Finding Doll Props: Driven, The Little Truck Blind Box

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Anna has found another new blind box to amuse us ball jointed dolls.

It is from a series called Driven (found here at Target), they consist of tiny toy cars and other vehicles.  I’m sure the children will find them delightful.

Under the wrapper is what appears to be a plastic crate with a door.  Anna claims it is suppose to be a “garage”.

So, let us see what in concealed in the garage.

We see the familiar booklet in all blind box/bag toys, a small blue truck, a three interlocking pieces.

The the brochure tells us that our truck is from their Series I, which consists of 21 vehicles to collect.

Ah, I see now.  The interlocking pieces are intended to be roadways that connect the garages as well.

Anyway, this is our nice little blue truck.  It appears to be quite sturdy and of decent quality for it’s small 1 1/2 inch (4 cm.) size.

The back compartment moves and the back door opens allowing for more realistic play.

So which of our little dolls wishes to play with this adorable little truck.

“Wow! A truck! It’s so cool!  Right?”

“Can I see it too Sakura?”

“Wow, it is nice.”

“Yes, but remember it’s my truck.”

Now Sakura, didn’t you just get some new toys for your birthday?

“Just the one…”

And don’t you already have more toys then anyone else?

“Maybe…”

And Makoto only has one, and you know it’s nice to share.

…

“…Okay, he can have it.”

“Yay, look Yuna, I have a new truck.”

“…Um, it looks nice.  I like the color…”

“Thanks.”

Well, now that’s settled.  I’m sure all of our little dolls will enjoy these trucks in time.  That is, if Anna purchases more of them.  Only time will tell.

Until then, be at peace my dear readers.

Give it a try:

• DRIVEN Pocket Series

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Alice’s Collections Shopping Haul: Doll Clothes, Eyes and a Stand?

This post was suppose to go up several months ago, but I never could get around to it until now.  So pretend it is still March when you read it.

Anna placed a smallish order on the fine online bjd store, Alice’s Collections.  There were just a few items we needed for a few particular purposes.

Within two weeks, the package arrived at our door.  Anna thought this was rather quick, however I would have preferred a speedier delivery.

Anyway, let us see what is inside the box.

First, there is a cleaning sponge included as a gift from the store.  These have been wonderful to have on hand.  Sakura is prone to making a mess of herself and Usagi isn’t much better.

(You’re pretty messy too, Hikaru.)

Now this is wonderous piece, it’s a simple white button-down shirt (also available in black) for Yuki.

A simple, yet classic piece with crisp collar and nicely make cuffs.  It is fairly well made for the rather low price.

It was purchased specifically for Yuki as a present for his birthday next month.  It looks wonderful and hopefully it will look just as fine on him.

And it does, much nicer than his t-shirts in my opinion.  The msd size seems to fit him well enough (Check out the dolls’ profile page for Yuki’s measurements, the shirt is available in several other “sizes”).

Next is something more casual, this pair of pink sneakers.

They were purchased for Usagi for her birthday as well.  I can’t say I particularly like them, but I’m positive Usagi will adore them. 

They are fairly well made though.   With decent topstitching, evenly spaced grommets, and sturdy looking lacings they should hold up well.

And as expected, Usagi is quite happy with them, mostly due to their coloring.

“They are so cute! :)”

They fit quite well, much better than the last pair of shoes purchase for her (see Bjd Unboxing: Doll Family H Body and Shoes?).

Both Usagi and Yuki seem quite content with their gifts.

Now for something wonderful, my new petticoat!

Yes, I have simple be dying to have one of my own for so long.  And because my own birthday is coming soon, Anna added it to her order.

(It’s available in black or white and in SD and Msd size.)

It looks so much fuller in person than on the website, but will it be effective?  Let us see.

Here is my fine skirt without any petticoat.

And now, here it is with my new petticoat.  The difference is almost alarming.

My skirt looks so beautiful and I simply cannot wait to try this with some of my favorite dresses. 

There is, however, a downside to all this new volume.

It certainly takes up a bit of space.

“Oh my, your skirt is so huge, but it’s cute too! :)”

“…what happened?…”

And now an important purchase, a pair of glass doll eyes.

Alice’s Collections was having a special event.  If you purchased certain items you could then purchase a pair of eyes of your choice for only $1, a real bargain of a price.

Not wanting to pass up this deal, Anna purchased a 12mm pair in pink for our small cat doll who was still in need of eyes.

Here is our tiny cat without eyes…

…And here she is now.  She can finally see!

And she keeps staring at me.  Why is see staring at me?

