When Groove Inc revealed that they were embarking upon a Steampunk Project, I’m sure I wasn’t the only very excited doll collector. The dolls are being released one at a time, the first being the Pullip Eos. Each release is limited to 2000 dolls and I was lucky enough to get Eos number 682.

I’ve admired Pullips for quite some years now, and I’m not quite sure why I’ve never owned one. I think it might be because their wigs often look a little too ‘wiggy’, that is, they are obviously wigs rather than hair. Rooted hair is so much more realistic-looking and style-able (if that’s a word). I have to admit, wigginess is something Eos suffers from. She has no parting; her hair all falls outwards from the crown, right on the top of her head. It also feels a tad dry and nylon-y. It’s much longer than I had expected from the promo pics, right down to her ankles.

Worryingly, a few pieces came out of the wig when I took her out of the box. Fingers crossed a good combing and maybe a wash will sort it out, otherwise a cut is on the cards. I love the colour – not blonde, but very very white.

I may also have been put off Pullips initially because of the look of her joints, but the latest body (type 4, I believe) has inconspicuous smooth joints, white retaining a great deal of flexibility, much like a Sekiguchi Momoko body. I’m charmed by her delicate little hands and feet too.

Make up wise, she’s absolutely perfect. I love the way her black and white painted lashes reflect the shape of her wings (more on those later) and emphasize her big dark eyes. Her cheeks are softly pink and her lips are a natural pinky-brown with a light gloss. Her eyebrows are also a natural-look mid-brown with a lovely arch, although they are mostly hidden by her fringe. The bronze colour on her eyelids is a nice touch, coordinating with her outfit and accessories.

And what an outfit she has! The Steampunk details are just non-stop – even her suspenders are wire. The hat is fantastic, a patchwork affair in canvas and faux suede with studs, tiny chains and screw-head features. Some people have reported that some of the clothing has had loose studs and fasteners, so I was relieved that the only problem mine has is loose velcro on her headband. It’s not great to have a piece of velcro just drop off, but at least it’s an easy fix. The headband itself is very cool, with a magnifying monocle-type piece that fits over one eye.

The wings are truly fantastic; they appear to have been stolen from some kind of clockwork valkyrie, although they are difficult to keep on her delicate shoulders. She also has a gun and some kind of staff, both bronze-coloured, long black gloves and a pair of armoured knee-pads. Remember when Blythe came with lots of clothing and accessories? It seems like so long ago now….

All in all, Pullip Eos is definitely equipped for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. She reminds me a little of Tank Girl, although that might just be the effect of Suemomo’s fabulous gallery of promo photos for the project. When the zombies take over, I’m sticking with this girl. And the Dal, maybe we’ll bring her along too…

Not content with giving us the most personality-packed little BJD girl there is, Mui-Chan, the folks at Ixtee have created an adorably retro pair of irresistible BJD rabbits, Mika & Pika.

With the fun-loving, imaginative spirit we’ve come to expect from the Ixtee team, they’ve given Mika and Pika an intriguing back story guaranteed to appeal to bunny-loving doll collectors:

In the year of 1968 Easter time, the leading America toy company
called MADDEL Inc. launched a new animal doll series.
It was a revolutionary idea at the time!
Among all these new animal characters, two of them had become the
most – wanted toy in American instantly after they were launched.
They were MIKA (a female rabbit) & PIKA (a male rabbit).
Every children or even toy collector were desperated to get one!

Today, Mika & Pika become an antique toy and are very rare
in the market.
One day, a “Never Remove From Box (NRFB)” Mika
& an “Used” Pika are posted on the most popular online
trading platform, “oDay” ,
they are posted by 2 different sellers.

Coincidentally,
they are bade by a toy collector from Hong Kong on the same day!
What is their destiny?
May the two little old friends meet each other again after a half century of separation?
Are they still the previous Mika & Pika at the time they met each other?
Will they have their dream life ever after?
Mika & Pika story to be continued…..

There is even a mock-up 1968 Easter ad for Mika & Pika. It makes me grin:

There are some similarities with the retro look of some of Toyfield’s designs. Mika & Pika have the advantage on Kuma and friends though, as the BJD body allows a fantastic range of poses. I’m also a sucker for sparkly acrylic eyes and these little guys have ‘em, together with fabulously expressive little funny faces.

There’s no definite release date yet, and no news on exactly how many will be produced. Rumour has it that there will 200 of each. Personally, I will be haunting Siu Ding’s Flickr stream for news.

*All pictures courtesy of Ixtee*

A week has past and all seems a distant memory but boy what memories I have……

It is a week since the Blythe meet in Adelaide. This week has flown by so fast in comparison to the lead up to the meet. In the lead up I had to organise where to stay, how to get there, who from my friends in Melbourne was going to join me in the weekend away from the daily grind. In the end I had many accomplices and we had a great time in the city of churches. I was the only one headed to the meet on the sunny Saturday that Adelaide had put on for us.

