Birthday Gift

 I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays!

My birthday was January 27th and my sister, Aprelle, sent me the prettiest outfit for my Barbie.  She purchased it from a woman in her town (northern Wisconsin) who makes them.

It fits her perfectly and she was in need of a coat as it has been pretty chilly here in NE Florida!

Stay warm, everyone!

Friday Fashion - July 4th Outfits

 

Okay, so I am pretty late showing these outfits and I haven't done a Fashion Friday in ages.  I made them way before Independence Day in hopes of setting up a backyard BBQ dio, but yeah, that didn't happen.

Sun Gold Malibu Barbie and Ken are our models here.  I like to fit the clothing style as close to the dolls era as possible, these two dolls are from 1983. 

 I used Simplicity pattern 8281 from 1977 for Barbie's sundress, it is one of my favorites.  This dress is somewhat timeless and can be made in a  pretty print like I did here or in a plain color and dressed up with embellishments for different looks.  It's also pretty easy if you are just starting out in sewing for these tiny fashionistas.

The Ken outfit was made from Simplicity 7928 from 1986 although I redid the pants without the elastic it called for (I don't like elastic on Ken's pants unless pajamas).  This is a good shirt pattern for the beefier Kens of the late 80's/90's, they had a little more upper body than the early Ken's of the 60's and 70's.  I'm thinking it might also fit the World Peacekeeper guys since they are a little more buff.

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

 

Happy New Year....Continuing the Collection Project

Hope everyone had happy and safe holidays!

I've had a little trouble getting back into the swing of things.  Been just laying low after the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  But I am finally ready to tackle the cataloging of the outfits again and to start working on some dioramas.

Last summer I made a great purchase of a Ken case loaded with clothes.  Some were bits and pieces but others were almost complete outfits like this one, the pajamas are almost perfect! It even included the glass of milk and alarm clock, although it is missing its feet.

1961-1963 Sleeper Set #781 (Purchased) Incomplete

Some outfits were very incomplete like this one.  It's nice but not something I would have for my doll anyway.  I may sell it.

1964-1965 Drum Major #775 (Purchased) Incomplete

I'm not sure what my mother was thinking when she bought the outfit below for her 11 year old Barbie....scandalous! Babs and Allan look as if they have been caught in the act......

1966-1967 Under Fashions #1655 (Original) Incomplete

1961-1964 Terry Tops #784 (Purchased) Incomplete

For the love of paks!  I hope to find more of these gems, the pants are perfect!

1962-1963 Paks: White Scoopneck Playsuit, Orange Sheath Skirt, Black/White Bodysuit blouse, Black Slim Pants (Purchased)

Like the pants above, this is the perfect dress!  Note the black dress is a tad shorter and tighter than the green one.......because I washed it.  Do not wash it if you can help it, it will shrink just a smidge enough to be difficult to zip.

1962-1963 Silk Sheath Pak Black (Original) Green (Purchased)

One of my favorite outfits, so simple and chic.  The elastic on the dickey has dried out so I refrain from putting it on her.  I wish I still had the camera.

1965 Photo Fashion #1648 (Original) Incomplete

Welcome to 2021 and thanks for stopping by.......

 

Barbie Collection Catalog Project - Vintage Clothes Continues

   I have been lucky to have been able to add a few ensembles to my collection over the years.  Only one of the outfits below is from my original childhood collection.

1960-64 Silken Flame #977 Complete(Purchased)

1962-1965 Red Flare #939 Complete(Purchased)

1964-65 Silk n' Fancy #1902 Incomplete(Purchased)

1964-65 Dress Coat #1906  Incomplete(Purchased)

1961-64 Orange Blossom #987 Incomplete(Owner Original)

This dress is badly stained. I have tried everything to clean it to no avail. Luckily the lace overskirt hides it.

1962-64 After Five #934 Complete (Purchased)

1962-1963 Belle Dress Pak (Purchased)

Barbie's Pak outfits were wonderful ways to add to your dolls wardrobe without breaking the bank.  The Belle dress was one of the most popular I think. It came in 3 colors: orange, blue and this lovely pale pink.

1964 Victory Dance #1411 Complete (Purchased)

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Barbie Collection Catalog Project - More Vintage Fashions

 I am really enjoying this portion of the cataloging project.  Not that bringing all the dolls out and photographing them wasn't fun but there is just something about the early Barbie clothing that is ..... well, magical.  The quality and detail of these outfits are amazing.

1959-1962  Sweater Girl #976 - Incomplete (Owner Original)

The sweater set is in surprisingly good shape, one small hole, considering how often Barbie wore this outfit.  I need to replace all the snaps on the shell and find a very tiny gold bead to replace the missing one on the cardigan.

1961-1964 Sheath Sensation #986 - Complete (Purchased)

1962-1963 Garden Party #931 - Incomplete (Purchased)

1961-1963 Saturday Date #786 - Complete (Purchased)

The tie is still attached to the original rubber band but I am hesitant to put it over his head so he is holding it.  I need to make him a tie to wear with this and not ruin the original.

The suit jacket is fully lined including set in sleeves.

1963 Swingin' Easy #955 - Incomplete (Owner Original)

This is still one of my favorite dresses.  I prefer this version than the blue one in 'Let's Dance'.

I am sure they had a machine that made all these tiny perfect gathers on this dress.

1963-1964 Fancy Free #943 - Complete

I am surprised that this wasn't a pak dress, it came with nothing.....no shoes, no purse, no nothing.

The cutest couple ever!

Dressing the dolls brings back many memories.  Sometimes things in our house were tumultuous when I was growing up.  Playing with my Barbie was my escape, my coping.  Even though my world wasn't always perfect hers' was.  This is why I love this doll, she was, is and always will be my best friend.  And my fashion muse, since I have no fashion style whatsoever!

