Doll Collecting Blog

It is with a sad and yet happy heart that I say goodbye to you, my readers, after 14 wonderful years as the Guide to Doll Collecting at About.com. Early this year I was diagnosed with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis. I've had a difficult year which has led me to the very difficult decision to leave About.com to focus on my health. I have loved every minute of being your Guide to Dolls; I'm sure as my health improves I'll see many of you at shows and events in the future. Thank you all so much for sharing the last 14 years of dolls and doll collecting with me! I hope you will continue to read About.com on a daily basis; it is full of passionate Guides who are the very best in their topics!

Some antique dolls are fashion dolls, but not all. Some fashion dolls are antique dolls, but again not all. Are you confused yet? I can take away your confustion if you will simply take a look at my latest articles--What is an Antique Doll? and What is a Fashion Doll?.

If you are going to travel with dolls this summer, and many collectors do due to summer doll conventions, doll shows, and auctions, then you need to get those dolls safely to their destination. With the crazy drivers you'll encounter, and the worries of traveling with dolls in both checked and carry-on luggage, you'll need strategies to get you through the ordeal. You'll find Travel With Dolls just the thing you'll need.

If you've been staring at the same old dull doll displays for awhile, chances are you'e a bit bored. Perhaps you even walk by your dolls without really seeing them any more. Well, help is here! Implement our Quick Cures for Doll Doll Displays and your dolls in their displays will shine like they are new!

Did you ever look at a doll costume and think to yourself, "meh." That costume is dull. That costume doesn't pop. I think all doll collectors have done that from time to time. If you have, I have some great suggestions for improving nearly any doll costume. You'll learn my quick tips and tricks for making your doll costumes pop in my Quick Costume Cures.

I know it sounds easy to buy a modern Barbie doll. It isn't like buying a vintage doll, or an antique doll, or even a modern artist doll. Although iits seems to be very straightforward and easy to purchase a modern Barbie doll, there are definitely things you should consider before making your purchase. My Before You Buy Modern Barbie Dolls will help you make an informed decision.

Summer is here and doll conventions are in full force! If you are going to a doll convention this summer, you'll want to be prepared. I've got all sorts of sensible convention advice for you in my Doll Convention Survival Guide. You might also enjoy my Confessions of a Mad Doll Collector, an extended blog from a UFDC convention from a few years back--where I shared my daily ruminations from the convention. Finall, I also have a Frequently Asked Questions about doll conventions--which, if you are new, you may want to read before even starting the other two articles. Whether you are new to conventions or a veteran, you can never be too ready for the fun of a doll convention!

If you are buying or selling dolls, it helps to know the lingo of the doll collecting world. For instance, the first step to selling a doll is to identify a doll, and to do that, one of the first thinkgs you should check out is whether or not the doll has any markings. Another thing that is very important, whether you are buying or selling a doll, is to understand the market value of the doll. Finally, if you are buying or selling a modern collectible doll that isn't currently being sold at retail, chances are you are buying the doll on the secondary market. To delve even deeper into the world of doll collecting lingo, visit our extensive Doll Collecting Glossary.

Well...they do. Antique bisque doll collectors often care very much whether a particular antique bisque French or German doll has an open or a closed mouth. If this is perplexing to you, I'll clear it up in my look at Open Mouth antique dolls.

MOC, MIB, NRFB, mint, fair...doll conditions are a veritable alphabet and terminology soup! What can you do if you are a new collector trying to sort it all out? Or, what if you simply can't get through a serious article on ths subject without wanting a bit of a nap. Well, I have the perfect solution--my article on doll condition will get you through all the basics on doll condition in as painless a way as possible. When you're done, you'll know the difference between the worst of the worst and the best of the best! And, best of all, you won't even want a nap.