Rescue Doll: Kelly with White Tika Elephant from the Barbie the Island Princess Movie

Kelly Doll with White Tika Elephant from the Barbie the Island Princess Movie

I used to identify "doll rescues" with dolls that are purchased second hand from thrift shops and online stores.

Now I realized that the term is also applicable to old stocks but weren't really played with.

Barbie and the Island Princess was released in 2007. As for this Kelly Doll, she's gone through rough times, I can say. I am pretty sure she's been transferred numerous times to different stores, then sale kiosks, then placed in storage and got forgotten until the stockperson did a cleanup and finally found them.

Priced at P200 (appox $4), this is already a steal since she comes with Tika the elephant. She came with an extremenly dented box and Tika being dirty and stained.

So here's where the rescue came in. I tooked them out of the box. I used a wet tissue used to clean the house, as regular tissues won't be able to take off the stains.

I am glad that they are already part of my collection. I am also happy with the outcome of the cleaning session.

Below are photos of the process:

Used a household wet tissue which was effective in cleaning Tika. The flash from the camera made the tissue seem clean but in reality, 

Kelly and White Tika all happy with their makeover!

Dolly Deliveries!!!

Yay! I'm quite flooded with messages that my orders are being delivered. I thought I have timed them properly so it would not cause confusion as some are CODs. However, the ones coming from overseas arrived earlier than expected and gets delivered together with my local online purchases. I'm overwhelmed!

On the other hand, this makes me extremely excited as these parcels are all dolls.

I am out of town as of this writing and I can't wait to get home! I love opening packages.

Just to give a sneak peek, here are what I am expecting (please note that these are all sellers' photos):

Dec. 16-17, 2017

Kurhn Dolls Ordered at Lazada

Kurhn Dolls Ordered at Lazada

Takara Dolls Ordered at Carousell

Disney Store's Maleficent Doll Ordered at Shopee

Disney Store's Rapunzel Doll Ordered at Shopee

Kurhn Doll 7th Anniversary

As mentioned in my previous post, I have been checking online shops for dolls that are not available in the Philippines. One of them is Kurhn, which is also dubbed as the Chinese Barbie doll. 

Just a sidestory: I turned to Lazada PH, which has several Kurhn dolls by Taobao that are ready to be purchased. I have, however experienced disappointment as 2 of my orders got cancelled and my payments refunded due to being 'out of stock'. It was indeed annoying as I would just get an email that my payment has been refunded with no prior notice nor reason why it got cancelled. I had to contact their customer service to know the reason why. Being an active online buyer and sometimes seller, it's my first time to experience such transaction. The only positive side of it is that they refunded my payment, versus my previous experiences of international sellers not sending the items and not refunding the payments.

Going back to Kurhn. The prior experiences did not stop me to try ordering one until last November 7, I received a package for the latest one that I ordered. It was actually much earlier than expected so that added to the surprise factor. I made sure that I'd take photos of it from the box, while opening the box, and the actual item.

She is so pretty! She's exactly what's in the seller's photos and actually so much better. I like everything about her; from her innocent face, to her simple yet elegant dress. Her bobcut makes her charming.

I am still contemplating whether to take her out or keep her in the box until it's time for her to be displayed. Although I ordered another set from Lazada, composed of 4 Kurhns that are basic dolls that I really plan to debox and probably redress. I shall decide once I get the new batch. 

In the meantime, here she is, my first Kurhn doll in my collection:

Top View

M'Simbi Dolls from Zambia

I adore African dolls! However, these dolls are not available locally. African American (AA) Barbie dolls were actually the first ones that I purchased when I started to learn how to do online shopping. It’s only now that black dolls were made available in local toy shops, but still limited.

I’d usually search for dolls from our local eBay, but sellers are scarce lately compared to about 6 years ago. So one evening, it was July 26th, I have thought of searching for a toy/doll shop through Facebook and one of the results presented to me has a very cute icon of a black little girl with an afro hair. It was too cute not to check out, so I did. I was directed to the M’ Simbi Dolls page. I browsed and found the dolls so pretty. The next thing I knew, without second thoughts, is that I was already typing a message in FB, inquiring if they are shipping to the Philippines.

I received a reply right away and confirmed that they can ship to my place. The very next day, July 27th, I already placed my order through Etsy. It was my first time to encounter the Etsy site, but ordering was a breeze. I am also glad that Paypal is the form of payment being accepted, so security was better.

