Do I look like a real gal?

I’ve had a severe case of writers block these last few weeks and in order to stir the creative juices decided to make a plea via Twitter for some inspirational suggestions. One very helpful Twitter-er, Mothdoll, suggested writing about the dolly things I’d like to see but aren’t yet true. Well that really got me thinking and therefore here are my very own “Top 10 Fashion Doll Wants”!

1. I love an articulated doll. In fact I adore the realistic poses they can achieve as opposed to the “zombie” look of less articulated dolls (Miss B take a bow!). However, and it pains me to admit, I do have a wee bit of an issue with ugly joints. There we go I’ve said it, no matter how I try I just can’t get past UGLY joints! They can mar photos and they make me point blank refuse to put a doll in shorts! So please doll inventor people come up with a way of making articulation look more real, just like those beautiful faces you so wonderfully create.

2. Can someone please stop Robert Tonner jumping on every single franchise bandwagon and start concentrating on designing fashion dolls? You know those very things that made him what he is and made us all adore him for his great talent! I mean ballerina Wizard of Oz dolls? Whatever next!

3. What I’d also love to see is far more accessories for the 16” brigade. By that I mean things like furniture, diorama items, backdrops and anything that can make their environments that bit more realistic. As a child I always loved playsets and I’d love to see “official” environments for my dolls to be displayed and photographed in.

4. Less harmful packaging please! Why should it take an hour to debox a doll and drag half a headful of hair out of their head in the process!

5. Please no more dead baby dolls creeping into fashion doll shows/sales rooms. It’s like oil and water and just ain’t right I’m afraid!

6. I’d love to see more realistic short hairstyles because how many women do you know that have hair down to their beltline?

7. Sort out the prices. I mean I may be an adult collector but does that mean I have to pay prices that would make a millionaire wince? I love my dolls but I do have to eat! Although that said I can go without if Superfock have a particularly wonderful trifle on offer…

8. As a UK resident I would love to see some actual real life doll shops rather than just relying on the Internet and evilbay.

9. And as a UK resident why of why are US shipping rates so darned expensive!

10. Finally please can it be law that celebrity likenesses be actual likenesses rather than bizarre recycled moulds!

So there is my top 10. Does anyone agree or disagree or have any other suggestions? Please comment and let me know.

Built in 1887, 301 Wall Street most recently was the home of Chase Bank and has been vacant for just about one year. Tonner hopes to complete the move by May 1, once renovations are complete. “The roof needs some work and we are refurbishing the second and third floors,” Tonner explained. “The second floor will be restored to what it was back in the 1940′s,” he added.

The new home of Tonner Doll will house the design, production, sales, marketing, finance and administrative staff; a total of 17 employees. “Part of my whole belief is that change, while painful at times, is good,” Tonner admitted. “I think this space will give us a new creative energy.”

Opening in 1991, the internationally renowned Tonner Doll Company has been a staple in Ulster County for nearly two decades. The Tonner Doll Company designs and manufactures collectible fashion dolls, child character dolls and licensed character figures such as HARRY POTTER and WONDER WOMAN.

In 2007, Tonner purchased 12/14 Hurley Avenue in Kingston and made extensive renovations before opening the Tonner Company Store there in December, 2007, which will remain at its current location. The renovation received two local awards; one from the Chamber of Commerce of Ulster County, and another from the Friends of Historic Kingston.

Tonner plans to lease out the street level of 301 Wall Street. Rental information would be through Harris Safier, Broker Westwood Metes & Bounds Realty Ltd. at 914-388-3351. Safier represented Tonner in the purchase of the building from J.P. Morgan Chase.

Peep was the exclusive Sybarite at the 2009 Festival

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.

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

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

Dear Friends,

I would like to take a minute to share a very exciting project I’ve been working on. You might have heard about Antoinette™, she has been my muse for quite awhile, and tomorrow I would like to share her with you.

Antoinette™, is a 16″ fashion doll with a brand new face and body sculpt. She takes on many different looks depending on her skin tone, hair color and face paint.

I have been working on the design and engineering of Antoinette™ to achieve a high fashion mannequin whose body and jointing become the perfect foil for my passion-designing clothing. I think this is one of the most outstanding clothing collections that the Tonner Doll Company has ever produced.

Joe and I are thrilled with the way she wears our new collection (designed for you to enjoy and for Antoinette™ to display). In fact I will offer her as a blank mannequin (a first for Tonner) to enhance the display of perhaps my most unique clothing collection to date, with no compromise in fabrication or construction (always a designers’ dream).

Tomorrow, at 1:00pm the complete Antoinette™ collection is going live on tonnerdoll.com.

I want to personally invite all of you to take a look and let me know what you think. Please email your comments to info@tonnerdirect.com.

Sincerely,
Robert