BJD Event!

Join us at IDEX Premiere 2011, January in Orlando, FL- IDEX Premiere is the ultimate trade show for the doll and bear industry! For Exhibiting information, please contact Kathy Dolly at KDolly@madavor.com or visit www.idexshows.com

Desperate Housewives Doll Episode

Gaby can't let go of her memories of Grace, even though all she has is the look-a-like doll to hold onto. Until Juanita and Celia get their hands on it and tear it up pretty bad. Gaby takes the doll to the doll store for repairs and gets a lesson on why some people are so attached to their dolls.

Atlantic Reader Photoshop Contest

Meet the new Atlantic reader. It's the result of our holiday Photoshop contest in which we invited you all to play with a paper doll advertisement that we'd run in 1988.
That ad had posited a very specific vision of an Atlantic reader. Though it noted he could be dressed "in a custom tailored suit and handcrafted shoes" or "bermuda shorts, sandals, and nosecoat," the idea of our readership it presented felt limited. Most obviously, the paper doll model (above left) was a strong-jawed white guy with a mid-80s preppy look.

Several of the entries that we received took that problem on directly, using the available doll clothes to include the broad range of people who read our publication. The best of those came from our eventual winner, Callie Porter-Borden.

"I've made the Atlantic Reader a little more gender-ambiguous, because ladies love the Atlantic, too, and so do less burly men!" Porter-Borden said. "I'm all for fitness, but I figure a lot of Atlantic readers spend so much time in front of their computers and reading that they probably don't have quite as much time to maintain that strapping physique."

Her Photoshopping was impressively subtle. It took me a while of staring at the old and new dolls before I could figure out all of the little changes she'd made. (See, for example, the way she changed the haircut, thickened the thighs, and moved the doll's waist lower.)
So, thank you to all the entries we received. We know it was a silly little contest, but we hope you had fun remembering 80s fashion and mores.

Danish Rocker Sues Mattel

(CN) - Mattel ripped off the persona of the lead singer of the HorrorPops, a Danish rockabilly band, for its "Hard Rock Café Barbie Doll," right down to her tattooed bass, singer Patricia Day says. Mattel paid Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry and Joan Jett to use their personae in its rock and roll Barbie line, but stiffed Day, who as a feminist objects to being made into a doll and subjected to "the erotic male gaze ... a vision that runs contrary and antithetical to everything for which Mattel's Barbie line stands," she says in her federal complaint.

Day is a citizen of Denmark who lives legally in the United States on a non-immigrant visa. The HorrorPops were founded in Denmark in 1998 and have toured around the world, headlined a Warped tour, and cut albums, including "Hell Yeah!" from the cover of which, Day says, Mattel ripped her persona. She sued Mattel and others in Indianapolis Federal Court.

Day says her fans recognize her from "her black hair meticulously done in 50's pin-up fashion; her retro hairstyle juxtaposed against conspicuous and heavily applied black eye shadow and liner and deep red lipstick; her form-fitting '50s-style pencil skirts that go just past the knees; her full-color 'sleeve tattoos' on both upper arms; and, most importantly, her distinctive instrumental extension of her personality: her giant tattooed upright bass. This final element - the giant tattooed upright bass (also known as a bass fiddle or double bass) - has become a singularly distinctive hallmark of Day's public persona."

Her entire persona, including the bass, was featured on the HorrorPops' first album, "Hell Yeah!" from which Day says Mattel ripped the design of its Hard Rock Barbie.

Day says the Spring 2010 edition of Mattel's Barbie Collector magazine features four recently release rock and roll themed Barbie dolls: the Debbie Harry Doll, the Joan Jett Doll, the Cyndi Lauper Doll, and the Hard Rock Café Barbie Doll, "made in the image of noted musician Patricia Day of the HorrorPops." (This citation is in italics in the complaint, but not within quotes, so it is unclear whether the Barbie Collector catalogue uses those precise words or not.) Day says Mattel "obtained permission from, and provided compensation to" and "paid for licenses to use the likenesses of" Harry, Jett and Lauper for the dolls.

But not to Day. Day points out that Mattel has vigorously litigated any infringements or presumed infringements upon its Barbie doll, the best-selling doll in the world: "As a multibillion-dollar corporation with a long track record of vigorously protecting and enforcing its intellectual property rights to the maximum extent allowed by the law, Mattel is fully aware of the need to obtain licenses for the use of any individual's right of publicity, including their likeness, for commercial purposes - a fact evidenced, inter alia, by their acquisition of licenses for the use [of] the likenesses of Debbie Harry, Joan Jett and Cyndi Lauper for the musician-themed Barbie line."

In addition, there is a payback aspect to the suit based on a confrontational history between Mattel and Danish rock bands. In the 1990s, Mattel sued the Danish band Aqua over its 1997 hit "Barbie Girl," claiming copyright infringement. Judge Matt Byrne in the U.S. Central District of California then wrote an opinion thumping Mattel's position and its attack on what was clearly a parody.

The new litigation says, "Conspicuously, however, the so-called 'Hard Rock Café Barbie Doll' lacks any direct acknowledgment of the female musician - Patricia Day - whose likeness it appropriates.

"Indeed, Patricia Day has provided no authorization to defendants for the use of her likeness in any manner, let alone for the creation and sale of a Barbie doll." Day's killer detail is her upright bass, "adorned with unique artwork or 'tattoos' on the face of the instrument, including: (1) a blue bird in flight on the upper right; (2) a blue bird in flight on the upper left; (3) a red five-point star on the bottom left; and (4) a red heart on the bottom right." She says that the Hard Rock Barbie, "not coincidentally, holds a giant tattooed upright bass adorned with the following artwork or 'tattoos' on the face of the instrument: (1) a blue bird in flight on the upper right; (2) a blue bird in flight on the upper left; (3) a pink five-point star on the bottom left; and (4) a pink heart on the bottom right."

