Last November (holy cow, it was that long ago?) I blogged about Mattel’s Monster High line. I’m back with more Monster High info, starting with a review of Draculaura’s and Frankie’s bed playsets

Both of the bed playsets released so far double as room décor accessories. Frankie’s laboratory exam table bed swivels up to reveal a vanity mirror. Draculaura’s coffin bed hides a jewelry box in its lid. Both sets retail in the US for $19.99 USD.

As mentioned above, Frankie Stein’s bed is a lab table. One of the support posts has a compartment for Frankie’s pet Watzit. The other has a holder for a comb. The included blue comb is large enough for human use, adding to the double-duty design factor. The under surface of the bed is a mirror. The head of the bed has what look like two electric plasma balls, and a storage cabinet with hinged doors. The foot of the bed has a pull up flat-screen TV for Frankie, tuned to a sewing channel. The bed comes with a pillow and a blanket, each with elastic loops on the corners. The loops stretch around bolt pegs on the bed. This allows them to stay in place when the bed is tilted completely vertical, as it has to be if one wishes to use the mirror. Frankie can even be placed into the bed, and she will be held secure by the blanket when the bed is tilted. Aside from the bedclothes and comb, this set comes with a juice box for Frankie, her tiny diary and pen, a Frankie-sized stapler, and a needle and thread.

The Frankie bed set is a lukewarm success in my book. It’s somewhat lacking, especially compared to Draculaura’s coffin, which I’ll get to in a minute. There just isn’t as much to it as the Draculaura set. My bigger complaint is that to get the bed to lie horizontally, one has to employ finesse with regard to positioning the doll, or even how her hair is arranged. My daughter’s Dawn of the Dance Frankie can’t lie horizontally in the bed, because her ponytail weighs that end down. You have to push the bed almost vertical before she’ll balance (as shown in the photo). My standard Frankie can lie horizontally, but if you breath too hard, the bed will tip. It’s silly in my opinion that they didn’t use any kind of ratchet, even just a simple catch, or a stop, which would let the bed locked into position. A member of my Livejournal MH community reported resorting to a rubber band to hold the bed still. I’ve now done the same thing, but with a ponytail holder wrapped around the crank handle. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a very cute set. I just think it could easily have been better.

Draculaura’s bed is, of course, a coffin. Adorned in Draculaura’s signature hot pink and black, the top of the coffin is held up by four telescoping legs. A fabric curtain hangs down, as well as a pink “chandelier”, a fold-down flat-screen TV, and a slot for Count Fabulous the bat, which enables him to hang upside down. There is also a bow-shaped pillow, a blanket, and a collapsible tea tray. The top of the coffin lid opens to reveal a segmented jewelry box for the doll’s owner. The set comes with a human-sized (though still too small for me) plastic ring. Other included accessories are Draculaura’s doll-sized diary and pen, her heart-shaped cup and saucer, and a matching decanter. There is also a place inside the coffin to hang the closed parasol which comes with the standard Draculaura. With the accessories and small parts arranged inside, the whole coffin can be pressed shut, making it easy to carry from place to place without a fear of losing bits and bobs.

We have two Draculaura coffins in our house, one for myself and one for my daughter. A small irritation is that the tray table on my coffin will not lie flat. It looks like the post supporting it is positioned a little too far down inside the coffin. On my daughter’s, the post is a few millimeters taller, and the tray sits as it should. I think some filing could fix mine, but I haven’t gotten to that as of yet.

Little things like that are my only real complaint with the MH toys. The quality control from one item to another isn’t always great. I’ve lost count of threads from other MH fans, talking about going through every doll on the store shelves to find one with a perfect paint job, no visible cracks, and no extra plastic flashing on the fingers. That’s a shame, because this is a terrifically fun line, and the designs are gorgeous. The attention to detail on both of these beds (but particularly Draculaura’s) is wonderful. It’s the practical end of things where they seem to lose it a little. Even so, if you’re a MH fan, they remain must-haves.

Confirmed coming soon:

The remainder of this year will see some very cool new MH toys.

Among other things: A new set which has already made it to some collectors’ homes is the Draculaura and Clawd Wolf gift set. The back of the box for this set shows photos of two new characters: Abbey Bominable (daughter of the Abominable Snowman) and Spectra Vondergeist (a ghost’s daughter). Also confirmed is a new version of Ghoulia, which will be a limited edition doll for this year’s San Diego Comic Con (last year’s was the black and white Frankie). Also upcoming are new Dawn of the Dance dolls, new plushies, and a new assortment of dolls wearing outfits for their favorite classes. There will also be two new playsets: Clawdeen’s bed, and Lagoon’s long awaited “hydration station”! Still no word on Operetta, even though she was mentioned by name in Holt’s diary.  Curiously, there also seem to be no immediate plans for Toralei, the orange cat-girl featured in several of the recent MH webisodes. Time will tell!

Lalaloopsy dolls by MGA Entertainment (makers of Bratz) debuted stateside in 2010. The line was originally called Bitty Buttons. The name changed to Lalaloopsy shortly after its release. Though MGA offered no explanation, collectors have guessed that Bitty Buttons may have already been in use by another company. None of this matters much, but it’s helpful to know, as the dolls continue to be listed under both names on some websites. I personally prefer Lalaloopsy, because it’s fun to say aloud. Lalaloopsy! There. I just said it again.

