Before Night Falls

Perhaps it’s a living room, maybe a kitchen or a balcony that faces west and every day, while we’re in situ, that fortunate space transforms as the magnificent sun commences its descent into the horizon. Glowing light effects turn the familiar into the magical as red, orange and deep yellow saturate our vision and our minds. The power of a sunset.

For this late July 2026 entry, Dolldom plays with the concept of sunsets, but instead of in interiors, out in nature, preferably while standing on a bluff overlooking the ocean or, if inland, a valley green. Impossible not to stop, stand, and, while in the moment, thank the Graces for the opportunity of another day, a day that, as we watch, has begun its closure and is turning into night.

And who better to invite on this exploration of time than PetWORKs’ momoko and NINE dolls? Dressed in a wide variety of styles, our friends from Japan enjoy the sensations, the thoughts, and the loving company of each other while fully aware of the brevity of the dream.

Today’s momoko 24fs in a vintage jacket by Sekiguchi and slacks by Momokomono

momoko ver.01AT dons a beautiful print dress by Kosucas while PetWORKs Boys B2405 NINE models a shirt by its parent company and beige slacks by Cindy Marut. 

momoko ver.02CM challenges the sunset in a colorful dress by SquishTish, made for fun and sun. PetWORKs Boys, B2410 PS NINE is handsome in separates made by his parent company for the EIGHT doll. 

Today’s momoko 24fs loves wearing Sekiguchi's "More Than a Best Friend" dress and a 1960's straw hat, also made in Japan. 

PW Boys, B2508, NINE is comfortable in jeans by Cindy Marut and a tank sweater by PetWORKs. 

 Today’s momoko 22ss evokes a mermaid in a silky mini dress by SquishTish. The blue lace collar mimics the foam of the waves. 

But...so much can a sunset last before the darkness of night reigns supreme. 

CCS 26SS momoko is a sprite made of starlight in an unlabeled dress made for Licca-chan and found on e-Bay. 

If at all possible, may you enjoy the sunset today too. 

Cindy Marut

PetWORKs Global and Japan

SquishTish

Kosucas on Etsy

Forever Lace

Almost 14 years ago, Dolldom had the honor to host a friend's Lace doll for  photography. The entry, titled "What Ever Happened to Lace?", aimed to celebrate not only the doll but the concept that her creator, Ann Sullivan, had presented to dollectors during the last decade of the 20th century. Lace, as created by Sullivan, was, already in 2012, a mythical creature that only a few dollectors were lucky to enjoy. 

Fast forward to 2025 and Sullivan's Lace is ready to fulfill the dreams of many with a new version recreated by artist Joey Versaw, creator of Miss Mary doll. Dolldom sat down with Versaw recently for an interview while production of an exclusive photo portfolio was underway. 

Dolldom: Tell us a bit more about your connection with Lace and her creator Ann Sullivan.

Versaw: In 1992, a new icon emerged. Ann Sullivan, a mother of four and artist, felt unfulfilled by the existing fashion dolls available, prompting her to create something unique. Thus, Lace was born. Meticulously hand-sculpted and cast in resin within her home, Lace quickly captured the hearts of many, marking the dawn of the indie fashion doll era. At that time, only one other doll, "BillyBoy*’s Mdvanii," had tapped into this burgeoning market. 

Dolldom: We're talking the dawn of the independent doll artist! So how is Lace coming back to us?

Versaw: Historian and curator Eric Dupree originally contacted Ann Sullivan about her dolls and started building a website for Lace. Eric and I had been talking and becoming friendly over my Miss Mary Magpie doll and I don’t remember who threw the idea out there, whether it was me or him or us together,  but we decided that it would be fitting to contact Ann and inquire about her interest in re-issuing her doll. Eric is the one who drew up the contract and got the agreement from Ann. 

Dolldom: How is Lace being offered?

Versaw: Lace 2.0 is a one-of-a-kind 3D printed resin doll and extremely exclusive to only twenty pieces. I carefully studied and re-sculpted the original as best as possible and from the ground up. 

Dolldom: Tell us more about this new iteration. 

Versaw: This version stands about 11 ½ inches tall and will fit most fashion doll clothing like Barbie and similar size dolls. Doll is strung and has five points of articulation. Each doll is handmade and hand painted. Due to the nature of being handmade, there will be small differences in face paint and resin color as this is not a factory made doll, keeping with Lace's original concept. This is an art doll, artist-made to honor another artist. Each numbered doll comes in a Brani Mladenov illustrated box with a lace teddy, a rose choker, and 3D printed shoes. Two interchangeable wigs, supplied by Ann from her surplus of original wigs used on the Lace doll, are also included. 

In this exclusive entry, Dolldom profiles the talent and vision of both Sullivan and Versaw with photos of the exquisite Lace 2.0 wearing fashions from our archives by Cindy Marut, Marirose, Juliet Whorton,  Rosina Haskell, Tania, Lawrence, LizRetros, and AFD Group Atelier as well as the two gowns by Travis Kaller that her original version wore in the 2012 entry. 

Lace 2.0 

The Lace Doll by Ann Sullivan

Fashion by Cindy Marut

Gown by FAD Group Atelier

Fashion by Integrity Toys for Poppy Parker. 

