Arwen

Arwen--inspired by one of my favorite authors J.R.R. Tolkien.
Tonner's Sister Dreary doll as Arwen
Gorgeous One of a Kind gown by Sherry I.

My ANGELS

Of course there are Angels in my collection!!!

Wild Inspiration Daphne wearing Tonner's Torch Song Goddess.

Kara of Krypton wearing a One of a Kind Gown --a gift made by my beloved friend Sherry I.

Phantom Zone Supergirl wearing Tonner's Women in the Media Awards gown.

Beautiful Ashleigh repaint created by my dear friend, Donna B. of Designs by Donna. Wearing Franklin Mint. Wig by me.

One of a Kind needle felted lamb by Shiloh, my daughter.

OOAK Tonner Carrie Repaint--- LiLing

Beautiful One of a Kind Carrie by Pamela Reasor.
Wearing a beautiful Kimono by Natasha.
Jewelry by Shiloh Winter Jewelry.
Her new name is : LiLing
which translates to: "the tinkling of jade pendants" (for her jade eyes.)

My Layne Reese Collection

One of my favorite dolls in Tonner's collection is Layne Reese. I love Asian dolls, so I was thrilled when Robert Tonner added Layne into Tyler's world. I'm blessed to own 3 Laynes. Women in the Media Awards Layne
My first Tonner doll in my collection given to me by my dear friend Helene S.
Wearing Tonner's Spring Dance Sayuri Ensemble.
Jewelry by Shiloh Winter Jewelry.

FAO Schwartz exclusive Azure Layne

Jewelry by Shiloh Winter Jewelry

OOAK Layne Reese, Tian Shi ("angel" in Chinese) a special gift by Lynn of Ravenzdolls

Wearing Tonner

Jewelry by

Shiloh Winter Jewelry

Kishiko-- a Mei-toinette

Kishiko (Japanese for "from the seashore") in Tonner's Panache
and wearing a silver crinkle organza top, and jewelry by me.



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One of the best new dolls in Robert Tonner's collection is Antoinette. She has the most adorable little body, and her poseability is off the charts. One of my favorite classic Tonner dolls is Mei Li. What could be more perfect than a hybrid of the two? So---a Frankendolly experiment was undertaken, and Mei-toinette was the result!!!


I've found that the only doll that works coloring wise is the First Appointment Mei Li. The Bloom Antoinette body is the closest color match to First Appointment. Unfortunately, the new Mei Li dolls (though a perfect color match to Bloom) are too big in the neck hole. Hoping Robert Tonner takes this idea and runs with it. I've shown him pictures, and I'm dreaming.

Kishiko was rerooted & re-homed to one of my beloved friends, Sherry. Now she's called Lijuan...(photos by Sherry I.)

Aunt Sue's Museum of Dolls

As a child and young adult, there was nothing more fascinating than a trip to my mom's best friend's "museum." Well, it wasn't actually a museum--it was her home-- but we always viewed it as a museum because Aunt Sue had THE most amazing collections of anyone. I absolutely adore my Aunt Sue and she is one of the sweetest, and most interesting people I've ever known. The crowning jewels in Aunt Sue's collections (there were many collections because she was a world traveler) were her Madame Alexander dolls. I think she owns just about every one ever made. My sister and I used to stand before her curio cabinet for HOURS and just wonder in amazement at her dolls.

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When I was about 10, Aunt Sue told me that I could choose any two, and they would be a gift for Christmas. I chose a little Scottish girl (our family is part Scot---my beloved Poppy was a Mac Ilwraith) and Scarlett O'Hara (it was all because of the gown.) (Oddly, I remember that my sister chose India, and I say odd because the majority of my doll collection as an adult are Indian dolls. Interesting.)

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Here's the poor Scottish lass. She's lost her shoes, and socks, and her tam. (My girls decided to "play" with her one day---to my horror--and some pieces went missing.) Poor Scarlett was a victim of age, and her stringing rotted. I actually restrung her last week for my 8 year old daughter to have in her collection. Her beautiful gown is all yellowed and faded with age, so she's been redressed. (I'm showing some age too. Hee hee.) Still, there are many happy memories that reside in these dolls. Here is where my doll collecting began.

The Girl Who Started it All -- Barbie

35th Anniversary Barbie, and Solo in the Spotlight Barbie are gifts from my beloved friend, Ginny W.


In 1973, I got my first "Barbie doll"-- a 1972 Pose and Play Skipper giftset. My mom was hesistant about me having a "grown-up" doll like Barbie, so to celebrate my little sister's birth, I got sweet little Skipper. This was a pivotal event in my life, and started a love story.

