Summer 2024 issue: A Little Creative Together

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Doll Community Members Featured in This Issue

@chuckylady2021

@mitchell_settoon

@c_roquete

@lets_talk_about_it_with_jaime

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@atelier_sewnaya.

@BarbMeFashion

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@chuckylady2021

Jun. Yokohama, Japan

Barbie, Monster high dolls, Rainbow high dolls, Bratz, Living Dead Dolls, Chucky dolls, American girl dolls, Blythe My collecting philosophy: Life is short! I collect what I want.

Hello! My name is Jun.

It was during Covid, so I was not allowed to visit his hospital and I I was born and raised in Japan and couldn’t see him in person before am a 70s kid (Geez, I feel so old!) he left this planet.

I live in Yokohama with my partner with no kids. I love various It was the saddest event in my kinds of dolls in general. life….

I don’t remember exactly when but I started collecting dolls back in 1997 or so.

I know it sounds crazy and weird but I started collecting Chucky dolls to ease my sorrow.

I’m from a middle class family and I get presents only once or twice a year (Birthday and Christmas) from my family.

You would probably understand why I thought so if you watch “Child’s play”!

I wanted to talk with him once There was a spoiled girl in my again and I was hoping that his class who could get new items all soul lives within a Chucky doll. the time and all my classmates and HAHA! I were so jealous all the time.

(I used to have some Licca dolls, And in 2023, “Barbie the movie” Monchhichi, and Strawberry short came out and it made me start cake dolls, so it was not so bad.) buying Barbie dolls again.

I thought that I would buy whatever I wanted when I got a job!

Once I stopped buying dolls in 2002 when I moved in an apartment with my man and after that I haven’t bought anything for over 20 years! I tried to be a minimalist but it was hard!

In May, 2020, my father passed away because of terminal stomach cancer.

Barbie, Monster high dolls, Rainbow high dolls, Bratz, Living Dead Dolls, Chucky dolls, American girl dolls, Blythe My collecting philosophy: Life is short! I collect what I want.

I don’t DIY items for my dolls.

I’m all thumbs! I’d rather buying nice stuff from some artists.

I’d prefer dioramas to dollhouses if I had a big room for my collection. I don’t have either of 4

them currently.

I enjoy going outside and taking pictures with my dolls.

My favourite aspect of the doll community is the information sharing. For example, I can get new release items information, tutorial videos and advice on YouTube. .

Locally, we have a shop called “Café Bar-B”, and it’s Mattel licensed shop. The owner is a huge Barbie collector herself and their customers and she organize workshops /events sometimes.

I connect with the doll community on Instagram at @chuckylady2021 Thanks to the doll community. I hope you enjoy my adventure with my dolls on my Instagram.

I usually go out to take dolls pictures alone and somehow everyone is nice to me and helps me without asking which is very nice.

Please let me know if you ever come visit Japan and I’d love to meet you in person and vice versa!

@CHUCKYLADY2021

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@c_roquete Carla, I’m 54 years old, I’m married, mother of 2 and have 2 grandchildren. I live in Portugal’s West region, specifically the town of Peniche and I’m an business owner It all started when my daughter left stop, day after day I was making recycle them, painting or changing home to start her own family. new scenarios. I started to create something about them thus After that, when I started to scenarios at home with some creating something new. I like both change her room decoration, I decorative objects I had. Instagram dollhouses and dioramas. I use found old dolls in boxes in the was and has been a real either one according to what I closet. Some dolls were mine and inspiration. I never wanted to sell feellike like or what I need for the others were my daughter’s. On anything. I just used my passion challenges of the community I that instant, I really missed those for dolls’ fashion to share with make part of. times when I used to dress them everyone our local commerce to What I like most about the doll and comb their hair. help them go beyond that hard community is to participate on the pandemic time. I took pictures of So I decided to take them out of community’s challenges to use my Barbie and Ken close to my local the boxes and make them creativity and I do it throw on shops or with my home delivery beautiful. One day, during my Instagram. My doll goals for the walk, I thought it would be a very services. It was a fun and creative season ahead are to merely to have way to show to other people whom good idea to take pictures of my fun and improve my decor styles dolls with a beautiful painting on may buy the same products. and photography skills which I the wall behind. I really loved the A few months later I realized that love so much. result and on that day Barbie Mattel had released new Barbies You can find me at Facebook started to go with my everywhere and little by little I acquired and (c_roquete) and Instagram (Doll and I would take pictures of them. added the new dolls to my photography, c_roquete).

