Two Years

Wow. I've been productive. Let's get right to it.

2024 started as a continuation of 2023, with a lot of loose ends wrapping up from December--reviewing the dolls I bought for myself for Christmas (I literally couldn't do it sooner due to recovering from COVID) and doing more investigations into L.O.L. dolls and getting a couple more Monster High items. It was February that determined the unique character of TT&T 2024 by introducing holiday posts and the big behemoth: If 2023 was the year of Monster High, 2024 was undoubtedly the year of Living Dead Dolls, which became my biggest priority after I was sucked into the collection. In February, I decided to finally engage directly in the horror toys I'd been so fascinated by from afar, all due to the brand rebooting with a high-end new style of dolls I couldn't resist investigating. 

LDD pretty much immediately became a staple collection, (rekindled) intense personal interest, and frequent blog topic on par with (or exceeding) Monster High during 2023, and a lot of my collecting purchases pivoted toward building and planning out my LDD collection. The LDD hobby did demonstrably edge out some Monster High topics, which is unfortunate, but I made my choice. Without LDD, though, I would have gotten on reacquiring dolls of Wydowna Spider and Iris Clops like I thought I would at this time last year, and I'd probably have done a feature on the Garden Secrets G3 series of dolls within 2024, though they're still on the table right now. I'd also probably have done a second post about troll dolls by now.

LDD has also become my most serious collection with my highest standards for acquisitions and display together. I pick and choose, but my tastes are more wide than is convenient! With LDD, I rate the dolls on a higher level of importance regarding commitment, care, and display...and expenditure. Finding a way to make a space where I could display them all together was a consistent pressing desire and problem to work toward solving...and I am not yet there, nor likely to achieve that soon, which was an extremely hard pill to swallow.  My biggest dream is a space with shelving that will let all of my dolls stand in front of their coffins assembled in one room. The reality? Probably not in this current house. In some way, LDD feels like my first fully adult collecting hobby. They're the first big collection I started buying for the first time as an adult, at least...and they're my first collection to come to blows with adult concerns like room display and shelving!

I've had such a good time with the brand so far, and I managed to get many dolls I find important and significant. The big five dolls I have in my mind right now as the most significant are Series 1 Sadie (the OG), Series 12 Chloe (a fan favorite), Alison Crux (maybe a fan favorite and definitely one of my favorites), Daisy Slae (apparently a fan-favorite based on market prices and one I really love) and Frozen Charlotte (likely the reigning empress of the collector community; review not yet posted). The biggest fandom darling I have yet to get is The Lost from Series 8, but I should within 2025. Series 11's Maggot would be the final "collective grail" doll in the LDD fandom to get, but right now, the other fans can have her. I do like her and find her adorable, but the other fandom darlings are more appealing to me. And Resurrection Sadie was a major pull, but like Charlotte, her post didn't get finished up within the year, so she'll count as a 2025 doll by virtue of being published then. Neither she nor Charlotte qualified for the recap cover photo as a result.

As for the dolls that personally press on me still? Well, as with Monster High, there have been constant members of my wishlist I never got around to during the first year. Chief on the list are the conjoined twins Hazel and Hattie (original release) because I just gotta know how the dolls are constructed as bodies inside a conjoined dress that's only connected at the shoulder like they are. From video footage of the dolls being lifted and moved, they do look connected rather than the armless sides of their torsos being loose inside their halves of the dress. The twins' prices have just gotten worse and scared me away in moments when I considered getting them. Series 10's Arachne has also hovered in the back of my mind for ages, and she's been pretty stable on the aftermarket, but someone else always jumped in front of her. I'm also on the hunt for a Series 9 variant Toxic Molly, who's partially an obsession just because she's so hard to get. The main Toxic Molly can go away for all I care, but the green-dressed glowing variant brings a lot to the character. The doll is rare and her gas mask is fragile, however, making her difficult to find and definitely not cheap. The next time she shows up and she's feasible, I'm taking the opportunity.

