What is it? I've heard the word used many times before, but never seen what it means.

Thanks!

she's a type of doll...

originally released by kenner in... 1973 (correct me if i'm wrong)
lasted for one year... due to lack of sales.
her claim to fame is her eye-changing ability... pull a string at the back of her head and her eyes change four different colors and from straight to looking left to straight to looking right.
most people i know think they are creepy but i think they are about the most amazing toy ever created.

They started coming back in... like... 2000... i want to say? popularized by Gina Garan and her photography featuring the dolls. the dolls were re-made by Ashton Drake but weren't too cult-popular due to skin coloration and such... basically people weren't happy with the replica quality...

takara/tomy then took over production and they are released in Japan frequently.... They are a high-price-end doll thanks to the supply & demand us crazy collectors have created. =) but, meh... they're worth every over-priced penny. a big part of the doll collecting is really still centered around photography and customizing.

here's one of my blythe dolls:

Metric Padovana by paumasaur overwhelmed again, on Flickr

it seems like a lot of blythe collectors can be found on flickr so if you just search blythe you can find an endless assortment of photographs...
also ton of other info (probably more accurate) if you google blythe doll <3

There are also little versions that are part of Hasbro's Littlest Pet Shop line. The little ones don't have changing eyes but are still cute.

Wardah wrote:

There are also little versions that are part of Hasbro's Littlest Pet Shop line. The little ones don't have changing eyes but are still cute.

oh, good call. there are also very similar ones called "petite" blythes made by the takara/tomy company (which is somehow part of hasbro or something too...) but the hasbro girls are much cheaper

also takara/tomy makes a middle sized blythe doll called "middie blythe" who is also cute (and also very overpriced... hahaha):

middie + science by paumasaur overwhelmed again, on Flickr

She was made in 1972 by Kenner.

My vintage one :

Wow, you have taken great care of her.

I used to think Blythes were creepy, but they're definitely growing on me. Of course, I'll never be able to afford a real one, so I'm settling for the LPS Blythes for now.

My husband thinks she's as creepy as clowns (and he's really afraid of clowns). I'll probably be selling mine in the next year since I have to keep her in a box because I can't display her with my thousands of other dolls and ponies because of her "creepy eyes". I don't think she's creepy but since he's a really good sport about all my other collecting I can't complain too much!

dIGITS- I really like that yellow hair/wig that yours wears. It's such a cute cut and color.

FairyDust wrote:

dIGITS- I really like that yellow hair/wig that yours wears. It's such a cute cut and color.

thanks! it's Mrs. Retro Mama she's one of my favourites <3

too bad about your husband being freaked out by them I tell my fiance the reason i keep needing more is because otherwise they'll get bored and kill us in our sleep. hahahaha
i just think they are the cutest doll ever created!!!!

dIGITS wrote:

FairyDust wrote: dIGITS- I really like that yellow hair/wig that yours wears. It's such a cute cut and color. thanks! it's Mrs. Retro Mama she's one of my favourites <3 too bad about your husband being freaked out by them I tell my fiance the reason i keep needing more is because otherwise they'll get bored and kill us in our sleep. hahahaha i just think they are the cutest doll ever created!!!!

LOL nice one! I just tell my husband when I get new dolls or ponies in it's because that one was lonely and needed to be with their friends!