In the beginning, the scenarios collection. Everything was a were landscapes of my town, a chance on this path, with the only Still about my story with dolls, I want to tell you that it has been a town by the sea, with an incredible purpose of having fun with wonderful challenge. I don’t subset, a blue sky, and a fantastic creativity. intend to receive anything in sea. The ideal theme for those I have 120 dolls (Barbie and Ken) whom like photography, even for more or less. I have my favorites, return. I’m happy when the comments on my photos are amateurs. but I have a very special one, positive of course.

I collect many doll lines such as which was offered to me on Barbie Fashionista, Signature, November 2020, as a birthday gift. I really enjoy it, but above all, the best thing is that I end up having Dreamhouse Adventures, Barbie A personalized Barbie that looks playline, careers, etc. exactly like me. I only tell you that fun as I never imagined in my 50’s. I also think that in an “ideal My first post on Instagram was in I really loved it, as if I had world” I would really like to do returned to being a child again. I October of 2019. Soon came the this as a profession. stopped dedicating time to this winter and not long after that, the hobby I love so much for more It sounds like an utopia but it’s the covid-19 pandemic started and we than a year due to a family truth. There’s nothing better than all had to stay at home. member health problem. to do what we love, because our I was not an exception, but my dreams are only impossible if we I don’t make items for my dolls, enthusiasm was so big in taking don’t try and make them come but I sometimes reuse and adapt pictures of dolls that I couldn’t true.

CON’T on page 16 some objects I have at home and 6

@C_ROQUETE

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@atelier_sewnaya My name is Naya and I live in Athens, Greece, with my husband and our son. I am a science teacher by day and an avid crafter by night! I enjoy sewing, crocheting, knitting and making miniatures!

As strange as it might sound, my from books to kitchen utensils, to founders of “The Barbie fun club love for sewing is what got me into plants and I built dioramas to put of Greece”, a group of Greek doll collecting. Back in 2019 I was them in! I DIY anything a doll dollstagrammers whose members very into sewing my own clothes. might need, really. I think I found have become dear friends of mine Soon, my closet was full, my fabric the perfect hobby to combine my and with whom I chat daily. I’m stash was piling up and I really love for all kinds of crafts and also one of the organizers of the didn’t need any new clothes. interior design!! Actually, a few first @athensdollmeet, a meeting However, I wasn’t ready to quit years back, after quitting my job as of doll lovers here in Athens, sewing. Then, a fellow seamstress a researcher and having a lot of Greece, in June 2024. here on Instagram, made a few free time, I decided to launch my clothes for a Barbie doll just for atelier, @atelier_sewnaya and start My dream is that someday, I will fun. That was it!!! I instantly fell in selling my handmade clothes. I be able to participate in the love with the idea and bought my designed three collections and National Barbie Doll Collectors first Barbie doll, the curvy one organized a three days fashion Convention. from the second wave of Yoga show on Dollstagram. The event dolls, which later became my was a huge success and so many This year has been a very busy one mini-me. Soon after that, I realized people showed up and ordered workwise, so I didn’t have much that there is a whole community of clothes that I was blown away by time for crafting and being active doll enthusiasts, doll collectors, the doll community’s love and on Dollstagram. My intention is to doll photographers, miniaturists support! change that, dedicate more time to and crafters, and I was hooked my dolls and reconnect with the forever!

I think I prefer dioramas to wonderful doll community. There dollhouses for their versatility, are also a couple of new dioramas I wouldn’t call myself a collector although I’d love to have a space that I would like to build. and I don’t really own any rare or dedicated to them, to be able to I’m on Instagram: my main expensive dolls (although I do own have them set up all the time, like a account is @sewnaya and my a Poppy Parker). dollhouse! Unfortunately, I’m very atelier account is I just buy the dolls (mainly Barbie) limited in space, so all of my @atelier_sewnaya. that I love and can get my hands dioramas are designed to be on, because living in Greece, is not collapsible and able to be put away. I’m so grateful for my dolls and the always easy to have access to some The doll community is amazing!!! doll community. They’ve helped dolls, plus they can get really Everybody is so kind and me get through some difficult times expensive. supportive and ready to share their in my life and I can always count knowledge with others! My mane on them to make me feel better!