I've also had fun applying thematic art gimmicks on my part to certain LDD collections--tea table settings and themed tea servings and menus for the dolls of Series 23, entertainment news pieces and Grauman's Theater autographed slabs for the celebrity-themed dolls of Series 5, and cabaret posters for the dolls I wanted in Series 33. Every piece of engagement and theming I bring into the toys makes them all the more rewarding. I think chiefly, I love the brand so much for being an eclectic collection of horror characters and aesthetics that gives me a massive palette of themes, art styles, and energies to explore and emulate with photographs, dioramas, photo stories, and graphic or hand-drawn illustrations. In that sense, LDD is a "candy box" of different genre morsels to indulge in and have fun with, and it's very inspiring to me as an artist and storytelling enthusiast. I love genre and aesthetic, and LDD is a rich pool of them. My image-art impulses have drawn me into more dolls than I would have gotten otherwise, but I've enjoyed it immensely.

This year, I completed three series of dolls--Series 23 (the tea party) as an extended project drawn out as a monthly feature, Series 5 (old days of celebrity) more incidentally because I had a reason to discuss each doll, though I themed them together into a kind of worldbuilding project and even inserted an OC custom doll into their world, and Series 6 (number of the beast/Halloween archetypes) also incidentally, but I liked each doll. I then compiled those series reviews into re-edited single shots for alternate readings in one stop, which are fun to tweak for context.

In terms of series I expect to complete in the future, there's Series 8 (unthemed) and 33 (cabaret) from which I've been collecting already and which I think would be worth getting all of, and from those I have none of, there's Series 30 (sideshow freaks), 31 (boogeymen), 34 (mining-disaster ghosts), and 35 (20th anniversary), all of which I think would be worthy of reviewing as complete collections. 30 offers a lot of atypical dolls, historical discussion, and further dives into uncomfortable territory that would be worth attention; 31 hosts my first LDD darling who I've still yet to obtain and is full of bizarre nightmare entities I could craft a fun story around with a couple of extra characters to play off; 34 is aesthetically strong all around; and 35 offers a look at what might have been the swan-song of classic LDD, seeing as the original doll style hasn't had a series since. (I'd only collect five S35 dolls with one of the mystery dolls as the fifth, the way the dolls were sold if you bought a full set from Mezco. I am not getting all six mystery dolls!) I could also see myself collecting the three dolls I haven't yet from Series 14 because they're all interesting.

I think S30 would be formatted as three posts of two dolls each, 31 would be two posts (two outside characters tied into the theme, then 31 all in one go), 34 could be one post, and 35 could be one post...but obtaining the collections would probably take longer behind the scenes. It's possible, to achieve these, that I will work on collecting the series behind the scenes while reducing assorted LDD collecting in that time, and pivot more to other topics during the time in takes to assemble the LDD sets. I'll figure it out. My first priority before those, however, is completing the second uncomfortable-LDD roundup I've promised, and of which I've yet to obtain a single doll of the four in my plan. After that, I'd shortlist Series 31 and the two outside dolls I want to lump into the group. If I'm doing any one series project this year, S31 is what I want done, so my conservative prediction is that I'd be completing only Series 8, 34, and 31 this year. It's generally not my goal to complete any LDD series; I'm not that kind of collector, but if I like the dolls, I like them. Collection completion is based on merit or the bigger-picture group aiding my creative projects. It's never completing for completion's sake.

