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Digital Christmas Card - #34 Jamieshow Enchanted Grace

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Anyone who follows my blog knows exactly how much I appreciate the Jamieshow Muses line.  This is only its second year in production since being rebooted.   One thing that I especially appreciate about this line is that George orders extras when the items go into production and there is a "leftovers" sale on his site.  That allows collectors a second chance to catch something they may have missed from the original offering and pre-order.  As a collector, you can understand that "In Real Life (IRL)" photos can make the world of difference in how one views a particular doll or ensemble and some dolls redress amazing well.

This was the case with the Enchanted line that premiered last year and was released during the summer.  I thought I would like Enchanted Grace, but I already owned one verison of this doll so I passed.  When IRL photos started showing up I went bonkers!  I was so excited to get her at regular retail from the leftovers sale.

This is how she comes.  She has this cute little dress and pink wig!  She has teh most amazing brown eyes!  I love the pinks used in the airbrush of her makeup.  

Another great thing about Jamieshow Muses is that they can usually wear Integrity Toys clothing.  Here is Enchanted Grace wearing the pink gown from Fame & Fortune Vanessa Perrin.

Isn't she so special?!   

This year has a been a difficult one for our family, so I haven't been able to post as much or be as active on the boards.  My father-in-law passed before I met my husband and he was the primary caregiver for his mother.  Since our marriage almost 13 years ago, I have taken on a lot of the responsibility for her care.  Her health started failing earlier this year and she was in the hospital for 8 days in September.  She never quite recovered and ended up back in the hospital on November 1.  Her 11 day stay was a horrible experience for all of us and she passed on November 11.  The holidays aren't the same without her and we are having a difficult adjustment.

I always try to complete a digital Christmas Card for my followers using one of my favorite dolls received during the previous year.  This year I decided to use Enchanted Grace.


May this holiday season bring each of you peace and comfort.  May you realize joy and love beyond measure.  Merry Christmas!



Best of 2022 - Let The Countdown Begin - Number 10

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To save on shipping charges, I made the responsible fiscal decision to wait and ship my W Club Membership Upgrade dolls with other dolls arriving within the next couple of weeks.  I also postposed payment on Miss Independence Poppy Parker (the only doll I purchased from the IT "Stay Tuned" Virtual Convention) so she could catch a ride along with.  The Jamieshow Bonjour Paris line has gotten tied up in China with continued Covid problems, so those dolls are also not available for this countdown.  

So ... I haven't received a single 2022 Fashion Royalty doll that was actually announced in 2022, only one NuFace doll, one Misaki, and four Poppy Parker dolls.  All the other Integrity Toys dolls added in 2022 were either from the 2021 Obsession Convention or dolls announced in previous years.   Even though the Integrity pickings were lean, I did manage to acquire some dolls worthy of recognition this year.

Number 10 on my list is a doll that has already been reviewed: Best of 2022 Number 10 Review.  She was a 2022 W Club Lottery Doll and was in an edition size of 2000.  I was very pleasantly surprised by this doll.   She looks much better redressed.  Number 10 of 2022 is Mademoiselle Annik Vandale.




Best of 2022 - Number 9 - Let's Hear It For The Boys

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I actually broke Rule 1 of my "Guidelines For Collecting" in 2022.  I guess when there isn't enough product available, collectors start turning to other sources.   

The boys really showed up and showed out in 2022.  There were three dolls released in "The Monarch" line that premiered and made it into collectors' hands in 2022.   (All Photos property of Integrity Toys unless otherwise noted)

First up is Power Vibes Tae Min Gee (Edition size 750)


Next up is Studio Sessions Darius Reid (Editions size of 750)


And finally a W Club Lottery doll Make Em Lit Rashad Rouissi


The NuFace guys couldn't let The Monarchs monopolize the market.  In 2022, we saw a new character who became very popular with collectors quickly.  Here is Monsieur Thiago, Thiago Valente.

In 2022 Integrity Toys partnered with X Magia 2000 for a small capsule of dolls.  One of those was a Nuface male doll, Carnival Gala in Venice Lukas Maverick.

Collectors also received The Weekender Lukas Maverick from 2021.  Another very popular male doll this year.

It truly seemed like the IT males from each line were having a competition to see who could outperform the other.  Poppy Parker's guys came out in force also.

Chip Farnsworth III showed up as a Formal Dance Date.

Cabot Clark took Poppy on a Bowling Date.

Poppy went on a Ski Date with Bellamy Blue.

Milo Montez showed up as a Beach Date.

And poor Kieron Morell was able to sneak into 500 gift sets as The Stud.

If you were counting, you know that's 11 IT male dolls that were shipped in 2022.   That's almost as much as the females from all other IT lines combined (if you don't count Legendary Convention dolls delayed in shipping).  

Fortunately, I was able to resist these dolls.  After all, I was sticking to my guidelines as best I could.   Then my JamieShow Muses Dangerous Love pre-order arrived, containing my "Gateway Drug"Dangerous Love Orlando.

My girls and I instantly fell in love Orlando.   He was reviewed as the #12 doll added to my collection.  Having opened my collection to Orlando, allowed me to purchase the Mystery Date Poppy Parker gift sets without reservation.  (I would've been purchasing the female dolls on secondary market.)  As a W Club member, I had purchased The Weekender for the clothing.

But I actually found that I liked Lukas quite well, and he redresses wonderfully.  My girls decided he could stay around also.
So I added male dolls to my collection in 2022 and this is the first time male dolls have made it into my "Best of" countdown.  Five male dolls are here now, but my very favorite is the Prince Charming who started it all, JamieShow Muses Dangerous Love Orlando, who is Number 9 of 2022.












Best of 2022 - Number 8 - What? Another "First"?

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The next doll on my countdown is actually the last to arrive at my home in 2022.  She just showed up this week in time for Christmas!  I haven't even had time to carefully debox her, so please forgive my lack of "out-of-box" photos.

I have been a big fan of the Integrity Toys Nippon/Misaki doll line ever since its premier in 2006.   These dolls are difficult (not to mention expensive) to acquire since they aren't produced for, or marketed in, the U.S.  They've been quite popular recently and their secondary market prices have climbed again to the levels of their highest popularity.

After Poppy Parker was introduced, it seems that IT put most of its effort into that line.  As a matter of fact, there were only three dolls offered in the Misaki line in 2019, two in 2020, and three this year.  I have been collecting them since 2006 and have many of the earlier dolls, and I actually prefer the earlier aesthetic to those that been produced in the last several years.  That is until the next doll.

Wildflower Misaki is so reminiscent of the earlier Misaki girls.  I love the yellow and denim with pink cowgirl boots!  Her hairstyle is just perfection.   Here are some of the IT promo photo.

Full Length:

Back of doll to see the wonderfully elaborate hair style.

And IT's photo of the accessories.  These accessories are just marvelous.  Those pink cowgirl boots are to die for (and they have zippers).  Look at those bumblebee earrings!  So much play opportunity here!


This is one of those times that the production doll actually surpasses the promo photos.  I LOVE everything about this doll.  Here is a full length photo of the actual production doll.

And her production closeup. 

This is the first time a Misaki doll made it on my countdown!  What a fun doll!   Number 8 of 2022 is Wildflower Misaki.


