Dolls in Paradise

Vogue Black Barbie issue...

2011-05-08T22:05:00.001-06:00

I really enjoyed looking at all 142 pages of this great Vogue Barbie magazine that is available on the Vogue Italia website. Just click this post's title and you will get to the magazine. Enjoy!!

Riley and The Toy Shop Fiasco

2010-08-04T22:32:00.000-06:00

It was the day of the dress rehearsal and Riley had just performed beautifully. Her eyes had sparkled as she heard the rush of audience approval. Never before had Riley felt the vibration of several hundred people applauding. She would never really be the same.

But for now, let 's follow along with her as she insists on wearing her ballet costume, including her tutu, on the drive home from dress rehearsal. Mom felt sure it really would not hurt anything. The costume had to be washed fresh for Sunday afternoon's performance and Riley was certain that her life would come crashing down if she had to put on the jeans and t-shirt she had worn to rehearsal.

There was something about that applauding. It made Riley think she might never take off that costume (and we have been here before with Little Miss who can get "clothes fixated" and refuse to give up her garments even when stained or much too small.)

But this evening, Riley and mom crawled into the car and instead of heading home, mom drove straight to the doll store where she had a surprise for Miss Riley. Right after Christmas, mom had put a precious baby doll and cradle on lay-a-way. Today was the day of the last payment, just as mom had planned. She wanted to reward Riley for all the hard work put in to "be a ballerina".

At the store, mom rushed up to the counter to make the last payment and collect the booty. Riley, quite a good girl, was permitted to roam the store on her own.

Then it happened.

A beautiful, peaceful angel stood looking down at Riley. Riley felt like she was in heaven.

She got up as close as she could reach. Riley could hardly believe her eyes.

Riley called to her mom, "Mom, look, it's an angel."

But mom barely took a good look at the divine angel before she wisked Riley off to get her mind off this angel doll.

Right then, mom decided she better show Riley her surprise right now. She could keep the crib hidden until Sunday and it would be two great surprises. So, right there in the store, mom showed Riley her new baby doll, Lisa. Now you must know that Riley loves baby dolls. She has a wonderful nursery full of various baby dolls and their clothes and toys, bottles and beds, rockers and rollers, cribs and cubbies.

And Riley did love little Lisa. And Riley did think baby Lisa had the most beautiful eyes. And Riley loved the precious little lacey bonnet and the amazingly gorgeous, embroidered and lacey white dress. In fact, on a normal day, Riley would be the happiest girl in the world. And she was trying to be that happy girl.

Riley waited patiently for mom to come back so they could put little Baby Lisa back on the shelf -- Riley needed to get back over to that Angel. Riley had already named her Ariel and she knew that Ariel was not going to last over there. Riley was afraid someone else would scoop Beautiful Ariel right up and take her flying home with them.

Riley waited some more, a little less patiently, and finally mom came back and Riley asked her to please put the baby back on the shelf. Mom was shocked into silence.

Riley ran back to her Ariel and made a display not really much like a ballerina, in fact, not really much like Little Miss Riley.

Right then, mom knew she better pull out all the guns. She decided that she would show Riley the cradle to sweeten the deal. (Oh, dear, never did mom realize when she placed that lay-a-way that the "delivery" would be so painful.)

Riley did what mom asked and came back over to see the lovely cradle where Baby Lisa would sleep, right next to Riley's big girl bed. And Riley tried to love the cradle, too.

Then suddenly Riley put the baby in her crib and ran back over to protect her angel.

But soon mom was back and she was insisting that Riley leave the angel because the baby had a cradle and Riley would certainly like that better and be more happy later.... Riley had always wanted that dark, walnut cradle that matched her own big girl furniture.

But before much insisting could be done, Riley "proved" to mom this Angel was the best doll for Riley. Riley called out, "Look, mom, this Angel can have a chair." "This chair is just like my big girl chair." "Look, mom!"

Oh, dear... what was mom going to do. Riley saw mom "get that look" and Riley knew that the Angel was going to have to stay with Mrs. Michele at the store.

Then Riley pulled out her own set of big guns.

"Mom, Ariel can help me take care of Little Baby Lisa!"

But mom was still thinking of how much she had spent on the baby doll and the crib and how she really could not "undo" that when Riley made the "fate complete".

