several looks for people to realise she wasn’t working on a kitchen bench LOL.

· Handy man!! Most of us have a crappy doll we keep MEANING to get to. Now’s a great time! I bought a $2 Barbie once just so I could wash her hair, it was a calming process and I thoroughly enjoyed it (NB: barbie hair different than Blythe hair, I still SUCK at doing Blythe hair).

· Cheaper dolls? I actually don’t agree with this idea, buts lots of people love it. Buy something cheaper to tide you over – instead of a Blythe, buy a pink box barbie for example. HOWEVER, this is dangerous as you can end up with a whole heap of crap you don’t really want . I’ve been there, done that, donated to charity.

· Garage sales!! I never have the time, but the idea seems so romantic to me!!! Another good option is the small local fetes and markets. Heed my above warning tho – crap is tempting!!

· Swap! The infamous swap –always a great idea!

· Strict Policies! Since getting married to an anti-doll nazi, my buying habits have been curbed. Instead of buying whatever I want by using the evil credit card, I have to think each purchase through. So I developed a simple rule; all dollies must be purchased with money gained from selling other dollies. I railed aboot it at first, but its actually turned into a great little system. I spent my early 20’s buying everything and anything I fancied on ebay. The result: boxes and boxes of random toys shoved in cupboards and the garage that never saw the light of day. I’ve spent the last year slowly decreasing my collection, its been painful but rewarding. Now I think purchases through before hitting that damn BIN button at 3AM in the morning (and trust me, I’ve been thinking of Milky Way Sugar for months).

SO, thats it!!!! Common sense but helpful tips to get us through these tough dolly times!

Looking for a dollhouse/studio that:

• lets you express your style?
• is great for photography?
• is easy to store?

Here’s a product from Cleabella called “Room With a View”. It’s a magnetic scene system to display and photograph 1:4 or 1:6 (playscale) dolls. A starter kit includes metallic folding background walls, a fabric floor rug and your first set of magnetic ‘mix-and-match wallpaper’ panels.

You can then add more mix-and-match wallpaper or panelling, and magnetic wall accessories such as windows, doors, faux bookshelves and framed pictures. The catch is- it’s expensive. But read on for my DIY tip!

For more flexibility you can buy blank magnetic panels and design your own background. That’s how Michael Williams created his stylish set piece, featured here on our blog and pictured below. Michael explains on his Flickr site how he scanned in the wallpaper design from some fabric and printed it on a large scale Epsom printer. He also printed the parquet hardwood floor. Visit Michael’s flickr set for more details: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mawphoto/sets/72157603894831644/

…and here’s my crafty DIY tip- as they say, “make of it what you will”. You can buy paint with iron filings which magnets will stick to.  You can get A4 sized printable magnet sheets from Officeworks, and larger magnets should be available at printers and signwriters.  And finally-you can cut out pictures you like from magazines, such as accessories, paintings, posters, views through windows. Then glue them on to those magnets you always get in the letterbox- you know, the ones that advertise the 24-hour plumbing service. Now that’s real DIY, and it’s free!

Vintage Barbie clones, despite their undeniable fug, are a nifty alternative to “real” vintage Barbies.

At first glance, they look like the real thing. The Dusty Springfield-esque eye make-up, the snooty expression, and the insane bodily proportions are all present. But cheaply produced Hong Kong clones from the ’60s are made out of feather-light hollow plastic and have all sorts of quality control problems. One of mine has one leg that’s a good half-centimetre longer than the other, suggesting a stacked heel might be in order. The other has ragged plastic around her hands, and both are partially bald, making hairstyling a tricky prospect.

All that aside, they’re a heck of a lot cheaper than vintage Barbies and are not without their own idiosyncratic charms. When I went to pay for one at the vintage collectibles market where I found her, the man behind the counter exclaimed, “Oh, I love the fake Barbies! They look so mean, like they beat the other Barbies up!” I can’t disagree. There’s something amusingly off-kilter and cockeyed about them, and they have a cranky quality that Barbies lack. They might be from the wrong side of the tracks, but their underdog charms just might win you over.

1. Choose your hapless victim:

2. Remove the screw from the back of her head:

3. Use a sharp knife to separate the scalp from the back of the head:

4. You should now be able to pull the back of the head off:

5. The eye mechanism is just lightly sitting in the front face plate. Lift or tip it out:

6. Do the same to another petite Blythe and swap them over.

7. Reassemble dolls.

8. Admire your handiwork. Here’s mine:

Okay, maybe “wars” is over the top. But nothing whips the Blythe community into a frenzy as much as facemould talk.

Blythe has had four incarnations since Takara started reproducing her in 2001: BL, EBL (AKA Excellent), SBL (AKA Superior), and RBL (AKA Radiant). Although they are all based on the original look of 1972 Kenner Blythes, each Takara mould gives Blythe a slightly different look. Indeed, people new to Blythe have trouble telling one facemould from another. More militant Blythe fans, however, reject certain moulds completely and embrace others, which can result in the occasional personality clash when someone feels as though their favourite mould has been slighted.