I've been in a place where I had the massive luxury of being able to allocate my budget toward my passions and these expensive collector's items, so I embraced the opportunity I had. I'm very lucky to have been able to "go for it" the way I have, and I don't take that for granted. I hope I've truly made the most of that collecting privilege through sharing, informing, and creating with the dolls on this blog so it's not just a private extravagance or wasteful short-lived dopamine kick where I tidy some hair and put the doll on the shelf and disengage from there. Putting more creative passion into my toy hobby at large has given it more meaning and purpose and made my experience with collecting so much better. If I hadn't taken to making this blog, I think a Living Dead Dolls collection would have a much more hollow place in my heart and be genuinely wasteful, as opposed to merely ridiculous. My more passive engagement with my original teen-years doll collection may have been why I felt so able to cast them aside and get rid of them, which I now regret. With the space to write about, analyze, and artistically produce with the dolls, though, the collection is extremely fulfilling. Having this blog and people to read it has given me a drive to learn and to share, and I find much more justification toward prize LDDs when I feel I can make something informative and entertaining with them and give myself and an audience an experience. I've enjoyed teaching myself about the dolls and analyzing their minutiae. I feel like it's not wrong to call myself something of an expert on LDD now through this year of research and hands-on discovery, though every doll teaches me more. I like being the kind of resource I'd love to learn from as a reader myself.

I started collecting LDD with the view that the dolls were something to treat as sacred, but I got over that pretty quickly. I try to treat the dolls well and do no harm, and I respect their DNA as artist dolls, but they're also mass-produced toys at the end of the day and I want to enjoy them, so if a modification tidies their design or makes their pieces more user-friendly, I'm less hesitant to make changes. Encountering the dolls' frequent quality problems firsthand and reminding myself of the iffy portrayals of certain topics has grounded my outlook on the dolls and removed some of my nervous reverence. I still have great respect for the artistic side of the dolls and have a lot of fun with them, but when they're made poorly, they're made poorly, and making them more enjoyable wins out over future resale value to me. I'm here to enjoy them as creative works, not stored value.

I wanted to hang onto my LDD collection from 2024 in the vain hope of staging a picture of every doll I've gotten at the end of the year. Not happening; sorry. This was a totally impractical idea with my current means. Since I have no way to display them together as a collection, I'm not breaking my back staging them together somehow for one picture. But now that 2024's passed, I will begin considering selling LDDs who have had their time in the sun. Some of them have been modified to the degree that I'm not comfortable selling them because they're no longer in original condition, but there are others I can think about letting go if I don't need them. This is also a valid way to approach future dolls I spotlight on the blog--I can feature them and then sell them if I don't love them or want them afterward, and that can go back into my budget for future purchases to keep a flow of projects going rather than the dolls always coming in the place of other dolls I won't be able to get. 

I also acknowledge that LDD, as full-on horror, has less appeal and accessibility and there are likely readers who just haven't been for it at all, and I've probably cost myself some blog engagement by choosing to turn LDD into a pillar of this blog. But I've done my best to give readers agency about more extreme LDD content and to produce content of tamer subjects alongside it. In the politest possible way, this is my blog, and I enjoy LDD and will pursue it as I like. Still, I've taken care not to let it overtake my content or shock readers who don't want to engage with its darker sides unprepared. If nothing else, I'm happy to have my LDD posts stand as an archive of discussions and discoveries as a resource for anyone else who may yet discover them.

I've been busy.

So that's the overwhelming focus aside for now. I can't promise LDD will reduce its pace or presence in 2025. But as to what else I did...

I also branched out the blog a little bit further in terms of topics, exploring other toy brands and some more genres beyond fashion dolls in ways that better justified the broad blog title. Ever After High joined my repertoire to a small degree, but I also went beyond that. I had never intended to be stuck on dolls or certain brands, because I'm truly interested in character toys without the specificity of dolls at all being a drive in my interest, so I was glad to continue broadening my subject matter with new topics and also to continue exploring parts of my older toy collections. LEGO became something of a staple topic as I started reviewing whole Minifigures series releases, and shared a bit of building and investigation into other LEGO topics. LEGO has always been huge in my life, so about time it was here. I'll continue with Minifigures Series 27 very soon! Another significant series this April was my posts as I recreated the haul of the original three Monster High dolls I got in 2016, during the anniversary time in April. I loved the chance to get back the ghouls who started my collection, and the ability to work with them as a more experienced handler than I was then.

