----- Original Message ----- From: sisupygmies sisupygmies@yahoo.com To: candichat@dolls.de Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 8:27 PM Subject: Re: Lunar/display question

PAT !!!!!!

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What do you do with the boxes?

In the trash.

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Do any of you display all of your dolls or do you rotate them?

I'm shuddering! I really am. This seems like a terrible waste.

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Where do you store them after you've displayed them? Where do you put dolls after you've taken them out of their boxes? What do you do with all this doll stuff?

I wrap them and put them in Rubbermaid totes.

That's where all my neat dolly stuff STILL sits. Getting all the stuff in the totes was like putting pieces of a puzzle together--I hate to dismantle the work. I even feel that way once I've finished a puzzle--which is a reason I don't do many puzzles--though I LOVE doing puzzles. Maybe I'm into the art of storing stuff...

----- Original Message ----- From: Elizabeth biz000art@yahoo.com To: candichat@dolls.de Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 9:59 PM Subject: Re: Lunar/display question

Pat... I'm with Sisu on most points, except I don't throw out ALL the boxes.

Some of the nicer ones I keep. I have about three shelves in my linen closet which are reserved for boxes (I have no idea what I will do if/when I run out of space!)I also display some boxes BEHIND the dolls...like the Candi COVER GIRLS boxes are closed and behind the dolls. My MiKelman boxes are hanging on the wall in my 'doll closet'. I opened them, and put a push pin inside to hang it on the wall...then slid the lid on. They look really neat like this!

Excellent idea. It definitely relieves me of the guilt of throwing out a box. See, this business of buying dolls for the "resale" was such a stoopid thing that got started in the mid 90s. I rue the day I learned this bad habit...

----- Original Message ----- From: Elizabeth biz000art@yahoo.com To: candichat@dolls.de Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 11:01 PM Subject: Re: Lunar/display question

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See, this business of buying dolls for the "resale" was such a stoopid thing that got started in the mid 90s. I rue the day I learned this bad habit...

Welllll....I think it still IS a good idea, it is just that you need to hang on to them until they become 'vintage' (got somewhere to store them for a couple of decades?)

That seems to be ALL I'm able to do is hang onto all this stuff. I think it's a very, very good chance I'll hang onto the dolls well past when they're vintage. I expect they'll all be auctioned off in a huge estate sale when I'm old and decrepit.

Personally, I feel that as far as 11 1/2" dolls go...Candi and Charice (as well as some of the Alysa/Jade/Janay dolls) are so much more beautiful than Barbie, that they can't go anywhere but up! The amount made (in comparison to Barbie) is going to make them rarer as well. Additionally, even though the play-line dolls cost less, they have a chance of becoming worth money because they are just that: a playline and most girls WILL play with them--to death! Then the ones that didn't get played with will be rarer, in demand and worth a lot. But again...this will take a generation.

I wish I could believe what you believe. You certainly have a 50% chance of being right. The only reason I'm less than optimistic that the current Integrity playline dolls won't attract the same collector audience of a Barbie is that there is always ONE Barbie--all the others are variations of knock-offs. That's not meant to be derrogatory, it's just that if Barbie had come second to some other 11.5" fashion doll of the 60s, she too would be another knock-off. There's nothing wrong with the dolls NOT Barbie, but dolls become collectibles because they establish themselves as "classics." Dethroning a 30+ year-old classic is less than likely.

Having said all that, based on what I see at ebay and other Internet sales websites, there's no doubt that there is a growing following for the ensuing Jason Wu/Integrity affiliation of doll creations. I don't know if this association will turn out a classic doll, but I do think that what's possible is that one-of-a-kind artist dolls become accessible for many more collectors. With each Integrity doll with Jason's input that is manufactured, there is one more doll with his artistry that is put in the hands of doll lovers. A new appreciation for doll artistry is generated and a potential demand for artist-quality dolls is generated. However, it's a small market. I don't know if this small market can put into the minds of other collectors that these are classic dolls.

