Handmade Goodies from Emerz

Today I got treated to an overdose of cuteness. A KABOOM of Kawaii. (Give me a break, I’m a writer for a living.)

My dear friend Emily, who makes handmade dolly stuffs for Pullips and other lucky girls through her Emerz shop sent me a package of stuff that I cannot describe in words…so I will share pics.

Being half-Japanese, I have a healthy respect for packaging. And Emily knows her stuff. But when I opened those happy polka-dotted bags, I did not expect the treasure within! Emily is an immensely talented lady who does it all. She knits, she crafts, she sews, she stamps! In the dolly world we would call her a Renaissance Woman. Check out the loot!

She made these donuts! I so wanted to eat them. Just kidding. (Not really.)

Lots of other goodies but most of all, I was thrilled to share some super cute outfits with my Pullips. I always marvel at handmade doll clothes, since I see what goes into them with my mom’s shop. These are two outfits that I could not wait for Banshee and Karen to model!

Her prices are super affordable for such gorgeous and OOAK pieces! Check her out on Instgram @emaline_dolls to see more!

P.S. Even I got a little something. Turns out Emerz also does knitted stuff for people, too! (This will help me weather those blisteringly cold San Diego Winters.)

Pullip Asuka Langley Soryu by Groove

In addition to Ayanami Rei from the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, Groove also released an Asuka Langley Pullip doll back in 2008. She has the less desirable Type 3 body, but she’s still a spitfire. Minimal faceup makes her appear a bit like a tomboy, but you’d never know it from her THREE different costumes.

 

This last one had a special guest star. Asuka is unafraid of large cats.

 

 

Pullip Holly Golightly Audrey Hepburn Doll

There is no better inspiration for Pullip than Audrey Hepburn, a graceful sliver of a woman and fashion icon who tragically left us too soon.

Groove/Jun Planning had a love affair with Audrey for a few years, putting out not one, not two, but THREE Audrey inspired dolls from her movies Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Holly was the first release back in 2006, and I think it was an ambitious one. Her stock is very well made and a lot of attention was paid to the details. Her pearl necklace, the sunglasses, and the big hat.

Unfortunately, my Holly doll came used and in poor condition. She was stained, her body was falling apart and her eyes were dirty and dull. Why don’t people take better care of these dolls??

In any case I gave her a new look, and she even borrowed a dress from Pullip Sabrina:

 

If you’re curious about how all three dolls look next to each, I made a video review of Holly with a special appearance from my other girls:

Pullip Neon Genesis Evangelion Ayanami Rei by Groove

What a strange and beautiful doll Ayanami Rei is! A character from a Japanese TV series called Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ayanami is a complex and somewhat tragic character. Groove really nailed it capturing this girl’s look, and that pilot’s suit she comes in is no joke.

 

She also comes with a second look, complete with bandages – as her character is first introduced as wounded. So detailed! She is truly a beauty.

Customized Pullip Dita – Ophelia Doll

Who doesn’t sympathize with Ophelia, the tragic heroine from Shakespeare’s Hamlet?

I always appreciated the painting by Millais, because in my opinion it did not show a young woman driven into madness. To me, Ophelia in her last moments had reclaimed her life and her will.

 (Image from Wikipedia)

Ok, that will drove her to a watery grave, but I digress.

This doll was more of a “project” than anything, and it was loads of fun to finish. Why? Because she was a gift for a very special friend of mine whose love of art and literature really inspired me to create something special.

My mother was gracious enough to create Ophelia’s dress, which needed to be appropriate for the period, but also faithful to the idea that Ophelia cared little for social graces at this point in the play. My favorite part of her outfit is the necklace of purple flowers sewn into her dress.

For her box, I wanted to re-create the look of Ophelia drifting through water. This took some craftiness that was definitely outside my comfort zone.

Lastly, a OOAK doll simply isn’t complete without a collector’s card, so she got one of those, too.

 

 

I can’t wait for Ophelia to make her way to her new home!

Pullip Kore – The Goddess

Pullip Kore has seen a slow-burn over the past year in interest. I recall when she came out people were saying how much she looked like Pullip Blanche, or that she was pretty but a little “ho-hum.”

 I was a little anxious about that yellow wig, but it was her eyes that drew me in. The chips seemed to be made a little differently from other Pullip dolls, and even though the long nightgown look wasn’t my favorite, I was taken by her mythical goddess theme.

 

Pullip Vanessa by Groove

I feel like Pullip Vanessa was a bit overlooked last year, if only for her price and her minimalist look. That’s too bad, because unlike all the collaboration dolls Groove put out, Vanessa was an original.

I do love a good over-the-top Pullip, but there’s something about Vanessa that is no-nonsense, from her tight ringlets down to her pointy black pumps. Her face-up is fantastic, too. Between those pointed full brows and the glitter makeup, she looks like a fashion model with attitude. I think her giant black (no-doubt designer) bag is also a great piece. The only thing I wasn’t impressed with was her “woolly mammoth” shawl. Why cover up such a lovely doll?

 

 

Pullip Io by Groove

Is it “ee-yo” or “I-o?” I’m not sure, but Pullip Io is pretty unique. Fashioned to look like a peacock (complete with real feathers) she’s quite lovely if not a little over the top.

I heard there was a lot of hubbub about this doll, because her first stock pictures from Groove featured a super ornate, gorgeous peacock doll with gray silver eyes and false lashes. The mass-produced version was scaled down, and those details people had been so excited about were missing.

 

Nevertheless, she’s still a magical doll. I can’t say I’m a fan of all of those pieces on her outfit, but they definitely work together. And her stockings and shoes are just to die for!

Pullip Nella by Groove

Groove has this funny way of taking a doll and re-coloring it, and sometimes that means a gorgeous doll gets overlooked.

Take Pullip Nella, for example. When I was madly searching for my next Pullip doll, I was so enamored with Nella Retro that I completely overlooked the original dark beauty. “Why would I want all black when this other doll has TWO COLORED EYES!”

Well shame on me. I can thank my friend Bia for giving me the smack down and making me give the original Nella another look. Her sad, sweet eyebrows, hidden by her bangs, are just one layer of her complex personality.

 

 

Don’t get me started on her stock. Her dress is so detailed and she comes with such fun accessories, like a little suitcase, a capelet and a globe cane. You can’t help but wonder what journey this girl is about to embark on.

 

 

 

 

Pullip Scarlet by Groove

I will admit that first time I saw Pullip Scarlet on Pullipstyle, I thought she was just Pullip Pere Noel‘s evil twin. She also vaguely reminded me of a J-Doll I saw on Amazon, so I wasn’t terribly impressed.

But then I saw some owner photos on Facebook, and I was instantly enchanted!

I was up in the air on that wig, but in person it’s just adorable. Her stock is also incredibly well made and those red eyelids have so much attitude!