This year also cemented my increased interest in photo art. While I had thought my main distinguishing niche as a blog last year was making custom dolls, that was certainly displaced this year as art photos became the new pillar to set my blog identity apart. I created art photos last year, but not as thoroughly or ambitiously--sometimes a doll got only a cover photo! There were multiple good 2023 doll designs I put together who didn't get a properly staged portrait. I think a combination of developing techniques for staging, shooting, and editing photos (backdrops, props, lighting colors, outdoor photos, prop/diorama construction, editing-software familiarity, faked scenery composites), plus a reduced zeal for custom characters in the face of a new massive collection to build via LDD and the limitations several art techniques have faced re: preservation have made me shift my creative focus more firmly into photography. You could see this evolution happening last year as early as Gooliope's post, the first big art-photo explosion I did, but it was probably cemented as a trend by the time of the G3 Draculauras'. It's remained a constant since, my shoots and digital compositions have become more ambitious, and now no toy post goes without art photos. 

For an example of my photo growth, there was the remake I decided to do this year of the cover photo for Oozie, the Blob Create-a-Monster. She was just my fourth blog topic back last year, so while her photo showcased an ingenuity that was pivotal to my photo growth, it nonetheless displayed the level I was on back then. In imitating the movie poster for 1988's The Blob, I figured I could create the effect of the figure under goo by using her hazy silhouette when illuminated behind a piece of paper, and added a pink filter over it and circle graphics to be the bubbles in the ooze, as well as very loose text mimicry. 

This was an early showcase of creative thinking and digital art manipulation (adding the pink cast and text and bubbles to the photo), but I felt in July this year that I had the means for a much better, closer homage, and made a setup where Oozie was illuminated by my computer on a white screen and placed under a glass pane smeared with real (raspberry) jelly. I got a much more authentic base photo, tweaked the colors, and added more accurate text mimicry, blowing the 2023 photo out of the water.

Top: Original film poster
Bottom: My first poster, then my remake of the poster

I kept the original cover photo and its process in the post, but I replaced the actual cover with the new photo and added a quick section discussing it.

Here are some of my favorite new-topic pictures from 2024. The hugely increased volume and quality of pictures I've done per post now made it much harder for me to choose just one example for each this time! If I didn't include a post, I promise that I did exclude a lot of great photos in doing so. I really had to narrow down to the ultimates, but every review post this year has photos I'm proud of.

Give Her Her Flowers: Monster High G3 Signature Venus McFlytrap by Mattel

Love Bites: Monster High Howliday Love Draculaura and Clawd Wolf by Mattel Creations

Queens of Hearts: Looking Into Ever After High

The Horrible Wizard of Oz: More Living Dead Dolls

Digging Up an Oft-Turned Grave: Living Dead Dolls Sadie, Evolved

Lottie Meets Lottie (also ft. Lottie)!

Absolutely Deceased: Monster High x Off-White Symphanee Midnight by Mattel Creations

I Vant to 'Vestigate A Vintage Vamp: Traveler Trading Co. Collectible Count Dracula Doll

Living Dead Dolls Roundup 1

The Hostess With the Leastess: Living Dead Dolls Series 23 Betsy by Mezco Toyz

Anniversary Reunion, Part 1: Revisiting My Roots with Amanita

Anniversary Reunion, Part 2: Rocking the Dead Carpet with Operetta

Shallow Post, Deep Sea: A GSR Draculaura Hybrid-Monster Custom!

Loose Ends in the Deep End

Living Dead Dolls Roundup 2

Altogether the VERY Ookiest: The Monster High Skullector "Addams Family" Set by Mattel Creations

Duck, Duck, Her Goose is Cooked: Living Dead Dolls Series 23 Quack by Mezco Toyz

Living Dead Dolls Roundup 5

An Uncomfortable Living Dead Dolls Discussion, Part 1

Al Is In Wonderland: Ever After High Alistair Wonderland by Mattel

Living Dead Dolls Roundup 6

A Living Dead Dolloween Part 2: A Series 16 Showcase

A Living Dead Dolloween, Part 5: A New Exclusive Era

Leftover Candy: A Living Dead Dolloween Encore

The Rotten Little Eggy: Living Dead Dolls Eggzorcist, Re-Deviled

Yes, It's Really LEGO: The Belville Witch

Unwrapping the Antichristmas: Living Dead Dolls Variant Nohell by Mezco Toyz

Toys are magical because they spark the imagination and take you to different worlds. I think I've captured that on a whole new level as my photo art has improved!