The concept behind Lalaloopsy is that each character is an enchanted ragdoll, who came to life when her “very last stitch was sewn”. The dolls are each said to have been made from a discarded item of clothing, which determined their personality. For example, “Jewel Sparkles” was made from a princess dress, pajama clad “Pillow Featherbed” was made from a baby blanket, and so on. There are a total of 10 dolls in the first wave, including twins “Sunny Side Up” and “Berry Jars N Jam”, who come together as a gift set. Two new dolls have been added so far this year: gardener “Blossom Flowerpot” and ballet dancer “Tippy Tumbelina”. Each doll comes with a small plastic “pet” and a double-sided poster. Six “fashion packs” have also hit stores, including two party dresses, a bathrobe, a raincoat, pajamas, and a swimsuit. Also new within the past couple of months are miniature sets, with tiny poseable figurines of each character and accessories.

We have one Lalaloopsy in our house at the present. I would have picked Blossom Flowerpot because I like her freckles, but I let my daughter choose. She decided on Jewel Sparkles.

The dolls are approximately 33cm (13”) tall. They have a purposely wobbly head joint, which allows their head to move from side to side like a traditional rag doll. Their arms are jointed only at the shoulder, but have a good degree of movement. The legs are attached with a hinge joint at the hip which allows them to move straight back and forth (no sideways movement). There are no joints at the wrists, elbows, knees, or ankles. Jewel Sparkles little dress is very cute, with a nice amount of detail and trim. It fastens with a strip of Velcro running the length of the back, making for super easy clothing changes. Under her dress, Jewel has painted-on white panties, and a molded “X” stitch for her belly button. Her shoes and socks are molded vinyl, with slots cut down the back of each to assist in removal.

I am in completely love with the look of the Lalaloopsy girls, even if they do remind me of the dolls left behind by the Beldam in Neil Gaiman’s Coraline! I also love the unique color combinations. Another huge positive is the immediate availability of well-made clothing sets, obviously designed to be played with, and changed frequently.

On the negative side, the large heads on these dolls are surprisingly heavy. So heavy, that the doll can’t sit without being propped against something, and even then she tends to fall over sideways. I also find it curious how hard the design works to emulate a rag doll, but with a steadfast refusal to incorporate anything other than hard plastic (with the exception of the clothes). Even the little pets are molded plastic, sculpted to look stitched. It would have been nice if the animal pals were little stuffed pillows or something similar.

Even so, the cute faces, clothing, and colors of the Lalaloopsy dolls are winning me over. I feel like I may be more forgiving of Jewel’s flaws, once she’s been in the house a while longer. Despite her ungainly head and plastic body, she feels surprisingly comforting to hold. Her head gives her a very nice weight. I may have to pick up Blossom after all…

One more note on these girls: I rarely talk about packaging, but I’m making an exception here. As you can see in the photo, the packaging for the dolls is pretty cute. However, this goes down as being the toughest to open toy package I have yet to encounter (and I’ve opened a LOT of toys over the years). It was honestly ridiculous how long it took to get this poor doll out. Surprisingly sharp plastic, plus no less than three fasteners stuck directly into the doll’s molded head. Why do companies do this??? Oh, well. She’s precious anyway.

I have been on a dolly diet, my friends. In this case, it’s a temporary condition, brought about by saving up for a family vacation this spring. I tell you this to explain the shortage of BJD related blog posts as of late. I’ve been avoiding temptation by steering clear of manufacturer sites and “new release” threads on doll boards. Vacation or not, it’s something that most BJD fanciers have to consider. How do you reconcile this pricey hobby with financial responsibility?

BJDs don’t own the market on costliness. Vintage Barbies, Blythes, you name it, they all have a knack for reaching their little plastic fingers into our wallets. Specific to BJDs however is that they are almost unilaterally expensive. It’s just a question of degree. This can become a problem in itself. If you’ve been drooling over a doll that costs as much as your first car, and then you see one for $150, doesn’t that $150 seem like a wonderfully thrifty choice? Why, you could even buy two! In fact, you SHOULD buy two, right???  No, wait…

One of the most common questions new BJD fans ask is “What’s the cheapest doll?” The short answer is that there isn’t a “cheapest doll”. Besides variables like face-ups, or whether eyes and a wig are included, there’s the fact that none of them are truly “cheap”. Yes, a couple of hundred dollars is more accessible than paying over a thousand, but it’s still a lot of money! Buyer’s remorse isn’t uncommon in a world of unexpected vet bills and overdue rent payments. Here are some things to consider when trying to decide whether or not to splurge.

A common topic of conversation at doll meets relates to a blog entry I made a while back on limited dolls. After the wildfire success of Soom’s monthly dolls, BJD companies have learned that limiteds are a safe bet for sales. Great for manufacturers, but maddening for doll buyers. A new doll shows up online. She (or he) is absolutely gorgeous, crazy expensive, and you have approximately two weeks before the ordering window closes and your chance to own one for yourself is gone. Now is it any wonder so many BJD fans have maxed out credit cards and pantries full of ramen noodles? I’ve had my heart broken a couple of times, but over the years I’ve learned some truths about deciding when to go for it, and when to step back. I’ve surprised myself at how often stepping back leads to realizing that I didn’t want that doll nearly as bad as I thought I did. Short ordering windows depend on the frenzy of the moment. In doll collecting, as in other things, cooler heads prevail

When do you go for it? Well, first and foremost, if you can’t afford the doll, you simply can’t afford the doll. If you know your funds are tight, don’t torture yourself by perusing sale sites and new releases. Yes, you might miss something, but you’ll live. I have, and you will too. You’ll probably find even better dolls later, when you won’t have to stress over how to pay for them. Apart from that, your decision often comes down to buying now for the manufacturer’s price, or waiting for the secondary market. If you’re on the fence considering an expensive limited, one thing to determine is how popular does it seem to be? Read the online forums and message boards. Does the buzz sound like everyone and their cat wants this doll, or do you see a lot of negative or lukewarm comments? Contrary to what you might think, very popular dolls will be easier to get second hand. Tons of people will buy them immediately, giving a high likelihood that many will be resold with the following months or year. If however a doll does not sell well in its initial run – odds are that the only people who buy it are those who truly want that doll. You’ll rarely see these dolls for sale after the manufacturer closes orders. In other words, if you’re like me and tend to fall for the “ugly ducklings”, it’s better to pick them up when you have the chance.

