A Doll Dilemma
So I know I joke about this quite often, but it seems that it really has come true faster than I ever expected: I have reached critical mass in terms of both toy display AND storage in my room. Even after doing a good bit of shifting in my closet today, I really only cleared some things off of the floor and stuck them on the shelves.
But did that stop me from picking up Frankie, Lagoona, and Draculaura today at Wal-Mart and TRU? Of course not. It's so easy to ignore your own space limitations when your standing there in a store surrounded by really awesome toys.
My collection has really gone through some explosive growth lately, and it has not been without its share of growing pains. Aside from the space issues, the Silkstone Ken I ordered on eBay appears to have been in the possession of a smoker. There was brown gunk ALL OVER his stand and shoes, and his white shirt and jacket have brown stains on them! That really, really irks me. There was NO MENTION of that in the listing, and the pics are strategically taken to minimize showing ANY of these very apparent flaws. I fully intend to replace him at some future point in time with a MIB version. But in the meantime, I need to attempt to launder the clothes and see if I can't get the stains out. ~_~ *sigh*
I may have reached the point of selling some things if I want to add any more, but in truth I am attached to everything in the collection at this point. Is that a sign of being a hoarder? I feel like it sometimes. So many books, DVDs and toys...it's just an untenable situation. So I finally sat down and made a list of the lines that I collect. This list should serve to guide me and (hopefully) keep my collection in some semblance of order and prevent it from growing so huge that it falls and kills me in my sleep.
There are three basic categories: Childhood Collections, Action Figures, and Dolls
Childhood Collections:
1. Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders - mostly stable, non-growth
2. Dragon Flyz - needs a good inventory, but probably low growth potential
3. Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic - lots of growth potential. I own very few of these.
Action Figures
1. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - lots of growth potential, but I hate getting outbid all the time on Ebay.
2. ReBoot - I have most of the ones I really want, so small growth only expected.
3. Marvel Super Hero Squad - somehow these bred like rabbits; growth depends on available sets.
Dolls
1. Pullips and Taeyangs - I've been very content with the five that I own, though there are another five or six that I'd like to add at some point in the future. The higher price means that growth will be slower.
2. Winx Club - unless something really impressive come along, I currently own 32 different Winx from three different manufacturers. It's my largest single collection. I'm also tired of being overcharged for shipping from Italy. Low to nonexistent growth expected.
3. Barbie - this is the "growing pains" collection. I'm up to 24 dolls now (practically within a month), with plans to add a few more here and there. This one really needs to stabilize and get some direction.
4. Disney Fairies - I have most of the original Disney Store line and recently completed the newer Disney Store "Flower Petal Case" line. Not to mention two sets of figurines. The only things that can tempt me here are an original Tink or the Italian Tink and Terence (with horrific shipping from Europe). Heaven forbid I ever get into the Disney Prince and Princesses lines.
5. Monster High - I don't need Clawdeen, and the Dawn of the Dance dolls aren't doing anything for me. I love the five I have and currently have no plans to add any more. But time will tell. :)
6. Fashion Royalty/Integrity Toys - I have one "Style Strategy Lukas" and he's awesome. I want Takeo from the same line and an Electro-Pop Rufus Blue of the Dynamite Girls. Integrity makes a really quality product, but they run in the same price range as Pullips generally ($80-140ish), so that obviously limits growth. I may get some as "rewards" if a pass both board tests.
And that's pretty much it. But when I took at it, there's a lot there! There's also lots of random things I've acquired over the years like a few Justice League figures and some Star Wars stuff (among other things), but I don't see any future growth for these lines in my collection when faced with everything else.
A small (current) wishlist:
1. "In the Mix" Takeo from Integrity
2. Electro-Pop Rufus Blue from Integrity
3. Fashion Fairytale Ken from Mattel
4. Barbie Basics Model #5 from Mattel
5. Twilight Alice Cullen from Mattel (releases in August)
6. Rayne Taeyang
7. Angelique Pullip
8. Disney - the new Beast/Prince doll and a suitable Belle to accompany him. I know I shouldn't, but Beauty and the Beast has long been my favorite Disney movie and the current Beast/Prince doll is pretty awesome. TRU also has a nice Belle in the blue dress with some of the Enchanted objects. I'm also looking at a Rapunzel and Rider Flynn from the upcoming Tangled. But that depends on how much I like the movie, I think.
