November 10, 2024 • 24 mins
Robert Tonner’s fashion doll Lacie Churchill is a movie studio executive who is always red carpet ready. When she is not green lighting Oscar worthy projects at Hollywood’s Momax studios Lacie is outperforming fellow film moguls in the boardroom.
American Sculptor, fashion designer and entrepreneur Robert Tonner has created many exciting dolls during his over 30 year career. Robert launched The Tonner Doll Company in 1991, which became famous for producing fashion dolls, pop culture figures, and collectibles that combined exquisite craftsmanship with artistic design.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to the Doll Podcast.
I'm your host, Louisa Maxwell.
American sculptor, fashiondesigner and entrepreneur,
Robert Tonner has created manyexciting dolls during his over
30-year career.
Robert launched the Tonner DollCompany in 1991, which became
(00:31):
famous for producing fashiondolls, pop culture figures and
collectibles that combinedexquisite craftsmanship with
artistic design.
Robert Tonner, welcome to theDoll Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Thank you, it's great to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Well, it's wonderful to meet you again and I'm very
excited to hear about yourfashion doll, lacey Churchill.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, great, I'm excited about talking about her.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Lacey Churchill's new collection has just been
launched.
It comprises three 16-inchfashion dolls.
One is a basic wig doll inlingerie and two dolls wearing
couture looks.
Robert, your fashion dollcharacters always have a rich
backstory, and I think that'sone of the elements that makes
them fun to dress and play with.
(01:17):
Lacey Churchill is a CEO at aninternational movie studio.
How do these three dollsrepresent her style?
Good?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
question yes, Lacey is the brand new CEO of MoMAX
Studios and the one character,the one in her basic underwear.
You know she's getting readyfor work, but this is her at
home and she's ready to dressfor the day.
The other two, one's a cocktaildress and one's a gown doll and
(01:48):
these represent, you know, likea cocktail meeting she has to
take after work, but alsothere's going to be a lot of red
carpet events and one of thedress dolls is a gold gown and
that represents this.
She's got a new movie to go see.
It's a premiere, so she's onthe red carpet.
So there's a lot ofopportunities in this backstory
(02:08):
to have Lacey go to all kinds ofwonderful places wearing all
kinds of wonderful clothes.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Why did you decide to make her the head of a movie
studio?
I mean, as you said, it's sucha great fashion moment, but what
made you pick that career forher?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
fashion moment.
But what made you pick thatcareer for her?
Well, you know, in a way itkind of goes back to the
original thought about TylerWentworth when I did her way
back in 99, I think it was.
And it was like, you know, shecould be a fashion model or she
could be, but you know, womenhad evolved way beyond that.
So Tyler was, she's, a fashiondesigner, she's designing the
(02:45):
clothes for these models and Ithought Lacey doesn't need to be
an actress going to all thesered carpet events.
She's going to be determiningwho goes to the red carpet
events and she just happens togo along with them.
So of course she's going tohave actress friends or whatever
.
But I love her as running thewhole thing and she runs it.
(03:05):
It's kind of like she getsthrown into it because of a big
scandal at Momax Studios, so Ilove that part of it.
There's always got to be somedrama.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
So what's the drama at Momax?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Well, she's got a boss and her name is January
March, and January has gotcaught in a relationship scandal
with somebody who works at thecompany.
However, it turns out that theguy who works at the company was
also a fraudulent sort of.
He was in it for the money andhe basically excuse the
expressions screwed Momax out ofa lot of money.
(03:46):
So the board kicked January offthe board and they needed
somebody to fill in for her, atleast temporarily, until they
got everything settled, you knowlegally and everything.
So that's where Lacey comes in.
She's the fill-in for Januaryin.
She's the fill-in for January.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
How does Lacey manage , then, to become the head of
the studio?
Does she do such a great job,or does she find a hit movie?
What's the magic ingredientthat gives her that wonderful
step up?
Speaker 2 (04:16):
in her career.
That was kind of an interestingthing working through the
storyline.
So Lacey's been at MomaxX forthree years and she has an
incredible track record.
So she's gone up through theranks very quickly to where
she's, like, the number oneassistant to January March Miss
March and they needed a woman totake over because the board
(04:40):
it's a woman-run movie studioand they can't put a man in that
position or else the presswould eat them alive.
So they take this person who isnot probably quite as
experienced, but they jam herinto this position.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Wow, that's going to be a big challenge.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, that's the fun part of it Throw more and more
stuff at her.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Ah, so I see You're just giving us a taster and then
the drama will evolve.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yes, yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I love the rich backstories and drama that
surround your dolls, for example, your character, ellen Wilde.
There is a really evolvingstory that has just kept getting
better and better, so I thinkthere's the same potential with
Lacey Churchill, isn't there?
Speaker 2 (05:30):
I think so.
One of her good friends is anactress, because they're good
friends.
She's coming out with her firstmovie and she'll be a doll
character, hopefully before toolong.