The culture of doll collecting, and BJDs in particular, can lead to some less than wise expenditures. We’ve probably all had a sheepish moment or two (…or three) after sending that payment. A few deep breaths and a realistic budget can go a long way to keeping dolls fun, rather than stressful.

Mattel’s new Monster High line is a huge hit stateside, showing up on “hottest holiday toy” lists all over. Here’s a look at the dolls.

The Monster High characters are the children of famous monster parents. The first batch to be released included Frankie Stein, the daughter of Frankenstein (or Frankenstein’s monster…), Cleo de Nile, the daughter of the mummy, Lagoona Blue, the daughter of the sea monster, Draculaura, the daughter of Dracula, Deuce Gorgon, the son of Medusa, and Clawdeen Wolf, daughter of the werewolf. The basic Cleo and Deuce are packaged together as a set. The other girls are sold individually. Each of the basic dolls comes with a stand, a brush, a unique pet, and a paper journal filled with approximately eight pages of “entries”. Quick on the heels of the basic group, Mattel released Frankie, Clawdeen, and Cleo in special “Dawn of the Dance” editions. The DotD girls wear dance outfits, and have different hair and make-up than their basic counterparts. DotD dolls come with a stand, a brush, and a tiny plastic “i-coffin” (the Monster High student’s equivalent of an i-phone). Around the time of the DotD release, some areas of the US also received basic editions of two new characters: Holt Hyde (son of Dr. Jekyl) and Ghoulia Yelps (daughter of a zombie). I say some areas, because while the stores around my home in Maryland got the DotD girls, I have not yet seen Ghoulia or Holt. According to local clerks, it’s not that they’ve sold out, they simply haven’t gotten them at all, as of yet.

Mattel is going whole-hog with the MH property. The dolls are only a start. There is MH themed clothing for girls, accessories, jewelry, school supplies, electronic toys, plush ragdolls and cosmetics. Online, there are you-tube short cartoons, and a live-action music video. A 30min TV special aired Halloween night on Nickelodeon, and is now available online on well. There is a series of young adult novels, penned by author Lisi Harrison. The first is in US bookstores now, with a second slated for spring. IMDB.com lists a live action MH movie as being “in development”.

The dolls themselves are lovely, with great attention given to small details. Mattel put much thought into things like Lagoona’s seahorse necklace, and the transparent webs between her fingers. The basic Frankie has great blue and silver skull-shaped earrings. Face paint is equally well done on all of the girls I’ve seen, accented with subtle glitter or frosting effects. For some reason, my Lagoona’s hair lacks the pretty curls seen in photos, but that’s a minor complaint. The journals included with the basic dolls are another surprise. Lots of work went into these. Even my non-dolly husband was laughing over some of the entries.

The dolls are a touch fragile. Not terribly so, but more than is typical for other toy store fashion dolls. Mattel has already proven able to adapt quickly to customer comments. By design, the MH dolls feature removable hands and arms. These pieces were loosely attached in the first wave of dolls. My Lagoona and DotD Frankie are from this group. Their arms will sometimes fall off with minimal provocation. There were a few consumer complaints about this on sites like Amazon. My basic Frankie and Draculaura, were manufactured more recently. The arms and hands are now much tighter. Comparing the two, while it’s nice not to have limbs falling off, I like being able to remove the arms for dressing. The newer arms are so tight, it makes me nervous pulling on them. The hands are on a thin plastic pin, and it takes care to reinsert them without straining that piece

As I recently posted on the MH forum thread, Draculaura and Frankie’s beds are confirmed “coming soon” items from Mattel. Initially supposed to ship in February, there have been reports that they are already on shelves at Toys R Us stores in NYC. Also forthcoming are clothing sets, including a MH soccer outfit for Clawdeen, and Frankie’s “fearleading” uniform. In the unconfirmed rumors department, word has it that more new characters are on the horizon, as well as a playset for Lagoona.

The only minor (very minor!) irritation I have with Monster High is a wish that Mattel would concentrate on releasing the clothing packs, accessories, and playsets over new iterations of the same characters. The MH dolls debuted in the US this past summer.  We already have the basic group, the Dawn of the Dance doll group, and most recently, a swimsuit themed group called “Gloom Beach”. Rumor has it that a pajama clad assortment called “Dead Tired” will hit soon. Personally, I’d much rather have separate costume sets to use with the dolls I already own, rather than having to buy a new doll just to get pajamas or a swimsuit. Having said that, the fact that Mattel is soon releasing the previously mentioned school uniforms sets makes me optimistic that more clothing packs will come in the future. In the meantime, friends in my doll group have had good luck with Bratz clothing to fit their MH girls.

