Classic Tonner

Felt like spending time with another of my "old favorite" Tonner dolls. Originally introduced as Mameha, I believe this sculpt eventually became Layne. This version is one of the original "Mameha" dolls with her hair taken down. I have another with the original updo. 

I always thought this sculpt had such a sweet, serene expression. And she actually has great hair when taken down!

Tonner did some fabulous fashions over the years, and this one has always been one of my favorites. The whimsical fashion print on the coat is fun, and the underlying classic sheath is beautifully form fitted to the body. Finished off with patent mules, I believe this outfit was called Tyler Made, but not 100% certain. The names all start running together after all these years. Whatever the name, it's a beautiful, fun spring outfit.

And I think Mameha models it beautifully.

Some Tonner Love

I haven't checked in on this blog for a while. I've been more into the BJD's lately, but I always seem to come back around to Barbie and or Tonner a few times a year. Both Barbie and Tonner are such a huge part of my doll collecting history. Today I just felt like getting a couple of my Tonner repaints down for some camera time. 

Quinn is a Russell repainted by the incredibly talented Sonya Giddens. I have 2 guys repainted by Sonya and they are keepers on my shelf.

I loved the braided hairstyle on Urban Sport Esme as soon as I saw her, but her original lip color wasn't to my liking, so I had mine enhanced by Gena Claire. I somehow never got a BW body to transplant her onto, but I still enjoy her on her original BA body.

More BMR

I just can't seem to help myself with the MTM Barbie dolls...……...they are so much fun to pose and play with. I bought the latest BMR with the thought that I would rebody one of my Fashionista dolls, as I'd been having problems matching her skin tone and saw on Instagram that this particular BMR girl was a match. After having her in hand though, I think she will get to keep her body and I'll buy a second eventually to re-body the Fashionista. While the styling on this line of dolls wouldn't be my first choice, they do each have particular pieces that I like. I do like the jacket worn by this one and can see it getting re-use, ditto her shoes and posssibly the hat.

I love her purple lips and the fact that she has just a little bit of neon yellow in her eyeshadow. Its very subtle, but its there.

What does the dress look like under the jacket? I was surprised to find it has long sleeves. Some of my other girls may use it casually too.

I couldn't wait to redress her to see what she might look like without the hat, in clothing more to my taste. I chose neutral tones for both her and topknot Ken. I really love all 3 of the dolls I have in this line redressed. I actually have 4 of the dolls...............I have the other Ken as well, but I haven't deboxed and played with him yet. I bought him to re-body.

And one more shot of the 2 of them together.

Brenda Starr

Last week the Prego doll board's theme was Tonner, so I felt compelled to get some of my Tonner dolls out for a little play time. One of my favorite faces Tonner included in his line over the years was Brenda Starr, who actually wasn't even sculpted by Tonner, but I loved her dimples and her smile and I have more incarnations of Brenda than any of the other Tonner dolls. Some of my favorite dolls were those done when Brenda was supposedly "Undercover"...……………….an excuse to give her a hair color other than red. I thought I would share a few of those girls here since several of them got new pictures recently. Midnight Star Charmeause (sp?) wearing Crimson from the Theatre de la Mode line.

Show Stopper Brenda was also a favorite, done as a blonde this time.

Then there is also the lovely brunette,  Cruise on the Nile, dressed in Holiday Gala, originally worn by Sydney.

Havanna Star was also a lovely brunette. She is wearing Dinner with Russell, borrowed from Esme.

Tropical Holiday was one I sold, then later regretted. Luckily I had a friend selling, so I snapped her up (again) and she stays from now on. She is wearing Tyler's Red Hot.

And the last of the "Undercover" girls to get new pics recently, Aurora Starr wearing one of Tonner's earliest separate fashions, Champagne Bubble. Still one of my favorites. Tonner really did do some absolutely amazing fashions over the years. 

Fashionista Fun

I love the Fashionista line, and the variety of sculpts/skin tones/hair styles and colors it embodies. I finally saw the tall MTM body at our local Walmart and had to get one. I also picked up Fashionista 123 to rebody (as I'm not a fan of the sculpt of the tall MTM basketball player doll).

I'm having a hard time deciding just what I think about this sculpt. I think it must be a fairly new one. Love her braids!! Great scale and they look amazing. I also really love her facial screening.

There is however something about her that keeps me from "loving" her. She may get rebodied at some point but for now I'll enjoy her. I'm really glad that Mattel has both curvy and tall made to move bodies available to us now.  Now we just need the petite to get some articulation!

Ace

As I've stated on the blog before, I have lots of dolls...………..in many different sizes. My focus the past few years has been the Asian ball jointed dolls primarily, but I do have quite a collection of Fashion Royalty Homme's and lots of Barbies as well, and I tend to like to pair them together.  I haven't actively bought any new Homme's for a while, but I do love the ones I have. Among the ones I have, this version of Ace is a particular favorite. I thought it was time to get him out for some new photos since I've been in a 12" doll mode.

I took him out in the front yard yesterday among the bushes, which serve well for "trees" for this size.

And here are a couple of him trying to cause a distraction after noticing the pretty redhead that was being photographed. The redhead is a Barbie Basics Steffie mold doll from a few year ago. The Steffie mold has always been a favorite of mine.

I think Ace must have a thing for redheads. They do make a striking pair. 

Ken Body Comparison

Yesterday as I was redressing my new BMR1959 Ken on the made to move body I was noticing the differences between this body and the "Harley" Ken body where the jointing was more like the pivotal body for the girls. I thought it might be useful to take a few comparison photos and post them. The first thing I noticed when I stood them side by side is the old body is slightly taller than the MTM body. The other body differences are much like the differences in the jointed bodies Mattel uses for the girls. The MTM Ken body adds jointing in the upper arm, chest, upper thigh, as well as making the joints at knee and elbow double jointed. The foot and ankle joints appear to be the same to me, although the MTM Ken also does have more flexibility where the leg joins the body due to the upper part of the leg being more carved out.

Another difference is that the new MTM guy has sculpted on underwear. Not sure WHY Mattel felt they had to do this, but he does...………..the upper thighs appear to be slightly bigger, but it didn't hinder his fit in the Ken fashion pack jeans I tried on him. I'll show a pic of him redressed at the end of this post. 

A shot of them from the side where I was trying to get MTM guy to slouch using that chest joint. The range of motion for it to slouch forward is minimal.

And here is a close up shot of the knee joints and upper thigh joint.

The older body is prettier aesthetically, but for me function out does aesthetics, and the double jointing allows for a much better range of motion, so I'm VERY happy we finally got a Ken that has the made to move body. I hope we will see more of them to follow!

And lastly a shot of him redressed. I just used clothing from a couple of different basic Ken packs from the past couple of years and as you can see no issues in fit. I foresee this guy getting lots of redress opportunity around here. I also foresee myself ordering a couple more to re-body some of my other guys.  Please Mattel, make more MTM Ken's!!