So I'm excited about all that.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
That's fantastic, because when the dolls have a
strong storyline, like withTyler Wentworth, it just, it
energizes you as a collector,whether you're just dressing it
and posing it, or whether youdecide to sew some fashions, you
know, whatever way you'reinspired.
You know it's quite a while agosince I got my first Tyler
Wentworth, but I stillappreciate the garments for the
(06:07):
whole couture that they are andthis influence of her as a
designer.
It's just.
It really gives the whole thingso much meaning.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
I think it gives a collector a jumping off spot.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Instead of just.
Here's another doll to put.
In my case, you know, I'vealways believed that collectors,
you know, should dollcollectors especially, should,
you know, engage with theircollections and make the
collections their own.
And I think that by having abase storyline that you can add
to is a good way to do it, and Ithink that with Elowen and with
(06:42):
Lacey that's you know, I thinkthat they've got a really strong
backstory.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
They really do.
The Lacey face sculpt has beenused before for limited editions
.
How has her look evolved forthis new series?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Well, actually I came out with the idea of this
character, you know, about threeyears ago maybe it's been that
long and I originally introducedher with a different head
sculpt, and a good friend ofmine she said that I was kind of
proud of it because I thought,I mean, I think it's a pretty
(07:16):
head.
I really do, I like it, it is.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
It's one of the ones I love really do.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I like it, it is.
It's one of the ones I love.
Oh, thank you, but I liked itbecause it was different for me
and I intentionally went into it.
I'm going to make this one looknot like my normal, you know.
So I have this friend and shesays that just doesn't, she
couldn't, she couldn't relate tothe sculpt, and she says this
just doesn't look like your work, which kind of blew me away.
That's what I was going for onone hand, but on the other hand,
(07:46):
you know, I have an identity ofdesign I hope that I think
collectors respond to.
So I rethought Lacey and Ithought I'm going to try to do
Lacey as I see her in my headand redo it.
And so I re-sculpted the head.
So I've only used this head forfour dolls.
One was a limited edition I didfor United Federation of Doll
(08:10):
Clubs this past summer, and thenthe three dolls that are
through Cherished Friends.
So there's only four dolls outthere.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
I first saw the Lacey head sculpt in the original
version and I liked it very much.
It's a very strong look and Iloved it and terrific costume.
And then I saw it again for theUFDC and I was like, oh and.
So, as a collector and assomeone who loves your dolls, I
was really delighted when I'mable to get this from Cherished
(08:37):
Friends because she's awonderful doll.
So the three different dollshave great looks.
First of all, you have thewigged doll and she just comes
in lingerie.
She has a well, it's like awarm brown wig in the photograph
.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Oh, it's kind of a light brown.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, and she just has beautiful makeup.
It's a little bit of a neutralmakeup, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Yeah, like it's like a day, wear makeup.
The other two editions of LaceyChurchill wear gorgeous evening
looks.
The first is Lacey in goldstatement.
The name aptly describes herfloor length gold gown Perfect
for the Oscars.
The second evening look isstargazing a cerise cocktail
(09:19):
dress with statement sleeves.
For evening, Lacey chooses towear her brunette hair in a
sophisticated updo.
Evening makeup calls for highdrama.
Lacey chooses smoky eyes andbold lips to complement both
dresses, but her hair is amazing.
It is such a contemporary updoI mean you'd expect to see it on
(09:40):
one of the really famous modelsthat you're looking at in vogue
now.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Oh, thank you, but you'll see, though, by this
grouping I ordinarily wouldn'tdo two brunette updos in one
release, so there are a coupleof missing dolls here that
didn't get the full way throughdevelopment.
So she's been a project I'vebeen working on for a while, but
(10:08):
it's taken a while to get herout with the new head sculpt and
all this kind of stuff.
So I love these three dolls,but ordinarily I would have had
a redhead in, and you know.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Blonde.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yeah, and a blonde.
Yeah, we got to have a blondetoo.
We got to have a blonde.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Although, if you get the one with the wigs, I have
all my old Tyler wigs.
Absolutely, absolutely you seeif you've invested in this.
Folks Right, you have stuff athome, so I'm looking forward to
the wig doll arriving and tryinglots of different looks.
Lacey uses the new RTB-102 body.
How is this different from theRTB-101 body which you used for
(10:48):
fashion dolls Grace, wonderWoman or Outlander's Claire
Frazier dolls that you did?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
The 101 body has.
It's a more natural body.
I actually sculpted that bodyfrom a live model.
I took a live model scan andadjusted it.
I wanted a realistic body so Iadjusted it.
You know you have to.
I made the legs longer and allthis kind of stuff and smoothed
(11:18):
out the body of course.
But I started I wanted a veryrealistic body but with the 102
body, although she has the samehips, legs, arms and all that, I
changed her torso to nip in thewaist a little bit.
She has a slightly thinner neckand a little bit fuller bust,
just a little bit.
(11:39):
And I did that to be able tobring the waist of garments in a
little bit more.
So you know, I kind of I lovethe natural body but and it
worked great with the Ryan Rochedolls that I did and all that
but and it worked great withWonder Woman.