In 1974, my mom caved and got me a "grown up" Barbie. She was an Gold Medal PJ. PJ, who later was known as "Veronica" or "Ronnie" (after one of my mom's girlfriends) remained my favorite doll throughout my childhood. She was my "first doll love."

A couple of years later, my Aunt Judy was moving to her own place, and blessed me with her vintage Barbie collection as an heirloom because she noticed how nicely I took care of my dolls, and how much I loved them. For years, I kept the whole collection ---including a 1959 Barbie Ponytail, a 1961 Ken, a 1963 Midge, a 1964 Skipper, and a 1964 Alan.

There were also a TON of ensembles for Barbie---Floral Petticoat, Nighty Negligee, Sweet Dreams, Wedding Day, Silken Flame, Friday Night Date, Solo in the Spotlight, Enchanted Evening, American Airline, Ballerina, Registered Nurse, Tennis Anyone, Ice Breaker, Masquerade, Dinner at Eight (my personal favorite), Senior Prom....to name a few. Ken had an enormous list of clothes, and so did Skipper.

I kept all of these items, including a host of others that I acquired in the 70's and early 80's, in mint, complete condition.

In 2005, following some very difficult times health-wise for my family, I chose to sell my entire vintage collection. It was a hard decision, but I know that fully giving of one's self always results in blessing. It was so true. As my very last items were auctioned up on Ebay, I discovered the amazing world of repainting. Everything had come full circle, and a new adventure was about to begin.

Iris in True Romance

During a momentary lapse of sanity, I almost let this girl go. Thanks to an angel of a friend, Susanne, she remains in my collection. Here is the beautiful Iris from the Metrodolls Garden Party. She's a Daphne sculpt (one of my favorite sculpts by Robert Tonner) and she is wearing Madame Alexander's True Romance (Madame Alexander clothing is another obsession of mine.)

Daphnes

As of December, I've had to sell every one of my Daphnes. These are the dolls that once graced my collection. Sigh.

Daphne reigns supreme in my personal collection. I think she is THE most beautiful sculpt that Robert Tonner has ever created. (Supergirl ties with Daphne IMHO. I actually think they could be sisters.) Here are a few of my favorite Daphnes.

Shown here:
Special Engagement Daphne in her original dress.

Cannes Opening Daphne in her original dress.

Diversion at Dinner wearing Monaeglow. (This particular Daphne reminds me of my mom.)

Daphne Starr of the Red Carpet wearing Tonner's Autumn Gold

Moonlight Mystery wearing Haute Doll Miss World Sydney's Gown.

Touch of Teal wearing Madame Alexander's Model Perfect.

Arrival At Port OOAK repaint...now Tiernan Finn...wearing a beautiful OOAK velvet gown by Ilse of MaxAmy Design, and a hooded cape by Kathi M. Necklace by Shiloh Winter Jewelry from the Celtic Christmas Collection. (Tiernan has since been rehomed.)

Wild Inspiration wearing Franklin Mint. Jewelry by Shiloh Winter Jewelry.

Raven Iris from the Metrodolls Garden Party Luncheon (Daphne sculpt) enhanced by me and
wearing Antoinette's Symphonic Ensemble by Robert Tonner.

Metrodolls Congac Iris wearing Franklin Mint Titanic Dinner Dress Ensemble

Fashion Royalty Ishas

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I absolutely love East Indian dolls, so when I discovered that Jason Wu's Fashion Royalty dolls had an Indian doll, Isha, I was in heaven.

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In blue--my jewel of my Fashion Royalty Collection-- Age of Opulance Isha.

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Left to right -- Final Cut Cannes Edition Isha (acquired in a trade as a rerooted version of the doll), Riveting Premiere Isha, and Close-Up Isha. The girls are wearing Mattel items excluding the white beaded kurta which was created by Caren. The Final Cut Isha, on the left, was later repainted by Dawn of One Sixth Sense. You can see the transformation if you look in my blog under "Saffron."

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I'm still hoping to acquire Purple Pose Isha dressed, and Final Cut--Cannes Edition and Hollywood edition --dressed. Dreams do come true. I never imagined that I'd ever see Age of Opulance in my collection, and was blessed to add her during Christmas 2009.

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She is an Elf afterall ....

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If Deepika Sheherazade ventured into Middle Earth, her name would be translated to Caladwen Arwen in Elvish ("light" and "nobility.") She is an Elfdoll afterall, so it's highly likely she might be a part of Tolkien's realm in Lothlorien. Humor me---I'm a Tolkien fanatic. LOL

Aishwarya

The one who got away. This doll belongs in my collection. She was a former Mera that I repainted and rerooted. SOME day I'll find her and bring her back home. Otherwise, I'm hoping to make her a twin sister. She was inspired by the exquisite Bollywood actress, former Miss Universe, Aishwarya Rai.