It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas......

 

Ken seems to be having a little trouble with the tree lights.

Someome is going to have a very merry Christmas.

Wishing everyone all the timeless treasures of

Christmas......

the warmth of home, the love of family

and

the company of good friends.

Merry Christmas 

and 

Happy New Year!

Chris

Haunted Courtyard

Elise and Roxanne are getting in the Halloween spirit!

Roxanne looks quite fetching in this kitty outfit.....meow!

Elise chose a more subdued dress but still looks beautiful!

Happy Halloween!

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

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!

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

 

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.

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

 

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.........................

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?  

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

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.

As always, thanks for stopping by.......

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!

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

Woodworking Class

 I've put the outfit cataloging on indefinite hold, it was just to time consuming.  So on to other things!

I've actually sold about 20 dolls and a few odds and ends Ken outfits.  I am in a spring cleaning mood so may let go of a few more dolls. Now if I can just keep from buying any new ones!

I've also been in a furniture making mood too. My woodworking skills could use some improvement but I have managed to turn out a few cute items.

These are my main tools, a 6" hacksaw, mini mitre box and medium duty wire clippers.

The wooden crate on the left is completed.  I may paint it but can't decide on a color.  The bench on the right is going to be the lower portion of a shelving unit.  The shelves lying there will complete it, one more shelf is the same size as the first at 4", the second one is 3" and the smallest is 1 1/2".  I will definitely paint it, either black or white.  Hopefully I get all the legs straight and even, which isn't easy.

Here is another crate in progress.  It is a little smaller than the first one.  I use the wire clippers to cut the popsicle sticks (it's easier than sawing them but not quite as neat as accurate).

If you're not keen on cutting and sawing wood look for small wood boxes at Hobby Lobby or Michael's.  This is a perfect size round box with removeable lid.  I added 4 roundish wood beads for feet.  Painted or stained it will make a very cute cocktail table ......with storage!

Except for the past 2 days our weather has been absolutely gorgeous here.  I've been spending many hours outside cleaning up flower beds, trimming shrubs and trees and planting flowers and herbs.  I planted some dwarf sunflower seeds a little less than a week ago and they are already coming up...yea!  Hope your weather is getting warm too!

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

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Two More New Dolls

Christmas and my birthday are a little over a month apart, so I tend to get quite a few dolls in December and January.  I really am trying to cut down on the dolls coming in but I did want an articulated Ken to go with the MTM ladies and well, the other doll was just too cute to pass up.

I really didn't want the wheelchairs but did want the dolls...oh, well.

She is so cute. I love her hair although it was pretty frizzy at the ends and I had to trim it some.

I think she will be Jaelene.

I don't know about this Ken, he looks so young and dorky.  But I really want an articulated guy or guys to hang out with the MTM ladies.  The World Peacekeeper doll looks like their Dad, so I guess it has to be this guy.  I wish they would do an AA articulated male also.  Anyway, this guy is now Troy.....he definitely looks like a Troy.

As always, thanks for stopping by...................

New Guys in the House - Updated 1/29/2021

 I got 2 new guys recently, one for Christmas and one for my birthday.

I wanted a partner for my repro Enchanted Evening doll, Ava Winter.

In my little world Ava is a 1950's glamorous actress and singer and she needs a 50's handsome escort.  So for Christmas I asked for the Rock Hudson doll from the Pillow Talk giftset.

I've named him Brock Hutson.  I think he looks a little more like Cary Grant than Rock Hudson but I think he will be a great partner for Ava.  I am not sure what his profile will be yet, actor, singer or maybe movie mogul.  He definitely needs some clothes though!

I am always on the lookout for articulated male dolls and found this guy.  He is from the World Peacekeeper Action/Adventure series.  I got him for my birthday.

He's not a bad looking guy and has 30 points of articulation.  I thought he might go with my MTM dolls but I think he looks to old for them.  I will try them all together in some pictures to see how they look.  But he is definitely good arm candy for my Barbie Look and Model Muse dolls if he doesn't work with the others.

I have looked at other World Peacekeeper dolls and most are military (I like the quality of these dolls so may get one of the military ones also) but was glad to see this one came with a surfboard and other beachy accessories.  I don't know if he can wear any of my current Ken outfits, maybe a little beefier, will check a few out but I will probably make him some clothes too.

I think these 2 additional dolls bring me up to 160 dolls in the collection!  I think it might be time to take a close look at some and maybe start weeding them out to bring it down to a more manageable level.  Or else I am going to have to start a one in/one out rule.........we'll see.

1/29/2021 Update:  I wanted to see which clothes fit these two guys best or if I will have to custom make them some outfits.

Brock is wearing a Ken outfit from around 2012/2014.  It is tight on him but wearable.  The Peacekeeper doll is beefier than Brock and the current Ken dolls.  He is wearing a Fashion Avenue from late 1990/early 2000 and it is a little tight but good.  His problem is his feet....they are wide, large and flat.  These orange slid-on sandals were the only shoes I could get on him.  Not sure what I am going to do for other shoes for him, maybe he is destined to be a beach bum his entire life.

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

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.......