Straight and Narrow Neema by Robert Tonner is a 2022 Virtual Doll Convention Better Together Pop-up event exclusive.
Straight and Narrow (S&N) Neema is just as lovely as the counter images shared by Robert Tonner in a YouTube Video in February of this year. In a collaboration with Rachel Hoffman, the doll was sold at the 2022 Virtual Doll Convention (VDC). I had my mind set on ordering this version after viewing Tonner's video of the four Neemas that would be introduced at the convention. I thought to myself, limited edition or not, I'm going to get that doll! So I named her and claimed her as mine the moment I saw her.
Her packaged red boots and doll stand were attached to the box liner.
The poem card has an illustration of S&N Neema.
After Neema arrived, I took several pictures and recorded her details in my Excel doll inventory workbook. Some of the workbook information is copied below:
Description: Straight and Narrow Neema is 1 of 4 Neemas offered exclusively at the 2022 Virtual Doll Convention Better Together Pop-up Event. This 16-inch all-vinyl articulated fashion doll has six squared-off rooted dark-brown braids (the front two are wired), dark brown painted eyes with applied upper eyelashes, and a closed pouty mouth with coral lip color on full lips. S&N Neema wears a coral cotton-knit jumper, and a light pink long-sleeved turtleneck bodysuit. Accessories include fire-engine red high-heel, lace-up boots, and big gold-tone hoop earrings for her pre-pierced ears. In addition to the five usual areas of articulation, S&N Neema is articulated underneath the breast area, at the elbows, wrists, and knees. A poem card, an Ellowyne Wilde wrist tag, and a doll stand are included.
Other: Made in a limited edition of 150 dolls and sold exclusively at the 2022 Virtual Doll Convention on August 27, 2022, at 6 p.m. Mountain Time, Straight and Narrow Neema sold out within 24 hours! My order was placed at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time!
Neema's Photos continued (she posed for several!)
I used a thumbtack to finish piercing Neema's ears before putting in the gold-tone hoop earrings, which would not go in before I did this.
The gold-tone hoops inserted easily after I enlarged the earlobe holes.
She struck her first "free-from-the-box" pose.
Another pose
I removed the jumper to examine the pink bodysuit and Neema continued posing.
Neema's two front-wired braids were fashioned into a bow. As illustrated here, the jumper can be worn with or without the bodysuit.
One strap of the jumper fell as I was photographing her, so I left it off her shoulder.
The other four braids are not wired.
Upon arrival, the buckles of Neema's jumper straps were in the back instead of the front. I left them in the back until the last pictures were taken.
With the bodysuit back on and the buckles of the jumper straps moved to the front, posing resumed.
Next, I created flat knots with the two wired braids.
I could tell that she preferred the knotted braids.
We went outside and took additional pictures in the sunlight.
Isn't she gorgeous?
She's a deep thinker.
Back inside, Straight and Narrow Neema was placed on display with Life's a Beach Neema and the six Lizette dolls that preceded them.
S&N Neema is with her BFF LaB Neema and six different Lizettes (along with a few others).
A closer view of the crew reveals the fearless and fashionable leader.
******
As I was editing these pictures, I noticed how similar the shape of S&N Neema's lips are to Diana Ross's. Neema's lips are fuller, but the shape is very similar as illustrated in the last photo with a vintage photo of Diana Ross inserted.
There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
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The shipping box of Life's a Beach Neema includes the doll's style number.
As announced in a previous blog post, four new 16-inch fashion dolls by Robert Tonner named Neema would be offered at the 2022 Virtual Doll Convention (VDC) Better Together Pop-up Event. Neema is a new edition to the Ellowyne Wilde line. Four versions were, in fact, offered in ultra-limited editions.
Because I felt the dolls would sell out quickly (and they did, within 24 hours with Life's a Beach Neema achieving a record sellout time of under 10 minutes!), I sat at my computer with my browser open on the URL of the VDC page so I could order my desired doll. I kept refreshing the page until the sale commenced at 6 p.m. Mountain Time on August 27th. I was swift! My first order was confirmed at 6:00 p.m. MDT.
Life's a Beach Neema offers a sneak peek.
There was only one Neema that I had my eyes on initially, but I ended up purchasing two. This blog post and the attached video feature Life's a Beach Neema. (I had no plans of ordering this doll, but in the spur of the heated moment after completing the order for the one I really desired, I went back and snatched up this girl at 6:01 p.m MDT!) She arrived a day before the Neema that I ordered first because all single orders for this doll were processed first.