This is a very esoteric and subjective experience that I don't know can be mass produced to generate a die-hard following. Of course, only time will tell. In the meantime, lots of space in my house is being used for storage in the hopes the demand for these dolls will be generated. Regards, pat

Elizabeth

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----- Original Message ----- From: Lunar lunarwolfess@yahoo.com.au To: Pat Brown nqsqurtz@staffnet.com; candichat@dolls.de Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 4:49 AM Subject: Re: Lunar/display question

When

we're at work the bedroom door is closed to keep them cat proof. LOL.

You and Sisu both commented on displaying and pets. This is also one of my problems--I have not got one room in the house that I can close the door from the pets, well, not yet. The one room I have is a lovely SUNNY room on the ground floor. I love this room because it overlooks a pond. The room makes an excellent office because it's so bright, but a lousy room for doll display. Unfortunately, the downstairs was never designed to have separate rooms--typical of the "family room" design of most downstairs.

While I can't imagine why a cat would need to get up on a shelf with a bunch of dolls--they don't bother with shelves with lots of books--my cats seem to have the uncanny knack for taking up residence precisely where I don't want them--on my dolls. My one cat likes to scratch his chin with Barbie hands and him and another cat like to rub their chins on doll hands and feet. I wish I could figure out a way to install acrylic front doors on bookcases, but I hate to think of the expense in getting such large sheets made, the durability and whether they'd warp.

If I keep regaling you all with my deboxing problems, please bear with me--I need a lot of hand-holding to get this next level of doll collecting: enjoyment. Take care, Pat

Hi All, Well, I have to join the deboxers here too. Almost all my dolls get deboxed. About the only ones I still have in boxes are the Star Trek set ( I just liked the overall display of that one) My Polish dolls of the world, and the kitty fun Barbie that came out last year. That last one has to be in the box to get the full effect. ( Anyone who thinks cleaning a cat litterbox is kitty fun, never had a cat. LOL ) Most of the boxes get thrown away, right away. I sometimes keep the slim boxes that the silkstones/candis come in to reuse, but not for resale. The only box I kept for resale value ( as if I would sell him) was my Harley Ken #1,the only Harley I ever got, but one of the cutest Kens ever made. I have three bookcases with dolls on them. Some are displayed in dioramas with the old Suzy Goose Furniture, and some are just redressed and displayed. I don't always get them changed for the seasons, but every once in a while I put up some new ones. I also have one long single shelf over my sewing machine that has my OOAK swaps on it, so they can inspire me while I work. I keep most of my childhood mod dolls in their original cases as the mod dolls are so prone to fading, and I don't want any damage to those dolls. Any other dolls not displayed are wrapped in cotton sheets in plastic tubs. My way too many FAs are in plastic bags in another big tub. I need to take some pics for some other things in the next couple of days, so I will try and take some pics to share. I also put a few dolls upstairs in seasonal clothes, so there are always dolls out at Christmas, Halloween, and Easter, but I keep it to only a few, as the hubby gets a little irritated eith them, and 2 year olds are not real reliable around them.

