I became enchanted with this lovely resin lady when I first joined the hobby back in 2009 but, at that time, getting her didn't seem within the realm of possibility due to both my employment and housing arrangements. Things improved (needless to say) and Ipsae went back on my wish list around 2011, but she was still somewhat of a distant dream because I was nervous of getting a doll in the 70cm range. I really wanted her, but I was scared to spend the money on a doll I might not end up bonding with in the end. The reason for this fear? My very first doll had been a 65cm guy and I hadn't bonded with him at all, so I kind of thought I wasn't a large doll person. Nevertheless, I couldn't get Ipsae out of my head so she stayed on the wish list. I kept saying "Some day I will get her..."
Then, in August 2013, I fell instantly and madly in love with IMPL Gnaeus who looked like he would be perfect as the avatar for one of my characters. I wouldn't exactly say he was an impulse buy, but I didn't hesitate too long before ordering him. He's a really big boy, but despite my initial worries, it turns out I'm a large dolls person after all. Gabriel (Gnaeus) wasn't home very long before he started pestering me about bringing home a friend for him. Since things were working out so well with him, I did some very serious thinking once again about getting Ipsae. I felt really confident that I could bond with another large doll.
I finally ordered my grail doll on 16 February 2014.
Her name is Élise Marie-Claire Perreault.
She walked in like she owns the place, and it's fairly obvious that our castle has finally found its princess.
*****
I apologize for the horrendous photography. This isn't up to my usual standard, but it was raining and dark outside by the time I got home from the Post Office, and the lighting was utter crap. I will post better photos of my beautiful lady at the end. Also, doll nudity warning
Gabriel insisted on helping with Élise's box opening. (She is his beloved, after all.) To give you an idea of the size of this box, Gabriel is 72cm.
Gabriel was pretty anxious to get this box open. He may even have been almost as excited as me!
Gabriel: Can you hurry, please? I don't like the idea of her being in there. It's probably dark, and what if she's scared?
Me: I'm sure she's still sleeping. She won't remember a thing about being in the box.
Gabriel: Are you certain?
Me: Positive. Do you want to help me open it?
Gabriel: Am I doing this right?
Me: You're doing fine. Just be careful.
Gabriel: I'm too nervous! You finish it.
So, I finished opening the box. Here is all the stuff inside. Élise's box is at the bottom, and all the extras are in the bubble wrap packets.
Here are Élise's clothes and a couple of backpacks for her and Gabriel...although I think Gabriel's might be too small for him.
Élise's wig and her default underwear
Something for Gabriel...
Dollmore gave us such cute bonus gifts! The little headbands are, I believe, Yo-SD size or possibly MSD. I haven't tried them on any of my other dolls. All I know for sure is that they're much too small for Élise to wear. The pink thing with the rainbow and teddy bear on it is a pocket mirror and keychain. Dollmore seems to have a thing for keychains.
While I busied myself getting the inner packaging off Élise's box, Gabriel decided to check out all the extras.
Gabriel: This is perplexing. How do you even put this on?
Me: Don't worry, sweetie. I'm sure Élise will show you how she puts it on and takes it off.
Gabriel: *blush* Takes it off...?
Me: *grin* You'll figure it out.
THE BOX!
Gabriel was a little alarmed at what he saw when we took the cover off the box.
Gabriel: Élise? Sapphire, are you sure it's her? There's so much bubble wrap, I can't even recognize her!
Me: I'm certain it's her. Why don't you sit in your chair while I get all this bubble wrap off? You may not want to watch this part.
Gabriel: Why?
Me: Go and read your book. I'll call you when it's okay for you to come back, all right?
It really was impossible to recognize her. I must say, Dollmore does a most excellent job of packaging their dolls for the journey home. She had padding around each of her elbows and knees, and little bubble wrap "mittens" on her hands and feet. It took me ages to get all this bubble wrap off her.
When I first took her out of the box, it was my turn to be alarmed. She was so floppy that she literally bent over backwards in my hand. She was almost incapable of standing on her own and it took me about five minutes just to get her balanced upright...for about two seconds, whereupon she promptly fell over. This shot was an exercise in patience. It took nearly 15 minutes for me to get her to stay up long enough for a photo. At first I was really upset and disappointed, but I've since restrung her with thicker elastic and she's able to stand and sit unaided now. She will still need a bit of hot-glue sueding, but things could be worse.
Dollmore sent her home with a lovely silicone wig cap. Although you can't really see it in this photo, her default eyes are a sort of weird yellow colour.
I changed her default eyes, dressed her and put her wig on. After about ten minutes more of frigging around, she stood for this (admittedly horrible) photo:
Gabriel finally got to come back and meet his beloved "in the resin" for the first time. He was so happy! I think they both look rather smitten.
He is literally holding her upright here.
[/url]*****
♥ BETTER PHOTOS OF ÉLISE ♥
gahh....I am in looove with her! ♥
I calmed down quite a lot after the initial shock of her disabling floppiness and we have bonded over a decent restringing and some retail therapy. She may be getting new wig(s). I do love her default from Dollmore but those giant ringlets are going to be a terror to manage. (Besides, she may want to straighten her hair sometimes)
She's so beautiful I can hardly stand it!
happy♥happy♥happy
...and one with Gabriel ♥
They both look quite smitten indeed!
Although from the size of the box I thought she was going to tower over him!