The BL and EBL looks are based on the same mould, but the finished dolls are distinct from one another due to the different thickness od their eyelashes, and the boggled (lifted) eyelids, fuller lips, and matte faces on some of the BLs.

With their extra-wide eyes and round cheeks, BLs are sometimes described as childlike or quirky. Being the earliest Takara Blythes, they’ve become harder to attain, and therefore have become widely coveted for their rareness and distinctiveness. EBLs have a more serious look, and their mouth shape is the least “smiley” of all Blythes, making them popular with collectors who prefer more melancholy girls.

Below: a Kenner Blythe (left) and a BL Blythe (right). This particular BL (Aztec Arrival) doesn’t have the matte complexion, pouty lips and boggled eyes of found on some BLs, so the differences between her and the EBL pictured lowered down are less pronounced.

Below: a Kenner Blythe (left) and an EBL Blythe (right).

SBL (or “Superior”) Blythes began production in late 2003. The SBL mould, is, anecdotally, the least popular of the Takara moulds. SBL Blythes are sometimes described as having a more sophisticated look than BLs and EBLs and have less rounded eyes, a more noticeable smile, and a different eyechip style. They also have thicker eyelashes and a more extreme side-glance than EBLs. More recent SBLs have a new style of lip that is even more smiley than the earlier SBLs.

Below: a Kenner Blythe (left) and an SBL Blythe (right).

SBLs are still being produced, but in 2006 added another facemould, RBL (or “Radiant”). Presently, Takara and CWC alternate production between the two moulds. The aim with the RBL mould was engineer a Takara Blythe that looked as much like a Kenner Blythe as possible. RBLs have especially large eyes which are slightly uneven, which is apparently a deliberate quirk meant to echo the imperfections of Kenners. They have a soft smile and a fuller face than SBLs. RBLs are sought after because of their resemblance to Kenners and relative scarcity compared to SBLs.

Below: a Kenner Blythe (left) and an RBL Blythe (right).

I’m sure I’ve left a lot out, but this is my impression of the various moulds! It would be great if you could add any extra info in the comments.

All photos by Sue.

This week’s Dollhouse DIY follows on from last week’s tutorial on printing your own fabric. This time we’ll be making the fabric into cushions. No dowdy chintz for these dollies!

1. Cut out your printed fabric leaving seam allowances on all sides. Cut out a matching backing fabric in the same size.

2. Pin the ‘right sides’ (the side you want to see) together on three sides. Sew the three sides together by hand or with a sewing machine.

3. Turn the cushion right-side out, using a pencil or chopstick to turn out the corners. Stuff the cushion with fabric scraps, cotton wool or commercial stuffing. Turn under the open edges and sew closed by hand.

And you’re done!

GIVEAWAY: If you’d like these cushions for your own dolls, leave a comment below and let me knwo if you’d like to be in the draw. I’ll draw a winner by random next Monday October 6 at 8pm. Good luck!

This post is largely due to the fact that I have just bought my very first Licca doll, I have loved them for a while so finally decided to take the plunge…

Tokyo-born and raised and in 5th year of Shirakaba Gakuen elementary school, Licca has a French father (Pierre) and a Japanese mother (Orie), likes tennis, window-shopping and baking cookies, reads manga/comics like Doraemon and enjoys custard pudding and vanilla ice-cream. Her full name is Licca Kayama.

Her creators have modelled her personality and hobbies in such way that little Japanese girls could identify with her easily. She’s of a small frame, 142 cm (4′ 8”) tall and weighs 34 kg (75 pounds). Her two favourite books are widely-known and popular classics that girls in Japan like to read - Anne of Green Gables and A Little Princess. Licca was first released in 1967 and instantly became very popular. She had blue eyes and brown hair ending in an elegant curl. At the time she had a different headmold, the type we now call 1st generation Licca. The Licca of today is in her 4th stage and is 4th generation Licca. All the different generations have different headmolds and make-up. A good way to set the 1st gen apart from the others is to look at their eye design: the 1st gen Licca has only one white hightlight/dot in each eye, the other generations have three. The size of her body and proportions has also changed through the generations. Modern-day Licca is taller and wider at the hips and chest.

In 1972 Takara introduced 2nd gen Licca with similar dark-brown/reddish hair in an “old-fashioned” style with a curl at the end like the 1st gen had. The headmold changed a bit and “filled out”. The cheeks look fatter and give her a rounder face. The eyes now have 3 white dots in them.

In 1980 the headmold changed again and the doll became known as 3rd gen Licca. The face doesn’t look AS round anymore, it looks “flatter”, like the “baby fat” evened out. The hair is now often straight and of a lighter brown color.

In 1988 the Licca we’re familiar with now first appeared – the 4th gen Licca. The new headmold looks wider at the top, her chin is more pointed than before, shape of the nose is different, lips aren’t as puckered anymore but a bit thinner. She has wider eyes with a bit more detail. The default hairstyle is straight blond hair. This is the playline Licca and the more economical version. 4th generation introduced many, many hair style and color variations, and the prices range from $10-$20 for an off-the-shelf Licca to $100 and more for the most limited dolls.

