Beauty & The Boardwalk

The beach is fun, but the boardwalk is not to be missed. It’s half the fun during a day down the shore.

Same doll, same place, a change of clothes…

 

Lunch at the Tiki Bar

 

A Little SkeeBall

Playing the Wheel – Trying to Win a Prize

Taking in the Sights

Today’s model is Look of Love Poppy Parker, rerooted and with a lip repaint. Poppy is wearing Summer Games Poppy’s sunhat, a dress from an older Barbie fashion pack, an Integrity Toys ruffled slip and Holiday in the Hamptons Poppy’s sneakers. Her photos were taken on the boardwalk in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

You Won’t Get Bored On The Boardwalk

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Beauty & The Beach

There are few things I enjoy more than draggin’ a dollie and a camera down to the beach. Since hubby was on vacation a couple of weeks ago, you just knew it was gonna happen. Now I’ve got a smile as bright as the summer sun. Here are some of the results from our sand and surf shoot…

Back To The Beach

Toes In The Sand

Listen To The Sounds Of The Surf

Take A Walk On The Beach

Listen To The Waves

Today’s model is a Look of Love Poppy Parker doll that has been rerooted and had her lips repainted. She’s one of my favorites and such a summer ‘go to’ gal. She was made for frolicking about in sand and surf. Her wardrobe consists of: Barbie sunglasses from the early nineties, a Barbie net shirt over a Skipper swimsuit top, shorts from a Barbie fashion pack, handmade swim bottoms found at a doll show and Summer Crush Misaki’s sandals. Her props are a chair from the Arco brand Backyard Pool Set, a Barbie boom box and Promenade Amelie’s beach bag. Poppy’s photos were taken on an overcast day in early July at the beach in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

 

Whenever I See Her

It’s Always Summer

 

The Sun Breezily Dances Upon Her Hair

In Her Eyes The Depths Of The Ocean Reside

 

I Think To Myself

Every Time I See Her

 

This Is The Place

Where I Could Gladly Drown

 

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So Long, Summer…wait…Not Yet

Yeah, it’s already autumn. Huh, I don’t know how that happened. The days sure do fly by. But, even though the calendar insists that it’s fall, the weather is still feeling rather summery. So, bear with me..indulge me…in a last celebration of summer.

Amelie Makes Some Waves

Table For One

Surf’s Up

Sunshine & Palm Trees

Skee Ball – Ice Ball

Today’s models are Promenade Amelie and Misaki. Amelie is wearing Endless Summer Poppy Parker’s swim suit and a dollar store hair clip. Misaki is wearing Sunshine Games Poppy Parker’s bathing suit in the second and third photo and her original t-shirt, Barbie shorts, Endless Summer Poppy Parker’s sneakers and Fashion Royalty earrings and a bracelet in the last two images. The table, umbrella, chair and float are all pieces from an Arco brand Fashion Pool Set that I found at the local flea market. The first four photos were taken at the beach, the last one was taken in a game room on the boardwalk.

Roll Out Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer
You’ll Wish That Summer Could Always Be Here – Nat King Cole

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For The Love Of The Boardwalk

I love the summer. And it’s not really summertime without a trip or two down to the Jersey shore. Obviously I enjoy the beach and the ocean, but I look forward to visiting the boardwalk just as much. It’s a mega food fest; pizza, crab cakes, fresh-squeezed lemonade, ice coffee, milkshakes, ice cream and salt water taffy…ahhhhh! Not to mention all the fun games and lovely shops. Oh, and rides, too! What’s not to like?

Wanna play a game? Launch a Lobster into the Pot!

Would ya lookit the size of that Big Ol’ Beer inflatable on the beach! I’ll meetcha at the Tiki Bar.

Don’t Feed The Sand Gators

A Record Breaking Sand Castle by Ed Jarrett

We All Scream For Ice Cream!!!

