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 ...

The second addition to my collection: Fallen Angel (style 1) Stardoll by Barbie The Stardoll Line is listed on the barbie collector website. Yet, it's closer to the "pink box" playline dolls than the collector series. I found them while perusing the doll aisles. This is the only face I liked--well, loved actually. She reminds me of a lea/kayla or a Mari face mold. I bought her, along with a couple of the other doll's outfits and the matching accessory pack. She's one of my favorites. I love the red-streaked hair, rooted lashes and punk-goth look. I don't like that the legs are non-jointed. They are meant to be a sort of real-life counterpart to an on-line avatar. I guess that is supposed to explain the lack of pose-ability. Also, the hands and feet on these dolls are slightly larger than other Barbies. So, shoes and gloves don't fit them. Their bottoms are about the same size as a Fashion Fever or belly button barbie and they are able to swap wi...

It was something about that face. Those eyes, that look--she just seemed more confident than the others. After all the blonde, pale faces I'd looked at over the years, this was different. Granted, there had been a couple African Americans, a Hispanic but no Asians. Long ago, I'd  placed my Barbie dolls in the give-away pile. Yet, I was in the clearance aisle, eyeing Barbies like a little girl. In my hands was the Barbie Basics (Black Label Collection) Lea. She clearly looked like a model with her slender figure, long up-do, strapless "little black dress" and purple eye-shadow. I loved the fashionable aspect of it all. Taking her in, I felt intrigued by an actual Asian Barbie Doll that was also a collector's item/stylish display model. Next to us on the shelf were five or six others, also in "little black dresses". They were also part of the collection, but none quite as lovely. I admired a blonde with a retro bob haircut for a little while. No, it was de...