Robin! I agree with everything you write. Very
well stated, too. (You may now return your brain to it's dusty
shelf.)
Yeah, I do collect--VERY DARNED LITTLE. This year I
bought 3 vinyl little girl dolls. I went through a pseudo-mommy
phase. I think the menopause is beginning. And I have bought 3 of
the Little Cousins dolls. They remind me of Baby Face dolls from
1990. The line has about 12 dolls, but I bought the 3 that represent my
personality. And I'm going to be picking up my DLD dolls from Laura
Meisner at the Doll and Teddy Bear Expo next month. These dolls have
broken the bank for this year's collecting budget, but I am having every whim
and fantasy met with these jewels. I have to believe that a MIB Dollikins
can be mine, yet, and it begins with setting the tone for my
standards.
I've had to RESTRAIN myself completely from buying Tonner
dolls, too. The fashions of those dolls send me! But I'm not quite
over the top with the facial screening. But Sydney is a stunner,
nevertheless. I buy dolls now that I can visualize where and how in my
house they will fit in for display purposes.
Did anyone get this month's Dolls magazine and read that
woman's article about how she went about liquidating her years' of doll
collecting stuff? I printed out Pat Feick's email she sent to our Lst
about her liquidating dolls and stuff and I am determined I won't get more mired
with stuff I can't fully see and appreciate.
Dollikins dolls and Valentine vintage jointed dolls definitely
wow! me, still. Multi-jointed dolls get me and great faces still thrill
me. Pat
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 11:45
AM
Subject: Re: look! And Many Questions
from Pat Brown
Hi Pat,
As usual you ask good questions. Gets me to pondering, but darn, I was just
getting use to those ole cobwebs in the brain. I mean, dolls are about
imagination and escapism, right? and here you go wanting us to think, lol.
Well, I reckon there is no "definitive" answer for what an "adult" collector
is because tastes in dolls are so diverse, as is the reason we want to collect
(deboxers who play; purists who (what?) and wouldn’t dream of deboxing). I
think we coin the term "adult" as a simple way of separating the dolls we
would allow children to play with (usually inexpensive) and the dolls adults
collect (usually more expensive). Children beat up their dolls in the normal
course of play, whereas adults handle their dolls with a mind to protecting
them (either for their aesthetics or for their monetary value). "Adult"
collectors usually want a doll with an adult appearance, the sculpt needs to
be more chiseled, the clothes more haute couture, the allure somewhat sexy,
the appearance sophisticated. I think we prefer children to play with simpler,
less sexualized versions. Does anyone have a differing viewpoint or
definition?
I started collecting Candi in 98/99 but haven’t bought a new one in two
years. I don’t retain the initial excitement I had for her because I’ve been
wowed by the fresh and enticingly mature 16" Tonner dolls. However, Candi
remains my fav 11.5" doll. I’ve gotten into digital photography, Photoshop,
webpages and dioramas. The whole process is very creative and while I am
amateurish and have a lot to learn, it allows me to use my dolls in a new and
delightful way. Candi’s grown-up appearance is useful for my scenes because of
her versatility, she can be switched from plain to sexy with a change of
outfit/hair style, and I guess that’s why I don’t like the new Candi with the
exaggerated eye makeup, her appearance can’t be changed.
What is the marketing direction of Integrity/Hamilton? What collector is
being targeted? I don’t know. They haven’t met my expectations,
hence I haven’t bought a new Candi in two years. I think the Silkstones are
well done but I’m not into a ‘50/60’s theme and wouldn’t know how to play with
her, though I have bought a couple of them for the outfits/accessories.
Pat, do any dolls wow you? Do you still collect?
Best to all
Robin
Pat Brown <nqsqurtz@staffnet.com> wrote:
For
my money's worth, the makeup is reminiscent of the Asian Candi done
by
Mikelman in 1996. What I mean by that is that makeup was heavy and
made a
sensation because it was so obviously painted. Maybe the blue and
pink
tones of the eyeshadow were over the top making the makeup was a
bit
controversial for the times.
So, when I see the screening on
this particular Candi, I'm not overwhelmed
with awe, but I find what I
see appealing. I would like to see the African
American with this
screening. Is that photo available, too?
What is the marketing
direction that Candis are taking to set them apart
from Barbie
Collectibles' dolls? What is the collector that is being
targeted? Rene
and Robin, both, refer to something called the "adult"
collector. What
defines an adult collector and why would Candi appeal to
this kind of
collector that Silkstone Barbies wouldn't? Or why do both
kinds of dolls
appeal to "adult" collectors? Just who and what is an adult
collector of
FASHION dolls?
Rene points out that the appeal these Candi dolls have
is that they have an
"adult couture look that is different from more
mundane looking dolls." Is
it possible that Candi dolls have never
represented the mundane by virtue of
the ethnicities they've tried to
capture? What else about them makes them
less mundane?
I ask all
these questions because my mind's eye is not so attuned to nuances
as it
once was, and I'm hard-pressed to fully experience Candis today. It
could
be that the way the dolls wowed me in 1996 has become mundane to me.
So I
don't mean to throw cold water on any other collector's enthusiasn
for
the dolls. How do any of you original Candi collectors maintain
your
excitement for the dolls? And I know there a many of you still on
this List
that can answer that question. Regards, Pat Brown
-----
Original Message -----
From: Rene O'Brien
To:
pa_nz@ ; Candi Dolls
Sent: Tuesday,
July 09, 2002 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: look!
> I think in this
case Integrity is trying something
> new, instead of giving us what
we've seen before. The
> line is fantastic, IMO, I am picking two up
when they
> arrive in the States. They dolls have a very adult
>
"couture" look about them that is different from the
> more mundane
looking dolls we've seen before.
> The amount of detail, and quality,
the hair styles,
> and even the packaging of the New Integrity Candis
are
> something not previously seen on the Candi line before
>
Integrity took over, and I am glad to see our favorite
> gal being
raised to a whole new level!
>
> Rene
> --- "pa_nz@"
wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for sharing this,
Rene. It's always good to
> > look at dolls that have been
photographed so well.
> > The overall appearance of this dolls is
quite
> > wonderful, it obviously has had a lot of thought
and
> > artistry put into its making. She has a wonderful
>
> sophisticated and glamorous look that appeals to the
> > adult
collector, but frankly I'm not real crazy
> > about the exaggerated
eye make-up. What do the rest
> > of you think? Will any of you buy
her, and if so, I
> > assume the eye make-up would be part of the
appeal,
> > but why?
> > Best to all
> >
Robin
> >
> > Rene O'Brien
wrote:
> >
http://www.xynadra.com/bbs/barbie/messages/5754.html
> >
>
> Rene
> >
> >
__________________________________________________
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Yahoo!?
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>
> http://sbc.yahoo.com
> >
> >
> >
>
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