Videos: Jennifer Lopez and Robert Best Bring you the J-Lo Barbies

At first, I wasn't too sure about the Jennifer Lopez Barbies, but if I see them, I will most likely buy them. Here are two videos featuring Robert Best and Jennifer Lopez which discuss the process of working on the doll.  There are some nice close-ups of the dolls displayed. There are actually two videos, so when the first one ends, stay tuned for the next one.

I like the dolls as-is, but I can't wait to see how they can be customized and redressed.  Sometimes I think they look very much like J-Lo, and other times not so much.  Guess I will have to pick one of these Barbies up and see for myself.  A few of our members on the Doll Cafe Facebook group already have the doll.  Please check out these amazing pics.  The link will take you to an amazing re-root but there are various pictures of J-Lo scattered throughout the page.

Spotlight: Antarctica - The Queen of the South Pole

 

I am very pleased to bring you the breathtaking Antarctica Doll, The Queen of the South Pole designed by The Black Swan Doll Company.

You may remember my news report on The Black Swan Company from a few months ago.  I've been eagerly watching the rise of The Black Swan Doll Company in the past couple of months and their creations never cease to amaze.  Please take a few minutes to view the video featuring Antarctica. 

Antarctica is a tribute to the acclaimed designer Bob Mackie and the beautiful Barbie Fantasy Goddess of the Arctic.  The designers at the Black Swan Doll Company's Antarctica is a "sister" doll.  She is the Queen of the South Pole.

I hope you enjoy Antarctica!  Here are some pics of this beautiful creation! Click to view!

Madrid Premiere Beauty and the Madrid Fashion Doll Show Charity Auction

I wanted to share the beautiful Madrid Premiere Beauty the Convention Doll for the Madrid Fashion Doll Show held in Madrid last month.  I was fortunate enough to be offered this doll.  As a Steffie fan I was thrilled of course!  I will share more detailed pictures of her and my review and impressions in a post later this week.

As with most Barbie and Fashion Doll Conventions, the Madrid Fashion Doll Show has selected a charity to donate the proceeds of their convention funds.  That charity is the Cruz Roja España, or the Spanish Red Cross.  The Spanish Red Cross helps the most vulnerable parts of society in many ways, all of them very important. With the current financial crisis and the difficulties that many Spanish families have to face, The Spanish Red Cross helps with many different programs; one of them is collecting toys and donations for the Christmas campaign "No child without a toy."

If you like the Steffie doll, one auction I want to bring to your attention.  This is the OOAK doll "Madrid Premier Beauty Winner." She is a variation of the convention doll created by designers "MonLew."  Also known as Luis Manuel Gómez (Lewis) and Mónica Núñez.  Their dolls are "Made with the finest materials and quality fabrics... and "love is included in each of their creations."

Please take a look at all the other amazing dolls on auction that will support the charity.  They are all currently on ebay and ending very soon.   There is a gorgeous Steffie, a GaGa doll by Ovaz, a beautiful creation from The Black Swan Doll Company, an amazing OOAK from Arists Creations, a Magia Showgirl from Magia 2000, and a sketch by Linda Kyaw.  There are all types of dolls in all price ranges, please consider supporting the Spanish Red Cross and the Madrid Fashion Doll Show.

It's still October..., but Happy New Year!

If you are a member of the Barbie Fan Club on Barbie Collector mark your calendar for October 9th.  The next Holiday Hostess will be available for $75.00.  I'm excited about this doll.  I was able to see the doll in person at the 2013 Barbie Convention and I was able to snap a few pictures.  I love her vintage look and gold dress with blue accents with the crown, makeup and jewelry.  Bill Greening has done it again!

Happy New Year™ Barbie® Doll | Barbie Collector

See More pics on Flickr!

Happy October

2009 Target Happy Halloween Barbie, a photo by The Doll Cafe on Flickr.

This month I will be featuring new pics of some of my older Halloween dolls. Today I have uploaded various pics of the 2009 Target Happy Halloween Barbie. I remember when i bought this doll I really liked the little Barbie ponytail necklace. Barbie is dressed as a Halloween witch with a pink hat and pink witch dress with black accents. Barbie also has a pink streak in her hair.

Don't forget to download the October Barbie Collector calendar.   The link also contains the exclusive member's only calendar. 

Haunted Beauty Vampire Barbie Doll by Barbie Collector

Now here is a Barbie I've been waiting for. If you were a fan of last year's Haunted Beauty, The Ghost Barbie, then here is another amazing gothy-looking Barbie. I was fortunate enough to see Bill Greening's OOAK from the 2013 Barbie Convention and we were told that the Haunted Beauty Vampire would be a similar doll. She really does not disappoint. I love dolls in all black but I love the red accents and the cape this doll comes with. Here is a first look from Barbie Collector.

Hervé Léger by Max Azria Barbie® Behind The Scenes

Will this Barbie be joining your collection? There have been photographs of her popping up on the net for months. She has now been released and will be available soon. I have not ordered her yet but I do hope to order her soon. She features the Louboutin face mold and a tiny red reproduction of the famous "Bandage" Hervé Léger dress. Also featured is the black harness and matching gladiator boots. The alternate look features a black-and white jacquard dress, open-toe booties. 

I hope you enjoy this video featuring Barbie Designer Robert Best and Lubov Azria.

Video: Barbie Collector Designer Interview with Bill Greening

Enjoy the latest video from Barbie Collector:  Designer Interview with Bill Greening!  Be sure to look for the sneaks of the 50th Anniversary Skipper and the next Holiday Hostess new year Barbie!

More updates, and more regular updates coming soon! 

Barbie Convention: Sunset Parade Barbie: Buy a Barbie and Help fight Cancer!

