|
Li'l NewsFor Thursday, October 28, 2004 |
|
This news page highlights the latest Kelly and LFoK releases and sightings. If you have any Li'l Friends news to share, email me at karin@lilfriends.net I have broken up the news page into three categories - klassic Kelly, Happy Family, and lemonheads and klones. (Click the links to jump to that section.) Klassic Kelly News Even though it is not written the box, the Princess and the Pauper three doll Princess Giftset is a K-Mart exclusive. So if you're looking for this set, go to K-Mart.  Princess Giftset  Target has a different Princess and the Pauper multi-doll gift set, the Princess and the Pauper Wedding Set. This set is listed for $39.99. Look for this item on Target.com, catalog #: 583407 and ASIN: B0002Y7PYS. Following is the product description: "With the enchanted Barbie Princess and the Pauper Wedding Set children can play out the dramatic wedding day of Princess Anneliese and Julian. Includes 11" Anneliese and Julian figures in wedding clothes and 5" flower girl. Set can be used with the Barbie Princess and the Pauper Castle (sold separately)."  Toys "R" Us online has the Ultimate Barbie Princess & Pauper Gift Set: 6 Dolls, Double Wedding & Vanity Playset, and Royal Kingdom Horse & Carriage! This set is listed for $129.99. Following is a product description: "The Ultimate Barbie Princess & Pauper Gift Set includes everything your little girl needs to play out the beautiful story in this enchanting video. Princess Anneliese and Erika wear their signature style gowns, and the King Dominick doll has a dual role in the video as Julian, the tutor. This gift set also includes the Double Wedding and Vanity Playset, the Royal Kingdom Horse and Carriage and two adorable Kelly dolls."  ULTIMATE Barbie Princess & Pauper Gift Set $129.99 The "Let's Play" Kelly dolls are scheduled to be released in the US next month in both Caucasian and AA versions. Keep your eyes peeled for these new dolls! Hats Off to Kelly is an event being presented by The Queen City Barbie Doll Club of Cincinnati, Ohio. Saturday, May 21, and Sunday, May 22, 2005 will see a convergence of Kelly enthusiasts in Cincinnati to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Kelly doll. The event will be limited to 50 participants and registration is open to everyone. In addition to the many fun events planned, I will be making a special presentation on Kelly. For more information on this event, go to the Hats Off to Kelly information page. Happy Family News There has been a great deal of speculation and confusion surrounding the cancellation of the Happy Family series by Mattel. Concerned kollectors are calling the Mattel customer service hot line to inquire and are being told that the series is not cancelled. If there's one thing that is for sure it's that the Mattel customer service hot line is notorious for mis-information. You can't even get the same answer out of two representatives on the same day! The dealers that shared the information that the series has been cancelled said there was a HF playset scheduled for release that was listed on the Mattel site for retailers to pre-order. Then the playset was pulled. When a dealer called and asked about the Happy Family line she was told it was discontinued. The comment made by the Mattel representative was that "things are changing by the minute around here." Another dealer stated that their contact at Mattel said that the HF line was not a good seller. The 2005 catalog that he saw did not have any HF items listed or pictured even though there were new Kelly dolls and the rest of the Barbie line of dolls and fashions. This is not the only last minute cancellation for 2005, but I don't report on the Barbie lines here. Even though the Happy Family line has been dropped, the Play All Day Nursery Playset with Midge and Baby is scheduled for release in December. This is the playset that was originally listed as a Happy Family item. However, this set is to be released as part of the "Forever Barbie" line. Following is a product description: "This contemporary nursery has everything Midge doll needs to take care of the new baby. The changing table is also a dresser for storage with drawers that open. The crib couldn't be sweeter with a beautiful canopy and a real working mobile. There is a shelving unit with a cupboard below and a comfy chair for Midge doll. Includes a bouncy seat for baby and toys and other accessories. Comes with Midge doll and baby for complete play in the box."  Lemonhead and Klone News Have you been enjoying the Secret Central lemonhead Kelly head and body swaps?! I sure have! I had mistakenly reported previously that these dolls were Secret Chambers; they are called Secret Central. They are made by Hasbro and first came out last year. Each li'l doll has a name and comes with a few tiny accessories. Here is a picture of one of the Class of '05 dolls.  Enthusiastic kollectors have renamed these new creations "Kel-tral" dolls. The girl dolls seem to be more popular than the boy dolls. It's amazing how different the same doll can look when dressed in a different outfit. The ones with the funky hair are my personal favorites.  My personal stash of new Kel-tral dolls, including the pink-haired Magenta Morgan.  Vicki's Magenta Morgan. (Picture courtesy of Vicki J.)  Merry Lou's Magenta Morgan. (Picture courtesy of Merry Lou)  Vicki's Jenny and Malina Kel-tral dolls. (Picture courtesy of Vicki J.) What about a head swap with Rainbow Brite and a lemonhead?!  Merry Lou experimented with rerooting on this li'l klone using blue hair. WoW!  (Picture courtesy of Merry Lou) This klone set has been out for a while. I always thought Kelly and li'l friends would make super li'l dwarfs to a Barbie sized Snow White. Klone sets are interesting that way. Some sets are direct copies of Mattel sets, while others are completely different. That's what makes adding klones to the mix so fun.  Until next time, happy kollecting! |