But I wanted a little bit morepinched in waist and a more
(11:59):
perky bust.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Well, I suppose, if she's going to wear a lot of
evening fashions and very fullskirts.
I mean even if we go back to19th century French fashion
dolls, they deliberately hadtinier waists to deal with all
the fabric and this is alwayswe're always adapting dolls to
make the fashions fall well andlook realistic and look
(12:22):
beautiful.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
So can Lacey wear the wardrobes of dolls with the RTB
101 body like Grace.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Some she can.
It's the hip issue.
She has a little bigger hip andrear end than my other bodies,
like the Tyler body or whatever.
So on the top, to the waist?
Yes, she can, but you have tocheck the skirts and the.
You know a full skirt, noproblem, but skirts and pants
(12:56):
you'd have to check on anindividual basis.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
So she's slightly slimmer or more curvaceous than
Grace.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
It's weird she's slightly smaller on the top but
slightly bigger on the bottom.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Oh, I see, but her waist comes in more, but then I
suppose that proportions out thesmaller waist.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
It gives a kind of a Dior new look to the whole thing
, even though she's a verycontemporary doll.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
I'm okay with that.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Yeah, why not?
So you know when I'm thinkingabout that particular body
sculpt that you use for Graceand that you've now revised for
Lacey, I'm hoping that I havesome beautiful fashions for
Grace and I'm hoping that theywill work on Lacey too.
Grace has this really greatstyle and Rachel Hoffman at the
(13:47):
Virtual Doll Convention.
She experiments so much.
She has vintage clothes forGrace.
She has very classic fittedthings that have a kind of a
royal couture signature.
She just goes and just has sucha flight of fancy and fashion
imagination with that doll.
So what do you think Laceywould adapt from Grace's
(14:10):
wardrobe?
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Well, right now she has to get what she can get
because she has none of her ownclothes.
But we're going to remedy that.
She will have.
You know, we are working on awardrobe and other outfits for
her.
But yeah, Grace is verygenerous, she's very supportive
of Lacey and she's happy toshare her clothes.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Oh, that's going to be really lovely.
When I think about thebeautiful doll stargazing.
It's the one that wears thepink dress and she has the most
amazing shoes In the picture.
They're pink suede and theyhave these tiny bow decorations
but trying to describe them herebut they really look like
something Carrie Bradshaw wouldwear.
(14:55):
I mean, they're beautiful.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Thank you.
Yeah, they are suede-esque andwith a little satin ball.
So yeah, those are fun.
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
And I love it because they're so modern.
They're so just ready to stepout and go somewhere fabulous.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I hope so.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Definitely yes.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
She's got a lot of work to doand she's got to have all those
meetings, so yes, and she's gotall those stars and, ooh, does
she have a special friend.
No, she's been too busy, butI'm sure that will come up soon.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
That could be really fun.
So is Lacey, a limited editiondoll.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yeah, I mean each style will be.
I mean the character is not.
I hope she's going to be aroundfor a long time, but you know
each outfit incarnation will belimited.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Yeah, so the bold statement that's the brunette
doll with the beautiful golddress perfect for the Academy
Awards.
According to my informationhere, that's an addition of 150.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
And then the basic doll.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
The basic doll may be .
You know I may go on with her.
I know we have a couple morevariations on that basic coming
out, so we probably won't donumbers on that.
The other one I believe is 152.
The stargazing is also 150.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
That's the one with the beautiful pink shoes.
All of them have beautifulaccessories.
We're going to have loads ofpictures on wwwdollpodcastcom,
or, of course, you go straightto cherishfriendscom and you can
see the dolls.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Or my Instagram site.
Yes, Tonner Robert at Instagram.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Tonner.
Robert at Instagram is perfect,I have to say, robert.
That's where I found out aboutall this and I was so excited
because I saw these dolls at theUFDC and, of course, being in
Europe, I missed out on it and Iwas on the secondary websites
trying to find one.
And then, when I saw that, Iwas just like and I've just
(17:01):
moved house.
And when you move house, I telleveryone I have a hundred dolls
.
But that's a lie.
And you've packed and unpackedall these dolls and you say to
yourself I'm not going to buyany more dolls, I'm not going to
buy any more dolls.
And then your Instagram pops upI'll just buy one more dolls.
I'm not going to buy any moredolls.
And then your Instagram pops upI'll just buy one more doll.
Oh, rachel's got clothes, maybeI'll order those.
(17:22):
Oh, I'm off again.
There's nothing I can do aboutit.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
It's well worth it.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
We've had such a wonderful conversation about
Lacey.
I'd love to know what'shappening with Elowen and Nima.
They're just looking sobeautiful, all the dolls you've
produced.
Are we looking forward to newdolls coming out, without giving
away any secrets?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Yeah, rachel actually has one coming out at the end
of October which I'm veryexcited about.
There's a group of Elowen andNima coming out at that time I
think four dolls.
But then for early next yearand into next year I have this
theme grouping and I love thisgroup.
It's something I kind ofstumbled on and I'm being very
(18:08):
vague about it because I don'twant to spill the beans?
