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| Santa Barbie on my desk - this was one of my estate auction finds this summer. |
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Santa Barbie is on my desk
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Stardoll by Barbie hits the shelves
Look in the Toys R Us flier for Nov. 27 and you'll see a promotion for "New! Stardoll by Barbie" listed at $16.99 each.
What's that about? Here's a press release that explains how a doll game from the "virtual world" became a doll in real life.
What's that about? Here's a press release that explains how a doll game from the "virtual world" became a doll in real life.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Barbie Collector Spring 2012 preview
Barbie Collector's Spring Preview 2012 catalog is in mailboxes and can be seen on line.
Here is my review:
Here is my review:
- Most hilarious: Shoe Obsesssion.
- Most pink: Pink in Pantone.
- Gotta have Barbie Basics: Model 5, 14, 8 and 4.
- Gotta have Barbie Basics Acessories: Look 2 (jacket!)
- Most welcome return: Dolls of the World.
- Still on my wish list: Barbie silk scarf, Barbie laptop case.
- I'd wear them if I had them: Barbie Flannel Hat, Barbie Wool Scarf.
- Wrong size: iPhone case - I don't have an iPhone 4 yet, I have a 3gs and a newer model would be available by the time I'm buying my next phone anyway.
- Cute but won't buy: Barbie watch set. I really, really need a date stamp on my watch.
- The dolls I think my husband will buy me first: Dolls of the World Argentina and Australia.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Black Friday Shopper Barbie (OOAK)
I have created very few "one of a kind" outfits because I just can't do the tiny sewing. But I do have a great collection of dolls, accessories and outfits that I do arrange into OOAK displays!
So in that spirit, here is my Black Friday Shopper Barbie display. The shopping bag is from a 1997 Wal-Mart Shopping Time Barbie. The green sweatshirt and backpack are from one of the Fashion Avenue collections of the 1990s; although the jeans are from another outfit pack. The doll was purchased late 1990s. The pink tree is a purchase this season from Hobby Lobby.
This is the first time I've done this scene.
My daughter figured out the theme right away -- but her follow-up comment was that I gave the doll the wrong pair of shoes. She pointed out that the doll should have flat-soled sneakers rather than stylish heeled sneakers. You can't run, after all, in the heeled shoes.
By the way, if I was trying to depict myself on Black Friday, she wouldn't have a shopping bag. She would have the iPhone, a camera or video camera and a business bag as her props.
Yes, I cover the Black Friday shopping madness for my newspaper. I find it far more entertaining to be the reporter than to be one of the shoppers.
So in that spirit, here is my Black Friday Shopper Barbie display. The shopping bag is from a 1997 Wal-Mart Shopping Time Barbie. The green sweatshirt and backpack are from one of the Fashion Avenue collections of the 1990s; although the jeans are from another outfit pack. The doll was purchased late 1990s. The pink tree is a purchase this season from Hobby Lobby.
This is the first time I've done this scene.
My daughter figured out the theme right away -- but her follow-up comment was that I gave the doll the wrong pair of shoes. She pointed out that the doll should have flat-soled sneakers rather than stylish heeled sneakers. You can't run, after all, in the heeled shoes.
By the way, if I was trying to depict myself on Black Friday, she wouldn't have a shopping bag. She would have the iPhone, a camera or video camera and a business bag as her props.
Yes, I cover the Black Friday shopping madness for my newspaper. I find it far more entertaining to be the reporter than to be one of the shoppers.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Paula's picks for holiday season 2011
I have three toy catalogs on my kitchen table this morning from the Sunday papers, in addition to the weekly sales fliers. Based on what I've seen in the catalogs and sales fliers, and what I've seen on the shelf, here are my holiday season picks for the Barbie fans.
Barbie camper. It's about $70 and I don't have anywhere to display or store a toy that big. Therefore, I won't get it. But if I was a 10-year-old girl again, I would play with this for hours! The features shown are just like today's RVs.
Printable Hair Barbie. Girls like dolls with hair they can comb, style, etc. Totally Hair Barbie is well known as the best selling doll Barbie made. The gimmick with this doll is you can print designs on inkjet printer and transfer them to hair extensions. It costs about $30.
Barbie I Can Be career dolls. Any of those dolls are a great addition to any little girl or adult collector's Barbie box. Just be sure to pick one that you think will appeal to her. For example, I love my Computer Engineer doll because I do so much digital work at my job. The career dolls were not expensive in the first place - $12 to $15. Besides, they're currently "old stock" and you will easily find clearance prices.
Holiday Barbie 2011. I never joined the Holiday Barbie craze, but I do have some of them. You really can't go wrong with this choice for any Barbie fan, unless the person you are gifting to has already bought the doll! The 2011 doll has a green and gold dress and is quite pretty.
Princess Doll and Horse. I'm not terribly interested in the pink box princess dolls because I can dress up my dolls with beautiful handmade gowns for the cost of what those dolls sell for. That being, said, the little girls love them. This one stands out from the crowd with her fashion, her hairstyle and the horse with PINK mane.
Perfect Christmas Chelsea doll. If you want a "holiday" doll without the "holiday" price, you can't go wrong with any of the Kelly and friend selections that have been on the market over the years. This one is a spinoff to one of the Barbie videos. Bonus: Kelly and friends are stocking stuffer size and low budget.