Licca has a big family, including twin sisters Miki and Maki that are 4 years younger than her, and even younger triplet brother and sisters Kako, Gen and Mika (they’re still babies). She also has French grandparents and a French cousin.

There’s also a “future Licca” storyline that explains how Licca attends university, becomes a diplomat and goes to France where she meets Frantz, also a diplomat. They marry in a year and have a daughter named Licca in 2001.

In the storyline where she doesn’t age and is forever 11 years old, Licca is currently dating Kakeru. She has befriended a lot of other children and each Licca generation introduces new Licca friends. Same with her boyfriends.

In 1970 we first see Lady Licca which is actually not an older version of Licca from the future but her role model. Lady Licca has been very popular among collectors to this day. She has the headmold of 1st gen Licca but is much taller. Her last name is Kitahara. 
In 1988 2nd gen Lady Licca was released and this one IS an older-looking Licca Kayama and shares the 4th gen Licca headmold. She’s also taller than normal-sized Licca.

There is also an older sister on the scene, Rie (a stewardess), but Takara scratched her from the family line because at the time she was released (1972), Licca’s mother was too young to have a daughter in Rie’s age. She’s the rarest doll in the Licca family/friend line and a big favourite among many collectors.

In 2001 Takara introduced reproductions of the 1st gen Licca and Licca Club 67 has been releasing them in groups every year. The repro headmold and body are smaller than the original. Repro Licca is highly sought-after by collectors as she comes in limited numbers and is a Licca Club 67store exclusive. 
In addition, we have non-LC67 repros that were produced in greater numbers than the LC67 limiteds (several thousand of each version) and they all have a similar hairstyle (like the original 1st gen Licca) but different outfits. These were done for the Licca 25th Anniversary in 1992. 
There are at least two rare TAKARA BAKO store exclusive repros, as well. 
Repros of the 2nd gen Licca also exist, are much easier to obtain and were released in bigger numbers. They all have the brown/reddish hair in the hairstyle of the 2nd gen Licca, while the 1st gen repros by LC67 often sport more modern, trendy hairstyles the originals didn’t have. 

Neo Licca is a Licca with a 1st gen headmold but a taller body. This Licca is similar to the repros in the sense that she’s not vintage but she’s using a vintage Licca headmold. There are different very cool NEO Liccas and are pretty popular by the fans, too. The NEOs are like Liccas in teenager form. The first NEO was released in 2000.

Massive thanks to LiccaLicca.net  for all this information.

Here are some more links to Licca for your viewing pleasure…

This week on Blythedoll.com we finally saw promo pics for Veronica Lace.

The dress seems a little bulky from these pics. I was expecting something a little more flapper-esque, but this makes her look a bit chunky – quite a feat on that skinny little body. I’m a big fan of the little squishy mary janes though, and that tea set is very cute.



The really interesting thing about this release is the hair colour. The mixture of pinky-lilac and brown is intriguing, and while it seems kind of wishy-washy in these pics, I’m going to be looking out for further pictures with great interest – I wasn’t impressed with Heart of Montmartre’s hair until I saw her in real life, and now she’s top of my wishlist.

There is one thing I really don’t like about this one. The purple lipstick reminds me of ADG lips. Nah. Seriously.

CWC also released cartoon pictures of their next release today. With only 88 days to go until Xmas, I’m relieved to say that they have plans to make us all a bit jollier this year with a Blythe in Santa gear.



Out in November, this blushy little blonde could be Santa’s favourite helper. I know I have to get my hands on that outfit!

Other news from CWC is that voting is open for this year’s photo contest. Don’t forget to have your say on which picture makes ‘Miss Popularity’!

“Pure neemo”, “Pureneemo” or “Azone 25cm” are made by “Azone International” and are a new type of adorable seamless 25cm jointed dolls, but unlike other 1/6 they are made from a rubbery kind of PVC / plastic. The bodies are not fully jointed but rather semi-kinetic and seamless with really smooth joint connections. They consist of many easily interchangeable parts that you can mix together to achieve the perfect static pose for your dolly…

“EX-Cute” is the name for the line of the complete PN character dolls. There are 6 Pure Neemo head molds for the PN characters (+1 more head with obitsu body) that Azone use for their releases. The vinyl heads that come with the dolls are hair rooted and have painted on eyes and characteristics.
You can find each and every release here.