Thanks for stopping by.......

Barbie Catalog Collection Project - The Clothes....oh, the clothes!

So now that the dolls are all cataloged it's time to move onto the next group I have collected,  the clothes!  I think this will be fun but time consuming because I hope to show the outfits the dolls. And most everything is in various boxes in no particular order. 

 I think it will be a good time to also try and organize all the clothes so they are easily accessible.  Anyone have any good ideas.......because I don't. At the moment I have outfits in cases, in the Susie Goose closet and in ziplock bags in storage boxes.  It's a mess, basically.

Anyway, it's time to get started! 

Outfits are in no particular order but I will try and keep eras together.  I did not put any of the vintage open toe mules on Barbie as they have a tendency of splitting.  I will also make note of outfits that are original from my childhood.

1959-1962 Cotton Casual #912 - Complete (Purchased)

1961-1964 Tennis Anyone #941 - Incomplete (Owner Original)

1962-1963 Time for Tennis #790 - Incomplete (Purchased)

1963 Golden Elegance #992 - Incomplete (Owner Original)

My absolute favorite and most elegant Barbie outfit. Coat is fully lined including set in sleeves.

1963 Theater Date #959 - Complete (Purchased)

1964-1965 Crisp n' Cool #1604 - Complete (Purchased)

1963-1964 Masquerade #944 - Incomplete (Owner Original)

1961-1963 Sport Shorts # 783 - Incomplete (Purchased)

Barbie and Ken getting set to play some tennis.  Barbie's outfit needs another cleaning, I may try a soak in Oxyclean.

As you can see my original outfits are well played with (as is my original doll who is modeling them) and missing a few accessories but I love them all the more.  This is just the start, stay tuned.

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

June Brides Revisited

June is usually Bridal month but with the pandemic many, many weddings have been postponed.  So here are some beautiful brides to hopefully brighten your day.

I made this simple tea length wedding dress a few years ago, along with the attendants dresses.  I love the simplicity of this style and my own wedding dress was similar except with long sleeves.

I no longer have this doll or dress but Wedding Day Midge was a sight in all her lace and dotted swiss glory.

I made this wedding gown including the veil and bouquet for a former neighbor in honor of her daughter's wedding.

One recent Christmas I got 7 NRFB wedding gowns.  They were all very beautiful but I like the simpler ones best, # 4 is my favorite.

I never had an original Barbie wedding gown growing up I had a knock-off or clone one.  But it was much prettier than any of the Barbie vintage gowns.  Somehow, somewhere it got lost.....I wish I still had it but may be in my memory it is more beautiful than it was.........

Thanks for stopping by......

Advance Vintage Pattern 3377 - Amazing Wiggle Dress

I have been looking for a really nice 50's style wiggle dress pattern, one that Joan Holloway would rock the halls of Sterling Cooper in, and came across Advance 3377.  This copy of the vintage pattern has been with me for years but I never made anything from it.   Why, I'm not sure, maybe because I have so many other patterns to tempt me. 

The last dress initial caught my eye but the sundress like bodice is a little to casual for an office type atmosphere.  But I pulled the instructions and pattern pieces out to see if I could kluge together bodice 4 and skirt 6.  Well, lo and behold, view 5 is NOT a 3pc suit as I had thought (maybe one should read the pattern envelope descriptions, it might be a time saver) but an amazing wiggle dress with a jacket AND.........all the bodices in this pattern have facings!!!!!  I love facings, makes it a little bit easier to do those necklines and itty bitty armholes.  Usually I draft my own (if I'm not feeling too lazy) but here they have done it for me! 

So I worked up 2 versions.

Evelyn (L) and Veronica (R) were kind enough to be my guinea pigs models.  Veronica's dress is made per the instructions with gathers on the side of the skirt.

Evelyn's was made with inverted pleats at the side of the skirt.

It's not a big difference but I do think the inverted pleat makes a cleaner line.  If I was really industrious I would put darts in at the side, but that involves extra sewing and the invert pleat is soooo easy.  

The Ladies really like this dress, it fits them very well.  They would like to have more of them,,,,,many more, maybe even that little jacket too!  They are so demanding.

Watch out Joan Holloway!

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

Proudly Pink Barbie

I got Proudly Pink Barbie before Thanksgiving and she is ....well, very, very pink!  I wanted her because of her pink hair (and I am a sucker for a ponytail!).  It has been my dream to take 3 different ponytail dolls, preferable from 3 different eras and have them rerooted in 3 various shades of pink.  Sooo, until then I am satisfying my pink hair urge with this doll.

Now, I love the pink color of her hair......her clothes not so much!  First off there is just too much pink and I am not a fan of the garish shade that it is. (Her little quilted purse is adorable and a nice shade of pink which matches her hair but not her outfit (in my opinion).  

I haven't released her from her box yet, so I am not sure of the quality of the clothing.  It is usually pretty good on the Silkstones.  But she is a very pretty doll and I have plans to make a new outfit for her.

I am thinking a gown from this pattern McCalls 9115, view C, the blue "hi-low" dress.  My plan right now is black satin with the skirt lined in a pale pink satin so it peeks out.  I also have some pink tulle but don't like things too fru-fruy, so maybe just use it to make a gathered sash around the waist, not sure yet.

As this is a pattern from 1997 I will need to make a muslin for fit before I cut into the good stuff and play with it a little.  I like view E (the gold gown) also but prefer the strapless top, so may play with that one a little too.

Anyway, this is Proudly Pink Barbie and my proud plans for her!

Thanks for stopping by......