Everyone Needs Playtime

In our hectic, modern lives, many of us focus so heavily on work and family commitments that we never seem to have time for pure fun. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing.

When we carve out some leisure time, we’re more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer than engage in fun, rejuvenating play like we did as children. But play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well.

There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself. By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap oodles of health benefits throughout life.

Featured post

Challenge Meme

Seven years ago I issued a challenge to celebrate 20 years of the modern BJD, that I had also done three years previously. As things have be...

Tuesday

Curiosity & The 1920's

Since reading a recent post by RM where she admits she "HATES keeping her dolls in their boxes", I've been wondering just how many of my readers are doll collectors and how many are simply doll investors?

To clarify that question ~ to my thinking, a doll collector will remove their dolls and "play" with them by re-dressing, re-rooting, re-painting, photographing, using them to tell stories or pose in dioramas. Whereas a doll investor will simply store their dolls in boxes, only to sell them on at a later date, often at a huge profit.

I admit I am very hands on and have removed all my dolls from their boxes since beginning my doll collecting journey. Though I must add, I do keep them in a special doll room free of dust and protected from sunlight. 

Redressing them with clothes I have made for them, re-rooting their hair when the need arises is something I enjoy. So is photographing them in the dioramas I make, even though my photography is somewhat lacking, but most of all I enjoy sharing the hobby with likeminded people such as yourselves.

I'm guessing that my regular readers (the ones who take the time to chat/comment) are more likely to be doll collectors. That's not to say they don't sell dolls on, we all do that, more often to make room for new arrivals or at least help pay for them. However, I would still love to read opinions on this subject.

On a lighter note, it's thanks to RM and her post, that I finally have a grail Barbie. Yes, you read that line right, I'm actually on the hunt for a a Barbie doll!!

This fabulous 1920 Silkstone Barbie sold on eBay from a private collection with a price tag of US$2,500. No way am I paying that price though.

Silkstone Barbie dolls were introduced in 2000 and are also known as Fashion Model Barbies. They have become very popular among collectors and clothing designers alike, though looking at some of their faces I'm left to wonder why? 

However, this 1920's doll which featured at the Madrid Fashion Doll Show Convention in 2021 is a real stunner. I can visualize her on stage, singing at The White Panther Jazz Club, can you?

In the meantime I have settled on another 1920's styled doll, she is an Enigmatic Reinvention Nadia Phan from the Integrity Toys Meteor Range.

Though I must admit her very long swan like neck needs something other than long dangling earrings to do her justice and I'd prefer her dress length to be more in keeping with the fashion of the day. However, given some time, I think I can remedy both. :)

I would also like to make her a suitable wardrobe of day clothes. That will take some time and as I have several other things on the go at the moment, it will probably be quite a lengthy time.

There's also a boy coming from the USA, but I will share him when he arrives. It looks like I'm going to be busy with dolls for sometime, so you all keep on having fun with yours and I'll be back in a little while. 😘

Saturday

News from the Studio

Since arriving home from my holiday I have been busy with my room box and have changed my colour scheme for the Fleur & Ruban boutique. Using two of the walls from the Library and a plain wall from the yet to be completed Kids Bedroom, I settled on a yellow and grey pallet.

I have also begun assembling the Atomic Age Living Room and it just needs a few accessories like wall art, curtains, perhaps some lighting and minor incidentals to complete the look, but this is how it looks so far.


As you can see by the photo below this colour scheme was incredibly popular during the 1940's, though I chose to go with a timber floor rather than the marbled linoleum.

PHOTO CREDIT: Armstrong Linoleum / American Home



Friday

Two Weeks in Singapore

Whilst I was there I went to Magma Heritage, the most wonderful doll store where you can find an amazing array of dolls for adult collectors. If you are ever travelling to Singapore, I recommend you add this to your list of places to visit.

Super Star and Adonis dolls
Blythe and to the left Sindy dolls
Dolls on the top shelf belong to Margaret
Barbie, Momoko and J Dolls

The owners of the store Madison and his mother Margaret, made me very welcome and helped me find exactly what I was looking for. They are both avid doll collectors themselves and are happy for you to have a good look around and are interested in what dolls you collect yourself. 


Sweet Poodle Momoko: (Code: SGC21700 released 31st January, 2006)
Dressed up in what the Japanese like to call "Gothic Lolita", this Momoko doll has a pink poodle on her hand bag and comes with a doll stand to keep her safely on display!


Good Night Cherry: (Code: SGC21693 released 11th October, 2005)
Ready for bed, this sweet Momoko doll is dressed in a light nightgown, white bathrobe, cute nightcap and even white slippers trimmed in pink. And of course she carries her "cherry" pillow and comes with a doll stand.

These were both NRFB and as they both pose so well they really don't need their stands. They came in a hot pink (almost red) box with a clear see through panel with the Sekiguchi - PetWorks logo on the box.


The dolls were a little more expensive than their original release price, however, at 300SGD for both dolls (AU$330), they were much less than the prices asked for them on eBay and there was no postage to pay!

I'll share some more photos once I'm back in a routine at home and have caught up with all your blog posts.