She is absolutely gorgeous!
View Life's a Beach Neema's presentation in the following video. A separate post about my other Neema will follow.
There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.
If you're not already a subscriber, visit, "like" and follow the Black Doll Collecting Facebook page or bookmark the Black Doll Collecting home page and visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays when typically new posts are published.
I am thrilled to share registration information and a sneak peek at dolls that will be available at the Virtual Doll Convention (VDC) "Better Together" Pop-up event (an online event). Registration for the convention begins on August 15, 2022, and the convention runs from August 26 - August 28, 2022.
Four versions of Robert Tonner's new doll, Neema, and the reintroduction of Ellowyne Wilde, as illustrated in photographs and detailed descriptions shared by VDC organizer and host, Rachel Hoffman, will be available for participants to purchase.
Neema
"Life's a Beach" Neema
“Life’s a Beach” Neema
Behold the utterly fabulous “Life’s a Beach” basic Neema! Basic, you say? We are not sure of that! Neema’s long, luxuriously soft, wavy hair looks windblown and is perfect for creative styling. Neema’s short and ever-so-sassy sky-blue and white striped romper boasts three to-scale decorative buttons down the front, a cotton canvas belt with gold tone buckle, and white high-heeled sandals. Long, flirty eyelashes add even more depth to Neema’s sable-colored eyes.
"Shining Example" Neema
“Shining Example” Neema
Evocative of Yves Saint Laurent’s Spring-Summer 1967 African Collection, “Shining Example” Neema is a sight to behold and a must in any fashion doll collection! A silk little black dress peeks from underneath a sensationally luxurious black net overdress embroidered with abandon in copper and honey-colored sequins and beads. Statement-making beaded necklaces and bracelets augment the glow, while sexy black faux patent leather boots play foil to this fashion extravaganza. Marcel waves and soft curls create a hairstyle sophisticated yet playful. Black eyelashes emphasize the serenity of Neema’s gaze.
"Straight and Narrow" Neema
“Straight and Narrow” Neema
Cause a girl has every right to rock the block, “Straight and Narrow” Neema arrives in a coral soft-as-silk cotton-knit jumper that’s hugging her every curve. An ultra-versatile light pink long sleeved turtleneck lets Neema keep her cool in case it turns chilly, while her fire-engine red, high heeled, lace-up boots communicate that Neema is going places. Big gold tone hoops add restrained bling. “Straight and Narrow” Neema debuts a rooted plaited hairstyle boasting wires in each braid, an open invitation for hair play! Eyelashes, long and dark, finish the urban vibe look.
"Charmed I'm Sure" Neema
“Charmed, I’m Sure” Neema
Unadulterated and undiluted glamour is what “Charmed, I’m Sure” Neema is all about. And to be frank, we were not expecting anything but from the creative mind of Robert Tonner for his very first Neema doll in a formal gown. The one-shoulder bodice of silk shantung is appliquéd with embroidered and beaded lace. A billowing skirt of cut-to-look-like-feathers yarn adds textural balance and is made for dancing the evening away! Pink net gauntlet gloves receive the same embroidered and beaded appliqued treatment as the bodice. Pendant earrings of pink-champagne faceted beads drop elegantly from Neema’s ears. Two braided buns crown the side-gathered, long haired rooted hairstyle. Velvety-black eyelashes, of course!
Ellowyne Wilde
"Earning Her Stripes" Ellowyne Wilde
“Earning Her Stripes” Ellowyne Wilde
Warm weather versatility is what “Earning Her Stripes” Ellowyne Wilde is all about. The three main pieces of this mini-wardrobe VDC exclusive dressed doll allow Ellowyne to enjoy a morning of sightseeing in a linen-textured striped shorts and blouse combo. As the sun sets, Ello adds a matching wide skirt and she’s ready to welcome friends by the pool. Accessories include a brown leatherette belt with cooper engraved buckle and matching high-heeled sandals. A magnificent trio (it’s a recurring theme here!) of necklaces made with a glorious diversity of faceted stones as well as gold beads makes “Earning Her Stripes” a veritable treat for all fans of Ellowyne Wilde. Ellowyne’s gorgeous cognac hair punctuates the desert color palette while her copious eyelashes adorn her deep amethyst eyes.