Best of 2022 - Number 7 - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

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The next doll in my countdown is probably one of my very favorite versions of this character ever produced.  For some reason, many collectors have been on the fence with her, which I don't understand.   The moment I saw her promo I knew she would be phenomenal.  I even purchased two of her, one with each of my W Club memberships.

She was the last doll fully reviewed in my 2022 Doll Collecting Cycle: Number 33 of 2022 .  Although I'm not a fan of the ensemble, this girl just radiates when redressed.  

Each year the department store Christopher Banks releases holiday ornament sweaters.  Unless you are ambitious enough to cut them in the back and sew them up, you have to slip them over a doll's head.  The closer it gets to Christmas, these sweaters usually go on sale for 50% off.  I allow myself a couple each year and have amassed quite a collection of them!  I decided my Number 7 of 2022 would model one.

Number 7 of 2022 is Desert Dazzler Poppy Parker.



Best of 2022 - Number 6 - "Something I Didn't Know I Wanted"

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This doll has already been reviewed as she joined my collection very early last year Best of 2022 - Number 6 Review.  The Integrity Toys (IT) Convention "Obsession" was held virtually very late in 2021.  Almost all of those dolls made it into collectors' hands in 2022.  

Most dolls collectors anticipated "Obsession" to represent truly opulent fabrics, beadwork, furs, etc.  The IT design team took it into completely different areas such as sports and politics.   Collectors were very vocal in their disappointment to the point of insulting some of the designers.  One individual even responded (paraphrasing), "We don't try to make 'ugly' dolls.  We want to give collectors something they may not even know they want."  

I think the majority of collectors who only purchased one convention ticket were okay with the offerings.  But many of those opportunists who use multiple convention tickets to purchase enough extra dolls to sell on secondary market were quite upset.  Since there were 1300 convention tickets sold this year, I have read that some of them actually lost money on many of these dolls.  I guess that'll teach you to scalp dolls!

I actually liked this doll quite a bit.  The ensemble included MANY wonderful mix and match possibilities. Especially those boots!  Because I am so fond of this ensemble, I am including the stock photo of this doll again.

Many of my older dolls benefited from replacement bodies this year.  Here is a photo of People Really Do Fall In Love Vanessa Perrin 2.0 (now Violaine Perrin) wearing one of Sal's designs and those boots.


But the subject of this blog entry is Alejandre and she looks so good redressed.  The minute I saw Amirah Majeed in 24K Shine, I knew I wanted the ensemble for Alejandre.  Number 6 of 2022 is Varsity Alejandre Luna.






Best of 2022 - Number 5 - The Power of Play

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My 5th spot goes more to a group of dolls than an individually packaged one.   I've been a doll collector my entire life.  I started when I was a little girl and am still enjoying this fickle and exciting hobby decades later; I've seen more than a few changes!

Pretty much gone are the days of purchasing a doll and leaving it displayed NRFB.   I'm not saying I don't have a few of those still, but the vast majority of my doll collection is taken out and handled.   I believe Integrity Toys was truly a leader in this shift in collecting mindset, and it started primarily with the articulated dolls of 2004/2005.  The posability of these articulated limbs were based on the taller ball-jointed dolls found in the Asian marketplace (which in turn were based on the antique composition bodies of the 1890's).   When collectors started handling these dolls and redressing them, it allowed adults to experience the joy of play from their childhoods.   Mattel later followed suit with their Made To Move dolls and earlier less-articulated bodies.  

With so many articulated doll lines now on the market, the competition for a collector's money has gotten quite stiff.   Designer's must be creative.   It is hard to beat the team of David Buttry and Alain Tremblay when it comes to creativity.  

Poppy Parker is an imaginary doll character that is a young adult in the 1960's.   Integrity Toys collaborated with Hasbro to combine Poppy Parker and the vintage board game Mystery Date.  I reviewed these dolls earlier this year  Poppy Parker Loves Mystery Date Review.   What a creative concept!

It would be difficult to put into a blog just exactly how impressive the packaging is (photo property of Integrity Toys). 

Talk about a lot of fun!   For the retail price of $240, you got a female doll, her date, and wonderful accessories.  What more could you ask for?  The only problem was in the packaging.  It was too elaborate to translate well to production.  First, it was difficult to open the door to the date.  Also, the thin cardboard liners required a lot of folding which got multiple tears when the factory workers started assembling them.  Many of the boxes arrived with taped places in the liners.  Integrity Toys/The W Club has an amazing customer service department that sprung into action and sent replacements to collectors who reported this problem.

Here is Integrity Toys' promo photo of all the dolls:

It would be difficult to choose just one doll or one set of dolls to represent the collection for my countdown.  The spot is actually more for the designers.  Since I have already reviewed the males dolls as part of my  Best of 2022 - Number 9, I will put the girls together for this one.  Best of 2022 - Number 5 is Poppy Parker Loves Mystery Date.




Best of 2022 - Number 4 - Learning to Pivot

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Just before I retired from teaching, the latest catch phrase in education was "Learn to Pivot".   With all the problems going on in this profession, we were told we had to realize that "the old way of doing things no longer worked" - that you had to alter your way of thinking if you were going to be survive in modern education.  

That's actually true of everything.  Any successful person will tell you that they got that way by picking themselves up every time they got knocked down; they learned from each failure and changed how they responded to the situation.  Nothing could be more true for businesses post-pandemic that are dealing with supply-chain problems, worker shortages, and economic crises.  

One business that seemed to alter its sales model is MGA toys.  The creative genius behind this is Michael Scott Anderson.  In 2020, MGA introduced an Animated Series on Youtube about a group of dolls that attended an alternative arts school, Rainbow High.  Each character has its own designated color choice in wardrobe and backstory.  This built up interest in the dolls before they were actually released.   (Early in its history, Integrity Toys created a similar buyer loyalty with their story cards, which went away for several years but recently returned.)   It took a couple years for the Rainbow High dolls to get established, but now they have a very loyal and fervent following!

The Rainbow High Dolls actually made my #8 spot in my 2021 countdown.   I included quite a bit of history with them at that time Rainbow High Dolls 2020-2021 .  Like the coronavirus, MGA has adapted and morphed quite a bit this year.  

Most of the Rainbow High dolls come with an additional ensemble and retails for less than $30.  Their original cost in 2020 - 2021 was $24.99, but the price increased with Series 4 to $29.99.  Here is a photo of Series 4 that was released May 23, 2022 (on my birthday by the way).  Photos by MGA except as noted.

The hair styles on these dolls are so amazing; the details in the ensembles are just fantastic; the bodies are articulated; the price point just can't be beat.  The Series 4 girls are so inclusive this time.  We have so many special versions!  The third doll from the left is called Delilah Fields, representing a person with albinism.  She is one of my favorites produced so far (I added the white bows).

As the mainline dolls related so specifically to color, MGA apparently realized they were literally "painting themselves into a corner", so they mixed things up a little.  With the world's obsession with competition, MGA decided Rainbow High needed some rival schools.  In 2022, we got Pacific Coast, retailing for $31.88 each (the beach scene sold separately and has been able to be purchased on clearance for $25):

Pacific Coast was followed by Shadow Vision.  Shadow Vision dolls started as a grayscale version and are actually quite phenomenal.  The execution of this line was genius (yes, the picture below is in color). 