Kathy M. Frivolities Antiques Ft. Collins, CO

Pat Hawkins, how do you display your dolls? I have a large doll room. ( it was once 2 small bedrooms & the prev. owners made it into 1 large room )It is lined with doll shelves, mostly opened but a few cabinets have doors on them & in those cab. are the older dolls, which are the most expensive & hard to replace & these dolls are just lined up side by side. The cab. with doors helps keep dust off the dolls & little assess. from falling out & my grandkids & others , hands off them. On the open shelves I have 'rooms' with doll furniture or a dept. store setup or an office or a school room display. I cram as many dolls as poss. into the display but sometimes that's as little as 3 dolls as it would ruin the idea. ( my grand kids get a kick out of rearrangeing these ) I take Xmas ornaments that look like tea sets for instance or there's 3 of them that would pass for ornate chandeliers & they are hung from the ceilings of the more 'fancy' rooms . I'm always on the look out for ornaments or key chains with minis on them. I make stuff out of trash if it resembles, say a bucket or a frame or gives me some idea to make something with it. I have fun with my dolls & make them work or play & not just stand there static. I can't redo hair or makeup, or make outfits ..my thing is scenes. I take as many dolls out of the box as poss. but for seasonal dolls , such as Xmas, I keep the boxes, as they are usually pretty & replace the doll into it to help store it for next Xmas or whenever. Certain special empty boxes I keep & place in large trash bags that I store up in the attic which is just a hole in the ceiling & hard to get to. Occasionally , I don't take a doll out of the box for whatever reason. These dolls in boxes are stored on top each other behind the door into the doll room. All you have to do is closed the door to see them. Some dolls such as Neptunes Daughter Barbie are displayed in individual cases ontop of the shelves. I try to keep all dolls in this room as my husband complains ( we have a friend who has dolls all over every inch of her house & in every room ...he's afraid I'll get to that) But in the living room , there's one sq. table about 30 by 30 that holds my seasonal displays. Right now it is a n Easter one, which was made into a springtime look after EAster. It's all grassy, flowery looking with fairy -like dolls on it ( & a Barbie sized unicorn I couldn't resist at the last doll show I attended) . My husband gets a kick out of these as I try to use some taste & my effort shows, I think , & the grand kids like them, so that makes it alright. Down the middle of the doll room is a series of low setting shelves & a desk & on the shelves is one of those large Barbie doll houses which gets changed about, usually by the grands ( the kids learn quickly what they can touch, but they'll never understand why some dolls must remain in their box ) I have some Star Trek stuff & a few cars & train that the grand sons like, otherwise they'll not that interested in the room but my grand daugter is amazed with it & finds something she's never seen before , tho it's always been there. My sons & DIL think I I've gone overboard & worry what they'll do with all this stuff should I drop dead suddenly ( hey, they're practical, what can I say ) I'm am inspiration to them not to get carried away with their collecting as I have hundreds of dolls. Lots of the people I know , feel this way, so I'm careful to whom I show the room ...I'm tired of those incredulous looks that say 'she's nuts". I belong to a doll club & have a few friends who collect , but other then those choosen ones....it really seldom gets seen by anyone but me. Right now it's a mess because of our redoing the closets & shrouded with sheets to protect dolls from the drywall dust. My husband collects tools ,which are seldom used, out in the garage & expensive metal airlplane models & lots of bookcases full of books , which ARE read, in his office...so he only has to say something once about my dolls & I'd be all over him like white on rice about ALL the stuff he collects well now, I got a lot off my chest didn't I ? Pat H.

In no uncertain terms, THIS SUCKS! And all you get is a regret? How are you keeping calm over this? I'm mad just rereading your letter. Ebay is just getting too big and I have to hope that someone's going to get up an auction site that is more responsive to those of us who are not in business--which seems to be what ebay is becoming. I have huge problems with those who are actually conducting a business from ebay's services. There should be a separate auction site for professionals and spring cleaners. I haven't finished reading all of my emails, I may yet be getting one like yours. Regards, pat Brown ----- Original Message ----- From: June Narber To: Pat Hawkins Cc: Pat Brown ; candichat@dolls.de Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 10:44 PM Subject: help

Help..I got this message from EBAY. This means my rating and info at ebay is lost which includes my good rating. Did any of you get this same message?? Dear cosmiclady (jnarber@hercurian.com), During the maintenance period from 01:00 PST until 02:00 PST on Thursday, April 4th, 2002, for regularly scheduled maintenance we experienced difficulties following a scheduled shutdown of the system to upgrade software. The problem was caused by a bug in third-party software which resulted in the lost of some eBay data including personal user information, feedback, ended auctions.

We regret to inform you that your eBay account information was lost and you will not be able to use your eBay user ID in the future. An attempt to use eBay Sign In feature will return an input error message that password is not valid. All the data was lost completely and can not be restored.

However we suggest you to create a new account with us. Once you register again, you will be able to buy, sell, and take part in the community. You can register by clicking here:

http://cgi4.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?SSLRegisterFromCountries&sitei...

eBay Inc apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused.

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