New and Improved Barbie - And another addition

Hi Friends!

I am pleased to announce that I have joined the ranks of the Stay at Home Moms. I liked my job and I loved what I did however the stress was causing me some health issues for me and the new baby (we are both fine.) But it was just too much so now I get to have a few months to stay at home with my lone child. And (not surprisingly) finding I have a lot that I want to do. I'm more busy now that I'm at home all day. Actually all of these things were reserved for the weekend and after I got home from work. Now I can use my weekends to rest and spend time with the hubby.

Also, during nap times, this is when I get the change to blog! So here we go with today's post. 

Before I left for vacation during Thanksgiving, I cleaned up my new Ken's and the mod Barbie. Remember that Barbie was in sad shape. She had very dirty legs and torn vinyl on the ankle. I was not able to get her legs clean so I had to find an outfit that covered her legs and an outfit for the old body type. A LOT of the clothes I have acquired are for the newer body type. So I decided on this one!

This is Ballerina #989 first released in 1961. This was in the box of vintage clothing that I got for Christmas a few years ago. It was a complete set (except the cardboard tiara) and I even have the program which, according to the Fashion Doll Guide, is very rare. I know the black tights don't necessarily go with the tutu but it was a great covering for her legs. I loved this outfit and wanted to get it on her. 

If you want to read more about this outfit on the Fashion Doll Guide, you can click here!

It looks great on her but she is just a tad small in the bust. The zipper works perfectly so I got it to zip up all the way so it stays up pretty well.

I will also take the shoes off of her as they are not hard plastic like the newer ballet slippers but soft, pliable vinyl and bend when I stand her up like so.

In addition to the torn vinyl ankle, she also has a broken click knee joint. And in this outfit does not sit very well. I'll have to make a doll stand for her. I'd like to change her into a mod beach outfit someday but that would require more work on her legs. We shall see. 

I'm also going to get to work on the clothes that came with these dolls. They still have that old attic smell so I think the only way to clean them and get the smell out is to put them in the washer. (I know, I know...) However with my back and everything else I need to get done for the holidays, this is my only option. I can't bear to think about sitting and scrubbing each and every piece. All of these clothes are OOAK and handmade. I think they will do okay on a very delicate short cycle. More of that to come!

Now, for the new addition! I've had a backlog of items to post for you, most of them Ever After High. I just haven't gotten around to them yet. Well, here is one for today! 

The most beautiful (as her name suggests,) Rosabella Beauty!

Rosabella is the cousin of Briar Beauty (Sleeping Beauty.) Rosabella is an advocate for animal rights and her outfit depicts that (or doesn't because she's wearing fur? Maybe it's faux fur.) That is because her father is/was The Beast! She has an adorable outfit and I just love this doll!

She's a smarty pants and has some cute glasses with roses at the corners. She has a fur collar on her shirt and a pretty rose printed belt that is actually painted in two colors! Her earrings are a geometric shaped with a rose printed on the top of them. Her gold crown is molded in roses.

She wears the same ring/bracelet combo that has? You guessed it, roses.

I LOVE her skirt. Since this is a play on Beauty and the Beast they went with a yellow theme for the skirt and it's printed with gold roses. Very pretty! And as I mentioned above, she is a smarty pants and instead of carrying a purse, carries a book.

I love her hair. It's brown with some pink thrown in that's pulled back into a ponytail from the front. Her hair came out very good from the box and is soft and shiny and still has a curl rather than frizz.

The SHOES! These are great boots. Keeping with her fur theme, these are molded to look like fur. I bet her feet and legs are nice and warm. There are straps across the shin and each one is secured with a rose. But for some reason, only the first one was painted. I'll have to fix that. 

I just love these! As I've been saying, Mattel could make a KILLING if they paired with a shoe manufacturer and made these doll shoes in people sizes. How many cool shoes have we seen for both Monster High and Ever After High?

Well, that's all for today everyone! I'm still working through (slowly) getting all my pictures converted from the fallout that was Photobucket and their 3rd party hosting. So soon the blog will be back to its normal self. 

So, do you have Rosabella Beauty or the vintage ballerina outfit in your collection? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time!

Christmas Treasure #3

Totally unrelated to Barbie, anyone watching the last week of football?

We've already got the Broncos in the Super Bowl, now it's up to the 49ers and the Seahawks. I live in Central Oregon so I'm right in the middle of Seattle and San Francisco so I get a lot of back and forth between friends. But we shall see. However it's a perfect time to blog since I really don't care who wins. Ha!

Last time we saw the most beautiful PJ wearing a winter Fashion Avenue wedding dress, complete with snowflakes!

I mentioned that this post would also feature snowflakes.

I present to you...."Snowflake" herself!

