Blog lore:
Where to go to learn about me and where recurring elements in the blog are introduced.
- The Welcome! tab up there ^ (the original Welcome! post it's based upon is fine too, but not up-to-date like the separate tab is)
- My Monster at Heart: Monster High Boo-riginal Creeproduction Frankie Stein by Mattel (featuring more detailed backstory about my doll hobby!)
- Connecting the Dots: A Custom CAM and MH Body Model! (Introducing Maudie, my body-comparison doll!)
- Answering Questions From The Dolly Insider, Part 1
- One Year
- Answering Questions, Part 2: Abrupt end of the Dolly Insider series!
- In the Red Thorns: A Monster High G3 Body Model
- How a TT&T Post Gets Made
- Burying Myself Deep: An Introduction to Living Dead Dolls by Mezco Toyz [Content warning--R-rated horror, reference to upsetting topics]
Standalone classic reviews:
Where I primarily review toys as-sold. I may modify these toys afterward, but these posts are weighted more toward review than customization, and custom work is less extensive than what appears in RESTYLE ICONS below...or just doesn't qualify for RESTYLE ICONS labeling due to the doll being a one-off character. This list excludes posts in recurring features or series of 3+ parts.
- My Monster at Heart: Monster High Boo-riginal Creeproduction Frankie Stein by Mattel
- They Belonged Dolls: The Monster High Skullector "Bride of Frankenstein" Set by Mattel Creations
- Sweet Nightmares- A Trio of Twylas!
- Terror Takes Shape: The Monster High Create-a-Monster Blob by Mattel
- Brewing Up Changes: The Monster High Create-a-Monster Witch by Mattel
- Back Into the Shadows: Twy, Twy Again!
- Harping On (and On) About Centaurs: Monster High Avea Trotter by Mattel
- My Luckiest Shot: Monster High C.A. Cupid by Mattel
- There's the Wolf: Monster High G3 Clawd Wolf by Mattel
- They've Got it On Lock: Monster High Skulltimate Secrets Series 2 "Fearidescent" by Mattel
- Festive Love: The Monster High Skullector "Nightmare Before Christmas" Set by Mattel
- Deal or No Deal? Monster High G3 Scare-adise Island Heath Burns by Mattel
- Banking on Snow: Monster High G3 Abbey Bominable by Mattel
- Picking Bones, Part 1: Skelita's Debut, and Difficult Concerns [Content warning: discussion of anorexia]
- Picking Bones, Part 2: The Skelita Collector Dolls
- Head of the School: Monster High Headless Headmistress Bloodgood by Mattel
- Two in a Million: Monster High Peri and Pearl Serpentine by Mattel
- Flourescent Dances, Second Chances. Part 1: Monster High Neon Frights Twyla by Mattel
- Flourescent Dances, Second Chances, Part 2: Monster High Neon Frights Ghoulia Yelps by Mattel
- I'm Going Nuts (And Bolts): A G3 Frankie Roundup
- Thrice Bitten: A G3 Draculaura Roundup
- Literally, Can I Even?: Investigating L.O.L. O.M.G. Dolls by MGA Entertainment, Part 1
- ROFL, XD, GOOD 4RLZ?: Investigating L.O.L. O.M.G. Dolls by MGA Entertainment, Part 2
- Eternally Beautiful: A G3 Cleo Roundup
- Mechanical Marvels: Monster High's Robots!