"Mom, please mom, Ariel is an angel. Grandma told me that any time I saw an angel, I could ask her to take my kisses to grandpa." "We have to get Ariel, she can make my kisses fly to grandpa!!!!!"

"Baby Lisa has to wait. Some new momma will come by to love her. I do love her, but kisses to grandpa.... Ariel.... Ariel is an angel, please, mom ..... can we take her home?"

Mom wiped the tears from her eyes and pulled out her wallet. Riley, Ariel, Baby Lisa, the cradle and the rocking chair all went home to Riley's big girl room that night.

Isn't it amazing how they can be so small and yet still wrap us around their tiny fingers.

Let's take a tour of the color red.

2009-12-31T03:51:00.010-07:00

My doll collection is eclectic to some degree. Here are examples of various dolls - Red is the theme.

Let's start with Gene Marshall. Gene did not give birth to my love of dolls but Gene did give me "permission" to begin to collect these objects of my desires.

Doll Shopping

Gene repainted and coiffed by Mark Middendorf. Outfit, Robert Tonner for Tyler Wentworth.

Well, why am I ready to apologize for putting another Gene doll in this post? LOL, it is my blog... Gene repainted by David Wolfe and wearing Simply Parisian by DAE.

Here Gene, Simply Platinum, takes on the 60s wearing part of a Daisy and Willow outfit called King's Road.

Let's stay in the realm of the 16 inch fashion doll. Robert Tonner's Casual Jac is doing her usual thing, playing music.

These are beautiful instruments that I sell at the dollymall, I have them in various scales, no pun intented. The lounge chair is from Boyd's Bears.

Robert Tonner is also the sculptor and producer of this 11 inch fashion doll, Tiny Kitty. This TK is an exclusive from some convention. I bought her from a friend who dressed her in this red kimono. I love it.

And in this next photo you can see that my gorgeous CED Dance Card Constance is also admiring Robert's precious Tiny Kitty. Constance is a creation of Doug James. It looks like she is doll shopping.

In the summer of 2006, I was blessed with the beautiful sisters Ryung, Soah, and Sooah. These gorgeous BJDs (Ball Jointed Dolls) are 60cm of fabulous resin. The dolls are sculpted by Rainman for elfdoll from Korea. I was very wise and bought all three sisters that summer. Today it is nearly impossible to find these gorgeous dolls. This is Ryung, who is draped in one of my hand painted silks.

Here is sister Sooah wearing a red Faith wig available in many colors at the dollymall.

Sooah proudly showing off her El Paso tote.

At 23 inches tall, these BJDs have such a presence. Here Soah, the youngest of the three sisters who must be borrowing her big sister's Faith wig in Red, is wearing clothing designed for the 18" play dolls that represent little girls about ten years old. Funny how an adult body changes the look of the outfits.

Well, let's move on to the little girls and see how they like to use red... this is Helen Kish's Zsu Zse. In this family, Zsu Zse is the painter -- in honor of my mother, Thelma. Zsu Zse is 8 inches tall. I sell the little gingham bears, by World of Miniature Bears, at the dollymall, and ZZ only pretends that she has painted them. We believe in dreaming around here.

Zsu Zse (above) is part of the Riley Kish world by Helen Kish. Riley is also 8 inches tall. She is adorable. In this photo, Riley is outside playing on the lawn swing that Aunt Rita sent to us. Riley is wearing a size 4-5 version of the Faith wig that you have seen above on big girls Sooah and Soah. Riley's sweater is from a designer in Europe.

The World of Miniature Bears Golly wants you to notice that he is wearing a red jacket, tie, shoes and button...AND gingham trousers!! He and Riley's precious red shoes and wig are all for sale at the dollymall.

Here is Contempo Zsu Zse who is articulated and 8 inches of precious vinyl. She is a doll collector too (who isn't?) and she is playing with her Lil Red. The precious little World of Miniature Bears 3 inch doll is available (only three left as of 12/09) at the dollymall. Note the red gingham table cloth... is there a theme?

Here's Riley...Halloween 2008

Two more Helen Kish dolls are part of the Kish family. Jada is 8 inches tall and her little sister Jessamyn is about 3ish inches tall... notice the swing... sweet memories of Samuel Gagermeier...and a gift. The rag dolls are wearing the red too!