here is a complete list of the “EX-cute” dolls using those head molds that have been released up until now.
-
-『ちいか』-|Chiika|-

|List |
- Romantic Girly!
- 大正浪漫カフェ
- Princess Chiika / ～ツバメにのって～
- Romantic Girly!Ⅱ
- Antique Sweet Memory Sugar Cherry Chiika
more about |Chiika| here
-
-『ひめの』-|Himeno|-

|List|
- Welcome to EX☆CUTE！
- Welcome to EX☆CUTE！Ver.1.1
- Welcome to EX☆CUTE！(Dsver.）
more about |Himeno| here
-
-『あいか』-|Aika|-

|List|
- Wicked style
- Wicked style plus 　
- Chocoholic nightmare
- Strawberry holic nightmare
- Blueberry holic nightmare
- Princess Aika ～恋スル人魚の大作戦！～
- Wicked styleⅡ
- SWEET PUNK GIRLS! / AIKA
- SWEET PUNK GIRLS!/AIKA DSver.
more about |Aika| here
-
-『みう』-|Miu|-

|List|
- Blue Bird’s Song
- Classic girl 　
- Princess Miu ～満月の夜に～
- Blue Birds SongⅡ
- Antique Sweet Memory Cotton Candy Miu
- SWEET PUNK GIRLS!/MIU
more about |Miu| here
-
-『ころん』-|Koron|-

|List|
- Snotty cat
- Happy honey marmalade
- Princess Koron～12時までに帰らなきゃ！
- Snotty CatⅡ
- Snotty CatⅡ(DSver.)
more about |Koron| here
-
-『リアン』-|Lien|-

|List|
- Angelic sigh
- Pop’n Rollergirl
- Princess Lien ～毒りんごに気をつけろ！～
- Angelic sighⅡDSver.
- Angelic sighⅡ
- SWEET PUNK GIRLS!/LIEN
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This week’s Dollhouse DIY is a tutorial on how to print your own fabric using an ink-jet printer. Next week I’ll show you how to sew your fabric into cushions.

Here’s Quince soaking up the spring sunshine while lounging against some home-made cushions.

I’m using an Australian commercial product called Premium (TM) Printable Fabric Sheets from www.accraft.com.au The fabric is white cotton, and is quite stiff- okay for cushions and capes, but not very pliable. Please note: it must be an ink-jet, not a laser printer.

1. Open a word processor document and insert some images. I’m leaving a white space around them for seam allowances. Do a test print on paper to check layout and colours ( I decided to skip that bit- *bzzzz* – and the document reformatted itself and removed my seam allowances!)

2. Set your printer settings to ‘Best’ print quality and ‘plain’ paper. Put the fabric sheet into your inkjet printer so that the image will print on the fabric side. Let the sheet dry for about ten minutes.

3. Peel away the paper backing. Rinse the sheet in a tub of cold water.

4. Lay the sheet flat on a towel to dry…and that’s it! The ink is set and can be washed gently by hand or in a machine.

Next week in Dollhouse DIY: How to sew dolly cushions, and cushion giveaway!

Planning for next February’s major Blythe meet in Melbourne has been bubbling away behind the scenes since June. Since email deliberations can only achieve so much, today some of the organisers decided to get hands-on and take a look around the venue for inspiration.

Our mission is to transform a school hall into a setting fit for a Blythe tea party, and to make the day as memorable as we possibly can. It’s a daunting prospect, but an exciting one, too.
The hall itself is big and bright, and the adjoining playground is dolly photo-shoot waiting to happen. We’ve compiled a list of decorating and catering ideas and are in the process of pricing and hunting down items.
The day won’t be overloaded with games and planned activities, because we firmly believe that catching up with online friends and oohing and ahhing over other’s dolls will be everyone’s top priority. However, we are hoping to include the We Play With Dolls members who can’t attend via video chat. More about that down the track.
We’ve got lots to do before February, but it’s most definitely a worthwhile endeavour!

If you’re a novice or experienced at sewing, knitting or crochet, and would like to help the children of South Africa, here’s a way to share some dolly love!

The Uthando (‘Love’) Project provides free patterns to make dolls for children in a community ravaged by HIV and AIDS. The dolls are to promote expressive play, which is essential for children’s development and mental health. Your doll could be a child’s first toy, shared by the whole family.

Why dolls?: The Uthando Project website says “The dolls are an invitation to play. They will bring delight to the children and their carers. This play may help the child with grief and loss. To own and play with their own doll encourages a child’s development in all spheres: physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual”. Ah, so that’s why we play with dolls!

If you’re not sure that your sewing is good enough, think again. No need for perfection, wonkiness is just as loveable. Just make them strong, because these dolls are destined for a lot of love! Have a look here for the details and simple patterns:

http://www.uthandoproject.org/

If you decide to make one, post and link your pics here! There’s also a thread in the weplaywithdolls.net forum: http://weplaywithdolls.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=546&p=8511#p8511   I’ll be posting mine in a couple of weeks.

Furnishings for 1:6 (aka “Playscale) dollhouses can be hard to find. You can search online for vintage Barbie and Sindy decor, hunt through frowsy Victoriana, shell out for Rement…what else is there? How about some Mod-inspired DIY!

Take inspiration from these amazing diorama by Michael Williams from www.mawphoto.com. These displays pay homage to interior designer Jonathan Adler and to Mid-century decor.

