Showing posts with label Tonner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tonner. Show all posts

Monday, July 1, 2013

Tonner Girls Rock 'N Roll



It was 2010 when I first saw Twoonia Syke’s Jac as Lisa Bonet repaint.  I developed a longing for a Tonner Jac/Jon sculpt with thoughts of having Twoonia repaint and loc the doll in Lisa Bonet style.  Backing up a bit, I admired from afar Tonner’s dark-skinned beauty, Sterling Kagiso, when introduced in 2008 (same head sculpt).  At the time, I was not very much interested in 16-inch fashion dolls.   I owned a few, but my doll focus was elsewhere. 

Tonner's Perfect Morning Basic Jon and dark-skinned Jac sculpt repaint by Twoonia Sykes

As fate would have it, recently I saw a dark-skinned Jac repaint by Twoonia for a price I could not refuse.  On the same day, I discovered Tonner’s reduced price Perfect Morning Jon Basic, which included an additional 15% off and free shipping with the use of a coupon at checkout.  Man, two dolls for less than the price of one with a head sculpt that I’ve wanted for years, in two complexions… I had to buy both… just had to and I did.
Dark-skinned Jac sculpt wears part of the Rock 'N Roll Somers and Field fashion (midriff top, hot pants with gold chain belt, neon green fringed vest and matching headband).  The boots are borrowed.
Tamatchria (the name Twoonia selected) for the repaint, arrived first as a nudie that I dressed in part of a mix ‘n match Rock ‘N Roll Somers and Field fashion, introduced in 1999.  The fashion was made for the 15-inch 1960s-inspired "British Mod Birds," Daisy Field and Willow Somers, also from 1999.  The Daisy and Willow dolls were designed by Doug James and the late Laura Meisner around the time the 15- and 16-inch fashion doll craze erupted.  In 2000, I purchased three Daisy dolls and later several boxed fashions that had been drastically reduced by the Doll Market, the Rock ‘N Roll fashion being one.

Along with the hot-pants and midriff top, Tamatchria (now renamed Rhoenia because she reminds me of a friend of my daughter’s) wears replacement ankle boots borrowed from Wigged Out Lizette.   The wet-look (PVC) material used for the neon orange ankle boots and the over-the-knee boots that came with the Rock ‘N Roll fashion has weakened, literally melted in some areas after years of being enclosed.  I tried my best to salvage the boots with orange paint and sealer.  The attempt was admirable.  It is possible, however, that the boots will further deteriorate and stain the dolls' legs.  So I opted for safety over sorrow and gave those boots the boot.

A day or so after Rho arrived, UPS delivered Jon dressed in her basic black teddy and black high heels with elasticized straps.  I am convinced that black does nothing for her cafĂ© au lait complexion; a swift redress, even before photographing her in her manufactured state, was in order.  I was not overly enthused with her eye color.  Fortunately, in person her eyes appear more like Rho’s, green, instead of the blue color described on the Tonner website.   

Jon is redressed in the tunic, bell bottoms, head scarf, and light blue faux fur handbag with gold strap of the Rock 'N Roll Somers and Field fashion.  She borrowed lavender heels from another doll to complete her mod-inspired look.

I immediately dressed Jon in the remaining pieces of the Rock ‘N Roll fashion.  She had to wear the bell-bottom pants because her Antoinette body is slightly fuller than Rho’s Tyler Wentworth body.  Jon also has a longer torso and a more exposed hip/thigh joint, which would show if she wore the hot pants. 

Chicklet-looking earrings purchased at a beauty supply store for Jon and Rho

I purchased and modified two pairs of brightly colored Chicklet-looking earrings (shown above).  Two thin metal connectors were snipped to remove the lower two "chicklets."

Below are several pictures to illustrate additional ways the Rock ‘N Roll fashion can be mixed and matched along with a back pose and individual head shots (click any photo to enlarge).

Jon has borrowed Rho's vest while Rho carries the handbag.

Jon removed the bell-bottoms and retrieved the handbag while Rho remains vestless.  Not illustrated, but the bell-bottoms can also be worn with the midriff top. 
 
Hair color and length are illustrated in this shot.


The lovely Jon takes one final head shot.

One word describes Rho's beauty:  Stunning!


After some 13 years of wanting a doll or dolls (other than Daisy) to wear the Rock 'N Roll fashion, now I have two with a head sculpt I have also longed for.  Next up, maybe someone will get Lisa Bonet locs.

More Information on Somers and Field dolls, Daisy and Willow
Daisy and Willow Outfits

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Tonner Doll @ Rock Bottom Price



21-inch Design Studio Carin Play Doll Set by Robert Tonner - stock photo

Retail price $289, on sale at The Doll Market for $59.97.  The sale ends November 29, 2011. 

I just had to share.
:-)))

She's like this doll that I have redressed.


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Saturday, September 24, 2011

Check this Out! If Funds Permit, Buy It Now

Tonner's Check This Out! Collection:  Tyler, EsmĂ©, and Sydney

Most doll collectors experience a sense of regret when a desired doll slips from their grasp for any reason. When the reason is self-induced, such as a failure to buy a desired doll when it was readily available, collectors are likely to experience the recurring thought, “I should have purchased it when.” This thought can both hurt and haunt.