Speaker 1 (18:10):
No, don't.
Yes, but it's lovely to hear.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
I am so excited about this.
So, yes, we are definitelygoing on with that.
And because I have such greatretailers that work with me, I
mean we have to work in adifferent way than we did when
Tonner Doll Company was inbusiness.
You know, I ship all theproduct to one store, so the one
(18:33):
store has.
You know it's a lot of work fora retailer, but I have such
between Rachel and Virtual DogConvention and Cherish Friends.
I have a great, great group ofretailers.
However, that means I have tofeed them, they have to have
dogs, so it's keeping me busy,which I'm kind of, you know.
(18:54):
I thought I was going to besemi-retired, but I can't do it.
It's too boring.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
You can't, I mean you have to have something that
just inspires you.
And looking at these dolls,looking at the fashions, I just
see the inspiration just glowingfrom them.
Inspiration just glowing fromthem and I just feel this energy
(19:21):
in your designs.
That's just really marvelousand I can't say better than ever
, because that seems so unfairto all the other dolls who I
love so much.
So how could you stop?
Of course, now I believe youdon't have to sculpt every head
individually.
You can sculpt them throughyour computer.
Does that give you more freedom?
Speaker 2 (19:40):
It does in a way, because this way I always
struggled with having a dollfamily look like they came from
the same parents.
You know, it's like they haveto have a similar look.
And you do that by head sizeand feature proportion Different
features but differentproportion and I could do that
(20:02):
easier with a computer, mucheasier with a computer, and I
love that.
And I love to be able to printout a head and see what it's
going to look like before wespend the money for production
and all that.
So I've been very, very happywith how that's worked.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Wow, that's amazing.
So technology really is yourfriend.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Yeah, I was born way too early.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
I'd be all over this AI stuff, so well, in many
respects, I think we're going tobe part of that future too.
I mean that's that seems to bethe way you're planning it.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Well, yeah, I hope so , I hope so.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Definitely I think so .
Do you think AI ever will beinvolved with dolls?
Is there a way?
I know you did a virtualcharacter with your beautiful
model doll?
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah, I think you know, I think it's great for
brainstorming.
I mean, I could do this now.
I could say, you know, I couldgo into like something like
Midjourney.
It's a visual AI, so you giveit a prompt and it spits out a
picture of what you've prompted.
So I could say I'd like, whatwould a doll look like if it was
this and this and this?
(21:09):
And then I get a picture backfor inspiration and I could use
that as a jumping off place tosculpt something.
I believe that it's not goingto be too long before I'll say I
want something that looks likeda-da-da-da-da.
Pick the picture, and thenthere'll be a program that will
be able to do a sculpt of it.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
That is amazing.
So that's going to change.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Yeah, I don't think it's that far away.
I think I mean that's going tochange.
That means that anybody who hasa doll in them will be able to
get it out, and I think that'skind of a wonderful thing.
You know, even if it's foryourself or if it's to
manufacture, that's kind of, youknow, it's a wonderful thing.
So you don't have to rely on mydolls although I hope you do,
(21:55):
but you don't have to rely on mydolls.
Maybe someday you'll be able todo that one doll that would be
perfect for you, that you havein your head.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Well, the doll that would be perfect for me right
now is Lacey Churchill.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
I can't wait until she gets here.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
No, really, really.
I've wanted that doll for awhile and I'm very excited about
it and she's just beautiful.
And with all your dolls, Ialways find they're so easy to
pose, they're so easy to dress.
If you decide to sew for them,you can sew for them, and
especially the wig dolls, youcan change their personality.
But I love this idea that she'sa strong woman, a movie
(22:30):
executive, somebody who has alot of ups and downs and
creative moments and businessmoments and hopefully some
personal drama, because that'salways fun.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
You know, meanwhile gets to raid the closet at the
costume department and go out ina fantastic outfit, an Oscar
ceremony or something like this.
And you know, and you see,that's the little movie that
goes into our heads when we playwith your dolls.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
And that's exactly what I want.
That's exactly how I would hopethat somebody would interact
with dolls.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Robert, your company slogan was all about the power
of play.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
You still keep giving us the joy of the power of play
with these amazing dolls.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
What a nice thing to say.
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Oh well, it's so true , robert Tonner.
Thank you so much for joiningus on the Doll Podcast.
We can get Lacey from CherishedFriends.
That's cherishedfriendscom.
Grace, elowen and Nima are fromRachel Hoffman at the Virtual
Doll Convention and she's alwaysgot an event.
You can find her on Facebook,instagram, everywhere.
(23:43):
Robert, tell us your Instagramagain.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
It's honorrobert at Instagram.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Finally, there's something really great to look
at on Instagram.
Thank you, robert, thank you,sure.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
My pleasure.
Take care, it's a yeah, thankyou, robert.
Thank you, sure, my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Take care.
It's a joy.
Thank you, Robert.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
The Doll Podcast is created by Niche Media
Productions.
Our music is by CelticConspiracy.
