Well it was the first day of my holiday prior to setting off for Paris to attend the Doll Expo and to celebrate my (mumbles quietly)… 40th birthday! The new clothes I had ordered from Ficondoll only a couple of days ago had arrived, the sun was shining and Venus just wanted to strut her stuff! I must say I am rather impressed with this outfit. The shirt especially, I think, looks lovely on her. So here we have, for your viewing pleasure, the cherry pick of the results!

Although I am not exactly a fan of Tim Burton I am a fan of the Alice in Wonderland story. So I must say my first look at this photo of Mattel’s Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter have rather impressed me. The sculpt looks amazingly accurate and the outfit has great attention to detail. Here is the Mattel blurb:

“Tim Burton brings his unique take on a favorite story to the Disney film, Alice in Wonderland. Here, the Mad Hatter doll wears a costume exactingly re-created from the movie. From his delightful top hat that frames his cartoonish features and curly red locks to his colorful costume, this is one adorable doll you’ll go mad for!”

For the first time ever, Barbie® asked the world to help her select her next career. Over the past few months Barbie® did research around the world and also conducted an online voting campaign, calling upon the world to vote for her next career — Barbie® has asked her Twitter followers and fans on Facebook to help her with this important career decision.

The polls closed on February 10th and over half a million votes were counted! Barbie® doll’s 125th career, as selected by girls around the world is News Anchor! News Anchor Barbie® doll will make her debut this fall in a pink suite with black accents, a news folder, camera and a microphone and the “B News” logo.

But that’s not all! Consumers loudly campaigned for another Barbie® career. The winner of the popular vote is Computer Engineer. Computer Engineer Barbie®, debuting in Winter 2010, inspires a new generation of girls to explore this important high-tech industry, which continues to grow and need future female leaders.

“All the girls who imagine their futures through Barbie will learn that engineers — like girls — are free to explore infinite possibilities, limited only by their imagination,” says Nora Lin, President, Society of Women Engineers. “As a computer engineer, Barbie will show girls that women can turn their ideas into realities that have a direct and positive impact on people’s everyday lives in this exciting and rewarding career.”

To create an authentic look, Barbie® designers worked closely with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to develop the wardrobe and accessories for Computer Engineer Barbie®. Wearing a binary code patterned tee and equipped with all the latest gadgets including a smart phone, Bluetooth headset, and laptop travel bag, Computer Engineer Barbie® is geek chic.

Yesterday I launched a social networking site for visitors to the blog and fashion doll lovers in general called The Doll Observers (get it, lol?). By doing so I hope that you will interact and share your passion for dolls in a safe and friendly environment. I have added groups, forums, blogs. You can upload your photos from your Flickr account if you have one or from your PC if not and share everything on Twitter or Facebook. Wow social networking a go go!

Use the link below to check it out…
Visit The Doll Observers

Following Mel Odem’s sad announcement that the Gene Marshall line will be retired in June of this year Integrity Toys have released news of a collaboration with Gene’s original makers, Ashton Drake, in order to bring to the world the last ever Gene doll. Here is what it says about her on the promotional web blurb:

“From her cleverly styled sophisticated up-do down to her couture evening gown, Gene Marshall is a vision that would make the camera of any famous Hollywood movie director point her way! Butterfly Shadow Gene Marshall comes complete with a breathtaking evening gown made of hand-printed fabric. The fitted bodice nips delicately at the waist and has contrasting detailing at the neck and wrists. The gown’s full gathered skirt features a romantic organza overlay that creates sweeping volume. Two ‘flower’ corsages of pink roses used as a brooch and also in the hair give just a burst of color to offset the black and white print. Earrings, high heels, a doll stand and an exclusive certificate of authenticity hand-signed by artist and creator of the famous Gene Marshall Collection, Mel Odom, round out this fantastic offering.”

The Paris Doll Expo site has been updated with an itinerary of the weekend’s events. Needless to say I am getting most excited at the prospect of the Superfrock “Disco 3000″ event on the Friday evening. Especially to see what the exclusive doll will be, given that the theme of the festival is “Haute Couture of the Future”. Charles and Desmond are bound to have a field day with it!

There will be 3 other exclusive makers dolls available, Mattel’s Barbie, Robert Tonner’s Antoinette and Wilde Imagination’s Ellowyne Wilde. Again it will be interesting to see what other designers will come up with.

An added bonus is the recently announced exhibition at the Paris Doll Museum entitled “Nouvelles Icônes – Des Poupées Pandores aux Sybarites” which runs from 14 March to 19 September 2010. There will also be yet another exclusive doll available through the museum named “Slipper” and she will be unveiled at the exhibition opening. Find more information about the exhibition here.

Tonner spent many a moon getting final clearance from the BBC for their Dr Who and Torchwood dolls. In the meantime there has been a new Doctor and his companions have have come and gone a fair few times since Martha Jones travelled through time and space with our favourite Time Lord! And now the dolls are finally revealed I am far from convinced by the sculpts… Maybe it is time for Tonner to give more attention to the woefully neglected Tyler Wentworth range instead of chasing any opportunity that comes to mind. After all do that many toy/doll collectors outside of the UK even know who these characters are?

Take a look at the Tonner Dr Who page & the Tonner Torchwood page and judge for yorself…

I received a wee notelett through my electronic mailbox yesterday from those lovely folks at Mattel showing off the latest additions to their pop culture range of dolls “Ladies of the 80’s”. There are three dolls in all representing key female singers of the 80’s; Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry and Joan Jett.

Madonna is conspicuous by her absence and it could be argued that Harry is slightly more 70’s  than 80’s but quibbles aside these are lovely looking dolls especially DH who is my favourite of them also in real life! She comes complete with signature two tone hair, sexy mini dress and rock and roll microphone stand.

Whilst all three have a vaguely accurate likeness the fact is that all Barbie celebrity dolls retain the same essential Barbie-esque face sculpt  somewhere underneath. So essentially these doll are a bit like like Barbie does “Stars in their Eyes“!

Barbie Pop Culture

On the 29th January 2010 Robert Tonner will unveil his 2010 Collection. You can see a selection on the Tonner website. No sign of any new additions to the Tyler Wentworth line but a few for Roberts Doll Du Jour Antoinette. Follow the link below to go straight to the preview:

Tonner 2010 Preview

The first Kensington Doll Show of 2010 takes place on the 24th January 2010 from 11am and as always promises to be a real treat for doll fans particularly those interested in antique and vintage fashion dolls. If you are in the London area, why not take a look. Follow this link to find out more.