Basic Frankie, Basic Lagoona, Basic Draculaura, and Dawn of the Dance Frankie.

Frankie’s arm, deconstructed.

Lagoona’s transparent finger webs.

Lagoona’s necklace.

Dawn of the Dance Frankie’s “i-coffin”.  The top is on a slide mechanism.

Lagoona’s journal.

Basic Frankie’s purse.

In my last post, I wrote about organizing a doll meet-up at a public location. Now let’s talk about hosting a meet-up at your home. There’s less legwork involved and it’s free of charge, but there are some unique challenges to consider before inviting all of your dolly friends.

One of the biggest reasons to choose to host a meet-up at home is cost. You can’t beat free! While there are free of charge public venues like parks, most will require some amount of financial outlay. Having a meet-up at someone’s house requires no such obligation, at least not to the guests. As a host, you will probably have to shell out for refreshments, if you choose to have them. An alternative is a pot luck approach, where each person agrees to supply a snack or drinks.

Another advantage to meets held at home is the freedom to spread out, take photos, and relax without the worry of a strict time limit. Public meeting rooms are great, but they are usually rented by the hour. Even if everyone is careful to order something, a cafe manager might give your group the hairy eyeball if it looks like you’re putting down roots. This becomes more of an issue if you decide to get together regularly, but can put a damper on even a one-time meet.

Once you’ve decided to host a doll meet at your house, here’s how to make sure your gathering is a success:

If you live alone, feel free to skip this paragraph, but if you’re like many of us, you share your house with others. The odds are that your house mates are not doll people (if they are – good for you!). Pets count too in this equation, for reasons I’ll get to in a few minutes. Lots of doll fans live with parents, significant others, children, or roommates. If you’re going to invite a group of fellow doll owners over for an afternoon, make sure you clear it with the other members of your household. Ask early, and remind them often! If you have small children, you might want to consider either hiring a sitter, or sending them to the grandparents for the meet. I hosted a BJD meet this past month, for which both of my kids went to my mother-in-law’s house. My daughter is great with my dolls, but I don’t expect other people to be okay with a four-year-old wanting to touch their stuff, and keeping her out of a living room full of dolls struck me as an exercise in frustration for both of us.

Getting back to pets, here’s something important that might not occur to everyone: Allergies. I can not stress how important it is to let potential meet attendees know if your house is home to cats, dogs, birds, or any other fur bearing creature. Give allergy sufferers the information, and let them decide if they’ll be comfortable attending. By all means, give a good dust and vacuum before the meet to get rid of as much loose hair and dander as possible, but be aware that this may not be sufficient for someone who has severe allergic reactions. Allergies are also a consideration when planning refreshments. Ask members to declare any food allergies. Just to be safe, you may wish to avoid common instigators like peanuts.

If you have the space, it’s often a good idea to create the refreshment area apart from where the dolls will be set out. This can either mean arranging food and drinks in the kitchen and gathering with the dolls in a living room or den, or it can be as simple as unfolding a card table for the dolls to keep them away from spills and crumbs. I like to keep a few clean baby blankets on hand to lay across the doll display areas. This may not be necessary for small dolls with stands, but it adds a little protection for larger, heavier dolls.

You may have all the activity you need, just sitting around, chatting and admiring everyone’s dolls. If you’d like to do more, consider adding a dolly costume contest, a swap meet, or a small gift exchange. You don’t need elaborate prizes, just something small. I used stickers, and tiny doll-sized hair ornaments at my last meet. One nice thing about including a low-key game or two is that it tends to bring new or shy group members out of their shell. As mentioned in my last entry, one potential pitfall of a home meet-up is that it can be more awkward for newcomers, as opposed to a neutral public location.

One final suggestion is to set up a photo area, if there are photographers in your group. If you’re crafty and so inclined, you can have fun with this and go a little nuts. I attended a BJD Halloween party a few years back where the host had constructed a three-sided diorama of a cemetery. She used fake tombstones from the craft store, old branches for spooky trees, and whisps of fiberfill for “fog”. Provide some good lighting, and dolly guests can take turns “posing” for pictures.

That’s about it! Have fun at your doll meets, whether they’re at the corner coffee shop, or in your living room!

Doll meet-ups! The doll hobby may be a solitary activity to some, but for others it’s a major social outlet. Getting together with fellow doll enthusiasts can be a great way to meet new people, as well as an opportunity to see a variety of dolls in person. Here, and in my next post, I’ll talk about what it takes to organize a meet-up in your area.

The first matter to settle when organizing a meet-up is location. This can also prove to be the most difficult. Meet locations break down into one of two categories: Public spots such as libraries, cafes, or parks, and private residences.

There are some clear benefits to holding a doll meet in a public venue. For one thing, there’s no need to share space with roommates or family members. Another significant advantage is that some folks may be apprehensive about showing up at a stranger’s home. This dissipates if potential meet attendees already know one another, but it’s something to consider if you’re bringing a new group together for the first time.

So let’s say you’ve decided to hold your meet-up in a public space. How do you choose what will work best? The first thing to determine, to the best of your ability, is how many people will be in attendance. Start a forum thread for doll owners in your area. Ask how many would be interested in getting together for a local meet-up. Too often, meet-up thread participants begin debating locations, before assessing the size of the group. Three doll people can meet just about anywhere. Five or six will probably be fine with a small coffee shop or cafe. Beyond that, it becomes more challenging. Don’t assume that your local book shop will be cool with twenty-three doll collectors loitering for three hours. Call potential venues and ask, if you have any doubts at all. Contact local libraries and inquire about meeting rooms. Weather permitting, a park with shady areas can be a wonderful meet-up spot, complete with great lighting, and scenery for photos. Schools or colleges are another possibility for meet-up rooms. Obviously, free is ideal, but talk to attendees about whether they would be comfortable paying a small fee, for a private area. If so, you will likely open up new choices.