Here is a production photo of Nicole Steel representing the color "platinum" in my collection.  


Adding other schools to the storyline opened up all sorts of competition venues!   Walmart got exclusive rights to a Costume Contest!  Being a store exclusive, that allowed Walmart to bump the prices on these dolls to $34.97.

You can't turn on syndicated television in America without seeing some sort of music competition: American Idol, The Voice, The Masked Singer, America's Got Talent, Lip Sync Battle, or The American Song Writer.  How clever would it be to have these rival schools compete in a talent show?  What if we gave them original scores and music videos on Youtube and called the competition Rainbow Vision?  Why not?!  (Each dolls retailed for $39.99 and some of them actually came with instruments like the Rockstars from 2021)

That gave us Rainbow Divas:

Neon Shadow:

And The Royal Three:

These dolls were each quite phenomenal on their own right.  So, there is a little something for everyone.  But MGA also offered a Special Edition Shadow High Ainsley Slater Fashion Trunk Show for $49.99

To respond to the Rainbow High De'Vious Twins, we got a special edition Shadow High Storm Twins, Naomi and Veronica for $69.99 (at Christmas these dolls went on sale on Amazon for less than $30).  Yes, one of the dolls is blowing a bubble with bubblegum!

MGA realized in 2021 that Rainbow High had started attracting a serious group of adult collectors and decided to test the waters by introducing its first "Rainbow High Collector Doll", Jett Dawson, in August 2021.  It even produced 1000 dolls with "Numbered" cards sold randomly through Amazon.  The doll retailed for the most ever asked for a Rainbow High doll $54.99.   It came with a little dress form.

Jett Dawson was quite successful, so MGA continued offering "Collector Dolls" in 2022.  

First up offered on February 1, 2022 is Chinese New Year Lily Cheng.  She sold online for appx $80.  This doll is one of the most perfect Rainbow High dolls made to date.  She is just breathtaking!  Even the box artwork is to die for!

Next up Walmart offered the most expensive Rainbow High Collector Doll to date, Dia De Los Metros Maria Garcia.  She originally retailed for $129, but has come down in price and is hovering around the $100 mark.  That still puts this doll right up there with high end dolls like Integrity Toys!  The packaging on this doll is as stunning as her predecessor, Lily Cheng.   Maria Garcia's box actually has LED lights around the inside edge that can be turned on and off!  There has been a lot of complaining that the ensemble isn't culturally accurate, but it can't be denied this is still one beautiful Rainbow High doll.





In 2022 Rainbow High produced its first ever "Holiday Doll" with Roxie Grande.  Roxie could actually be found in Target Stores in American and retailed for $59.99.  She was on sale on Amazon for $39.99 and Target even matched the price.  The lower price is reflected in packaging since it was similar to mainline MGA dolls.

The final "Collector Doll" of 2022 was Rainbow High's first celebrity doll.  Can you imagine getting a Rainbow High Paris Hilton character?  Was she worth $99?  Totally - "That's Hot!"



Just when you think you couldn't get any more Rainbow High/Shadow High fun, MGA goes and releases some blind box accessories.  Each box costs $9.97 - the displays in the stores look like this:


There are 27 previously unreleased pairs of shoes (many associated with specific dolls).

And 28 previously unreleased handbags (again, mostly associated with specific dolls).

I daresay there is at least one on many fellow collectors' shelves.  In a year when high-end doll producers are unable to get product into collectors' hands, MGA was able to offer a little something for everyone.  They recognized market opportunity and seized it.  Whether you needed a cute quick fix for less than $30 (and many of these mainline edition dolls hit sales bins for as little $10 or less) or wanted something a little more luxurious like Paris Hilton, Lily Cheng, or Maria Garcia, you could walk away with a deep sense of satisfaction.   

My #4 of 2022 goes to MGA for availability, affordability, and playability.  The doll I chose to represent this line was my personal favorite from 2022, Lily Cheng.  To my surprise, it was the doll I actually asked for under my Christmas tree this year.





Best of 2022 - Number 3 - Jamieshow Dangerous Love Collection

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To try and be fair across lines, I decided to take the Jamieshow contenders and group them according to capsule.  The first capsule of 2022 was called "Dangerous Love".   It included four male and four female dolls.  Here is the Jamieshow Owensu Dangerous Love promo photo:

Dangerous Love Orlando (second male from the right) has already shown up on my countdown because he was included with the Number 9 of 2022 male dolls.  I can honestly say that I regret not getting Daniel (first male on the left). 

These dolls are made using a Jamieshow exclusive copyrighted resin formula that doesn't have a history of yellowing or turning brittle.   They are strung, ball-jointed dolls that use a "wig cap" technology for changing out their looks; they feel quite heavy and luxurious to the touch.  Each doll is hand painted and blushed, so they are almost like OOAK dolls.  All of this is reflected in their price of $425 (the price was raised to $450 for the 2023 dolls).  This price point causes me to be very selective about which dolls join my collection.

In addition to the eight dolls, there were 26 ensembles (8 ensembles for the males and 18 ensembles for the females), five new wigs caps in various colors, and twelve accessory packs (8 for the girls and 4 for the guys).   The mix and match possibilities were limitless!  With all the post-pandemic manufacturing and shipping problems, Jamieshow pulled off quite an impressive collection in 2022.  Below is a promotional photo sampling of what was offered.

I preordered the male ensemble from the photo and picked up two additional male ensembles during the "leftover sale".  I preordered five of the female ensembles and picked up three more from the "leftover sale".   The starting cost of ensembles was $135 ranging up to $200.  These ensembles are just amazing.  The attention to details and all the pieces included is reminiscent of Integrity Toys in its heyday circa 2004/2005.  All ensembles came with jewelry, shoes/boots, and most included purses.  Some of these ensembles included coats, belts, and even headpieces!

Although all four of the female dolls were amazing - I only acquired two.  Here is Dangerous Love Ginnie wearing the complete ensemble from Dangerous Love Look 11.   

I reviewed the dolls I purchased from this collection earlier this year,   Dangerous Love Dolls, but am going to include one of those photos again because it is probably my favorite doll photo I took this year.  When you've been collecting Integrity Toys dolls for several years, you acquire quite a wardrobe. When you combine the Dangerous Love ensembles with those IT pieces, you can create something like this.  The Skirt is from Dangerous Love Look 22.  The blouse is from Merveilleuse Agnes, the hat and scarf are from Exquise Adele, and the boots belonged to Poetic Beauty Eden.

To keep this entry fresh, I took out several pieces from the Dangerous Love collection and redressed Dangerous Love Sasha.  An appropriate look considering the recent temperatures here in the south over the past week!

The majority of Sasha's ensemble is from Look  21- the coat, skirt, purse, and earrings.  

Those incredible patent leather, lace-up boots with grommets (yes they have a zipper in the back) are from Accessory Pack B.  I couldn't resist this accessory set because it had an orange Birkin bag, a pair of sunglasses, a fur collar/cape, and two other pairs of shoes (one of which is for flat feet).  The accessory packs can be expensive (almost as much as an ensemble) but they do pack a punch at $115!

