ARTICLES

  Gene's Fifth Anniversary Heralds Banner Year for AD
      Year 2000 line promises to delight collectors -- March 10, 2000

  Joan Greene Speaks at Nashville Dinner
      Joan joins TIGGERS Club as special guest -- August 5, 2000

  Gene Cleaning
      Tips on what works and what not to use to clean Gene and her clothes

  Hayley Puts on the Ritz
      Hayley gets a new look - June 1999
 
 

REVIEWS

  Reviews
      TIGGERS members review the current dolls and outfits
 

Gene’s Fifth Anniversary Heralds Banner Year for Ashton-Drake
©2000 by Kathryn E. Darden
 

New dolls! New characters! New body styles! New costumes! New accessory packs! Retirements! These were the buzz words that combined to mark a memorable 5th anniversary celebration for Ashton-Drake’s Gene during the cornucopia of events that marked this year’s Toy Fair.

In celebration of Gene’s ground-breaking 5th anniversary, the Ashton-Drake Galleries’ all-new 2000 Fifth Anniversary Gene® collection was unveiled at Toy Fair. Collectors were excited to learn their favorite fictional heroin would star in a Western and a Roaring  ‘20s film, as well as attend a Jazz concert, buy a house, travel the world and more. In addition, Ashton-Drake announced that all dolls in the 2000 line will have bendable knees like 1999's Simply Gene. This year’s Simply Gene will feature platinum blond hair which is supposedly easier to style as well as another innovation... a twist waist! Now Gene can really strike a pose!

Starring in a Western, Gene has the occasion to wear “Shooting Star”, a turquoise jacket with matching fringes skirt, western blouse, boots and cowboy hat, as well as “Don’t Fence Me In” which features jeans, boots, and a western shirt. The same movie has Gene appearing in three costumes with a markedly hispanic influence: “Hearts Afire,” “Bolero,” and “Hacienda.” Both “Hearts Afire” and “Hacienda” are full-length gowns while “Bolero” would look right at home in the movie Three Amigos.

For her Roaring 20's flick, Gene wears the breathtakingly sweet bride gown, “I Do” as well as the equally fetching  “Will You Marry Me?” Other hits include “The Perfect Gift,” a smart kelly green suit, and “Jazz Note,” a sizzling black number.

Not only did Ashton-Drake unveil over two dozen exciting new Gene dolls and outfits, but in addition, new accessories have been added including furniture, four terrific hat and purse packs which are certain to be a hit with collectors, shoes and more. A new book by Mel Odum which tells Gene Marshall’s story was also touted during the festivities.

In an announcement which will worry some collectors as well as thrill others, Ashton-Drake also announced that all dolls and costumes will be limited to 5,000 pieces with the exception of some dealer exclusives, which will be even more limited. The other two exceptions are: the Ashton-Drake annual doll, Twilight Rhumba, which will not be limited except by the 2000 calendar year, and the new Simply Gene Platinum which will be an unlimited open edition.

Another announcement that peaked much curiosity was the news that Ashton-Drake is releasing a new character doll to step into Gene’s world, the infamous Madra Lord. Combining “Beauty, Talent and Temper,” Madra, although slightly taller than Gene, is the same scale, so their outfits will be interchangeable. However, there the similarities cease. Gene is sweet and innocent; Madra is bold and brassy, with just a hint of evil in her nature. If you don’t believe me, read the names of her costumes! Madra is a 15 3/4" doll inspired by the more flamboyant and temperamental divas of Hollywood’s golden age. To further pique collectors interest, Madra comes with bend knees and elbows, another first for the Gene collection, as well as her own provocative storyline.

Madra's "story" is of a hard working, self-assured woman who knew what she wanted from an early age - stardom - and she wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to get to the top. Growing up in Milwaukee during WWI, Mabel Lorkovic left the west coast of Lake Michigan for the West Coast, and somewhere between the pines of Wisconsin and the palms of California, Madra Lord was born. Once she hit Hollywood, she slowly worked her way to the top, using her beauty, brains, talent - and guts. Madra Lord reigned as one of the undisputed stars of Hollywood, consistently pleasing fans with her dynamic performances and giving directors ulcers with her volatile temper. But no one could disagree that Madra had what it took and was every inch a star. Who could blame her if Gene's sudden skyrocket to success left Madra green with envy - almost as green as her famous, flashing eyes.

