Skippercollector

Feb. 11, 2012, new epier listing

2012-02-11T08:13:00.001-05:00

1994 Party Time Barbie blue dress
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2071295

my comments about A Perfect Christmas DVD

2012-02-04T10:43:00.001-05:00

http://barbiemovies.livejournal.com/130378.html

Feb. 3, 2012, new epier listing

2012-02-04T10:41:00.000-05:00

Barbie 1978 Best Buy 2219
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2070803

1987 Spectra article

2012-01-27T07:41:00.003-05:00

From The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 1, 1987
I never did read who won the contest, or if Mattel even followed through on the contest.

Jan. 14, 2012, new epier listing

2012-01-14T09:24:00.002-05:00

1972 fashion doll poncho
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2068963

Jan. 7, 2012, new epier listing

2012-01-08T17:25:00.002-05:00

Barbie 1978 Best Buy #2217 jumpsuit
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2068462

Dec. 24, 2011, new epier listing

2012-01-08T17:24:00.001-05:00

Mattel Two of a Kind Ashley Olsen
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?2067768

Dec. 17, 2011, new epier listing

2011-12-17T10:10:00.001-05:00

Barbie sized clothesline
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2067310

Dec. 10, 2011, new epier listing

2011-12-10T09:55:00.001-05:00

New York Minute Ashley Olsen
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2066735

1990s professional photo

2011-11-22T21:45:00.004-05:00

This photo is one of many that were taken of me and/or my dolls during the time I worked at the Community Press. This photo was one that was taken for a story about paying for vacation, hence the piggy bank.
In the photo are Rocker Ken in 1983 Hawaiian Ken's trunks, Equestrienne Barbie in Malibu Barbie's swimsuit, Malibu Skipper in a late 70s swimsuit, and Megan.
The photographer was named Lisa, but I cannot remember her last name.

nov. 19, 2011, new epier listing

2011-11-20T12:07:00.001-05:00

Grolier book A Special Ballerina
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2065324

nov. 12, 2011, new epier listings

2011-11-20T12:05:00.001-05:00

1997 ASP yearbook
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2064577

Ideal Velvet and Mia
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2064578

dream house furniture

2011-11-09T19:23:00.001-05:00

Information from the following booklets
1980 Dream House (dated 1979) 0007-3560
1983 Dream House (dated 1982) 0007-4530
1985 Dream House (dated 1984) 0007-4530-G1
1986 Barbie from India (undated) T-39
I also obtained some details from the book Collectible Barbie Dolls 1977-1979 by Sibyl St. John DeWein, copyright 1980.

Dream House
1045 Bath Chest and Commode, pink (shown in 3560, 4530 and G-1).
1049 Luxury Bathtub, pink (shown in 3560, 4530, G-1 and T-39). This comes with a yellow terry wrap, one of the few Dream House items that came with clothing.
2150 Bedroom set sold only in Europe.
2152 Dining Room set sold only in Europe, orange, yellow and white, table, four chairs, oven, serving cart.
2310 Dream Glow Vanity, pink, glows in the dark (shown in the 1986 clothing booklet)
2417 Stove and Microwave Oven, orange and yellow (shown in 3560). Pink and white (shown in 4530, G-1 and T-39).
2467 Desk and Seat, green (shown in 3560).
2468 Chair and End Table, pink and green (shown in 3560).
2469 Vanity and Seat, pink (shown in 3560, 4530, G-1 and T-39). Stock number 2155 in Europe, orange, yellow and white.
2470 Dining Buffet and China Cabinet, blue (shown in 3560 and T-39). Pink (shown in 4530 and G-1).
2471 Armoire, pink (shown in 3560, 4530 and G-1). Stock number 2153 in Europe, orange and white.
2472 Bed, Nightstand and Rug, pink (shown in 3560). Does not come with a rug in 1983 (shown in 4530, G-1 and T-39). Stock number 2154 in Europe.
2473 Refrigerator and Freezer, yellow (shown in 3560). White (shown in 4530, G-1 and T-39).
2474 Sofa and Coffee Table, pink and green (shown in 3560). Pink (shown in 4530 and G-1). Stock number 2156 in Europe.
2475 Dining Table and Chairs, blue, four chairs (shown in 3560). Pink (shown in 4530 and T-39).
2587 Dream House, orange and yellow and white, furnished (shown in 3560 and 4530). Pink (shown in G1).
2588 Dream House, orange and yellow and white, unfurnished (shown in 3560 and 4530). Pink (shown in G1).
3760 Living Room Finishing Touches, red, includes rug and pillows (shown in 3560).
3768 Bedroom Finishing Touches, pink, includes bedspread and rug (shown in 3560)
3770 Kitchen Finishing Touches, orange and yellow, (shown in 3560). This includes a rug, tablecloth and apron. The tablecloth is made of the same cloth as Barbie’s Kmart Fashion Classic 2876 and Hot Locks 3837 Satin Pantsuit shirt variation.
4331 Entertainment Center, pink, sofa, easy chair, coffee table and end table (shown in 4530 and G-1). Stock number 2151 in Europe, orange, yellow and white.
4337 Dining Center, pink and white, comes with table and two chairs, stove and microwave oven (shown in 4530 and G-1).
4345 Bath and Beauty Center, pink, bathtub, vanity and stool (shown in 4530 and G-1).
5641 Dream Bed, pink, canopy bed (shown in 4530, G-1 and T-39). Called Dream Glow Bed (it glows in the dark) in the 1986 clothing booklet.
7402 Fashion Sofa Bed and Coffee Table, white wicker love seat and table (shown in G-1 and T-39).
7403 Fashion Chair/Lounger and End Table, white wicker chaise longue--yes, this is the correct spelling--with blue and pink accessories (shown in G-1 and T-39).
7404 Fashion Living Room Set, white wicker furniture with blue and pink accessories (shown in G-1).
7797 Beauty Center, pink, dresser closet combo (shown in T-39).
9119 Dream Kitchen, pink and white, island with oven and dishwasher, butcher block table (shown in T-39)
9947 TV and Video Center, white and pink, with TV stand, TV and VCR (shown in T-39).

Dream Cottage
4432 Dream Cottage, orange and yellow and white, unfurnished (shown in 4530).
4718 Dream Cottage, orange and yellow and white, furnished (shown in 4530).

Back yard
1476 Patio Table and Chairs, pink and white (shown in T-39)
1478 Barbecue, orange (shown in 3560, 4530 and G-1). I have this and the hamburgers, hot dogs and utensils are very realistic-looking!
1479 Patio Table and Chairs, pink (shown in 3560). Blue and white (shown in 4530). Pink and blue and white (shown in G-1).
1480 Patio Recliner and Serving Cart, orange (shown in 3560, 4530 and G-1).
1481 Pool, yellow and white, unfurnished (shown in 3560).
1496 Pool with patio furniture, yellow and white and pink (shown in 3560 and 4530).

Oct. 29, 2011, new epier listing

2011-10-29T13:45:00.003-04:00

18-inch doll Springfield Collection Fashion Wardrobe
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2063540

Oct. 22, 2011, new epier listing

2011-10-22T11:18:00.001-04:00

EG Dolly Parton
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2062630

Oct. 15, 2011, new epier listing

2011-10-15T11:21:00.001-04:00

Mego Candi
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2061317

Sept. 24, 2011, new epier listing

2011-09-24T12:00:00.001-04:00

1993 Snow White Queen Mask and gown:
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2058263

Sept. 11, 2011, new epier listing

2011-09-13T20:05:00.000-04:00

A series of girls' comics called Yeah!
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2056015

sept. 3, 2011, new epier listing

2011-09-04T17:04:00.000-04:00

The listing this week is a little different, a comic book:

United by Chaos Comics, a story of Sept. 11:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2054866

Aug. 27, 2011, new epier listings

2011-08-27T11:31:00.001-04:00

These are my epier listings for Aug. 27

Wee Three Stacie, Lila and Janet:
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2053969

Mattel Vitamin C:
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2053968

Marx Janice and Josie West accessories:
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2053967

Aug. 20, 2011, new epier listing

2011-08-20T11:08:00.000-04:00

1976 Kenner Jaime Sommers doll and outfit:
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2053395

July 30, 2011, new epier listings

2011-07-30T11:00:00.000-04:00

1975 Free Moving Barbie tennis outfit:
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2051667

1961 Barbie Sings 45 RPM
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2051669

elliot handler has died

2011-07-23T11:26:00.008-04:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904233404576462491105489476.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

July 16, 2011, new epier listings

2011-07-17T16:46:00.000-04:00

Hasbro Slumber Party Simone NRFB:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2050088

Francie 1969 Twist N Turn original pink swimsuit:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2050087

July 9, 2011, new epier listings

2011-07-09T11:01:00.008-04:00

For the first time in years, I am posting my epier listings on Saturday mornings. Years ago, I used to place items for sale on Saturday mornings on ebay, but then life intervened and I no longer had the time and had to move my placement schedule. I can finally return to what I always thought was the best time to put up stuff for sale.

This first item was one I added last week.
1972 Barbie Glowin' Gold blouse:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2048879

These are the items for July 9.
1996 Jewel Hair Mermaid Barbie outfit:
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2049352

1975 Barbie Best Buy 9574 striped socks:
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2049353

1966 Barbie Sew Free Patio Party purse:
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2049354

Skipper's coats

2011-06-19T19:02:00.001-04:00

Out of all the different types of clothing created for the Barbie doll line, none has interested me more than the coats, especially Skipper’s. I would have died to own some of her coats and jackets! She had umpteem pieces of outerwear in the 1960s and 1970s, but they have not been as abundant since the 1980s. I do know that the winters in those first two decades were colder than they were later, so that might have something to do with it. They’re probably also more expensive to design and manufacture.

But now the winters, especially in the upper half of the northern hemisphere, are getting horrendous again, so perhaps the coats will return.

