A Cute Potato Head Doll

A new doll, a dress, and shoes

What the website described as a "potato head" doll is the newest addition to my collection. A clone or knock-off of Nine d'Onil's 9-inch Mia, this doll arrived wearing only black vinyl Mary Jane shoes, as illustrated in the first picture. I ordered and received the brown and tan dress and brown faux-leather T-strap shoes, illustrated above. 

Because she did not have socks, and dolls wearing closed-toe shoes without socks is one of my pet peeves, I made her a pair of socks using two fingers cut from a white cotton glove.

She models her white socks and brown faux-leather T-strap shoes.

The clip-on hair bow was included with the dress. The dress package also included a pair of black vinyl Mary Jane shoes.

These shoes were in the dress package. The doll also arrived wearing an identical pair.

I love the closely-rooted microbraided hair.

Before deciding to purchase this doll, I had placed several versions into my cart. Realizing I did not need all four or five dolls in my cart, the microbraided hair was the deciding factor for choosing this doll. 

My two branded Nines d'Onil dolls posed with the new girl in the final AI-generated photo.

They display well together in real life, too!

The middle Mia, shown above, now wears a pair of the black Mary Janes that were included in this order. Originally, she had bare feet.

Related Posts

Mia by Nine d'Onil

Nines d' Onil Little Mia

Mother's Day Doll

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©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Mother's Day Doll

One of my Mother's Day gifts arrived in a reusable cotton backpack.

I asked for and received Nines d'Onil's Pippa for Mother's Day from my daughter. Pippa arrived in a cotton backpack. Nines d'Onil's beautiful logo is on the front of the backpack. 

Pippa has green inset eyes.

She is an adorable 12-inch all-vinyl vanilla-scented doll with rooted brown curly-textured hair and green inset eyes. 

Pippa is a cutie patootie!

Her adorable Nines d'Onil original tagged dress features my favorite color (peach), and her lace-up light green shoes are real leather! 

Pippa has the usual 5 points of articulation. A version with articulated elbows and knees is available. 

No attention to detail was missed in Pippa's creation, but quality is a trademark for most dolls made in Spain. I love her so much that I purchased her brother, Pippo. 

Pippa's brother, Pippo, was shipped in a plastic bag (no box). My daughter said Pippa arrived this way, too. Thank goodness the mail handlers did not damage them.

Pippo was inside a bubble-wrapped clear plastic bag inside the blue plastic mailer.

He arrived less than a week after Mother's Day and is just as adorable as his sister. 

Pippo and his dog

Just look at that adorable face. Yes, I had to have him, too.

Pippo, also 12 inches tall, has twisted strands of reddish-brown yarn hair, brown inset eyes, a pug nose like his sister's, and an adorable smile. 

Pippo wears a tan and white striped knit shirt underneath a peach, white, and tan checkered shirt; blue jeans, and green leather lace-up shoes like his sister's.

He and his sister display well together, as illustrated next. 

Pippo, his dog, and his sister

Here is a close-up of the too-cute fraternal twins.

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12-inch and 9-inch Mia arrived in December 2024 and in February 2025.

Nine d'Onil's Mia, in two sizes, preceded Pippa and Pippo's arrival. Between the two sculpts, Pippa and Pippo are my favorite.

Mia, Mia, Pippo, Pippo's Dog, and Pippa are seen in a group photo.

In a Muñecas, Poupees, and Dolls unboxing video, Allison Hernandez used the Spanish pronunciation, "nee-nez" for Nines and said her Spanish-speaking husband translates Nines d'Onil to Children of Onil.  Pippa and Pippo are not included in Allison's video, which might have been recorded before they were released. 

 

__________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/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.

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Lottie Dolls: Sammi, Branksea Lottie, and Mia

Lottie dolls, L-R:  Sammi, Branksea Festival Lottie, and Mia
Lottie fashions:  Raspberry Ripple and Flower Power

Back in June, blog reader, Cynthia, informed me about the soon-to-be-released, deep complexioned Mia, friend of Lottie.  I have always wanted a Lottie doll and had considered buying Branksea Festival Lottie. Last year I did purchase a Lottie fashion during the time I hosted my doll group's travel doll, Janet.

The Lottie Blue Velvet fashion was part of Travel Doll Janet's Texas loot.

Janet went to her forever home with the Lottie fashion along with several other items.  I appreciated the quality of that Lottie fashion and expected the same quality for the dolls, which are manufactured by Arklu (Ireland) Ltd., imported by Arklu of London.

After reading their online description when the fashion for Janet was purchased, I knew Lottie and/or a friend or two would eventually enter my collection.  

·         Nurturing individuality and creativity through play, Lottie's a wholesome, age appropriate, fashion doll, she's perfect because “she's just like me"

·         A positive, healthy role model; she doesn't wear makeup, jewelry, heels or suggestive clothing, she's the girl next door; cute, fun and adventurous

·         Lottie wears wonderful, age appropriate clothes with great attention to detail; her long flowing hair is silky smooth, comb-able and resists tangles

·         At 7.5 inches tall, Lottie has moveable arms, bendable knees and can stand on her own two feet (a useful skills for all girls big and small)

·         This Lottie doll comes with everything pictured; for ages 3+

Last week, a Facebook ad about Mia prompted me to visit the Lottie website where I also discovered Sammi.  As a comparison shopper, I visited Amazon to see if the dolls were available for free Prime shipping.  They were along with a special discount from Arklu (which has now expired):  buy three and get 15% off the fourth item.  That is why my three were purchased along with two extra fashions for the girls.

