Art Class Abbey: Sparkling Sexy Retro Goddess

I had already picked up on this based on all the NYCC photos we saw of her, but Abbey's Art Class doll totally has the same groovy, laidback, sexy vibe that Frankie's SRM doll has. And although I think AC Abbey's outfit is actually really nice and very fitting of that laidback, sexy vibe, I wanted to put her in something a little more trendy, but with a strong retro feel. Enter: Frankie's deluxe fashion pack cocktail dress combo. I also wanted to emphasize the grooviness of AC Abbey's middle-parted, wavy locks. To achieve this I grabbed Robecca's deluxe fashion pack headband/eyepatch, turning it around so the patch and earring are in the back. And so I give you Art Class Abbey, clothes changed, emphasis on retro and funk and groove...

Just... wow.

Oh, I forgot to mention in the intro -- she's also really fierce! Consider this pic "Exhibit A".

I know I already paired Spectra's DDG purse with this outfit in a previous review, but whatever. It just works so well with this dress, in my opinion.

Literally all that comprises her eye makeup is electric blue shadow. That's it. No liner, no shimmer, just electric blue all the way around. Simplicity: learn it, live it, love it. 

Exhibit B

I really adore how the headband holds her middle part in place. It's retro; almost hippie-ish. But the shimmering streaks and tinsel of her hair combined with the 80's-style outfit keep it from coming across as "stodgy flower child". It's more "sparkling coke queen", if you ask me. Oops, did I just say that out loud? Whatever.

God Abbey, just when I think I'm over you for good Mattel goes and releases a doll like this. It has me feeling all "I'm not worthy" again. Mattel, please stop sporadically releasing amazing Abbey dolls so I can just move on from her once and for all!

Exhibit C

The prosecution rests it's case. This is indeed one hot-damn fierce, fun, groovy, sexy doll. If you find this Abbey boring, dull, or samey, you clearly have no taste and need to, I don't know, jump off a bridge or something. Art Class Abbey is nothing short of astonishing.

The healing power of friends (and dolls)

Exactly one week ago today I got some very bad news involving my job, and therefore my career. I briefly touched on this on Tumblr (when I was in meltdown mode -- classy, John!). In the wake of my posting that, I got an outpouring of support from you guys. First, I want to thank you all for the calls, texts, emails, and PM's. I was devastated by what happened and have spent the past week shut off from the world. I just needed some time to myself to regroup, recharge, and try to make sense of what happened. That said, I will be in touch with each and every one of you over the next couple weeks. You guys really do mean so much to me, and your support has not gone unnoticed!

I'll also be getting caught up on blog comments over the next few days. In my week-long "recuperative period" I didn't even visit the blogs. To be honest, the blogs were the last thing on my mind. But I haven't forgotten about the projects I was in the middle of when the proverbial sh*t hit the fan. My New Scaremester Jinafire review will be posted soon. I actually have it completely written, I just have to get more pics taken. I also plan to continue my Apple White series over on The Sequel and Tumblr. And, of course, there was that tantalizing hint I dropped a couple of weeks ago about MH paper dolls. Ideally, at the very least I will be caption reviewing those. We'll see, right?

In the meantime, I was able to find some more new MH stuff in my area. Most of these dolls are probably already old news by now, but for a frazzled, down and out MH collector, they were a Godsend. Beautiful new dolls just have a way of cheering one up, especially when they're as beautiful as these ladies...

The new girls! (Well, sort of. We'll get to that.)

Skelita! If only you knew how much life you give me.

Seriously y'all, this doll is heroin in the form of plastic, saran, and zany flowers. I'm addicted.

Skelita, you need to cut it out. You know you're stealing all of Ula's thunder in this shot. And this is a Ula I totally love! That's some serious mojo on Skelita's part, folks!

Draculaura with bold yellow streaks and yellow and red eyeshadow and liner makes me happy. Oh, and it's topped by shimmering taupe shadow (!!!). Also, her dress is beyond cute.  This Ula is like a unicorn, magical and something I'm still trying to convince myself actually exists. But there she is on my shelf. Unicorn Ula is real!

Art Class Abbey is hot. Or in her case should I say she's "cold"? Whatever, you get my drift: girls got it goin' on!

Hey look! Cat Tastrophe has finally made her way onto the blog! (Damn Abbey, Art Class is totally working for you. Gorgeous.)

This is my second Cat Tastrophe. The first one had horrifically bad wonk-eye. But she was the only one on the shelf at the time so I snapped her up.

Me-ow.

This Cat's eyes ain't perfect, but they're much better than the eyes on my other one. Love this doll so, so much!

Art Class proves that the mojo Mattel's been workin' on the new MH lines is for real. These are gorgeous dolls, every single one of them.

Once again, I truly appreciate you guys' support over the past week. I'll be in touch with all of you soon! Hope you enjoyed the pics! Til next time!