- Give Her Her Flowers: Monster High G3 Signature Venus McFlytrap by Mattel
- Cheating the Collection, As Ever: LEGO Minifigures Series 25
- Quite a Pack: A G3 Clawdeen Roundup
- Love Bites: Monster High Howliday Love Draculaura and Clawd Wolf by Mattel Creations
- Queens of Hearts: Looking Into Ever After High
- Burying Myself Deep: An Introduction to Living Dead Dolls by Mezco Toyz [Content warning--R-rated horror, reference to upsetting topics]
- The Horrible Wizard of Oz: More Living Dead Dolls
- Digging Up an Oft-Turned Grave: Living Dead Dolls Sadie, Evolved
- Lottie Meets Lottie (also feat. 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
- She's Got Braaaaiiiins: Monster High Boo-riginal Creeproduction Ghoulia Yelps by Mattel
- Big Big Blizzard: Monster High Boo-riginal Creeproduction Abbey Bominable by Mattel
- Keep it Weird, Babes: Barbie Signature Weird Barbie (from the Barbie Movie) by Mattel Creations
- What's Weirder than Weird Barbie?: Defa Lucy & Misil Masker Masquerade Dolls from Temu
- Blind-Bagged: Living Dead Dolls Series 8 Angus Litilrott by Mezco Toyz
- Ice Pop: Monster High Skulltimate Secrets Series 4 Abbey Bominable by Mattel
- Altogether the VERY Ookiest: The Monster High Skullector "Addams Family" Set By Mattel Creations
- An Electric Concert Atmosphere: Monster High Monster Fest Frankie Stein by Mattel
- Superstition Superstar: Monster High G3 Signature Catty Noir by Mattel
- Rattle Me Bones: Living Dead Dolls Exclusive Captain Bonney by Mezco Toyz
- Back from the Spirit Realm: Monster High G3 Signature Spectra Vondergeist by Mattel
- Embalmed for the Gods: Monster High G3 Refresh Cleo de Nile by Mattel
- An Uncomfortable Living Dead Dolls Discussion, Part 1
- Al is In Wonderland: Ever After High Alistair Wonderland by Mattel
- Completing my Childhood: Kinder Surprise Monster Hotel
- Woe is She: Monster High x "Wednesday" Wednesday Addams Doll and Paint it Black Fashion Pack by Mattel Creations
- Kinder Surprise, Part 2: Fantasy
- Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?: Living Dead Dolls Scary Tales Little Red Riding Hood by Mezco Toyz
- A Truly Orphean Can-Can: Living Dead Dolls Series 33 Ella Von Terra by Mezco Toyz
Twylaposting:
Where I make posts about my very favorite MH ghoul, about whom it might be said I have "a problem".
- Sweet Nightmares- A Trio of Twylas
- Back Into the Shadows: Twy, Twy Again!
- Putting the "Teatime" in "Teatime Tangents and Toys"-- A Scary Tale Twyla!
Review-less original character projects:
Art-first posts where I work to make new toy characters without reviewing the sources that comprise them.
- "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!": My First Custom Doll!
- Far, Far Out: A Custom Create-a-Monster!
- Be Very Afraid: A Buggy CAM Custom Doll!
- A Very Delicate Process: The First Custom Doll I WANTED To Make!
- Connecting the Dots: A Custom CAM and MH Body Model!
- Just A Few More Laps in Shadow High (Epilogue)- features conversions of two flawed dolls previously reviewed, plus one of a doll that served as parts fodder
- Getting Playmobilized, Part 4- Custom Figures!
- Putting the "Teatime" in "Teatime Tangents and Toys"-- A Scary Tale Twyla!
- Left Out Dolls: The Return!
- Swimming the Seas and Rivers: A Lagoona Blue Roundup
- New Looks for Maudie
- Look Who's Talking: A Puppet Monster Custom Project!
- In the Red Thorns: A Monster High G3 Body Model
- Shallow Post, Deep Sea: A GSR Draculaura Hybrid-Monster Custom!
- Living Dead Dolls Workshop Roundup
Reviews before conversions:
Where I look at a toy as-was before customizing or turning it into a new character, or induct a foreign brand's doll into the world of MH after reviewing it.
- Burning It Up: A Barbie Extra Minis Monster!
- About Face: Mystixx Azra by Playhut
- She's Alive--And It's Not a Costume! (Review and makeover of Freaky Fusion Operetta)
- A Third Try in the Three Rings: Monster High Gooliope Jellington by Mattel
- A Grow-Up Glow-Up: Monster High Treesa Thornwillow by Mattel
- No Longer Floundering: Three Generations of Nautical Monster Makeovers!
- Half in Halves: Living Dead Dolls Viv by Mezco Toyz
DIFFUSION:
A short series in this category focusing on transforming fusion dolls into
single characters.
RESTYLE ICONS:
Where I work to make a definitive design for a recurring Monster High character whose official looks never quite worked for me.
- RESTYLE ICONS: Outta Sight! (Subject: Invisi Billy)
- RESTYLE ICONS: Music to My Eyes! (Subject: Operetta)
- RESTYLE ICONS: The Shrieking Sixties! (Subject: Scarah Screams)
- RESTYLE ICONS: The Beautiful Grotesque! (Subject: Rochelle Goyle)
- RESTYLE REVISIT: Invisi Billy
- RESTYLE ICONS: Petrifying! (Subject: Deuce Gorgon)
- RESTYLE ICONS: Good Boy Bad! (Subject: Jackson Jekyll)
Character Roundups:
Where I look at multiple iterations of one doll character in a review post to discuss their variation and appeal.