Copyright Louisa Maxwell 2024.
All rights reserved.
To find out more about the DollPodcast, go to our website on
(24:29):
wwwdollpodcastcom.
You can also find us onFacebook and Instagram as the
Doll Podcast.
We look forward to welcomingyou next time.
Welcome to the Doll Podcast.
I'm your host, Louisa Maxwell.
American sculptor, fashiondesigner and entrepreneur,
Robert Tonner has created manyexciting dolls during his over
30-year career.
Robert launched the Tonner DollCompany in 1991, which became
(00:31):
famous for producing fashiondolls, pop culture figures and
collectibles that combinedexquisite craftsmanship with
artistic design.
Robert Tonner, welcome to theDoll Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Thank you, it's great to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Well, it's wonderful to meet you again and I'm very
excited to hear about yourfashion doll, lacey Churchill.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, great, I'm excited about talking about her.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Lacey Churchill's new collection has just been
launched.
It comprises three 16-inchfashion dolls.
One is a basic wig doll inlingerie and two dolls wearing
couture looks.
Robert, your fashion dollcharacters always have a rich
backstory, and I think that'sone of the elements that makes
them fun to dress and play with.
(01:17):
Lacey Churchill is a CEO at aninternational movie studio.
How do these three dollsrepresent her style?
Good?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
question yes, Lacey is the brand new CEO of MoMAX
Studios and the one character,the one in her basic underwear.
You know she's getting readyfor work, but this is her at
home and she's ready to dressfor the day.
The other two, one's a cocktaildress and one's a gown doll and
(01:48):
these represent, you know, likea cocktail meeting she has to
take after work, but alsothere's going to be a lot of red
carpet events and one of thedress dolls is a gold gown and
that represents this.
She's got a new movie to go see.
It's a premiere, so she's onthe red carpet.
So there's a lot ofopportunities in this backstory
(02:08):
to have Lacey go to all kinds ofwonderful places wearing all
kinds of wonderful clothes.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Why did you decide to make her the head of a movie
studio?
I mean, as you said, it's sucha great fashion moment, but what
made you pick that career forher?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
fashion moment.
But what made you pick thatcareer for her?
Well, you know, in a way itkind of goes back to the
original thought about TylerWentworth when I did her way
back in 99, I think it was.
And it was like, you know, shecould be a fashion model or she
could be, but you know, womenhad evolved way beyond that.
So Tyler was, she's, a fashiondesigner, she's designing the
(02:45):
clothes for these models and Ithought Lacey doesn't need to be
an actress going to all thesered carpet events.
She's going to be determiningwho goes to the red carpet
events and she just happens togo along with them.
So of course she's going tohave actress friends or whatever
.
But I love her as running thewhole thing and she runs it.
(03:05):
It's kind of like she getsthrown into it because of a big
scandal at Momax Studios, so Ilove that part of it.
There's always got to be somedrama.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
So what's the drama at Momax?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Well, she's got a boss and her name is January
March, and January has gotcaught in a relationship scandal
with somebody who works at thecompany.
However, it turns out that theguy who works at the company was
also a fraudulent sort of.
He was in it for the money andhe basically excuse the
expressions screwed Momax out ofa lot of money.
(03:46):
So the board kicked January offthe board and they needed
somebody to fill in for her, atleast temporarily, until they
got everything settled, you knowlegally and everything.
So that's where Lacey comes in.
She's the fill-in for Januaryin.
She's the fill-in for January.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
How does Lacey manage , then, to become the head of
the studio?
Does she do such a great job,or does she find a hit movie?
What's the magic ingredientthat gives her that wonderful
step up?
Speaker 2 (04:16):
in her career.
That was kind of an interestingthing working through the
storyline.
So Lacey's been at MomaxX forthree years and she has an
incredible track record.
So she's gone up through theranks very quickly to where
she's, like, the number oneassistant to January March Miss
March and they needed a woman totake over because the board
(04:40):
it's a woman-run movie studioand they can't put a man in that
position or else the presswould eat them alive.
So they take this person who isnot probably quite as
experienced, but they jam herinto this position.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Wow, that's going to be a big challenge.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, that's the fun part of it Throw more and more
stuff at her.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Ah, so I see You're just giving us a taster and then
the drama will evolve.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yes, yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I love the rich backstories and drama that
surround your dolls, for example, your character, ellen Wilde.
There is a really evolvingstory that has just kept getting
better and better, so I thinkthere's the same potential with
Lacey Churchill, isn't there?
Speaker 2 (05:30):
I think so.
One of her good friends is anactress, because they're good
friends.
She's coming out with her firstmovie and she'll be a doll
character, hopefully before toolong.
So I'm excited about all that.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
That's fantastic, because when the dolls have a
strong storyline, like withTyler Wentworth, it just, it
energizes you as a collector,whether you're just dressing it
and posing it, or whether youdecide to sew some fashions, you
know, whatever way you'reinspired.
You know it's quite a while agosince I got my first Tyler
Wentworth, but I stillappreciate the garments for the
(06:07):
whole couture that they are andthis influence of her as a
designer.