For me, crafting for my dolls is my platform for connecting with them favorite part of this hobby! I sew is Instagram. I’m also a member of I would also like to thank you for all of their clothes (I especially @barbieclubinternational, a group featuring me in “A Little Creative love sewing for curvy dolls), I of doll lovers from all around the Together”, you do such a great job make their accessories, their world with monthly online and I’m so honored to be part of furniture, all sorts of miniatures, meetings. I’m one of the co – it!

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@ATELIER_SEWNAYA

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@mitchell_settoon I am an artist and former interior decorator, though I now work in local government. I grew up on a farm, but now live in New Orleans. I’ve always loved dolls (especially Barbie), miniatures and dollhouses, and making things.

I had quite a few Barbie’s as a child (I was very lucky that I had parents who didn’t mind a boy playing with dolls), but none survive.

I prefer making houses to dioramas, but find myself using dioramas more in photography because they are more versatile and easy to move.

Over the years, I occasionally bought I love both the creativity and a doll, but like a lot of people, it was generosity of the doll community. during Covid that I really dove into For example, I mentioned on an collecting.

Instagram post that I wanted a

I collect strictly Barbie dolls, but Golden Dream Barbie; a reader had when it comes to clothes, found one recently she didn’t need accessories and items, I don’t care and promptly sent it to me. the provenance as long as the scale is My main goal this coming season is right. to downsize my collection to dolls I don’t really have an approach, other than preferring unboxed dolls because I want my dolls to redress and photograph. I have ended up unintentionally acquiring several of my childhood dolls, and I prefer closed mouth dolls, particularly the Mackie and Steffie sculpts.

and other things.

I make a lot of clothes and some accessories. I also make houses and other structures and furnishings.

I feel so lucky to have found both Barbie and doll community of Instagram.

I also do a lot of tweaking to mass market items.

I also would like to develop a cohesive storyline/point of view to loosely tie my dolls, costumes, and structures/dioramas together.

Something based on the glamorous primetime soaps of the 1980s and the epic romantic technicolor dramas of the 1950s.

Both have brought me so much joy.

For example, I recently painted an Elf on the Shelf stand mixer to look more realistic.

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I participate in the doll community primarily through Instagram. I am on Instagram as mitchell_settoon.

@MITCHELL_SETTOON

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@BarbMeFashion Ineke– Spain (left) & Astrid—Netherlands (right) We are sisters and friends. We are in this for fun. We are both very creative, but in different ways. This hobby gives us the opportunity to share our creativity with each other and create things we feel good about.

Together we created the Instagram account @BarbMeFashion .

We found each other in this adventure. Because this is how we see it. We started in 2020. At that point we did not know how big the dollstagram world is!

In September we went to Gdansk again to attend the opening of the “Dollbride Exhibition”. Izabela Astrid is the one that creates all Kwella created this beautiful outfits, not only clothes, but also exhibition with photo’s of wedding handbags and hats. Keep in mind dresses for dolls. One of the dresses that she taught herself how to sew, The first thing we said to each other was Astrid’s creation, so we were was: we will not show our faces on very proud and honored to be there and is still learning. Most of the social media. Haha, little did we and again meet some new friends fashion is designed by herself, starting from scratch. Astrid used to know. In 2022 we went to Brugge, from dollstagram. and met other great people from sew for others, but a couple of Instagram, like @bella_belladoll, We have our own 1:6 scale years ago she got tired of that, and @paperinadoll, magazine. They are collectors items decided to do something she likes: @french_doll_melody , and our latest issue is the Summer clothes for fashion dolls. Astrid is a @pepper_dollcrafts and edition. They are made for us by @m._creations_ @paperinadoll and look great in a busy mom of three, and spends diorama. The magazines are every free minute behind the It was a revelation to meet available in our Etsy shop. In that sewing machine. likeminded people. We find it very same shop we have some items to special to be able to meet people sell, but not often, there should be I (Ineke) collected Barbie’s in the 90’s, with lots of boxes unpacked. I that we normally never would have 48 hours in a day… met. Different ages, different sold almost all of them at a point. nationalities…

Our way of working is quite speSo when Astrid decided to start cial. Astrid lives in the Netherlands, sewing for Barbie, I said: “I will 2023 was a busy year for us. We and I live in Spain. That can be start an Instagram account for went to Gdansk, Poland twice.