The  top is from Look 22.  Look 21 also included some incredible shoes - the heels actually looked like tubes of lipstick!


So Number 3 of 2022 goes to the Jamieshow Muses Dangerous Love collection for bringing collectors so much enjoyment in redressing their dolls.  Representing this line in the countdown is Dangerous Love Sasha.



Best of 2022 - Number 2 - JamieShow Muses Holiday Enchanted Collection

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The second capsule of Jamieshow dolls received by collectors in 2022 was promoted last Christmas Season and was called "Enchanted".  This time there were only two male dolls but five females - all of them new versions of previously shown characters.  Photo property of Jamieshow Owensu Dolls.

You wouldn't know it from the dolls themselves, but this collection was based on Fairytale Couture.   I rarely display a doll in my collection wearing a gown, so I thought I was going to be safe with this collection.  Surprisingly, not the case.  Below is a sampling of the offerings in a Jamieshow Owensu Muses Promotional Photo. 

These ensembles are just opulent - look at the rich textures of materials!   The design aesthetic is off the chart and it is reflected in the cost of each ensemble, as they range in price from $200 to $350 each.   I allowed myself only one of the five male ensembles offered this time.  (Yes, that is a "Phantom of the Opera" mask!)

Since these ensembles and headpieces were so extravagant, I only allowed myself to preorder one of the dolls and four of the sixteen female ensembles .  Unfortunately I wasn't able to get any of the ten accessory sets this round (four for the males, six for the females) which only included three pair of shoes each and cost $85 each.

So how does Jamieshow Muses Owensu Holiday Enchanted merit such a spot in my countdown.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  This is Look 16 being modeled by Summer Kisses Nicole.  I fondly refer to to this gown as the "origami gown" as the folds are just a true work of art; it is the largest gown in my collection!

In addition to the gowns, collectors were offered ten very elaborate couture Owensu headpieces priced from $100 - $180.   I could only afford two headpieces.  Here is Nicole with Headpiece J added to that incredible gown.  How intricately decadent!

Jamieshow Owensu ensembles are beginning to attract many cross-over collectors since most of these ensembles can fit Fashion Royalty/NuFace dolls.  

Although I already reviewed the one doll I preordered, Jamieshow Muses Enchanted Lilly, in a previous blog entry, this doll has not been redressed since being displayed in this ensemble.  She is just a little piece of 1:6 scale fashion art.  Lilly is still wearing Look 5 with Headpiece E.

After collector photos started showing up, I started regretting my lack of foresight in not purchasing Enchanted Grace, but I was fortunate to grab her from the "leftover sale".  Here she is modeling Look 10 also from the leftover sale.  Her wigcap is from an earlier offering.

It can't be denied that it is difficult to surpass the quality and beauty of the Jamieshow Muses Holiday Enchanted Collection - Representing this collection for Best of 2022, Number 2, is Holiday Enchanted Grace.  





Best of 2022 - Number 1

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So, we finally made it.  Thank you to my followers for staying with me for this countdown.  

It doesn't take much digging to figure out that 36 dolls were added to my collection this year.   Six of those are not eligible for my countdown because they were purchased secondary market and were actually produced and received by collectors in previous years.  The four Jamieshow Muses girls, two male dolls, four Mystery Date Poppy Parkers, Varsity, Desert Dazzler, Wildflower, and Mademoiselle Annik have already been listed.   That only leaves sixteen contenders and ten of those were from the 2021 Obsession Convention; even though the virtual convention took place in late 2021, the majority of these dolls got delayed in shipping until 2022. 

With the economy in such a bad spot and budgets being tight, a lot of collectors are seeking the most bang for their buck.   That's why the last four spots in my countdown were all dolls/doll lines/manufacturers that provided collectors the most fun for their investments.

The doll that brought me the most joy in 2022 was purchased from a new doll friend.  He only collects IT Hommes but got a ticket for the Obsession Convention.  He sold his female dolls at very reasonable prices; selling the gifted dolls for appx 1/3 his convention ticket price.  From all the Obsession Convention dolls this year, this doll was easily my very favorite.  The giftset was phenomenal with so many accessories and mix and match possibilities.   I reviewed this doll earlier in 2022  Collection Cycle 2022 Number 4 .  

This doll is just gorgeous and redresses so well.  She's not just my favorite doll of 2022, she is probably my very favorite version of the Vanessa Perrin 3.0 mold.  She is "pretty in pink" in an Andymy fashion for New Year's Eve celebrations.

Number 1 of 2022 - A Doll's Life Vanessa Perrin.  




Desperately Chasing My Own Tail ... Collection Cycle 2023 #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6

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 It's difficult to believe it's been almost six months since my last post - my Number 1 doll purchase for my Best of 2022 Countdown.   

Please excuse my extended absence from this blog; since my mother-in-law's illness and death just prior to Thanksgiving, we've had a lot to deal with.  I am finally taking a short breath and attending to some housekeeping.

Covid 19 just screwed up everything worldwide.  Plain and simple!   Supply chains.  Production facilities. Shipping.  Everything!

Since new doll shipments seem to come in tidal waves lately, collecting them has gotten more overwhelming and stressful.  My first shipment at the beginning of January actually contained SIX dolls added to my collection.  You read that correctly.  SIX!  At ONE time!

The W Club 25th Anniversary Edition doll was advertised in 2021, but she didn't start shipping to collectors until the end of December 2022.  Mine arrived in early January.  I was eager to see this doll because it used a favorite character mold, Vanessa Perrin 1.0.  Every time a blonde Vanessa Perrin 1.0 is produced collectors start screaming, "A revisit of Poesie Sans Couleur!" Although there have been several produced over the years that may have given a nod to this iconic grail (especially Black Tie Ball), none have actually reached the aesthetic.   That is until now.  

Graceful Reign Vanessa Perrin is just stunning.  Here is the Integrity Toys (IT) promo photo.  



This doll comes with some nice accessories to go with that extravagant gown and cape.



As is often the case, the production doll is even better than the promo photos.  Here is a closeup of Graceful Reign in the box.

I fell in love with this face.  The hairstyle is even quite good.  In my opinion this doll can actually give Poesie Sans Couleur a run for her money!   But the proof is often in the redress, and this girl is amazing in a different ensemble.  Here she is wearing the boots from Afterglow Keeki Adaeze and the coat that came with Fierce Zuri Okoty (both of the IT Meteor line).  

Collecting Cycle 2023 Addition Number 1 - Graceful Reign Vanessa Perrin.

Also arriving at IT during this time was the last doll from the NuFantasy Coven Couture Collection designed by Mark Tinkey.  This was the only doll from that line to capture my interest.  I thought the dress was the best of the four doll collection and the character chosen is one that hasn't been able to develop a strong fan base with collectors.  I actually liked this version of the character quite a bit.  This is the production photo by IT.

And a look at the accessories.

Again, the production doll is much better than the promo photos and the dress is actually more of a cocoa color in person.  The metallic threads tend to shift the color in many photos.  In my opinion, she is one of the better versions of this neglected character mold.

Collecting Cycle 2023 Addition Number 2 - Elements of Enchantment Korinne Dimas.

