Elise's Courtyard Hideaway

 I have been working on this diorama for about a month and love how it has turned out!

It all started with this chair, which use to be blue.   Since Elise's apartment is so small she needed a little outdoor space where she could relax.  I painted the chair a light grey then white and then sanded to give it a weathered look.

Elise likes to sit and  have tea here.

Her new sundress matches her hair perfectly!

That phallic looking thing in the corner is a fountain.  It looks better in person.  The side brick walls are scrapbook paper and the back distressed brick wall I made using paperboard from a cereal box to cut bricks and placed them randomly around then dabbed on white paint.  I got the concrete patio paver printout from My Froggy Stuff.  The decorations on the wall are wood burnouts I got at the Dollar Tree and painted in 3 different pastel colors.

I still want to add a few items, a little end table and a few more plants, but all in all I really like it.  I think it is my best work to date.

 And Elise seems to be happy for the extra space.

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

Barbie Collection Catalog Project 138 - 143 More Silkstones

We continue with the last few Silkstones in my collection.  As you can see I've grown to love these dolls.  I was disheartened to learn they are going to discontinue the BFMC line.  But they are supposedly going to continue the Silkstones.  I will be anxiously waiting to see what they come up with!

This doll looks so sad to me, she tugs at my heart.  Her outfit so just gorgeous, I would be thrilled to wear it!

2015 BFMC Blush Beauty #CHT04 IDC: SS1543

A modern version of Evening Enchantment, this next doll reminds me of Patsy Stone from Absolutely Fabulous. It must be the hair!

2016 BFMC Glam Gown #DGW58 IDC:QXU455

Another pretty lady with a beautiful dress.

2016 BFMC Blush and Gold Cocktail Dress #DWF55 IDC:UEQ597

Paying homage to Barbie's iconic striped bathing suit this doll hits the mark right down to her black and platinum hair.

2018 BFMC Black and White Forever #FXF25 IDC:SRK768

Celebrating Barbie's 60th Birthday.  The outfit is atrocious, blindingly pink made of less than quality fabric.........but that pink swirl ponytail was worth the purchase.

2018 BFMC Proudly Pink #FXD50 IDC:KLO233

This is one of the current Silkstones available.  I liked it because of the extra outfits and I didn't have a red haired Silkie yet.  

2020 BFMC The Best Look Giftset #GNC39 IDC:GCA450

I may add more of the older Silkies but I think this will be the last of the current ones I add to my collection.  I wasn't impressed with the Best to Tea or the Gala's Best dolls and Gala's Best is also very pricey for what it is.

So I still have a few stray dolls to round up and catalog but the count at this point is 145.  I think it will top out at 150-155. 

Thanks for stopping by.......

Barbie Collection Catalog Project 133-137 The Silkstones

 The Silkstones are the last major grouping in my collection.  When they were first issued I didn't care for them, something about their faces put me off.  But I wanted at least one in my collection for it to be complete in my mind.  

This was the doll I chose to represent the line in my collection.  I thought she was very pretty and her outfits we beautiful.  Unfortunately she one hand as wide as a pitchers' mitt and can not get on her coat, or any other slim sleeved clothing item.  But she is pretty.  Her name is Olivia Brentwood.

2001 BFMC Continental Holiday Giftset  #55497

The above Mrs. Brentwood needed a Silkstone Mr. Brentwood.  (My dolls do not usually cross collections or eras.  These dolls are very distinctive and don't play well with the others in my mind.)  So I chose Roger Sterling from the Mad Men collection to be paired with the lovely Mrs. Brentwood.

2010 Mad Men Roger Sterling #T4549

Once I had these Silkies in my collection I needed more.....

2002 BFMC Fashion Insider Ken Giftset #56706

2014 BFMC Little Red Dress #CGT26

2015 BFMC Classic Camel Coat #DGW54

As it turns out I love the weight of the Silkies and their outfits are fairly well made so I have been adding more as I can.  More to come........

