James, maybe

A couple of months ago I posted about the doll formerly know as Gidget.  I believe I'm naming her James and she has new hair!

A friend on IG/Ravelry had purchased this wig from Sleepy Elf.  She offered it up for me since this is exactly what I was looking for this doll.

I glued the wig on since there was no way it was staying otherwise.  I had dyed a Simply Vanilla scalp to switch back and forth with but it did not improve or enhance her.

Simply Vanilla hair is more yellow than it appears hence the green tint.

Gidget

I did indeed purchase the factory/TBL Heather Sky-like Blythe.  I feel she is a factory rather than TBL- a much better quality doll.  I named her Gidget.

Before any alterations, photographed with Sunshine Holiday for tan comparison.

A few thought about Gidget-

Face and body match
3 click knees
different textured hair
larger eye chips (again)
Poor quality eyelashes

At times with ordering TBL or factory dolls, faces and bodies do not match.  This was the case with the translucent TBL doll; however, Gidget matches perfectly!  The knees click properly.  I can see clear details in her hands.  The nail bed is defined so well I'm considering painting her nails with acrylic paint.  Also, her ears are pierced!

The hair is unusual.  It is hard to capture in photos the different textures between her and a Takara released Blythe.  The individual strands are thin and light.  The scalp has been rooted with 4 times the amount of hair than normally.  Whatever the material that makes up the hair, it nearly binds together and is dense. It has a lot of memory also.  Fortunately to straighten the hair back out, combing is all that is necessary.*

Texture comparison with Mandy Cotton Candy.  Can you see the difference?

I don't think I accurately captured the thickness between the two girls' hair.

The length of Gidget's hair was pretty unmanageable.  It went to her feet and with its density it looked a bit of a mess.  I trimmed up to her rump.  It wasn't overly easy.  Instead of squeezing the details into this post, I'm going to write up a hair cutting suggestion post.

Strangely, I find the eye chips to be completely different from a stock Blythe and different from the translucent TBL. They are low quality and really degrade the appearance of the doll (or, at least the pink do).  I replaced the eyes to stock Blythe eye chips except for the green.  They were decent; although, not the same quality as the stock chips.  This time I had to sand the eye chips around to get them to fit.  Last TBL all eye chips (Brain Worm, Cool Cat, and Stock) were too small. The factory chips fit nicely in a stock Blythe.

Eye chips removed

The eye lashes were ghastly.  I pulled them out without much trouble.  I did notice while replacing with new that the eye lids are loose.  This made it difficult to get the lashes in place.

After alterations

I know she isn't Heather Sky, but she fulfills my desire to have another tan girl at the moment.  Overall, I feel she was a good value.  I am glad that I chose the blonde girl; she fits really well with my current collection.  

*I have not boil permed or placed rollers in her hair.  The hair will form a curl with braiding and twisting back parts in a clip.  I have not done any other experimentation.

To buy factory or not to buy factory, that is the question

I own/owned factory Blythe dolls.  I truly prefer formally released dolls.  I have been entranced by factory before...most recently the "translucent" factory doll which more than likely a TBL.

I am being pulled in by another doll.  She is a Heather Sky-like doll.  I have wanted a Heather Sky for most of my Blythe collecting days.  I love the tan skinned releases, but have only been able to afford Prima Dolly Ginger (adopted by a friend) and Sunshine Holiday.

I found a Factory that has blonde hair and the face mold does look more like a Takara released Blythe.  TEMPTATION!!

I know I just bought Hollywood who is amazing and cute little Alicia Cupcake.  And, I am expecting Twinkle Princess from my husband.  BUT, I can afford this doll for most part.

I would want to keep her stock except I might spray matte her.

I'm probably going to buy her. Why deny it!

Is that a Mermaid?

Story goes like this, I was watching Alfred Hitchcock Presents on Netflix and was looking at all of the items that my daughter left in the den, one being a Blythe body.  I assume this body is a factory body since I have not found any of my formally released dolls bodies falling apart.  It fell right apart without much persuasion.

This is the first time I've gotten to see how the legs function.  The peg that is inside the leg that is inserted into the hip to created joints have a more rotating motion that I did not expect.  The reason this is not noticed on the doll is because of the way the hip hits the "groin" area; it makes the legs' motion more fixed.