This is a collector edition classic ballet doll. I believe that my dad picked her up for me at one of the booths at the antique store where he has his own booth set up at. That's a very lucky gig, he gets to be at the store to change out his inventory and he gets to see all the new stuff the other vendors bring it. Fantastical!

Her box is a little beat up however she has a very friendly box allowing for deboxed pictures!

I have never seen The Nutcracker and in regards to dolls, only have seen the Sugar Plum Fairy. Snowflake is also very pretty, dressed appropriately in white and pale blue.

She is a newer body style doll and has a very sweet face. As always, we love the real eyelashes.

She has the cutest snowflakes on her bodice and I love the trim used for the straps, top and bottom of the bodice. And of course, the glittery sleeves!

The back of the box has a great picture of the doll as well as a little excerpt talking about The Nutcracker.

"Experience the wonder and charm of Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet, THE NUTCRACKER with Barbie doll as Snowflake.

The story takes place on Christmas Eve and centers around young Clara, who dreams that she saves her toy nutcracker from the evil clutches of the Mouse King. The nutcracker turns into a handsome prince, who takes Clara to a magical land filled with sugar plum fairies and confectionery delights. As they enter this enchanted kingdom, shimmering snowflakes come to life and dance in their honor.

Barbie doll as Snowflake reflects the splendor of the dancing snow in her shimmering tutu of soft satin and tulle. Glittering snowflakes decorate her bodice while sheer, iridescent tights and delicate blue toe shoes complete her lustrous look. A silvery tiara adorns her beautiful cluster of blond curls.


The Classic Ballet Series features classic ballets that come to life with Barbie. Your Barbie doll as Snowflake has specifically designed legs so you may pose her in actual first through fifth ballet positions for play or display."

I have decided that these dolls with tattered boxes will most definitely have to come out. As much as I love having dolls in their boxes (unless their dresses or hair are messed up then it kills me not taking them out) this doll I think I'm going to keep in the box. The backdrop is too cute to not use. However when I get to display her, I think I'll just keep her tacked onto the cardboard. I love it too much to take her off of it.


This doll even comes with a certificate of authenticity. Unlike the box this piece is in pristine condition.

Side note - I have another doll in a tattered box and have just decided to take her out of the box. But that's for a later post :) You can read my original post about her here!

What do you think of Snowflake? Do you have her or any other dolls from the Classic Ballet Series? Love hearing from you in the comments!

The next post also features snowflakes! Stay tuned!!

Christmas Gift Wrap-Up

Happy Sunday!

I just got back from a wonderful weekend up in the mountains with the hubby. A little cabin out by the lake in a remote area is just what we needed after a stressful week. But now I'm back with another post!

Can you believe that I STILL have a couple last Christmas gifts that I haven't shared with you all? I've been way too excited with other Barbie things that I totally forgot!

Remember back to October. I mentioned that my parents bought these dolls for me for my birthday.

I love "I Love Lucy." I always have and always will. Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance really were the true Queens of Comedy. And I have seen every episode.

Under the tree was a gift bag with an attached card that read "Open Me Last." Well, it definitely was awesome.

Look at these adorable little gems.

Are these NOT the most adorable things you have ever seen? Kelly Club dolls made into Lucy and Ethel. These were a surprise indeed! Apparently my parents saw these on eBay and just had to get them. So cute!

First we have Lucy and Ethel in episode 147 "Lucy Gets a Paris Gown." The back of the boxes describe the episode.

"Even while visiting stylish Paris, the Ricardo's and the Mertz's find hilarious misadventure. Husbands Ricky and Fred play a trick on the wacky redhead and her friend Ethel. Instead of couture ensembles, the boys give their wives their own brand of fashion - burlap potato sack originals!"

This event stems from Lucy and Ethel wanting expensive Jacques Marcel dresses. Some are ridiculous looking so Fred and Ricky "make dresses" for Lucy and Ethel out of burlap. Then later in the episode, two women come into the cafe wearing dresses looking exactly like the ones the husbands made for their wives. With the husbands overjoyed that they had the "originals", the wives were dismayed that they burned them from embarrassment of wearing them in public!

www.sitcomsonline.com

 So, how did Mattel do with these ones? Pretty good I say!

So adorable, I just can't stand it.

I looked and I even saw that they made a full size doll of "Lucy Gets a Paris Gown."

barbie.mattel.com

Next we have Episode 89 "Lucy is Envious"

Excerpt: In the "Lucy is Envious" episode, Lucy and Ethel need to make some serious money. They take jobs promoting the movie "Women from Mars" and find themselves dressed as Martians invading the observation deck of the Empire State Building!"

This episode is hilariously funny. Lucy and Ethel need some quick cash after committing to donating to a friends charity. Thinking they were donating only $5, their friend informed them that "five" in fact meant $500! They do the stunt and get the money and when their husbands find out, they dress as martians and "steal" the money from them, scaring Lucy and Ethel just like they scared everyone on top the Empire State Building.

www.playle.com

Okay, how about these ones? Very good likeness!