This is a list, by decade, of Skipper’s coats in the 20th century. It’s only of separately sold outfits, not ones that came on a doll. Many of them came with hats, gloves, boots and/or other items. Not all of the more recent outfits have stock numbers.

1960s

1964 1906 Dress Coat red velveteen coat

1965 1915 Rain or Shine yellow raincoat

1966 1926 Chill Chasers white fake fur coat

1966 1936 Sledding Fun red print quilted jacket, other clothes and accessories, including a sled

1967 1939 Flower Showers blue vinyl raincoat with pink flower print

1967 1948 Velvet N Lace red velveteen coat with coordinating dress

1968 1959 Warm N Wonderful green and blue fake fur coat with coordinating dress

1969 1973 Chilly Chums pink twill coat with coordinating dress (a coat for spring)

1969 1977 Plaid City green and blue plaid jacket with coordinating shirt and skirt (a jacket for spring)

1969 1590 Wow! What a Cool Outfit! green vinyl coat with coordinating dress (Sears exclusive)

1970s

1970 1735 Twice as Nice pink and blue felt coat with coordinating dress (or orange and gold)

1970 1736 Wooly Winter red boucle’ fur coat with coordinating dress

1970 1741 Pink Princess green coat with coordinating dress

1971 3472 Double Dashers blue and red checked knit coat with coordinating dress (a fall outfit)

1971 3471 Goin’ Sleddin’ yellow fake fur jacket with coordinating outfit and sled

1971 3476 All Over Felt light blue jacket with coordinating dress

1971 3477 Dressed in Velvet pink velvet coat with coordinating dress (I would have died to own something like this outfit as a girl!)

1971 3478 Long N Short of It red twill maxi coat with coordinating dress

1972 3297 Party Pair white fake fur coat with coordinating dress

1972 3372 White Bright N Sparkling white maxi coat (a spring coat)

1973 7715 Fun Clothes for the Great Outdoors denim jacket, other clothes and accessories, including a sleeping bag

1973 Best Buy 8613 red fake fur coat

1976 Best Buy 9121 red plaid coat (a fall coat for school)

1977 9747 Red Set for When It’s Wet red vinyl raincoat and coordinating dress

1977 9748 For Schooltime, Playtime, Anytime red and blue knit jacket and other clothes and accessories

1979 2811 Shorts Subject yellow windbreaker and other clothes and accessories

1979 2812 Winter Warmth brown sherpa vest and other clothes and accessories

1980s

1988 Sweetheart Fashion 5876 white fake fur coat and pink stretch knit outfit (a European exclusive and probably Skipper’s ultimate 80s outfit)

1989 2597 Head of the Class denim jacket and coordinating dress

1990s

1992 Trendy Teen denim jacket and coordinating outfit

1993 10080 Create Outrageous Fashions with Sweetheart Rhinestones, More Rhinestones and Glitter Fabric Paint pink denim jacket and other clothes

1993 High School 3649 denim jacket and other clothes

1993 School Days playset with baseball jacket and accessories

1994 Shoppin’s a Blast black denim jacket and skirt

1995 Teen Time denim jacket and skirt

1998 Fashion Avenue 18381 red vinyl jacket and jeans shorts

1998 Teen Sister white fake fur jacket and coordinating dress

1998 Teen Sister red baseball jacket, silver skirt, black hi-tops

1998 Cool Looks black vinyl jacket and coordinating dress

May 29, 2011, new epier listing

2011-05-29T09:04:00.001-04:00

1988 Hasbro Makin' Waves Maxie NRFB

http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2046657

May 8, 2011, new epier listing

2011-05-08T20:20:00.000-04:00

Family Feud board game:

http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2044335

April 24, 2011, new epier listing

2011-04-28T07:39:00.001-04:00

3 sad-eyed children pictures from the 1960s

http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2043139

April 10, 2011 new epier listing

2011-04-10T10:06:00.001-04:00

Four Carolyn Haywood novels
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2041683

April 3, 2011, new epier listing

2011-04-03T08:56:00.000-04:00

Skipper's 1965 outfit #1915 Outdoor Casuals

http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2041039

my Ken exhibit

2011-03-19T18:13:00.004-04:00

Some of my Ken and friends dolls are now displayed at Green Township Library, 6526 Bridgetown Road, Cincinnati, OH. They are being displayed their in conjunction with Ken's 50th birthday, which was March 13, 2011.

The dolls being shown are:

1964 blond Straight Leg Ken in #1411 Victory Dance

1964 Straight Leg Allan in #1409 Goin' Huntin' jeans and At Ease shirt

1970 Bend Leg Ken in #1435 Shore Lines

1970 Talking Brad in #1514 Casual All Stars

1975 Free Moving Ken in original outfit

1975 Free Moving Curtis in Best Buy #7226

1983 Horse Lovin' Ken in #5824 Date with Barbie

1983 Bridegroom Todd in original outfit

1986 Tropical Ken in Twice as Nice #2306

1986 Rocker Derek in original outfit

1988 California Ken in #4508 Private Collection Bridegroom

1988 Island Fun Steven in #4469 California

1991 Wedding Day Ken in original outfit

1991 Wedding Day Alan in original outfit

I chose these particular dolls not because they had great outfits, or they were personal favorites, or they were valuable or rare. I chose them because I wanted to not only show Ken but also his buddies. Each of the "buddies" I've chosen are the earliest versions of that particular guy, and so I chose a corresponding Ken from that year. Each doll is wearing either his original outfit or an outfit sold that same year. My display stops at 1999 because that is the year I quit buying new merchandise (although I still go back and purchase pre-1999 stuff if I see it and like it).

March 13, 2011, new epier listing

2011-03-19T17:06:00.002-04:00

I've finally had the time to start listing again on epier. This is what I placed for sale last Sunday.

Four pairs of Hasbro Love purple slacks

http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2038411

Jan. 16, 2011, new epier listing

2011-02-22T19:58:00.002-05:00

Hasbro Sindy original 1977 dress:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2032176

Jan. 23, 2011, new epier listing

2011-01-23T14:16:00.002-05:00

I have two of Skipper's Silk N Fancy dresses for sale:

wedding gown exhibit

2011-01-08T14:42:00.007-05:00

We went to the wedding gown exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum. There are at least 30 dresses there, the oldest being from the mid-1700s to the newest, a Vera Wang gown from 2003. Yes, there is a Barbie doll there--it's the Badgley Mischka Bride Barbie from 2003. There's also a 19th-century china doll exhibited in a wedding dress--she looks like a Kestner.
There were three wild contemporary gowns there. One was--you guessed it--a Bob Mackie that looks like it was designed for the Qs in Star Trek. A second was a Goth gown with black feathered wings attached. The third wasn't a real dress--it was a gown made up of thousands of layered cream-colored latex gloves. Yes, you could SMELL the dress--from several feet away!
The exhibit continues through Jan. 30. The website is
http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/

40 doll collecting sites

2011-01-06T21:50:00.002-05:00

A woman named Carrie Oakley has included my skippercollector blog on her list of 40 top doll and toy collecting sites.
http://www.onlinecolleges.org/top-40-doll-collecting-blogs/

Jan. 2, 2011, new epier listing

2011-01-02T08:51:00.002-05:00

This is Ken's Pet Pals #3664 sweater vest and dog from 1987:
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2030623

Dec. 26, 2010, new epier listing

2010-12-26T14:54:00.002-05:00

"Apollo 13" is my all-time favorite movie, and I was disappointed that there wasn't more collectible stuff released in conjunction with the movie. This is one of them.

Apollo 13 Micro Machines set NRFB
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2030014

Dec. 19, 2010, new epier listing

2010-12-25T20:04:00.002-05:00

I just realized I never posted the epier listing I added on Dec. 19:

3 SeaQuest paperback novels
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2029315

the Skipper complex

2010-12-12T12:02:00.001-05:00

M.G. Lord wrote a book called “Forever Barbie” in 1994. It is both a history of the doll and a cultural commentary. Chapter 11 is entitled “Our Barbies, Our Selves” and a portion of the chapter discusses what Lord called the Skipper complex; that is, a feeling of inferiority. I’ve retyped the portion for you to read. Although I sympathize with some of what is written, most of it I disagree with.

Jan’s first encounter with “the whole Barbie phenomenon” took place in California in 1965. “I must have been five or six,” she told me. “That year, for Christmas, I got a Skipper doll and a little forty-five of Gary Lewis and the Playboys’ ‘She’s My Girl,’ and all day I had Skipper bouncing around to this song. She was a dark-haired Skipper, and she very much had that sixties look--eyeliner and little bangs and long hair. I thought Skipper was the end-all and be-all of the earth, until I phoned one of my friends to compare gifts. She started talking about how she had gotten this Barbie, which was a much different kind of doll. And I immediately felt rooked--why had I gotten the little sister? Why hadn’t I gotten the star of the show?”
Jan’s adoptive mother argued that the younger doll was closer in age to Jan. But, Jan recalled, “It made me feel in playing with other that I didn’t have what it took. Because all I had was a Skipper. I could never really get into the whole dating thing. I could never have this rich fantasy life--meet a man, have romantic love. I was always relegatedf to being the little sister.”
Nor did Jan's identification with Skipper end when she outgrew dolls. “I have never felt particularly pretty or attractive or sexually interesting. I have always thought that I was more like, not a little sister, but an androgynous person.”
This was not the revelation I had expected from Jan--chic, downtown Jan in her stylish black suits and crimson lipstick--who had competed in beauty contests as a teenager. I had expected her to talk about racial identification--how it felt for an Asian American to play with a doll that coded Caucasion standards of beauty. But all Jan wanted to discuss was Barbie’s voluptuousness.
“Barbie always looms,” Jan said. “That sort of ideal looms--and other women have it. Other women possessed these dolls, other women learned the secret. Maybe this is taking this Barbie thing too far, but I feel like the other women had a kind of girl experience that I didn’t--that they understood something about being sort of seductive and perky that I didn’t get. I was always kind of a gal-along-for-the-ride, never feeling I could identify with the Marilyn Monroe-Jayne Mansfield-Barbie character.”
By withholding Barbie, Jan believes, her mother deliberately tried to stunt her sexual development. And it nearly worked: Despite her cheerleader looks, she projected so much standoffishness that she scared boys away. It wasn’t until she was eighteen that she had her first date. Fortunately, her father, an engineer who wore Vargas Girl cuff links and joked about “va-va-va-voom actresses,” projected a different message. “My mother was a very threatened person,”Jan said. “Because she was very unattractive. And my father was quite handsome. I think she felt threatened by me sexually--by any woman who was attractive.
“You know what dolls my mother did give me?” Jan suddenly blurted. “Trolls! I never had a Barbie house but I had a troll house. I was thinking: Is this what she wants me to identify with--these horrible things with purple hair?”
Today, no one observing Jan and her husband--“a cross between Jeff Bridges and Jeff Daniels,” she says--would suspect that she had a Skipper complex. Yet just as I will never quite shake the legacy of Midge, Jan has been forever burdened with Skipper. Jan, however, doesn’t scapegoat the doll; in therapy, she learned to distinguish between the message and its messenger.