These starburst mirrors are my favorites. They’re made from a metal ring, a circle of foamcore, shiny paper, some toothpicks and spray paint. The George Nelson-style clock includes berry pins and paper cut-outs. Ornaments are made from beads and buttons.

A defining feature of Michael’s displays is the cushion collections. Drawing inspiration from Jonathan Adler’s textiles, Michael has designed and printed his own fabric using an ink-jet printer, and has provided a free downloadable template here:

How can I do that, you ask? Stay tuned until next week, I’ll be doing a cushion-printing tutorial in the ‘Dollhouse DIY’ series on weplaywithdolls.net/blogs/

You can see this Flickr set of Michael’s photos here and visit his website at www.mawphoto.com Thank you Michael for allowing me to use your beautiful images and reference your work!

There’s a new set of Odeco and Nikki dolls and this time they look like they’ve stepped off the set of Little House on the Prairie. Fortunately, I love that show.

I find this outfit absolutely adorable – especially the little lace-up boots. I’m also pleased that this time Nikki has the pale greeny-yellow eyes I’ve been hoping for. I’m not too sure about her markings though. While the white around her nose and mouth is super-cute, the stripes are a bit square – much like the grey ‘Vacation’ Nikki.

I just wonder why Odeco looks so worried – perhaps it’s the Depression-era outfit. She may be worrying about where her next potato is coming from…..

Dollies driving you out of house and home? This simple DIY dollhouse is from the March issue of CookieMag.com:

It’s made from two pieces of foam core, found at most craft shops. Decorate with wrapping paper and pics from your favorite mags.

The open design is ideal for doll photography. It gives great visibility and can easily be angled towards your light source. Communicating doors give a glimpse of the next room.

http://www.cookiemag.com/magazine/blogs/nesting/2008/02/diy-dollhouse.html

Pros:
- make it to whatever scale suits your dollies- a Lati nursery or a Blythe bachelorette pad
- easy to pack flat and store under the bed

Cons:
- okay, it’s huge… but you don’t really use the dining table, do you?  Pop it on the Lazy Susan, spin it around and start snapping away. Yum-cha-tastic!

More dollhouse news from Bellgirl next week.

Wowsers never seen anything like this, I cant get over how talented tingeisha is. Be sure to check out her other flickr stuff!

http://www.flickr.com/people/tingeisha/

Seen on flickr…

source

I never really understood why people had twins in their doll collections. I mean, with so many different and delightful dolls in the world, why have two the same?

But then Flickr’s ‘rockymountainroz’ began taking fabulous pictures of her goldie twins, and I started to be won over. I found myself bidding on eBay on a white Nikki doll, just like my own Mustard, with thoughts of dressing them identically. I was outbid, unfortunately, so I never got to discover whether their identical looks would correspond with similar personalities.

I am lucky enough to have twins visiting at the moment.  They are Blythe Fruit Punch girls waiting for a major makeover in the salon. They are truly adorable and I’ve always had a soft spot for FPs. I’m trying not to get to know them too well though, or I won’t want to let them go home when they’re done. So far, I can tell you that they don’t seem to fond of each other, or of hanging around waiting.

Of course, for some people, two little girls dressed identically will always be scary. Always.

For more twin pictures and talk visit this thread on the forum.

Another set of pictures of Byul, Jun Planning’s upcoming new doll type, have been leaked. It’s unclear as to whether these are further prototypes, or previews of actual releases.

They seem a little less severe than previous promos. The difference between Byul and Dal is easily spotted in the eye, mouth and head shape. Byul appears to have a more shocked expression, compared to Dal’s frowny pout.

I think Siry has a rather wistful, sweet quality to her. I continue to be curious about what they’ll actually look like when proper releases have been announced. For now, we’re all still in the dark about that.

Thanks to all those who submitted.

go here to see what belongs to who http://www.flickr.com/photos/1773/2736275897/

Have a great day all…

Jun Planning have announced the release of Rococo-themed Pullips in November – the Pullip herself reminiscent of Marie Antoinette. The outfits and hairstyles are pretty detailed and the dolls are looking to be rather expensive.

Marianne.

Value price :16,000yen (16,800yen with tax)
Article size:H310mmmm
Package :
Material :ABS, Cotton and others
Accessories :Floral hair ornament, choker, petticoat, drawers, doll stand
Falling in love, with all the colors of the rainbow. Lost in dance on a spring evening. That’s how it feels.

Charlotte

Value price :13,000yen (13,650yen with tax)
Article size:H263mmmm
Package :
Material :ABS, Cotton and others
Accessories :Hat, choker, petticoat, drawers, doll stand.
The little lady’s a little upset. What’s wrong? My corset’s way too tight!

Alberic.
Specs unavailable. All info gathered from: The Jun Planning Website.

To create a little bunny friend for your doll, you will need:

* Felt
* Sewing thread
* A pair of small scissors
* A stuffing tool – I use a small paint brush with the bristle cut off
* Pins
* A small sewing needle
* A bag of craft stuffing
* Test piece of felt for trying out chalk pastels
* Little brushes for chalk pastels
* Chalk pastels

Full Size Pattern for Download

Well well there was alot of fuss when this girly showed up on evilbay, now we know who she is, what will her price end up being after the ebay Amaryllis sold for something like 500 USD? I know I want one hehehe will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled and saving my pennies.

