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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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Still Here.......

 Haven't been doing much doll stuff lately.  Not sure why.  I did try my hand at making some houseplants.  I think they turned out nice.

Elise likes them but not the blue pots.  I may have to make some more neutral ones for her place.  And I still need to paint that round storage table for her.  Just not sure what color..... black, white or gray with a marble look top?  

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I Made a Sofa or Chaise or Something......

 I made a chair a long time ago, this was harder probably because it is bigger.  

My edges didn't come out as neat as I had hoped so I covered them with a black trim. Looks a little better. I also wanted to make it have storage for her bedding but forgot when I was making it and glued the top down.

Elise seems to like it, especially the little pillows.  Now I have to work on accessories and making her little space a home.

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A Room for Elise

 A nice size box arrived from that famous online shipping place, a 1:6 scale room size box to be exact.   Elise marched in the minute it was cut open and claimed it as her own.

It's a tiny  cozy space, only 18.5" by 12", but she believes she can make it work.

Elise's favorite color is pink, duh, and prefers to temper it with black, white and shades of grey.  

I have always wanted to make a room with the ability to change out wallpaper so that I can get more use out of the room.  I finally found a blog that illustrated how to do it (unfortunately I don't remember the name of the blog at the moment).  Basically you install wainscotting and trim that is slightly raised so that you can slide sheets of wallpaper in and out of the top portion.

Elise choose this black and white design for her room.  Each wall was measured between the trim making sure to add 1/8" to 1/4" on each side.  I cut posterboard a little bigger and the wallpaper a little bigger than needed then glued together.  Make sure you place the wallpaper in the correct direction if you have a repeating directional design such as this.  I then tested the sheet for each section, trimming as needed until it fits and slides in (make sure to note the finished size and where each piece goes on the back).

Here is the sheet being slid into place.

Viola'!  Elise is very happy with how it turned out and if she wishes to change out her wallpaper or sells her room box to another doll, the wallpaper can be changed easily (just the top, the bottom is permanent).

Flooring will be next. I think I have a nice light planking Elise will like and then it's on to decorating!

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