Your chosen location has a lot to do with the next point of consideration. When should you schedule the meet? Weekends are almost always best, but if you’re expecting only a handful of dolly locals, it doesn’t hurt to ask your group if a weekday might be possible. Places which are bustling on Saturday afternoon, may be nearly empty on Wednesday evening. This means that your group could sit around longer without overstaying your welcome. That said, between work schedules and school, weekends are often the only choice. When choosing a time, remember to double-check the hours of your venue. It doesn’t do to plan a Sunday afternoon meet, only to learn that your location closes early on Sundays.

You have your attendees. You have your location. You have your day and time. Keep in mind some additional last minute thoughts, to insure you have a happy doll meet. If you’re choosing to meet in a place which serves food or drinks, everyone should order at least one thing. If you didn’t score a private room for your gathering, expect some onlookers, and even questions from curious non-doll folks. Always be polite, but use a measure of common sense if meet members are displaying pricey dolls. This is an oft-repeated issue with BJD meets in particular, but applies to any high-dollar dolly. The general rule of thumb is to avoid telling strangers how much the dolls cost. Unlike jewelry or electronics, expensive dolls often don’t look like they should cost as much as they do. If someone does inquire as to price information, simply explain that it varies depending on manufacturer and style. If they really want to know more, don’t hesitate to given them some useful website addresses. You never know, you might see them with their own doll at your next meet-up!

So there’s a basic overview of organizing a doll meet in public! Next time, I’ll go over what to do if you decide to host a meet-up in your house. It’s easier in some ways, but more difficult in others.

Back on May 1^st, I made a blog post here about the prevalence of limited editions in BJD releases. At least among my local dolly crowd, we all grouse and groan when a cool new doll comes out with a huge price tag and a short ordering window. Recently, Doll Soom stirred up controversy when they decided to rerelease a popular, previously sold-out limited.

Admittedly, I’m late to the party (as usual!) with this discussion. It’s been a busy summer. But the topic still holds interest, and the question at its core can be applied to other kinds of dolls just well as BJDs. Here’s the basic rundown: Popular BJD manufacturer Doll Soom found enormous success over the past few years by releasing at least one new fantasy doll every month. The Soom monthlies are only available through that month. Soom has made a point of saying that once the order period expires, that’s it for that particular doll. This usually causes a near frenzy among buyers when orders open each month, as well as creates a huge demand on the secondary market for past months’ dolls and their fantasy parts.

One of the early monthlies was Beryl, a hooved satyr. To say she was popular doesn’t begin to cover it. Beryl was released in spring of 2008. This past June, despite earlier comments to the contrary, Soom decided to rerelease Beryl. The new Beryl was a different skin tone, and she did not include the removable hoofed leg pieces available with her first incarnation.

A quick read through Soom’s user comments for the rerelease sums up the fan fissure pretty neatly. Posts are divided between those who are ecstatic to have a second shot at their dream doll, and those livid that Soom went back on their word. To be fair, as noted above, she is not exactly the same as the first version, however the head sculpt is identical.

Frustration on the part of first generation Beryl buyers is understandable. Many of them probably lived on macaroni and ramen for a few weeks to make sure they didn’t miss the ordering window in 2008. Others paid nearly double Soom’s asking price from previous owners, thinking that was their only shot at owning the doll. Soom’s supporters underline that the new Beryl isn’t a satyr, and is therefore not the same. One observant critic countered that while that may be true, it’s interesting that Soom released a new hooved monthly, Coquina, in the same skin tone, at the same time as the new Beryl. In other words, if a buyer was willing to shell out for BOTH dolls this past June, one could have a brand new Beryl Satyr with the only difference being skin tone.

A little grumbling I completely understand. Speaking personally, what puzzles me are the number of comments regarding the “value” of a first generation Beryls, and how a rerelease could negatively affect secondary market prices. Monetary value in the BJD world remains a sort of nebulous affair. BJDs in their current form haven’t been around as long as dolls like Barbie, Blythe, or even Jenny and Licca-chan. Given the often staggering manufacturer prices, relatively few people purchase BJDs with the sole intent to keep them as collectors items or turn them over for a profit. Obviously there are exceptions. Volks Dolpa limiteds are scalped in online sales immediately following their events, and I’m sure the Soom dolls may see a measure of this as well. But buying almost any BJD as an investment rather than because you love the doll is risky at least.

For now, Beryl has been the only Soom monthly to see a rerelease. I’m personally rooting for seconds of 2008′s Bix. Then again, I’d want him with the crab claw, so maybe I’m out of luck!

Mattel’s new version of the 1970s “Magic Sounds Townhouse”, now called “The Barbie Dream Townhouse) is part of their current “Barbie: Now and Then” line of toys. The idea is to recreate classic playsets, with modern face-lifts and new features.

Mattel’s new version of the 1970s “Magic Sounds Townhouse”, now called “The Barbie Dream Townhouse) is part of their current “Barbie: Now and Then” line of toys. The idea is to recreate classic playsets, with modern face-lifts and new features. (more…)

Japan. The land of the rising sun, and cool dolly stuff galore. BJDs, Licca-chan, Jenny, Pullips… Not to mention a plethora of playsets and meticulously detailed miniatures. What collector hasn’t fantasized about unlimited access to all that great stuff?