I would also put on any Barbie shopper's list at least one furniture or accessory set such as the bunk bed or the kitchen pieces. Those playsets are often overlooked. What is Barbie supposed to sit on, watch, or do other than change her outfits?
By the way, I know there are a lot of Disney Princess dolls and accessories on the market. But I consider that to be a different demographic and genre than Barbie. Therefore, I leave that discussion to the Disney fans.
Barbie camper. It's about $70 and I don't have anywhere to display or store a toy that big. Therefore, I won't get it. But if I was a 10-year-old girl again, I would play with this for hours! The features shown are just like today's RVs.
Printable Hair Barbie. Girls like dolls with hair they can comb, style, etc. Totally Hair Barbie is well known as the best selling doll Barbie made. The gimmick with this doll is you can print designs on inkjet printer and transfer them to hair extensions. It costs about $30.
Barbie I Can Be career dolls. Any of those dolls are a great addition to any little girl or adult collector's Barbie box. Just be sure to pick one that you think will appeal to her. For example, I love my Computer Engineer doll because I do so much digital work at my job. The career dolls were not expensive in the first place - $12 to $15. Besides, they're currently "old stock" and you will easily find clearance prices.
Holiday Barbie 2011. I never joined the Holiday Barbie craze, but I do have some of them. You really can't go wrong with this choice for any Barbie fan, unless the person you are gifting to has already bought the doll! The 2011 doll has a green and gold dress and is quite pretty.
Princess Doll and Horse. I'm not terribly interested in the pink box princess dolls because I can dress up my dolls with beautiful handmade gowns for the cost of what those dolls sell for. That being, said, the little girls love them. This one stands out from the crowd with her fashion, her hairstyle and the horse with PINK mane.
Perfect Christmas Chelsea doll. If you want a "holiday" doll without the "holiday" price, you can't go wrong with any of the Kelly and friend selections that have been on the market over the years. This one is a spinoff to one of the Barbie videos. Bonus: Kelly and friends are stocking stuffer size and low budget.
I would also put on any Barbie shopper's list at least one furniture or accessory set such as the bunk bed or the kitchen pieces. Those playsets are often overlooked. What is Barbie supposed to sit on, watch, or do other than change her outfits?
By the way, I know there are a lot of Disney Princess dolls and accessories on the market. But I consider that to be a different demographic and genre than Barbie. Therefore, I leave that discussion to the Disney fans.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Barbie shopping tote
Spotted at Meijer in Monroe, Mich.: this Barbie shopping tote for $1.99.
I like the design, but, after inspecting the quality of the bag, I'll pass. It will take too hard of a beating and I'd be sad after it wore out.
I like the design, but, after inspecting the quality of the bag, I'll pass. It will take too hard of a beating and I'd be sad after it wore out.
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| Barbie shopping tote |
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Blog Action Day 2011: Barbie's Easy-as-Pie Cookbook
Blog Action Day is an social media event held annually since 2007, with the intent to have as many bloggers as possible from a variety of topics and perspectives, and as many countries as possible, discuss the topic of the day.
This year's Blog Action Day theme is food! While there are certainly some very serious discussions taking place about food today, I decided to write a fun post for my doll blog.
I happen to own one of the most popular collectibles on the vintage Barbie market, and it is Barbie's Easy-as-Pie cookbook from 1964.
It originally belonged to one of my cousins. By the time she decided to hand down her 1960s-era Barbie toys, I was too old for dolls. But I did admire the pieces and my sisters played for hours with everything in the collection that included a fold-up Dream House.
One of the pieces was the cookbook, which I thought was adorable even before I started a Barbie collection. I eventually asked for it, and it became mine.
Each chapter has a short story in which Barbie is planning or working on a menu such as refreshments for her club friends. They are all very simple recipes intended for a young girl to make with adult supervision, and with very little adaptation to today's cooking styles could still be made today.
At one time, the book was worth about $120 on the second-hand market. These days, it would sell for about $60.
When anyone asks if I own any vintage dolls, as in the 1960s-era dolls, I say no. But I add that I do have one vintage piece, and that is this adorable cookbook.
This year's Blog Action Day theme is food! While there are certainly some very serious discussions taking place about food today, I decided to write a fun post for my doll blog.
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| Barbie 1964 cookbook |
It originally belonged to one of my cousins. By the time she decided to hand down her 1960s-era Barbie toys, I was too old for dolls. But I did admire the pieces and my sisters played for hours with everything in the collection that included a fold-up Dream House.
One of the pieces was the cookbook, which I thought was adorable even before I started a Barbie collection. I eventually asked for it, and it became mine.
Each chapter has a short story in which Barbie is planning or working on a menu such as refreshments for her club friends. They are all very simple recipes intended for a young girl to make with adult supervision, and with very little adaptation to today's cooking styles could still be made today.
At one time, the book was worth about $120 on the second-hand market. These days, it would sell for about $60.
When anyone asks if I own any vintage dolls, as in the 1960s-era dolls, I say no. But I add that I do have one vintage piece, and that is this adorable cookbook.
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