ChuChu Flamingo: It’s more of a general love of toys in general than dolls specifically. In addition to collecting and making them, I also enjoy learning about their history, design/construction, etc. The whole gender-division thing in the toy industry doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense in my eyes. To me, toys are toys, regardless of whether they’re pink and frilly or bloody and brandishing firearms. As far as participating in the doll brands fandom goes, to some extent I do. I follow and read several doll-centric blogs, research doll manufacturers/brands, exchange tips/advice on the repair/maintenance/customization of dolls, etc., but then, I belong to TMNT, Transformers, etc., forums too and engage in the same types of behaviors with “boy” toy brands.
Here are some more of my recent thrift store "rescues":
MGA Bratz Chloe and a Tomy Pokemon Glaceon. The 100 Kids Projects book, which has instructions for making all manner of toys and games, is very good, and if you have artistically-inclined children, I'd highly recommend it.
MGA Moxie Girlz Avery, McDonald's Moshi Monsters (popular online children's game) Shishi, Burger King plush Simpsons Marge (you had to pay for these seperate, with your meal, back in the day, probably due to their size--I think they ran around $3 at the time), and MGA Novi Stars Mae Tallick (electronic talking action).
Disney Beauty & The Beast Belle, Mattel Diva Starz Tia (electronic talking feature accompanied by light-up lips), Jakks Pacific Disney Tinkerbell, Spin Master La Dee Da Bollywood Bright Dee, and Anne Geddes' Labor of Love autobiography (if you've never heard of her, she's a world famous photographer who specializes in portraits of babies and children).
A couple of Ohio Art Betty Spaghetti dolls (the blonde, on the right is a McDonald's one, the incomplete one, on the left, is a "real" one, these dolls have interchangeable limbs/parts so that you can customize your doll however you like--this pair came in a Ziplock bag, disassembled, for fifty cents, so I couldn't tell that there wasn't enough parts to make two complete dolls when I bought it, which is a bit of a bummer, but, I'm sure I'll stumble across some more of them in the future and be able to rectify that), Mattel Barbie Fashionistas Swappin' Styles Artsy (her head is removable, and can be swapped out with others--the Raquelle I posted previously is from the same line, but her head isn't swappable, as she's a standard doll), McDonald's My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Twilight Sparkle (missing her circular comb/clip-on), Monster High Nightmare (missing its saddle, this was a Toys R Us exclusive with the Headless Headmistress Bloodgood doll), riding said horse is a Mattel Super Stars Brandy (the real world singer), and, finally, a Star Wars: Clone Wars Savage Opress (Darth Maul's brother, the Cyrax to his Sektor).