Dec. 12, 2010, new epier listing

2010-12-12T11:44:00.003-05:00

Three Dark Shadows paperbacks:
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2028484

Dec. 5, 2010, new epier listing

2010-12-05T11:09:00.002-05:00

Playmates SeaQuest Lucas Wolenczak on epier:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2027984

Nov. 28, 2010, new epier listing

2010-12-02T21:09:00.003-05:00

Battlestar Galactica Galacticon 2003 25th anniversary program:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2027257

Nov. 21, 2010, new epier listing

2010-11-22T21:51:00.001-05:00

Playmates SeaQuest Nathan Bridger MIP:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2026407

Nov. 14, 2010, new epier listing

2010-11-16T19:46:00.004-05:00

I have three pieces of a hard-to-find Skipper outfit for sale. These are from her Sears gift set Young Ideas.
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2025321

epier Nov. 7, 2010

2010-11-09T21:38:00.002-05:00

Playmates SeaQuest Dennis "The Regulator" Ferina MIP:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2024137

Oct. 31, 2010, new epier listing

2010-10-31T08:56:00.002-04:00

1994 SeaQuest Manny Crocker MIP
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2023155

Oct. 24, 2010, epier item

2010-10-24T00:20:00.003-04:00

Barbie 1969 #1885 Salute to Silver
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2022183

epier Oct. 17, 2010

2010-10-17T18:24:00.002-04:00

Barbie and Ken Masquerade costumes on epier:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2021670

Barbie World of Fashion Game

2010-10-15T18:42:00.003-04:00

Barbie World of Fashion from 1968 is the prettiest--and the weirdest--of the Barbie board games. The artwork on the box and the molded playing area is stunning, but unfortunately there is no indication as to who did the artwork.
The game was sold in 1968, and as you recall, Ken was not sold in 1967 and 1968. The premise is that Barbie, Francie, Casey and Skipper go off on their own ways to shop around the world and meet guys. If you land on certain spaces, you can collect money. On other spaces, you can buy 1968 outfits. I think that any girl could buy any outfit, despite the fact that the outfit may not have been made for that particular doll. The prices are odd, even for 1968. The wedding gown and the party clothes range from $70 to $100. The cheapest is Barbie's lingerie for $10. But some of the prices seem "off," even for 1968. For instance, Posy Party, which is a thin party dress, is $50, but Warm N Wonderful, with its fur coat, heavy dress and boots, is $30.
But that's the least weirdest aspect of the game! If Barbie is 18, Francie and Casey are 16, and Skipper is 12, why are they running off individually to go all over the world?! And who are these men they can date, who seem to range in age between 20 and 35? The most obnoxious items are the answering machine messages from the guys they meet. For instance, one says, "I hear you dated my roommate. It's all over. Send back photo."
In other words, the game seems to be a cross between Monopoly and Gossip Girl. What was Mattel thinking?

Oct. 3, 2010, new epier listing

2010-10-03T08:44:00.002-04:00

Springfield High clothes
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2019929