The other big difference this year was that I got festive! This time around, I put together some timely holiday posts with related subject matter, which was a fun way to plan and guide my blog. I was especially glad to have material ready for Halloween (my best holiday, and something I should have been active and sharing passion for on the blog last year) and Christmas (making up for last year's general blah and also my lack of festive posting). I was disappointed that Mezco didn't get their Return Eggzorcist out before Easter, but I still treated her post like a holiday celebration. Read it again this spring if you like! It's possible I'll have another Eggy on the schedule to be timely, though.

Here's a list of topics I consider particular highlights, featuring some of my best writing or favorite toys this year:

G3 Monster High signature Venus McFlytrap: An extremely photogenic, 10/10 character redesign. (Gosh, it feels like an age since her post!)

Intro to Living Dead Dolls--Pandora's box opens!

Return of the Living Dead Dolls Sadie and LDD Series 1 Sadie: One character done two ways--the former as a deluxe collector doll who was very well made and worth her price, and capable of displays none of my other dolls are with her awesome moving eyes, and the latter as a wicked adorable classic-feeling doll with a goth theme that stole my heart.

Monster High Gloom and Bloom Amanita--this edition was my first-ever doll way back when, and she hasn't stopped being unassailably gorgeous in the time it took for me to replace her. 

Weird Barbie by Mattel Creations-- a joyful, playful doll who makes me smile and translates the film character pretty impressively.

Monster High Skullector Morticia and Wednesday Addams--very pretty spooky dolls who were one of my most fun photo sessions.

LDD Captain Bonney--an under-discussed and oddly poorly-valued collector-doll attempt by older LDD that can be as impressive as she is ambitious, despite her manufacturing drawbacks.

Uncomfortable Living Dead Dolls, Part 1--I think this was a fascinating and important study to undertake regarding the iffy morals and insensitive representation of certain LDD items which were nonetheless interesting and fascinating as toy productions. I'm game to tackle the issue and examine a problem rather than knee-jerk condemning it, and I got a lot to think about and pose to the reader with these. Sequel post coming 2025!

Return of the Living Dead Dolls Eggzorcist and LDD S1 Eggzorcist-- Return Eggy was the doll that proved that I can probably expect any Return LDD to give me a top-grade review and photo session because they're great toys. I'm hooked on the Return Series 1 collection now.

The LEGO Belville Witch--an obscure highly-articulated toy with exceptional merit for posing and display with her LEGO functionality.

For a one-stop read, I'll link the recut compilation of all of my themed Living Dead Dolls Series 23 posts, an ambitious project initially published across months. This was some of the most fun I had with LDD this year.

And here's the first post of DEADvent, my Christmas countdown project this year. I really loved assembling this sequence and telling a story with Sadie as the little one getting the gifts day by day. Go here for all of the posts together--unfortunately, ordered by newest first thanks to Blogger.

As ever, making content means little without an audience. For any lurkers who have read this blog silently, thank you. For anybody following me on my Instagram page, thank you. And thank you to my returning readers and regulars for your attention and engagement. I treasure any insight and feedback I receive. I don't reply to every comment I see because I can sometimes struggle to write responses that feel equally meaningful to the comment I reply to, but all of the blog comments left are noticed and appreciated.

2025 will start as 2024 did, as a continuation of the last December, though I don't anticipate a major focal shift to occur again this year. I probably have more plans than I'm likely to achieve this year, so I'll start with what I can and see how the year shakes out. I think it'll be fun!