All three of the 2022 W Club Upgrade dolls arrived in the same shipment.  When you join the W Club, you have the option of adding three different dolls to your membership payment, representing three popular IT lines.  These dolls are usually offered at a special new member price.  In 2022 there was a 15% price hike, so W Club members had to pay regular doll prices of previous years.  

The first 2022 W Club Upgrade doll represented their flagship line, Fashion Royalty, and was one of the most popular characters.

Here is the W Club promo photo from IT.


With the price increase, IT realized collectors would expect a little more, so that was reflected in the accessories.

Although a stunning doll in an interesting ensemble, this doll hasn't quite become as popular with collectors as previous versions.  

Collecting Cycle 2023 Addition Number 3 - Up With a Twist Agnes Von Weiss.


For many years now, IT has been mixing things up by producing caucasian character molds as dolls of color.  Many of these have become collector favorites and some have even become grails.   This had been limited to the Fashion Royalty line until last year.  The second doll offered to new W Club members as an upgrade was a very popular NuFace character.

Here is the W Club promo photo from IT.


Accessories?  Yes, please.

How do you resist this doll?  IT collectors have been begging for denim, so here it is.  This girl has gotten very mixed reactions.  Some collectors just do not like her (primarily due to her face up) but some collectors are mad for her.  I this she is gorgeous and photographs beautifully.

Collecting Cycle 2023 Addition Number 4 - Earth Angel Eden Blair.

The final upgrade doll was one that I was very "on-the-fence" about.  Sometimes a designer can do "too much" with a doll, which is an unfortunate failing for the doll.  Here is the W Club IT Promo.


Another group of accessories.


Although this style is an accurate reflection of the fashion period on which it is based, I just think it is overdone.  Unfortunately, a lot of collectors agree as it has not been as popular as many of the other versions produced over the past few years.  I'm not sure this doll will be staying in my collection; however, I don't think she is selling well on secondary market at this time.

Collecting Cylce 2023 Addition Number 5 - Ultra Violet Poppy Parker.

The IT Online Convention for 2022 was called "Stay Tuned" and was quite a let down for collectors.  The only doll offered that I was remotely interested in purchasing was a Poppy Parker reminiscent of a television show I watched as a child, That Girl.  The doll was an obvious copy of the Marlo Thomas character.  Fortunately, I was able to win the right to buy this doll through a W Club lottery.

Here is the W Club IT promo photo.

A look at the accessories.


This doll was easily the very best from the digital convention.  Her screening is gorgeous.  Such a beautiful version.

Collecting Cycle 2023 Addition Number 6 - Miss Independence Poppy Parker.

Six dolls arriving at one time at the very beginning of the year was quite overwhelming.  So, how you feel if that were ten dolls arriving at one time at the very beginning of the year?  Stay tuned for my next blog post!






Desperately Chasing My Own Tail ... Collection Cycle 2023 #7, #8, #9, and #10

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If receiving six dolls in one shipment from Integrity Toys (IT) the first week of January wasn't enough to make this collector a might bit nervous, then imagine how I felt when a box arrived the following week from Jamieshow Muses with four dolls, four ensembles, and two accessory packs!  As any doll collector knows, it was a feeling of elation!  LOL!

If you've been following my blog over the past few years, you know I've become quite smitten by the Jamieshow Muses/Owensu line of dolls.  These dolls are not cheap - by any definition of the word "cheap".   Jamieshow releases two complete capsule each year with dolls produced to order, which causes them to be shipped approximately six months later.  The dolls are made from a patented resin material that is durable, substantial, and beautiful.  They are ball jointed dolls that utilize a stringing method which allows the joints greater flexibility for posing.  Each doll is hand painted and their bodies are hand blushed.   The tops of their heads are held in place with magnets which allows you to change out wigs on a whim.  (Wigs average in cost from $30 - $45 usually.)   

Last year, I purchased my first male Jamieshow Muses, Dangerous Love Orlando.  He even showed up as Number 9 in my Best of 2022 countdown.  Here is the link to that: Best of 2022 - Number 9 - Jamieshow Muses Dangerous Love Orlando .

When Jamieshow Muses/Owensu announced their Bonjour Paris line last year, I knew it was time to get Orlando a friend.  Here is the promo photo for the Bonjour Paris line by Jamieshow.


I was so eager to open the box and take out Michael.  He is quite handsome!  Here is a closeup photo of him right out of the box.

Look at all those bulging muscles.  The body blushing on him is quite wonderful.  Here he is redressed out for a ride on his vintage bike.  The girls have gone crazy for him!  I'm sure you can see why.  (By the way, I haven't told my husband but Bonjour Paris Michael has a very uncanny resemblance to my college boyfriend that I almost married!)

I had a great deal of difficulty narrowing down my choices from the three girls.  In the end, I just got all three!  First up is the one that I added last to my cart.  This is Anya in her stock wig and ensemble.  (I added a plastic Barbie hairbow to pull her hair back so you could see her dramatic faceup.)


She looks great a blonde also.  Here she is wearing one of the Integrity Toys Versace dresses from the Supermodel Convention.


My second favorite and the one that turned out to be one of my favorite dolls ever produced by Jamieshow is Eileen.  Here is her photo.

She redresses so well and looks so good in many different wig colors and styles.


There was no way I wasn't going to buy Sabina.  She is also a very versatile model.  Here is her photo out of box with a closeup of this wonderful face wearing her original wig.

I put an Integrity Toys Mini Avant Gard wig on her while she had on her original ensemble.

She has been so fun to redress!  She can either be casual ...

or more formal ...


As you can see, the versatility of these dolls is amazing.  Just a quick wig switch and you have an entirely different looking doll.  As I mentioned earlier, they are more expensive than Integrity Toys dolls, almost three times the price, but the play value is exponentially greater.   

So we were in the middle of January.  I was supposed to be resetting my collecting clock for 2023, starting at 0 Additions and 0 Sales.  Instead, I find myself redressing and photographing 10 new dolls added to my collection from only two shipments.  I hadn't even started sorting or photographing dolls to sell yet.  I was in over my head and was beginning to feel like hyperventilating.  And the month of January wasn't even over yet.

But the bliss of new dolls!  The bliss of new dolls makes it all worth it!







 

The Tail Chasing Continues - 2023 Collecting Cycle Number 11 and Number 12

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 So ...  here we are a little over halfway through the first month of 2023 and I had added ten dolls to my collection, hadn't sold any dolls yet, and I just got two more notifications from Integrity Toys for dolls that were ready to ship!  

The first was a W Club Exclusive.   She was the companion doll to the W Club Upgrade doll, Earth Angel Eden Blair, which was number 4 of my 2023 collecting cycle two posts back.  This doll was actually advertised in 2021 and predated the W Club Upgrade Eden; she just arrived after.   Confused yet?  Imagine how collectors feel!

Here is one of the promo photos of The NuClassic Lilith Blair, property of Integrity Toys.


Here are the accessories.


And here is a NRFB photo.  This doll is totally gorgeous.  She is one of the best NuFace dolls to come out of Integrity Toys.  Number 11 of my 2023 Collecting Cycle is The NuClassic Lilith Blair.