Doll Reader article February 1998

2010-09-27T21:26:00.001-04:00

My 20 years with Mattel
by Martha Armstrong-Hand
Doll Reader, February 1998

My first experience with figure sculpture sculpture was under our Christmas tree in Berlin, Germany. My grandfather's sister had created figures made out of plaster, which were then painted and clothed.
When I studied at the academy of art in Berlin, my first serious work at age 19 was a Nativity in ceramic, commissioned by our church.
After I arrived in this country during the 1950s, it was necessary to earn a living for my family, and I found my niche making figures for ViewMaster. I started with “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and worked with many stories and animation studios I even created some of my own figures for “Littlest Angel” and “The Night Before Christmas.” I was introduced to Warner Brothers, MGM, Walter Lantz, and Disney cartoons.
Among my favorites at Disney were Peter Pan, Bambi, and Donald Duck. This activity got me into Mattel in a roundabout way. Without my knowledge at the time, I had been placed on an artist list at the Disney Studios, and an art director at Mattel picked up my name from that list. The art director came to our house in Van Nuys and commissioned me to model a preliminary head for a doll. At that time, I had no idea what and who Mattel was.
I did the head but did not get the final job. I was delighted--I made $100 in four hours. That head was for Chatty Cathy, and the year was 1960.
It wasn’t until 1963 that I figured out what Mattel was doing. I had tried to get a job as a graphic artist, but the agency where I applied immediately classified me as a toy maker on seeing my ViewMaster slides. So I was sent to Mattel where a job for a face painter was open--not on a line painting faces, but as a designer of doll faces.
What got Mattel on the map was an idea of Mattel owners Ruth and Elliot Handler and a German doll called Bild Lilli.
Eventually, Mattel bought the Lilli rights, and by 1959, Barbie was on the shelves in the United States.
Barbie had been advertised on television, and there was quite a run on her right away. Within two years, she was an across-the-board success in the States. Back in Hawthorne, California, artists and engineers have been busy ever since to develop her with new body parts--new eyes, new hair, and, of course, endless fashion.
There hasn’t been a year since I started working at Mattel that Barbie didn't get a new friend or relation. I designed, that is painted, the faces of Midge, Skipper, Tutti and Todd, Francie, and of course my own Rickie as well as Ken's friend Alan and Skipper's friend Skooter.
In 1963, Mattel had seven sculptors, and I was not one of them yet.
Manufacturing, particularly in the developing stages, is team work. Every doll, including Barbie, goes through the ritual of ideas, drawing, molding, and changing.
The Marketing Department and the owners determine what should he produced. While I was painting away in my cubicle, a new doll gadget--a "burp"--yes, a burp sound--had been created in a neighboring cubicle. Now the burp needed a baby. The Handlers had left instructions to model some infant heads while they were traveling abroad, and the whole sculpture department was busy with wrinkled babies. When the Handlers returned, they didn't like a single one.
New babies were born (11 from the sculpture department), and to my delight I was asked to contribute to the frantic effort. All the doll heads were wigged and set on temporary bodies, and all the women in the department--ahout 30 or so plus the owners--voted. I was told that Ruth Handler picked up my No. 13 and hugged her. I was a sculptor at Mattel!
Soon I was modeling my first doll, Pat-a-Burp. I was responsible for the head, arms, and legs. The burp case was imbedded in her body. I determined the hair too, a rare privilege mostly left to the hair department and some men in management who invariably opted for blondes.
My talent had already been honed in the courts of animation and puppetry. To make a sweet child was just a matter of finding a good model. For this, I collected notebooks full of photos from magazines.
The year is now 1964, and an inexpensive talker was being planned. We called her the "Hong Kong Talker" because that's where she was going to be produced. A charming voice was found, and now we needed a toddler head to go with the voice: "I want another drink of water" or "I am sleepy" [spoken in a high, squeaky tone]--that was Drowsy's voice.
I was chosen to submit three heads. All were painted and wigged and went into a management/marketing meeting. When the meeting broke, [one doll was chosen to be Drowsy and] two of my dolls had new names: The Walking Doll (later Baby First Step) and Baby Sheryl. The original head for the Walking Doll had been done by another sculptor. In this meeting, it was considered too old. One of my two heads was chosen for the Walking Doll instead.
As usual, Drowsy started out with dark hair and ended up blonde. Her half closed eyes were the idea of our art director who insisted on her, what I thought, silly eyes, which turned out most effective. The doll was produced in the same shape for 20 years and a smal]er model, with modeled on hair, made it all the way to 1985.
Drowsy's head went through many transformations, but the same mold was used. Her head distinguished a walking or skating doll issued especially for Sears. With her eyes wide open, Drowsy became Baby Colleen and Patootie.
My favorite was Patootie the Clown. To make him smile for the happy face was very difficult, and we painted many versions. For some reason, the sad face was much easier to paint. If you own Patootie with mask, you have a collector's item, as in children's rooms the mask disappeared first.
As Baby Secret, Drowsy, moved her mouth and whispered. It was a true, team effort between the engineer and the sculptor, and took us through many trials. To make use of that mechanism, Baby Teeny Talk was produced as well as a special Red Riding Hood.
Baby First Step had started with the walking mechanism and a body was designed around it. Thank goodness I only had the head to do. The body was done by John Gardner who had to make seven different legs before he fitted the contraption inside. I should say the remarkable mechanism that made the doll balance while walking. She certainly became a million-dollar baby, both in the U.S. and in Europe.
The third head, on Baby Sheryl, was seen for only two seasons.
In 1965, we started working on a unique doll. Team work between the engineer and the sculptor, in this case myself, were at its all-time best, and the outcome showed it.
First, we called her Baby Laugh and Cry, but her final name was Cheerful Tearful. A child would feed the doll water from a special baby bottle. This filled a little tank in the doll's head and her left arm was the lever that compressed or relaxed the flexible tank. The genius in the design was the inner connection between tank and skin that moved the face in iust the right way to make her cry. Cheerful was her normal state with arm up.
In the beginning, her eyes were set in, and we already had package art when it was discovered that a previous patent had been registered for just such a doll mechanism without ever having been produced as a doll. The very capable engineer John Hartman managed to make her work with painted instead of set eyes and little holes in the corner near the nose for the tears to come out. He also devised an accordion-tank system and this changed the mechanism enough to apply for a new patent. Cheerful Tearful was on the road to success, both here and in Europe.
As inner mechanisms got more and more sophisticated, every toy show asked for new and ingenious concepts, and the team effort of sculptors and engineers also got more demanding.
A pleasant story started in 1965, again at a time when the Handlers were on a trip. The work order read, "Make unique little dolls that fit into the hand of a child." Mr. Handler wanted little neighborhood children. Still, they had to have large heads and very small bodies. I had painted the whole gang from the sculpture department. (I was still a painter and I really itched to try my hands, but I had not been asked.) One of my neighbors kept egging me on and finally, without a work order, I modeled a head, put it on one of the bodies, dressed it complete with paper hat and stick sword. A little boy. On seeing this, the director asked me to do more and I ended up with four designs. Three of my designs were accepted along with one other and they became the first nine Kiddles, and the year was 1966. The next year, I don't know how many were produced.
This went on and on until there was a kingdom of more than ]00 Kiddles of all sizes--right down to perfume bottles and jewelry. One little Kiddle's head joined the Barbie family and became Skipper's friend Chris. Another Kiddle head became Buffy from the television show "Buffy and Mrs. Beasly" ["Family Affair"]. Three became Pretty Pairs.
For various reasons, I left Mattel in 1967, but the grass was not greener in other fields, and I was happy to be rehired in 1969. There was lots of room at Mattel for new products. I came back with a few ideas of my own but had to wait my turn.
While I was away from Mattel from 1967 to 1969, I created a doll family: father, mother, baby, sister, and brother. Originally, I had in mind to have them travel through time, but nobody was interested in that. Then I tried to sell Mattel the idea of the family being the "neighbors" with everyday activities like father working, children going to school, and so forth. Right off, some marketing people didn't think "family" was such a good idea. But when The Littlechap Family came out [from another company], management changed its mind--only my people were considered too weird, so I made new people.
Our wonderful artist, Joyce Christopher, sat down with me and drew up a presentation. This finally convinced management, and with more artist input and packaging plus crafts, The Good Earth Family was born. The Handlers thought"Good Earth" was too "hippie" a name and after endless searching, agreed on The Sunshine Family.
Meanwhile, The Sunshine Family had fun, got a farm and a cow, a cat, a dog, and, oh yes, grandparents. Eventually, they had another child, but in the end they moved into a condominium.
This whole development took place over six years, and finally, in 1976, Mama and Papa did go time traveling and helped with the celebration of the Bicentennial. They were called The Star-Spangled Dolls.
During the same time period, another doll complex was forming, It started with the inventor Eddy Goldfarb walking into Elliot Handler's office with a Drowsy filled with beans. He called it a bean-bag baby Elliot was impressed but thought the baby was too big, too heavy, and too clumsy.
Joyce Christopher made some charming sketches on paper depicting smaller bean-bag characters with various expressions. I became the sculptor of the heads, Joyce modeled the hands, and fashion designer Dorothy Shoe furnished the cuddly bodies. We were a winning team.
The shy baby, first called Bitty Beans, actually came from my original design of The Sunshine Family baby, or rather the neighbor's baby that was never put into the production stream.
Yawny or Bedsie Beans did not last very long, but I see somebody copied her in the doll world of today. The smiling character took on a variety of names, including Booful and Punky. The shy one was used for a number of new personalities: Talking Beans and later Jean, Biffy, and Puffin Beans. Cry Baby Beans could cry and be fed.
The next group of dolls came in 1973 and 1974. Eventually there were mother and baby Beans. Yes, a father too. Then they shrank and got canned really! Canned Beans they were called. Eventually, they climbed into what could be a matchbox, but that name could not be used, so they became Shoe Beans. I saw the last batch of Beans in a 1985 catalog.
One other doll branch needs mentioning. This one started in 1969. The work order read "Baby World," and three sculptors, John Cardner, Joyce Christopher, and Elinor Palagi, had made heads for a 4-inch baby. We understood by the term "Baby World" that layettes, furniture, and baby buggies would be needed. ] got all excited making a collapsible bed that turned into a bathtub and also a highchair to a lowchair to a who knows-what contraption. All preliminary models were child-tested. But in the end, because of its smallness, the whole project was dropped the next year.
By 1975, it was revived under the capable direction of Virginia Sergant who already showed her tremendous talent in directing and costuming The Sunshine Family Block.
Mattel had acquired the British firm Rosebud, and the baby project became Rosebud Babies. In Virginia's hands, the babies lived in a more or less Victorian-lacy world, with furniture to fit the image. I was privileged to finish, complete, and perfect the old "Baby Word" heads from ]969, give the 4-inch baby a body, and later even sculpt the body and the head for the 7-inch Rosebud Baby. This family flourished all the way into the 1980s. In fact:, two little Rosebud babies were reborn as the Hart Family children.
By 1975, I was a consultant with a contract and moved north to Cambria. California. At the same time, I started creating my own porcelain dolls. When my grandson was born in 1976, I modeled him and presented him in porcelain for collectors in a limited edition of 25. When my supervisor at Mattel, Aldo Favilli, saw my dolls, he wanted me to make Baby Alex Paul for Mattel.
I promised a similar, larger doll and made every effort to make him different from Alex. I even changed colors of outfit and blanket, but, in the end, everybody thought I had produced Alex in vinyl--Lov'n Touch Baby by Mattel. Lov'n Touch had its name from the very special vinyl skin that felt soft and good to the touch. A Lov'n Touch Sister followed.
Finally, I was asked to do Lov'n Touch Infant, just in time to use my second grandson for a model. Eventually, the baby's hands had to be changed to not have bitable fingers.
My answer to Cabbage Patch dolls was Beloved Belinda. I gave her that name. We were going to have her travel with suitcase and preparedness for distant places. Well, she didn't go anywhere except into a closet and probably out the door.
Other fun jobs followed, including a heroine for a science-fiction story for a Barbie body; a new family; and a Hawaiian Barbie for which an existing head was finally used. The Rainbow Babies were meant for a baby's first doll. By that time I could easily enjoy the Job without thinking of the production outcome. I only wish I could have kept the models.
I attempted to make a new Skipper, but he was not suitable.
You might wonder how I was so bold to title this "Twenty Years with Mattel." It is because some dolls outlasted my stay. And, of course, this happened in the Barbie kingdom.
In 1971, I took over a job from Joyce Christopher when she became ill and when the job was barely roughed out. The head was supposed to be Miss America among other things. I used all the skills of lip perfection I had just recently learned from Joyce, who had been my supervisor for the previous two years.
Steffie, Kelley, P.J., or whatever she was called then, had a mouth without a broad smile, and that fact gave her the opportunity--with different eye painting and hair--to be a stand-in whenever an extra female body was needed for Barbie activities. For example, behind a McDonald stand, behind the counter in the beauty shop, by the pool, at a wedding, or just for a good party to show off lavish clothes. Occasionally, her skin color would change, but not too often. To date, her name is Teresa and, who knows, she might make it into the year 2000.
For years, we had ideas of a museum, but I know now how costly it is to run one, not to mention display cases and lighting--not exactly a money-making proposition.
Who knows? Maybe three generations from now, collectors will want some of these characters in their collections.

Sept. 26, 2010, new epier listing

2010-09-26T17:12:00.002-04:00

Ideal Velvet original shoes, her jeans plus a shirt
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2018795

Sept. 19, 2010, new epier listing

2010-09-25T00:12:00.003-04:00

Jaime Sommers Bionic Woman jumpsuit and accessories:
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2018007

Sept. 5, 2010, new epier item

2010-09-05T08:52:00.003-04:00

1991 Barbie Musical Jewelry Box
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2016566

Aug. 22, 2010, new epier listing

2010-08-27T20:32:00.004-04:00

I meant to mention this on Sunday but forgot about it until today. This is my most recent epier listing.

space shuttle mission puzzle
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?2015071