My excitement at going to this meet-up was off the scale. I have only been collecting Blythe dolls for a short time but my interest in them has become great and the prospect of going to spending an afternoon with a bunch of very knowledgeable women was very exciting. I knew there was going to be a room full of dolls I hadn’t seen before, some in their original form and some not. I had never seen an original kenner and the customs held an interest for me as I had only seen them on the computer and not in the flesh. I wanted to study their make up and hair and all their extra bits.

Now I can say after spending several hours at the hall with all the ladies and dolls nothing disappointed me. The hall was fabulously decorated for a party, there was lots of tasty food, musk sticks and spearmint leaves galore……….I haven’t eaten these in such a longtime it bought back lots of childhood memories. The displays of dolls was many, oh so many beautiful dolls. There was conversations with people as to which dolls they chose to bring along and how that decision was made. I found out that there a many people with many dolls and all can’t be bought along. I learnt many things about the Blythe I didn’t know, the list is to great to write here but it is like any new interest there is always so much to learn. I did love hearing the stories about how each Blythe is collected from the very special Kenners to the newer Takara girls and then the decision to change them and find their true identities. Everybody and every Blythe has a story.

Now bringing this story to an end. I had a fantastic day and I am glad I made the effort to travel such a long way to join in the fun. I loved eveything I saw and everyone I met. I hope I get to meet alot of these girls in Sydney next year both the real ones and the 12 inch ones!

Angelique

P.S I came home with 3 new girls!!!!!!!!!!!!

My goodness, it’s early.

What time is it?

7?

A.M.?

On a Saturday?

What am i doing awake???

Go back to bed, silly girl!

No, hang on, there’s a reason i set this alarm… it’s the day of the National Blythe Meet, here in little old Adelaide. It’s what a few of us have been working towards for a very long time, and hopefully, something people have been looking forward to. Get out of bed!

It’s grey and wintry this morning, and I’m a bit worried.  What if we’re not good enough?  What if people get off the plane, take one look and turn straight back around?  What if we don’t have enough food?  What if Kylie forgets the fake grass?  What if people can’t find the hall?  What if no one likes my dollies! …that pub across the road is looking very, very tempting…

But I get to the North Adelaide hall, and it’s lovely. its warm inside, and as we set the tables out it all starts to take form.  Balloons go up, table cloths are spread, and soon there is pink and green everywhere and i start to relax.  We’re going to do this.

People start arriving, and the dolly table is filling up quickly.  Everyone is a little tentative at the beginning, and we all seem to be searching for name tags before we talk, but we all soon relax, and everyone is chatting away.  Many ooohs and aaahs, hugs and laughs.  It’s pretty great!

Time went so fast!  It seemed like it was all over in a blink of an eye.

Donation “thank you”s!
- Christina for both the raffle prize (to help fund the meet) and also the best dressed prize competition.
- Narelle for all the graphics.
- Goodie bag donators (Angelique, Tanya (Lollipoppet) and Tamilla (Milla)).

- Prize donators (and who won their awesome prizes!

Narelle/Chocolat – handmade dress – won by Angelique33
Maddy – handmade blythe carrier – won by Maria (CHU)
Tanya/Tamsart – handmade crochet set – won by Sonja (Sonjbean)
Jo/Vintage hat B & Kimberley– hair clips – won by Dusty Jo
Tanya/Lollipoppet – handmade outfit – won by Patty (monsoon)
Blossom/Oscarpop – handmade dress – won by Monica (monopod)
Jen/Jenink – spa voucher – won by Melissa (ohsewpretty)
Patty/Monsoon – BHC Outfit – won by Michelle (polarangel)
Alanna – handmade dress – won by Stacey (Trio)
Maria Yeoshen – handmade dress set – won by Natalie (pixelkitty)
Jen/Jenink – handmade outfit – won by Narelle (relle*)
Purple Tiger/Sue – handmade dress – won by Jo (Jaffacake)
Stephanie/Anoushka – pack of handmade cards – won by Jess (lollygomez)
Jodi/Snuffy – handmade reversible outfit – won by Adele
RTP/Leah – handmade outfit – won by Karla
Jo/Vintage hat B & Kimberley– hair clips – won by Blossom (oscarpop)
Natalie/Kitty – blythe pendant and cowgirl hat – won by Jane (Bonnie Blythe)

Best dressed Blythe went to Stephanie (Anoushka/Farkle deluxe Sparkle), who won the sensational Jamfancy outfit.

And congratulations to Milla, whose girl came in second, winning a Fritzybitz set.

Thank you to everyone who entered the photo competition

And the winner! Narelle!

and lastly, (almost) all of the attendees! … gee, we’re a pretty bunch

34 dolly lovers brought around 135 Blythes to Adelaide, and so much dolly joy.  Meeting you all was so wonderful.  Thank you so much for coming all the way to Adelaide – we really appreciate it – and we really appreciate the help from everyone on the forum, and from husbands and sisters.

Let’s go to Sydney!