In order to somehow save on shipping costs, I ordered 2 dolls: Mapalo and Luyando. However, it’s my first time to have items shipped from Africa, which somehow made me a bit apprehensive as there might be issues when they already reach our local postal office. But still, I waited, crossed my fingers that everything would be okay.

Photo was taken from their website.

Photo was taken from their website.

            

Then in August 14, I received a text message from our local post office asking where exactly was the shipping address located. At that same day, Mapalo and Luyando arrived! In 28 days, the girls arrived from Zambia to Manila and they were delivered right to our doorstep. (Unlike before where I had to travel to the post office and worry on how much tax I'd have to pay for me to claim my items.) 

The girls are gorgeous and I love the authenticity of their features. They are all made of vinyl and can stand on their own. The quality, especially the hair is superb! And they smell nice too. Although for Mapalo, I had to buy her a headband or else her face would be covered by her curls.

I also appreciate the story behind the conception of these dolls, which you may read in their website: https://www.msimbidolls.com/.

Whenever we can, the girls go with us during our local travels and we always get compliments on how nice the dolls are. On the other hand, racism is still a reality (sadly) and we sometimes get weird stares and questions on why we have black dolls. So far the worst question I received is if whether I am using the dolls for witchcraft. 

For me, they are one of the best dolls I have in my collection and I am so excited to know that I am the first one to own M'Simbi dolls in my country.

As for the ordering process, I appreciate the warm, personal approach of the staff. It's my first time to encounter an online shop as active as M'Simbi's, who'd literally reply from queries after few minutes no matter what time I send my message, especially when I was making follow-ups with the shipping status. This is also the reason why I grew confidence that my dolls would really be delivered. (You see, I've had several instances of my online-ordered items do not arrive at all.) 

I plan to purchase the rest of the batch, and I believe there are more to be released. I am just monitoring my budget. The dolls are affordable, but it's the shipping cost that's been keeping me to get all of them. Although shipping is something that I nor the seller has control over. 

So I guess I've said quite a lot already, so here now are Mapalo and Luyando. The following pictures were taken at the Rizal Park Hotel in Manila:

My Doll Project Update

I haven't been writing as much as I wanted to. These past few weeks and months, I have been doing a project where I go to the attic, get the dolls and debox them. Boy, it's only now I realized I have a lot of toys and dolls already that I have been acquiring since 2001. Up until now, I haven't found the items I've posted like the Shadow King figures (apologies). What's good about it that I get surprises finding out that I have a certain kind of doll really want, which I thought I wasn't able to get. 

As of this writing, I still haven't reached half of the items in the attic.

What makes it slow is the process of taking photos of them while in the box then when out of the box. It's also not often that I get to do it on weekends because of trips and travels I have to take every now and then. 

I also keep on getting new ones, especially that the past few weeks have been clearance season for toys. I also have discovered online shops providing dolls that aren't available in our country.

My vision is once I've already cleared up the attic, I shall turn it into a mini studio while the other side will be a bedroom where I can also rest while filming my toys. I have started taking deboxing videos that I plan to put up on YouTube. I am just now in search of a nice application to do editing. 

I will definitely be giving updates in this page. Slowly, but surely. 

Monster High Dolls So Far

I have written about my first Monster High doll hoarding that started last December 26, 2016 and it really seems that I will not be stopping this addiction soon. 

I still have taken photos of them, but right now I'd like to share the list of what I have as of today.

The list is based on when I got them:

Boo York, Boo York Elle Eedee

Boo York, Boo York (Gala Ghoul Friends) Luna Mothews

Boo York, Boo York (Gala Ghoul Friends) Mouscedes King

Boo York, Boo York (Gala Ghoul Friends) Catty Noir

Re-Issue Cleo de Nile

Ghoul Sports Spectra Vondergeist

Ghoul's Alive! Clawdeen Wolf

Wydowna Spider

Haunted Kiyomi Haunterly

Haunted River Styxx

Art Class Robecca Steam

Jane Boolittle

Scare Mester Gigi Grant

Scare Mester Catrine de Mew

Freak Du Chic Gooliope Jellington

Monster Exchange Lorna McNessie

Frights Camera Action Honey Swamp

Monster Exchange Lagoona Blue

Boo York, Boo York Nefera de Nile

Freak Du Chic Rochelle Goyle (playset)