The Barbie Fashion Experience in Indianapolis

2010-08-25T22:15:00.006-04:00

In 1984, soon after I started collecting Barbie dolls, a museum in Indianapolis did a Barbie doll display featuring hundreds of 1960s dolls and outfits loaned by Indy residents.
The exhibit called The Barbie Fashion Experience, now at the Children's Museum in Indy, is very different from that original exhibit. This one is by Mattel and is not nearly as comprehensive. It's also aimed at a much younger audience.
That doesn't make it bad, just a bit underwhelming. As an adult collector I was expecting much more. Even if Mattel hasn't kept all that great of archives regarding its goddess, surely it could have requested the help of the millions of Barbie collectors out there to add to the information and displays?
So this is what IS there:
There are a number of glass display cases featuring dolls, some of them redressed, plus several houses and cars. The beginning of the exhibit was scenes by decade of our friends playing or sitting, plus painted scenic backgrounds, much like dioramas. The three most impressive dolls were a NRFB sidepart American Girl, a NRFB blonde Color Magic, and a black Francie redressed in Twiggy Turnouts. Although we collectors know the significance of these three dolls, the general public is NOT going to know why those three dolls were exhibited. And, no, there also WASN'T a number one displayed! Isn't that a mortal sin? There were only a few Kens, Skippers and friends displayed, and no mention at all of Stacie/Tutti or Kelly. Most annoying of all, some of the doll dates and at least one outfit name were wrong!
Other information areas--human size mannequins dressed in outfits by contemporary designers--the dresses look like something Barbie would wear; 1960s real-life examples of ensembles that Mattel adapted for Barbie; and play areas for little girls that have makeup, scarves and wigs to try on.
The best part, in my opinion, was the Barbie commercials that were shown. Although they aren't in chronological order, every decade is represented. Unfortunately, the commercials are undated. I knew what year each one was from, but the public sure isn't going to know that information! One interesting piece of trivia I learned was this: I knew that Maureen McCormick had done a Talking Barbie commercial, but I didn't know she'd also done one for Living Barbie; and most interesting of all, Eve Plumb had also done a different Talking Barbie commercial! (I didn't watch the entire video. If anyone else has been to the exhibit and watched the program, is the commercial with the Lockhart girls on there as well?)
Also, there will be a showing of "Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale," the evening of Friday, Sept. 17, if anyone is interested.
These are the specifics about the museum: Its address is 3000 N. Meridian St. and its phone number is (317) 334-3322. The Barbie exhibit continues through Feb. 1, 2011. It takes about 45 minutes to look at all the Barbie stuff and probably three or four hours to look through the entire museum. Two other temporary exhibits are there currently, one about Star Wars and the other about rock musicians. Admission is $15.50 for adults or $13.95 if you have an AAA membership. There is a garage across the street and parking there is free.
One last bizarre detail: The gift shop had its own window display. Someone had taken dozens of the reproduction Malibu Barbie and Rockers Barbie and lined them up in rows on boards. Haven't a clue why. They're not for sale.

http://www.childrensmuseum.org/barbie/

Aug. 1, 2010, new epier listing

2010-08-04T21:52:00.002-04:00

Another Barbie wedding dress for sale:
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2013014

july 25, 2010, new epier item

2010-07-25T22:42:00.000-04:00

One listing for July 25:

Barbie as Rapunzel DVD
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2012270

July 18, 2010, new epier listing

2010-07-21T21:48:00.001-04:00

I listed one item this week on epier. It's a different sort of souvenir.

Forest Fair Mall grand opening watch
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2011633

Barbie Fashion Comics 1994

2010-07-05T08:35:00.001-04:00

Barbie Fashion 37, January 1994, Sweet 16 Snowstorm, by Slate. Barbie’s and Skipper’s friend Rachel Green, a volunteer at General Hospital, has a different idea of what her 16th birthday party should be than what her mother is planning.

Barbie Fashion 38, February 1994, The Sound of Music, by Slate. Courtney tries out for a Christmas choir, but loses her voice. The New Year is Here, by Slate. Skipper makes five New Year’s resolutions but she can only keep one. Her winter coat looks like Chilly Chums. Hip Hop Hooray, by Slate. Kevin tries to find a way to ask Skipper to a dance. How many dances does their school have?

Barbie Fashion 40, April 1994, The Better Sweater. Skipper gives a lot of her old clothes to charity, but decides to keep a pink cardigan. The sweater looks like the one from School Days from 1964. Barbie just sews new heart-shaped buttons on it.

Barbie Fashion 41, May 1994, April Fools, by Slate. We learn that Skipper’s favorite day of the year is April 1.

Barbie Fashion 44, August 94, It’s Instinctive, by Slate. Skipper’s really a dimwit in this, not understanding why wild animals run from humans.

Barbie Fashion 45, September 94. Melissa’s Dress Mess, by Slate. Another Skipper dream sequence--she’s in ancient Rome & has the name Skipperus. There are two more parts to this story, in which Skipper tries to tell her friend Melissa that her dress is ugly. No Fun in the Sun, by Slate. Skipper tries to decide which sunscreen and sunglasses she wants to buy to take to the beach. The red sunglasses she buys look exactly like the ones that came with 1972’s Fun Runners.

Barbie Fashion 46, October 1994. My Name is Amy, by Slate. Skipper’s friend Amy is constantly putting herself down, much to Skipper’s chagrin. A Fishy Story, by Slate. Skipper needs to come up with an idea for an environmental poster.

Barbie Fashion 47, November 1994, The Visit by Slate. Barbie’s college roommate Cynthia comes to visit her after Cynthia breaks up with Matt. Skipper teaches Cynthia how to play backgammon. Oh, and trivia: Barbie and Ken are members of Valley View Country Club.

Barbie Fashion 48, December 1994, Who’s Haunting Whoooo?, by Slate. Skipper and Courtney hide upstairs in an old house where Barbie and her friends have a Halloween dance. The spooky sound effects tape that Skipper and Courtney play scares everyone. What no one realizes is that the old house really is haunted! This is long, clever and funny story.

July 4, 2010, new epier listing

2010-07-05T08:25:00.002-04:00

One listing for Independence Day:

Maxie So Cool 8301 NRFP
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2009840

July 3, 2010, Toys R Us gift sets

2010-07-03T03:50:00.002-04:00

These are the Toys R Us gift sets that included Teen Fun Skipper dolls.

1989
#4893 Toys R Us Cool City Blues Barbie, Ken and Skipper gift set. Barbie in Jeans Look #4333, Ken in Jeans Look #4336 and Skipper in Teen Fun #5860, all from 1988. Ken made in Malaysia, Barbie made in Malaysia or China, and Skipper made in China, Teen Fun Skipper body.

1991
#3177 Toys R Us Disney Friends Barbie, Ken and Skipper gift set. Barbie in Minnie Mouse T-shirt, Ken in Mickey Mouse T-shirt, Skipper in Donald Duck T-shirt, all three wear Mouseketeer ears. Made in Malaysia, Teen Fun Skipper body.

1992
#5716 Toys R Us Sharin’ Sisters Barbie, Skipper and Stacie gift set. Fluorescent green, blue and pink print denim outfits. Made in Malaysia, Teen Fun Skipper body.

1993
#10143 Toys R Us Sharin’ Sisters Barbie, Skipper and Stacie gift set, revised. Blue, pink and white lace-trimmed mix and match outfits. Made in Malaysia, Teen Fun Skipper body.

1996
#14073 Toys R Us Travelin’ Sisters with Barbie, Skipper, Stacie and Kelly gift set. All four dolls wear various combinations of denim, white with black polka-dots and a red Scottie print. American version has Barbie with SuperStar face. Japanese version has Barbie with Mackie face. Made in Malaysia, Teen Fun Skipper body.

1997
#15645 Winter Holiday with Barbie, Skipper, Stacie and Kelly gift set. All dolls wearing pastel outfits with fur trim, Barbie in skating costume, Skipper in Scandinavian sweater, Stacie in vinyl jacket and Kelly in snowsuit. Made in Malaysia, Teen Fun Skipper body.

June 27, 2010, new epier listing

2010-06-27T08:46:00.003-04:00

I listed one Hasbro Maxie outfit this morning on epier:

Maxie Mix n Match #8236 pink camisole NRFP
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2008928

June 20, 2010, new epier listing

2010-06-20T08:37:00.004-04:00

I've listed one item this week because of its timeliness. This is the outfit that the Ken in Toy Story 3 is wearing.
1989 Animal Lovin' Ken shirt and shorts
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2008128

Barbie Fashion Comics 1992

2010-06-19T09:15:00.000-04:00

I know I've got them out of order now:

Barbie Fashion 13, January 1992. First Snow Fall by Trusiani. Courtney gets her first skiing lesson from Barbie--how to fall. Snow Time Like Now--Skipper makes a snowman but doesn’t have the film to take a picture of it. She goes to the drugstore, but meets some friends to go to a movie, then stops for a soda. The writers did their research but only got it half right. Courtney has red hair. Tiff is African-American. OMG! They meet Skooter and Ricky! Skooter is a redheaded boy and Ricky is also African-American! I assume Mattel must have granted the writers the rights to use the names but not their likenesses?

Barbie Fashion 17, May 1992. New Old-Fashioneds, by Trina Robbins. Skipper and Courtney shop at a thrift store. Skipper Skipper. Middle sister dreams she’s captain of a pirate ship. What is with the goofy Skipper dream sequences? In the 42 years I’ve loved Skipper, not once did I ever envision her having weird dreams.

Barbie Fashion 18, June 1992, The Right Attitude. Skipper and Courtney both go to the dentist, but only one of them has a cavity. For those of you who like trivia or write fan fiction, the dentist is an African-American woman named Dr. Acherman. The Borrowed Book, by Slate. A mystery novel is being passed around. Skipper’s friend in this story is Scott and he does look like the doll.

Barbie Fashion 19, July 1992, Mineral Marvels by Robbins. Brief two-page comic about colorful, easy-to-find stones.

Barbie Fashion 21, September 1992, Who’s Rowing the Boat? by Slate. Skipper wonders why Scott has ignored her in the park.

Barbie Fashion 22, October 1992, Do You Want to Dance? by Slate. Skipper friend Heather is reluctant to go to end-of-summer dance because shes so tall.

Barbie Fashion 23 November 1992, It’s No Choke, by Slate. Barbie teaches Skipper the Heimlich Maneuver. Odd but useful topic for a comic book.

Barbie Fashion 24, December 1992. Congratulations, Christie! Christie gets a new job, so Barbie and Skipper plan a surprise party for her. Any Way the Wind Blows by Slate. Skipper runs out of time for homework because Courtney wants to go shopping. Skipper’s in a Pet Pals outfit.

