Since the DOLLS Magazine Doll and Teddy Expo was cancelled this year because of the virus pandemic, they decided to hold a Virtual Doll and Teddy Expo for 2020.  

As they have described it:  "Here’s your chance to spend some time viewing the newest and best dolls and accessories available from a variety of doll artists and manufacturers! Browse through each booth, and expect to find plenty of items to add to your wish list. You can contact individual artists and companies with questions via the online form at each booth. And don’t forget to take advantage of the special event discount code when you place orders with any of our exhibitors!"

Since Eyes of Texas Dolls is an avid supporter of DOLLS Magazine, we, of course, decided to participate in this endeavor and have a virtual booth.

Please take a look at the 'Eyes of Texas Dolls by Brenda Mize Booth' when you get an opportunity!  Thanks!

(As a special thank you Brenda is offering a 10% show special discount (please use the coupon code OnlineShow2020 when checking out).

Our booth will run from May 1 - July 31, 2020.

Additionally, should you see a doll that you would like on the Eyes of Texas Dolls website, and it is sold out, please email brenda@beaconsglow.com and she will make you a custom doll to look as closely as it can to the original.

Many thanks for your support!

Quote of the Day -  'Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more.  If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.' - Oprah Winfrey

Yu Ping Doll by Ruby Red Galleria is On Her Way

We are very pleased to announce that just recently we have become an authorized retailer of Ruby Red Galleria Dolls.

Ruby Red Galleria Dolls are exquisitely crafted 5-way jointed and ball-jointed dolls (BJD) designed in Hong Kong.  We will be carrying the following collections to begin with:  Ten Ping Dolls and Four Kindergartner Collectible Dolls.

This company was started back in 2008 and initially introduced their BJD rendition of a Bluette Doll.  They have fine-tuned their doll offerings to suit US collectors and their little Yu Ping Dolls are wildly popular.

We just got news today that our first shipment in on the way.  Please stay tuned!

Quote of the Day - "I'd rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not done." - Lucille Ball

Some Things You Did Not Know About Hildegard Gunzel

Came across this online article taken from a blog by Dear Little Dollies regarding Hildegard Gunzel.  Some interesting facts were found about Hildegard that we were not aware of.

• Hildegard was born in Tauberbishoffsheim, Germany
• She was born in 1945 (right after the end of World War II)
• Attended to German School for Fashion Design in Munchen
• After graduation, she worked as a designer in the fashion and jewelry industry
• In the 1970's she began making dolls as a hobby
• Her first medium used for dolls was Cernit
• Hildegard attended her first "International Toy Fair" in NYC in 1986 and her dolls were an instant sellout
• Her dolls always have wigs made from human hair 

Quote of the Day - "Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration, and inspiration." - Evan Esar

Big Changes at Madame Alexander Dolls

Just received in our Fall 2014 Madame Alexander Doll Catalog and have noticed quite a change since last year's catalog.  The Alexander Doll Company is now predominately gearing their dolls towards children and babies with their 18 inch dolls, baby dolls, and just recently their introduction of hand puppets. (Their baby dolls do not include either collectible Pussycat or Huggums baby dolls either).

There are only a small handful of 8-inch Wendy and 12-inch Cissette dolls in this collection, and even some of those dolls have been brought back from previous years.  Clara, The Nutcracker is one of these dolls. This will be the third year she was brought back as she was a very popular doll.

Very disappointing as it appears that this company is now targeting a different generation.  And it also seems that most baby boomers have become more selective in their collectible doll choices, and therefore, are not ordering as many Madame Alexander dolls as they used to.

Isn't it interesting that most children of baby boomers have no desire to collect dolls or teddy bears? We get several customers hoping that their grandchildren will develop a passion for collecting like their grandparents have.  We can only hope that this will happen.

In conclusion, it is our hope that the Alexander Doll Company will continue to survive with their new mix of products.  But for the meantime, their offerings do not suit our customer base, and therefore, we will discontinue ordering any new dolls at this time.  Of course, this can change in the future and we hope that it will.

Please stay tuned as we introduce new sales on our existing stock of Madame Alexander Dolls.

Quote of the Day - "Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." - Babe Ruth

A Blast From the Past - How Things Have Changed!

Chloe - Dolls by Pauline

Was in the process of cleaning out some extraneous computer files, and came across a News Release way back from November 2004.  At that time, Beacon's Glow Collectibles carried 12 unique lines of collectible dolls and teddy bears with 800 different products.

So, do any of these lines from the past ring a bell?

• Jan McLean Dolls
• Ginny Dolls by Vogue
• Precious Moments Dolls
• Linda Rick Dolls
• Susan Wakeen Dolls (very popular at that time)
• Doll by Pauline (our best selling line back in 2004)
• Annette Funicello Bears
• Ganz Cottage Collectibles
• Lang Primitive Candles

There is a story to be told as to why we stopped carrying each of these lines.  Many of these manufacturers are non-existent at this time unfortunately.  (We did read the other day that Lang is bringing back their candles which is good news). They discontinued carrying candles many years ago. But the main reason that we stopped carrying them was that it was difficult to successfully ship candles in the summer months.  They melted before they left Texas.

Anyway, we hope that you still have some of these wonderful dolls or teddy bears from the past in your collections.

Currently we carry 19 different lines and have more than 3000 different items to offer consumers.  Times sure have changed in 10 years!

Quote of the Day - "Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible." - Dalai Lama

Erika Cattelani's Amazing Hand-Carved Wooden Dolls

Just received in our first shipment of Erika Catellani Dolls direct from Switzerland.  There was a total of nine (9) dolls in the shipment ranging from 6 - 10 inches in height.

These intricately designed dolls are hand-carved out of the finest maple wood and then Erika handpaints their cherubic little faces and their fingernails.  Each outfit is handmade as well and most contain either embroidery or smocking or both.

These heirloom-like collectible dolls each come from a very small limited edition which usually is 20 pieces.  (Clara, incidentally, is the #2 of an edition of only 6 dolls worldwide!)

10 inch dolls include:

1. Bianca
2. Elisa
3. Victoria
4. Heidi

8 inch dolls include:

1. Clara
2. Lina

6 inch dolls include:

1. Ella
2. Tina
3. Marie

We are so excited to get the opportunity to be an Erika Catellani retailer.  These very detailed collectable dolls definitely have the WOW factor.  Their stock photos are nice, but to see them in person is a different story.  If you look very closely, you can see the patterns in the wood itself which is pretty remarkable.

We have read that Erika has been referred to as a "modern day Geppetto" for her woodcarving skills.  She has won the coveted Eurodoll several years in a row.

Each of these dolls should truly be categorized as an heirloom to be passed down from doll collector to doll collector as time passes.

Quote of the Day - "Do not give up, the beginning is always the hardest." - Anonymous