"Earning her Stripes Ellowyne" is one of two Ellowynes that participants can purchase.
After viewing Robert Tonner's video preview of counter samples of Neema this past February, adding at least one of these lovely dolls to my collection has been at the top of my doll wish list and now the time is almost here!
I know I am not alone in my excitement over the dolls (based on the over 6000 video views) and the Facebook chatter in doll groups where heightened anticipation for the dolls has been expressed.
View the VDC programs and activities and register on August 15, 2022, at the VDC website here. Don't miss this!
There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.
If you're not already a subscriber, visit, "like" and follow the Black Doll Collecting Facebook page or bookmark the Black Doll Collecting home page and visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays when typically new posts are published.
Doll artist, Goldie Wilson, who is also a doll collector, has created the Facebook page, "Goldie's Homeless Dolls." The dolls aren't really homeless, but they do need new homes.
Goldie plans to sell several limited-edition, hard-to-find, discontinued dolls by Robert Tonner, Ellowyne Wilde, Madame Alexander, Paulette Goodreau, Mel Odom, Mattel, Ashton-Drake/Integrity, and many other doll artists and manufacturers.
Most of the dolls have only been removed from their boxes to photograph for the event of this sale and some still have the shipping boxes. The dolls will be posted to her Facebook page a few listings at a time daily. So be sure to visit, follow, and share the link to the page with other doll enthusiasts.
Goldie thanks you in advance and hopes you'll see a doll or two that interests you.
dbg
There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.
Wilde Imagination Lizette Dionne, friend of Ellowyne Wilde, upon arrival (click any image to enlarge).
Lizette Dionne arrived this past Friday. I opened her box Saturday evening. I am delighted by her beauty. She reminds me of a smaller version of Tonner's AA Basic Model.
Lizette is 16-inches tall and has brown painted eyes. Her articulated areas are underneath her breasts, elbows, wrists, and knees. She is bald with two Velcro dots that adhere to the lining of her wigs. She came with a story card poem that reads:
Meeting new friends is always a bit scary
I tend to hang back -- I'm just a little wary;
But some of the drama -- I'm starting to doubt...
I'm just ESSENTIAL
LIZETTE -- and just a
little WIGGED OUT!
Lizette's ears were already pierced, but she did not come with earrings. Before noticing the pearl buttons on her white eyelet camisole, I thought pearls would enhance her appeal. She temporarily borrowed a pair of pearl earrings my children gave me for Mother's Day several years ago. These were later exchanged for blue studs.
Lovely doll, but reality certainly sets in after dolls ordered based on their prototype images arrive. Before I removed the black wig from the plastic, I fell in love with Lizette's short brown, boy-cut wig. Before she arrived, I just knew I'd love her black natural-textured wig better.
Extra black crimped wig
Lizette's first fashion
Lizette is about the same size as Goodreau's Mirror (Cocoa). She tried on a fashion that I purchased for Cocoa last year from the Etsy store, Squarepeg78's Studio. It fits her well... but I knew it would because it was designed to fit Ellowyne or Mirror.
Next, she tried on a Teen Trends denim fashion. The top and pants fit, but her high-heel feet do not fit Teen Trends shoes.
As shown in the first image, Lizette arrived wearing her short brown, boy-cut wig. An extra black crimped wig (the reason I purchased this version) is an unfortunate disappointment. I had imagined it would be the same texture and have the same curl pattern as the AA American Model or perhaps spiral curls like Libbie's. Instead, it is coarse, crimped hair that sheds!
Brushed out crimped wig, dressed in Teen Trends denim fashion
Not a fan of crimped hair, I decided to brush the black wig to give it a more natural appearance. Bad move. Brushing made it poofy. I like coarse, natural hair, but I can live indefinitely without crimped hair. Crimped hair is too contrived. Other than my disappointment with the black wig, a tiny scratch on the bridge of her nose, and right arm that is removable (that I am not sure is made this way or flawed), I do like Lizette... a lot.
Because I am at odds with her extra wig, I decided to see if Cocoa's wigs fit Lizette. They do! I took several pictures, one of which is below -- the others can be viewed in a slideshow along with all images taken of Lizette Dionne thus far.
Lizette wears long black mohair wig (not a Wilde Imagination product) -- view additional wigs in slideshow below.
Which wig or wigs do you like? Any suggestions on how I might tame the black crimped wig are welcome.
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