Barbie Fashion Comics 1993

2010-06-19T09:13:00.002-04:00

Barbie 25, January 1993, has some inside jokes. Skipper’s friends are Tara and Kelly. But the dolls were Barbie’s friends Tara, and of course, Kelly is Barbie’s sister, Barbie’s friend and Starr’s friend. Meanwhile, Barbie’s dog is named Sachi, and Barbie jokes about “Totally Hair.” As for the stories... Secret Admirer, by Slate. Tara’s getting notes at school from a secret admirer. The plot is reminiscent of the opening scenes of Sixteen Candles. Kelly’s Problem, by Slate. Skipper learns why Kelly is so sad. The story doesn't really have a happy ending. Totally Hair. Barbie helps Skipper and Courtney create new hairstyles. The logo for the story title is the same as what is on the doll boxes.

Barbie Fashion 27, March 1993. Role Model, by Robbins. Skipper’s friend Jennifer is dieting too much. The drawings show Jennifer way too skinny. Who’s Got the Button? by Robbins. Skipper’s in the play The Boyfriend, and the flapper dresses she’s borrowed from Mrs. Gray have a secret. Barbie Gets the Royal Treatment by Robbins. Courtney doesn’t listen closely to Barbie’s phone call and thinks Barbie will visit Queen Elizabeth.

Barbie Fashion 29, May 1993, Itchin’ and A-Twitchin’, by Slate. Skipper gets poison ivy.

Barbie Fashion 32, August 1993. The Right Red by Slate. Skipper’s friend Vicki never goes out because Vicki worries too much about her looks.

Barbie Fashion 33, September 1993, The Sea Shell Story, by Slate. Courtney is sick at home and misses the beach party.

Barbie Fashion 34, October 1993, Taking Care of Tracks. Barbie has adopted a cat she found at the train station and she and Skipper take care of her. This same issue has a story about Ken’s grandparents, and you learn that his grandparents are named Edna and Sam. But I don’t know which side of the family they are on.

Barbie Fashion 35, November 1993, A Friend in Need, by Slate. Skipper writes a short story, cleans her room, studies for geography and makes lunch all in one morning. At the same time she helps Courtney shop, helps a friend paint the siding of a house, and dog sits. So all the people she helped return the favor.

Barbie Fashion 36, December 1993, Horsing Around, by Slate. Skipper goes horseback riding, but then she gets thrown and the horse runs off. Complexion Complex, by Slate. The ever-neurotic Courtney has a date to a dance with Kevin, but she can’t go out because she's got a pimple! Not even Barbie is THAT worried about her appearance! (Oh, and by the way, turns out Kevin had a zit too.)

June 13, 2010, new epier listing

2010-06-13T09:55:00.002-04:00

1973 Quick Curl Skipper dress and comb
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2006453

June 6, 2010, new epier listing

2010-06-06T09:24:00.002-04:00

I listed one item on epier this morning. It is a rare and beautifully made VHS tape. It's the pilot from one of my all-time favorite TV series.

1996 The Cape VHS rare
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2005012

May 30, 2010, new epier listings

2010-05-31T19:03:00.004-04:00

I listed two items over Memorial Day weekend:

Barbie and the Rockers puzzle:
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2003318

Arco Dance Club Barbie miniature NRFP
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2003317

May 23, 2010, new epier listing

2010-05-23T07:33:00.001-04:00

A set of items this week on epier:

Mego Action Jackson skis and poles plus a tagged shirt
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2002029

Barbie Fashion Comics 1991

2010-05-22T21:27:00.001-04:00

Barbie Fashion Comics were introduced two weeks after Barbie Comics. Barbie Fashions was much better written, but did not last as long.

Barbie Fashion 1, January 1991, White Wash. This is a funny one. Skipper borrows Barbie’s white sweater, and the sweater is tagged “Barbie!” The drawings are of Cool Tops Skipper and Courtney. It’s their first day of school. Skipper tries to keep Barbie’s white sweater clean all day. The story is very Betty-and-Veronica-like.

Barbie Fashion 5, May 1991, The Latest Fashion, by Barbara Slate. Skipper wears a goofy hat that covers her eyes to school. This Old Chair, by Barbara Slate. Barbie buys an antique wood chair and she and Skipper restore it.

Barbie 6, June 1991, Ability, by Trusiani. Skipper and her new classmate Angela, who is in a wheelchair, go on a treasure hunt. Angela will appear again and again throughout both Barbie Comics and Barbie Fashion. Be a Sport, by Trusiani. Skipper and Courtney skip school to spend the day with Barbie on a modeling shoot. Their day is, of course, much more difficult than being in school.

Barbie 7, July 1991. Another of Skipper’s friends is introduced. It’s TIFF! Remember her? And this time she's African-American! The cover shows Barbie holding a cake that says “Happy Birthday Skipper.” The issues always run two months early so it was published in May. Swap Till You Drop, by Trusiani. Skipper, Courtney and their friends clean out their closets and trade a lot of clothing. Birthday Blues, by Trusiani. Skipper thinks everyone is ignoring her on her birthday. The story is reminiscent of the Barbie surprise birthday party in the 1964 Wonder book “Barbie’s Adventures to Read Aloud” by Jean Bethell.

Barbie Fashion 8, August 1991, Enchanting Indians, by Trusiani. Another Skipper dream sequence. She fell, hit her head and got knocked out. For just a few seconds, she dreams she is living with the Pueblo Indians in Colorado 700 years ago.

Barbie Fashion 9, September 1991, If There’s a Will, There’s a Way, by Slate. Skipper breaks her right leg pole-vaulting and is stuck at home. She befriends a group of basketball players who are all in wheelchairs, and learns to play basketball while in a wheelchair.

Barbie Fashion 10, October 1991, What is Pop Art?, by Slate. Barbie and Skipper are at a museum with a pop art exhibit, & Skipper sets down her can of Coke. You can guess what happens. A docent leading a tour thinks the can is a piece of artwork.

Barbie Fashion 12, December 1991, Cave Girl Barbie, by Trina Robbins. Barbie has a Flintstones-like dream where she and Skipper live in the Stone Age.

Barbie Comics 1995

2010-05-19T07:44:00.001-04:00

Barbie 49, January 1995, A Swift Kick, by Lisa Trusiani and Angelo DeCesare. A longer story, with both a plot and a subplot. Barbie is cooking Thanksgiving dinner at her house for the residents of a retirement home.

Barbie 50, February 1995, See You Later, Christmas Gator, by Trusiani and DeCesare. The writers need to take some lessons from Rankin-Bass. Two stories combined, one about Barbie and Skipper visiting friends in Okefenokee, Georgia, over Christmas. The other is about Santa Claus and his elf Charlie trying to get through a tropical storm to Okefenokee. Santa crashes his sleigh in the storm. Santa loads his bags onto the boat that Barbie and Ranger Taylor are in, but then they meet up with crocodiles in the swamp. You’ll have to read the comic book yourself to find out what happens but it's reminiscent of the worst animated Christmas specials out there.

Barbie 51, March 1995, Some Bunny to Love, by Trusiani and DeCesare. Barbie and Skipper find an injured rabbit and take it to the vet at the zoo.

Barbie 52, April 1995, is VERY impressive: well written, timely topics, and the first story is the saddest Skipper story ever created. Crush-ed, by Trusiani and DeCesare. Skipper’s journal with a passage about her crush on a boy named Morgan is read out loud in class. It was written 15 years ago, and it has a bittersweet ending. Such a topic today would have a devastating ending. Hope for Harmony, by Trusiani and DeCesare. Skipper discusses African-American history with a classmate named Andre, who wants to be a rapper.

Barbie 59, November 1995. Bright Idea by Trusiani and DeCesare. Skipper comes up with a way to make a baby’s stroller safer. Learning the Fair Way. Barbie and Skipper teach a young boy and his somewhat chauvinistic father that girls are good competitors.

Barbie 60, December 1995. Vote for Barbie, by Trusiani. First, Skipper dreams that Barbie is elected US President so they move to the White House. Then, Barbie and Skipper visit an old New England inn, and figure out which once First Lady stayed there. So ends Skipper’s adventures in the Marvel Barbie Comic book. She will appear briefly in issues 61 and 62 but the stories aren’t about her.

May 16, 2010, new epier listing

2010-05-16T10:00:00.002-04:00

I placed one item for sale this morning in epier. As far as I know, it's the closet thing I've ever found to a Skipper video.

1993 Peppermint Rose VHS
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?2000934

Barbie comics 1994

2010-05-11T06:39:00.002-04:00

Barbie 37, January 1994. Three-part story called Holiday in Thailand by Trusiani which is set in late November and features Barbie, Skipper and Courtney. Barbie is making a movie, which Skipper and Courtney come to watch. Skipper & Courtney are asked to make a commercial about American tourists. Another “nerdy Courtney” story, which is getting tiresome.

Barbie 40, April 1994, is a laugh-out-loud all-Skipper issue. The story is called Romance Forever, by Trina Robbins, and it’s quite surreal. Skipper's drama class gets a homework assignment to write a romantic play. (Her teacher is named Mr. Curtin. Get it?) First Barbie suggests Romeo and Juliet. Skipper dreams she and Kevin are the couple, and they get bored because there are no cars or TV. Then Barbie suggests Gone with the Wind. Skipper dreams she is Scarlett, complete with blonde Nellie curls and an oversized hoop skirt. She nixes the idea of GWTW, because all of the hoop skirts won’t fit on the school stage. Lastly she reads The Once and Future King. In the last dream, Barbie and Ken are Guinevere and Arthur, and Skipper is, errr, Princess Skipper. I don't remember Princess Skipper in any King Arthur stories! Also, Barbie and Ken get mad at her because of high bills she’s incurred from shopping.

Barbie 41, May 1994, Miranda’s Mystery, by Trina Robbins. Skipper helps a woman who is deaf find a job.

Barbie 42, June 1994, Cheer-Full Performance, by Trusiani. Skipper takes Barbie’s advice and eats a healthy lunch and rests before the talent show. Alas, Skipper’s friends do not, and she finds them sleeping on the dressing room floor. She must go onstage by herself.

