Barbie Collection Catalog 88-89 Here Come the Brides

It seems fitting to finish up June with the only two bridal dolls I have in my collection.

1999 Millennium Wedding - The Bridal Collection #27674

2002 Wedding Day Barbie - KB Exclusive  #B2817

I really like the Millennium Bride, her dress is simple but beautiful and she is very pretty.  I like the Wedding Day Bride because I like ponytail dolls but there is nothing special about her.  The dress is stiff from the glitter on it and the glitter comes off very easily and is all over her body.

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Barbie Collection Catalog Project 83 - 87 More Boxed Sets

Continuing the catalog project with more of my boxed dolls.

1991 Opening Night - Classique Collection #10148

1996 Romantic Interlude - Classique Collection  # 17137

1996 Diamond Dazzle - Jewel Essense Collection  #15519

1996 Emerald Embers - Jewel Essense Collection  #15521

1997 Cafe Society - Barbie Collector Club  # 18892

These dolls were bought because at the time I liked them.  I am not as enamored with them now (except Romantic Interlude, I love the Nichelle face mold) and have been contemplating either selling them or donating them to a charity for auction.  Or I may keep them, but they just collect dust on a closet shelf.

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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.........

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Barbie Collection Catalog Project 79-82 - Enchanted Seasons

I usually debox my dolls, usually.  I have a small selection of dolls that will never be removed from their boxes by me because they were purchased more for their whole concept rather than just the doll or outfit. 

The Enchanted Seasons collection began with the Snow Princess doll and I just thought she was beautiful so I decided to get the whole collection.

1994  Snow Princess  #11875

1994 Spring Bouquet  #12989

1996 Summer Splendor  #15683

1995 Autumn Glory  #15204

The winter and autumn dolls are gorgeous!  Their dresses are stunning.  Spring and summer, eh, not so much.  Neither dress looks like a lot of thought went into them and summer looks like a cotton candy explosion.  At least the doll for spring is cute.

Have you ever purchased dolls that you were disappointed with?

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Barbie Collection Catalog Project - Little Debbies All In A Row 75-78

I don't normally collect advertising or celebrity type dolls.  But I do have everyone of the Little Debbie dolls.

My late Mom got this collection going with the first doll issued.  We grew up on Little Debbie snack cakes, the poor relation to Hostess snack cakes.  With  six kids it was just a more economical choice, plus they were pretty tasty!  My favorites were Nutty Bars and Oatmeal Patties (esp. after you put them in the refrigerator). 

So when Mom saw the advertisement for the initial doll on the package (her and my Dad still ate them on occasion) she figured I needed one.  It is the only Barbie she had given me as an adult, since she gave me my original 4 dolls as a kid.  Like I said it is not a doll I would have collected on my own, but Mom gave it to me so it became a part of my collection.

Many years later, after my Mom and Dad had been gone for many years, I toyed with the idea of selling this doll.  The next day I went thrifting with The Husband and came across doll #2 in perfect condition NRFB.  The Husband said it was fate and that I needed to get it, so I did.  On my next birthday he got me the remaining three dolls to complete the collection.  Now when I look at them I think of my Mom and those tasty little snack cakes she put in my brown bag lunches.

1993 Little Debbie Barbie #1  #10123

1996 Little Debbie Barbie #2  #14616-9950G2

NOTE: There are 2 variations of this issue, one with straight arms and one with bent arms, which is harder to find.  Mine is the straight arm version.

1998 Little Debbie Barbie #3  #16352

2000 Little Debbie Barbie 40th Anniversary  #24977

2002 Little Debbie Barbie #4  #50372

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Taking on the UFO list and the To Do List

Part of my organization frenzy includes getting my sewing projects and other crafts under control.  I am a flitter, I flit from thing to thing, starting one thing stopping another.  In the end I feel like I don't get anything done.  The Barbie cataloging is just a part of getting my dolls under control so I know what I have and where they are.