The rag dolls and many more like them are available at the dollymall. Hee, hee, hee....the tiny stick pony is also decked out in red...the pony and the red bear are available at the dollymall, who knew?!

Another little girl who lives here is Georgia. Georgia is 10 inches tall. She is part of the Ann Estelle line of Mary Englebreit dolls by Robert Tonner. The two inch difference is scale between Riley and Georgia is huge in doll world and Georgia cannot play with Zsu Zse or Riley. But she can play with another Tonner doll...the American Model who is 23 inches tall.

Hey, her couch is red.... and besides, she gets to play mom to Georgia, whose outfit of red cherries and red gingham was purchased from a private designer.

Since we are talking scale and little girls, let's stay with the little girls for one more doll, Miss Lola Jeanne Stinkerbean. She would like to introduce herself and her dolls.

Lola Jeanne (Jeanne is my dear sister Rita's middle name) is a resin BJD, 10cm tall...that is less than four inches. She is wearing Bratz tiny clothes and "demonstrating" her impressive doll collection which is miniature scale, one inch to the foot. She can also wear Mattel Kelly clothing. (And she does!!!!) Please note that the teenyist, tiniest doll in the little blue bed has red hair, LOL

Rebel in deed!!

And before we end this post, let's look at another really tiny doll - I mean he is wearing gingham! He is true miniature scale.

Miniature clown by Rita Jeanne Mowrey - my sweet sister designed this precious one inch tall clown and sells him as a kit on her website, A Rainbow's End. She made my redhead for me, because she loves me and she knows that my kits stay kits.

This little guy lives in my dollhouse. He is in the bathroom on a dressing table. He wants you to note that the bear in the mirror is red...or is that der?

We are getting bigger again....back to the 16 inch fashion doll by Robert Tonner. Friday Foster Finds Christmas and Joy. Friday is wearing an outfit from the early Doris Mixon collections.

This beauty is by Robert Tonner, the Queen of Hearts ... her hair is thermal reactive and turns a dark red when it is cold. Right now it is hot... red hot! She is wearing a kimono by Vickie Rubie - one of many in my collection.

Now Gene, by Mel Odom, is reminding me that she started it all for me... so she brings this round to a close... forever perfect in a photofunia version of a Gene Marilyn repaint by the talented and gracious Helen Skinner.

Kali - a Gene repaint by the reknown artist, joy

Bringer of joy...

Singer of joy...

The End

Is just the Beginning

Miss Lunt brings joy to the season & Carmen's families inspire my heart.

2009-12-29T15:40:00.010-07:00

David Hutton is a story teller and over the years he has given us such wonderful characters as Miss Lunt. She is full of wit and wisdom. There are many of us who wait and wait to hear word from Miss Lunt.

Many a Christmas is made more merry by these wonderful dolls, Nana and Family, and the stories and photographs of David Hutton.

My own Christmas Nana is quite the homebody, not at all like Miss Lunt, who has been going out to work all these many years.

My Victoria Prudence Winsley can also set a soft Christmas spell.

And I receive such joy when I see great photos like these that Carmen posted on the fabulous doll board Riley Hugs and Kishes to show us her families all dressed for Christmas. I feel like I am in such great company as I enjoy these images and the soft and loving Christmas moments and memories.

And to add to my fun, the pups in these pictures are from the dollymall.

Merry Christmas

Judith Markich designs

2009-09-20T14:09:00.000-06:00

Then Judith Dorsman, Judith Markich, was a costume designer during a resurgence of the Australian Film Industry and designed for many Australian films including Picnic at Hanging Rock. She started her training in a dress design course. Her desire to do more than fashion design led her quickly to the film industry. This became her career in life.

Judith discovered the 16" fashion doll several years ago. There was even a doll that looked like Miranda from Picnic at Hanging Rock. She participated in Project Dollway and her blog lets you get an insiders view of the process. Pop on over to Judith's blog to learn more and see many fun pictures.

If you would like to see even more photos of Judith's doll designs, spend some time in her airess20 thirty albums. Each is dedicated to a particular competition entry.

It is fun to see the silhouettes and the sketches.

Remember to click the links to Judith's blog and her albums. Enjoy

Doll scale magazines for you to print.

