Barbie Fun!

Barbie...just the name brings back a flood of childhood memories! I was 10 when I got my first Barbie doll for Christmas. I didn't think I liked Barbie the first year when she was new. By the second Christmas, I was hooked! This is my original Barbie suitcase. I always took care of my dolls and when my girls were little, we only took down my Barbie things from the closet on special occasions. That was a the best way to keep all my doll things in good condition. My mom made some of the outfits and I do have some of the first official Barbie clothes. The only thing that somehow has disappeared is her shoes! My girls swear they never took them, so who knows

Here's a look inside my suitcase with my second Barbie with her bouffant hair do! I had dark hair then and my sister was a blonde, so I always got the dark haired dolls.

When I was playing Barbie with my granddaughter Ava, I discovered that my suitcase was really packed full! I go to lots of estate sales, so I was on the hunt for another smaller one. I found this single case and Jimmy negotiated a great price for me.

This is my original pony tail Barbie. I did get a blonde one...hum...maybe they weren't making the dark haired dolls yet. This case is great for her evening gowns.

I was at flea market and found this classic round Barbie case...yes, I had to get it. It was in such great condition and I always wanted a round suitcase.

More dolly clothes! Nothing is swished now! I never really valued MY dolls from the past until I started going to doll shows and realized just how old my dollies are! Goodness! Anyway, I am trying to take good care of my dolls now I have a sweet little Miss Revlon doll that actually was my favorite. She's about 10 1/2" tall and my mom made most of her outfits...that will be another blog post.

Thanks for sharing my doll post and I hope you have a great week ahead.

Miss Ava and Barbie

After I had Otto for the night on Saturday, it was Ava's turn to spend the night on Sunday. So, I went from baby boy to Barbie time! I still have my Barbie dolls and clothes from when I was little. I got my first Barbie in 1960...the blonde ponytail Barbie or as she is referred to in this little booklet below....
"Basic Barbie Doll Fashion Model Set". Look at the price!

Recently, Ava got the reproduction Barbie ~ Solo in the Spotlight. That's the cool black slinky dress that you often see. This doll really got Ava back into her Barbie dolls after taking a break with her American Girl Doll...Saige.

This is the reproduction Barbie and I think she's really pretty. I love her hair!

My original Barbie can be seen on the left here, standing next to Ava's. You can see some of her other dolls that were included in our play time. Playing  Barbie's with Ava goes on for hours! She loves to play Barbie and is so creative making up stories. It fascinates me and really tells you a lot about what is going on in that little head of hers!

My doll has the original Solo in the Spotlight outfit, but I no longer have the microphone. I do have all the other pieces. My poor Barbie could use a new hair style, but then, she has been around for a long time.You can see some of my outfits in my black Barbie suitcase below. My mom also made a lot of outfits for my doll. Have you ever tried to make Barbie clothes? VERY difficult. My mom not only made the outfits for me, she made matching ones for my sister's Barbie! My mother made so many doll clothes for me. I can remember her sewing in her room when we went to bed before Christmas. I never put it together that she was making doll clothes for years.

More of Ava's doll....

Below are some of the original outfits that I do have. I also have a vintage Ken. Maybe he'll appear in a blog post someday.

After playing in the house for the afternoon, we needed to go outside and get some fresh air! The garden and flowers also needed to be watered. Ava helped me and then she found a mud puddle. Why do kids love mud? Silly girl...she sure had fun!

Muddy feet for sure Miss Ava!

Look at that smile! I think Ava is ready for summer. She was so happy during her visit and we had a great time together. She is a chatty one and I love it. A few times she would ask me, "Am I talking too much?" I answered...."NEVER!"

I guess I should apologize to my girls Angie and Gina. I never really let them play with my vintage Barbie dolls and their clothes. Sometimes, I would sit with them and show them all the goodies. I think they did play with them when I was at work, but that's ok. I had so much fun mixing and matching my outfits and playing with Ava this weekend. I guess grandmas mellow out with their toys. I do have to admit I popped onto Ebay for a few additions for Barbie's vintage wardrobe. I love having a little girl in my life who loves to play with dolls! I am blessed.