Monogram Admiration

I was finally able to get Monogram "Admiration" on the secondary market from a very nice lady in California.  Thanks, Oasis!  I'd been wanting "Admiration" and "Allure" from the 2012 Monogram collection ever since pics of them debuted early this year.  I still don't have "Allure," but maybe someday. ... 

The outfit on "Admiration" is divine!  The shoes are wonderful, and fit perfectly (sorry, I didn't get pics of those).  She comes with a perfect, tiny little purse the same shade of brick red as her blouse and hat.  I love her whole 1940s look. 

The doll herself has applied eyelashes, and her hair is a nice, neatly-braided bun.  I posed her here with Monogram "Envied."   I always thought "Envied" was an under-rated Monogram, but she looks amazing redressed.  She makes a perfect sister for "Admiration." 

Later,

More Monograms ... I'm now obsessed

Monogram Envied, redressed.

ML's Dolls has a buy 2, get 1 free sale on Monograms this week, and I couldn't resist it. I got the set of three in the checkered dresses.  I'd been wanting them all year, and couldn't resist the discounted price.

I love the dresses they come with, but I think I'd like to see the dresses on my Poppy Parkers even more.  Monograms and Poppy Parkers share the same torso and bust size, although Monograms are a bit longer in the leg.  As a result, they can wear most of the same clothing.  (I did come across some pants made for Poppy that were a bit too tight for the Monograms.)

Anyway, I when these girls arrived I had an immediate photo session in my backyard. They are SO MUCH PRETTIER than they'd seemed in their original promo pics. 

Monogram Bemused

Monogram Passionate

The girls in their original clothing.

The 2011 Holiday Monograms

I have a new love. I'd always avoided the FR: Monograms before because I didn't want to start collecting yet another doll line when I already have so many. I'd always liked them, though, and finally succumbed. ...

These girls are "Illumination" (blonde) and "Jubilation" from the 2011 holiday line by Integrity Toys. Total beauties, both of them.  There is a third doll in this series called "Fascination," which I didn't get.  I love these two so much I may save up money to get the third as well.  They've inspired me to start sewing again.

Yes, I took down "Jubilation's" hair.  Although her face paint is exactly like her promo pic, her hair ended up being twice as high as shown in the original promo photo and looked very Bride of Frankenstein.  I hate saying that, because she is such a beauty.  Her sculpt is lovely; her face paint is lovely; and her original clothing is so amazing it's absolutely sublime. (My photos show them redressed.)  I think the factory workers must have gotten carried away with doing her hair.  Anyway, I took her hair down with good results.  There was no bald spot, and her hair was pretty nicely rooted. Sorry I didn't get any pics of her original hairstyle. It was so crazy-high even my 4-year-old thought it looked weird. I couldn't wait to take it down.

"Illumination's" hair is perfect as-is. It's the perfect glam 'do.