2009-09-12T22:49:00.005-06:00

Let's start with a caveat. Printer ink can quickly and "eternally" stain a doll. Use these magazines for props aroung the "dolls' house" and only allow the dolls to "read" the magazines for a few minutes of picture taking. Depending on the ink you purchase, you may not need to be that quick on the camera. But Dolls in Paradise takes no responsibility...so use your own discretion.

I love cats. Now that is a fact. So in April 2008, when making other magazines in my teaching of fashion promotion students, suddenly Kittylicious was born. It was late one night and I had been making six issues of Fine Fibers and I was tired... but when I finished, I was suddenly making one more magazine. I love Kittylicious. I feel sure I will keep making future issues. Maybe one day I will even write some of the articles inside.

Click on the image to print. Click on the post title to go to the magazine cover maker. Enjoy!!

Paradise is a DOLL

2009-09-05T03:54:00.000-06:00

Are you going swimming this weekend? Well, before you take the plunge jump to the right and answer my poll (not pool) question!! Have a safe and happy Labor Day holiday. You can really never have too many holidays.

Wow! I have missed this blog!!

2009-09-03T21:57:00.003-06:00

This post title has a link to the Fashionnation1on1 blog on Wordpress. That blog has been taking most of my "blogtime" and I have not had time to play here. I look forward to playing here on Dolls In Paradise this weekend. Monday is a holiday!!!!!

Ellowyne is holding a Naripon, Pansy - who goes by the name Miss Lola Jeanne Stinkerbean in the dollymall world. Miss Stinkerbean usually tries to wear a crown, or at least a tiara... but today, she is "nekid" as a blue jay. Isn't she cute.

Look at this cute website where MLJS wants me to shop for her shoes and boots!

http://www.rosapalomino.com/forsale_tiny.htm

Mei Li honors me by wearing my handpainted silks.

2009-08-05T20:30:00.007-06:00

Mei Li is by Robert Tonner as a part of the Tyler Wentworth line. Mei Li has been retired for a few years and she still remains very popular.

Mei Li, who is 16" tall, is "wearing" a human scale dress that I handpainted. I so wanted to dress my dolls in my handpainted silks, so Mei Li kindly allowed me to drap her in my silks.

Jan McLean dolls...there is a time to act.

2009-08-05T12:12:00.005-06:00

I am so happy that I have Jan McLean dolls in my collection. I do not have this beauty, Nikita, but I have 10 or 11 of Jan's other gorgeous dolls.

Sometimes it does not pay to "put off until tomorrow". Jan is currently not producing these dolls and I know from having them on my website www.dollymall.com that customers are still clamoring for Jan's dolls.

Maybe one day Jan will honor us again.

In the meantime, enjoy Nikita.

Marilyn Can Help

2009-08-05T03:26:00.002-06:00

Marilyn is a Gene repaint by Helen Skinner. If I can help you learn more about dolls, let me know.

Some kids have all the fun... click this title to go to Riley Hugs and Kishes doll board.

2009-08-05T03:05:00.005-06:00

Look at the time, how can I stay up all night playing dolls and blogging? Well, Riley must have her due. Riley is by Helen Kish. Really Riley is my magazine tribute to this little sweetie. Click for a larger version of the mags.

I love a good magazine.

2009-08-05T02:57:00.003-06:00

Have a look at these magazine covers. Gene Amour is my tribute to the doll that opened my eyes and awakened me to the reality of doll collecting as the best hobby for me.

Remember to click for the fantastic larger versions.

How much fun is it?

2009-08-05T02:45:00.002-06:00

Remember to click my post titles. This title link will take you to Big Hugs Labs where you can do fun things like this. Enjoy!!!

Jazzy shows her versatility. This title is a link...check it out.

2009-08-04T20:40:00.003-06:00

Andy would approve.

One of my favorite templates.

Jazzy is helping me with my last entry for today. A few more examples of the Photofunia craziness that I enjoy.

Jazzy, Wanted Dead or Alive

Miss Lola Jeanne Stinkerbean and her Inaugural Stamp.

2009-08-04T20:36:00.002-06:00

Inaugural Issues of the MLJS stamp have been found in the archives of the Living BJD Museum.

