Alyrenee's Copious Spare Time

Sorry it has been FOREVER since I have blogged.  I have been working my fanny off at my new day job (professor at UW-Madison) and had little time for anything else. And, I have to say bluntly, I have been feeling a whole lot less enthusiastic about a lot of things lately, but dolls especially.  Don't get me wrong, I still love them and have still bought more than a few over the last year. But I have only managed to unbox a few of my purchases in the last year...so I've got a big pile up waiting for me. I finally have a bit of time off and I am hoping to spend some more time with the collection. Also, I want to do some serious purging.  I am registered for the 2024 convention and planning to do room sales. So I am considering bringing a serious checked bagged filled with dolls. I think pairing down will let me focus and enjoy what I actually have more. So planning a brutal "no mercy" purge. But there are always lows and highs with a hobby right? Of the dolls released i...

  The 2023 Club year was a bit of a sloppy drunk.  Let's call her Sheila. Sheila is generally good fun, but occasionally she takes FOREVER, says the wrong thing, over-serves herself, and then spends a lot of time apologizing. Get a hold of yourself, Sheila! Here is a photo showing what I ordered from this year (though it is missing the Wildflower Misaki doll which I did order. This is easily the least amount of stuff I have ordered in a club year. I really liked all of the True Industry line up but was trying to be good. I already have versions that I love of all of those characters and don't want to repeat sculpts with them. I did not have a Jasper or an Auden though and I liked them both enough to enter in the lottery. I got Auden but not Jasper sadly (hoping I will find a takeover later). At the slightly reduced club pricing, the sticker shock of the new high prices was not as bad for what is basically the same Dynamite Girls dolls we used to get for like $60 back in t...

I am looking at my cabinet...what has come and gone over this year? Well, I recently re-did the layout of the two Ikea detolfs that I have. I am most definitely running out of room and sweating the impending Jem-a-lanche. I moved my custom Blythe to my office...also Katy Keene and the East 59th Squad to my office collection to make some more room for Jem. I picked up the Divine Intervention Victoire head this year for a good price.  I love a good hair streak and I had a matching East 59th body so it was a win win. Other than that, no new East 59th gals for me this year.  As for Jem, I brought the Flipside Up-n-Rockin Jem and box to my office to display but added the Jerrica to the cabinet at home. I did not keep any of the dolls from the Perfect Match set...just the fashions and the sweet stand. I have the misfits two doll set on pre-order.  I entered the lottery for Aja and Shana. Pizazz may or may not stay when she gets here.   The Industry shelf is getting su...

One day down.  I did some DAMAGE.  I rarely purchase this many gals at convention with the intention to keep. Gonna have to do some purging to make room (or reorganizing at the very least). Thoughts on today's offerings below... Item # 88062 Carry On Janay™ Dressed Doll The 2020 Integrity Toys 25th Anniversary Convention: Legendary The Industry Welcome Doll Limited Edition: 600 Dolls Head Sculpt: Janay 2.0 Body Type: Industry 1.0 Foot Sculpt: High-heeled Skin Tone: Light Honey Hair Color: Golden Brown and Dark Brown Mix Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied Quickswitch: No She's adorable...even cuter in the video they have of her. I've seen complaints...but I am fan and excited to add her to my Industry shelf along with Sookie. I was worried we weren't going to get much in way of Industry but these are both great.  Item # 91504 Integrity Doll-sized T-shirt The 2020 Integrity Toys 25th Anniversary Convention: Legendary Souvenir Limited Edition: 600 Shirts Super cute.  A nice l...

Well this morning started with a bit of a whimper due to technical difficulties. This pushed everything  back an hour. But whatever.  Then they unloaded a crapload of IT direct exclusives on us.  I was SUPER bummed to see no Misaki.  WHYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!  Anyhow... here's the round up with my thoughts. First...swell packaging.  Can't wait to see this gorgeous Agnes.  I am guessing she might be tonight's souvenir? Who knows. Some are speculating that she is the W Club centerpiece with Giselle being the souvenir. I am skeptical since we got Giselle last year.  ***Update, this Agnes will be the 25th Anniversary doll offered made-to-order to all W Club members. Huzzah! Item # 91508 Legendary Shoe Wardrobe The 2020 Integrity Toys 25th Anniversary Convention: Legendary Fashion Royalty ®  Convention Salesroom Limited Edition: 600 Sets Expected Ship Date: Late Nov. Special Convention Price: $65.00 Designed to Fit the Fashion Royalty Body Thud....

So for the purposes of this 2019 dolly year in the review, I'm not counting the countless plastic broads on pre-order still (the three Retrofuture ladies, Colette, Mdm. Eden, and Ocean Drive Agnes).  At this point I can't even remember why I ordered that Agnes and might try to pass her on....le sigh. I am also opening this up to dolls from year's past that are recent acquisitions to my collection. So, without further ado, here are my personal favs that I added to my doll collection in 2019 (in no particular order). #1 Awakening Annik The wait was long for this doll but I think she is really cool.  I got lucky and mine had good hair. #2 Heads Up Poppy Parker Yellow! Super cute. The style lab this year was pretty stellar. I just broke down and sold the copper redhead.  She was cute but I try to keep the Poppy squad to a minimum lest they rise up and take over the world. #3 Groovy Poppy in Beauty Blossoms: I love the color of her pigtail...

Well, hello there. I've been here since Wednesday afternoon and I am already dog tired from room sales and running around the hotel.  But enough complaining because dolls are afoot... Item # 91467 Fresh Perspective Baroness Agnes Von Weiss ™ Welcome Doll The 2019 Integrity Toys Convention: Live From Fashion Week Edition Size: 700 Head Sculpt: Agnes Von Weiss Body Type: FR Foot Sculpt:   High Heel Skin Tone: Hungarian  Hair Color: Caramel Blonde Eyelashes: Yes Quickswitch: No The Welcome doll was Agnes.  She is cute but I'm not in love. The streaky silver brocade of the bandeau top is repeated in the collection Eugenia dress.  The same style in black was also used in the OOAK Tulabelle so I wonder if the black version will appear in the dolls for tonight's dinner.  Hmmmm.  I do really like her accessories though.  Item # 91468 English Rose Eugenia Perrin-Frost™ Dressed Doll ...