These are so precious and they make a nice addition to my other Lucy doll set.

I would love to get all of the "I Love Lucy" dolls but there are a ton of them! It must have been fun to make dolls for a woman who had many fun costumes and dresses. If I had to choose another one to get it would be this one: Lucy and Ethel Buy The Same Dress.

barbie.mattel.com

In this episode, Lucy and Ethel accidentally buy the same dress for a number they are doing in a show. Each thinking the other is going to return the dress, they both show up to the show wearing the same outfit and end up pulling pieces of the dress off of each other until Ricky and Fred pull them both off stage.

Do any of you have dolls based off of popular TV or movie characters?

Until next time!

A few more ornaments

Are any of you having some trouble getting back into the "swing" of things after the new year? Or is this just me? It seems like when I get home from work, all I want to do is sit and do nothing. Even trying to make dinner seems like a chore. Maybe because there has been snow on the ground here for about a month?

Well anyway, I'm back with a new post! Sorry sorry for all the wait!

Going through my boxes of Christmas decorations, I found some more Barbie ornaments. However, these are not like the Hallmark kind. These are porcelain of the most breakable kind. I'm surprised that none of these are broken considering how many times these ornaments have been moved with me in the past 5 years. But they've stayed in their original packaging and have been handled with care in boxes with the word "FRAGILE" plastered all over it.

So here is the collection!

The first: Barbie as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Isn't she beautiful? Dress is a little smooshed from being in her tight Styrofoam packaging.  But I love how they styled her arms. So befitting of the perfect ballerina.

Really great detail!

The boxes have fun excerpts like the Holiday Barbies. This one reads: "Barbie as the Sugar Plum Fairy captures the beauty of this lovely ballet character. With her tea-length tutu of shimmering, layered tulle...her tiny ballet slippers...and her golden tiara, she is the perfect beginning of an exquisite collection."

She is the first in the series. Next up: Barbie as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake.

Don't you just love the feathers? And the dress is just adorable. So cute! And again, such great detail went into making these.

Her box reads: "Barbie as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake captures the essence of this breathtaking ballet character. With her glittering tulle and organza tutu...her tiny ballet slippers...her silvery tiara...and her delicate, fluttering feathers, she is the perfect second addition to an exquisite collection."

Well, the tiny ballet slippers are always cute. Anything little is so cute right? :) This is the doll she was modeled after.

barbie.mattel.com

Not a bad job of making the two look identical. I may have to look for this doll, so beautiful.

Next is a little different. I don't think there was a third in the series of these ornaments but they did put out this one called "Lighter Than Air."

This one is my favorite of the three. So beautiful. I never had the will to put her on the tree for fear of her delicate arms and legs getting broken. The other two are not so much of an issue but this one is very delicate.

She's so beautiful.

Her box reads: "Your Barbie Lighter Than Air Porcelain Ornament is crafted in fine porcelain and her delicately painted face fully expresses the classic beauty and manner of a prima ballerina. Dark, up-swept hair is the perfect contrast to her pastel portrait. Her glorious costume and lithe pose are inspired by the renowned paintings of Edgar Degas. Layers of soft, hued, pleated tulle portray her as the perfect picture of ethereal grace. Her forever winsome look is completed with ivory ballet slippers."

Most of Degas' paintings are of ballet. Paintings of dancers in the studio, on the stage, and everywhere. He loved ballet. The pose of this dancer resembles our Barbie.

L'Etoile (The Ballerina) by Edgar Degas. www.pinterest.com

And last but certainly not least: Barbie as the Millennium Bride.

What a great likeness of Barbie! And the silver roses are perfect for this bride. I love the cathedral veil. And she has such a sweet face.

This face just shows that she is happy and is truly the blushing bride! She is a lot more composed than I was on my wedding day. I forgot to look at my husband while I was coming down the aisle because I was looking at everyone looking at me. Then the waterworks turned on when he wrote me a song. Ah, memories. :)

Her box write up is so cute. "There's one thing that hasn't changed since the first millennium - the fetching beauty of a blushing bride on her wedding day. This Barbie Millennium Bride porcelain Ornament embodies the elegance and grace every bride dreams of. She is simply breathtaking in a special bridal gown of shimmering tulle over satin the color of moonlight. Its dramatic silhouette is highlighted by a sweeping train that drifts out from the back of her gown. Her glimmering cathedral-length veil flows from a delicate silvery tiara that crowns her long hair and she carries a beautiful bouquet of silver-hued roses."

These ornaments were produced and sold by Avon. My mom has sold Avon for as long as I can remember. Since I was in preschool I think! I love Avon products and they have come out with some awesome things through the years. These ornaments being some of them!

I promise I will be back sooner this week. Until next time!