Monster High Bootleg

EDIT 25.02.2016: I guess the correct term for this would be knockoff and not a bootleg. :P

Sounds legit.

If there ever was a time I've completely wasted my money, this is it. I have absolutely no better excuse than that I purchased it out of curiosity and obscurity's sake. That's it.

front, side, back, side

I found this "Monster Party" doll at a local store's toy section which was overrun by fake My Little Ponies among other things  Oh! and there was also Frozen's Anna and Elsa dolls simply re-branded as "Let it Go" dolls (genius!). I really wish I could have taken some pictures of all the phonies, but store policies.... :\

There was an alternative version of this same doll with a pink & black dress and a purse. You could tell from afar that the pink & black dress was very ill-fitted as it barely even covered the doll's left boob. I chose this dotted orange dress because it at least looked like it fitted the doll and I preferred this one's accessory more that the handbag.

call me crazy, but I love the pattern inside the box

After freeing the doll from the packaging, the first thing I noticed was that there was something wrong with her feet, the shoes just uncontrollably spun around her legs. Removing the shoes revealed the problem, there's just stupid pegs where the damn feet should be. Wait a minute..... My God! This is actually a bootleg Bratz doll disguised as a Monster High doll!? Dun Dun Duuun!!!

I am disgusted now. While inspecting the legs, I couldn't happen to notice that the doll was covered with something. I'm hoping its just harmless dust. I wiped the other leg clean and left the other as it was, and took this picture to show the subtle difference.

This doll was full of other surprises as well. Pulling the hair back revealed some piercing holes, too bad no earrings were included (not a pretty profile btw). You may also notice a few strands of hair growing out of her neck. Charming. The long black hair was pressed against the back of the doll by this rubber band, once I removed it, all the doll's secrets were revealed. A serious case of balding for one,  which is very common with low end dolls like this and the dress doesn't fit perfectly either. Well, at least it looks good from the front.

The face paint doesn't actually look too bad, but what can you expect when they just shamelessly copy pasted a pair of Monster High eyes onto their make-a-quick-buck doll. Speaking of copy paste....

Look at this! I find that vampire Ghoulia kind of cute, but that Frankie clone? Ugh....

This is my BATSTICK! .... Bat wand? What is this?

And then there's this! Count Fabulous what have they done to you? He is now a now a cut in half, stick up his half butt, hollow accessory! And they didn't even bother to color his dress!

Fake McFuggly compared to a genuine Bratzillaz and Monster High doll.

Trying to end this on a positive note, the dress fits Freaky Fusion Scarah Screams quite nicely I think. Can't go wrong with black and orange!

...back in the box she goes! Best 7,45 € ever spent

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to wash my hands.

New Moomin mugs

Here are some Moomin characters I'd like to see get their own mugs one day, although it's very unlikely. Muskrat is awesome! He seriously deserves to have his own mug right now! Other minor character such as Sniff's parent got their own mugs, so why couldn't Snufkin's dad Joxter have one too? Lady of the Cold can be a little tricky, because she never appeared in an illustrated form in the book her story took place, she only appeared in the animated series. Frankly, I would be just as happy to get a mug of that awesome snow horse! The Moomintroll mug is just for the laughs.

Piisamirotta / Bisamråttan / Muskrat

Juksu / Joxaren / Joxter

Jäärouva / Isfrun / Lady of the Cold

Muumipeikko hangessa / Mumintrollet i snödrivan / Moomintroll in the snowbank

Happy April Fools' Day!

Cookies at a time like this? Well, maybe just one.

Moomin ©Moomin Characters/Bulls/Telecable Benelux B.V. 

Coloring Fluttershy

I got my hands on a My Little Pony coloring book and I just couldn't resist scanning a few pictures of my favorite pony out of the mane six and do a little coloring.....

 

....which then lead to this:

unofficial mlp mug

Moomin mugs

Collecting those adorable Moomin mugs seems to be really popular nowadays. I personally own (only) 10 of them. Collecting them all is a lost cause, seeing the prices they go for. But I won't be disheartened! Design Museum Arabia's  Moomin mugs exhibition or  Mugs with a story to tell - Moomin (Mukit joilla on tarina - Muumit) as the real name of the exhibition goes and Ateneum’s Tove Jansson 100th anniversary exhibition left me really enthralled and inspired!

I feel the need...the need for designing my own Moomin mug!!

The already existing mug are cute and all, but sometimes they just feel too nice and kind. The Moomins I remember from Tove Jansson's books and comics were more edgy not in their shape but in their character. Not that there is anything wrong with nice and kind, but you know how a little variation can be refreshing?
I'm just waiting for the day to come when they decide to take Snufkin's pipe away, because showing any kind of smoking is a big no-no nowadays... Think about the children!! For once, let's not think about the children. I give you the Moomin mugs I'd love to own:

Moomintroll and puukko! (Muumipeikko ja puukko) - out of context -

And it comes in different colors! Collect them all!*

(*not actually collectable)

Angostura (Rescue) (Angostura (Pelastus))  -in the right context-

(Angostura is a carnivorous plant, however I do not know what it is called in the English translation.)

-Pottasuti! Senkin vanha rotanhäntärutto! Olet itsestäänkuolleen sian mahanpurupainajainen! huusi Muumi taas heilutellen veistään. Muumi heilutteli veistään ja knips knaps leikkasi irti yhden Angosturan oksista ja jatkoi kunnes pensaasta oli pelkkä kanto jäljellä.

- Oi miten rohkea sinä olet! Niiskuneiti henkäisi.

- Äsh, tämmöistähän minä teen joka päivä. Muumi sanoi.

(lyhennetty) lainaus kirjasta Muumiperheen minikirjasto sarja 2 nro 10:  Muumi kohtaa Niiskuneidin

Ruotsinkielinen alkuteos: Mumin möter Snorkfröken, text by Noomi Herbert, illustrations by Ilkka Ruokola, colouring by Jan Solheim. ©Moomin Characters/Bulls/Telecable Benelux B.V. 

BonnierCarlsen, Suomessa julkaissut Kustannus Oy Kolibri 1993

The illustrations on the mugs are from a children's book "Moomin meets Snorkmaiden" illustrations by Ilkka Ruokola and colouring by Jan Solheim. 1993 ! These mugs do not actually exist. Made for humor purposes only!