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 Barbie Conventions are a place to have fun with your friends and fellow collectors but did you know that Barbie Conventions are arranged around charitable purposes?  Typically, convention organizers seek donations of OOAK dolls and these Barbies are auctioned off during conventions or on ebay or similar sites.  All proceeds (after allowed expenses) are donated to a charity of the convention committee's choice.

This doll is the beautiful Sunset Parade Barbie, a one of a kind design by José Luis Montesdeoca, of El Blog de Ken with sewing skills provided by Yolanda Cañete.  Convención de Coleccionistas de Barbie en España is sponsoring the auction. For this auction, all of the proceeds will support Asociación Española contra el Cáncer, a Spanish cancer charity.

Sunset Parade, was inspired by the classical origins of Barbie and the sunsets on the beach where she first fell for Ken.  Barbie, shines in a wide neck sheer top buttoned in the back, which allows you to peek at a blue and gold bikini bra, a nod to the legendary zebra striped swimsuit she in her debut. The layered styled full skirt is turquoise silk, knotted at the waist by a golden bow tie!  A perfect touch reminiscent of a big hug from Ken. Sunset Parade Barbie's subtle makeup and  nude color eyeshadow channel the golden sun.  Isn't she a dream?

I hope you take a look and spread the word.  Let's use our hobby to contribute to great causes.  Well done Jose!  Hope this Barbie brings lots of bids for your charity!  Don't you just love her?!?

Dolly Tally 001: Tarina Tarantino by Designs by Robin Studio

Tarina by Designs by Robin Studio, a photo by The Doll Cafe on Flickr.

Many of you know that the Steffie mold is my favorite mold. When the Tarina Tarantino Barbie came out in 2008 I was just floored by her beauty. This doll is an OOAK Tarina Tarantino I purchased at the 2010 Barbie Convention at the sales table of Designs by Robin Studio. I was immediately drawn to this doll. Shockingly I did not buy her right away. I think I came back later or the next day and was so happy she was still there. It was so funny because earlier that year I had purchased another OOAK Steffie doll (Barbie Basics, Collection 1.5, Model No 3.) from Robin on Ebay. Since that time I have bought many dolls from Robin and recommend her work. She is also on Ebay, Pinterest and Facebook. Check out her work and enjoy dolly number 001 in my Dolly Tally Project.

News: The Black Swan Company Q&A Hosted by Coleccionistas de Fashion dolls en Madrid

Today Coleccionistas de Fashion Dolls en Madrid ("Coleccionistas") hosted a special online Q&A with Black Swan Company's Francesco Catalano.

Coleccionistas is an active doll community based in Madrid, Spain, who will be hosting the Madrid Doll Show this fall. 

The Black Swan Company is an emerging OOAK doll based in Italy.  You can also find their creations on their Ebay page.  Please see their latest offerings.

This is the first OOAK Silkstone produced by The Black Swan Company is "White Swan Prima Ballerina."  Isn't she amazing?

White Swan Prima Ballerina Silkstone OOAK Barbie

The Black Swan Company was named after their first OOAK doll "The Black Swan" which caused a sensation in the collector world.  The company features beautiful styling with a focus on ballet, dance and fantasy.

Principal designer Francesco Catalano's focus stemmed from his love of music:  "The inspiration about ballet and dance depends on my love for the music. I am a musician and I study piano and flute since I was 9 years old. I have been in the conservatory of music with flute and I got a degree. In the world I lived I had the chance to see opera and ballet and I fell in love with The Swan Lake, Cinderella, Emerald, Don Quixote and many others I had the chance to see. I [have] love[d] Barbie since [the age of ] 5 so I tried to mix my two biggest passion in my life. The Black Swan Company is the final result of who I am.

The doll making process is not easy!  Francesco notes that, "In one year we were able to produce more than 50 dolls. 5 artists work about a week 8 hours at day to create one of our dolls."  [This does not include those] who work for the boxes, printings and certificates. Sometimes a doll requires more time, like Evanora the Witch of East who required almost 20 days of work.  

Francesco's favorite Barbie is Wind Rider, a true beauty and one of my faves!  I encourage you to learn more about OOAK artists and support these artists.  They are the ones who bring our favorite dolls to life in new and exciting ways!  Don't forget to check out The Black Swan Company's Facebook page and follow this amazing OOAK doll company and their future creations.

News: The Doll Cafe Lives!

LOL, no, I wasn't dead but you'd think I was.  I'm shocked that my last post was April 28, 2012.  It seems like this time of year my doll collecting passion is re-awakened.  Well, maybe it's more of my my pre-Barbie Convention panic mode!

Convention this year will be held in New Orleans!  Wow, that's so exciting.  Being the homebody that I am, I have never traveled to that area of the country so I'm seeing the World with Barbie once again this year!!  I'm excited to report that my daughter Steff will be joining me for the second year in a row.  Her first Barbie Convention last year was a blast!  Here is an amazing picture of the beautiful dolls we both received as gifts from our generous table hostess last year Jen M.  Do you see some Steffies and Basics in there?  Boy aren't we lucky!!??!!

I hope that you have been following our Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr, or Instagram posts.  Did you know we also have a Tumbler?  Just choose your favorite online platform and join us for the dolly fun.  Also, be sure to check out our Facebook Group and the Model Muse and Steffie pages online.


For future blogging I will be tagging posts with useful titles with labels and will try to post daily (ok, you've heard that before).  Most of our news will be posted on Facebook and Twitter so I will use this blog to feature pictures from our collection, doll news, and in a continuing attempt to count our dolls we will also be featuring a post on each doll in our collection so we can keep a handle on it all.

Thanks for all your support, comments and suggestions.  Keep reading for more dolly centered fun.

-The Doll Cafe