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 Collection Catalog - Vintage Clothing Continues

 Sometimes when I am putting these outfits on the dolls I forget that they are well over 50yrs old.  Most have held up very well, even having been played with, but you really need to be careful with items like tights, socks and gloves.  I poked a tiny finger through one of the beautiful long black gloves, it doesn't show BUT I know it's there!

I think the Barbie paks were the greatest thing since sliced bread.  I wish I had more of them, the mixing and matching would be such fun!  The Knit paks consisted of 6 different clothing types: top, long full skirt, pants, dress, top and short set and a slim skirt.  Colors offered were gold, royal blue and multi striped.  There was also an accessory pak with a straw hat, purse and shoes.  These are the only items I have from these paks.

Knit Paks - Top and Skirt  1963 (Owner Original)

What a beautiful suit!  I am surprised the jacket was not lined though.

Career Girl #954 1963-64 Complete (Purchased)

Since I lived in a northern climate growing up and ice skated from the time I could walk, this was one of my favorite Skipper outfits.  I need to find her new skates.

Skating Fun #1908 1964-65 Incomplete (Owner Original)

School Days # 1907 1964-65 Complete (Purchased)

Dreamtime #1909 1964-65 Incomplete (Purchased)

Flower Girl #1904 1964-65 Incomplete (Purchased)

As always I appreciate you stopping by and welcome your comments.  I will be taking a break from cataloging the clothes until the new year.  But I may be doing a little holiday sewing for the ladies so feel free to stop in!

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...........

Friday Fashion - Matching Sisters

 Barbie and Skipper think these matching dresses may be perfect for Thanksgiving dinner.

Barbie's dress is made from vintage Butterick 9993.  I've made it a few times, it sews up easy and fits nicely.  A black belt may look nice, break up the busy pattern a bit.

Skipper's dress is made from vintage McCall's 7480.  It's one of my favorites for her.  

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!

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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........

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.........