The premiere Madra collection includes "First Encounter," a costumed doll wearing a sumptuous full-length white "mink" coat over a dramatic ball gown; six couture outfits - and a pair of beautifully sculpted white porcelain Saluki dogs (Madra would never own REAL dogs - they shed!). There will also be one limited-edition costumed Madra doll called “Black Widow” with an issue of 2,500 and one limited-edition costume produced, “Highland Fling”, limited to an issue of 3,500. Other ensembles which are not limited included:  Heartless, Catwalk, Devil May Care, So Evil My Love, and Pink with Envy which was reportedly one of Mel's favorite dolls at the 1999 Gene convention competition. Intricate details, from lavish handbeading, fully lined dresses, right down to the seams on the back of her sheer stockings, all add to Madra's appeal.

During the fifth anniversary festivities at Toy Fair, two Gene dolls and three costumes were also retired. “Daughter of the Nile” from the 1998 collection and “Love, Paris” from the 1999 collection were retired along with “Picnic in the Country” (1999), “My Favorite Bow” (1998) and “El Morocco” (1996). Production of “Love, Paris”  and all three costumes ceased at the time of the February announcement. As of May 1, 2000, twenty-two Gene dolls and costumes have been retired.

Within two weeks of Toy Fair, reports were already circulating that most dealers have sold out of their “Black Widow” allotments and that many of the 2000 collection Gene dolls and outfits are getting hard to find as customers order quickly to avoid missing out. In addition, sales have been brisk for the retired items. If you have your eye on a pretty Gene or the sultry LE Madra, this is not the year to sit back and think for very long. With their  LE policy for the 2000 collection, Ashton-Drake has insured high demand for Miss Marshall to commemorate her fifth anniversary.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Joan Greene Speaks at Nashville Gene Club Dinner

 

© 2000 by Kathryn E. Darden

 On August 5 the members of the TIGGERS (Tennessee Internet Gene Group) Gene club hosted a very special guest, Joan Greene, the Director of the Ashton Drake Gene team, at a dinner for Gene collectors in Nashville. Joan filled the evening with enthusiasm, education and entertainment. She regaled us with humorous anecdotes about her hotel in Nashville (Vanderbilt Lowe’s Plaza) where she briefly  interrupted history by trying to get her room upgraded only to discover that another V.I.P. commanded all the top rooms during her stay, V.P. Al Gore, in town to name his running mate. Joan also told us about her afternoon run to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and her thrill upon learning the Secret Employee Exit which took her straight to the doughnuts.

Following these stories came some exciting Gene news. There will be three FAO exclusives this year and Marilu Henner (of “Taxi” and “Annie Get Your Gun” fame) will be appearing dressed as a glamorous Gene in an upcoming FAO catalogue! Joan would not tell us just which outfit would grace the slender Marilu, choosing instead to leave it to our vivid, calculating imaginations!

Joan brought a special guest, and in a move that was so appropriate in Music City, she had Sharon Forrest who helped record the 1999 Gene CD “Menu for Romance” sing three of the songs from the project: “Share the Dream,” “A Kiss to Build a Dream On,” and “Dream.”  As she prepared to sing “Share the Dream” Sharon told us, “If you want to get to know Joan, what she is really like, listen to this song. This song comes from her heart.” It was a rare treat to meet and hear such a lovely lady singing straight off the CD and it makes the CD that much more special to those who attended the dinner to have met Sharon and learned her connection to Joan and “Menu for Romance.”

When Sharon finished the last song and the applause died down, Joan set up the slide projector which had been traveling with me since the wee morning hours and she showed us slide after slide of Gene’s development. We saw slides of a young Mel, of his early artwork and designs, the early prototypes of Gene, then the dolls and costumes, a panoply of history brought to us in living color on the restaurant walls! Joan also brought another “special guest” of the vinyl variety, a rather wicked looking diva dressed in white “mink,” Madra Lord. We all had the opportunity to examine her up close and personal, touch her hair, bend her elbows, admire her gown. We were just girls playing dolls, after all!

The most interesting aspect of Joan’s presentation was her first-hand knowledge and her enthusiasm for her product. To Joan, Gene is not merely a product. This is a woman who LOVES Gene, make no mistake about it. At times she could have been describing a close, personal friend.

Between slides Joan would frequently stop and draw a name as dolls and outfits disappeared from a very large box that had been quite a temptation in my home during its lengthy stay! Priceless, Song of Spain, Twilight Rumba, Gene books, outfits, and more were distributed. Another donor, VirtualDOLLS, had contributed an outfit, hat stands, and a dress form. Marl and B donated another outfit. Nearly everyone won something wonderful. And for those who didn’t win a door prize there were no regrets. Not only did we all share a wonderful evening, but Joan had brought a CD for each of us which she and Sharon signed, as well as a special Black Widow postcard which Joan signed, and everyone received a new hatbox and Twilight Rumba button.

