New 2009 Dolls Announced

We interrupt our Barbie and The Diamond Castle coverage today to report on the new dolls announced by Mattel. They have announced the several new dolls in the Barbie Fashion Model Collection (Silkstone). What is interesting about the Silkstones for 2009 is that they will feature homages to vintage Barbies. There will also be an African American doll in the collection! There will also be a special 50th Anniversary doll designed by Robert Best. She will have a golden ball gown and is very regal. The My Favorite Barbie® Doll Collection will bring you the most beloved and iconic Barbies reproduced for her 50th anniversary. These dolls were designed by Bill Greening. The Dolls of the World Collection is back with four new offerings designed by Linda Kyaw. Other repro dolls to be produced will be Julia and Becky! That gift set features two extra outfits. A doll that was announced several months ago is the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Barbie. Photographs of her have finally been released. She has articulated arms and ballerina pointed feet. Finally for Model Muse lovers there is a set of 3 Corvette Barbie dolls with two straight arms and a Mackie face. There is a pink, yellow and red version with white painted on gloves. There are a few pictures and a lot more information at My Favorite Doll and Vogue 41.

I had the opportunity to see some of these dolls in the production stage several months ago. You will not be disappointed by the beauty and variety in the 2009 line! Go Barbie, 50 more very happy birthdays!

Barbie Shanghai Dolls

Just announced today to Barbie Fan Club members is a special international release of "Barbie Shanghai Dolls." Planned for an international release later this fall, there will be 2,000 of these Barbies available to Barbie Fan Club members. There are two dolls featured and they are styled with shopping bags and a puppy dogs with doggy carriers. There is a blonde doll and a brunette doll and they appear to have the Goddess face mold. You should have received an email from Barbie Collector announcing these dolls if you are a fan club member. I will post more information as soon as it is available. It appears that these dolls are playline dolls and look like Fashion Fever dolls with belly button bodies.

The Barbie Collector shop is offering a discount on the purchase of two or more Dolls of the World. Now might be a great time to pick up Sumatra. Be sure to use the links here at the blog! She is also on sale at Toys R Us online for $13.98 in the U.S.

Little Red is a Cutie

Sorry for the lack of updates! I've been very busy with a Barbie related project. I'll report on that very soon! I'll likely go back and fill in for missing days. Barbie Collector recently announced a new Model Muse storybook character doll, "Little Red." An eagle eye member of the Barbie Collector forum spotted the doll on the Amazon Japan website and a few days later the doll was posted in the sneaks. Naturally, there is mixed reaction to this doll because of the larger head and the somewhat risque outfit. For the collector who likes a little whimsy or just likes the Model Muse body sculpt, this doll is a must have! Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf is due in September. She will be a Silver Label doll and a Toys R Us exclusive.

Here is a recent addition to my ever-growing Steffie collection. Miss India has such a sweet face! I'm still not sure if I should de-box her or not.

If You Sleep, You Missed Her!

I discussed the Platinum Label Walmart exclusive Japan Barbie a few posts ago. I knew she was going to be really hard to obtain after Mattel announced that she would be Platinum Label and only available at Walmart but I didn't think I had to lose sleep over her! It seems she went online early this morning sometime after Midnight Pacific Time. By three a.m. she was sold out! So a $70 dollar doll becomes a $350 doll almost overnight! Actually, I'm not all that broken up about it. I did manage to get the foreign exclusive version of this doll so I'll live. It's hard for me to tell but it looks like the Japan Barbie has a Goddess face mold. Maybe it's just the facial screening that's different. Well, good luck to all who obtained her for themselves. For those that resell at those outrageous prices, well, that's their choice but it's sad that actual collectors don't have a chance to obtain a doll just because they had to get some sleep!

On a lighter note, I received my lot of dolls from Ebay with the nude 70s Cher! I really wanted an extra of this doll to re-dress but by the time I wanted an extra the prices had gone up so high! I got Cher in a lot with other nude MM dolls and the seller even included two extra MMs and some extra clothes including this cute dress from Modern Circle Melody. I think the dress really looks like one of the dresses that Cher used to wear in the 70s that were off the shoulder like that. I'm very happy with my new Cher. I see a lot of redressing opportunities in the future. . .

Platinum, Very Desirable

In the world of Barbie, platinum is very desirable. A Platinum Label doll that is. Platinum Label dolls are exclusive, elusive, and very limited. They are dolls are produced in editions of less than 1,000 worldwide, including premium one-of-a-kind dolls available at select events, like Barbie Conventions. There are also Platinum Label dolls of more widely released dolls like the Carolina Herrera Bride FAO version. The next one I am stalking is Japan, Doll of the World for Asia. She will be a Walmart exclusive. She will be available online and in limited stores. Her production numbers haven't been released but they could be less than 1,000. Her price is still a mystery. She is the Platinum version of the Gold Label Asian Market Happy New Year Barbie.

For today's picture, I think Miss Gone Platinum Diva fits in with all that is Platinum! She has received a new body (of course), courtesy of Cynthia Rowley, and her stunning dress from Lone Star Great. All I can say when I see this doll is Foxy Lady! Here she is originally.

Have I Gone Too Far?

No news on the Grand Opening Today. Still doing working on the forum and the final touches. I'm hoping the Grand Opening will take place sometime by the weekend! There are always delays in a new undertaking though . . .

Today I won a doll on Ebay I've been wanting for a long time. She is Kate Spade Barbie. I'm always watching for a good price and I'm happy with what I paid. I sold some things recently so I have the Paypal funds to cover her cost! I can't wait to receive her!

I thought long and hard about rebodying Princess of the Nile. I bought her nude on Ebay so it wasn't a matter of de-boxing her and removing her beautiful outfit. When I first got her I wasn't enamored by her. I put her in a box and left her there for a long time. In my big Barbie clean-up starting last President's Day, I found her again. She looked so lonesome without clothes or any friends. She spoke to me this time. I thought I should at least clothe her. Still she sat waiting for the right outfit. I found another box with an extra dressed Monte Carlo Barbie and a little light bulb went off. I could transform this Princess of the Nile into the Queen of the Runway. So here she is with just a direct body switch from Ms. Monte Carlo. I'm still not sure though. Should I keep her this way? I keep thinking, have I gone too far?

And The Beat Goes On . . .

The corporation, let's call them Em! Well Em is still giving me some trouble. Things are not as smoothed out as I had hoped. It's a lawyer thing and a money thing! I wish that Em would realize what a great promotional vehicle they had. Oh well.

The Doll Cafe is becoming a very warm and inviting place. As we ready for the grand opening many people are working hard behind the scenes. Yours truly was trying to figure how to work on blogger (it's my first blog here) and found an amazing blog about an American living in Spain and working as an English teacher for the last seven years. Wow, I spent hours there!

Anyhow, reading that blog took me back to the times I travelled there. In honor of the wonderful time I spent in Spain I share with you my beautiful Spain Doll of the World. She looks quite different now but here she is in all her original glory. Viva Espana!