If my Italian grandmother were still with us and she saw one of the 1980s Cabbage Patch dolls, she would want to pinch its cheek! You can't help but love a Cabbage Patch Kid--they have those wide-open arms that seem to scream "take me home" plus those big, innocent eyes and pudgy face. Although the Cabbage Patch dolls have been on the market for a long time, it is the 1980s Cabbage Patch dolls that make those that truly love them weak in the knees with collector glee. If you are a Cabbage Patch fanatic (or you aren't and you'd just like to get better acquainted), read my Cabbage Patch Kids Profile.

Unfortunately, I wasn't the one leaving Las Vegas with a Sybarite doll...I was simply hanging out in Las Vegas this week with a collector who was leaving Las Vegas with a Sybarite doll!

One of the best things about traveling with other doll collectors is that somehow or other, one part of a trip to anywhere can be about dolls. So, this week, I went to Las Vegas with my friend Julie (also known as the extremely talented doll repaint artist Jewelianne to meet a good friend of hers, Susan, a fashion doll collector from Australia.

Well, we weren't at breakfast at the Bellagio for more than 5 minutes, when Arleen, a third doll collector joined us, bringing with her a Sybarite doll for Susan! I have read about Sybarite dolls, but I'd never seen one in person before. Sybarite dolls are very stylized ball jointed dolls, a bit high-fashion model, a bit anime, and quite a bit unique. They are resin dolls, selling for approximately $600 to $1000, and made by a SuperDoll of England.

Well, it wasn't long until we had quite a few people around us stealing looks at the Sybarite (her name was Blade, and she was brought nude and quite anatomically correct). Well, Blade soon had some Tyler Wentworth clothing mostly on, and all was again back to normal at the Bellagio buffet. I'm still processing what I think of Sybarite dolls; for me, they are a bit too stylized, but I do know that they have a devoted fan base which included our doll collecting friend from Australia

^{Photo © 2008 Denise Van Patten, Licensed to About.com}

I was moving groups of dolls around in my doll room this week, when I opened a closet and saw my childhood Penny Brite doll smiling up at me! This made me smile back--Penny is such a sweet doll, and I have great memories of playing with her when I was a little girl. For the uninitiated, Penny Brite was a small (about 9 inches tall) child fashion doll from the mid 1960s. Created by Deluxe Reading, Penny was brought back last year by Marie Osmond's Charisma dolls. Best of all, vintage Penny is still easy to find for great prices on eBay!

^{Photo © 2008 Denise Van Patten, Licensed to About.com}

Ty Girlz debuted in 2007. The early Ty Girlz were a bit controversial--many parents thought their look was a bit trashy and not appropriate for younger children or pre teens. The Ty Girlz interactive web site (each doll comes with a code which gives you access to their web site, just like Webkinz) was also initially very simple and didn't have much to do. Well, the creators at Ty Girlz listened to their customers and have revamped both the dolls and the web site! I've now spent considerable time with both the actual dolls and playing with the dolls online, and you can find out what I think in my Review of The Ty Girlz Dolls and Interactive Web Site.

^{Photo © 2008 Denise Van Patten, Licensed to About.com}

eBay announced yesterday that it will shut down the Live Auctions part of its business. Live Auctions on eBay enabled members to bid on bricks and mortar or online-only auctions in real time. I often saw dolls auctioned on eBay in this format, but I was leery about purchasing dolls via eBay Live Auctions due to some reports I've had from readers of large buyer commissions and high shipping charges from some of the Live Auction dealers. It seems that eBay is shutting down this service to help them better focus on their core fixed price and auction business. If you are planning to attend a real bricks and mortar doll auction in the near future, you'll want to read my Tips For Surviving a Doll Auction.

Many doll repairs and restorations are complicated to learn and best left to the experts. However, the most common doll repair--doll restringing--is relatively easy to learn and quick to do. Doll hospitals often charge $15 to $20 to restring just one doll. Follow our easy instrctions in How To Restring a Doll and you'll be able to restring your dolls at a fraction of the cost.

^{Photo © 2008 Denise Van Patten, Licensed to About.com}

I've been taking photographs of dolls for over 20 years--first, with a single lens reflex film camera, then with various point and shoot and prosumer digital cameras. But, it is only recently that I started taking doll photographs with a digital single lens reflex camera. Having to learn a whole new camera has been fun, but also time-consuming. The good news is that you don't need a fancy digital SLR camera to take great doll photographs--all you have to do is follow my Top 10 Tips For Great Doll Photography and you'll be on your way! If you are looking for more in-depth coverage of photography, don't miss the About.com Photography site, with Guide Liz Masoner.

^{Photo © 2008 Denise Van Patten, Licensed to About.com}

The Black Doll Collectors Convention will be held from May 30 through June 1 in Mansfield, Massachusetts. The theme of the convention is "Harambee"--celebrating the strength in coming together. The convention is organized by a volunteer group dedicated to collecting and preserving the history of black dolls. The convention will include exhibits, workshops, auctions, a sales room, competitions and more! For more information, visit 2008 Black Doll Collectors Convention. Are you new to collecting black dolls? Get more information from the Definitive Guide to Collecting Black Dolls

^{Photo © 2008 Denise Van Patten, Licensed to About.com}

Even though Kewpie dolls are readily available, they are always a hot collectible because they appeal to such a wide variety of people. In our new Kewpie Dolls Price Guide and Photo Gallery you'll find photos and prices for Kewpies of all eras, from 1912 to today.

• Vintage Images of Kewpie Dolls
• Kewpie Dolls Profile
• R. John Wright Flower Fairy Kewpie

^{Photo © 2008 Denise Van Patten, Licensed to About.com.}

It's hard to look at a Googly doll and not smile...or, to not want to collect them! Gooly dolls are known for their huge eyes and impish grins. Made since the early 20th Century, Googly dolls have been especially favored by American Collectors, and prices for early, rare German antique models are sky high. Learn more in my Doll Profile on Googly Dolls

• Doll Profile - Armand Marseille
• Kewpie Dolls
• Top 10 Antique Dolls on a Budget

^{Photo © 2008 Denise Van Patten, Licensed to About.com}