Bowling Party

 Trisha and Lydia spend some girl time.......

backyard bowling!

STRIKE!!!!

Getting a Jump on the 4th of July

 Trisha and Daryl are ready for the

4th of July.

Cooling off in the garden courtyard.

What says 4th of July more than grilled hot dogs and

Daryl is an expert griller.

Trisha and Spot have found a shady spot to 

relax in.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas......

 

Ken seems to be having a little trouble with the tree lights.

Someome is going to have a very merry Christmas.

Wishing everyone all the timeless treasures of

Christmas......

the warmth of home, the love of family

and

the company of good friends.

Merry Christmas 

and 

Happy New Year!

Chris

Haunted Courtyard

Elise and Roxanne are getting in the Halloween spirit!

Roxanne looks quite fetching in this kitty outfit.....meow!

Elise chose a more subdued dress but still looks beautiful!

Happy Halloween!

Thanks for stopping by..........

Barbie Looks 2021

 I think I ordered these dolls back in late June/early July, Mattel had a very good price for the set.  They arrived piecemeal over the last 3 weeks, with the final one showing up yesterday.  I am hesitant about freeing them from their boxes for some reason.  I like them but ....... I don't know, just not as excited about them as I thought I would be.  I hate when this happens.

In the last month I have added 7 new dolls and sold 2 from my collection.  Not a good turn over ratio if you are trying to shrink your collection!  And I am sending back 2 other dolls I recently received because they just didn't look like the description given online.  So if I would have kept them it would have been:

Incoming Dolls - 9  Out Going Dolls - 2

Not a good score in baseball or dolls!

Thanks for stopping by....................

Holiday Barbie 2021

She's here!

This doll is available in the usual 3 versions of caucasian, hispanic and AA.  I don't get the Holiday doll every year but lately I have been opting for the AA version.  The AA version usually has a different hairstyle every year which, to me, makes the dolls more interesting, I don't know why they don't switch up the other two versions.  I ordered this one the minute I saw her.......that hair is so cute!  And her face, I think this is a new face sculpt, so pretty.

I like the silver dress and don't even mind the silver plastic corset, it adds a little sparkle.  The only thing I don't care for is the drawn on baby hair along the hairline.  The 2019 doll had the same issue for me.  I just don't think it is needed.  I do think that if this doll is handled or played with a lot those braids will start to fray on the ends, we'll see.

The bodice under the corset is the same material as the dress skirt, simple but elegant.  The corset is easy to remove.  She has clear pointy toed pumps with a very, very thin heel which is going to bend over time.  COA and stand are included.  She has a standard model muse style body.

All in all, I love her........she's a real doll!

Thanks for stopping by.....................

 

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Two More New Dolls

Christmas and my birthday are a little over a month apart, so I tend to get quite a few dolls in December and January.  I really am trying to cut down on the dolls coming in but I did want an articulated Ken to go with the MTM ladies and well, the other doll was just too cute to pass up.

I really didn't want the wheelchairs but did want the dolls...oh, well.

She is so cute. I love her hair although it was pretty frizzy at the ends and I had to trim it some.

I think she will be Jaelene.

I don't know about this Ken, he looks so young and dorky.  But I really want an articulated guy or guys to hang out with the MTM ladies.  The World Peacekeeper doll looks like their Dad, so I guess it has to be this guy.  I wish they would do an AA articulated male also.  Anyway, this guy is now Troy.....he definitely looks like a Troy.

As always, thanks for stopping by...................

New Guys in the House - Updated 1/29/2021

 I got 2 new guys recently, one for Christmas and one for my birthday.

I wanted a partner for my repro Enchanted Evening doll, Ava Winter.

In my little world Ava is a 1950's glamorous actress and singer and she needs a 50's handsome escort.  So for Christmas I asked for the Rock Hudson doll from the Pillow Talk giftset.

I've named him Brock Hutson.  I think he looks a little more like Cary Grant than Rock Hudson but I think he will be a great partner for Ava.  I am not sure what his profile will be yet, actor, singer or maybe movie mogul.  He definitely needs some clothes though!

I am always on the lookout for articulated male dolls and found this guy.  He is from the World Peacekeeper Action/Adventure series.  I got him for my birthday.

He's not a bad looking guy and has 30 points of articulation.  I thought he might go with my MTM dolls but I think he looks to old for them.  I will try them all together in some pictures to see how they look.  But he is definitely good arm candy for my Barbie Look and Model Muse dolls if he doesn't work with the others.

I have looked at other World Peacekeeper dolls and most are military (I like the quality of these dolls so may get one of the military ones also) but was glad to see this one came with a surfboard and other beachy accessories.  I don't know if he can wear any of my current Ken outfits, maybe a little beefier, will check a few out but I will probably make him some clothes too.

I think these 2 additional dolls bring me up to 160 dolls in the collection!  I think it might be time to take a close look at some and maybe start weeding them out to bring it down to a more manageable level.  Or else I am going to have to start a one in/one out rule.........we'll see.

1/29/2021 Update:  I wanted to see which clothes fit these two guys best or if I will have to custom make them some outfits.

Brock is wearing a Ken outfit from around 2012/2014.  It is tight on him but wearable.  The Peacekeeper doll is beefier than Brock and the current Ken dolls.  He is wearing a Fashion Avenue from late 1990/early 2000 and it is a little tight but good.  His problem is his feet....they are wide, large and flat.  These orange slid-on sandals were the only shoes I could get on him.  Not sure what I am going to do for other shoes for him, maybe he is destined to be a beach bum his entire life.

