The Blythe Price List is back and under a new name and management (a.k.a. me!). Check out the Blythe Price Guide!

Often I’ll get emails from people asking where to find an “affordable” Blythe (or, even more often, where they can find a “cheap Kenner”).  While I know that “affordable” is really a relative term, it does make me think about how expensive (and inexpensive) parts of the hobby can be.

These questions will pop up on the Blythe Facebook groups as well, with helpful suggestions coming up about how one can purchase a “factory” Blythe for cheap on less than legitimate sources because factory dolls are counterfeit. But what about those who are looking for a real Blythe doll? What are the options? When I’m asked about where the affordable Blythes are, I find that a lot of people think that legitimate releases are $300 or more, which is hardly th case at all unless you’re looking at the rare and limited release dolls.

There are still plenty of releases that are under $200 USD! Here are a dozen different options:

1. Ashley’s Secret
2. Asian Butterfly Encore
3. Bohemian Peace
4. Fancy Pansy
5. Lounging Lovely
6. Prima Dolly Ashlette
7. Prima Dolly Violet
8. Simply Chocolate
9. Simply Delight
10. Simply Love Me
11. Simply Sparkly Spark
12. Simply Vanilla

I looked these up this past weekend – all on eBay, all USD pricing, all NRFB (never removed from box); costs of shipping excluded. There are still fantastic deals to be found if you’re willing to look for them! Pricing of Blythes can and do fluctuate, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find affordable dolls if you’re patient. Pro tip for buying Blythes: join one of the buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook or a Blythe forum as you can often find some good deals on secondhand Blythes that someone is selling. While these are not NRFB, they may be slightly (or fully) customized, and you may find the pricing to be somewhat more palatable if you’re looking at a stock doll.

With no foreseeable travel plans this summer, my dolls are fuming at the fact that they won’t get their photos taken in exotic or even remotely interesting places. Chances are, I’ll take in a couple of day trips with some hikes here and there this summer, but no trips planned for fun in Tokyo or San Francisco (unfortunately!). In the past, I’ve taken Blythes on vacation with me. Moxie made it to Vancouver Island with me in 2012, and Eden went with me to Hong Kong in 2013.

While I can still be quite shy about photographing my dolls locally, I don’t feel that apprehension towards photographing dolls in public when I’m on a trip because I know the chances of me seeing those people again are slim to none. It helps having the power of anonymity on a trip because it doesn’t matter, in a way. Living in a metropolitan area of 2.5 million should help, but it really doesn’t – going on trips and having distance does! The benefits of anonymity allow me to be much more comfortable about photographing my dolls in public.

Are your dolls summer ready? Where are you jet-setting off to?

Petites are genuinely not part of the Blythe hobby that caught my eye at first. When I first started collecting Blythe and being active in the community, my emphasis and eye was on the Neos. They were bigger than Petites, and had the pull string, and honestly I just didn’t think much of Petites at all. Sure, I got my hands on a couple of Hasbro LPS Petites, but then I never did much with them. Creating for them was a pain because they are just so small that I felt like I was going cross-eyed attempting to knit for them. Tiny arm holes are not my favourite thing to do.

It really wasn’t until Lark that I gave Petites a second look. Lark is different, of course, as she is customized. At the same time, I remembered that there was a nursing-themed Petite out there and couldn’t for the life of my remember what she was called. And I eventually tracked her down, and bought her – Intensive Care (a.k.a. Chickadee).

If I were to compare a stock LPS and a stock Takara Petite, I would say that they’re very, very similar.

Both are the same size, very much similar facial features, but I find that the Takara’s features are smaller than the LPS’s. Smaller head, smaller eyes, smaller nose and mouth, smaller ears, and smaller hands.

The LPS lacks some features that come standard with Takara – their eyes don’t move and their legs aren’t bendy, although I didn’t know the second feature was a feature with Takara until I got my own.

I think they both have their charms. LPS Petites are certainly more affordable, especially in the North American market, as they were mass produced and easily accessible in a large variety of stores that carried Littlest Pet Shop. Compared to Takara Petites, LPS are still more affordable (and you’re more likely to stumble on them in a thrift store than you are the Takara Petites). Takara Petites are often more expensive, and were much more limited in production so they’re just more costly. That isn’t to say that they’re not cute, because I do think that I would like another Takara Petite in the future. I’m quite fond of the fact that they have ‘sleep’ eyes and I find it makes them even more endearing.

Do you collect Petites? Do you prefer LPS or Takara Petites more?

Thirteen months of Middie Monday! Kitty Brighton and Lydia Melbourne are both super pleased that you like Middies (or at least haven’t complained loudly about this feature). What they are not pleased about is the fact that I’ve been eyeing one of the recent Middie releases (Rampion of the Valley). I’m a huge fan of the Disney movie Tangled and Rampion of the Valley reminds me a lot of Rapunzel. From the long (long!) golden hair, to the dress, and the flowers. All she needs is a frying pan and she’d be exactly like Rapunzel from Tangled. Poor Kitty and Lydia.

Chances are really good that I won’t be adding a third Middie to the doll family though, seeing as I struggle as it is to clothe and provide shoes for the two that I have. This is ultimately a First World Middie Problem because I could just start buying clothes for them *ahem*, but that would defeat the purpose of my goal of creating the bulk of their wardrobe. Speaking of which, I really ought to craft some more for them… Maybe tomorrow? Or the day after?

Heart of my Middie hearts. They haven’t gotten a change in clothes in ages.

We’ll see. They’re really not happy with the fact that I knit for them. Apparently it’s ~*~summer~*~ and therefore they should dress accordingly. I keep reminding them that they don’t actually feel temperature changes and they got a little huffy with me…

What Middie is currently tickling your fancy? Do you think Rampion of the Valley looks like Rapunzel from Tangled too?

Kitty Brighton’s wearing: dress/made by me (chelleshocks).
Lydia Melbourne’s wearing: dress/Endangered Sissy.