The Iconic Dollcast

This week on The Iconic Dollcast, I’m joined by doll collector and artist Valerie (@mystitchindolliverse)

Valerie and I are diving into the creative world of doll artistry — from the dolls that first sparked her love of collecting to Blythe dolls, her favorite projects, and how she developed her own style as an artist.

We’re also getting into the reality behind creating: the tedious little tasks that go into a finished doll, challenging projects, the eternal struggle of keeping a craft room organized, and of course, why doll artists can NEVER bring themselves to throw away those tiny scraps of fabric and materials that might come in handy someday.

Valerie also shares her five essentials for anyone interested in trying doll design themselves, what social media has been like as a doll artist, and some of the latest pieces she’s been working on.

It’s a fun, creative conversation about collecting, making, and everything that happens behind the scenes before a finished doll ever makes it onto Instagram.
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For weekly bonus episodes, early access to main episodes and more!

This week on The Iconic Dollcast, we’re heading to Flatsyville! 🎀

I’m joined by Emily (@emily.in.flatsyville), a passionate collector of the wonderfully quirky and colorful Flatsy dolls of the 1960s and ’70s, and she’s here to give us a full introduction to these vintage cuties.

Emily takes us through the history of Flatsy — when the dolls first appeared, who produced them, what made them unique, and just how popular they were during their original run. We get into their adorable packaging, accessories and playsets, the different sizes they came in, and their surprisingly colorful hair that helped Flatsy stand out from other dolls of the era.

We also talk about the many Flatsy knockoffs, reproductions, and what it’s actually like to collect these dolls today. Emily shares tips for finding Flatsy dolls online, what collectors can expect to pay in 2026, which dolls are harder to track down, and some of the favorites from her own collection.

Whether you’re already a Flatsy fanatic or — like many collectors — have seen these little faces before but never knew their story, Emily is taking us on a trip through one of the most charming corners of vintage doll history.

Welcome to Flatsyville! 💕
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For weekly bonus episodes, early access to main episodes and more!

This week I’m joined by Frank (@fashionqueerhistorian) — doll collector, published author, fashion historian, and PhD researcher whose work explores queer fashion doll collectors and the relationship between dolls, identity, gender, and fashion.

We talk about Frank’s own history with dolls, why doll play has traditionally been so heavily gendered, and why boys playing with Barbie has historically been viewed so differently from girls playing with action figures. Frank also takes us inside his academic research and explains how something as seemingly simple as playing with and collecting dolls can tell us so much about gender, queerness, culture, and self-expression.

Then, of course, we get into BARBIE AND FASHION! We discuss Barbie’s relationship with the fashion industry, queer designers and fashion houses, some of Barbie’s greatest — and not-so-great — fashion moments, where Barbie fashion stands today, and Mattel’s complicated history when it comes to explicitly LGBTQ+ Barbie and Ken dolls. 
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You can SUBSCRIBE to the Patreon Channel NOW!
For weekly bonus episodes, early access to main episodes and more!

This week on The Iconic Dollcast, I’m joined by Summer (@dontouchmytoys), a toy and doll collector and the creator behind the fantastic Don’t Touch My Toys Instagram and YouTube accounts!

Summer and I dive into her journey as a collector, the wide variety of dolls and toys in her collection, and some of the most memorable pieces she’s found along the way. We also talk about the thrill of thrifting, her methods for finding hidden gems, underrated pieces in our collections, and those dream items that are still on the wish list.

We also get into the realities of sharing a hobby online—from navigating a large social media following to balancing collecting and content creation with a full-time job. Plus, we discuss the sometimes shady side of the collector community, why the word “influencer” gets thrown around a little too easily, and the pressures that can come with turning something you love into online content.

Summer also takes us inside her doll and toy space, shares some of her favorite finds, and gives her best advice for anyone looking to start—or grow—their own collection.

It’s an honest, fun conversation about collecting, thrifting, social media, and simply loving your toys.
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You can SUBSCRIBE to the Patreon Channel NOW!
For weekly bonus episodes, early access to main episodes and more!

The Iconic Dollcast is back! 💖 After a much-needed summer break, I’m checking in with a quick life update, chatting about what I’ve been up to, and giving you a little preview of what’s coming this fall!

The fall season officially kicks off with the Patreon premiere on October 2nd, followed by the return of weekly main episodes of The Iconic Dollcast on October 4th! 🎙️✨ I’m sharing all the details about what you can expect from Patreon, including bonus episodes, early access and lots of new conversations beyond the usual doll talk.

You can SUBSCRIBE to the Patreon Channel NOW!

Thank you for sticking with me during the break. I’m so excited to be back! 💕

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Patreon: @Iconicdollcast