Day says the doll also copied sleeve tattoos, her pencil skirt, her hairdo, eye shadow design and lipstick. But unlike the other rock and roll Barbies, the Barbie based on her persona does not mention Day by name.

She adds: "It is not surprising that defendants never approached Patricia Day about the Hard Rock Barbie, since Day is a feminist musical pioneer - an intelligent, outspoken, anti-establishment female artist still dominated by the erotic 'male gaze'. ... As an artist, Day has always expressed her desire to redefine women's roles in the rock 'n roll scene - a vision that runs contrary and antithetical to everything for which Mattel's Barbie line stands. ...

"Since the release of the Hard Rock Barbie, Day has been repeatedly approached by fans who have been perplexed by the striking resemblance of the Hard Rock Barbie to Day's likeness and persona and who have expressed disappointment in their (mistaken) belief that Day would permit such a use of her likeness and persona for a purpose that is so at odds with her values and the values of her fans." (Parentheses in complaint.)

Day seeks costs and punitive damages for violation of her right of publicity and false endorsement. She also wants sales of the Hard Rock Barbie stopped, all the dolls recalled and destroyed "under court supervision," and all the profits the defendants made from them.

Also named as defendants are Wonderama Toys, Rainbow's End Collectibles, and Hard Rock Café International. Day is represented by John Tehranian.

New Monograms from Integrity

Redefined
FR: Monogram Accessory Set
Limited Edition of 300 Sets Worldwide
Suggested Retail: $75.00 USD
Hinted at last fall in the pictures we released for "Escapade" and "Extravagance" in late summer 2010, we are pleased to finally be able to bring you this wonderful accessory pack, which features a finely sculpted miniature wig stand/bust cast in the finest resin. Perfectly accessorized with all of the trimmings needed to spruce up the look of any of your favorite dolls, this accessory pack also includes a brunette wig and sophisticated designer hat, purse, shoes, jewelry set and certificate of authenticity. Designed to fit 1:6 scale dolls, no doll included.

Magnificent
FR: Monogram Dressed Doll
Limited Edition of 300 Dressed Dolls Worldwide
Suggested Retail: $160.00 USD
A vision of couture and pure beauty, what better way to start the new year? Jason Wu and his team have surpassed themselves with this "Magnificent" rare bird. Clad in an elaborate dual toned, intricately draped evening gown, this stunning new creation will surely become one of the show stoppers of your Fashion Royalty collection. Includes FR: Monogram brunette doll, gown, shoes, jewelry, doll stand and certificate of authenticity.

Discreet
FR: Monogram Basic Dressed Doll
Limited Edition of 300 Basic Dolls Worldwide
Suggested Retail: $99.00 USD
Based on the success and the positive comments we received for the first basic FR: Monogram doll Disclosure, we decided to revisit her and offer a companion doll that would perfectly complement her if the two were to take a stroll down the catwalk. Now, this glamorous duo is ready to take the runway by storm and show what tasteful color coordination can do to a wonderful design! Includes a tanned FR: Monogram brunette doll, sexy lingerie set, shoes, jewelry, doll stand and certificate of authenticity.

W Club Registration Now Open

Registration for the 2011 W Club is now open! We have some very exciting information, so please read this email for information on how to re-register for another exciting year in the W Club!
Quick Links
Register for 2011 W ClubContact the W Club
Visit Integritytoys.com
Registering for the 2011 W Club
We have a brochure about the 2011 W Club that can be found in our forum or at this link:
http://www.integritytoys.com/wclubforum/2011club.pdf
Contact the Liaisons if you have any problems viewing this document.
If you want to skip the brochure, you can go right to the registration process by clicking the link below:
http://www.integritytoys.com/page/w_club
You may register now through 10:00 AM CST (Chicago Time) on January 21st, 2011.
You may remember from past years that our deadline is concrete, so make sure you register well in advance of the deadline. Every year things come up at the last minute, so please register as soon as possible.
As in years past, there are no limits on registration- you can register for as many memberships as you like at any time prior to the 1/21/11 deadline.
Important note: Club memberships cannot be shared or transferred and since you can purchase as many memberships as you like, you do not need to create additional names for those memberships. It tends to create confusion when memberships are put in inactive members' names.
Also, please make sure that the memberships are under the correct names and if you are purchasing memberships for other collectors that you put their names in the comments section. If a name is not registered, that person will not be recognized as a Club member.IMPORTANT!!*Please note that if you purchase multiple memberships so that your spouse or partner can attend any of the W Club exclusive events, this person's name must be included in the comment section of one of these multiple memberships!* If you purchase multiple memberships but do not include your spouse or partner's name on one of those memberships, they will not be able to attend any of the W Club exclusive events.
Come Join Us For Another Fabulous Club Year With More Perks and Privileges

Library Hosts Art Doll Exhibit

Warwick - Local artist and Warwick resident Lillian Alberti will be exhibiting her art dolls at the Albert Wisner Public Library in the glass cases on the lower level of the library throughout January.Alberti ’s work has been featured in various doll-related publications and more recently in the November issue of ORANGE magazine and on Cablevision’s Neighborhood Journal. She has been sculpting her one-of-a-kind creations for more than 25 years. Using skills acquired in her years in the fashion industry, she designs and hand-sews all the dolls’ clothing and accessories.

She currently teaches various doll-making workshops locally and across the country. For more information about the artist and her work, log onto www.a-lil-whimsy.com.