Thanks to internet shopping and import stores, getting the goods from Japan is easier today than ever before. Even so, most hobbyists still lust after a bevy of “must-haves” which repeatedly elude capture. What to do? One answer is the use of a shopping service. Read on to learn what this is, and whether using one could fill the holes in your collection.

(more…)

I decided not to do too many posts here about new BJD releases. There are so many dolls and companies that I can’t cover everything fairly. Instead, I’ll post when something particularly noteworthy presents itself. Case in point: the recent announcement of new “chibi” Unoas from Gentaro Araki’s Alchemic Lab.

Manga artist Araki first became a favorite with BJD collectors when he collaborated with Volks to create the Unoss doll. Later, rather than continuing to produce dolls in conjunction with Volks, Araki began his own BJD company, Alchemic Lab. Alchemic Lab makes the hugely popular Unoa dolls. Unoas bring the customization aspect of BJDs to a new level, with multiple interchangeable face-plates, allowing one doll to have several expressions without changing the whole head. Unoas also sport the ability to switch the angle of their eyes with the push of a button.

Details are limited about the new pint-size offerings from AL, but here is what we know thus far: The new dolls are called Roron and Ririn. They are 35cm tall. The first batch to be released will be special, fullset, prototypes, hand-painted by Araki himself. These test dolls will be available for purchase by lottery, only to those who have bought dolls from Alchemic Lab in the past. The price will be 63000 yen. This special pre-sale will most likely take place toward the end of summer, after the next Lusis and Sist pre-order period. Roron and Ririn will later be offered for general sale as kits (like regular Unoa dolls) for 39990 yen.

A teaser photo of Roron and Ririn can be seen on Alchemic Lab’s site. They’re the pair with their backs to the camera (d’oh! f’course!). I have seen more extensive photos of the girls, but unfortunately those images are not mine to repost. I will say that in addition to the new smaller girls, AL is releasing at least eighteen new face-plates. These smaller dolls and the original Unoa will have the same size head, so face-plates can be shared!

I talked to a friend at a local BJD meet a few weeks ago. We’d both placed orders with DollSoom for the February limited Monthly Doll, Teenie Gem Glot. In her lap, my friend cradled a Bambicrony blue elf she purchased last year.

As we bubbled with excitement over our incoming Teenies, and admired the luminous French resin of the blue elf, my friend said: “I don’t know. I’m just getting so tired of everything cool being limited! All the interesting dolls are limited editions. You have to scrape together money on short notice, if you don’t want to pay twice as much on the secondary market.”

Her observation got me thinking about current BJD offerings. I can’t say she’s far off. What’s more, I can’t imagine we’ll see any changes forthcoming in the near future. In this case, what can be maddening to collectors, makes excellent business sense for a doll maker.

Before going on, let me say that there are gorgeous standard dolls out there, from a selection of manufacturers. What my friend noticed however, is that with rare exception, dolls with innovative or unusual molds, fantasy sculpts, or unique face-ups, are almost always limited. What’s more, the ordering windows are not as long as they often used to be. At least, that’s been my observation. In the spring of 2007, I purchased a NotDoll Miriam First. She was a limited edition fullset. I bought her just about a month after she went up for sale. Though NotDoll did eventually stop producing Miriam, it was a good year at least before she was no longer available. I also think of DomaDoll’s Kkotomu and Jado centaurs. They weren’t “forever”, in the sense of a standard doll, but DomaDoll carried them for quite some time. Long enough anyway, that if you wanted to have one, you didn’t have to choose between next month’s car payment, and a new doll.

More often now, one sees dolls with ordering windows of about one month. Either that, or very small editions which sell out in short order. I’ve joked to my husband that buying BJDs often feels like being a contestant on a 1970s game show: You like what’s behind door number one. You can either spend your extra money on door number one, or wait to see what’s behind door number 2. It might be something even better, in which case you’ll be glad you saved your cash. Or, it could be something you’re not interested in at all. By then, door number one is no longer available. I’m going through this at the moment, myself. I love DollZone’s decidedly macabre new minis, Aaron and Lola. They will only be available for the month of May. If I spend money on a Lola, I won’t be able to splurge on whatever tiny Soom puts out for July. Do I put my eggs in DollZone’s basket, or let Lola go in favor of an unknown?

One could argue that it’s only wise for BJD companies to produce limited numbers of “unusual” dolls. After all, the more unusual a doll is, the more of a chance a company takes that doll fans might not appreciate it. That’s a valid view. On the other hand, judging from the mad scramble whenever DollSoom unveils a new monthly, or Volks holds an online after-event for Dolpa limiteds, companies can be more or less assured that certain things sell. Hooved dolls are big. Horns, wings, and techni-color resin have also proven to be crowd pleasers. Still, if more companies offered these fantastical choices as non-limited standards, would sales be the same? As much as I’d like to think otherwise, I’d have to say no. To again refer to an explanation I gave my doll-tolerant husband: People will see a limited doll, and not be sure whether they like it or not. If they have a credit card, or extra money, they’ll order it anyway. That way, they can take their time and decide. If they don’t want the doll after a month, they’ll have no problem reselling it to a hobbyist who missed the ordering deadline. If the doll hadn’t been limited, there’d be no rush, and no frantic scramble to procure funds. Limited BJDs often don’t leave us with much time to think. By the time you realize that you probably don’t need another winged baby satyr, she’s already on her way to your house. Bad for our wallets, but good strategy for small companies trying to survive in this economy. The march of the limiteds will continue, and I’ll keep scouring my house for odds and ends sell on Ebay.