CWC Limited Edition Prima Dolly “Amaryllis”

We have been producing very unique CWC Limited Edition Prima Dollies, and this time is no exception!

Prima Dolly “Amaryllis” has vivid light green hair!
Her special eye color is hot pink, and it adds even more pop look to the doll.
Her make up is a gentle green eye shadow with pink lips and brush.
The color of her pajamas is white with light green dots and match her hair
color perfectly!

[ Face Type ] Radiance
[ Skin Type ] Natural Skin
[ Makeup ] Eye shadow- light green, Lips- pink, Blush- pink
[ Eye Color ] Hot pink (right/special color), Green (center/stock), Orange
(left/stock) and Blue (center/stock)
[ Eyelashes ] Stock
[ Hair Color ] Vivid light green
[ The set includes ] Doll, camisole, pantaloons, underwear, slippers, and
stand.
[ Price ] 7,875 yen
Limited Edition of 1000 dolls

[ How to Purchase ]
We will pre-release this doll at Odaiba VenusFort.
Detailed release date will be announced at this web site a later date.

[ Once Upon A Wonder World ]
Blythe 7th Anniversary Charity Exhibition “Once Upon A Wonder World at
VenusFort”
Place: Venus Fort 2nd Floor
Date: August 23 – September 17, 2008
Hours: 11:00a.m. – 9:00p.m. (the exhibition will be open till 11:00p.m.)
will be closed on September 8
Location: 135-0064 Tokyo-to, Eto-ku, Ome 1- chome Palette Town

Pic pinched from ebay auction:

So I LOVE LOVE LOVE her, but will she be available from the CWC online shop? I am a little confused myself. Is she the next NF? Well perhaps – regardless, she has certainly won a place in my heart.

The final design of Neo Blythe “Bow Wow Trad”!

Let us introduce the final design of our new doll “Bow Wow Trad.”

She wears a red tartan mini skirt that is a must for fall fashion, and a light beige jacket with a flared edges.
Her look is traditional but sweetly unique!
The long pearl necklace, black short boots, beret and knee-high socks would match other outfit very well, too!
Her glasses are a brand new shape!
Her dog wears a matching skirt.

“Bow Wow Trad” has jet black long straight hair, and wears pink baige lips and pink brush.
Her charm point is a beauty mark under her eye!

[ Face Type ] Superior
[ Skin Type ] Fair
[ Make-up ] Eye shadow- light grey, Lips- pink baige, Blush- pink
[ Lip shape ] fuller lips
[ Eye Color ] Grey (gazing toward right) / Purple (center) / Smoky red
(gazing toward left) / Blue (center) *All special colors
[ Hair Color ] Black
[ Eyelid ] Stock
[ Eyelashes ] Stock
[ Nails ] Red
[ Earrings ] 1 set
[ The set includes ] Doll, shirt, skirt, jacket, beret, underwear, socks,
shoes, earrings, necklace, dog, skirt for dog, glasses and stand.

Price: 14,490 yen

[ How to Purchase ]
We will pre-release this doll at Odaiba VenusFort.
Detailed release date will be announced at this web site a later date.

[ Once Upon A Wonder World ]
Blythe 7th Anniversary Charity Exhibition “Once Upon A Wonder World at VenusFort”
Place: VenusFort 2nd Floor
Date: August 23 – September 17, 2008
Hours: 11:00a.m. – 9:00p.m. (the exhibition will be open till 11:00p.m.)
will be closed on September 8
Location: 135-0064 Tokyo-to, Eto-ku, Ome 1- chome Palette Town

Also, this doll will be available for purchase from September 27 at Blythe Top Shops in Japan!
Please call the shops for checking availability.

After much anticipation in the blythe community it is great to finally see her promo photos. I think she will be much loved especially for her vintage skin tone and her outfit is absolutely amazingly retro cool. Will her fringe be manageable or unruly? We have yet to see…

The final design of Neo Blythe “Miss Sally Rice”!

“Miss Sally Rice” is a friend of “Mrs. Retro Mama,” who was popular for her retro-themed style and vintage-like skin tone.

“Miss Sally Rice” also has young retro look.
There is a Showa-style black cat applique on her red dress.
She has a different look when she takes off the white collar and wears her pink blouse under her dress.
The set comes with a headdress and bag with bouquet and beaded necklace!

She has a skin tone that is a bit fairer than Mrs. Retro Mama’s, with light brown eye shadow and pink lips and brush.
Her light blue semi-long hair is so adorable!

