Katie: A Pose Doll Collector

Yay for interview # 3!!

Name: Katie Barker AKA ...Posh Totty Designz

Age or Birthday: yuk...........38

Location: Surrey, UK

When did you start collecting pose dolls? 15 years ago approximately

Why do you collect pose dolls? They annoy my husband!! No seriously....I had always wanted to collect something and tried collecting other bits but I was never drawn to anything like I am to these. So many beautiful, quirky, funny faces with THE MOST equisite clothes. Maybe I should have been born in the '60s but I do love the clothes from that era. I also seem to be the only Brit who does collect them so I guess its a little unusual and I have never been one to follow a crowd!

How many pose dolls do you own? That is a scary question and one I will struggle to answer honestly. Ummmmmm, errrrr.....250..300 ...perhaps more...yikes A LOT!!!

Where do you buy your pose dolls? Wherever I can find the little beauties. I have purchased a great deal directly from Japan. I spent most of my young career working for Japanese companies so I guess I got lucky here...so I do have contacts. I also have a very super lovely Japanese friend who buys special beauties for me if I ask her sweetly. I owe her a massive massive hug! I sometimes find a cutey on Ebay...but you can bet the seller is in the USA so I am forever paying large shipping costs!!!

Where/how do you display your pose dolls? I am going to be struck down now by many pose doll collectors. I display a number of them in our lounge...I keep telling my husband..."Oh that one...oh don't worry darling...I am selling that one" or the classic "That one...I've had it for ages". We also have a lovely conservatory where many of them go. Its not altogether ideal as I worry the sun might discolour them but they seem to be amazing little things and put up with a lot before they show any damage or wear. I also have a number of ones I bought a long time ago in the loft...I know its criminal but I literally do not have the space in the house with 2 children and many toys to get them all out. Occasionally I swap them around with ones I have on show and more often I sell them on.

What was your first pose doll? A Bradley bride ready for the nackers yard!

What is your favorite pose doll? I have "favorites" but its hard to find just one. I think it would have to be my Brinn's doll Brynna.

What is the most amount of money you have spent on a pose doll? It was somewhere in the region of £200-£250. I felt quite sick once I had paid for her..I remember thinking...gosh I hope she has a clean face for that price!!!

Do you sell your pose dolls? Where? Yes I do Etsy, Ebay and privately.

Any interesting stories about pose dolls you'd like to share? There is a lovely pose doll seller who often invites me to purchase her dolls privately. This one time she asked if I was interested in a particular doll and she had obviously won it a week before on Ebay as I had actually been bidding on it and been outbid by her. I couldn't bring myself to purchase it from her at the higher inflated price. Made me smile though.

Any interesting pose doll photos you'd like to share for the blog? I laid on the floor so long trying to get this photograph just right that I had to sit down for about an hour after taking it to stop myself from being sick. I felt as rough as a dog.

Are pose doll collectors crazy? Hee Hee No they just have impeccable taste and are amazingly friendly.

Do you collect anything else? Cranberry glass. If I could afford to I would like an original Mark Ryden painting.

Thoughts, questions, comments? Anything else you'd like to add? Thanks Renee...I look forward to hearing from all the other pose lovers!

Thanks so much Katie!!! XOXO

Juan: A Pose Doll Collector

Here's interview #2!!! YAY!!!

Name: Juan

Age or Birthday: 22

Location: Singapore

When did you start collecting pose dolls? Just last month!

Why do you collect pose dolls? Fell in love with them after seeing so many lovely pictures on flickr! A pity I was born in the 80s when pose dolls were not popular then, or maybe not found in the shops.

How many pose dolls do you own? Erm...currently 2 only. Hope to collect more!

Where do you buy your pose dolls? Both were from Ebay

Where/how do you display your pose dolls? In my room!

What was your first pose doll?Dakin Dream Doll (my buddy icon)

What is your favorite pose doll? Big head pose dolls! Love both of them alot, but if I were to choose it would be this one:

What is the most amount of money you have spent on a pose doll?About 40 usd

Do you sell your pose dolls? Where?Just started collecting so no selling at the moment

Are pose doll collectors crazy? Hee Hee I wouldn't think so when it comes to collecting things that you like. But sometime I do feel that it's not really worth paying so much especially from ebay.

Do you collect anything else?I used to collect kawaii san-x stationeries (I have a whole big box of collection!), animal plushies from Japan, but now becoming more of a dollie fan--Vintage pose dolls & dollies!

Thanks again Juan!!! You can find pictures of her handmade pose dollies here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40834622@N04/sets/72157621958969907/

User Sunnydaffodils on Flickr!!

Gina: A Pose Doll Collector

Special thanks to Gina of San Antonio, TX for being the first to complete the Pose Doll Survey!! Please keep checking back every couple of days to hear about others! XOXO

Name: Gina

Age or Birthday: 6/7/80 (hence the 678 in my flickr name)

Location: San Antonio, TX

When did you start collecting pose dolls? June 2008

Why do you collect pose dolls? I saw one in a Livejournal community post. I tracked one down on eBay and became hooked as soon as she arrived.

How many pose dolls do you own? About 80

Where do you buy your pose dolls? Ebay & Etsy

Where/how do you display your pose dolls? I have 2 makeshift bookcases that I keep the majority on. I arrange them by color/style because I'm super anal.

What was your first pose doll? (See pic below)

What is your favorite pose doll? (See pic below)

What is the most amount of money you have spent on a pose doll? I don't think I've ever spent more than $100 on one, though I have been tempted. I would feel way too guilty!

Do you sell your pose dolls? Where? Yes. Ebay. My mind changes frequently, and I like to make room for new ones.

Any interesting stories about pose dolls you'd like to share? On my birthday this year, which was totally coincidental, I received a message from a random lady on eBay. She told me she'd noticed I'd won several pose dolls recently, and she had 4 she wanted to get rid of because she only collects Ginny and they were just sitting in her closet. I thought she was asking if I wanted to buy them, but no, she insisted on giving them to me absolutely free! She wouldn't even accept the shipping fees! She said someone had done that for her one day with her Ginny dolls and she wanted to do something as kind for someone else. Made my whole birthday, and month for that matter. They arrived a couple weeks later, and were mint Holiday Fair dolls that I'd actually tried to buy at seperate times in the past but was always outbid.

Any interesting pose doll photos you'd like to share for the blog? The first makeover dolly that I actually liked.

Are pose doll collectors crazy? Yes!

Do you collect anything else? Barbie is my first & foremost collecting obsession.

Thoughts, questions, comments? Anything else you'd like to add? I've met the sweetest people since I began collecting pose dolls.

Thank you GINA!!!