It's just.
It really gives the whole thingso much meaning.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
I think it gives a collector a jumping off spot.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Instead of just.
Here's another doll to put.
In my case, you know, I'vealways believed that collectors,
you know, should dollcollectors especially, should,
you know, engage with theircollections and make the
collections their own.
And I think that by having abase storyline that you can add
to is a good way to do it, and Ithink that with Elowen and with
(06:42):
Lacey that's you know, I thinkthat they've got a really strong
backstory.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
They really do.
The Lacey face sculpt has beenused before for limited editions
.
How has her look evolved forthis new series?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Well, actually I came out with the idea of this
character, you know, about threeyears ago maybe it's been that
long and I originally introducedher with a different head
sculpt, and a good friend ofmine she said that I was kind of
proud of it because I thought,I mean, I think it's a pretty
(07:16):
head.
I really do, I like it, it is.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
It's one of the ones I love really do.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I like it, it is.
It's one of the ones I love.
Oh, thank you, but I liked itbecause it was different for me
and I intentionally went into it.
I'm going to make this one looknot like my normal, you know.
So I have this friend and shesays that just doesn't, she
couldn't, she couldn't relate tothe sculpt, and she says this
just doesn't look like your work, which kind of blew me away.
That's what I was going for onone hand, but on the other hand,
(07:46):
you know, I have an identity ofdesign I hope that I think
collectors respond to.
So I rethought Lacey and Ithought I'm going to try to do
Lacey as I see her in my headand redo it.
And so I re-sculpted the head.
So I've only used this head forfour dolls.
One was a limited edition I didfor United Federation of Doll
(08:10):
Clubs this past summer, and thenthe three dolls that are
through Cherished Friends.
So there's only four dolls outthere.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
I first saw the Lacey head sculpt in the original
version and I liked it very much.
It's a very strong look and Iloved it and terrific costume.
And then I saw it again for theUFDC and I was like, oh and.
So, as a collector and assomeone who loves your dolls, I
was really delighted when I'mable to get this from Cherished
(08:37):
Friends because she's awonderful doll.
So the three different dollshave great looks.
First of all, you have thewigged doll and she just comes
in lingerie.
She has a well, it's like awarm brown wig in the photograph
.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Oh, it's kind of a light brown.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, and she just has beautiful makeup.
It's a little bit of a neutralmakeup, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Yeah, like it's like a day, wear makeup.
The other two editions of LaceyChurchill wear gorgeous evening
looks.
The first is Lacey in goldstatement.
The name aptly describes herfloor length gold gown Perfect
for the Oscars.
The second evening look isstargazing a cerise cocktail
(09:19):
dress with statement sleeves.
For evening, Lacey chooses towear her brunette hair in a
sophisticated updo.
Evening makeup calls for highdrama.
Lacey chooses smoky eyes andbold lips to complement both
dresses, but her hair is amazing.
It is such a contemporary updoI mean you'd expect to see it on
(09:40):
one of the really famous modelsthat you're looking at in vogue
now.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Oh, thank you, but you'll see, though, by this
grouping I ordinarily wouldn'tdo two brunette updos in one
release, so there are a coupleof missing dolls here that
didn't get the full way throughdevelopment.
So she's been a project I'vebeen working on for a while, but
(10:08):
it's taken a while to get herout with the new head sculpt and
all this kind of stuff.
So I love these three dolls,but ordinarily I would have had
a redhead in, and you know.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Blonde.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yeah, and a blonde.
Yeah, we got to have a blondetoo.
We got to have a blonde.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Although, if you get the one with the wigs, I have
all my old Tyler wigs.
Absolutely, absolutely you seeif you've invested in this.
Folks Right, you have stuff athome, so I'm looking forward to
the wig doll arriving and tryinglots of different looks.
Lacey uses the new RTB-102 body.
How is this different from theRTB-101 body which you used for
(10:48):
fashion dolls Grace, wonderWoman or Outlander's Claire
Frazier dolls that you did?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
The 101 body has.
It's a more natural body.
I actually sculpted that bodyfrom a live model.
I took a live model scan andadjusted it.
I wanted a realistic body so Iadjusted it.
You know you have to.
I made the legs longer and allthis kind of stuff and smoothed
(11:18):
out the body of course.
But I started I wanted a veryrealistic body but with the 102
body, although she has the samehips, legs, arms and all that, I
changed her torso to nip in thewaist a little bit.
She has a slightly thinner neckand a little bit fuller bust,
just a little bit.
(11:39):
And I did that to be able tobring the waist of garments in a
little bit more.
So you know, I kind of I lovethe natural body but and it
worked great with the Ryan Rochedolls that I did and all that
but and it worked great withWonder Woman.
But I wanted a little bit morepinched in waist and a more
(11:59):
perky bust.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Well, I suppose, if she's going to wear a lot of
evening fashions and very fullskirts.