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Silkstone Sewing

Awhile back I mentioned wanting to make a new outfit for this doll because I didn't like the all pink outfit.

Never having tried to sew for a Silkstone before I assumed the doll was similar in body size to my vintage dolls....wrong!  They appear to be more like the Model Muse articulated bodies. 

Before cutting anything out I tried on a few dresses I made for the vintage dolls and they were way too big. So I looked through my pattern stash and found this book:

I decided that since the full skirted dresses on the cover were on Silkstones it would be a good fit.

It's not a bad fit but not as great a fit as the author has on her dolls.  Even though I carefully traced the pattern from the book, my neckline came out more vee necked rather than the more scoop neck of the model dolls dress.  My bodice also doesn't fit as well in the bust area as the model dolls either, although you can't tell in the picture.

I am a little disappointed and frustrated.  I am not skilled enough to make tailoring adjustments to the doll patterns and was hoping this one would fit better since the author used a Silkstone.  Unless the non-articulated Silkies are more like the vintage Barbies than the articulated ones?  Has anyone used commercial patterns to make clothing for the articulated Silkstones?  I have a few current patterns made for the new Barbies so I may have to try one of those.

Anyway at least this doll has a new dress and she does look kinda cute!

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Momma Got A New Doll

Since the pandemic started I have put a hold on doll buying......well, then this doll was released to Barbie Platinum members.

She is 'The Best Look' designed by Robert Best for BFMC.  I didn't have a redhead Silkstone and I liked the 2 different outfits......so she is mine.

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......

Fashion Insider Ken Gift Set

I have been trying to find what little fashions
there are for the Silkstone Ken so that Roger
Brentwood has a few changes of clothes.  I
have had my eye on this Ken Giftset but the
price was always to high........until one day
it wasn't!

This will be a nice suit for Roger.  I am
not sure if I will keep the doll.

I am not too crazy about his looks. I
think it's the shape of his head, fore-
head is too big or something.  I
still have Olivia Brentwood so I can
either hook them up together in a storyline
or give them the boot together.


We'll see.

Mr. Brentwood Takes a New Bride

Not willing to put up with Mrs. Brentwood's
drinking problem, Mr. Brentwood has
found himself a new wife.

Roger has met and fallen head over heels
for the beautiful, Farren Palmer.

Unlike Olivia Brentwood,  Miss Palmer
has normal hands, which allows her to
wear all manner of clothing including
long sleeves. (I didn't know this doll
is articulated, but it is better than a pitcher's
mitt for a hand.)

Roger is smitten and has tossed Olivia
aside for Farren.  Do not fret for her.
Olivia will either go to a new home
(sans all her clothes though...Farren
called dibbs) or she may hang
around here for awhile and see what
shakes out.

While I still think Olivia is gorgeous and
that she and Roger made a handsome
couple........

I think Roger and Farren will make a
great couple!

Olivia and Roger Brentwood

Just spent a lazy Easter Sunday deboxing
my Silkstones.

Roger is wearing his suit from New England

Escape and Olivia is wearing her Continental

Holiday outfit.  She was going to wear her 

New England Escape outfit except for one

teeny, tiny problem...........

 

She can't get her right hand through the
jacket sleeve!  She also can't get her right
hand through her Continental Holiday
coat.

It appears Mrs. Brentwood has a drinking
problem and her hand is stretched wide
to accommodate hoisting a pint!  The
width of her hand is 5/8", the jacket sleeve
cuff opening is about 1/2" and the coat
(which is the outfit she came with, mind
you) is maybe 3/8".

Has anyone else encountered this problem?
Is it just this model of Silkstone or do they
all have a catcher's mitt for a right hand?

Her arm is cocked to rest on her hip, similar
to several of the Model Muse dolls I have.
But their thumb is not that splayed out from
the rest of the hand.

I am very disappointed.  It took me a long time
to find  a Silkstone I liked (most of the eye
makeup is too much for me).  I really like her
but if she can't wear the beautiful outfits then
Mr. Brentwood may be looking for a new wife.