Okay, so it’s “picture overload” time, but I just couldn’t narrow it down. 😉

Today’s model is Sweet in Switzerland Poppy Parker. She is wearing a Barbie top, capris and flip-flops, all from around the “Fashion Fever”era. Her daisy hair clips came from a dollar store. The ice cream cone came in a set (vanilla, chocolate & strawberry) – I think I got it at Five Below in the toy section. The first shot on the boardwalk was taken in front of a new Lobster Pot game. It’s like “Frog Bog” without the splashing, LOL. The second picture was taken in front of a huge inflatable Bud Light bottle advertisement. And it works, because the Tiki Bar was not empty. 🙂 The next two photos are sand creations (Gator & Giant Sand Castle) made by Ed Jarrett. I was lucky enough to meet the artist and he even placed and posed Poppy next to his Gator himself! Last, but not least, Poppy poses in front of one of the many sweet shops on the boardwalk. Mmmmm!!!

Tan, Swim, Sweat

Let’s Not Forget

Sweet Shop, Don’t Stop

Screamin’ On The Rides

 

It’s Always Summer, And It’s Always Hot

It’s Time To Give It All Ya Got

Beggin’ For More, Down The Shore

Cross On Over To The Jersey Side!

 

 

 

 

 

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Go Outside And Play

An interesting subject was brought up recently on one of the doll chat forums that I frequent. It was a discussion concerning collector’s comfort level while taking photos out in public. I must be honest, I rarely feel embarrassed or awkward when I gambol about, dollies and camera in hand. Which is kind of strange, since I was so afraid of not fitting in or being considered “weird” as an adolescent. But as the years went by, I embraced the fact that a lot of the things I do dance outside of the ordinary or fail to meet the standards of “normal”. Maybe it is not a regular occurrence for the rest of the world to run into a forty four year old woman taking photos of her dolls in their neighborhood. But I have to say that the folks I’ve met all seem to take it in stride. I’m greeted with smiles and laughter, sometimes curiosity and even the occasional puzzled gaze. But I’m so happy doing what I love, that I smile right back and have had many a fun “dollie conversation” with people. Almost every one has a neat story about an aunt, sister or friend with a favorite doll or collection. So, I say to anyone that may feel a bit uncomfortable with taking their dollies outside for photos, Have some fun – Go outside and play!

I’m still going through photos from a few weeks ago, when I brought my dolls down to the shore at Point Pleasant, New Jersey. This time, Poppy totes her tube down to the water…

Let’s Hit The Waves

Surf’s Up

Today’s model is Hot Dots Poppy Parker. She is wearing Summer Crush Misaki’s swim suit and a swim mask from one of the newer Barbie single fashion packs. Her tube is actually a dog toy that floats (the original purpose is so you can play “fetch” in a lake or pool with your pup, LOL). Anyway, the photo was taken in the afternoon sunshine along the shoreline.

Don’t Be Afraid To Go Outside & Play!

 

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I’m On A Roll

I’ve still got more photos from our trip down the shore.

RollerPop!

Today’s model is Pretty In Polynesia Poppy Parker. She is wearing a bikini crocheted by me, a net Barbie top, Barbie loves Spongebob shorts, Barbie socks and LIV dolls roller skates, knee pads and elbow pads. Her photo was taken on the boardwalk at Point Pleasant.

Roll, Roll, Roll Your Boat…What?! LOL

 

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There’s Always More

Yeah…I finally got around to editing some more of the photos from our jaunt to Point Pleasant.

Hot on the Boardwalk

Today’s model is Hot Dots Poppy Parker from last year’s Tropicalia convention. She is wearing Bonjour Misaki’s sandals, a butterfly sundress from a Barbie fashion pack and a long sleeved top from one of the Best Models On Location Barbie giftsets. Her photo was taken on the boardwalk rail overlooking the ocean and beach.