The challenging! Usually Astrid makes you!” Now I buy dolls that I like, first time was for a dollmeet with a box full of clothes and sends them and will look good on photo’s. I do Izabela @bella_belladoll and over to me, with small notes atthe styling and make photos for Joanna @paperinadoll.

It was very tached, like “this is for curvy” or social media. I’m the one special to us, because we had never “this is our new giveaway”. answering your messages. I am not been in Poland and never would a photographer, I just like to take have considered going there. We Every time I receive a box it feels photo’s. I started taking photos had some fantastic days together. with my phone, but when my like it’s my birthday. And then I get In the summer we were part of the husband realized how happy this to be creative, sorting out @travelingdollpants project. hobby makes me, he gave me a everything, do the planning (are good camera for Christmas. Now I Something that was on our list for a there events we like to join?) and while. We were very proud to be am photographing with a Canon EOS R6, with a 24-240 lens. I am a part of that project and show people finally style the dolls and make the place we were both born, them picture perfect. Con’t on page 16 mother of two, and also a Vlaardingen, Netherlands. grandmother of a boy and a girl.

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@BARBMEFASHION

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@lets_talk_about_it_with_jaime Jaime Johnson, 46 Massachusetts LOVE: everything and anything child-like. Being a mom, animal lover and of course a doll lover, music, food, rainy days UNPOPULAR OPINIONS: I hate the smell of root beer and I like my chocolate chip cookies cold.

After a bout with cancer I started a brought me friendships that will like little amazing friends that YouTube channel to take on new last a lifetime. (I’d like to note I coexist with you and so there opportunities in life. finally found a lonely Lisa doll in needs to be some sort of charm to It’s funny how I got into collecting 2023.) Besides loving all antique their faceplate for me. Blythe’s dolls especially baby boomer that have different expressions are dolls really. In 2017 I was dolls, big eyed dolls, Grace extremely exciting to sourcing items at a yard sale to Putnam Bylo babies and rag collect! Staging dolls is my resell on my eBay shop and I came dolls…The doll lines that I have absolute favorite way to play with into a bunch of dolls. I cleaned and the most of are Blythe, Pullip, my dolls and The Blythe Doll has photographed each one and put Cabbage Patch Kids, Rainbow become my muse for that. I like to them up to sell.

High, LOL OMG ,Barbie, paint and design sets with my There was this one doll that Integrity, Monster High, Paola boyfriend. I have an imagination particularly stood out to me, a Reina, bjd dolls and some quirky that runs wild with fun scenarios 1964 Lonely Lisa by Royal Doll ones such as dolls that look like for us to create for my photo/video Company. She was just too eggs, elves and a knitted frog shoots. adorable for words with her big named Nando.

Most projects are of Blythe eyes and little lips. I cleaned her My approach on collecting celebrating holidays or camping up, took her pictures and before I antique/vintage dolls is to read but one of my favorite sets that I knew it I had fallen in love. In a about them first.

I love history and designed was my circus! I filmed flash she sold and I was now the the evolution of dolls can tell us a outside all day into the night to Lonely one. I promised myself I would never sell a doll that I liked lot about the past and most times give the effect that you’ve spent a that’s what points me in the full day at a circus watching the again. Now, because I’m adult I direction of what doll I want next Blythes entertain you! Painting didn’t think doll collecting was a in my collection.

I enjoy the and making shadow boxes for my thing but the uncontrollable dolls to live in is also a DIYthat is feeling of how I missed that lonely stories behind the dolls and the companies that made them.

I’m very soothing to me. Someday I Lisa doll took over. I’d spend interested in what the company’s hope to learn to sew. every year since looking for that had to go through to keep the doll lonely Lisa doll while collecting If I had to choose what I like most every doll I loved along the way. in production. The introduction of I’d say dioramas because i own 4 plastics and how it took the place and i want a dozen more ha! I do In 2019 I was scrolling on of porcelain, bisque and own a few doll houses and they are Instagram and that’s when I first composition dolls was a very also fun. I’ve recently been into seen my new muse!. .The Blythe interesting time for doll making shadow box shelves for Doll. I was immersed, passionate manufacturers as well. Just to my Blythes to commune at . and hooked within those couple know some little girl from the past seconds of first seeing This unusu- cherished a doll that I now own is The dioramas add that realism al, whimsical, captivating dolly. I a beautiful thing to me. When it you’re trying to capture when wanted one and I wanted one now! comes to collecting Custom Blythe photographing your dolls.