For this third post about BJD thigh modifications, I’m going to share a small mod I made to the existing suwarrico joints on my Volks Yo-SD Hinaichigo.

Broken record alert: One more time, please work in a ventilated area, and wear a mask or respirator to prevent inhalation of resin dust.

Whether suwarrico cuts are included from the manufacturer, or added by a doll’s owner, posing a doll the surwarrico sitting position sometimes takes a little fiddling. It usually takes a second or two to feel that “catch”, when the strings slide from the vertical slot into the horizontal one, allowing the leg to rotate. Depending on the size and smoothness of the cuts, this can be made trickier if the doll is wearing a bulky costume. Last spring, I purchased a Volks Yo-SD Hinaichigo on the secondary market. Modeled after the Rozen Maiden character, Hinaichigo is a BJD of the tooth-achingly cute variety. I’m not usually one to keep full set dolls in the their default costumes, but Hinaichigo just looks so darn right in her pink velvet, and white ruffled ensemble. The only problem I encountered was that the combination of her opaque white tights, and her gathered bloomers, made it difficult to maneuver her legs. Add to this, the fact that her thigh slots and suwarrico cuts were very narrow. The elastic cords in each leg had a habit of getting stuck, side by side, in the slot. This prevented the leg from bending properly, without some gentle wiggling. In simple costumes like short dresses or thin pants, this was no problem. In a more complex outfit, trying to wiggle and adjust each leg every time I wanted her to sit, soon became tedious.

Hinaichigo’s fix was simpler than adding a suwarrico cut from scratch, as I’d done with Maebe, my MSD Hisui. The cuts were already there. They simply needed to be widened. Below is a picture of Hinaichigo’s joints, prior to any work. In the below photo, also note the thickness of the resin surrounding the channel (more clearly seen on the right leg). One of my favorite things about Volks dolls in general is their heavy, thick resin. In this case, that thick resin on the corner of the suwarrico was snagging the cords.

The first thing I did was to use the burr attachment of my rotary tool to follow the walls of the existing slots. Applying gentle pressure to first one side, then the other, I widened the area through which the strings have to travel. After this, I turned my attention to the corner of the suwarrico cut. I first removed the point, creating more of a curved path. I then tilted the rotary tool about 45 degrees, to take off some of the inside thickness of the resin. This part requires some care. You need to take your time, and use caution that you don’t scrape too much of the surrounding plastic. The next photo shows the completed right leg, compared to the left which has not been worked on yet.

Finally, as I didn’t want to have to revisit this project, I took one more measure to insure smooth string movement. I sanded a tiny amount off of the top of the thigh joint. There was originally a sharp corner there, and rounding it slightly helped eliminate one more place where the doll’s strings could get hung up.

This work on her thigh joints has made my Hinaichigo much easier to sit and pose, especially in her default costume!

Thanks for reading, and I hope if you ever have joint issues with one of your resin gang, something here might give you an idea of how to fix the problem!

In my last post, I talked about making a simple modification to a doll’s thigh joint, to prevent them from falling backwards when sitting. This time around, it’s a little different. We’re not fixing a problem, but rather adding another level of poseability. The suwarrico, or “cute sit”. Suwarrico joints are included on many dolls these days, but if a member of your resin gang is feeling left out, adding suwarrico is a simple modification. This can be done on any doll, but tends to work a little better on those with a jointed torso. Note that there is doll nudity ahead!

Once again, I’ll remind you to use care when sanding or drilling your resin doll. Work in a well-ventilated area, and wear a respirator or mask. Your lungs will thank you!

If you’re not sure what suwarrico, or “cute sit”, or “cute sitting” is, it basically means kneeling, with your thighs turned in toward one another, and your lower legs slid out slightly out to either side. On a ball jointed doll, this pose can be achieved in a couple of ways. If you’re taking this on as a do-it-yourself project, making suwarrico cuts into the thigh string slots is by far the simplest option. A suwarrico cut is an extension of the normal string slot, angling it to the outside of the dolls upper thigh. This allows the string to follow course, turning the thighs inward.

On a doll manufactured with suwarrico cuts, they are often done as an arc, or “C” shape. For our suwarrico modification purposes, we’re going to do more of an “L”. It’s an easier cut to make neatly, and works just as well.

The following photos are taken from when I added a suwarrico to my Volks MSD Hisui, Maebe. I apologize that they aren’t the best, but hopefully they get the point across. Like the thigh modification I did to Ari in the previous post, I did not unstring Maebe for this procedure. If you feel fiddly with using an electric rotary tool, or just worried about damaging your doll’s elastic cords, you may wish to unstring them before you work. With this mod in particular, before you unstring the doll, lightly mark an “R” and an “L” in pencil on the doll’s thighs. The leg pieces can look alike once a doll is apart. You don’t want to make a suwarrico cut in the wrong direction, on the wrong leg.

Once you set up your workspace, begin by using a pencil to mark out your cuts. You will be going from the bottom of the thigh string slot, toward the outside of the leg. How far you need to go will depend on the size of the doll. For MSD Maebe, I made cuts which were approximately a centimeter and a half. It doesn’t have to be exact, but you want to go far enough to allow the thigh to rotate about a quarter turn. You also want to make sure that your cuts are wide enough to allow two cords in each leg to slip around, without pinching or sticking.