The evening was wonderful, and we presented Joan with a unique wooden box filled with Gene gifts our members had purchased or made. It was a special evening full of fun and laughter and the sharing of gifts, and we all left with the memories of a delightful dinner with a newfound friend. Tank you, Joan Greene, for sharing the dream with us.
 

Gene Cleaning

© 1998 by Kathryn E. Darden

     Gene took the fashion doll world be storm when Premiere, Red Venus and Blue Goddess appeared on the shelves of fine doll and collectible stores, whisking collectors off on a whirlwind tour of Hollywood glamor. However, as a few adventuresome collectors began to exchange Premiere's lovely gown for some new ensembles, they made a heart-breaking discovery. Premiere's dark gown had left its mark on Gene-- literally! Other gowns, jackets, shoes, hose, gloves, and handbags also were found to leave stains on Gene. A partial stain list includes: Night at Versailles - gloves,  Crescendo, Blonde Lace - trousers and shoes, Sparkling Seduction, Midnight Romance, Embassy Luncheon - stole and gloves, El Morocco - (later versions are lined in pink to avoid this, but although the pink lining doesn't stain, the dark thread holding the outfit together has), Tango, Good Bye New York - blouse, Pin Up,  Crimson Sun - swimsuit thread and gold shoes, all black pantyhose and shoes, Destiny - shoe ribbons, Premier, Ransom In Red, and even Incognito reportedly produces a dark red stain where her shoulder meets her torso and a vague red outline of the low back of the dress.  Joeanne Van Vranken AKA "Rocket J" is maintaining a running tally of Gene items know to stain. Please contact her with any staining news or tips: http://hometown.aol.com/joannee101/gene.htm
     Marsha at "Jewels For Gene"  says she found a stain on the back of the hip of her Pin Up. "It’s grey-black, from her teddy." Other than lining the teddy with white voile, Marsha says she was afraid to try anything else yet. Linda Keenan reports, "The only one of my dolls I have noticed has stains is Premiere. She has minor staining on both arms - probably 1/8" to 1/4" long from the stripes on the inside of her jacket.  I have been afraid to clean her though for fear I will harm her in some way.  The stains are black.  I have undressed her to prevent further damage."
      To be on the cautious side some people give the outfits a vinegar rinse to set the dye before putting them on.  The "recipe" is 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts cool water. Soak the outfit for a 1/2 hour and then let dry. Caution: the vinegar soak can actually ruin certain fabrics and should be done with great care. If possible, test it on a small swatch in an obscure place first.
     Some collectors also discovered to their dismay that Geneís earrings were starting to leave traces of that bane of all Barbie collectors, green ear. Whether it is dark clothing or the reaction of the vinyl with metal earrings, staining is obviously a concern of Gene collectors.
     Since Gene was only introduced in recent years to collectors, these stains have only begun to show up recently. No treatment methods have been fully tested yet on Gene. To gain some perspective on the pros and cons of treating Gene, it is necessary to study the results of different cleaning methods on her predecessor, Barbie®.
     When I rediscovered the joys of fashion doll collecting after most of my original childhood Barbie collection was stolen, the first thing I did was to take stock of my remaining Barbies. One of the dolls stored in my closet was a beautiful mint TNT, but to my horror, I discovered I had left the earrings to one of her original outfits in her ears, and while she had still had beautiful, thick eyelashes, lovely mint makeup, shiny, mod hair, and even her original orange hair ribbon, she also had large green spots on both sides of her head.
     Soon afterwards I discovered Millers Fashion Doll Magazine, and one of the first articles that caught my eye was written by Nicholas Hill in Millers  extolling the virtues of using Remove-Zit on the problem called green ear. Eagerly I ordered his products, and as soon as they arrived, I poured over the instruction sheets provided as well as re-reading the article in Millers. I wanted to make sure I did everything right to restore my beautiful girl to her original glory.  One thing that gave me confidence was Hill's claims in the instruction sheet that Remove-Zit was safe and harmless to use, even on synthetic hair:
   REMOVE-ZIT will not harm or discolor human hair, mohair or synthetic hair. As a matter
   of fact, the product has been used successfully to remove copper metal stains (from a bobby pin) from the hair of a blond Barbie®.
     Another confidence builder was an article in the Winter 1996 issue of Millers where writer Virginia Walker says she successfully used Remove-Zit on a White Ginger bubblecut. However,  she did note that the doll must be protected against the fumes from Remove-Zit damaging the eye paint, so I was careful not to get the chemical on Barbie's paint.