  I have a habit of cutting out all kinds of outfits but then not following through on the execution.  I start one sewing project only to be put aside when another pretty frock or colorful fabric catches my eye.  To put a stop to that crazy cycle I listed out all the Barbie UFOs and it came to a whopping 22 items!  Just think of the wardrobe some of these dolls could have if I finished something. Ken alone has 4 shirts in the que, poor guy.

When I made my UFO list I was working on the gingham turquoise/white outfits so before I could move on to anything else I had to finish those four coordinated outfits.  I decided I could not start another new project until I finished one off the UFO list.  Then I could start a new project but it needed to be finished and another UFO finished before I could start another new project.

So far, so good!  I finished the gingham turquoise outfits and picked a yellow one piece playsuit from a vintage pattern to complete.  Unfortunately it was a horrible fit and into the trash it went.....stuff happens.  So I had to pick another UFO as this one didn't count as finished.  So I picked a full skirted halter dress from a self-drafted pattern for the Model Muse dolls.  Well, apparently I couldn't remember the proper way to put it together and did it wrong.  Rather than rip it apart I decided to toss it as I wasn't feeling it (wrong fabric choice).  So once again I picked another UFO to finish, well actually 3.......but one only needed a portion of the waistband attached and a back seam sewn.  But I was able to remove 3 UFOs from the list!!!!!

Natalya, Kenda, Taryn

These halter dresses are made from a self-drafted pattern especially for the Model Muse body type.
They are easy to make (once I remembered how to construct them) and look great on the ladies in a variety of prints.  I have several more cut out and on the UFO list but I am going work on something else.

So I haven't started any new projects but have trimmed the UFO list to 17, 3 completed and 2 tossed out for different reasons.  Not a bad start but I would like to get it trimmed down a little more before I start anything new sewing projects.  I also have a master To Do List which includes the one UFO project plus other things I need to get done before I can move on to anything else.  It includes things like the catalog project quotas,  making dust bags and some diorama things. It is working for me.

So how do you keep your projects under control?

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Barbie Catalog Project 69-73

This doll is part of the holiday series were issued every year for grocery stores and big box discounters.  There were only 2 in this series, this blonde Barbie and the AA Barbie.  One of the few Barbies issued with straight shoulder length hair they are both lovely.  I am still trying to find the AA version at a reasonable price, she has the Christie face mold and is so pretty.

1998 Tree Trimming Barbie #22967

Sorry these pictures aren't clearer.  When I went to dress her in her original outfit I discovered what a pain in the A$$ it is too get her velvet leggings on!  They have some kind of separate nylon lining that is impossible to move up her legs.  Needless to say, it was either shoot her in the buff or find an old picture of a Christmas diorama from several years ago......I lucked out.  I am going to have to make her a new pair of dark green pants to go with the ugly Christmas sweater.

I believe, but don't quote me, that this was the first doll in the City Seasons series.

The doll herself doesn't thrill me.  Her makeup is a little washed out and that forehead needs some bangs or fringe or whatever they call them these days.  Now her outfit is another story.  It is very well made, especially the coat.  She is wearing a short sleeve black full bodysuit.  The coat seems to be a light wool, lined in red taffeta with fake fur trim at collar and cuffs with a little brooch.  Hat, scarf, bright red mittens, patent purse with chain strap and midrise heeled black boots make this very classy.

1998 City Seasons-Winter in New York #19429

I love this doll, it is my favorite AA doll with the Nichelle facemold.  She is just so pretty.  Her uniform is cute and fits well, love the boots.  I also like the fit of the pants and I may attempt to make a pattern from them.

1998 Disney Animal Kingdom Barbie AA #20989

Another beautiful doll with the Mackie facemold.  I will use her as a twin to the free spirit  Butterfly Arts Barbie in future story lines.

She has the most fantastic pair of gold pumps, I hope I never lose them.  I don't know about anyone else but I never put the sheer tights back on the dolls because I always poke the toes through when trying to put the shoes on!  Is there a trick to this?  If so someone please let me know.......

1999 Cool Collecting Barbie #25525

This is a cute retro style doll.  She also comes with a few miniature toys but only the Barbie game is to scale.  The viewmaster and 8 ball are too big to use in dios.

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