To begin, I used a drill bit about the width of my intended cut, and placed a hole at the far outside end of the pencil guide. This acts as a “stop cut”, and keeps the edge neat. I then switched to a burr attachment. Inserting the rotary tool into the bottom end of the string slot, I pulled it slowly toward the newly drilled hole, connecting the two. You should now have a neat “L” shape!

Repeat the procedure for the other leg. Once you’re finished, go back with the burr attachment, and smooth that inside corner of the “L”, rounding it off a bit. This allows the strings to slide easily, and prevents them from fraying on the sharp edge. Clean off your excess pencil marks, and try it out!

Now there is another element to suwarrico, which may or may not be worth the effort to you. A stickler will say that in a “true” suwarrico sit, the legs are able to fold closely together, not be merely splayed out to either side. In dolls that have a suwarrico body from the start, this is achieved by sculpting shallow hollows into the backs of the calves, or indenting the backs of the thighs, to allow the calves to nest into them. It’s hard to get this tight a pose through DIY, unless you’re willing to do major modification. However, if your rotary tool includes a small, cylindrical, sanding attachment, you can gently sand a bit of the calf, right below the knee. It won’t be a dramatic improvement, but it does allow a little more of an authenic suwarrico pose.

I hope that helps explain the suwarrico modification!

BJDs are great dolls for those who can’t leave well enough alone. You can change their hair. You can change their eyes. You can wipe face-ups, and redo them, to your heart’s content. Thanks to the forgiving qualities of resin, you can also perform tweaks and fixes to a doll’s poseability. Three of my dolls have had “surgery” on their upper thigh or hip joints. In this post, and the next two, I’ll share these little alterations, in case you’re moved to do the same to one of your crew.

Before getting to it, please remember to use safety when drilling or sanding resin.  Resin dust is a toxic substance.  You don’t want it in your lungs.  Work in a well ventilated area, and always wear a proper respirator or mask to prevent inhaling dust and shavings.

This first modification was done to my Volks Kyotenshi Byakuren, Ariel.  Ari came to me as a pre-owned doll, but he’d mostly been kept in his box, untouched, prior to my bringing him home.  I was thrilled the moment I saw my new guy, but less so when I tried to sit him up on my dresser.  No amount of cajoling would keep him from falling backwards.  I first blamed this on the doll’s one-piece torso.  Both of my previous dolls had jointed torsos, and no problems sitting.  The jointed torso does make some difference here, as it allows you to adjust the doll’s upper body for balance.  Upon examining Ari more closely with another BJD-keeping friend however, we determined that his legs were the problem.  Lucky for me, it was an easy fix.

The string slots at the the top of Ari’s thighs were very short.  The cords could not come far enough forward to allow him to balance in a sitting position.  Using a hand-held, electric, rotary tool, I lengthened each slot by a little less than a third of its total length.  In the photo below, the bracket indicates where I added length.*  I used a burr attachment on the rotary tool to accomplish this, basically sanding through the resin I wanted to remove.  With Ari, I was able to do this easily without unstringing the him.  Ari’s string channels are deep enough that the elastic cords were well below the tip of my rotary tool.  If you do this on a doll with thinner legs, or more shallow channels, you will need to use extra caution (or unstring the doll, just to be safe).  It’s also a good idea to lightly roll over the edges of your cuts with the rotary tool, once you’re done.  Doing so will sand away rough spots or sharp places which could wear on the elastic.

After making this small change to both legs, I tested to see if the modification had worked, and huzzah!  He sits like a champ!  A champ who likes to sit!

It’s worth mentioning that if you have a doll with a sitting problem like Ari’s, but you’re squeamish about taking a drill to your baby, loosening the string tension is a less invasive possible answer.  Less tension can achieve the same effect, as a more loosely strung doll won’t have such a tendency to snap backwards.  My personal preference is to keep my dolls rather tight, as it makes them easier to stand and pose overall.

*Just as an added note, to those who may wonder why Ari isn’t “correct”, as evident in the photo of his nether regions, it’s because he a Volks Tenshi, or “angel”.  Volks follows the mythological convention that angels are completely without gender (ala Kevin Smith’s “Dogma” lol), therefore, unlike most BJDs, none of the Volks angels have anatomically correct bodies.

Korean manufacturer DollSoom yet again strikes fear into the wallets of BJD enthusiasts with their newest monthly doll. Only teaser images have been released thus far. Full body photos, along with specs and price, should be along within the week.

The monthly doll for March is called Cuprit: Black Frost.  Based purely on teaser photo speculation, Cuprit appears to be a dark, female companion to last December’s MD, Heliot.  Cuprit is also expected to be part of Soom’s Super Gem line, which would put her size at approximately 65cm tall.

The monthly doll releases have proven to be wildly popular, despite the hefty price tag.  Super Gem monthlies start at around $790USD.  With costume, accessories, face-up, wig, etc, a fullset generally works out closer to $1200-$1300.  Each monthly doll is a limited edition.  Once the ordering period closes, they are no longer available through Soom.  Buyers who missed out must search the secondary market.  Soom monthly enthusiasts will tell you that these dolls are well worth the trouble, from the imaginative, fantasy sculpts, to the painstakingly constructed garments.  Soom also provides a layaway plan with monthly installments, for those who fall in love, but can’t manage one lump sum.

More details as they become available.  In the meantime, Soom fanciers keep vigil on www.dollsoom.com where comment boards, and photos of past monthlies, will help pass the time until Cuprit goes on sale.