Two for a Make Over

I recently found this pair on eBay for a song and I couldn't resist bringing them home to have a make over! Their faces looked almost as good as the day they were made and they still had most of their original clothes and their earrings, which are usually one of the first things to disappear.

I had absolutely no idea at all who the dolls they were, so I began to research. Information on the gal on the left was quickly found. She's a 1993 My Pretty Topsy Tail made by the American company Tyco. Standing 34cm (approx. 13.5") tall with decal or painted eyes, she's quite a sweetie. I have all the clothes for this doll as shown in the photos below, but not the accessories for styling her hair.

I found the photos below on the internet and you can see the original Topsy Tail had beautiful long blonde hair that could be styled. I am hoping with a good wash and added conditioner I can smooth her fuzzy ends. My fingers are crossed the hair will respond well and be simple to restyle.

Looking at the two boxes, there may have been two separate releases of this doll. Although the one on the right in the bottom photo, who's hair looks like it may have been played with, could have just been repacked in a different box.

TYCO HISTORY: Tyco is well known amongst collectors for it's steam engines and train sets. By the mid 1980s, Tyco dominated the market in electric racing, also producing "slot trucks" as well as radio controlled vehicles. It made a hit in 1991 with their Disney's Little Mermaid dolls that were released in conjunction with the movie. Tyco's Sesame Street line increased dramatically in popularity in 1996, when the plush doll Tickle Me Elmo became the most sought-after toy of the Christmas season. When Tyco was purchased by Mattel on March 27, 1997, it was the third largest toy company in the United States. The Tyco brand survived into the early 2010's as a division of Mattel.

The other doll I purchased, proved to be much more of a challenge, and it took quite a while to find anything at all relating to this doll. However, my persistence paid off and the research finally produced results. She's a 1993 Pretty & Me Doll by ToyBiz.

This very cute doll was seen in the 1993 J.C.Penny Xmas catalog. She stands 36cm (approx. 14") tall, and comes with pink earrings, coloured streaks in her beautiful blonde hair, acrylic fixed eyes with real lashes, eye shadow, painted lips, toe nails and finger nails.

Her original outfit consisted of pants with printed hearts, a pink top with heart centre front, an over skirt and matching pink sandals as shown in the photo. Mine, unfortunately, is missing her pants and sandals.  As the doll herself is quite a rare find, I will probably have to make replacements myself.

TOYBIZ HISTORY: ToyBiz originated in Montreal, Quebec as Charan Industries's American brand. ToyBiz later went on to become ToyBiz/Marvel Toys, in 2007 they dropped the ToyBiz branding which to me seemed rather odd as it was in January of 2007 that the Marvel licence was obtained by Hasbro. Marvel Toys continued to produce non-Marvel trademarked brands until late 2007, after this time, the division quietly dissolved with their website going down in 2008.

Just When I Thought I Was Safe . . .

Fairyland are releasing two new Real Fees and a Fantasy Art Line. When I first saw this photo on DoA (Coco with FAL body) I thought she looked right up my alley, but on seeing the open eyed version I was a tiny bit disappointed.

But then I saw the Toki version and immediately new he would be coming home. Fortunately hubby liked him too, so it was soon agreed that he would be my Christmas present this year.

No photos have been officially released yet, but I can tell you he's really very cute. If you are on FB you can see preview shots here.

Of course Toki will end up a SHE and a fairy to boot!

27/6 Updated photo of the Toki full set with upgraded eyes, which hubby is purchasing for me, though Toki's sleeping plate, shoes and axe will come unpainted. I will use the clothing as a secondary outfit for either Nomios or Rugierro.

Photo courtesy of Fairyland

My First Black Haired Beauty by Götz

Look who's coming home to me . . . her name is Avery and she is an Asian equestrian from the FAO Schwartz Classic Doll line by Götz. She wears her hair in a bob without a fringe, which is one of the things that really appealed to me (all the Hannah's have long hair), and she comes with two rather splendid outfits: the equestrian attire she is wearing and a cowgirl set, comprising jeans, check shirt and cowgirl boots.

Although this doll is an American repeat of Götz's popular Hannah line, the bob makes her quite unique compared to her Götz twin. When you see them side by side, they are not as alike as one might think being produced from the same sculpt. Not only does the Götz Asian Hannah have longer hair, her face looks like it's painted differently.

The photo of Asian Hannah on the right, appears to have slightly darker skin, the lips are lighter and it could just be a trick of the light, but the nose looks narrower than Avery's. I guess I won't really know until I see them together IRL.

There were three other dolls in the Schwartz Classics range: Tess- a new blonde Hannah, Claudia- an Hispanic school girl, and Nina- an African American performer.

The FAO Schwartz Classic line, which sold at Toys R Us, was discontinued in 2013, so I was lucky to find her in NRFB condition, still in her lovely zippered carry case.

History: FAO Schwarz was founded in 1862 under the name "Toy Bazaar" by German immigrant Frederick August Otto Schwarz, in Baltimore and was once the oldest toy store in the United States.