OMG that's still ten more dolls. None of which I have room for. XD
I actually really envy those people who have like, ten Pullips and are satisfied at that. Life would be so much easier (if a little less colorful!).
But did that stop me from picking up Frankie, Lagoona, and Draculaura today at Wal-Mart and TRU? Of course not. It's so easy to ignore your own space limitations when your standing there in a store surrounded by really awesome toys.
My collection has really gone through some explosive growth lately, and it has not been without its share of growing pains. Aside from the space issues, the Silkstone Ken I ordered on eBay appears to have been in the possession of a smoker. There was brown gunk ALL OVER his stand and shoes, and his white shirt and jacket have brown stains on them! That really, really irks me. There was NO MENTION of that in the listing, and the pics are strategically taken to minimize showing ANY of these very apparent flaws. I fully intend to replace him at some future point in time with a MIB version. But in the meantime, I need to attempt to launder the clothes and see if I can't get the stains out. ~_~ *sigh*
I may have reached the point of selling some things if I want to add any more, but in truth I am attached to everything in the collection at this point. Is that a sign of being a hoarder? I feel like it sometimes. So many books, DVDs and toys...it's just an untenable situation. So I finally sat down and made a list of the lines that I collect. This list should serve to guide me and (hopefully) keep my collection in some semblance of order and prevent it from growing so huge that it falls and kills me in my sleep.
There are three basic categories: Childhood Collections, Action Figures, and Dolls
Childhood Collections:
1. Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders - mostly stable, non-growth
2. Dragon Flyz - needs a good inventory, but probably low growth potential
3. Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic - lots of growth potential. I own very few of these.
Action Figures
1. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - lots of growth potential, but I hate getting outbid all the time on Ebay.
2. ReBoot - I have most of the ones I really want, so small growth only expected.
3. Marvel Super Hero Squad - somehow these bred like rabbits; growth depends on available sets.
Dolls
1. Pullips and Taeyangs - I've been very content with the five that I own, though there are another five or six that I'd like to add at some point in the future. The higher price means that growth will be slower.
2. Winx Club - unless something really impressive come along, I currently own 32 different Winx from three different manufacturers. It's my largest single collection. I'm also tired of being overcharged for shipping from Italy. Low to nonexistent growth expected.
3. Barbie - this is the "growing pains" collection. I'm up to 24 dolls now (practically within a month), with plans to add a few more here and there. This one really needs to stabilize and get some direction.
4. Disney Fairies - I have most of the original Disney Store line and recently completed the newer Disney Store "Flower Petal Case" line. Not to mention two sets of figurines. The only things that can tempt me here are an original Tink or the Italian Tink and Terence (with horrific shipping from Europe). Heaven forbid I ever get into the Disney Prince and Princesses lines.
5. Monster High - I don't need Clawdeen, and the Dawn of the Dance dolls aren't doing anything for me. I love the five I have and currently have no plans to add any more. But time will tell. :)
6. Fashion Royalty/Integrity Toys - I have one "Style Strategy Lukas" and he's awesome. I want Takeo from the same line and an Electro-Pop Rufus Blue of the Dynamite Girls. Integrity makes a really quality product, but they run in the same price range as Pullips generally ($80-140ish), so that obviously limits growth. I may get some as "rewards" if a pass both board tests.
And that's pretty much it. But when I took at it, there's a lot there! There's also lots of random things I've acquired over the years like a few Justice League figures and some Star Wars stuff (among other things), but I don't see any future growth for these lines in my collection when faced with everything else.
A small (current) wishlist:
1. "In the Mix" Takeo from Integrity
2. Electro-Pop Rufus Blue from Integrity
3. Fashion Fairytale Ken from Mattel
4. Barbie Basics Model #5 from Mattel
5. Twilight Alice Cullen from Mattel (releases in August)
6. Rayne Taeyang
7. Angelique Pullip
8. Disney - the new Beast/Prince doll and a suitable Belle to accompany him. I know I shouldn't, but Beauty and the Beast has long been my favorite Disney movie and the current Beast/Prince doll is pretty awesome. TRU also has a nice Belle in the blue dress with some of the Enchanted objects. I'm also looking at a Rapunzel and Rider Flynn from the upcoming Tangled. But that depends on how much I like the movie, I think.
OMG that's still ten more dolls. None of which I have room for. XD
I actually really envy those people who have like, ten Pullips and are satisfied at that. Life would be so much easier (if a little less colorful!).