- Sweet Nightmares- A Trio of Twylas
- Back Into the Shadows: Twy, Twy Again!
- Picking Bones, Part 1: Skelita's Debut, and Difficult Concerns [Content warning: discussion of anorexia]
- Picking Bones, Part 2: The Skelita Collector Dolls
- Flourescent Dances, Second Chances. Part 1: Monster High Neon Frights Twyla by Mattel
- Flourescent Dances, Second Chances, Part 2: Monster High Neon Frights Ghoulia Yelps by Mattel
- I'm Going Nuts (And Bolts): A G3 Frankie Roundup
- Thrice Bitten: A G3 Draculaura Roundup
- Swimming the Seas and Rivers: A Lagoona Blue Roundup
- Eternally Beautiful: A G3 Cleo Roundup
- Quite a Pack: A G3 Clawdeen Roundup
Living Dead Dolls Roundups
Where I build my LDD collection through spotlighting three characters who wouldn't warrant individual posts.
- Living Dead Dolls Roundup 1 (Hush, Walpurgis as the Wicked Witch of the West--Emerald City Variant, Calico)
- Living Dead Dolls Roundup 2 (Lamenta, Chloe, Dottie Rose)
- Living Dead Dolls Roundup 3 (Carotte Morts, Vincent Vaude+variant, Isaac)
- Gruesome Living Dead Dolls Roundup (Roundup #4) (Hollywood, Grace of the Grave, Bloody Mary)
- Living Dead Dolls Roundup 5 (Revenant, Daisy Slae, Siren)
- Living Dead Dolls Roundup 6 (Menard, Alison Crux, Maitre des Morts)
- Living Dead Dolls Roundup 7 (Evangeline, Madame La Mort, Jinx)
- A Living Dead Dolloween, Part 6: Honorary Halloween Living Dead Dolls Roundup (Roundup #8) (Lilith, Holle Katrina, Banshee)
The Left Out Dolls:
Where I turn Shadow High (and sometimes Rainbow High) dolls into silly edgy goth customs.
- Just A Few More Laps in Shadow High (Epilogue)
- Left Out Dolls: The Return!
- Left Out Dolls 3-D: The Revenge
- Left Out Dolls: Re-Resurrected
Multi-part mini-series:
Where I break up a longer but finite concept/project into multiple posts for the sanity of myself and my readers.
DIFFUSION:
- Intro to DIFFUSION: A Monster High Design Exercise with a Monster High Design Exercise!
- DIFFUSION: Smiling Like Clockwork!
- DIFFUSION: Basking in Ra's Sunlight
- DIFFUSION (Finale): Bark with Bite!
- REVISIT: Tinny Tinkerpins
The Shadow High Deep Dive:
- Diving Into Shadow High by MGA Entertainment (Part 1)
- Swimming Deeper Into Shadow High (Part 2)
- Hopelessly Immersed in Shadow High (Part 3-Finale)
- Just A Few More Laps in Shadow High (Epilogue)
Getting Playmobilized:
Picking Bones:
- Picking Bones, Part 1: Skelita's Debut, and Difficult Concerns [Content warning: discussion of anorexia]
- Picking Bones, Part 2: The Skelita Collector Dolls
Investigating L.O.L. O.M.G.