I mean even if we go back to19th century French fashion
dolls, they deliberately hadtinier waists to deal with all
the fabric and this is alwayswe're always adapting dolls to
make the fashions fall well andlook realistic and look
(12:22):
beautiful.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
So can Lacey wear the wardrobes of dolls with the RTB
101 body like Grace.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Some she can.
It's the hip issue.
She has a little bigger hip andrear end than my other bodies,
like the Tyler body or whatever.
So on the top, to the waist?
Yes, she can, but you have tocheck the skirts and the.
You know a full skirt, noproblem, but skirts and pants
(12:56):
you'd have to check on anindividual basis.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
So she's slightly slimmer or more curvaceous than
Grace.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
It's weird she's slightly smaller on the top but
slightly bigger on the bottom.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Oh, I see, but her waist comes in more, but then I
suppose that proportions out thesmaller waist.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
It gives a kind of a Dior new look to the whole thing
, even though she's a verycontemporary doll.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
I'm okay with that.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Yeah, why not?
So you know when I'm thinkingabout that particular body
sculpt that you use for Graceand that you've now revised for
Lacey, I'm hoping that I havesome beautiful fashions for
Grace and I'm hoping that theywill work on Lacey too.
Grace has this really greatstyle and Rachel Hoffman at the
(13:47):
Virtual Doll Convention.
She experiments so much.
She has vintage clothes forGrace.
She has very classic fittedthings that have a kind of a
royal couture signature.
She just goes and just has sucha flight of fancy and fashion
imagination with that doll.
So what do you think Laceywould adapt from Grace's
(14:10):
wardrobe?
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Well, right now she has to get what she can get
because she has none of her ownclothes.
But we're going to remedy that.
She will have.
You know, we are working on awardrobe and other outfits for
her.
But yeah, Grace is verygenerous, she's very supportive
of Lacey and she's happy toshare her clothes.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Oh, that's going to be really lovely.
When I think about thebeautiful doll stargazing.
It's the one that wears thepink dress and she has the most
amazing shoes In the picture.
They're pink suede and theyhave these tiny bow decorations
but trying to describe them herebut they really look like
something Carrie Bradshaw wouldwear.
(14:55):
I mean, they're beautiful.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Thank you.
Yeah, they are suede-esque andwith a little satin ball.
So yeah, those are fun.
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
And I love it because they're so modern.
They're so just ready to stepout and go somewhere fabulous.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I hope so.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Definitely yes.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
She's got a lot of work to doand she's got to have all those
meetings, so yes, and she's gotall those stars and, ooh, does
she have a special friend.
No, she's been too busy, butI'm sure that will come up soon.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
That could be really fun.
So is Lacey, a limited editiondoll.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yeah, I mean each style will be.
I mean the character is not.
I hope she's going to be aroundfor a long time, but you know
each outfit incarnation will belimited.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Yeah, so the bold statement that's the brunette
doll with the beautiful golddress perfect for the Academy
Awards.
According to my informationhere, that's an addition of 150.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
And then the basic doll.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
The basic doll may be .
You know I may go on with her.
I know we have a couple morevariations on that basic coming
out, so we probably won't donumbers on that.
The other one I believe is 152.
The stargazing is also 150.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
That's the one with the beautiful pink shoes.
All of them have beautifulaccessories.
We're going to have loads ofpictures on wwwdollpodcastcom,
or, of course, you go straightto cherishfriendscom and you can
see the dolls.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Or my Instagram site.
Yes, Tonner Robert at Instagram.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Tonner.
Robert at Instagram is perfect,I have to say, robert.
That's where I found out aboutall this and I was so excited
because I saw these dolls at theUFDC and, of course, being in
Europe, I missed out on it and Iwas on the secondary websites
trying to find one.
And then, when I saw that, Iwas just like and I've just
(17:01):
moved house.
And when you move house, I telleveryone I have a hundred dolls
.
But that's a lie.
And you've packed and unpackedall these dolls and you say to
yourself I'm not going to buyany more dolls, I'm not going to
buy any more dolls.
And then your Instagram pops upI'll just buy one more dolls.
I'm not going to buy any moredolls.
And then your Instagram pops upI'll just buy one more doll.
Oh, rachel's got clothes, maybeI'll order those.
(17:22):
Oh, I'm off again.
There's nothing I can do aboutit.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
It's well worth it.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
We've had such a wonderful conversation about
Lacey.
I'd love to know what'shappening with Elowen and Nima.
They're just looking sobeautiful, all the dolls you've
produced.
Are we looking forward to newdolls coming out, without giving
away any secrets?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Yeah, rachel actually has one coming out at the end
of October which I'm veryexcited about.
There's a group of Elowen andNima coming out at that time I
think four dolls.
But then for early next yearand into next year I have this
theme grouping and I love thisgroup.
It's something I kind ofstumbled on and I'm being very
(18:08):
vague about it because I don'twant to spill the beans?
Speaker 1 (18:10):
No, don't.
Yes, but it's lovely to hear.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
I am so excited about this.
So, yes, we are definitelygoing on with that.
And because I have such greatretailers that work with me, I
mean we have to work in adifferent way than we did when
Tonner Doll Company was inbusiness.