Abbey the Great and Powerful

Throughout history, long, wild hair has been associated with power. Not just any power; I'm talking about the kind that taps into something intangible, metaphysical, even occultic. And more often than not this intangible power has been linked to women. It was once believed that for a witch to tap into the highest force, her hair must be wild and untamed. Even in modern times, loose, feminine locks connote a sort of strength (though it's often connected to carnality, as well). Whatever the case, be it openly or subconsciously, a woman with big, tousled, wild hair is seen as a force to be reckoned with. And if that really is the case, then Haunt The Casbah Abbey Bominable must be the most powerful woman on Earth...

Um... wow.

I mean, there's just so much of it! And it's so big. And it's doing about three different things all at the same time: it's curly except where it's straight, braided and banded and under control in front besides that portion where it isn't, a buoyant bouffant except where it's flat.

Her faceup is pretty great. Not amazing, but not bad by any means. I know the yellow-gold eyeshadow is new for Abbey, but for me the most noteworthy thing about this faceup is that it has somehow managed to make her "angry" eyes look a little more friendly. I'm not so into the angry eyes so this seemingly softer expression gets a big thumbs up from me.

Like all the HTC dolls, my history with this Abbey is checkered. When she was unveiled at SDCC, I thought she looked pretty amazing. When I started seeing the actual doll on store shelves my mind changed. Every single one I looked at had insane, messy, tragic hair. I finally found one I liked a few weeks ago and bought her. Once I got home I hemmed and hawed over her, never taking her out of the box. I eventually returned her.

Earlier this week I found another one I liked and bought. Again I hemmed and hawed, but this time I decided to keep her; out of the box she came! (By the way, this pose combined with that giant mane of curls reminds me of early-80's Barbie box drawings. Love it!)

I feel my diligence in holding off on HTC Abbey, and patience in finding just the right one, paid off. In my opinion this is one of the best HTC Abbeys you're gonna lay your eyes on, either in person or online.

Compared to the other HTC dolls Abbey's outfit seems a bit simple.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a plain or boring outfit by any means! It's very detailed!

It's just that it doesn't seem to have quite as much going on. The others' outfits have removable layers to varying degrees; not so, Abbey's dress.

It looks great anyway, of course. I love the snowflake pattern on the outer layer of tulle. The black, grey, and white colors combined with the style of draping gives the look a ghostly vibe. (Change the colors and print and this would've been great on Spectra.)

The snowflakes are sparkling gold on the outside, white underneath. Since the skirt is pleated both sides face outward, creating a nice contrast.

All of Abbey's accessories (except her shoes and lantern) are solid, sparkling gold. In general the various pieces are smaller in size compared to the other HTC dolls. I like this a lot -- it subtracts greatly from the "gaudy factor".

I'm glad I held out for the right HTC Abbey; I got one that leaves me feeling surprisingly impressed with this release. Given how HTC Draculaura turned out, Abbey could've been an even bigger disaster. Luckily that's not the case.

See you in Art Class, Abbey!

Paper Dolls

I recently had a request for scans of the cardboard character models Mattel used to use to showcase the outfits in the fashion packs. Ask and ye shall receive -- even if it takes a while sometimes! The great thing about these models is that they can also be used as paper dolls. (Well, so long as you don't mind that your dolls are footless.) And since Mattel has yet to officially release MH paper dolls, these are certainly the next best thing. Here are scans of the ones I have.

We'll start with Frankie because she's awesome and beautiful.

Sometimes they also use these cardboard models to showcase playsets, so buyers can get a rough idea of what an actual doll will look like with the set. Here's Frankie going voltageous in front of her vanity.

I really love the look they've been using for Frankie's box art representations for the past year or so. She always looks maniacally happy to the point of being demented. And yet still gorgeous!

Next we have Clawdeen...

I especially like this one since, as far as I'm aware, this "look" hasn't been used for her since.

Scaris Clawdeen -- expect big things on my year-end countdown in December!

Lagoona never leaves me "blue". I know, terrible.

Draculaura always looks so cute in her drawings! Too bad this doesn't always translate to her dolls.

And a few single hits, but they're all primo...

Adorkable.

Fiercely frigid Abbey.

We need more Spectra models! It really is a shame Mattel isn't using these in the FPs anymore.

Unfortunately I can't find my Operetta model, so I had to use my partial scan from last year's character spotlight. Sadface.

And we end on a high note -- Rochelle! We never got a FP model of her but at least we have this one from the Scaris Car.

I'd like to dedicate this post to my fellow ephemerites. Paper goods -- so fun, so cool, so collectible.

PS: If you're a really big dork like I am these can be printed off on thick stock paper (or thin stock then laminated) and used as bookmarks. There's no reason why your copy of The Peripatetic Coffin can't be fiercely fabulous in between reading sessions!