Life Perspective: Reviews & More

Tea Time at the Plaza Gene doll a remembrance of 9-11 A Doll Collector Looks Back at the Twin Towers Tea Time at the Plaza Gene doll was an FAO Schwarz exclusive doll released by Ashton Drake in 1991. Wearing her tailored A-line navy blue georgette dress with white soutache braid trim, the Gene doll was ready for an afternoon tea at New York's famous Plaza Hotel. Continue reading at: Tea Time at the Plaza Gene doll a remembrance of 9-11 - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner More Gene Dolls:

More St. Patrick's Day dolls and a look at the upcoming "Mad Men" Barbies. Gene, Tyler, Madra & Hayley celebrate the wearing 'o the green - St. Patrick's Day doll display Thursday, March 11th, 2010 Sometimes dolls take on a life of their own and insist on being photographed for special occasions. That's what happened when Gene, Tyler and Madra got together... Keep Reading »   Mad Men Barbie dolls - new pop culture dolls in Barbie Silkstone line Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 Mattel, Inc., Lionsgate® and AMC Announce Launch of “ Mad Men ” Barbie Collector Dolls The big buzz on Twitter today - in fact a... Keep Reading »

I went to a doll club Valentine's Party and heard some interesting news about one of my favorite dolls. Read all about it here! Did Gene Marshall save the last dance for Ashton-Drake? Rumors fly about final Gene doll Friday, February 5th, 2010 According to the internet doll rumor mill, Ashton Drake may be producing one last Gene doll in 2010. As reported in Who is Gene? Gene Marshall: fashion doll , the Gene doll , created by designer Mel Odom , was introduced by Ashton-Drake (AD) in 1995... Keep Reading »   Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club hosts Valentine's Party: Valentine Barbie dolls on display Thursday, February 4th, 2010 · 1 comment Valentine's Day may be 10 days away, but the Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club held their annual Valentine's Day party tonight at Shoney's in... Keep Reading » Valentine's Day Barbie dolls from Target and Hallmark: ...

Sad news for the doll collecting world - Gene to be retired Mel Odom retires Gene doll; Gene Marshall line ends in 2010 Monday, December 21st, 2009 In November, Mel Odom sent a letter to collectors announcing that as of June 2010 his “ Gene Marshall fashion doll would be officially retired as will the entire Gene doll fashion line. “ Gene and I are pulling a Garbo, and retiring,” Odom announced in his letter.... Keep Reading »

This is one of my favorite memories, going to New York City on a total splurge to pick up a couple of exclusive dolls, and taking pictures of one of them in front of the Twin Towers. Tea Time at the Plaza Gene; 1999 FAO Schwarz Exclusive Gene premiered in New York City (slideshow) Friday, September 11th, 2009 In 1999, a new Gene doll was unveiled at a special event at FAO Schwarz. Dressed in a wonderfully tailored 'A' line navy blue georgette dress featuring white soutache braid trim, Tea Time at the Plaza Gene looked stylish and smart... Keep Reading »

I had never heard of this doll before writing it up tonight. Integrity Toys announces Attention! Australian exclusive doll from AvantGuard collection Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 Integrity Toys AvantGuard Dolls Integrity Toys recently recently released two new 16 inch dolls from their AvantGuard line from the DayGlo collection.... Keep Reading »

More doll news. The short-lived Julia doll is one of my favorites. Doll Collecting 101: Who Is Julia? Julia Kingston forerunner of Tyler Wentworth Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 In 1998, Julia Kingston by Robert Tonner, a doll straight out of a Harlequin Romance, premiered at Toy Fair. Julia was not made by the Tonner Doll Company, but was created by Robert Tonner for Pendant Historical Romance, a Division of Georgetown Collection. Keep Reading »