Fashion by LizRetros. Hat by Juliet Whorton. 

Dress by Rosina Haskell. Wig by Monique. 

Fashion by Tania Lawrence. Hat by Yatabazah. 

Dress by Marirose. 

Gown by Travis Kaller. 

Gown by Travis Kaller. 

Fashion by Cindy Marut. 

Fashion by Juliet Whorton. Wig by Yatabazah. 

Classic LBD by Marirose. 

Vintage Barbie doll clone fashion. Wig by Monique. 

Box illustration by Branimagination. 

Shiny, Happy Momoko!

Today's Momoko 24 FS was first offered on October 2024 and sold out quickly. Dolldom conjectures that consumer inquiry to the Petworks' site propelled the company to recommence production with the minor change in the color palette of her t-shirt and shorts. Guess what? Today's Momoko 24 FS made her second appearance on July 15, 2025 and once again quickly sold out! So what's with this girl that captivates us doll lovers? Perhaps it's the evocation of the quintessential elements of an idealized summer day that materialize in Petwork's Today's Momoko 24 FS doll with her pale ash-blonde Monchhichi short pixie haircut, sky blue side-glancing eyes, and a generous gift of freckles on her honey face.

What makes the experience when playing with a Momoko doll special comes from appreciating the level of care and skill given to the minute yet ever so important details of face-up, hair rooting and cutting in 1/6th scale. Is 24 FS an ideal doll? Absolutely! And for such a reason, our editors are honored to profile her modeling styles that emulate the colorful exploration of 1960s silhouettes.

As July ends, Dolldom wishes its readers moments of doll play that provide a respite from pressures and offer space for creative construction and most importantly, serenity.

Deep gratitude is  expressed to Kosucas from Spain and SquishTish from Portugal for their joyful sartorial creations for 24FS! 

Pink mini by Kosucas is perfect for a day of sightseeing. Purse by Bestiaire Doll. Hat by Cindy Marut. Belt by BillyBoy*.

Pink and orange combine in this long sleeved mini dress, also by Kosucas. The front pockets add more graphic impact. Hat by Cindy Marut. 

Picnic al fresco! Black short set by Kosucas. Boat hat and loafers by Sekiguchi. 

Mod Momoko! Kosucas creates a playful silhouette for warm evenings. In black and white, it's classic. 

And so it is in green and turquoise! 

White boots by Petworks. Vintage Barbie gloves. 

FS 24 models with a metallic knit mini by BillyBoy* and a necklace by Exsyntrik. Shoes by Petworks. 

A vintage straw hat and SquishTish's navy, red, and white mini for a day spent in Kamakura! Red pumps by Petworks.

Pichi Pichi Licca-chan!

"おしゃれ な 行動は ぴち ぴち ぃっか" 

("Stylish behavior is cool!")

1971 was the year when Takara's Licca-chan doll became - not unlike Mattel's Barbie - a lover of sun and fun as Pichi-Pichi Licca. Suntanned and sporting a blonde side-parted, straight hair style, Pichi-Pichi Licca and her outfits brought an outdoors-oriented perspective to the world of fashion and fun that began in 1967 for Licca Kayama, her family and friends.

Pichi-Pichi Licca was offered concurrently with the main Licca-chan line and featured a neck knob design that imparted a diagonal orientation to the dolls' head movements. Although the doll's face-up design remained the same, the vinyl color and hair style created a unique persona that emphasized the outdoors with playsets for sailing, scuba diving and mountain hiking. But, as production was limited to 1971, Pichi-Pichi Licca dolls, fashions and accoutrements are considerably hard to find in the secondary market.

For this Dolldom exclusive, Pichi-Pichi Licca models one of her original dresses and a sensational wardrobe made especially for her by the ultra-talented Cindy Marut of CindysBarbieBoutique on Etsy. Marut, so incredibly generous with her talent, designed and produced a set of dresses in a saturated palette that evokes fragrances and flavors associated with tropical lands. It's a world of summertime fashion fun for Pichi-Pichi Licca!

Dolldom thanks Cindy Marut whose talent made this feature possible.

Cindy's Barbie Boutique 

Lime and guava combine in this delightful dress with lace bib by Cindy Marut. 

Orange and lemons and Gerber daisies appear in Pichi Pichi Licca's fabulous dress by Cindy Marut. 

Sometimes, it's cool to reference the greats as is the case with this tribute to YSL's Mondrian dress. Cap and dress by Cindy Marut. Vintage Malibu Skipper glasses. 

Dream sequence! A gown of tangerine sorbet and frosty tulle with printed daisies for Pichi Pichi Licca's glamour fantasy. Gown by Cindy Marut. 

The sky's the limit with this ocean blue mini with verdant lace bib. A vintage Japanese straw hat, decorated with tiny seashells, completes a look ideal for summering on Iki Island. 

Dress by Cindy Marut. 

For our final, Pichi Pichi Licca wears her original halter dress with cream lace detailing. But it is Wataru-kun who rocks a heather grey jumpsuit with faux leather finishes and felt cap by Cindy Marut.