Miss Lola Jeanne Stinkerbean and her old book...showing her Great-Great Grandfather

2009-08-04T20:29:00.003-06:00

The title of this post, which is also a link to Photofunia, gives you the idea that Lola's GGGrandfather was indeed... yes, you guessed it....A Toy Soldier!!

Riley in the Rain

2009-08-04T20:07:00.005-06:00

Here is a shot of Riley Kish, who is adorning the late night walk home. Have you played with Photofunia.com? It is a fun website where you can pull your own pictures into a scene.

This is the picture I cropped to use to pull into Photofunia. com

Here Riley and Pippi enjoy their puppy love without the bother of the rain.

This photo of Helen Kish dolls Riley and Pippi with their puppies has been pulled onto the billboard.

I love the feeling of the rainy night. The dolls don't feel a thing...safe, warm, and puppies galore.

Jazzy Approves

2009-07-29T01:36:00.003-06:00

Jazzy is an Ellowyne Wilde repainted by Pam Doll Jazzz - and Pam GAVE the doll to me. Jazzy was a prize for posting on Elloywne's Ennui. If you would like to visit Ellowyne's Ennui click the title of this post and you "will arrive".

Have you learned about doll boards? Doll boards are so much fun. You really get to know many people and make great friends.

Ellowyne Wilde is a sculpt by Robert Tonner for Wilde Imagination. If you love Ellowyne you know about her serious ennui and her inability to "get a thrill" from Champagne, or anything for that matter.

Enjoy this version of Ellowyne. Thanks so much to Pam for bringing Jazzy into my life.

Miss Lola Jeanne Stinkerbean and her toy furniture

2009-07-27T19:30:00.003-06:00

Miss Lola Jeanne Stinkerbean

This little lady has it all... charm, personality and lots of toys.

I think she is hoping to play with Metric.

She is about 3 inches tall. Her fans are only 1 inch tall.

Lola is a NotDoll BJD (Ball Jointed Doll), Pansy. The bears and bunnies are World of Miniature Bears.

One day at a photoshoot...

2009-07-27T19:23:00.001-06:00

NariPon - hereafter called Miss Lola Jeanne Stinkerbean has a few pictures of her adventures.

More of the same....

2009-07-27T19:01:00.001-06:00

How do I love thee, let me count the ways.

Who wants to see more dolls?

2009-07-24T20:06:00.000-06:00

Here are a few of the beauties I love.

Along came Gene Marshall

2009-07-24T19:53:00.000-06:00

Do you think it is crazy to chant for people to "dress their dolls"? Well, that is what I started to do in about 1994. I felt that young people were losing the chance to learn to sew because parents were not teaching the children to sew for their dolls.

My prayers came true in spades. Gene Marshall hit the scene in the mid-90s and everyone started to sew and bead and knit and crochet and make jewelry, furniture, dioramas and more.

When did it all start?

2009-07-24T19:41:00.000-06:00

I recall how happy I was when I first subscribed to Doll Reader magazine. Back then, in the 1980s, the magazine was luxuriously thick and the paper was magnificent. My sister, Lois, still has those copies. They are nothing like the current Doll Reader magazine.

You have to come all the way to the past few years to find anything near it in the world of American doll magazines. I would say Haute Doll and Fashion Doll Quarterly are the best of today's doll magazines.

Here, check out FDQ
http://www.fdqmedia.com/

And also take a look at Haute Doll
http://www.hautedoll.com/about.php

Day One - A new day for Dolls in Paradise

2009-07-24T19:29:00.000-06:00

Knowing where to start is always the hardest thing. I cannot possibly start at the beginning. I learned to love dolls before I could talk, walk, or read.

I have been reading and studying about dolls since I was young. At that time, it was almost impossible to find many books on dolls. Most doll books back then were "how-to" books on making cloth dolls - then called "Rag Dolls".

I did make some rag dolls - one very special doll was for my son, Joshua, when he was tiny. My dear (long departed) Linda knotted the yarns for the great Afro hair. The doll was made to allow Joshua to learn how to button, zip, snap, tie and buckle. Although all of the clothing opened by these various mechanisms, none of the clothing came off the doll. It was a perfect set up for a child to learn these skills. I think I may redesign that doll some day. It would be a joy for me. This doll of my design came before Dressy Bessy - in fact, it came from the love of a mother for her son.

And here is a picture of the "little tyke" for whom the doll was lovingly made.