This is another look back at the heyday of doll collecting in 2000 as well as a profile of the Madra doll. Doll Collecting 101: Who Is Madra Lord? Madra Lord part of the Gene Marshall line of dolls Sunday, September 6th, 2009 First Encounter: Madra Lord Arrives on the Gene Scene In 2000, as part of Gene’s fifth anniversary celebration, Ashton-Drake announced it was... Keep Reading »

More on the heyday of fashion doll collecting... Doll Collecting 101: Who is Tyler? Tyler Wentworth, fashion doll, by Tonner Doll Company (with slideshow) Friday, August 28th, 2009 Who is Tyler? The Tyler Wentworth Doll by Robert Tonner for the Tonner Doll Company The Tonner Doll Company presented the first Tyler Wentworth® Doll and Collection for adult collectors at Toy Fair from 1999 (see Tyler's first appearance as Tonner Doll Company issued Signature Style Tyler in 1999 - a look back ). Tyler Wentworth is a 16-inch, vinyl/hard plastic doll with rooted saran hair (and sometimes wigs), hand-detailed painted eyes and an extensive wardrobe... Keep Reading »

Another fashion doll retrospective as I look back at the heyday of doll collecting! Tyler's first appearance as Tonner Doll Company issued Signature Style Tyler in 1999 - a look back Thursday, August 27th, 2009 Tyler Arrives on the Fashion Scene Towards the end of December 1999, reports began to circulate on the internet. "Tyler is here!" The... Keep Reading »

I decided to take a look back at the heyday of the Gene doll in this retrospective of an event I attended in 2000: Gene’s fifth anniversary was a banner year for Ashton-Drake's Gene doll in 2000 - a look back Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 Gene's 5th Anniversary Celebration in 2000 New dolls! New characters! New body styles! New costumes! New accessory packs! Retirements! These were the buzz words that combined to mark a memorable 5th anniversary celebration for Ashton-Drake’s Gene during the cornucopia of events that marked the millennium Toy Fair in New York City. Keep Reading »

More doll news - this blog is definitely developing a split personality! If you are only interested in doll news, you might want to check out my doll blog at: Fashion Dolls 101 Gene Fall 2009 Releases: "Heat Wave" Violet Waters (with slideshow) Sunday, August 23rd, 2009 "Heat Wave" Violet Waters Part 2 in the Gene Fall 2009 Release Series Gene's friend Violet Waters is ready for an island getaway as she... Keep Reading »

Yes, I am not too proud to admit that in a former life, I was a doll collector. Although I have stopped spending money on them, I still enjoy keeping up with the latest doll collecting news and have started writing a doll column for the Nashville Examiner. So don't be surprised if you find doll news mixed in with music new and other information in my blog from now on! Gene Fall 2009 Release: 'Pearls and Pink' Ivy Jordan by Integrity Toys (with slideshow) Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 "Pearls and Pink" Ivy Jordan From the Return to Hollywood Collection comes the "Pearls and Pink" Ivy Jordan in the Gene line of dolls from Integrity Toys... Keep Reading » More Gene doll news: Doll Collecting 101: Who is Gene? Gene Marshall: fashion doll (with slideshow) Gene Hollywood Royalty dolls announ...

Gene Hollywood Royalty dolls announced - new 12 inch size for Gene Marshall dolls Friday, August 21st, 2009 Stop the presses! Did I just say in my Doll Collecting 101: Who is Gene? article that Gene is a 16 1/2 inch doll? Well, history is being made as a new 12 inch Hollywood Royalty Gene is expected to arrive mid-to-late November! Keep Reading »

Doll Collecting 101: Who is Gene? Gene Marshall: fashion doll (with slideshow) Thursday, August 20th, 2009 Who is Gene Marshall? In 1995, a new doll was unveiled at Toy Fair for adult collectors. Designed to appeal to lovers of old-time Hollywood glamor, Gene Marshall was introduced by Ashton-Drake, an affiliate of the Bradford Exchange, and designer Mel Odum (see slideshow below) with three dressed dolls and nine costumes. Keep Reading »