     Week after week I faithfully applied a small amount of Remove-Zit to the affected area.  Hill's literature did say it might take several weeks to remove all the color, so I kept the treatment up for more than three months.  I tried to keep it out of her hair as I didn't want to even have to wash her lovely locks for fear of disturbing her all-original hair-do. However, occasionally over the two months in which I applied the product, a small amount would get into her hairline. I was not overly concerned; after all, the product was clearly billed as safe for synthetic hair. A little more than three months after the first application, I made a horrifying discovery; Barbie's hair had become brittle and appeared to have dissolved at the hair line! My beautiful girl was loosing hair behind her ears on both sides where I had applied the Remove-Zit. In addition, not only had the treated area begun to bleach, but the Remove-Zit was bleaching out areas of the dollís face BEYOND the points where I had applied it!
     Immediately I wrote Mr. Hill requesting an explanation and asking if he backed his product up with any guarantee if something did go wrong. He sent back this reply:
      Dear Kathryn,
      REMOVE-ZIT is an efficient stain remover...no more no less. It does not damage natural or
      synthetic fibers.
      Even though the successful use of REMOVE-ZIT to remove metal stains and oxidation from
      natural and synthetic hair fibers is documented in both Barbie magazines we have never recommended the product for this use.
      Sincerely,
      Nicholas Hill
    And although Hill's literature proclaims that his products come with a "money back guarantee," I was offered no refund.Moreover, even though I used Hill's other product 911, recommended to remove the RZ as soon as I discovered the damage, the bleached area spread after I discontinued the treatment.
     From that point on I began a quest for a knowledge, a quest to discover exactly what DOES work on treating stains on dolls if not Remove-Zit. I began to poll people on the Internet, dealers, and anyone else who would answer my surveys,  and I made a startling discovery. There is NO perfect cure for treating stains on dolls. Furthermore, people were highly polarized, as you will discover, in two equally passionate camps: those who recommend Remove-Zit and those who rave about TarnX. I also discovered some interesting alternative stain solutions.
      To first understand why treating stains is so difficult, we need a brief lesson in the chemistry of staining.  The problem begins with a characteristic of the material used in making vinyl dolls like Gene and Barbie. Polymers ("poly" means "many") exist out of very huge chains of small parts called the monomers. If you have a piece of plastic, it consists of very large ìmacroîmolecules, which are 1,000,000 times larger then normal molecules like water or copper (compare it with a mouse in the Empire State Building).  The head of a  Barbie doll is made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)  and is made from a melted form cooled down to a solid form (thermoplastic). Gene is of similar vinyl construction.
     On an electronmicroscopic level, Gene's vinyl is very porous. There is a lot of space left for other small particles. If you were the size of a water molecule -- or a copper molecule, you could easily walk through your Gene's head! Inside the vinyl you would find the particles that give the flesh color on the head. The manufacturers also put in various other compounds like softeners or plasticizers to make the vinyl flexible, or  else the head and limbs would become brittle and could break easily.  In time the copper in Gene's earrings starts to oxidize. This happens as it forms copper oxide in combination with the oxygen in the air. This is the same process that causes tarnish on your brass and silver.  These small copper particles dissolve into the plasticizer and penetrate very easily into the porous vinyl of the head, especially of a TNT Barbie, and to a lesser degree into the other types of vinyl used for torsos, arms and legs. Since the plasticizer "migrates" through the vinyl, once it has absorbed a stain (such as green copper oxide), the stain travels through the vinyl, too. When you give these particles 30 years to travel through the vinyl, they can find their way easily into the head and go deeper and deeper into the surrounding material.
