Mood:
blueNow Playing: XM 80s - "In My Dreams", REO Speedwagon
I went ahead and posted Mia's new jumper photo on the Home page, because I'd written Beth Colvin (formerly Beth Gunther), author of Crissy Doll and Her Friends, to tell her of the patterns and misc. I knew. Figured she'd rather see the photos on the site rather than get unexpected photo attachments in her e-mail. To make up for that blunder, I'd like to show you a photo of my Belles..
Crissy is wearing Interactive Belle's ball gown (Playmates, 2002), Mia relishes modeling 'Before Once Upon A Time' toddler Belle's play dress (also Playmates 2002), and ever-lovely Princess Leia relaxes in a satin and velvet gown from the 'Perfectly Princess' line of soft Disney dolls (Playmates 2003). There is another 'Perfectly Princess' line by Hasbro, but those dolls wouldn't clothe a Leia action figure, much less mine here !
And now, to the title of today's notes. Sometimes I just can't stand it. Two years ago, I fell in love with a doll completely out of my league. She was bigger, more expensive, and I seriously believe any of these dolls would self-destruct before allowing herself to be found in a thrift store or yard sale. Plus, her manufacturer tended to attract *serious* doll folk, the ones who bemoan the 853 in their closet while they're pre-ordering their next 167. If I thought the 'country club' mentality of Barbie collectors got bad at times, well, these fans could teach lessons in black-belt snobbery. If they realized they were snobs, it was more of a second-nature with some of these folk. Not all, just some.
Ended up buying the doll - or rather, Beloved Hubby did, as a combined anniversary present and Valentine's day gift. You know her well, her name here is Elphie. And because of her, my thrift-store Barbie ways kind of bit the dust, along with my interest in Barbie herself. I'm still struggling with the 'Barbie and me' part of my life - does Barbie still have a place in my life ? Is my interest waning now that I truly have a doll who represents me that I'm happy with ? Or was I only into Barbie in the first place 'cause she was cheap ? I had a happy history with Barbie - but what was our future ? Was there one ?
Those issues continue. There's aspects of Barbie I still love, there's others I still hate. Many of my issues are more with Mattel than with their product, but I can't separate them completely. Lotta things Mattel does just burn me up, and I react with noxious glee when I hear Barbie sales are down for the eighth or fifteenth quarter in a row.
(sigh) So, while all this is going on, I find this, while I'm researching a vintage Barbie blouse I bought at a junk shop today (old habits die hard):
http://dollattic.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product2482.html
You really might want to go have a look at it. I'll wait here for a while.
Ok, you're back. So. Evidently Mattel realized it missed the boat by ignoring all the fans who asked for a Barbie-size Wicked Witch over ten years ago, and will soon have its own out in March '07. Despite the fact that Dorothy was originally available in 1994, Glinda in 1995, they've decided to redo the entire line. Dorothy looks even worse, IMhO. http://dollattic.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product2481.html <- Same cheap-azz rayon dress, though...'Dorothy' looks less like an innocent ingenue and more like somebody smacked Paris Hilton with a dead fish and dyed her hair while she was out cold. And Pari..I mean, 'Dorothy' is still a bit red-eyed and bleary, and not at all happy about this d@mn yellow road.
Am I getting this Barbie Witch ? Oh, hell, naw. In many ways, Mattel did me a major favor by ignoring its fans once again, leading me to explore other alternatives. But I still feel like they're yet again riding other manufacturer's coat-tails. Elphie is still a vastly superior doll - even in their own studio photos, their WW is stiff armed and not as expressive. But it does look like they took careful note of Tonner's pensive expression and gave it to theirs, as well.
I know, it's silly of me to get upset about it. Mattel's gonna do what it always does, market and sell whatever'll make them money. The fact that it's too late and too derivative for some of their intended audience won't matter a whit to them. At least they didn't make their WW ugly - but then again, neither did Tonner, and theirs sold, big time. It's just like Mattel to rip someone else's idea, or let someone else go first before they decide to throw in.
It saddens me that I'm once again disappointed in Mattel - when I thought I didn't care anymore. (sigh)