Barbie 43, July 1994, features another of Skipper’s surreal dreams in A Turtle’s Tale, by Barbara Slate. It begins with Barbie and Ken fixing their boat. Skipper dozes off, and dreams it is 1492. Captain Barbie, First Mate Ken and--get this--Skipper Skipper(!) are sailing for the New World. They reach land, only to find that an alien spaceship has gotten there just before them. The aliens are pink!

Barbie 44, August 1994. Barbie and Skipper visit Niger and Zaire. In the first story, they get caught in a sandstorm in Niger. In the second story, they learn about the habits of chimps.

Barbie 45, September 1994, Practice Makes Perfect, by Barbara Slate. One of the best stories of the series with Skipper and Courtney on a baseball team. The team is called, not surprisingly, the Pink Sox. The story starts out as yet another klutzy Courtney tale, but progresses beyond that.

Barbie 46, October 1994, Trailblazers, by Lisa Trusiani and Angelo deCesare. First, Barbie, Skipper, Courtney and Teresa go camping. Courtney’s still a nerd. Second, there’s a pioneer fair, and Courtney wins both the cornhusking and guess-the-cow's-weight contest. Skipper wins the raft race.

Barbie 47, November 1994, Doing the Write Thing, by Trusiani and DeCesare. Skipper befriends a new boy, Adam, and learns why he isn’t in school. In Sitting Pretty on Your Nose, Skipper and her classmates in a school fashion show all wear glasses on the runway.

Barbie 48, December 1994, The Fire That Never Went Out, by Trina Robbins. Barbie and Skipper visit an English castle. The story is reminiscent of the 1960s Barbie stories.

May 9, 2010, new epier listing

2010-05-09T09:15:00.002-04:00

One small listing today:

1979 Sun Lovin' Malibu Barbie bikini and bag
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?2000041

1993 Skipper comic book stories

2010-05-08T12:16:00.000-04:00

Barbie 27, March 1993, Dog Daze by Trina Robbins. Skipper’s Dalmatian Dotty is mistaken for a famous dog named Spot and is dognapped.

Barbie 28, April 1993, is unique. The first story is about Skipper, the second is about Ken! Funny Valentine, by Trusiani. Skipper and Barbie chase a clown who’s mistakenly gotten Skipper’s gown at a dry cleaners instead of his costume. Skipper’s dance dress is a red version of the 1985 Wedding Party bridesmaid’s dress.

Barbie 29, May 1993, Magic Moment by Trusiani. Barbie and Skipper are babysitting Donna and Jimmy, who want to be magicians. This is a long and surprisingly intense story for a child’s comic book, as Barbie and Skipper are in real danger. Spooky Spookers, also by Trusiani, features Kevin! He’s a practical joker who falls asleep during a school bus trip to a Western town.

Barbie 30, June 1993, Country Roads, by Trusiani. Barbie, Ken and Skipper meet Brandi, a girl Skipper's age who works on a farm and is a “cowgirl.” Part 2, Ride ‘em Cowgirls, also by Trusiani. Brandi tries to convince another farmer to hire her but she gets hired by a veterinarian instead.

There have been more and more all-Skipper issues, including Barbie 31, July 1993. In Journalistic Flair, by Trusiani, Skipper and Angela are sent to report on a baseball game while Kevin and Jim must cover a fashion show. In Take It Easy, by Trusiani, both Barbie and Skipper have bad days--Skipper at school, Barbie at work. I didn’t know Barbie could have a bad day.

Barbie 35, November 1993, New Kid on the Block, by Trusiani. Skipper befriends new girl Katie. Skipper helps Katie's mom plan Katie's birthday party. Girl’s Best Friend, by Trusiani. Skipper, Courtney and Angela get dogs from the pound and take them to obedience class. Angela names her poodle Pierre (unoriginal, if you ask me!). Skipper's mutt is Corky and Courtney’s dog (which must be part mastiff) is Tiny.

Barbie 36, December 1993, Halloween Hooligan, by Trusiani. Skipper is sleepwalking and rearranging items in the house.

1992 Barbie comics with Skipper

2010-05-03T21:14:00.004-04:00

1992

Barbie 14, February 1992, has two Skipper stories. The first is It's Challenging, by Slate and Trusiani. Skipper and Courtney bet against two boys that they are better athletes than the males. Oh, and Courtney gets a trumpet. In The Human Chain, by Slate and Trusiani, Ken, Barbie and Skipper lay down across a semi-frozen pond to rescue a dog trapped on thin ice.

Barbie 19, July 1992, Missed Manners by Lisa Trusiani. Courtney tries to impress Ray, an exchange student from Thailand, at an ice cream shop.

Barbie 20, August 1992, is an ALL-SKIPPER issue! In The Soccer Game, you get the perspectives of both Tigers player Skipper and Angels player Angelina. You never to learn who wins the game. Back to orange again. Skipper’s soccer uniform is orange. So am I to assume that Central Junior High School's teams are named Tigers? In Where Does the Sun Go?, Skipper is babysitting Molly, and uses yellow and blue balls to explain the sun's rotation. In The Special Athletics, Barbie and Skipper go to watch races in which physically challenged youngsters compete.

Barbie 23, November 1992, is another all-Skipper issue. I guess the writers were making up for the issues that didn't include her. Back to School Scramble, by Lisa Trusiani. Aunt Rose gives Skipper some new school outfits, but Skipper doesn't like them. Shy Guy, by Lisa Trusiani. Courtney wants to go to the school pep rally with Randy but she gets a bad cold. Meanwhile Skipper goes with Kevin. Lobster Tale by Trusiani is one of the cleverest stories in the series. Skipper and Barbie learn the secret of a huge lobster haunting the coast.

how I document my collection

2010-05-01T16:33:00.002-04:00

Someone asked me on another website how I've documented my collection, so I am reposting it here.

I am very, very anal-retentive when it comes to my dolls. After about three years of collecting both vintage items (pre-1979) and the newer items I was buying (this would have been by the late 80s) and (gasp!) taking them out of the box, I knew I had to start documenting them. I am very, very glad that I did.
For the outfits, I put each separate one, plus its accessories, in clear plastic Ziploc bags, and then wrote which doll it was for, the stock number and/or name, and the year on it. For my dolls, each one has a little hand tag on her wrist. You can buy these at an office supply store.
Also, I had some recipe card file boxes and I used index cards to write the name of the doll or outfit on it, and if I still had it, I attached my receipt. My goal is to someday transfer the information on the index cards to a computer disc, but that may have to wait until if and when I retire. Right now all the cards are alphabetized in the recipe card file. (I've never used the boxes for recipes--I'm not much of a cook.)
Oh, and whenever I bought a doll, I photographed her and put the photo and her name in an album. (Again, I started doing this in the 1980s.)
I may well be the only person on the planet who has done this. People ask me all the time how is that I know so much about the 70s, 80s and 90s playline dolls and outfits, and it's mainly because of the documentation that I started in the 80s.

Mary

Skipper in the Barbie comics

2010-04-26T21:04:00.003-04:00

On Twitter, I have been mentioning which issues of the 1990s Marvel Barbie comics include Skipper stories. Each tweet is just about one story. I'm going to list them all here together, by year, so this is 1991:
1991
Barbie 1, January 1991, Dirty Dancing. First of the Courtney klutz stories, with Courtney, Barbie, Skipper and Ken on a cruise and entering a dance contest.
Barbie 2, February 1991, The Co-Star. While Barbie is filming a movie in Mexico, Ken takes Skipper on outings as she waits for her sister to finish filming. The dolls’ swimsuits are all from the Wet N Wild line.
Barbie 3, March 1991, Snakes Alive! by Lisa Trusiani. A snake ends up in Skipper's domestic management (AKA home economics) class.
Barbie 4, April 91, Chirper Goes Home by Lisa Trusiani and Barbara Slate. Barbie and Skipper discuss what to do if a baby bird falls from a nest.
Barbie 5, May 1991, Packing Lightly, by Barbara Slate. Skipper can't make up her mind what to wear at the beach. Packing Lightly pictures Skipper's Tropical, Sun Sensation and Wet N Wild swimsuits.
Barbie 6, June 1991, Girls Can Do Anything, by Barbara Slate and Lisa Trusiani. Sexist Skipper is surprised to see female construction workers and police officers.
Barbie 6, June 1991, The Big Fall, Barbara Slate and Lisa Trusiani. Skipper learns to roller skate. Which is odd because Skipper's been roller-skating since the 60s!
Barbie 7, July 1991, Grand Entrance, by Barbara Slate. Skipper can't make up her mind what to wear to a party.
Barbie 9, September 1991, Top Shop by Lisa Trusiani. Skipper and Courtney buy plain T-shirts to decorate and sell. It's never mentioned but it obviously ties in the Skipper T-shirt Shop being sold at the same time.

April 24, 2010, new epier listings

2010-04-25T23:27:00.002-04:00

I placed two items for sale on epier today:

Miss America Talent Show Raquel
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?1998157

1989 Barbie Valentines
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?1998156

to brooke

2010-04-13T17:56:00.002-04:00

Brooke, would you like to introduce yourself? What do you collect in the Barbie doll world?

