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.......

 

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 

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)

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

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.......

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........

Collection Catalog Project Has Begun

After several false starts I finished my database design and started pulling out the dolls to get them logged.  So far I have only managed to get 15 complete with pictures!!!  Ugh, who knew cataloging dolls could be such a process.  Of course I had to dress them in their original outfits (had to find them first) if I had them, brush their hair, clean them up a little.......you get the picture.

Anyway, I thought since I was doing this I may as well put them out on here to showoff  share as I go. You may have seen a few of them already on here but hey you can never get too much Barbie!

So here are the first 10:

1962 SL Bubblecut Barbie  #850

1964 SL Skipper  #950

1966 BL TNT Trade In Barbie  #1162

1965 BL Francie  #1130

1965 BL American Girl  #1070

1962  SL Ponytail  #850 #6/7

1964 SL Ponytail Swirl  #850

1964 SL Midge  #860

1964 SL Midge  #860

1965 BL Midge  #1080

****Disclaimer - I have done the best research I could, using all the books I have and trying to read the markings on the dolls, to establish who they are.  This may not be totally accurate.  I am only positive about my first 4 original dolls.

Well, gotta get back to it, these dolls aren't going to catalog themselves (they are a lazy lot, just standing on shelves or lying in boxes!).

Thanks for stopping by......