Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Barbie BMR1959 Collection



Snipped photos of the Barbie BMR1959 Collection (BMR stands for Barbie Millicent Roberts, which is Barbie's full name).

The Barbie BMR1959 collection of six dolls wearing '90s-inspired  "streetwear" is now in stock at Barbie.Mattel.com.  First announced several months ago with only silhouette images of the dolls, I had hoped that an African American male would be included in the collection.  Unfortunately, there is not!  Mattel, please do better.  Everyone needs to be represented and so often black male dolls are omitted, erased, eliminated from collector lines.

I did order three of the six and at checkout, there was a $27.94 promotional discount.  I did not have to enter a promo code.  I am not sure how long this promotion will last.  So if you're interested in adding these to your collection, order now.

Five of the six were available at Walmart.com.

The lovely girl in the floral dress and clear BMR1959 logo'd jacket is on Amazon at the time of this post; if you're a Prime member, shipping is free.



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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Monday, October 28, 2019

As Seen on the Shelves of Walmart

My Sweet Love Playsets from Lots of Love Babies; smiling and looking curious, respectively, one has a bathtub, the other has a baby bed.

I decided to take the above and the following pictures to share here while browsing the doll aisles at Walmart. 

The first dolls that caught my eye were the mini babies and playsets, My Sweet Love dolls from the Lots to Love Babies line.  I believe Berenguer is the manufacturer.  They are all-vinyl, 5 inches tall, and have different facial expressions.  They were priced at $4.88 each.

My Sweet Love with a green and purple scooter and another with a rocking horse.

The one on the left has a baby seat with tray.

The one on the right sits in a pink infant carrier.

This close-up provides a better view of the My Sweet Love baby seated in an infant carrier.

There were other My Sweet Love Babies with different head sculpts than the ones described above.  Sold as dolls only, they have a light-brown-to-tan complexion, shown next:

These cuties were priced at $3.98 as shown.  Dressed in colorful pastel shirts and panties, they are all-vinyl with molded hair.  They share the same facial expression.

Also available were a dark- and medium-complexioned Keyara (Kenya's Baby Sister) and a dark-complexioned Sparkle and Shine Kenya.

Sparkle and Shine Kenya is shown above in a medium complexion.
Also from the Kenya line is Sparkle and Shine Styling Head Kenya.  She has a lovely head sculpt.

I checked to see if the 18-inch My Life [cancer] Survivor doll was there, but none were in stock.  The following three My Life dolls were available.

My Life as an Everyday Girl and My life as Class President
My Life as a Vlogger
There were three different Princess Tiana dolls seen.  I almost regret not getting the mini-doll...
and/or the one on the far left above.  They are Comfy Squad Tiana (she has a kooky expression), Royal Shimmer Tiana, and Petite Tiana (the mini-doll that is about 4 to 5 inches tall).  If she's still there, I will probably bring her home the next time I shop (but there were only two!).

Sparkle Girlz fashions priced at $1.97 each
I sifted through the above Sparkle Girlz fashion display box and picked out the following for myself... I mean for my Barbie-sized dolls with slender bodies. 

A one-piece dress with dark pink bodice and multicolored straight skirt includes a pair of pink mules; and a one-piece dress with a red knit bodice, white collar and cuffs, denim skirt, and silver box purse.

On the left, a green/orange/tan top pairs well with an ombre-green separate skirt and red high heels; white blouse with embroidered neckline and flared sleeves and Aztec patterned leggings and a red handbag are on the right.

I also saw the #Snapstar dolls, one of which I purchased months ago but returned.  A few #Snapstar wigs were available.  I purchased a red one for one of my other dolls to wear if needed.  The wig was $4 and change.

The wig looks great in the box graphics.

The wig quality, unfortunately, is poor.  The ends are quite rough and uneven.  It sheds when combed.  The very thin plastic wig stand and comb were included.

This image was taken from the back after I combed through the wig to remove most of the loose fibers.

This wig fits LIV Alexis well, but she opted to return to her own wig as seen here with #Snapstar doll I returned months ago. 
There were lots of Barbies on Walmart's shelves along with the holiday Barbies (white and black versions), which I forgot to photograph. 