Freak Du Chic Honey Swamp

Gloom and Bloom Venus McFlytrap

Boo York, Boo York Astranova (playset)

Freak Du Chic Jinafire Long

Ghoul Sports Sloman "Slo Mo Mortavich"

Inner Monster Fearfully Feisty and Fangtastic Love

Frights Camera Action Elissabat

Freaky Fusion Scara Screams

Ghouls Getaway Jinafire Long

Ghouls Getaway Meowlody

Art Class Skelita Calaveras

Freaky Fusion Clawvenus

Freaky Fusion Cleolei

Freaky Fusion Neightan Rot

Freaky Fusion Lagoona Fire

Picture Day Lagoona Blue

Freak Du Chic Toralei

Freak Du Chic Frankie Stein

Scaris: City of Freights Skelita Calaveras

Scare Mester Invisibilly

Ghoul Sports Toralei

Gloom and Bloom Jane Boolittle

Ghoul Fair Heath Burns

Freaky Fusion Ghoula Yelps

Freaky Fusion Frankie Stein

Ghoul Sports Clawdeen Wolf

Ghoul's Alive! Spectra Vondergeist

Picture Day Abby Bominable

Frights Camera Action Premiere Party Playset

Ghoul's Alive!  Frankie Stein

Picture Day Frankie Stein

Frights Camera Action Dressing Room Playset      *** Art Class Abby Bominable       *** Monster Exchange Marisol Coxi      *** Brand-Boo Students Isi Dawndancer      *** Frights Camera Action Clawdeen Wolf      *** Frights Camera Action Clawdia Wolf      *** Freaky Fusion Operreta      *** Art Class Playset/Studio

I already have a total of 51 57 dolls (including Operetta that I got around October/November of 2016), 2 dolls with playset and 2 3 playsets only.

My bedroom is actually becoming theirs as they have already occupied quite a chunk on the room space.

I have deboxed about 3 dolls already and still plans to continue with some more in order to free up some space.

So that's about it for now. (",)

This is how they look like right now. They are taking quite a space in my room.

*** Updates: They are the ones I purchased between January 26-30, 2017.

First Batch of MH Hoarding

Oh yes, I have been hoarding Monster High dolls for almost a moth now and I don't think I'd be stopping soon.

I haven't taken photos of my dolls yet, but here are the ones that I got last December 26, 2016, which I am tagging as session #1:

* Cleo de Nile (Re-issue) 2014
* Wydowna Spider
* Jane Boolittle
* Boo York, Boo York: Elle Eedee
* Boo York, Boo York: Luna Mothews
* Boo York, Boo York: Mouscedes King
* Boo York, Boo York: Catty Noir
* Haunted: Kiyomi Haunterly
* Haunted: River Styxx
* Scare Mester: Gigi Grant
* Scare Mester: Catrine De Mew
* Ghoul Sports: Spectra Vondergeist
* Ghoul's Alive!: Clawdeen Wolf
* Art Class: Robecca Steam

It felt like having a Monster High doll collection in an instant.

As collectors, I am sure that you'd agree with me that the feeling of getting the dolls was truly satisying.

Till next batch!

Monster High Picture Day: Operetta

Happy New Year everyone! May the 2017 be a blessed one for all of us. 

From my previous blog, I have mentioned that I had another one-time-big-time purchase but this time, for Monster High dolls because they are currently on sale.

Before showing my latest purchases, I would like to share with you my very first doll that I bought between October to November 2016. Yes, she's my fist Monster High. That is why I am dedicating an entry solely for her.

She is Operetta from the Picture Day series. According to her box, she was released in 2012 so I guess she's already quite difficult to find nowadays.

As you can see, her box is extremely dented. I got her from a clearance sale so I had no reason not to buy her. Back then, I didn't think of growing my collection.

Anyway, for the first day of 2017, I have decided to already debox her. Just imagine the excitement I was feeling during the deboxing process. Slowly I have learned to truly appreciate the beauty of this doll and how detailed she is, with all her accessories. Adding to that is her fully-jointed body.

Without further ado, here is Operetta:

 

 

 

I am getting more excited to feature the rest of the Monster High dolls that I bought recently. However, I do not have intentions yet of deboxing them.

Please stay tuned.