A fortunate few eventually locate the doll on the secondary market; but often the doll’s acquisition comes with a cost far greater than the doll’s original retail. Ouch! The above-retail cost on the secondary market frequently causes the, “I should have purchased it when,” feeling to resurface again and again.

Each time I see another collector’s Check This Out! EsmĂ© (CTOE) by Robert Tonner from the Tyler Wentworth Collection 2006/2007, I experience regret and disgust with myself for not purchasing the doll before it sold out. This happened recently when I viewed the “Women of the World” image on Son of Ellis’s blog. His CTOE is the center doll redressed in school attire.

Why do I want a CTOE of my own?

EsmĂ©’s short Afro is very appealing to me. As I have written before, I love dark skinned dolls with natural textured hair, but not just any dark skinned doll with textured hair will do. EsmĂ©’s attractive face, particularly her eyes, and her stylish fashion add to her appeal. As the stock photograph of the dolls in this collection illustrates, CTOE’s original fashion includes a white tank, white jacket, and light blue and white check Capri’s. Not shown in the image are her light blue slingback shoes. The doll’s articulation is a plus.

I remain determined. Check This Out! EsmĂ© will be part of my collection for a price I am willing to pay. I want her… I need her… I should have purchased her five years ago!

Maybe Tonner will produce a similar doll and add even more articulation, maybe one that is playscale size (now wouldn't that be great?). If he does, with funds permitting, I will preorder her immediately.

Which dolls have eluded your grasp?

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Friday, September 2, 2011

Party All Night Jon, A Tonner UFDC Exclusive

Robert Tonner's Party All Night Jon, a UFDC 2011 Convention Exclusive
Photograph courtesy of the Tonner Blog

This lovely 16-inch, ultra-limited edition doll (only 125 worldwide) is featured on the Tonner Blog.  Party All Night Jon is available for sale at TonnerDirect.com for $149.99 + shipping. 

Read more about her on their blog, which llinks to the purchasing page at the TonnerDirect.com website.

Thanks again, TonnerBlog, for keeping us informed and a personal thanks to Mr. Tonner for creating inclusive doll lines extending as far back as Magic Attic's Keisha.


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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Subtly Untroubled Tiana - Updated!


My trouble with Tonner's Tiana's eyes no longer exists.  I used the above items (a No. 2 pencil, white marker, ultra fine-tipped Sharpie, a toothpick and white acrylic paint) to make Tiana's eyes more aesthetically appealing to me.

What I did (as a novice):
  • I darkened the entire whites of her eyes with a No. 2 pencil.
  • Using the brown, ultra fine-tipped Sharpie*, I gave her the appearance of heavy eyeliner by outlining her eyes to include some of the original sclerae (the whites of her eyes).  This makes the eyeball appear smaller. 
  • Next, I used a white marker to recreate the sclerae in a size more proportionate to her other facial features.  (I really needed a fine-tipped marker to do this, but I used what I had on hand.)
  • Several hours later, I used a toothpick to dab white acrylic paint over the previously white inked area of her eyes.

Princess Tiana Before

Princess Tiana Now

Her eyes are brighter and appear smaller than before. It's really just an illusion, but I like the almost final result.  I need to fine tune the eyeliner (shaky hands), perhaps with brown acrylic paint and then (possibly) seal the paint with clear varnish.  I might skip the varnishing step, especially if I do not go over the eye lined area with brown acrylic paint.  The varnish and ink from the marker may not be a good mix. 

Anyway, I like her much better now!  I am able to look at her and smile and actually see her smile back at me without her over-sized, jaundiced-looking, fairyish eyes interfering. 

*To achieve a softer appearance, a tan ultra-fine tipped Sharpie might have been a better choice for the outlining eye color.

February 10, 2011 5:16 PM


To achieve a kinder, gentler eye appearance, I used toffee acrylic paint on the lower area of her eyes, which almost matches Princess T's complexion.  I've only applied one layer, but plan to apply another after the initial layer dries. 


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Saturday, February 5, 2011

Trouble with Tonner's Princess Tiana


On January 19, 2011,  TonnerDirect.com had a one-day sale.  Princess Tiana was marked down from $199 to $60.  After spending several minutes on the traffic-filled website, I was finally able to complete my order.

The doll arrived within a week, but I did not remove her from the shipper until last weekend when I photographed her and realized the reason I did not purchase at retail. 


It's those eyes... those oversized, fairy-looking eyes .  This is such a lovely doll, dressed in such a beautiful gown that replicates that worn by the Disney character to have such fairy-looking eyes.  I showed her to my husband and asked, "What do you think about her eyes?  Do you think I should try to paint them to make them appear more human-like?"  "If she had 'normal' eyes, she wouldn't look like the character," was his reply. 

His point is valid because my other Princess Tiana dolls have the same oversized, fairy/pixie-looking eyes.  But there's something about this doll and these eyes that bothers me.


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