Liebster Award 2016

I was nominated by Brini of Brini's Doll Domain for the Liebster Award. Thank you Brini!

I was also nominated by Farrah Lily and her questions are different enough in that I will also answer her questions in a separate post.

OK, now, for the Rules:

1. Thank the person who presented you the award and link back to their blog. 
2. Post the award image on your blog.
3. Answer 11 questions posted by the presenter.
4. Nominate 5 blogs with less than 200 followers.
5. Create 11 questions for the nominees to answer.
6. List these rules in your post. Inform the people you chose of their nomination by leaving a comment on their blog and link them to your post.

Here are my answers to the 11 questions posed by Brini:

1. What is your most treasured doll and why?   My most treasured doll would probably be my vintage Platinum Bubble Cut Barbie from the 1960's.  Although I don't have my original doll from my childhood anymore, the quest to find a "replacement" for her is what got me into collecting.                    

   

   My Vintage Bubble Cut Barbie

2. What motivates you to continue your blog?    You guys! As I gain followers and receive comments, this provides encouragement for me to continue my blog. Also, reading your blogs and stories is a big motivator to me as well.                                                                                                               
3. What blog challenges have you faced, (limiting, selling, etc.)?    All of the above! Space has been a huge challenge for me. Also funding my habit er hobby! I need to sell some dolls or donate them. Since I have rebodied a lot of my dolls, I need to move out the old, stiff bodies.                                                              
4. What new skills have you challenged yourself to in your selected playscale?            Furniture modification and making. Whether it is painting and renewing the pink plastic Barbie furniture or making a table and chair set, I have challenged myself to do this. Also, while I can sew, I find making nice 1:6 scale doll clothes challenging because of the small size. I would better from a pattern, so I would like to learn more about creating my own patterns.                                                                      

   

   Here is the first sofa I made!

5. What was the last item you created or purchased for yourself that you second guess because you rather have a doll time?      Interesting question! I really don't buy that much for myself such as clothes, etc. because when I do buy something for me, it is usually doll related! I did purchase a new expensive air cleaner that I regret purchasing as I could have bought many other things if I had not purchased that. I do sometimes feel guilty about how much I spent on my dolls because our funds are so much more limited now that I am retired.                                                                                                                     
6. How do you decide what to add to your collection?     Reading blogs of other collectors and viewing photos on Flickr make me aware of what is out there and I often make a decision based on what I see from other collections. Sometimes it is news from Mattel or Integrity Toys that motivates me to purchase a new item.   
7. What was the one doll mistake you made and what did you learn from it?     When the Made to Move Barbies first came out, I was very anxious to get one and purchased a set of dolls well above the market price. Once they came out in abundance, I did buy more of them as body donors and the lower retail price, but I was mad a myself for acting too quickly. 
8. Which doll was your holy grail and do you feel the same about the doll now?     In 2015, my holy grail doll was Ruruko. All the ones I saw on eBay were so expensive that I could not bring myself to spend the money. Through communication with some of my Flickr friends, I found out how to purchase them directly from Petworks and I purchased my first Rururko. After that, I was hooked and purchased a few more of them. I still love them! They are so adorable! I do not regret purchasing them or their older siblings (Momoko)!
9. Has anyone ever given you a doll gift that you did not know if you should accept it or not?        No, I really don't receive that many doll related gifts. My kids have purchased some doll items for me as birthday or Christmas gifts and my sister once got me a Barbie doll as she also collects them, but I do not receive many doll gifts.
10. Which doll or item is on your wish list that you will no longer pursue?    I really wanted to get the Karl Lagerfeld Barbie, but her prices on the secondary market are just too high and I since that have released her face mold in a few other lines, I am happy to have those and I could always get one of them rerooted to look like her!
11. Which doll will be the doll you have to have this year?    Now that Mattel has announced that the Barbie Fashion Model Collection Silkstone dolls will all be on jointed bodies for 2016, I have added that to my "have to have" list. I have seen a few of them on Amazon at an inflated price, but not yet on "TheBarbieCollection.com". I have learned my lesson on this one and I will wait!

  Here are my nominations:

1. Robyn from Desperately Seeking Dolls
2. Miranda from One Sixth Avenue
3. Shasha from atelierni Shasha
4. Billa from Billa's Dolls and Fashions
5. Chynadoll from Chynadoll Creations

And the 11 questions:

1. What was the first doll you remember having and how did it influence your collection now?
2. Have you ever been to a doll convention or dollshow?
3. Do you have a favorite doll in your collection and if so, who is it?
4. What are you looking forward to in 2016?
5. What is your favorite doll line?
6. How do you decide what to add to your collection?
7. What doll or doll items have you made, repurposed or reworked that you are most proud of?
8. What is the one doll mistake you have made and what did you learn from it?
9. What dolls are on your top 5 doll list to acquire in the future?
10. Do you have any creative activities related to your doll collection?
11. Do you take your dolls out to a public place to photograph them?

Well, that is it! Only participate if you want too, but I am interested in reading your answers as I am sure others are!