     Riny Janszen does research at the University of Twente in The Netherlands at the Department of Chemical Engineering and studies the characteristics of macromolecules.  "In this group we study how to make new polymers and also study the behavior in all the materials, topics like strength, lifetime, costs, influence from the environment etc."  Riny, whose job requires skill in mathematics, physics and chemistry, says,  "Most cleaning solutions are developed to clean and polish only the surface of stiff materials, i.e.  metal and not really for cleaning the porous plastics.  They all work on the same kind of reaction: with the use of a solvent, the green colored copper oxide is changed back into copper that is more or less yellow in small amounts. It can also become any of a number of other copper compounds. Then the loose particles have to be removed by polishing. Polishing is not possible with our dolls, so we can only get out the particles on the surface easily, and those which are in deep are nearly impossible to reach. That is why it takes so long to work on green ear. Even if the particles are reached eventually and reduced, they don't come out. So it is not so strange that after some years these particles start to oxidize again and turn into green again."
     Riny explains that Tarn-X is based on ureum in an acid environment (acidified thiourea).  In acid methods the (oxidized) metal particles become dissolved and turned into a salt compound. "This is probably the white powder that comes out of the heads after a while, but I'm not quite sure about this," says Riny.  "It is also not very aggressive to the plastic fibers but it might affect the color tones."
     The Remove-Zit label says it is made from an organic peroxide. If there is any form of peroxide involved in a product, it will also attack parts of the plastic chains in our doll heads, according to Riny. "Peroxide is highly aggressive," she says. "Indeed this causes swelling and it bleaches the colors!!"
     In other words, the main problem is that most products used to treat green ear and other stains are not made to do the job and have too many unwanted side-effects. Furthermore, the formed compound will stay in the vinyl and returns in its former state after time as the different chemicals migrate in the plasticizer.  The environment in Geneís vinyl is more or less unstable because there are so many particles and compounds present. Therefore, the green ear can be temporarily shifted but not permanently solved and what will happen with other stains is simply not known yet.
     The good news is that the Gene stains we are treating today are not 30-years-old like the problem with Barbie and green ear. The bad news is we do not know what effect the treatments will have in five, ten or 30 years time on Gene. Also, some collectors feel that Geneís poly vinyl makeup has changed in the last couple of years resulting in the phenomena knows as "gumby leg." This could mean what worked on Gene two years ago may have a different chemical reaction this year.
     Upon deciding to research this staining problem I decided to first to call Ashton-Drake's customer service line. I asked the operator who answered the phone what methods they recommended for cleaning stains on Gene. She replied that AD recommends the dolls be cleaned with mild soap and water. I asked her what they recommended for the stains that came about as a result of her dark outfits, and she seemed caught off guard and put me on hold. She came back and told me that they recommend Removes-Zit. I inquired what results collectors had experienced with RZ, and she responded that she didn't know. When I asked how I could find out, I was told to call back in 1/2 hour for Wendy Solomon.
     Wendy graciously agreed to let me interview her for the HLAYG newsletter. She said that she always recommends RZ for stubborn stains. I asked her if she was aware that RZ had damaged many Barbie dolls, and she responded that she had never heard that. She did say that she always cautions people not to panic if they notice the area around the stain getting paler as the stain is treated with RZ. Wendy claims that this is just a temporary swelling caused by the action of RZ on the stain and she says it goes away in a few days. She was surprised to learn that in some Barbie dolls the swelling NEVER goes away. According to Wendy, out of many times recommending RZ to Gene customers, no one has complained yet about any side effects. I asked her if she had ever heard of anyone using lemon juice or vinegar, treatments I had read about on the AD Gene forum, and she chuckled and said she had not heard of these treatments and doubted they would work.
     To give us an idea of what cleaning agents like RZ can do, positive and negative, I polled some Barbie restorationists, dealers and collectors. Out of the twenty-five people who responded to my request for green ear feedback, five favored Remove-Zit; ten recommended TarnX; four mentioned Clearasil, Oxxy-10, and plain Hydrogen Peroxide;  two suggested TarniShield, two had mixed feelings, and a couple of other methods were thrown in.
     One defender of Remove-Zit was Ryan Karp who does restorations for Kitty Stewart. While Ryan states Remove-Zit is "terribly slow,"  he attests,"It seems the best thing to use." He follows that up with a disclaimer; "I don't recommend it on TNT's. Nick Hill says it bleaches the green ear out and then you can color it with those little pens he mentioned in his article, but I don't even get that far. I've done it for six months and never got it out enough where I could even try to recolor it."