The next doll was one that you had to win the opportunity to purchase through a W Club lottery.  I was on the fence with this doll.  In 2022, Integrity Toys joined forces with Magia 2000 to collaborate on the production of a few IT dolls.  The first offering used the Vanessa Perrin character, which is a personal favorite of mine.

Here is one of the promo photos, property of Integrity Toys.

This doll is so over the top and doesn't really represent my collecting aesthetic.  But just look at all the accessories.  I figured all the "parts" could be used in mix and match situations.  The doll was lovely.  At the last minute, I entered the lottery.

I'm glad I entered (and won) because this doll is amazing.  Her secondary market prices skyrocketed right away.  Number 12 of my 2023 Collecting Cycle is Summer in Taormina Vanessa Perrin.

At least we were adding dolls in smaller numbers.  My first package was six dolls, my second was four, and this one contained two dolls.  But here it is the very beginning of the year and I had acquired twelve new dolls and still hadn't listed my first doll for sale!  I was definitely feeling overwhelmed.

A Short Breather - Then Collection Cycle Number 13 and Number 14

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I was so relieved that the month of February came and went with no new dolls!   Twelve in one month was more than enough for several weeks.  But, February is the shortest month and March showed up with another Integrity Toys shipment!

I had been eagerly awaiting the next doll.   Jason Wu has moved on to owning a successful fashion house, but he still lends his creative hand to a few Integrity Toys dolls each year.   Elyse Jolie was one of Jason's favorite characters, and he often used this sculpt to model his 1:6 scale design originals.   Collectors started complaining that they were tired of Elyse Jolie, so he started looking elsewhere for his muse.  He tried a new mold, Iselin, but collectors didn't like her at all.  Then he started using a shrunken down 16" sculpt, Aymeline, which has become quite popular. Last year, he decided to revive an older IT character, Alysa.  She was a W Club lottery doll with only 450 in her edition size.

Here are the promo photos, property of Integrity Toys.


She has minimal accessories (not shown is the lingerie she is wearing under the dress, which I think is quite nice).

This doll has such a low edition size and was designed by Jason Wu himself, but she hasn't garnered the popularity with collectors that was expected.  I am glad I won the opportunity to purchase her through the W Club Lottery and am happy she is in my collection.  Collection Cycle 2023 Number 13 is Bride Spring 2020 Alysa.

Arriving with Alysa was another W Club lottery exclusive.  This time an incredible Poppy Parker giftset with lots of mix and match fun!  Here are IT's promo photos of the dolls.




Look at all these accessories!



There was one complete doll (the one with the braided ponytail), three complete ensembles, and another Poppy head and breastplate (the one with the Afro).   You could purchase a "completer" body separately.  Here is a production photo of a closeup of the Ponytail Poppy.

And a production photo of a closeup of the Afro Poppy.

I adore the play value in this collection.  The Poppy Parker edition sizes have been increasing in size (up to 2000 dolls) but collectors still can't get enough of this line.  So much thought was put into the design and production of this giftset.  Collection Cycle 2023 Number 14 is Perfectly Palm Springs Poppy Parker Giftset.





"Bending" Guidelines - Collection Cycle 2023 Number 15

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If you've collected 12 inch fashion dolls for any length of time, you realize that the promo photos of a doll and the screening produced can be quite different.  Cameras aren't supposed to lie, but photos of pre-production dolls can be very deceiving.  Sometimes it's a pleasant surprise and sometimes it isn't.

Knowing this, I am sometimes hesitant to purchase a doll based on my experiences with certain problems I've experienced.   "Open" hairlines are definitely an issue.  Sewing in a doll hairline is an obvious talent that requires a certain amount of practice and skill.  When a doll's hairline is exposed, there is always the chance of getting a mess.   "Baby hair" that is painted on is another concern.  Sometimes, it works, sometimes it looks like the doll fell facedown into a bowl of black spaghetti.  Forward glancing eyes often come across as "cross eyed" if the artist doesn't get the irises and pupils in symmetry.  Exposed teeth in a screening can look "hollow" and fake.  Sometimes the painters put an "outline" of paint inside the lips that is actually on the teeth which doesn't make sense at all.  

All four of these production issues were possibilities for the dolls released in the W Club Maison FR Paris Mini Collection last year, plus I have to add my personal fear of "flyaway hairs" and this hairstyles definitely lended themselves to those. The retail price on these dolls was $150, which isn't a small amount of money for a doll that comes in lingerie.  I decided to sit out the lottery and wait until I saw photos of the produced dolls.  It was a chance, but I didn't want to spend that kind of money to add a doll to my collection that I wouldn't like.

I know this is bending Collecting Guideline 5 about purchasing secondary market, but I haven't had the best of luck with sending dolls in for replacements.  (I've actually gotten worse dolls in return than what I mailed out on several occasions.)

When the Maison FR Paris dolls started arriving, there were several production problems pointed out by collectors on many of the dolls.  At the same time, there were some pretty extraordinary versions.  I started trolling e-bay for one of the dolls.

It took a few weeks, but I finally managed to snag the one that I thought most fit into my collection.

Here are the promo photos of Dawn in Bloom Isabella Alves, property of Integrity Toys.  


As a lingerie doll, there are minimal accessories.


Here is a closeup of the doll I purchased secondary market.   

I think I got a very good example of this doll.  Many collectors prefer the second doll of this mini collection,  Dusk in Bloom Luchia Zadra, stating she looks like Cindy Crawford.  I've owned a couple versions of the Luchia mold 2.0 and have been unable to bond with it.  But, I have Style Legacy Isabelle Alves and really like her quite a bit.  My easy favorite from this collection was Isabella and, although I had to acquire one on secondary market to get a good version, I am very pleased with adding her to my collection.   Collection Cycle 2023, Number 15 is Dusk In Bloom Isabelle Alves.


Collection Cycle 2023 - Numbers 16, 17, and 18

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I apologize for the long lapse between blog entries.   My husband was in a terrible car accident this past summer and has some chronic medical problems.  He has been requiring more personal attention from me and I've had less time for doll play.

Before his accident we had decided to move forward with our plan to sell our home in an effort to "down size".  Since the passing of my mother-in-law, we realized we didn't need so much house to maintain for just the two of us (and almost 1000 dolls).  I've packed up my dolls' rooms, so that has also prevented redress opportunity.  It's also seriously affected my sales since those came to an abrupt halt!

So ... on with the show.

If you collect Poppy Parker, you know how difficult it is to obtain them at retail price.   Scalpers have aggravated the situation and the prices on some of these dolls are just ridiculous.  I try to keep to my Collecting Guidelines and avoid purchasing Poppy Parker on secondary market when at all possible.  Unfortunately, a Poppy sometimes sneaks up on me.  This was the case with Golden Glow Poppy Parker from the Palm Springs Collection.  I didn't think I needed this doll with so much hair.  Then collector photos started showing up.  I tried my best to resist ... but, in the end, I wound up getting one at close to retail price.  Here is a full length photo.  


Even though she had to be packed away for my move, I do not regret ordering her.  Her hair is such a beautiful shade of blonde and her eyes are just the palest of blues.  Golden Glow Poppy Parker is gorgeous and represents Number 16 added to my collection in 2023.


