Dollheart Fukupukuro sets available for pre-order!

Love Dollheart? Love grab bags? Love great deals? The 2011 Fukupukuro is for you!

$59.90 will get you a value of $120-140 worth of BJD clothing by Dollheart in these special edition packages. You choose your doll size: YoSD, MSD, SD10/13 Girl or SD13 Boy.

It's all randomly thrown together, but a lot of their items match and are really fun for play! This is a great option for clothing for BJD collectors on a budget.

Super Lavin

Super Lavin, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Another update on my Peak's Woods/Soom Super Gem Lavin hybrid... and some really, really bad news for me: I fell for Volks!

Here's how it happened: I was checking out the latest Dolpa online last Saturday, and after being frustrated I couldn't get the items I'd intended, I happened upon this gorgeous SD16 size dress. I'd just heard from Ms. Cholong that SD16 and Super Gem are pretty close to the same size, so I thought I'd take a chance.

My intention was just to try it on.

Oh dear. I love it.

You might notice I still haven't fixed Lavin's neck. In the larger photo, you may notice her Peak's Woods hands. I wasn't a fan of Super Gem's super man hands. But I'm used to these smaller more delicate Peak's Woods girls, too.

New Denver Doll exclusive BJD Gracelyn by Cristy Stone

Check out the new Denver Doll exclusive BJD, Gracelyn, available for pre-order (they have lay-away, too)! She's $675 and includes a face-up. She's a limited edition of only 10 dolls, and stands 62cm tall (that's model size, or about SD16, it looks to me), and is exclusive of her sculpt and face-up. She will come nude with glass eyes.

She's designed by Cristy Stone, and she's gorgeous!

6th anniversary at LaTi!

Alice event at LaTi!

Eeek! There's an Alice in Wonderland Event happening at LaTi Doll right now. The dolls are just adorable. You must check them out. They are all LaTi Yellow size.

LaTi Yellow Alice uses Bayer's sculpt. She's $300, plus an additional $30 for the wig and $90 for the (silk) outfit, which includes a black/transparent Cheshire kitty. There's a new White Rabbit (er--maybe a little creepy creep) for $300. His outfit is $80. The Mad Hatter is Miel (an adorable face), $300, plus $30 for the wig and $80 for the outfit.

The Red Queen is the fabulous Lea, and she is $300 for the BJD with face-up, plus an addition $30 for the wig and $80 for the outfit. She actually includes a croquet mallet shaped like a flamingo. She's adorable! Tweedledum and Tweedledee are both listed for $300, plus $30 for their wigs and $80 for their outfits.

These dolls are only available from September 23 through October 3, 2011.

I know, I know. I said I was over with Alice. But I will never be. I can't help it. I adore Alice. Sheesh. My hair is even blue. And my cat Nico looks just like her kitty. Plus, if you buy two dolls, you can also have the opportunity to buy a brown March Hare (who is a brown rabbit).

Oh, did I mention--you really should get the outfits, too. Because if you spend $400 or more, you get a free event, Suji! Isn't she cute?

Photos are property of Latidoll.com.

Alice's kitty

Welcome home, Lea!

Lati Yellow Basic Lea, a photo by alington on Flickr.

My very first LaTi doll arrived this week, and she is just adorable! Her DollHeart (surprise!) outfit hasn't arrived yet, but this cutie fits very well in Barbie clothes.

The adorable grey sweater was made by my Blythe-collecting friend Debbie, who made it for my first Blythe. I think Lea looks very cute in it.

I do have a pair of shoes for her, but of course I can't find them now.

I have to admit, after reading the less-than-flattering company reviews of Lati Doll on Den of Angels, I was a little nervous placing an order with them. But Lea arrived just like I'd ordered in six weeks and two days after I placed the order, with the face-up I had customized for her. I couldn't be happier.

At first, I thought her stringing might be too loose--I don't have many tiny dolls. But she and her little double joints work perfectly, and they fit well, and she can stand alone. I have no complaints. I need to blush her, however. She is just gorgeous.

See more photos of her on Flickr.

Sky in JennyGrey Couture

Sky in JennyGrey Couture, a photo by alington on Flickr.

My friend Jen of JennyGrey Designs came over last week for a sewing day. She presented me with a gift--this absolutely to die for outfit, which she made.

It's inspired by a House of Dior (John Galliano) gown called Maria-Luisa. This version is sized for Peak's Woods, and the lovely white skin Sky is modeling.

Jen's version is fuchsia, and has an accompanying cape, which is hot pink and lined in striped fabric. Jen also made the gloves and jewelry. I happened to have the Dollheart wig and Val Zeitler boots (striped) to go with the outfit.

See more photos on Flickr.

Isn't Jen just the best??

New Cristy Stone exclusives from DollHeart!!

You simply must check out these new DollHeart exclusives designed by Cristy Stone. This is her second project with DollHeart, and the designs are simply smashing steampunk inspired.

All outfits and dolls are limited editions of just 40 pieces, and available to order from the following DollHeart dealers:

• Denver Doll Emporium
• Doll Peddlar
• Still Plays with Dolls
• Main Street Dolls
• Lone Star Dolls
• Fabric Friends and Dolls
• Feather Fall
• Boutique Doll

First up--an exclusive doll by JollyPlus!

Limited edition Jise, $529, includes random eyes, LE makeup, cushion, box.