     From Shawnee, Kansas, Jana LeBlanc tried brightening a Barbie dollís lemon hair with Remove-Zit. ìI did not cover the face or use vaseline and sure enough, the cream touched the brows and they wiped off when I was removing the cream.î Jana also discovered Remove-Zit was very hard to get out of the hair, and when she did finally remove it after repeated washings, the dollís hair was never as soft again; even after conditioning the dollís hair was limp and lifeless. The roughness  dulls the hair to the eye,  so it is visible." Jana's final treatment involved a NRFB Lemon Swirl with massive green ear that she spent about four months treating at least every third day. The green was very dark to begin with and paled considerably, but was still visible and Jena noticed that the tan-toned area around the green paled somewhat as well.
     One restorationist stated, ìTo be honest, I have tried Remove-Zit and I have not found that it lived up to my expectations. I really think Remove-Zit came across as something everyone was waiting for and I have yet to see it have good results. It makes the dollís vinyl expand and makes her look puffy like she has mumps.î Respected Barbie® doll dealer Marl Davidson also mentioned problems with Remove-Zitís effects saying, ìMy experience with Remove-Zit has been unsuccessful!  Your doll parts swell and get bumpy when used on the body and it can change the dollís eye color when you use it near the face."
     An Internet site that is frequently visited is Nancy Coogan's Beanies and Barbies. Nancy, who has been collecting Barbie® dolls for over seven years and dealing with the green ear problem for the same amount of time, vehemently writes, "I STAY AWAY from Remove-Zit - it does nothing but turn the ears brown." Penny Carenza from Fair Lawn, NJ, responded to my survey on Pink Chat by telling me, "I remember a while back someone did a story on green ears and it turned out to be a commercial for Remove-Zit.  I tried that stuff once and it made the doll's head and cheeks swell up so that it looked like she had the mumps. Never will I use that product again."
     TarnX fared better in poling collectors, but it did not escape criticism. While some contributors were enthusiastic, as with Remove-Zit, most TarnX users offered cautionary notes. One collector who gave TarnX her blessing was Marl Davidson. "I have been treating green ears for over ten years now, and I can tell you this, I favor TarnX, and persistence is everything!!!!  I have tried every other product, but TarnX seems to work the best for me."  Nancy Coogan raves, "TarnX works wonderful for me. I have used it for seven years and have only done damage to two dolls - both due to my own stupidity. I have found the only dolls that TarnX will not work on are, of course, TNT's (nothing works on them yet) and the dark-faced, suntanned dolls from 1964-65."
     Other disadvantages to TarnX were mentioned. Ryan Karp says he bought his first bubblecut back when TarnX was the only thing out there. "I treated her with the TarnX and completely removed the green ear, and I put it in a showcase. In three years all the green ear was back. I have a friend who bought a ponytail and the same thing happened. I guess it is some sort of time thing, but the green ear seems to always come back." Another restorationist who had some misgivings about TarnX noted, "TarnX smells bad, and is wet and messy. If you treat a doll with her original hairdo with green ear, you almost canít keep the hair in the original wraps."
 One product, TarniShield, left a white shadow. TarniShield for copper is a flesh-tone cleaner. It eradicates the green, but every couple of weeks it gets a white powder residue called ìthe white shadow." One restorationist claimed,"I used TarnX and it didnít get all the green out and then I used TarniShield and it brought all the green back!" He cautions, however,  "You don't want to mix your chemicals, although supposedly you can use Remove-Zit after you use TarnX if you wash the head first."
     Clearasil earned high marks for ink spot removal. Dab a little on the ink stain and lay it out on a window sill in the sun which acts as a bleaching agent until the spot goes away. This might be a matter of hours or a few days. Used this way, Clearasil has no bad effects.  Oxxy-10 was also recommended for ink spot removal, used basically the same way as Clearasil. A combo treatment for green ear using Clearasil has been used successfully by Marl Davidson. "In the very beginning, I sometimes use Clearasil with a bright light focussed on the green area, then do the TarnX treatment.  I thought if I put Clearasil on the ears first and then put the head under a bright light, it would help start the de-greening, and it did. I left it overnight, checking it frequently. The next day I applied the TarnX and did the usual treatment of applying TarnX to cotton balls and placing this on the affected area.  Try to change the cotton everyday and apply a fresh application of TarnX daily. This system worked quite well as all the green came out of the ears on this particular doll." Other alternate treatments were mentioned including CLR, the Calcium-Lime-Rust used to remove tub stains, and a product called DD7 available in the laundry department at K-mart and other retailers.