[ Face Type ] Radiance
[ Skin Type ] Semi Matte
[ Makeup ] Eye shadow- light brown, Lips- coral pink, Blush- pink
[ Lip shape ] Fuller lips
[ Eye Color ] Green (right/stock), Pink (center/stock), Yellow
(left/special) and Blue (center/stock)
[ Eyelashes ] Stock
[ Hair Color ] Light blue
[ The set includes ] Doll, headdress, collar, blouse, blue socks, lacy socks, underwear,
necklace, bag, shoes and stand.
[ Price ] 13,440 yen
[ Release Date ] August 22, 2008

Neo Blythe “Miss Sally Rice” will be available at CWC shop

Outfit due for release on the 22nd August.

Well I think I need both Bow Wow Trad AND the Fall Whisper outfit.

I finally tracked down a couple of Catwalk Kitties, the presumably unsuccessful cat-model doll release from Lanard.

These pictures are of Toffee and Anika (not in stock clothes), who are two of the ‘Models’ in the series. The others are Purrl, Sushi, Sienna and Minx. The other half of the series are the ‘Behind the Scenes’ dolls: Callie the model of the year, Topaz the make-up artist, Jet the fashion Photographer and Chase the modeling agent. These last ones are supposedly harder to find. There are also petite versions of many of the dolls.

Their bodies are a bit like Barbie or Bratz, as they’re not very articulated – their heads, hips etc twist but only their knees bend. Their feet come off like Brats feet, but aren’t switchable due to the plastic colour being different on each doll.

According to the response to my pestering email to Big W, they’re definitely discontinued. They’re also MIA on the Lanard official website. Though the ‘harder to find’ ones have popped up on Amazon.com and many are still gathering dust in a few places around Australia, like Big W and Toy Kingdom and a couple of other shops. They can also be found in a few countries around Europe, but I’m not aware of the details.

I wonder if they’ll the next Peteena. It’s a pity they’re not making any more.

Hi there I am back again!

Came across this on Flickr

Wow what a collection. It has inspired me to take some snaps (will have them up by end of the week). Please submit yours to me and I will make a big post of all out shoe collections.

(send to wrongtown@gmail.com )
Source is here

I took a quick pic of my collection last night to get the ball rolling.
Will make a collage of the pics. Depending on how many we get. So get snapping.

Cheers Elli

“I’m practicing so hard, but no one seems to be surprised. Why? Why? I missed again ! But I’ll surprise Tezca someday”

So far there have been eighteen Dals released by Jun Planning, with four more to come that have been announced. A lot of Blythe fans seem to fall easily for Dal, which is interesting considering that many Pullip lovers appeared slow to warm up to the newer doll.

How can you say no to that face?

Recently it was announced that there is another Jun Planning doll type being released, with more on the way. On the Jun Planning website a Pullip family tree can be found showing more doll types: Byul, Bada, Ggot and Eseul. The first to be released is Byul. The website boasts that she is ‘the sole friend of Dal’. Some of the reactions to her so far are mixed – from adoration to utter dislike. Her head shape’s a little different to Dal’s, with larger eyes.

When she’s finally released, supposedly later this year, Byul’s fans will probably make themselves known. You can never judge a doll by their initial reception, right?

Hi there,

This is my first post here, hopefully it is easy enough to understand.

Have a great day all.

Steps:

1. Image > adjustments > levels

2. drag the lighter arrow on the left in a bit till you see the lightness you require.

3. Image> adjustments> selective colour> drop down menu to blacks.

4. Increase the black slider to to your preference (I chose 20%)

5. Image>adjustments>shadow highlight>shadows I chose 30% in the slider.

6. Voila

ORIGINAL PICTURE.

FINISHED PRODUCT

She’s got to be the most popular frog since Kermit, but what is it that makes Studio-Uoo’s Wonderfrog so popular? Hhmmm…

Well, her designer, Kenzo, is a fan, and an imaginative customiser, of Blythe dolls and that’s always a sign of a person with excellent taste in toys. But that doesn’t explain the explosion of interest over the past year (her birthday was on the 20th June) that has led to Ms. W. Frog being almost constantly being sold out.

I was taken with her as soon as I saw her in some photostream or other on Flickr. She was on some adventure or other, as she apparently often is – she has starred in an ‘Edge of the World’ storybook which makes me want to learn Japanese right now. I’m not sure I can put my finger on exactly her appeal though. I think it’s something to do with those funny little skinny limbs and her somewhat enigmatic smile.

Whatever it is, Wanda, we love you.

I keep thinking that next time, next time, I’ll give the new Nikki a miss. It isn’t going to happen today though. When it come to Odeco, I can take her or leave her – I think it’s the wig, I don’t like wigged dolls so much – but Nikki I find irresistible!

And who could resist the little halter top and knee socks?  It doesn’t look much like a band uniform to me, but it does look adorable.

I am a bit disappointed that every Nikki seems to have come with blue eyes since series 4 (the calico cat) though.  I’m already looking for just the right acrylic eyes to customise this one.

Petworks are also releasing Odeco & Nikki keyrings.  I think they’ll be a cute toy for my Nikkis (my many, many Nikkis).

