Special Day Keyshia

Of the dolls from my previous post, I decided to open Special Day Keyshia first (thanks to some good advice and quality concerns).

She came with no socks and no earrings (sigh).  Otherwise, she's in good condition.  Here's a close-up.

And here's a full shot.

Thanks to posts on I-Luv-Dolls and Black Doll Collecting blogs, I expected there to be differences between this Keyshia and my Weekend Fun Keyshia, and there are.  They are both cute, though.

Check out my Weekend Fun Keyshia post for a more detailed review of the Keyshia doll in general, and my Small Girl Dolls Comparisons post to check out how Keyshia's articulation compares to other dolls.

Here are Kenya (rebodied), TJ, and the two Keyshia's.

So guess what happens next?

That's right!  It's head swappin' time!  In today's head swap, AA Todd grows a bit, while Special Day Keyshia shrinks.  Todd's head fits well on Keyshia's body, but Keyshia's head is a little loose on Janet's body (yep, Todd was using Jane'ts articulated body prior to this).  I know that Keyshia's head is too big for this body, but she will have to deal with it until the next swap.  I like Todd's head better on this body than I did on his original stiff body or Janet's articulated body.

 Here's the new Todd compared to some of my other teen and tween boys. 

I'll have to give short Keyshia a new name.  I'm thinking about Keylee.  What do you think?  Here's Keylee and Janet becoming acquainted, Todd Brown and Todd White are about to play ball (although Todd Brown now has an unfair advantage), and others just hanging out.

Latest Arrivals

I hadn't expected to be gone so long.  There's a lot happening and a lot of other things that are demanding my attention.  But there's always time for dolls, right?  Here are my latest arrivals.  From left to right, they are Special Day Keyshia, S.I.S. Marisa, S.I.S. Chandra, Triad Alpha, S.I.S. Kara, and S.I.S. Grace.  I plan to open them all one day, but not today.

Which one should I open first?

Here's the back of one of the so in style babyphat boxes.

Small Girl Dolls Comparisons

I have a request on my Comparisons page to do an articulation comparison with some of my younger dolls.  The girls below will get us started.  They all have the ability to bend at the knees and elbows at the least, and they are the shortest girls that I have that have this ability.  They are from left to right:  Mattel Janet, Juku Couture Kana, Only Hearts Club Briana Joy, Kenya Fashion Madness Keyshia, Bratz doll with Hottiez Kiara head, and Winx Club Layla.  

I am posing them similarly to my previous figure comparisons.  Some of these young ladies have appeared in other comparisons, but they wanted to come back for comparisons with dolls their own size.  Janet, Kana, Keyshia, and Kiara can all stand on their own without assistance from a doll stand.  Briana Joy can stand with shoes and her feet can adjust to heel height, so she can stand in both flat and heeled shoes. 

Here they are showing their flexed arms.  Janet, Kana, Keyshia, and Kiara have jointed elbows.  Briana Joy has a cloth body over a wire armature.  Layla has vinyl over wire for her limbs.  Janet is able to flex her arm further and hold it in position better than the others

None of them are able to cross their arms completely, but Janet comes the closest.  Janet, Kana, Briana Joy, and Keyshia can share shoes.  Kiara's Bratz body has large feet (shoes) that can be removed.  Layla has heeled feet and can wear some of the larger Barbie shoes.  Janet and Kana have articulation at the ankle.

Here they are doing a side stretch.  Janet and Kana have lower torso articulation, while Kiara is articulated at the chest.  I think that Janet has the best range of motion here.

Here they are in the "walk like an Egyptian" pose.  Kana and Kiara have articulation at the wrist.  Briana Joy's feet can be flexed.  Kiara's removable feet can swivel.  I think that Kana does this move the best.  What do you think?

Here they are doing kneeling back bends.  Janet does this the best.

Here they are showing off their hands.  None of these dolls can grip objects (no big surprise there).  Janet's hands are my favorites from this group.

Here they are attempting to sit cross-legged on the floor.  Briana Joy does this the best.

 Here they are attempting to do middle splits.  Kiara does this the best.

 Here they are attempting to do front splits.  Keyshia does this the best.

 Here they are doing a leg lift.  Kana and Briana Joy do this the best.

 Here they are sitting down.  Kana's legs will not close while seated.  Layla has issues when it comes to siting down (she might do better on a higher surface.  Keyshia looks the most natural to me in her seated position.

Do you have a favorite among these dolls?  What makes that particular doll stand out for you?  Which ones pose the best?  Which ones look the best?  Which dolls are the most realistic?

Weekend Fun Keyshia

I was beginning to wonder if I would ever have this one in hand, but she's finally here!  Weekend Fun Keyshia (part of the Kenya Fashion Madness line of dolls) has arrived.

She did not stay in her box for long.  She comes with a black and white scarf tied around her neck, a green top, blue jeans, and black sandals.  Her hair is long and well rooted.  She's a cute doll.

I noticed a couple of minor quality issues upon removing her from her box.  Her right earring sticks out slightly.  It looks like it did not completely pierce the vinyl of her head, and instead bent and came back out.  I've tried pushing it in but it will not budge.  There is also an area on her chin that is not completely smooth.  

Kenya has been awaiting the arrival of her little sister Keyshia for quite a while now.  They are finally reunited.

Keyshia has made new friends already.  The dolls pictured are from left to right:  Mattel Janet, Juku Couture Kana, Keyshia, Only Hearts Club Briana Joy, and V.I.P. A.N.T. farm Chyna.  Keyshia's head is a little bit oversized, but not alarmingly so, and she fits in well with my other dolls.  This one can keep her head (if I get another one, there will be head swapping).

Yay, she has articulation!  Keyshia has jointed elbows and knees.  Her feet are flat, and she is able to stand on her own.  She is pictured below in a swimsuit from another doll.

Here she is in a seated position.

Keyshia can wear most of the clothes from comparably sized dolls.  Below she is wearing Only Hearts Club Briana Joy's outfit.  She is able to stand without assistance in Briana Joy's shoes.

Keyshia is pictured in a Juku Couture Kana fashion below.  Her feet are the same size as Kana's feet. 

She can wear some Bratz fashions.  The jeans are a little too long on her.

Most Monster High fashions are too small for her.  Below, she is pictured wearing Clawdeen Wolf's jacket and skirt (too small for her and not a good look).

Here she is in V.I.P. A.N.T. Farm Chyna's clothes.  This fashion is a little large for her.  

My overall impression is that this is a good doll at a decent price.  Even with her minor quality issues, I am pleased with her and I think that she is a good addition to my collection.  I want to buy another one if I can find one at a discounted price.