The Force, Labor Day and Descendants

Happy Labor Day to everyone!  This was an eventful week for doll collectors, only one in September, Doll Collecting Month.

This is also the day Princess Diana was buried in 1997.  Here is my Peggy Nisbet doll in her honor, and you may want to read my post on dollcollecting.about.com, Remembering Princess Diana with Dolls.

Star Wars; The Force Awakens toys hit the shelves, with national news coverage of people waiting in long lines.  Toys R Us and Target have good selections, and there are several online options as well.  I found action figures at about $7.99-9.99 with plus and talking plush at about $10.  There are the large, 39 inch figures of the new characters, and some classics like the large talking, plush Chewbacca.  He is soft, cuddly, and adorable, and $99.99!  I heard the Target staff lamenting the high prices and expressing surprise that most of the consumers for these products were middle aged men.  Well, they were just kids when the first movie came out in 1976.  There are many options, even notebooks, books, and a nice line of clothing for all ages at Target.   I came home with a small femal action figure, but I will be back for some of the larger dolls, figures, and plush.

Disney Descendants, public domain

The Descendants by Disney also hit the shelves this month and during August, following the July 2015 debut of the Disney Channel movie.  The 11 inch dolls represent the children of Disney Villains and other characters like Mulan.  They are elaborate and detailed, as well as popular.  Read more about them on my site on About.com Doll Collecting, collectdolls.about.com.

Spirit of Halloween has many dolls, especially the mechanical antique dolls and various Zombie babies.  There are also special deals online. The new antique doll is Roaming Rosie.  I pre-ordered her, and will blog more on her when she arrives.   Doll costumes like Monster High have their own section, and little girls can do their own Draculaura make-up.

I've also spotted more dolls on vintage TV. An early 60s  Andy Griffith Show with Elinor Donohue as Ellie the druggest featured plush like Quick Draw McGraw, and hard plastic Nancy Ann Storybookdolls in their boxes.   Gorgeous figurines, maybe Royal Doulton, were props in a Colombo movie with Peter Falk.  The Danny Thomas Show had 7.5 inch Dress Me Dolls as props in his preteen daughter's room, and Gilligan's Island featured Mr. Howell's Teddy.

Dolls really are where you find them.  You just have to look.