Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Bruce Lee

Hey Gang!

As you read this post, you will see how it does relate the the post below it.  So please hang in there!

One of the first movies I went to see as a teenager (and with my first boyfriend) was Enter The Dragon!  I only went because he was taking me.  It was not a movie that I would have picked on my own.  Seeing this movie open my eye to what type of movies I might find interesting and what types of guys I might date.  I remember a scene where he flexed all the muscles in his back. OMG!  I was spellbound by that.  Thinking back on it, I am soo glad the theater was dark and my boyfriend couldn't see the look on my face.

Mattel had done a few Asian dolls but it was not until recently that they did an Asian Ken.  Yes, I have the Asian Ken.  The closest they got was Captain Li Shang, which I also have.  My first Asian male purchase was the Play Along Toys Bruce Lee Master.  Play Along's Bruce Lee action figures aren't the best likeness of Mr. Lee out there but it was the first one I saw.  To read more on Play Along Toys see post on them by clicking here.

Play Along first released Bruce lee in  1999.  A year after the release of Mulan and the Captain Li Shang doll. They did three head sculpts of Bruce Lee.  This is the one I have! He looks younger than the rest.


As with most Play Along Toys action figures, the clothing is very well made.  It is of good fabric, nice design and strong seams.  The closure of the jacket is a nice touch.  He comes with an extra set of hands (that can be used for other action figures) and lots of weapons.  This is his training gear.  You might have see Xia with the weapons!



They also did a second Master head sculpt with this face. In their Bruce Lee series was a Legend Bruce Lee and Warrior Bruce Lee.


I saw this one on line too.  Play Along updated the dolls faces and bodies often in production. This is a new face and body than the others.  I believe he is the Warrior.  You might notice that this body is different from the ones above.


Hey It's Muff, I didn't know you were a Lee fan so these pictures are for you!

So lets give him a good look!

 The Legend action figure from the Bruce Lee "The Dragon Series" produced by Play Along Toys in
2000.  This was a good purchase for me even if I didn't know it at the time.  I got him on sale at Toys R Us when he was being discontinued.  He was my first Asian male.


Bruce is a bit shy and didn't want nude pictures of him on the web with a lame exclaimer


As you can see from the picture, he has to sets of extra hands! 
He has the balled fists, a set of slightly opened hands and a set or open hands.  Most Play Along and Jakks male doll ( I will explain this later) and action figures have one open and one slightly hand.

Example Aaron Carter.


So he has a more expressive hand options!  Note newer Jakks action figures don't have hand joints.  These jointed hands are removable.  They also have the same size pegs but a little shorter on the end of the hands as Power Team guys.  The can easily be use as Power Team hands too.

Example:  Power Team Guy.  PT hands are the ones with the longer stem.


So if you see an old Aaron Carter or other P.A.T. or Jakks action figure for cheap, purchase them for their hands!  Here we have the two guys together.  PT guy has on of Bruce's hand and one of his own.  Bruce's hands are a little more tan and not as pink a PT guy.  Aaron is a closer match but Bruce's hands can do in a pinch!

He has an articulated torso also.

Photo: Aaron Cater, Power team guy and Bruce Lee
He also has articulated ankles.

This makes him quite pose-able!  Here he is warming up for his dance class.


Here is a close-up of his face.  

He looks kinda young to me so he will be a teen in my dolly world.

I put a shirt on him for the final shot!


OK! Thanks For Looking!

Friday, March 22, 2013

What I 've Been Up To!


Hey Gang!

I am almost caught up at work.  I should be there by Monday.  I hope to get some really good play time in then.

I did want to tell you what I have been up to on the dolly front.  OK, once I decided that I wanted to have articulated bodies for my doll, I could see the cost would be a factor.  I have been slowly purchasing bodies when I can get a good price.  I know that replacing the bodies on my AA dolls will cost the most because of the variety of complexions needed and the amount of AA articulated dolls out there to be donors.  My other dolls will be all changed out way before my AA dolls will be completed.

I purchase the last of the Power Team guys from Big Lot.  I had some of the power team guys with the large hands that I needed to swap out.  



To some, the big hands may not be an issue but for me they are.  Most of my male clothing is Ken size clothing and the big hands won’t fit many of them.  My guys need to be able to share clothing around here.  I know I will be able to find skin tone hands for them later.  For now they can share the smaller hands I already own.

So who got changed out?


You remember Troy from my earlier post.  He was the first candidate.
Then...

Now!

I now you can't see the hands but there is a difference in the hands and the size of the chest for the larger hand action figures.


One of the things you not when your car is down and you are riding the bus is fashion trends.  The box hair cut is making a comeback.  Who would think it!

Next was Chaka Fattii.  I call him Chaka because I think he look like the actor (Henry Cele) in the Movie Shaka Zulu.   His last name is a play on the name of the local Congressman.

“There is no future without Shaka!”

You might remember seeing this guy in the Airport.  

He got changed out too.  
 He will be the father of a character you have seen.

Oh yeah and this guy!  

He will be one of the college campus hunks!

OK, this is the end of part one.

Thanks For Looking!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

I'M BACk FROM THE FLOWER SHOW!!!

Hey Gang!
I'm back from the flower Show. I left with a clean desk and a mom taken to the hospital.  I spend my time between the show and the hospital.  Mom is home now and I came back to a ton of work at the new job and a few new employees!  Anyway, I enjoyed my self at the show.

There wasn't any dolly things at the show this year.  I had to hunt around in downtown Center City for my dolly fix and I hit my new favorite thrift store too.  I will show you what I got in my next post.  The scout troop I work with did very well at the show.  They entered 7 plants and got 5 ribbons.  They are thrilled! When I upload my Flower Show pictures I will let you know that too. 

I want to show you the highlight of this years flower show.  Visitors to the 2013 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show were invited to show off their own creativity in the new Make & Take Room.  Show guests  made a fabulous “fascinator” – an elegant floral headpiece -- to rival those seen at the royal wedding. For inspiration, the PHS social media team has assembled a Pinterest board (no longer up) on fascinators, including images of extraordinary chapeaus worn by celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Sarah Jessica Parker.  The cost was $10.00!  By the second Saturday of the show, the room had made 40,000.00!  I took a few pictures of ones that I saw.  There were many more fabulous ones there!

This was the first one I saw.  As you walked the floor you saw many women and girls with them on.  It created a buzz! You could use live of artificial flowers. Your only limit was your imagination!

 This is my sister.  She work the Make & Take room most of the show.  She coordinated her fascinator with what she wore everyday.
How do you like this one!
 My friend Holly has her on and a corsage on her wrist too.  We met this lady on the show floor with her's on and took this picture.  
 This one was great too!
 I just loved this one on her!  I took her picture with the queen.
 This one is made from all plant material!

Thanks for looking!
XOXO
Ms. Leo