April 10, 2010, new epier listing

2010-04-11T20:35:00.001-04:00

1985 Kehagias Cinderella doll
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?1996161

skipper on twitter

2010-04-08T20:24:00.003-04:00

Last week, I crossed over to the dark side--that is, I registered with Twitter. Then I had no idea what to do. No one cares about what I had for breakfast. I finally decided to go back to my old standby--that is, Skipper. I've been writing short messages about the doll and now have two people following me. No one has yet said that I cannot write about Skipper, so I'm assuming it is okay. I don't see anything else like what I am doing on Twitter.
Everything I've posted has been written about before, either by me or by someone else, either on the Internet or in books or magazines. It's just being put in a new format.
http://twitter.com/skippercollecto

skipper's given name

2010-04-03T16:27:00.002-04:00

People have asked me over the years what Skipper's "real" name is. There isn't one. There never was. I've always theorized that her first name started with an "s" and I also think that her middle name started with a "k."
So what were some possibilities? You have to realize that this doll was first on the market in 1964, and she was being designed in 1963, so her name would have had to have been a late-era Baby Boomer name.
Some suggestions: Susan (not Suzanne), Sharon, Sandra or Sally (not Sarah or Sadie). Kathleen/Kathy (not Katherine or Kaitlyn or one of their umpteem variations), Karen or Kimberly.
But on the other hand, we didn't learn that Tutti's name was actually Stacie/Anastasia for almost 30 years! So maybe we're still waiting to learn Skipper's "real" name!

April 3, 2010, new epier listing

2010-04-03T08:35:00.003-04:00

Kenner Miss America Evening Gowns Blair
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?1994800

March 31, 2010, new epier listing

2010-03-31T10:02:00.003-04:00

An unusual doll from the now-popular 80s:

Golden Girl Jade and Evening Enchantment gown:
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?1994237

March 30, 2010, new epier listing

2010-03-30T23:23:00.002-04:00

Since I'm off this week, I'm placing additional items for sale.

1989 Skipper Sleep N Study
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?1994225

March 28, 2010, new epier listing

2010-03-28T08:08:00.003-04:00

Listed one Barbie item this week, and I've always really liked this item:

1974 10-speeder

http://www.epier.com/product.asp?1993482

March 21, 2010, new epier listing

2010-03-21T08:33:00.001-04:00

I have one new listing this week, for the Lost board game.
http://www.epier.com/product.asp?1992217

two favorite sales

2010-03-20T21:25:00.000-04:00

My two favorite weekends each year are usually the ones when I spend the entire time driving to garage sales. This year's US 50 sale, which runs past my apartment, will be Friday through Sunday, May 21-23. I plan to set up a table on Friday, but go shopping on Saturday and Sunday.
The World's Longest Yard Sale on US 127 will be Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 5-8. I enjoy this one too, but the past few years have been very hot and humid and I just cannot go to it the entire day like I want to. I usually have to quit by 1 p.m.

Feb. 28, 2010, new epier listings

2010-03-02T18:39:00.004-05:00

These are the items I placed for sale on epier on Sunday, Feb. 28:

2010 Matchbox 10 pack backpack NRFP
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?1988525

1990 Wet N Wild Barbie surf set NRFB
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?1988526

Feb. 21, 2010, new epier listing

2010-02-21T09:23:00.002-05:00

Added one item this week:
Galoob Czar Nicholas doll 1997
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?1986020

supervisor at wiki

2010-02-11T15:36:00.002-05:00

I had written about this two months ago on some of the Yahoo groups, but I never did mention it here.

In September I volunteered to become the supervisor for the Barbie doll category at wikianswers. Wikianswers is an offshoot of wikipedia. There are thousands of subjects in dozens of languages, and you ask a question and, theoretically, someone will come along and answer you. It’s similar to a homework hotline, but many of the topics aren’t homework-related.

It took me four months to get the Barbie doll questions pared down from 2,000 to a more manageable 900, because the majority of questions asked the same thing, over and over. I learned WWAAAYYY too much about certain aspects of 21st century popular culture, which I will explain.

The majority of Barbie queries came from girls 5 to 10 years old. These were NOT the questions that we adult collectors read every day. Their questions, 99 percent of the time, WEREN’T about these subjects: ponytails/bubblecuts, 900 series, 1600 series, Midge, Francie, Japan, 1966, Steffie, haute couture, mod, Takara/Bandai, feet, NRFB, PayPal, Silkstones, clothing designers, reroots/repaints, reproductions, Kelly, Twilight, collectibles, etc. In fact, with the exception of Twilight and Kelly, I would say the majority of Wikianswers participants have never even heard of any of the subjects I just listed. In other words, out of 2,000 questions, only 1 percent asked about them, which means that 20 questions were about collector topics and 1,880 were about something else.

This is what WAS asked. I never knew until I registered with Wikianswers that there is a virtual world called barbiegirls.com, which is a cyber version of what we used to play with actual physical dolls. Anyone can go to the site and participate, but if you don’t have one of two certain items, you can’t get very far. You (that is, your parents) have to either purchase a barbiegirls mp3 player to use with the site, or you can charge on a credit card about $6 a month to join and get a VIP membership.
It’s through either REAL money or your mp3 players that you can get cheat codes to access VIRTUAL items for your VIRTUAL dolls. In other words, you need cold, hard cash to buy stuff (clothes, furniture, friends, vehicles, houses, etc.) that doesn’t really exist except in cyberspace.

Out of the aforementioned 2,000 questions I’ve read in the past four months, I would say that more half of them (1,000-plus!) asked either how to become a VIP member without paying money (you can’t) or what the cheat codes are. I started merging all the duplicate questions, and it took me a long time.

Way behind in second place, the next most often asked questions concerned the Barbie movies on DVD, another subject that adult collectors pretty much ignore. About the only collectible Barbie topic that came up regarded the values of the Holiday Barbie dolls. I’ve come to realize that this doll is the first, if only, collectible Barbie doll that most little girls will own. There were a few questions about the Millennium dolls, and maybe eight questions at the most about ethnic dolls.

The real eye-opener wasn’t the obsession with cheat codes. It was the grammar and spelling of the questions. Oh, did some of the atrocious spelling make my brain hurt! My 1960s Catholic nun grade school teachers must be rolling over in their graves at the horrendous spelling being used now. You have no idea how many ways you can misspell “special.” In comparison, by the time I finished second grade in 1969, I knew how to make plurals, how to match up singular and plural nouns and verbs, when to capitalize and when not to capitalize, and I certainly knew how to spell simple given names such as, oh, for example, “Barbie”! I do realize that people capitalize far less on the Internet nowadays than in real life. And wikianswers is itself partly to blame, because when you ask questions, the only punctuation you can
use is the question mark (that’s another story in itself). But that doesn’t excuse the poor grammar and spelling. Some of the questions were actually gibberish.

There were occasional joke questions and obnoxious questions that I suspect were done by bored young men with no social life who still live in their parents’ basements--questions about sex with Barbie dolls, ways to destroy them, etc. And there were theoretical questions which we’ve all seen before from social organizations about how bad Barbie dolls are and how they’re ruined society. I deleted a lot of these questions, either because they were unanswerable or obscene or because they are open-ended questions that will never be answered satisfactorily.

So now that I’ve done my part, I’m asking for your help. If you go through the first few pages of the Barbie section,you’ll notice that the majority of the questions are historical in nature, either about Barbie or Mattel. I was able to answer many of them, and will continue to answer them. I also moved those questions to the forefront
myself. However, I stopped buying new Barbie merchandise in 1999, and so know almost zilch about anything from the past 10 years, either collectible or playline. This is where you can help me. If any of you want to answer about the contemporary Fairytale or makeup dolls or Happy Family, or you decide to become an additional supervisor, please do so. And if you know any cheat codes, please tell these little girls. I’m sure you’ll make them very happy!

Feb. 7, 2010, new epier listing

2010-02-07T08:17:00.000-05:00

I’ve placed these two items for sale on epier on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010

1999 Ty Beanie Baby Erin the Bear NRFP
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1983010

1990 Barbie Rockin’ Back to Earth VHS
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1983011

Jan. 31, 2010, new epier listing

2010-01-31T13:28:00.000-05:00

My first chance to list an item on epier in a month. I would have done another but epier was having problems with a very slow server this morning.
1999 JMT Barbie hair accessories NRFP
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?1981431

movies of 2009

2010-01-14T12:50:00.000-05:00

These are the movies I saw in 2009. Starred movies are the ones I am getting on DVD. As you can see, there was little in 2009 that impressed me.

Angels in the Attic
Appaloosa (2008)
Australia (2008)
Away We Go!
Bandslam
The Blind Side
Bride Wars
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
The Collector (worst movie I’ve ever seen; was pornographic; should have walked out of)
Confessions of a Shopaholic
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*
District Nine
Doubt (2008)
Drag Me to Hell
Duplicity
Earth
Extract
(500) Days of Summer
Frost/Nixon (2008)
The Goods (should have walked out of)
Gran Torino (2008)
He’s Just Not That Into You
Hotel for Dogs
Imagine That
The Informant!
Inkheart*
Invictus
Is Anybody There?
Julie & Julia
Knowing*
Last Chance Harvey (2008)
Marley and Me (2008)
The Men Who Stare at Goats
Moon
My Life in Ruins
My Sister’s Keeper
New in Town
Not Easily Broken
Observe and Report (should have walked out of)
Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2008) (should have walked out of)
Ponyo
The Proposal
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Seven Pounds (2008)
Shorts
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
The Soloist
State of Play
The Tale of Desperaux
The 13th Day
The Time Traveler’s Wife
Twilight (2008)
The Ugly Truth (walked out of)
The Unborn
Up
Up in the Air
Valkyrie
Whatever Works

The below movies are the ones that left theaters before I had a chance to see them:
Amelia
Battle for Terra
Coraline
The Invention of Lying
Milk
Whiteout

Dec. 27, 2009, new epier listings

2009-12-27T09:53:00.000-05:00

These are the items I placed for sale on Sunday, Dec. 27, on epier:

1983 Barbie Through the Years pink book
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1976647

1984 Barbie Through the Years silver book
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1976650

1993 Glitter Beach makeup
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1976653

2007 Favorite Moments Belle
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?1976652

Dec. 20, 2009, new epier listings

2009-12-20T08:48:00.001-05:00

These are the items I placed for sale on Sunday, Dec. 20. They are both Association of Surfing Professionals yearbooks.

1994 ASP yearbook
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1975752

1995 ASP yearbook
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1975751