- Literally, Can I Even?: Investigating L.O.L. O.M.G. Dolls by MGA Entertainment, Part 1
- ROFL, XD, GOOD 4RLZ?: Investigating L.O.L. O.M.G. Dolls by MGA Entertainment, Part 2
Revenge of the Yass Gremlins
- Revenge of the Yass Gremlins, Part 1: L.O.L. On Film
- Revenge of the Yass Gremlins, Part 2: L.O.L. Retro
- Revenge of the Yass Gremlins, Part 3 (Finale): L.ots O.f L.oose Ends
Living Dead Dolls Series 23
- Old Lace and Arsenic: Living Dead Dolls Series 23 Agatha by Mezco Toyz
- The Hostess With the Leastess: Living Dead Dolls Series 23 Betsy by Mezco Toyz
- A Beary Hungry Guest: Living Dead Dolls Series 23 Teddy by Mezco Toyz
- Burned at Teatime, But Not How You'd Think: Living Dead Dolls Series 23 Jennocide by Mezco Toyz
- Duck, Duck, Her Goose Is Cooked: Living Dead Dolls Series 23 Quack by Mezco Toyz
- The Living Dead Dolls Series 23 Tea Party: Photo Story
- A Twisted "Teatime" Teatime: Living Dead Dolls Series 23 Complete
- MARATHON/MEGA-ROUNDUP Recut Compilation: The Living Dead Dolls Series 23 Project
The Anniversary Reunion
- Anniversary Reunion, Part 1: Revisiting My Roots with Amanita
- Anniversary Reunion, Part 2: Rocking the Dead Carpet with Operetta
- Anniversary Reunion, Part 3: Lighting Up the Deep with Kala
Let's Talk Trolls
Living Dead Dolloween 2024
- A Living Dead Dolloween, Part 1: An Exclusive Entry
- A Living Dead Dolloween, Part 2: A Series 16 Showcase
- A Living Dead Dolloween, Part 3: A Series 18 Selection
- A Living Dead Dolloween, Part 4: A Vintage Halloween Viewing
- A Living Dead Dolloween, Part 5: A New Exclusive Era
- A Living Dead Dolloween, Part 6: Honorary Halloween Living Dead Dolls Roundup (Roundup #8)
- A Living Dead Dolloween, Part 7: A Vintage Halloween Custom!
- Leftover Candy: A Living Dead Dolloween Encore
- Trick Or Treat, Dig Six Feet: Living Dead Dolloween 2024 Finale
MH Essentials:
Where I discuss the most novel, unusual, historically significant, or boundary-breaking fashion dolls from Monster High that I find to be essential to any Monster High collection.
- My Monster at Heart: Monster High Boo-riginal Creeproduction Frankie Stein by Mattel
- Harping On (and On) About Centaurs: Monster High Avea Trotter by Mattel
- My Luckiest Shot: Monster High C.A. Cupid by Mattel
- A Third Try in the Three Rings: Monster High Gooliope Jellington by Mattel
- Picking Bones, Part 1: Skelita's Debut, and Difficult Concerns [Content warning: discussion of anorexia]
- Picking Bones, Part 2: The Skelita Collector Dolls
- Head of the School: Monster High Headless Headmistress Bloodgood by Mattel
- Two in a Million: Monster High Peri and Pearl Serpentine by Mattel
MAUDIE!
Featuring the official Teatime Tangents and Toys body-model comparison doll, Maudie Sixtenstein (employed to compare the G1 standard Monster High body sculpt to other dolls). These posts either feature work on her design, her body comparison services, or storytelling segments where I had fun with her as a character...or multiple aspects at once.
- Connecting the Dots: A Custom CAM and MH Body Model! (creating Maudie)
- Burning It Up: A Barbie Extra Minis Monster! (body comparison)
- About Face: Mystixx Azra by Playhut (body comparison)
- RESTYLE ICONS: Outta Sight! (body comparison)
- Harping On (and On) About Centaurs: Monster High Avea Trotter by Mattel (storytelling; body comparison given by another doll this time)
- Diving Into Shadow High by MGA Entertainment (Part 1) (body size comparison)
- Picking Bones, Part 1: Skelita's Debut, and Difficult Concerns [Content warning: discussion of anorexia] (body comparison)
- Head of the School: Monster High Headless Headmistress Bloodgood by Mattel (body comparison and storytelling)
- New Looks for Maudie
- In the Red Thorns: A Monster High G3 Body Model (body comparison)
- Apology to Avea (storytelling)
Hey, maybe give these another look:
These posts have gotten significant content updates, helpfully contained in "[UPDATE: *content* ]" brackets. If you see a post on this list that you didn't recall having a content update before, then it has one now that you might find useful.
- They Belonged Dolls: The Monster High Skullector "Bride of Frankenstein" Set by Mattel Creations (updates concerning news in the Skullector doll line post-writing, and further speculation about the uniqueness of the Monster's body sculpt)
- Sweet Nightmares- A Trio of Twylas! (updates adding commentary about G3 Twyla with new context regarding her characterization)
- Terror Takes Shape: The Monster High Create-a-Monster Blob by Mattel (various addenda about the construction and mechanics of the CAM bodies learned after initial posting)
- Back Into the Shadows: Twy, Twy Again! (update showing a later redistribution of the stock and reworking of a restyle look developed in the review)
- DIFFUSION: Smiling Like Clockwork! and DIFFUSION (Finale): Bark with Bite! (updated each adding a link to a follow-up post on the character I created from Dracubecca, which I finalized to my true satisfaction after the first post with her)