 Five limited outfits for $129.90 each:

LD-478, hat, top, shorts, sleeves, knee highs, neck accessory

LD-470: Goggles, coat, one-piece, suspender shorts

LD-467: Goggles, top, vest, half pants, waist accessory

LD-480: Hat, top, knee skirt, corset, socks, waist accessory, underwear

LD-481: Goggles, coat, tops, knee skirt

Two new pairs of boots, size for SD-13 girls, $42.90 per pair:

LS-1106

LS-1150

These items will sell out quickly, so be sure to order them while you can!

Yeru looking for a new home

Yeru, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Peak's Woods Fairy of Color Yeru is looking for a new home. She is a normal skin, large bust version, enhanced with body blushing and new fantasy eye lashes.

She includes your choice (of three) wigs, purple acrylic eyes, and this gorgeous dress by Gingerlime Designs.

See lots more photos of her on Flickr.

I currently have her listed on Den of Angels. Thanks for looking!

Mandarava

Mandarava, a photo by alington on Flickr.

This is Mandarava, an MSD-sized slim mini by Angell Studios. She is searching for a new home.

You can see lots of photos of her (including nude photos), and her included IMPLdoll outfit, and Dollmore wig and boots, on Flickr.

I've got her listed on Den of Angels. She's a limited edition doll, and isn't available from Angell Studios anymore. She's a delicate normal pink French resin. Check her out!

The superglue incident, or, what not to do with superglue

My fingers, about to become stuck together with superglue.

I may look and sound like a ball-jointed doll expert, but I am prone to making mistakes with my expensive dolls just like anybody else. Did I ever mention why I don't do face-ups? It's because I shake, I'm clumsy, and I drop things. Additionally, I don't pay close attention to what I'm doing. In this post, I intend to teach you some very important things about that BJD collector's necessity, superglue, that we all should know in times of emergencies.

First, it's very important to know that superglue is an essential supply to have on hand. I'm not sure why, but head cap magnets often fall out of my dolls. They are tiny, strong magnets, and hot glue just doesn't keep them in place. You must use a strong glue, like Zap-a-Gap or some other superglue instead. 

Second, when you're replacing the magnet, it's important to know that you only need one drop of glue. If you use more than a drop, you'll overfill the cavity designed for the magnet, and the glue may, for instance, spill over the side of your doll's head and down the back of your doll's neck or, worse, onto your doll's face. Or, if you happen to be replacing the doll's head cap magnet, all over your poor doll's head, through no fault of her own. Sure, you might try wiping it off quickly with your fingers, but then your fingers will be stuck together.

Third, it's essential to know that some people are paranoid about having their fingers stuck together. They have a real phobia about this. In fact, even the thought (or memory, perhaps) about having their fingers stuck together even for a few seconds makes their heart pound and causes the onset of a panic attack. In fact, writing a blog post about this experience might even necessitate the ingestion of a prescribed Xanax, for example. Not that I'm speaking from experience, of course. 

There might be a hypothetical doll collector who, as a child, learned to use a spoon at nine months because she'd scream every time she got her hands dirty with food. She may have been a bit high maintenance, perhaps. As she grew older, and her father made her work on cars, she'd get grease under her fingernails. It would be the worst thing about working on cars and might have caused hysterics now and then (though it's possible it's because she'd just spent four hours replacing the radiator on an 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass, and coolant was still leaking, so that meant it must be the water pump that needed replacement instead). And perhaps this trait was hereditary, and one of her own dexterous daughters learned to use a spoon at seven months as well.

Fourth, it's important that, when you have such panic attacks, you take nice deep breaths to get yourself back under control.

Fifth, when you are replacing the head magnet, and you accidentally flip it upside down on top of the superglue, it can be a real mess. Not only do you end up with glue on your hands and on the doll, you might also end up not only with a messy magnet, but one that actually repels the head cap. (Ugh!) Getting freshly set superglue out of the head is nearly impossible.

Sixth, it's possible to look up superglue on the series of tubes which is the internets and find out that acetone actually dissolves superglue. However, it will also dissolve a beautiful face-up. So my advice is to flip over the head cap magnet instead. Here's how:

1. Be sure you're removing the right magnet on the head cap, or you'll have to do this process twice (ask me how I know!).
2. Working in a well-ventilated area, apply acetone (which you can find at the drugstore in the nail polish aisle--make sure you use the colorless kind) to the head cap magnet with a cotton pad. You'll really want to soak the area. You'll also want the acetone to soak for a few minutes to do its work--about five minutes or so.
3. Be aware that this process will remove any moleskin suede from the head cap as you work. It dissolves the glue on moleskin as well.
4. Using a slim stylus or another narrow object, gently wiggle the magnet out of place, applying more acetone if necessary. Keep in mind that acetone softens resin, and that even a toothpick will dent resin soaked with acetone. So keep the poking to the inside of the head cap.
5. Eventually, the magnet will loosen and come out. When it does, dry it off well, and place it on its partner magnet on the head.
6. Dry off the head cap completely. Rinse if desired, or wash with soap and water, after the acetone has completely evaporated and dried.
7. Leaving the magnet on its partner magnet in the head, place a single drop of superglue into the hole on the head cap.
8. Flip the magnet into the hole, being careful to place it upside down. Press into place and let it dry.
9. Use a cotton pad damp with acetone to remove any glue from your fingers, and from the outside of the doll, being careful not to get acetone on the face or body blushing.

Take a deep breath and go have a glass of wine, if you're old enough.