That passion has now turned into a dolls well, that’s all about Continued on page 16 lifestyle and that lifestyle has chemistry. These Blythe dolls are 14

@LETS_TALK_ABOUT_IT_WITH_JAIME

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Continued from page 8 @c_roquete

hobby alive.Currently I have been working on redecorating my doll room which is almost ready for a But then it comes the reality and second updated room tour.I’m the rationality and of course I have turning it into a dolly photo op to work on my business. My dolls heaven! are a big passion, yes, and I can use them to be happier. Thank you so much to all the doll community I can be reached on my YouTube channel-let’s talk about it with that I found and I really didn’t know about their existence. It was Jaime,instagram a coincidence. I didn’t look for it. @lets_talk_about_it_with_jaime and jaime lyn on Facebook It just happened.

highlight for both of us. We met our friends Mirjam from @dollhous3design and Jeanine from @studiolittlesissy and were able to see their wonderful creations in real. We ran into Kian from @poppydottle, who is a friend from the beginning, and others. These events are very inspiring and give us new energy and inspiration.

This hobby changes the way you see things. In every magnet, key holder or telephone stand I see a Something to leave you with possible 1:6 miniature, I think that ~When you find JOY in your Continued from page 16 is recognizable for all dollstagram life,collect it. people. In the past we used to go @lets_talk_about_it_with_jaime shopping for clothes together every My favorite aspect of collecting now and then. But nowadays we Contined from page 14 Dolls is the community.The like to go to a nice fabric store. friends I have made just from be- @BarbMeFashion You can say that dollstagram has ing a doll collector is priceless.A Our clothes are for fully articulated become a huge part of our lives. good friend is hard to find so a Barbie (MTM) because they look whole community with the same better on photo’s, more realistic. I Our goals for 2024 and further are interests is like hitting the friend have six diorama’s and a closet full to keep having fun, and a visit to jackpot! of furniture. I have no permanent an international doll convention My main way to connect with the diorama set up. Although I love to would be nice in the future. This summer we will be part of the create new rooms or scenes, I community is through my Dollbride project 2024 once more.

YouTube channel “let’s talk about prefer to photograph outside, it with Jaime”.I also have a travel mainly because of the light. My We are very excited for the dream is to have a designated Blythe doll group called “The @dollsmeet in Gdansk in sisterhood of the traveling Blythe doll’s room one day.

September this year. It is the first doll”(on instagram)where 15 of us share a Blythe doll named Jett Every month we are giving away International Meeting for doll an item or outfit. Our challenge is photographers, hosted by Sharen.We chat daily in a group chat and share ideas and new dolly called #takeyourdollbythehand and @bella_belladoll and has a different theme every month. @paperinadoll. Astrid and I will passions.I do lots of doll conventions and shows around the People take their doll by the hand get to spend some quality time together and hope to see new and and stick to the theme. We pick NewEngland area.I also meetup old friends from dollstagram, make one winner that receives a with “The Blythe Boston #madebyastridk item. It’s always some nice memories. Because Group”which has been so much that’s what it’s all about! fun to see that item later on fun!Probably one of the things I Instagram, styled by someone else. look forward to the most is my @BarbMeFashion (Instagram, Tikannual dolly meetup,where i get tok and Pinterest) together with my dolly friends and Although we are 2000 km apart, we spend a vacation together every and we only see each other once or twice a year, this works for us. We Barbmefashion.etsy.com year doing everything dolly are in contact almost every day related. (phone or message) and when we My doll goals for this upcoming meet, we cannot stop talking! season is hitting all the doll shows Mostly about one topic, haha. hosted by Collins gifts.She hosts Dolls, dolls, dolls… Last March about 5 shows a year and There I we went to @Barbieinholland film for my channel to keep the together. Those days are a 16

Décor in 1:6 scale

PHOTO by @atelier_sewnaya

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