You know, I ship all theproduct to one store, so the one
(18:33):
store has.
You know it's a lot of work fora retailer, but I have such
between Rachel and Virtual DogConvention and Cherish Friends.
I have a great, great group ofretailers.
However, that means I have tofeed them, they have to have
dogs, so it's keeping me busy,which I'm kind of, you know.
(18:54):
I thought I was going to besemi-retired, but I can't do it.
It's too boring.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
You can't, I mean you have to have something that
just inspires you.
And looking at these dolls,looking at the fashions, I just
see the inspiration just glowingfrom them.
Inspiration just glowing fromthem and I just feel this energy
(19:21):
in your designs.
That's just really marvelousand I can't say better than ever
, because that seems so unfairto all the other dolls who I
love so much.
So how could you stop?
Of course, now I believe youdon't have to sculpt every head
individually.
You can sculpt them throughyour computer.
Does that give you more freedom?
Speaker 2 (19:40):
It does in a way, because this way I always
struggled with having a dollfamily look like they came from
the same parents.
You know, it's like they haveto have a similar look.
And you do that by head sizeand feature proportion Different
features but differentproportion and I could do that
(20:02):
easier with a computer, mucheasier with a computer, and I
love that.
And I love to be able to printout a head and see what it's
going to look like before wespend the money for production
and all that.
So I've been very, very happywith how that's worked.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Wow, that's amazing.
So technology really is yourfriend.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Yeah, I was born way too early.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
I'd be all over this AI stuff, so well, in many
respects, I think we're going tobe part of that future too.
I mean that's that seems to bethe way you're planning it.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Well, yeah, I hope so , I hope so.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Definitely I think so .
Do you think AI ever will beinvolved with dolls?
Is there a way?
I know you did a virtualcharacter with your beautiful
model doll?
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Yeah, I think you know, I think it's great for
brainstorming.
I mean, I could do this now.
I could say, you know, I couldgo into like something like
Midjourney.
It's a visual AI, so you giveit a prompt and it spits out a
picture of what you've prompted.
So I could say I'd like, whatwould a doll look like if it was
this and this and this?
(21:09):
And then I get a picture backfor inspiration and I could use
that as a jumping off place tosculpt something.
I believe that it's not goingto be too long before I'll say I
want something that looks likeda-da-da-da-da.
Pick the picture, and thenthere'll be a program that will
be able to do a sculpt of it.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
That is amazing.
So that's going to change.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Yeah, I don't think it's that far away.
I think I mean that's going tochange.
That means that anybody who hasa doll in them will be able to
get it out, and I think that'skind of a wonderful thing.
You know, even if it's foryourself or if it's to
manufacture, that's kind of, youknow, it's a wonderful thing.
So you don't have to rely on mydolls although I hope you do,
(21:55):
but you don't have to rely on mydolls.
Maybe someday you'll be able todo that one doll that would be
perfect for you, that you havein your head.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Well, the doll that would be perfect for me right
now is Lacey Churchill.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
I can't wait until she gets here.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
No, really, really.
I've wanted that doll for awhile and I'm very excited about
it and she's just beautiful.
And with all your dolls, Ialways find they're so easy to
pose, they're so easy to dress.
If you decide to sew for them,you can sew for them, and
especially the wig dolls, youcan change their personality.
But I love this idea that she'sa strong woman, a movie
(22:30):
executive, somebody who has alot of ups and downs and
creative moments and businessmoments and hopefully some
personal drama, because that'salways fun.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
You know, meanwhile gets to raid the closet at the
costume department and go out ina fantastic outfit, an Oscar
ceremony or something like this.
And you know, and you see,that's the little movie that
goes into our heads when we playwith your dolls.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
And that's exactly what I want.
That's exactly how I would hopethat somebody would interact
with dolls.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Robert, your company slogan was all about the power
of play.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
You still keep giving us the joy of the power of play
with these amazing dolls.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
What a nice thing to say.
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Oh well, it's so true , robert Tonner.
Thank you so much for joiningus on the Doll Podcast.
We can get Lacey from CherishedFriends.
That's cherishedfriendscom.
Grace, elowen and Nima are fromRachel Hoffman at the Virtual
Doll Convention and she's alwaysgot an event.
You can find her on Facebook,instagram, everywhere.
(23:43):
Robert, tell us your Instagramagain.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
It's honorrobert at Instagram.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Finally, there's something really great to look
at on Instagram.
Thank you, robert, thank you,sure.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
My pleasure.
Take care, it's a yeah, thankyou, robert.
Thank you, sure, my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Take care.
It's a joy.
Thank you, Robert.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Sure.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
The Doll Podcast is created by Niche Media
Productions.
Our music is by CelticConspiracy.
Copyright Louisa Maxwell 2024.
All rights reserved.
To find out more about the DollPodcast, go to our website on
(24:29):
wwwdollpodcastcom.
You can also find us onFacebook and Instagram as the
Doll Podcast.
We look forward to welcomingyou next time.
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