“She thinks your skirt is huge too. :)”

Now the final purchase, a doll stand.

Anna has been eyeing this doll stand for awhile.  She has mentioned many times about the little problem we dolls have with standing still for the camera (See this doll bloopers post).

She is hoping this stand will be of some help.  We shall have to test this idea.  However, that will be for another post.

For now, we will all continue to enjoy our new pieces.

Be at peace my dear readers.

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Bjd Unboxing: Surprise Again, Clover Doll Echo

Continuing on from the previous post, Anna bought not just one, but two new ball jointed dolls from the Junky Spot Black Friday sale.

We have already unboxed the first darling doll, now let’s see what we have here.

Inside the shipping box is the doll box with an unfamiliar logo.

It’s for Clover Doll, a company that I’ve frankly never heard of before today.  But I’m sure their dolls are lovely just the same.

Upon opening the doll box, the first sight we see is a martial arts DVD?

“Cool, let’s watch it now!  Can we please, Miss Ghost Lady?”

No Sakura, it is too violent for children.  And we are in the middle of something important.

Anyway, let us see what other surprises await.

As we have learned from previous unboxings (see New Arrival: A Mystic Kids Doll Review), Junky Spot is known for including strange novelties in their packages.

This time, in addition to the DVD we received a card game, a couple of pieces of chocolate, an animal eraser, and…

…a fortune teller fish?

It’s a thin plastic fish that tells one’s fortune based on how it lays.

Simply lay it on the palm of your hand and observe.

Sorry Yuki, it doesn’t seem to work for dolls.

Here is the doll’s card, showing her sculpt name and the date she was cast by her doll company.  So she is a Clover Doll Echo.

Now that we’ve gotten her cushion out, let us see our new companion.

Here she is all bandaged up.

And now all unwrapped.  She is a lovely doll, but a bit of a mystery, so I will allow Anna to explain further.

I first saw this doll over a year ago I think at the Junky Spot, but I overlooked for one particular reason.  The product photos.

The photos were mostly beautiful, but the way her mouth looked in them bugged me.  It looked a little too pouty.  And I couldn’t find any owner photos, so no way of knowing what she would look like in real life.

Over time I realized a couple of things. 

First, the over-poutiness was mostly due to her face up.  And second, every single doll I have every gotten with the default company face up has arrived looking very different compared to the company photos.

I thought that odds were more likely than not that this new doll would not look like the company photo as well, and most likely not have the same problem with her mouth.

So when I saw her at the Black Friday sale, at half price, I took a leap of faith.

And here you can see she looks just fine.  Not at all over pouty.  She is a beautiful doll. 

And the freebie eyes are wonderful, I don’t even mind that I ended up with blue eyes, again.  So far, every bjd I ever gotten has come with either blue or pink eyes.  So much for being random colors. 

Anyway, these eyes look fantastic.  They are so shiny and realistic in person, but not in a creepy way.

She poses pretty well too.  Obviously she can touch her face, but also her legs can do things the others can’t do.  She actually reminds me of a ballet dancer.  She has a beautiful body.

Well now, her body may be beautiful to behold, but she still needs to get dressed.

Now to present the “new doll” dress to our newest doll.

Now doesn’t she look wonderful in the dress, and in natural lighting.

Anna is right about her face up, it is gorgeous.

Such a beautiful doll, however she is a very quiet doll.  And she seems fairly out of it.  I do hope the trip wasn’t too tiring for her.

“Where are you from?  Do you have a name?  Why do you look so sleepy?  Want to play now?”

“Go easy on her Sakura.  Our new friend is overwhelmed and needs to rest.”

Momoko is absolutely right.  Even the cat doll is concerned.

Speaking of which, our little feline has shown to be quite obedient and learns things rather quickly.  Anna taught it to sit nicely for us.

Anyway, we have noticed that although our newest doll is a msd sized or 1/4 scale doll like myself and Usagi, she is noticeably smaller in stature.

That’s not an unusual thing.  There are many different doll companies out there making loads of different dolls.  As such, ball jointed dolls tend to vary in height and proportions among other things.  It’s why one common complaint upon their owners is being unable to buy clothes to fit their dolls. 

And that is precisely why I am taller than the two of you.

“Don’t be silly, Hikaru.  It’s your shoes that make you so much taller. :)”

Well, these shoes add a negligible amount of height.  I am still taller!

No you’re not, you and Usagi are the same height.

Humph!

Anyway, our little doll family is becoming much larger than anticipated.  I suppose a large family is a blessing.  This means there will be much more to look forward in the future.

But for now, be at peace my dear readers.

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