Thanks for stopping by............................

Christmas Eve Around Our House

 I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  This year has certainly been trying times for everyone, this blog has kept me sane.  May we all have health and happiness in 2021!

Ken and Allen went overboard with the ugly Christmas sweaters!

Looks like Skipper and Skooter got everything they wanted for Christmas!

My 5 Holiday dolls, so pretty and festive!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by, I enjoy being able to share my collection with everyone.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Chris 

Happy Holidays

 

Happy Holidays from Steve, Lydia, Trish and Daryl

Only Trish's polka dot dress is new this year. Running out of time to make more.

Barbie's Dream House

 I never had Barbie's Dream House when I was a kid (I did have the Fashion Shoppe, which I wish, wish, wish they would reproduce) and I missed the first release a few years back.  So I jumped on the new release gift set with bubblecut doll and additional outfits.  Warning: Picture heavy

Looks just like the original. 

2020 Barbie's Dreamhouse Giftset #GNC38-9644

Before setup and move in.

Furniture needs to be assembled.

Bubblecut reproduction and 2 extra outfits

Reproduction 2-piece pajamas 1962-63.  They added blue mules with pom-poms, brush and comb and an alarm clock.

Reproduction Busy Morning #956.  For some reason they included the tray and drinks from Friday Night Date

Reproduction Blonde Bubblecut in turquoise Silk Sheath

She really is very well done.  She is stunning with the hairnet removed and her hair fluffed out (I forget to get a picture.)

Assembling the furniture, time consuming but pretty easy.

Hour and a half later........TaDa!

I made a matching bedspread and pillows.

Babs loves her new digs!

This structure is quite large but folds up nicely.  The only place I can open it full without worrying about the dog is on the dining room table.  I will probably set up specific dioramas for a few days, take pics and then take down.  I like it but did have buyers' remorse after it arrived (it has a hefty price tag) but I sold a Miss Revlon doll and it almost paid for the whole thing.

I would love for Mattel to do the Fashion Shoppe reproduction.  I LOVED mine when I was a kid.  It is a bit larger than the Dream House but I would get it in a minute if they issue it!

So this doll brings my total to 157.  I might ask The Husband for one or 2 new ones for Christmas, just haven't decided yet.  There are a few I want to sell, so I need to work on that before the holidays.

Thanks for stopping by.........

Barbie Collection Catalog Project - The final Dolls

 These are the final dolls in my catalog project. Now I do have 3 MTM dolls, 4 Kelly and Friends, 1 Stacie and 1 Chelsea, but I am not counting them in my collection.  The little dolls are just used as props for some dioramas, I don't collect them.  Kind of the same with the MTM dolls, they are just for dioramas I don't really consider them part of the doll collection but I may change my mind and add them later.

I got this doll because I wanted the animals and I don't have many brunettes from this era (come to think of it I don't have many dolls from this era at all!).  She has a load of hair, almost too much, I may cut it or not.

1996 Pet Doctor Barbie (Brunette - Target Exclusive) #16458

This Kira is beautiful and so is her outfit but the jumpsuit is a pain to get on.

1998 Very Velvet Kira #20531

Last Halloween I decided I needed a Halloween Barbie in my collection and got this one for $7 NRFB.  But of course I removed her from her box.  I like her outfit, the doll is pretty average but okay.

2002 Maskerade Party Barbie #56284

My vintage Francie needed a friend her age and I wanted a brunette Francie without breaking the bank so got this doll.  She is a very nice reproduction.

2016 50th Anniversary Francie #DKN06:HHD353

I got the following two dolls strictly for the historical look at Barbie's iconic black and white swimsuit.  Neither has been removed from box which is unusual for me.

2014 Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary Swimsuit Edition #BCP84

2009 Then and Now 1959-2009 #P6508

You can not be a Barbie collector and not have a few anniversary dolls.  These dolls are gorgeous and Mattel did a very nice job on the gown, it is beautiful.

2019 60th Anniversary - AA #FXC79-0970-DOM

2019 60th Anniversary #FXD88-0970-DOM

At one point in time I had 3 NRFB 1980 Black Barbies.  I decided I didn't need to be a hoarder and sold 2 to share her beauty with other collectors.  I jumped immediately when they released this doll and I think Mattel did a fantastic job of honoring the first one.

2020 40th Anniversary Black Barbie #GLG35IDC:FOM620

This doll was gifted to me by a friend.  His wife was a Mary Kay consultant for years and this was the only Barbie she ever bought for herself.  After her passing he asked if I would like it as he could think of no one else that would appreciate the doll as me.  I was honored he thought of me and happily accepted her into my collection.

2003 Mary Kay Star Consultant #B2737

My only Teresa doll to date.  I find some of the Teresa's have too big of a forehead in proportion to her face but this one is very beautiful.  Plus she has that cute dalmatian!

1993 TRU Spots n' Dots Teresa #10885

So after about 9 months I have completed cataloging my Barbie dolls (and friends) collection into a database.  So how many dolls you ask?  Not as big as some but bigger than others, really a modest collection.  Without the uncounted dolls mentioned at the beginning of this post the tally is 156!  

I do have plans to sell some of the dolls, maybe after the first of the year, and of course there will always be a new doll to add. (In fact there is one on the way, should be here end of the week!)

I hope you enjoyed seeing the dolls in my collection, stay tune for the cataloging of the individual outfits......should be fun!

Thanks for stopping by......