Right, so I haven’t slept much over the past few days and decided it would be a GREAT idea to go on an internet quest for the coveted Mary Jane shoes after seeing the below page which was extremely informative:

http://uk.geocities.com/magicknightrhiannon/mary-janes.html

Thanks Rhiannon!

I was a huge fan of Barbie Fashion Avenue when it was in its heyday, but I somehow managed to NOT buy any of the sets that contained the now popular MJ’s (what can I say, I have no ‘eye’).

However, I am proud to say I have located (with pics, not mine) at least three sets of Fashion Avenue clothing editions that contain pink MJ’s. I have possibly found more but they require further investigation (they look like the taller version which isn’t a great fit for Blythe).

As below:

Fashion Avenue 2003 ‘Style’ B8269

Fashion Avenue 2002 ‘Blues’ B3200

Fashion Avenue 2002 ‘Metro’ 56098

My quest is far from over but just wanted to share this little piece of info in the hopes that people who want to buy these and own them (and not just buy them cheap and re-sell at some ridic price!!!) can have a chance

And, just oot of interest, does anyone know where these came from:

I can see from Rhiannon’s site that they came in a pack, but I never bought that pack. I think someone sent these to me as a freebie (yikes!!!) but I possibly could have gotten these from somewhere else. Any ideas?

Happy Hunting!!!!

Let us introduce our new Blythe doll “Bow Wow Trad” who has beautiful, long black hair.

She wears a red tartan mini skirt with a light beige jacket, she’s ready to go out on a nice fall day!

Her dog also wears a matching skirt.
Her black short boots and beret are a must for fall fashion!
Her face type is Superior and her skin color is Fair.

*The illustration may differ from the final design.

Price: 14,490 yen
Date available: August 2008
*Detailed information on how to purchase will be announced at a later date.

I think this girl will be stunning although you will hear a lot of folks exclaiming “I wish she was an RBL”.

Some people have been making comparisons between Bow Wow Trad and Night Flower – so if you missed out on NF (and you want one) then this may be the perfect dolly for you. Plus who can resist when she comes with a cute lil doggy YAY!!!

Review by Jade

“Miss Sally Rice” is a friend of “Mrs. Retro Mama,” who was popular for her retro-themed style and vintage-like skin tone.

“Miss Sally Rice” also has a retro look.

There is a Showa-style black cat applique on her red dress.

She has a different look when she takes off the white collar and wears her pink blouse under her dress.
Her face type is Radiance, and she has a vintage-like skin tone that is a bit fairer than Mrs. Retro Mama’s.

*The illustration may differ from the final design.

Price: 13,440 yen
Date available: August 2008

I must say I am very excited about this dolly, I love MRM’s vintage skin tone and think this doll will be superb. Her outfit looks awesome and I am looking forward to seeing what colour her hair is in real life.

Review by Jade

Neo Blythe “Milky Way Sugar” has long, dark-brown hair for a sophisticated look.

Her gathered black dress is romantic and flirty.

The pink beads on the bodice and the lacy leggings are perfect for summer!

Comes with a sheer feminine jacket.
Her silver bag and shoes shimmer like the milky way!
Her hairstyle is center-parted with a little curl at hair ends so you can style it easily.

[ Face Type ] Superior
[ Skin Type ] Natural
[ Make-up ] Eye shadow- light green, Lips- pink, Blush- pink
[ Eye Color ] Light blue (right / special color), Blue (center / stock), Green (left / stock), Pink (center / stock)
[ Eyelid ] Stock
[ Eyelashes ] Stock
[ Hair Color ] Dark brown
[ Nails ] No Enamel
[ Earrings ] 1 set
[ The set includes ] Doll, dress, inner dress, jacket, leggings, bloomers, shoes, bag, and stand.

Price: 13,440 yen
Date available: July 25,2008

Neo Blythe “Milky Way Sugar” will be available at CWC shop “Junie Moon“, Official Blythe Mobile Site, Junie Moon On-line Shopping, and official Blythe top shops in Japan.

Well well this is my first post, Milky Way Sugar sadly does not appeal to my current taste in blythe. I do think she has lovely hair however (and looks rather kennerish) and I am looking forward to seeing some out of box pictures of her once she arrives on the Blythe scene.

Review by Jade

We’re a diverse bunch, we doll people. We collectors of Asian and retro dolls, in particular: Blythe, Pullip, Dal, Asian ball-jointed dolls, Peteena, Wonder Frog … the list is goes on.

Sure, we’re diverse in the sense that we span multiple continents, but we also vary in our points of view, talents, lifestyles, senses of style, and senses of humour. So that’s what WePlayWithDolls.net is all about. It’s a place where the doll-centric among us can connect with people who share a common love of dolls, despite all our other differences. And WPWD’s blog feature gives us an opportunity to share our knowledge, our perspectives, and our voices. We are a multi-author blog and everyone with something to say is welcome to contribute! (Contact us via the forum for more info.)

Hopefully this will become a place to laugh, learn, and think.
Roll on WePlayWithDolls.net/Blogs!