One of the reasons to join the W Club is that there are always at least two versions of Poppy Parker made available to W Club members only.  There is the upgrade doll and they guarantee that one of the exclusives will also be a version of Poppy Parker.   

Another exclusive of the W Club this past year was Primary Subject Giselle Diefendorf.  I have a weak spot for Giselle.  I really do love her mold and the fact that she is a relative of Agnes Von Weiss.

I was on the fence with the purchase of Primary Subject, but that cute little jacket lined in the dress fabric pushed me over the edge.  I'm not crazy about how small her eyes look.  I have several other fantastic brunette versions of Giselle:  Glam Addict, AKA Gigi, and Wanderlust.   I'm not sure if Primary Subject will be staying (I may sell her nude), but she's here for now.

Number 17 of my 2023 collecting cycle is Primary Subject Giselle Diefendorf.


In the world of Poppy Parker, Poppy is considered to be a retro doll living in the 1960's - 1970's.  Integrity toys tied The Industry line of dolls with Tulabelle True and now it represents current fashion trends with Tulabelle True being Poppy Parker's granddaughter.   Another doll offered to W Club members as an Integrity Direct purchase was Trending Tulabelle True.  The Industry/Tulabelle True dolls can share much of the same clothes with Poppy Parker (and even some NuFace dolls).   I really like the Tulabelle True sculpt and own the first two versions (both brunettes).   Trending Tulabelle True with blonde locks was a no-brainer for me.

I really like this version quite a bit.  She has this snobbish look to her which I find somehow very appealing.   Arriving in 2023 and becoming Number 18 in my 2023 collection is Trending Tulabelle True.







Oh no! Here We Go Again - Numbers 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23 of Collection Cycle 2023

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After the great deluge of dolls that arrived in January, I was really not looking forward to the arrival of my order from the Jamieshow/Owensu Go East collection.  When I first saw this collection advertised, I thought it would be too costumey for my personal tastes.  Here is the promo photo.

It's actually a very modern take on Eastern couture!  There were six female versions this time around.  Three were newly released 12" molds (Sakura, Lan, and Natalie) which were included with three new versions of Lilly, Bella, and Sasha. 


Here is a full length photo to see how they came dressed (but wearing different wig caps).

I had made up my mind that I was going to try and get at least one version of each Muses character, so that made the purchase of the new girls an easy choice.  I did not have a previous version of Bella, so she went in the cart also.  Enchanted Lilly is one of my very favorite Muses, and I didn't think Go East Lilly was at the same level, so that was a pass.  For some reason, Go East Sasha just kept calling to me.  Her screening is not traditionally something that I would like, and I already had three other versions of her.  In the final days befor pre-order cutoff, I broke down and added her.  That meant, five new Muses from Go East was joining my crew!  I needed to start saving money!  

Surprisingly, Go East Sasha is my favorite from this collection.  There is something sexy but innocent about this doll.  Here she is in her production ensemble.  Number 19 of 2023 is Jamieshow Go East Sasha.

I am glad I waited for this version of Bella.  She is quite striking.  NOTE:  Bella's and Lan's production ensembles "stain" their bodies.  I put quotation marks here because the color doesn't actually absorb into the resin.  If you use the little magic sponges that come with the dolls, you can carefully "sand" away the color.  But you have to be careful not to "sand" away the body blushing.  Jamieshow stepped up and offered replacement bodies to any collector that requested them.  Great customer service, don't you agree?

Number 20 of 2023 is Jamieshow Go East Bella.  She is wearing an early IT Fashion Royalty ensemble, 2004's Shanghai in Bloom.

Although it has been a struggle to bond with Lan's eyebrows, she is a very striking doll.  She is wearing a Hoang Anh Khoi ensemble with Mattel's Spring in Tokyo's hat.  Number 21 of 2023 is Jamieshow Go East Lan.

Natalie was not only a new sculpt, she was a new skin tone for the Jamieshow Muses ladies.  She is wearing a wig cap from the Go East collection and is modeling an oriental fan.  Number 22 is Jamieshow Go East Natalie.

The final doll I added from this collection is Sakura.  I haven't been able to spend enough quality time with this striking sculpt.  Here is a photo in a custom wig and her original ensemble.  Number 23 belongs to Jamieshow Muses Go East Sakura.  I apologize but I didn't even get a chance to redress her before packing her away.   

I felt deja vu back to January with five dolls arriving at one time.  Fortunately, when you preorder these dolls you put down a deposit of about 25% and are billed the remainder when they are ready for shipping.  It gives collectors time to save money and sell other dolls to make room for them.  Jamieshow/Owensu Muses are just incredible to own; however, the quality is reflected in the price.  Each Jamieshow Muses doll retailed for $475.  Ouch!  But when you see Sasha so stunningly re-dressed in a silkstone ensemble and a different wig cap how can you deny them?





Back To The Basics - Numbers 24, 25, 26, and 27 of Collection 2023 Cycle

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Back in 2021, Integrity Toys tried something new for their collectors; they created a "Basics" line of open-edition dolls.  The dolls were released in production runs until they ran out; then there was another run offered.   The dolls were priced at $99 and were packaged less elaborately.  They came in swimwear or work-out clothes and had minimal accessories.   They represented the five main lines of Integrity Toys:  FR2, NuFace, Poppy Parker, Meteor, and East 59th.  This allowed collectors to add new versions of favorite characters at an affordable price.  I think it introduced Integrity dolls to more collectors, but the market wasn't big enough to entertain such seriously large edition sizes even though the dolls were actually quite extraordinary.  This "Basics" line showed up in my 2021 End Of Year Countdown at the #2 spot.  Here is the link to those dolls:  Integrity Toys 2021 Basics Line.

After saturating the market with these dolls, Integrity Toys made the smart move to retire the first Basics line and introduce a new set of dolls in 2023.  The edition size for these dolls was 5000 and all versions are still available for purchase on the website.  (If you've not been an IT collector but have been curious about these dolls, now would be a great opportunity to check them out:  Integrity Toys Web Storefront for Basics Dolls.)

The 2021 Basics versions of Agnes Von Weiss and Lilith Blair have become favorites with collectors.  Personally, I think they are fantastic versions of these characters, so it was a no-brainer when Integrity Toys opened the sales links for the 2023 Basics line.

Erin Salston was one of the original characters that introduced the Integrity Toys Nuface line in 2006.  Her mold was "refreshed" in 2012 to be "less cartoon-like" and mold 2.0 has been a collector favorite ever since.  My very favorite NuFace doll is actually 24k Erin Salston.  2023 Basics Erin Salston retailed for $110 to W Club members.  The price reflected the fact that the doll had a more elaborate ensemble.  To give collectors a choice, there is a "completer" accessory package called Bow-tique Details that goes with this doll and retailed for $65 to W Club members.

2023 IT Basics Night Out Erin Salston became Number 24 added to my collection this year.  

Natalia Fatale mold 2.0 is one of my favorite IT characters.  She isn't as popular with collectors as some of the other molds, but she is has been gaining ground over the past few years.  I was so excited when she was added to the Basics collection this year and this screening/skintone/hair color is extraordinary.  Number 25 of my Collection Cycle 2023 is Bombshell Beach Natalia Fatale.