     Ultimately, a combination of chemicals may be the best solution for treating green ear and any hard to treat stain.  The peroxide in Remove-Zit is absorbed by the polymers in the vinyl and can expand vinyl as itís working, according to Riny. If left on too long, Remove-Zit can leave a bulge or lump. Since Remove-Zit takes so long to work, a combination method that allows you to get rid of the green first through Tarn-X, and then remove the brown stain left by Tarn-X through the slower-acting Remove-Zit, shows some promise. The premise is using the Remove-Zit for a shorter time will keep the vinyl from swelling. Chemical experts warn that this method might not be permanent, either, and at some point a stain may still creep back.  Important! Make sure the Tarn-X and the Remove-Zit DO NOT TOUCH!
      What about my problem with the dissolving TNT hair? A number of people noted that treating a dollís hair with Remove-Zit resulted in signs of hair damage: dryness, brittleness, dullness, loss of texture, etc., and one collector, Donnie Tassey, found this product dissolved the hair of a vintage Skipper he was cleaning.
 If I may digress for a moment, there is a danger in letting the manufacturer of a product also be the resident expert on the subject. Mr. Hill cannot be called objective in his Millers articles on the Twin Pine products since he apparently owns and/or runs the company. He also has written some alarming articles on the damage caused by leaving dolls and clothes in their boxes, and then he encourages his readers to purchase special acid free papers... which, conveniently, he also sells. While I have seen newspaper eventually turn brown and brittle due to the acids in the wood products, I have yet to see a box that is such a vacuum that any ìpaper fumesî cannot disperse. Any Barbie collector would be thrilled to find a Barbie that has been stored in her box for the past 40 years. Rather than damaging the doll, the protection offered by her box will ensure her value. I am a deboxer by nature because I enjoy my dolls more that way, but if you enjoy leaving your dolls and clothes in the box, enjoy! Just check periodically for disintegration of rubberbands and the tape and twist ties that hold the doll or clothes in place, but acid free papers wonít prevent this process. Unless you have an exquisite heirloom made of a fragile, pale, gossamer fabric, I would not worry about buying acid free papers.
     In conclusion it is apparent that the porous vinyl used to give Gene her beautiful porcelain appearance also absorbs stains easily. With Gene we have the advantage of catching these stains early before they have had a chance to migrate with the plasticizer. The amount of plasticizer used to keep Gene from being brittle does not appear to be as much as is used in Barbie, and it is my opinion the plasticizer is one of the main culprits involved in making these dolls difficult to treat. However, as AD continues to try new methods to manufacture Gene, any new chemicals used such as the combination that produced ìgumby legsî might produce a different effect when cleaning agents are applied. Use extreme caution when using anything more volatile than mild soap and water. Test any product first on a small, hidden area. Watch the treated area closely, follow directions religiously, and remove the cleaning agent frequently to see what is happening to the treated area. Donít use anything strong or experimental on the face or hair. Keep reading publications like the HLAYG newsletter, Barbie Bazaar and Miller's Fashion Magazine. As more and more people work with these cleaning agents, we will become more knowledgeable about the best methods to treat Gene and the stains that plague her.
     Perhaps the best treatment is simply prevention. If you are storing your Gene for a lengthy period of time, take the precaution of removing her earrings and dark clothing. If you are handy with a needle and thread, perhaps lining the dark areas in a light fabric will eliminate staining. Any time you find a stain, contact Ashton-Drake. While Wendy was aware of the problem with Monaco, and AD has taken the precaution of now lining the outfit in a light fabric, Wendy had never heard that the dark thread might leave a stain. As AD learns from its customers which outfits stain, they are taking measures to prevent the problem. Perhaps they will also make changes in the composition of her vinyl.
     As Miss Marshall evaluates her next role, perhaps she will consider the theatre and a stint doing Shakespeare. She would indeed make a wonderful Lady Macbeth as she wrings her hands and cries-- with FEELING, "Out, out damn spot!"
 
