Lovely Lea & Friends : adventures in doll collecting

At first, I didn't care for the second version of Basics Lea. I think it was the outfit more than anything. (I'm not a fan of capri pants) Once I'd seen her in-person a couple times, the face appealed to me. Now, she is one of my favorites. The 001 Basics Lea is ubiquitous among lea/kayla collectors; enough so that it's hard to make her look fresh in photos.  I feel like the 002 Lea is a little less familiar; she tends to be used for OOAK projects more often. When comparing the two, 002 lea has a softer look--blunt bangs with long hair, light toned makeup, pink nail polish. I have an easier time dressing her in a variety of looks; 001 seems made-up for a formal occasion or night out. It's also easier to dress 002, since her arms are straight. She's my go-to girl for testing out fashions. I might be tempted to add another to my collection. Why do I always want doubles of my favorite dolls?!    

Once you start a doll collection, you need places to buy them. ebay is OK for those that know what they want and are familiar with the ins-and-outs of buying. It's nice to be able to handle/see a doll in person though. Ideally, you would be able to do this at a doll show. I haven't been to one in ages, since I was a pre-teen, but hope to go soon. When it comes to playline and lower-level collector dolls, there are several chain stores to search: Wal-Mart: they carry mostly playline dolls and a few Pink Label collector. Prices are OK, selection is mediocre. Target: playline, Pink Label & Black Label dolls. They tend to have a pretty good selection. Also, there are target-exclusive dolls from several brands. If you catch it, they also have great clearance & regular sales! Toys R Us: They carry the same types as target and also have exclusives. The selection is usually really good. I've been able to find a lot of Black Label dolls that I wanted. Prices are a b

Once you start doll collecting, there are so many options available that it can become overwhelming. It's hard to resist new additions. There are so many beautiful dolls--of all brands, price ranges and styles. Even if you just stick with Barbies, there are many, many to choose from. Trying to buy them all is a massive undertaking--and hard on your wallet! Many collectors will tell you that the main beginner mistake is buying too much, too soon--before you have established a focus for your collection. At first it might not seem like you need one or aren't sure what it should be. However, it really is a good idea and worth taking the time to think about. I partially made this mistake by starting off in two directions: buying Barbie Basics Dolls and Asian Barbies. I loved how fashionable the basics line was so I bought several more dolls from the line. They were on-sale and readily available at local stores, which made them seem like a good choice. Then, I added more clothing &