Interesting stuff, huh?

I pulled the plastic away from the hip and cut the piece to get the hip joint I needed for my experiment.  After some whittling, sanding, cutting, and, finally, dremeling, I was able to get the joints the exact size to insert into the Monster High Create-a-Monster mermaid fin.

It is not a tight permanent hold yet.  I have to problem solve that.  For most part, the project went as I wanted it too.  The tail was not designed for a head as big as Blythe so a stand will be needed to hold her up.  I  used my customized TBL as the test subject.

Sorry for the blurry pic.

I do not care for the pink band's decor, but I really does make the fin look more complete.

This doll is still for sale.  To see her specs, see this post:  TBL for Sale---SOLD.  As of right now she is "as is."  I might remake her some and try to sale her later.  If I do that, I will consider selling the mermaid body with her. :)

TBL for sale

I completed the translucent TBL Blythe and she is looking for a new home.

She will travel nude. She is not factory perfect.

Paypal only, no e-checks. SOLD USD + shipping. Sell will be dependent on feedback trades.

Sorry the photos are not the best.  I can take more on request.

Icy chips/Cool Cat grey glitter (not shown)

Brainworm milky chips/black (not shown)

silver lids/black shadow

slight flaws on the lids

sleepy eyes, no charms on ribbon pulls.

Please email me at pandoraphelps@gmail.com.  Thank you.

TBL, cont.

I thought of a few more details to add about the TBL.

Eye chips-

The eye chips do not have the clarity that Factory or Takara dolls and they appear to be flatter.  The pupil area on the surfaces seems to almost have a concave spot.

Coolcat, Brainworm, and Icy chips (smaller or larger than Blythe's chips, I can't remember) into the TBL doll.  All three types were too small.

Body-

Something that you commonly hear that determines if the doll is a Factory or TBL are the knees not bending.  However, the TBL body does click three times.  The legs are not as stiff and do bend oddly when I tried.

Full face pics coming soon.

Factory vs. TBL

I know there are a million opinions and tons of information out there about Factory Blythe and TBL* Blythe.

Some call both Factory and TBL dolls clones.  Some feel that Factory are truly factory seconds and not fakes.  TBL are supposedly straight up fakes/clones*.

I have what are know as Factory dolls before and everything was interchangeable with Takara released Blythes.  I recently bought a doll that I feel is a TBL.

My observations:

Bigger eye chip sockets
Nose abnormalities
Larger eye holes
Better hair quality
Softer faceplate plastic
Poorer body

The eye chips did not fit Takara released Blythe! I tried RBL (Nicki Lad) and RBL+ (Mandy Cotton Candy).  This was a huge disappointment. Fortunately, I learned before buying any additional ones from Etsy that are possible TBLs leftovers after someone's custom projects.

I could not pin point the nose.  It was not a RBL and definitely not a SBL.  It was somewhere between FBL and RBL+, but even then there were details that were wrong.  I only snapped pics with RBL before starting to carve.

I have in the past had to carve out eye holes to allow additional space for decorative eyelids.  I didn't with this doll.  I see more of her eye mech at the bottom than normal.

The hair quality is really pretty amazing.  The scalps is thick with really soft saran/nylon/whatever [I am unsure of the difference].  The rooting job, the part line in particular, is different from Takara releases.   It isn't due to the declining quality of Takara releases, or the odd new bang/fringe style.  The part line goes farther back on the head and isn't quite as neatly finished at the end.

I am not good at carving.  I am easily frustrated.  I could not believe how easy the plastic carved.  It was like plastic butter.  At times I thought I over carved it was so easy.

The body is awful.  It is hot in my region.  I thought the heat made the leg plastic soft, but it never firmed up.  The hips are loose and seem to fan out at the top unlike other models of Blythe.  Also, the body and face do not match.

I wish now I would have taken more photographs, but I was anxious to start my project.  Here is some progress photos:

Final

I had planned to root a mohair scalp in natural white/blonde; however, I lost interest.  Her scalp looks decent with the face up and I might add other colors into it eventually.  I think she is missing an element on her face.  I will probably add a beauty mark around her left eye (my right).

*Taobao Blythe, coined by Dr. Blythenstein after the site purchased from, I think. 

*Clone can be interchangeable for fake.