Because I have not removed the dolls from their beautiful, house-shaped packages, in addition to my photos, I have shared stock photos of each doll and the separately-sold fashions.

Mia is a photographer.  As described on the website,“Mia wears a cochlear implant, which is part of her story rather than a focal point; as reflected in the Lottie chapter books. Mia is a collaboration with 'Toy Like Me' a UK non-profit who campaign for diversity in the toy-box and for better representation of disabilities so that differently abled children can see themselves reflected in the toys they play with.”  The back of her box, illustrated below, reads:  From birds and butterflies to all kinds of creepy-crawlies, I'm just mad about wild life  Everywhere I go, I carry my camera with me.  Because who knows when -- or where -- a brilliant photo opportunity will pop up?

Mia's description continues:  A beautiful photo can tell its own story.  I hope that my pictures will inspire other children to love wildlife as much as I do and to take good care of this wonderful planet of ours!  PS:  Look out for winning entries from our Wildlife Photography Competition inside!

Branksea Festival Lottie has a tan complexion.  The back of her box is shown next.

Text from Branksea Festival Lottie's box reads:  Summer has arrived at last!  The sun is shining and the sky is blue as Branksea prepares for its annual Festival.  Lottie is excited and is looking forward to live music, face painting, storytelling, and arts and crafts.  Will the good weather continue or will the celebrations be spoiled by rain?

Sammi was a pleasant surprise.  Until visiting the Lottie website looking for Mia, I had no idea he existed.

Sammi is a writer!  His back story from the back of the box reads:  Branksea School's Sports Day is a Sports Day with a difference.  We have athletics and gymnastics and team sports like football.  But -- because we're so close to the beach -- we have lots of water-based activities, too.  There are swimming and surfing and canoeing events.  There's even a kite-flying event near the sea cliffs!  I write about everything for the Branksea School News!  PS:  Look out for winning entries from my School News Competition inside.

The front of each doll's box has a cardboard "Winner" medal attached with a ribbon.  The front of Branksea Festival Lottie's medal reads:  Positive Role Model Awards Winner.  The back reads:  What makes Lottie special? Lottie has a 'childlike' body developed by British academics; she doesn't wear makeup jewellry or high heels.  Best of all, she can stand on her own two feet -- an invaluable life lesson for all girls, big and small.

The two Lottie fashions I purchased are Raspberry Ripple and Flower Power.  Raspberry Ripple includes a sundress, ice cream swirl tote bag, and raspberry pink ballet flats.  Flower Power has an apple blossom spring dress, cherry-pink cardigan, socks, and pink ballet flats.

These all-vinyl dolls have brown painted anime eyes and rooted hair.  They are jointed only at the neck, upper arms, and upper legs.  Their feet are flat, which allow them to balance and stand without the assistance of a doll stand.  The quality appears as expected, exceptional, but I won't know for sure until I open their boxes. 

Thanks again, Cynthia, for the heads up about Mia.  

dbg
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I'm a Pretty Little Black Girl! - Mia

Before Mia leaves to reside in her permanent home with my soon-to-be 10-year-old niece, she complied with a photo shoot to be shared here.  The text from the back of the box describes her story:

MEET MIA!
Mia has stepped off the pages of the best selling picture book, "I'm a Pretty Little Black Girl!", which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

Mia loves how she looks and celebrates herself in everything she does.  As the first doll created from a modern picture book written specifically for little black girls, tenacious Mia will bring joy and hours of imaginative play to any little girl.

Mia is an 18-inch doll [with]:

• Beautiful rooted hair for hours of hair play
• Bright sparkling eyes that open and close
• Soft body with poseable arms and legs
• Stylish removable clothes
• Fits most 18" doll clothes and accessories

The author of I'm a Pretty Little Black Girl!, Betty K. Bynum, partnered with the Madame Alexander doll company to bring the character, Mia, to life.  It is refreshing to see Mia's new head sculpt which has not been used for other Alexander dolls.  Mia's lovely thick rooted hair can be combed and styled in the several ways illustrated on the following Internet-captured promotional photo that enticed this purchase.

My niece is going to love Mia!

Additional photos illustrate Mia's loveliness:

Mia's cute full lips form a slight pout.

The separately sold, hard copy book, I'm a Pretty Little Black Girl!, has received an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com.  Of course I had to purchase a copy for my niece, who enjoys reading as much as she loves dolls.  The fact that she enjoys both pleases me.

A visit to the author's website, provides additional details about the I'm a Girl Collection, which includes apparel and the following other titles:

• I'm a Lovely Little Latina
• Hooray I'm a Girl in the USA
• I'm an Awesome Asian Girl

At the time of this post, Mia is the only character that has come to life in three-dimensional doll form. Perhaps the others will follow.

Addendum
Get added to their email list and get a code for 20% off your next Madame Alexander.com here.
Buy Mia here.

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