It’s Always Hot On The Boardwalk

 

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A Sunny Summer Wednesday

There’s nothing like sneaking away for a day off down the shore in the middle of the week. This past Wednesday, the weather was perfect and we heeded it’s irresistible call. LOL, I brought four dolls with me. Here’s the first one…

Sweet in the Sun

Today’s model is Sweet in Switzerland Poppy Parker. She’s shed her wintry duds in favor of Summer Magic’s bathing suit. Her chair is a giveaway favor from the Tropicalia Integrity Toys convention. Her photo was taken on the beach in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

The Sun Shines More Sweetly In The Middle Of The Week – Especially When One Is Playing Hookie!

 

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Camera Ready

Everyone looks forward to vacation. It’s so much fun anticipating where you’ll go, what you’ll see & do. You choose your wardrobe, chart your route and make your reservations. Most folks bring along the camera, too. What’s a holiday away without photographic evidence of your adventures?

Since I’m a doll collector and taking outdoor photos of them is my hobby, vacation plans send me into a true state of bliss. Besides the usual preparations; I choose my models, pull together every dollie wardrobe piece I think I’ll need and more, gather the corresponding props and charge up the cameras. I spend so much time daydreaming of the possible photo opportunities as well as wondering what surprises are in store. There’s always something I don’t expect and sometimes they end up being my favorite photos of the bunch.

During vacation, I split my time between “dollie photo time” where I drag the dolls & cameras around everywhere with us and “down time”, just taking it all in and thoroughly enjoying my time with hubby. The down time keeps me from getting burned out and also is fab for scoping out future photo spots. Not to mention, it’s nice to hang with hubby – he’s a fun guy and I love having him all to myself for a while. Gah, I know, so mushy…but that’s just the way it is.

Anyway…for me, dolls make a vacation even more fun…and the photos that come out of them always make me smile.

Sabrina Searches For The Perfect Photo Spot

Today’s model is Poppy Parker as Most Sophisticated Sabrina. Her hair has been washed and combed out. She is wearing a Mattel Barbie top & shorts (exact origins unknown) over a Dynamite Girls Check Mates: Beach Bunny Sookie bikini, Fashion Royalty earrings and a camera that I think was made by Mattel. Her photo was taken just off the boardwalk on the beach in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

If you’d like to see more of Sabrina, be sure to click on my Flickr link – She had a few wardrobe changes and visited some interesting places on the boardwalk.

Dolls + Vacation = Extra Fun!

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Sun, Sea & Sand

Continuing on with the beach theme, we also took a day trip to Point Pleasant, New Jersey while we were on vacation. This was actually during the first week of vacay, so technically I’m doing things backwards. Yeah, that’s how I roll. LOL 😉

Amelie at the Beach

Soaking Up the Sun

Riding on the Shoreline

Taking in the Sights

Today’s model is Color Infusion: Cosmic Love Amelie. In the first couple of photos, she is wearing a Barbie sun visor, earrings made by me, Summer Blues Misaki’s swim suit & jacket, High Toned Rayna’s bracelet and sandals from a Barbie fashion multipack. She is sitting on an older Mattel Barbie lounge chair and has Barbie sunscreen and Summer Blues Misaki’s tote bag. Her photo was taken on the sand by our blanket.

In the last two photos, Amelie is wearing a Mattel Barbie top (possibly from a Fashion pack, I’m having a hard time remembering exactly), Queen of the hive Natalia’s short shorts, a Barbie headscarf (originally a sheer wrap that came with an evening dress) and High Tide Vanessa’s shoes. She is riding a remote controlled ATV that I found in Kmart. (I modified the ATV to better accommodate her long legs by removing and lowering the foot pegs on the vehicle.) Her photos were taken along the shoreline near the ocean and  further up the beach towards the boardwalk.

Nary A Shadow Can Touch My Soul

When I’m Standing Under An Umbrella Of Brilliant Sunshine

With My Toes Nestled In The Warm, Coarse Sand

Wrapped Up In A Cloak Of Balmy Ocean Breezes.

 

 

 

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