**********

A few weeks ago, my husband called me from Wal-Mart, all excited about a "black Barbie in a wheelchair" and a "boy with plastic cornrows," wanting to know if I wanted them.  I was hesitant about the wheelchair Barbie (because I just like dolls and have no room for accessories, none), but I did want cornrowed Ken, which is actually the same doll as Classic Cool.  The newer version has a deeper complexion.  He talked me into getting Fashionista #133.  "Your collection needs to include unique dolls.  This doll even has a ramp."   I said, "Alright! Get that one, too."

So here they are, Fashionista #133 and #130.

Fashionista #133 shares the same head sculpt (and hairstyle) as Fashionista #80 (Cheerful Check).  Dressed in a multicolored striped blouse with cold shoulders, denim pants, and low-top white sneakers, she wears silver shades on her head.  Her hair is styled in two Afro puffs.  Her multiple points of articulation allow her to sit in her turquoise wheelchair with ease.  Her wheelchair ramp is Barbie pink. 

Fashionista #130 will have a makeover of his cornrows as soon as he is released from the box and as soon as time permits (probably not before the Thanksgiving holiday or Christmas break).  He wears a black and white jersey with the number 4 on the front.  Los Angeles is repeated around the hemline of the jersey.    Light blue denim pants and low-top white sneakers complete his casual look.


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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

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Friday, October 25, 2019

New Playscale Dolls, Cheap Thrills


W Superstars Naomi
I am not into wrestling, but I am into playscale dolls.  When  I saw W Superstars Naomi on Amazon for $9.99, I ordered.  The doll had been $19.99.


The 12-inch multi-articulated doll represents professional wrestler and dancer, Trinity LaShawn Fatu, who is signed to World Wrestling Entertrainment, Inc. and performs under the name, Naomi.

The doll has black rooted hair with green hair layered underneath.  Her brown eyes are painted.  She has a smiling mouth with the appearance of teeth.


Naomi comes dressed in a multicolored jumpsuit that replicates one worn by the professional wrestler.  She wears black boots.


There is an additional outfit consisting of a light blue sleeveless dress that has a full skirt and a pair of tan high-heel ankle boots.   

Naomi's extra pair of tan boots are shown above.
The graphics on the back of the box show Naomi wearing both fashions.  In this image, the doll looks more like Jennifer Hudson, especially the smile.
******
These are Barbie clones found on Aliexpress and Amazon; the one on the far right is not the doll I ordered*.

Even cheaper playscale thrills were achieved with these three dolls.  Two were found on Aliexpress and the other was found on Amazon.

The Amazon seller sent the incorrect doll (the doll on the far right).  This doll has the same face as one of the Aliexpress dolls (the doll in the middle).  Their complexions differ slightly and their hairstyles are completely different.   The middle doll is not articulated underneath the breasts.  The dolls on the far left and far right are articulated under the breast area.  All have the usual five points of articulation.  Additional articulation is at the elbows, wrists, and knees.  The ankles are not articulated.  The dolls were all under $6 including shipping.

The downside to these dolls is that the sellers are in China.  They use small packets (thin-plastic envelope) shipping without bubble wrap.  The chances of getting a damaged doll are high.  If the doll isn't broken, there may be scratches on the vinyl.   I don't recommend ordering from Aliexpress or from any seller who ships dolls that are not protected from potential damage, but if you just need a cheap doll thrill and cannot find a doll in the states, it's worth the risk.

As can be seen in the photo of the three dolls above and in the next photo, the middle doll's complexion is not as tan as the doll's on the right.  The doll with the deepest complexion appears to be a My Scene Jai clone.

Dressed and posed

I have redressed the Jai clone and dressed the other two.  The middle doll and the doll on the far right are dressed in Sparkle Girlz fashions.  The Jai clone wears a dress made for Barbie/Integrity Toys fashion dolls.  The shoes from left-to-right are by Mattel, an unknown China maker, and Mattel.

They pose individually in the next three photos.

