This is sort of a rant post.

Time and time again I have mentioned my frustration with the Fashionista dolls.
I love the fact that Mattel has an articulated playline. Clearly, the posability and motion range could be so much better (look at LIVs, for example). But that's not the point.
The point is that I hate Fashionistas.
1. There is NO skintone range. Yes, I know, there is Nikki and there is Raquelle. But that's three (3) skintones. That's not okay. Why doesn't Teresa have a darker color? Why isn't there a darker AA lady (Yes, SIS girls, but they are not a part of the main cast)?
2. There is no redhead.
3. I hate their faces. The only one I can somewhat tolerate is Raquelle. The faces are grotesquely oversized, there is too much makeup and they are just not human.

Now then.
As I can't stand their heads more than anything else, I end up buying a lot of FF girls (who had amazing features) and putting them on Fashionista bodies.

Here is what I end up with:

Nat

 See? She actually works very well. Her head is not oversized for one thing.

 Also, her eyes are not trying to run away off her face. I think that's a huge plus.

She is so pretty.

Asha

 That's another one. Even though she has lots of makeup, she still does not look like a hooker.

Bonus picture. I repainted these shoes a while back and just wanted to share.

Bottom line? Fashion Fever faces were better. I actually think the Fashion Fever bodies were better too, proportion wise. They didn't look quiet as anorexic as they Fashionistas do.

I'd like to see better face paint, more face variety, more body varieties from Mattel. 

It's March 8th!
In Russia (and most of Europe) today is celebrated as International Women's Day. In my country it is traditional to get all the important women in your life something nice for this day: flowers, chocolate, presents. I guess the closest American holiday to this is Mother's Day. But hey, I like Women's Day better.

Libby (with Pepper's assistance) gives her
mother a bouquet of flowers.

Rachel does not smile much, but she is
actually very happy.

Pepper is very proud of her niece.

Family portrait.

So, to all the ladies out there - Happy Women's Day.

~Kat.

Red Carpet

As we, in the bigjob world are preparing for Oscar night (annual celebration at my house), my dolls take the time to do it as well.

Rachel, a big movie enthusiast
(don't get her started on Steven Spielberg, she hates him),
 all dressed up for Oscar Night.

Rachel with her almost-three-year-old daughter Libby.

I should have probably started a blog prior to posting things on flickr, but hey, who knew it would be frustrating that I can't share my doll problems with people in the real world (No, that's not true. I can. They just make faces and have no idea what I'm talking about).

Current problem.

Pepper, who is a Skipper hybrid with 11 points of articulation. She, in my opinion, does not have nearly enough motion range. Being the main character of my story, she needs to have exceptional range. She is also supposed to pretty short, tan and sort of flat chested, all three of which are covered by the current body she has.
For the last couple of days I've been exploring other body options. What I would love to have is a 25 cm obitsu marrone with the small chest. However, they don't exist. As a result, I have a Volks Neo EB-A coming in the mail in a few days, but it's going to be too tall. I've checked out Kurhn (not enough range), Pullip Type 3 or J-doll (their legs are so skinny! But I'm betting on a type 3 body anyway, maybe I'll like it more in person), Pullip Type 4 and Momokos. The last two seem like they would work the best. However, the Pullip stock bodies are not sold separately (or if they are, I can't find them) and Momokos are damned expensive.

So, while hitting my head on the wall (metaphorically, I like not having concussions), Pepper is going to have to stay with a limited articulation until I either spring for a Momoko or until Obitsu starts making darker bodies.