I have a very complicated relationship with Poppy Parker.  I was on-board with the line when it debuted in 2009.  I fondly remember the early years when you could grab these girls on clearance sales!  (Yes, that is actually true.)   I owned many of the original versions, but only a couple managed to stick around in my collection as I prefer dolls with attached eyelashes.  Over the years Poppy Parker has developed a very strong fan base and has attracted a lot of scalpers on the secondary market.   It has become increasingly difficult to get Poppy Parker versions at retail price outside of the W Club.   Still, there are Poppy Parker dolls that have permanent spots in my collection.   At first I resisted the 2023 Basics Island Time Poppy Parker.  Then collector photos started showing up on the internet. I caved and added her to my collection.   Number 26 of 2023 is Island Time Poppy Parker.

Fortunately for my bank account and storage/display space I do not collect Meteor dolls, so I passed on this Basics offering of Pose Like An Egyptian Amirah Majeed.  Since I limit the males coming into my collection, Basics East 59th Street Honolulu Sunset Augustus Blake was also a pass.   I considered not purchasing the East 59th Street female doll, but I have such a weak spot for Victoire Roux mold 2.0 that I caved and added her to the cart.  Number 27 is Aloha Waikiki Victoire Roux.


As you can see from the photos of these dolls still in their boxes, there is nothing "basic" about the actual dolls included in the 2023 Integrity Toys Basics Line.  They are all very beautiful and worthy of spots in collections.  The price is just an added bonus!



You Really Should Join The W Club - Numbers 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 of Collecting Cycle 2023

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 When someone joins the W Club there is a registration fee.  At that time, the W Club offers three membership upgrade dolls representing different lines from Integrity Toys.  There are usually Fashion Royalty, Poppy Parker, and Nuface choices.  You may add one of each to your registration with a small deposit.  It's at your discretion, so you can add one, two, or all three offerings.

For the 2023 W Club Membership Year, the designers gave us some variations on previously popular dolls.  The NuFace doll was a red haired version of Billion Dollar Baddie Alejandra Luna.  I own billion Dollar Baddie and like her quite a bit.  She was in my 2021 Year End Countdown  Number 6 of 2021 Alejandra Luna.  And last year's Varsity showed in my 2022 Countdown Number 6 of 2023 Varsity Alejandra.  Varsity Alexandra is a personal favorite in my collection.  I didn't think 2023's membership upgrade Billion Dollar Beauty was as beautiful as the two previous versions, so I opted to skip her.  Since seeing collector photos being posted, I may have to revisit that decision.

The Fashion Royalty offering was one of my favorite character molds, Eugenia Frost.   It was a variation on the 2019 Live from Fashion Week Convention doll, English Rose.  The 2023 upgrade doll was called Summer Rose and was blonde.  She reminded me of one of my very favorite versions of Eugenia, Secret Garden from 2018.  Both English Rose and Secret Garden are big fan favorites, so I felt I couldn't pass on Summer Rose.  I'm really glad I didn't because she does not disappoint in the least.

Just a stunning doll!  Number 28 of my 2023 Collecting Cycle is Summer Rose Eugenia Frost.


The Poppy Parker offering was the third variation of the peignoir set of 2016's Powder Puff (in pale blue). There was a pink version of this ensemble given to collectors at the Poppy Parker luncheon at the 2019 Live From Fashion Week Convention.  This time it showed up in yellow and the Poppy Parker wearing it in the A-Tone skin option.  Yellow is one of my favorite wardrobe colors for my dolls, so I took a chance on this one.  

Number 29 of 2023 is Lemon Lullaby Poppy Parker.  Isn't she wonderful?!


In addition to the W Club upgrade opportunities, the W Club guarantees there will be at least six "made to order" IT dolls offered to collectors over the course of the membership year.  In past years, the W Club has also offered several "Right To Buy" lotteries. 

Keeping with the theme of "variations" - Integrity Toys released a Nuface mini-capsule as "Right To Buy" lottery opportunities.  I loved every one of them and was able to acquire them all.  They are truly amazing and represent what I love about Integrity Toys dolls.

When 2019's Cool Kid Ayumi Nakamura was offered for sale, she was an easy pass for me as the screening/hair combination looked so much like previous editions.  I did purchase the complete ensemble on secondary market though.  I LOVE the ensemble!  The re-imagined version of this doll is fantastic!  The character Ayumi Nakamura was introduced by IT in 2007.  She has been through two mold revisions and has never appeared in the FR Black skin tone until Naturally Cool.  The original ensemble was blue denim and the variation is pale tan.  I am expecting this doll to hit grail status and her popularity with collectors look like that would be a very safe bet.  

Number 30 of 2023 is Naturally Cool Ayumi Nakamura!


The NuFace twins, Eden and Lilith Blair, are very popular with collectors.  We see them a lot of they are difficult to find on secondary market.   It is always a treat when they are offered together in a giftset.   The last time this happened was for the 2017 Heirloom Collection, Poetic Beauty.  Jessy Ayala, the IT designer for Nuface dolls, revisited this giftset and gave us a phenomenal variation in Poetic Interlude.  A new skin tone was created just for this collection called "blush".  The ensembles in this variation are more natural compared to the dark hues of the original.  I was excited to win the lottery to purchase this giftset at retail price!  This giftset immediately shot up in price on secondary market.

Number 31 and Number 32 of 2023 are Poetic Interlude Eden and Lilith Blair.


Also part of the 2023 Nuface mini capsule was Print it Pink Nadja Rhymes.   The print of this fabric has now been used three times.  The first time was with Checking In Colette Duranger (mold 2.0) from the 2016 IT Supermodel Convention.  It was in blue and I purchased it separately as it is extremely well made.   The print in lavender was used in 2021 for W Club Exclusive Fit To Print Nadja Rhymes.  This time we get Print it Pink Nadja Rhymes with hair similar to the 2019 NYFW doll.   Nadja is a personal favorite of mine, so this was another easy purchase for me.  

Number 33 is Print It Pink Nadja Rhymes.

IT collectors also got a mini collection from East 59th Street this year.  Constance Madssen was offered as a W Club lottery "right to buy" edition.  I was fortunate to get her at retail price.  

This ensemble is so rich and opulent.


Number 34 is Twilight in Blue Topaz Constance Madssen.  (I'm not as excited about the screening of this doll.  I think Luxurious Leisure and Wicked Glamour are better brunette versions with blue eyes and red lips.)

The other dolls were offered through Integrity Toys dealers.  (Another perk of being a member of the W Club is that members are notified of dolls being sold through dealers prior to the general public.   This gives W Club members quite an advantage as many dolls sell out completely before the public is even aware they are available to purchase.)  I really wanted the blonde Victoire Roux, but she reminded me too much of the basic version, Aloha Waikiki, that I purchased earlier this year, so I passed.  I did however get the version of Aurelia Gray (which I think is the best presentation of this mold so far).  Love the ensemble and the little mink coat so much.  


Number 35 of Collecting Cycle 2023 is Enchanting in Amethyst Aurelia Gray.

I either wouldn't have these dolls or would have to sacrifice my hard earned cash to purchase them secondary market hadn't I been a W Club member.  Keep that in mind the next time membership is open to the general public (sometime in the spring).  It's worth every cent.



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