Parts of this article have appeared in Barbie Bazaar and in the HLAYG newsletter
 

Hayley Puts on the Ritz
©1999 by Kathryn E. Darden

    Hayley made her brief appearance in November of 1998  as the first clone of the extremely popular fashion doll, Gene. Although Hayley moved slowly in the stores, after she was been pulled from the shelves of Toys "R" Us (TRU) pending the results of a lawsuit filed by Ashton-Drake, her value soared from $29 and $39 per doll to up to $140 for certain versions.
     Gene collectors had various experiences with Hayley who turned up as a test market in only a few TRU stores in the Eastern United States. Most collecters who bought Hayley bought her to customize or to use as a mannequin.
     One person who has used Hayley for customizing is designer Jonell Belke. When Jonell is through with a Hayley, she rivals even Gene. A designer of doll fashions most of her life,  Jonell started sewing clothes for her own dolls when she was young. This passion for design grew into a business about six years ago as an outgrowth of friends wanting her custom designs.
     "I focused on Gene about a year and a half ago because I like her 40's look and her scale," Jonell says. "My inspiration comes from liking beautiful things and one expression of beauty is in fashion.  Fashion for Gene and other fashion dolls can become an art form." Jonell says she gets her inspiration from many sources including movies, magazines and books.  "A piece of fabric can inspire me to create a beautiful design or a piece of vintage jewelry."
     When Jonell first heard about Hayley on the Ashton-Drake Forum, she thought Hayley had possibilities if she was restyled and re-painted. "She has a more contemporary look than Gene which is a refreshing change." Jonell acquired some Hayleys through online sources and the results are posted on her site for viewers to see.
     This exotic Hayley was formerly a plain Leopard Hayley, transformed into an aqua-eyed vixen, complete with eyelashes, shadow, and luscious red parted lips that look very chic. Her hair has been restyled into a modified French twist which can be easily taken down to reveal her chin length hair in its original style. She comes with a wardrobe that also fits Gene, and Jonell says she probably wouldn't mind sharing with Gene.
     The ensemble comes with the beautiful red formal shown here with straight skirt and peplum halter top lined in gold lame'. There is a red sequined hat to wear with the gown.
     The boucle' suit is a very soft, nubby texture and fully lined in gold lame'. It has shaded stripes of brown, taupe, gold, cream, etc. There is a four-crystal lapel brooch on the jacket as well as on the gown at the waist. The set includes "suede" slacks in brown/taupe to wear with the jacket.  There are multiple chanel type chains, earrings, gold gloves, gold leather crystal embellished pumps, gold leather handbag, and a dramatic feathered hat in beautiful brown and gold feathers. She also has a matching pill box hat of the suit fabric, scarf that can be tied around the head, neck, waist or held. The entire set is $285 and all the ensembles also fit Gene!
     Hayley is not the only doll benefiting from Jonell's Pygmalion touch; Jonell does wonder with the already glamorous Miss Marshall. To create Sirene Gene, which she calls "kind of an off beat look for Gene," Jonell took a Sparkling Seduction Gene, popped on a wig, and dressed her in a black lace spandex bra and pants. "The pants can be pulled down for more of a hip hugger look and pushed up for a pedal pusher look." The sheer netted gold gown is long sleeve with scoop neck and fitted straight skirt. Jonell tops off the set with gold dangle earrings and two double row crystal bracelets as well as black suede pumps.
     Gene makes a grand entrance in "Spun Gold", a designer gown/ensemble for Gene modeled by a restyled Destiny. The fabric is vintage woven gold knit shot through with gold and silver metallic threads in oval designs. "There is maximum sparkle on this very rich looking fabric," says Jonell.  Fully lined in gold lameí, the gown features an asymmetrical look with a long sleeve accented at the cuff with scalloped clear glass and gold seed beads. One shoulder of the gown has a capped sleeve accented with a sparkly crystal brooch.
     Jonell's piece de resistance in the Gene remake department is the incredible re-root she has aptly named Diva with her mysterious off-the-shoulder black net overlay dress and fiery red tresses. I want this doll!
 You can find Jonell's work at the Just Her Style web site or email her at [email protected].
     Stacey Macchia is another talented doll customizer who has also selected Hayley as a palette. Claiming she is not a seamstress, Stacey enjoys repainting, styling hair, making accessories and sculpting much more than sewing. However, she admits, "Occasionally I will do a one of a kind custom Gene that requires me to make a special outfit, but I do not use patterns; I simply cut and drape." Stacey started customizing shortly after she received her first Gene doll in February of 1998. She is enthusiastic about Gene and owns close to 20 Genes as well as three Hayleys. "I do not repaint my own Genes as a rule, but my Hayleys got make-overs as soon as they arrived here!" Stacey claims that most people who visit her home like her redone Hayleys better than Gene.
     To give Hayley her glamorous look, Stacey took a Blue Jersey Hayley and removed the original paint with acetone. She then repainted Hayley's features using acrylic paint and a very fine 18/0 artist's brush. "I gave her brighter eyes, fuller luscious lips, darker make up and feathered eyebrows. I love doing the hair on Hayley, especially Blue Jersey; she has so much wonderful hair to work with!" Stacey washed and conditioned the hair; then, using hair gel, end papers, drinking straws cut to about an inch long, and bobby pins, rolled and set her hair. "I then dipped her head in just-boiled water for about a minute. After her hair cooled, I unrolled it, let it dry, and added a braid that I made out synthetic hair in a matching color." Lashes were added last. Stacey used human hair lashes that can be bought at any beauty supply store and glued them on individually. She says Hayley's vinyl is much too hard to root lashes on. "Although Hayley is a great doll in my opinion, she definitely lacks something in the facial screening. Very bland. A little paint and some drinking straw curlers can make a huge difference!"
 You can see Stacey's work at the La Petite Boutique's web site or email her at  [email protected]
      Within a couple of days after my first Hayley article showed up in the April issue of Barbie Bazaar, Nashville dealer Rai-Lynn Woods informed me a Barbie Bazaar reader had called her trying to find the dolls I mentioned seeing in the Toys "R" Us here. After readers see what a talented customizer can do with Hayley, Rai-Lynn better install a second phone line. Better yet, cross your fingers with Jonell, Stacey and me as we wish for a happy resolution to the lawsuit, hoping that Hayley, even with modifications, will make her appearance again soon on the shelves of Toys "R" Us.
 

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