The dressed Jai clone

Dressed Barbie clone with lighter-than-expected complexion

Not the doll I ordered, this curly redhead has the same head sculpt as the doll above and the doll seen here.
*A doll with this head sculpt with auburn hair and this complexion is what I was supposed to receive from the Amazon seller, who sent the tan-skinned curly redhead instead.  While writing this post, I checked Aliexpress (just to find a picture of the above doll).  This is the picture I found and the doll I ordered after finding the picture. (I had no plans to order, but I successfully enabled myself).  Here's hoping that the seller sends the correct doll and that it is not damaged upon its small packets arrival, which can take up to a month to arrive from China.


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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

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Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Blue-Eyed Brown Doll Made in Italy


A 1950s brown doll with blue eyes made in Italy (the seller took such fabulous pictures that I took the liberty of snipping a few into the above collage).

I know at least two people who own a doll like the one shown here.  I had wanted to add one to my collection of 1950s hard plastic black dolls and had been searching the Internet off and on whenever the thought of the doll crossed my mind.  That happened recently.  I searched eBay for "1950s Black Doll Italy" where a very similar doll (shown above and below) was found that I think is just as lovely.


My doll is 17-inches tall with blue sleep eyes that are not flirty.  I believe the coveted doll is 18 inches and was offered with blue or brown flirty eyes, dressed in a multicolored striped two-piece fashion of top and skirt.



My lovely doll is dressed in tribal clothes of burnt orange V-shaped cloth bodice, raffia skirt, and red satin undies.  The gold and black threaded ribbons that crisscross her feet are attached to red felt on her soles to form sandals.


Some of the threads from the sandal straps are missing.  

She wears cloth flower earrings.  The same flowers accent her upswept hair.

Her tribal fashion and upswept hair (made from black mohair) are shown from the back.

Isn't she lovely?

My girl wears a gold elasticized necklace and has a working cryer.  The seller attributed the doll to Ratti Dolls of Italy.  Ratti did make similar dolls, but being unmarked, I am unable to confirm that Ratti made her.  I am thrilled the thoughts of the other doll crossed my mind at just the right time leading me to her.


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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

Thank you for following, commenting, and sharing using the share button below.

Check out what I am selling here
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Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
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Monday, October 21, 2019

Shop for boy dolls, baby dolls, rag dolls, black dolls, biracial dolls – Best Dolls For Kids

Shop for boy dolls, baby dolls, rag dolls, black dolls, biracial dolls – Best Dolls For Kids

In response to my post on Where to Buy Black Dolls, I received a message from the Pattycake Doll Company regarding their mobile- and tablet-user-friendly site devoted to dolls for children.  I have revised my previous post Where to Buy Black Dolls to include the link to their new site and have also included a few other sites of interest.  Happy Shopping!


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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________


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Check out what I am selling here

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Friday, October 18, 2019

Heidi Ott Miniature Dolls x2


This miniature doll by Heidi Ott arrived in a cotton-lined gift box.

After Heidi Ott left the full-scale doll world several years ago, she began making miniature dolls and accessories (dollhouse scale).  For years, I had wanted to add at least one Heidi Ott miniature doll to my collection.  Within the past month, I have acquired two.

Kia Arrived First

Kia by Heidi Ott

Representing a teen, Kia is a 4-inch resin doll with a cloth body.  She wears a green dress that has a multicolored (green/orange/yellow) crisscross fabric overlay.  A matching bead-accented headwrap covers her black yarn hair.  She wears a beaded necklace.

The headwrap has gold-tone hoops attached.  Kia has brown painted eyes.    


A beaded bracelet adorns her left wrist.
The bead-embellished straps of her sandals are made of the same fabric that was used for the dress. 
 
A doll stand was included.
Miniature Crawling Baby

Crawling miniature baby by Heidi Ott is made of resin with a stuffed knit body.

The 2-1/2-inch crawling baby arrived nude as shown above.  The baby has painted brown hair and eyes.  On the same day of purchase, a pink crocheted outfit made for Heidi Ott miniature dolls was found.  The baby is shown in the final two photos wearing her crocheted clothes.



The outfit includes a bonnet, dress, and booties.  I need to shorten the ribbon ends of her bonnet, but I am glad the seller left the ribbons long enough to be tied in a bow.  The patience required to crochet something to fit a doll so small amazes me.  I am even more amazed by Heidi Ott's ability to sculpt these dolls with such detailed precision.


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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

Thank you for following, commenting, and sharing using the share button below.

Check out what I am selling here
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Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
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