Etsy listings Aug. 1, 2015

Epier is gone.   I can't find my old listings even when I use Google cache.  So I started over last week with Etsy.  This is what I posted Aug. 1.

Hasbro GI Joe outfit pieces
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242514565/hasbro-gi-joe-outfit-pieces?ref=shop_home_active_1

Sears sewing fashion doll clothing
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242514083/sears-sewn-fashion-doll-clothing?ref=listing-shop-header-1

Missy Mod and Maxi Mod clothing
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242618458/missy-and-maxi-mod-fashion-doll-pieces?ref=listing-shop-header-2

Galoob Jade and outfit
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242617730/galoob-golden-girl-jade-and-evening?ref=listing-shop-header-3

Grand Canyon tea set
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242616196/grand-canyon-tea-set-et-al?ref=shop_home_active_5

Tressy dresses
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242509893/2-american-character-tressy-dresses?ref=shop_home_active_6

Penny Brite and dresses
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242613522/deluxe-reading-penny-brite-and-dresses?ref=shop_home_active_7

Totsy New Look fashion
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242476515/1970s-totsy-new-look-fashion-doll-suit?ref=shop_home_active_8

Suki Skediddle dress
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242475797/mattel-suki-skediddle-dress-and-panties?ref=shop_home_active_10

Tuesday Taylor accessories
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242468125/ideal-tuesday-taylor-clothing-items?ref=shop_home_active_11

Petite Boutique fashion pieces
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242568586/2-1970s-petite-boutique-fashion-doll?ref=shop_home_active_12

Mego Action Jackson skis
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242462941/mego-action-jackson-ski-patrol?ref=shop_home_active_13

Marx Jane West accessories
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242461695/marx-jane-west-vinyl-skirt-hat?ref=shop_home_active_14

1960s 1970s 1980s photos

Elizabethtown as seen from the airplane (we were coming home from California), September 1985.
This is the intersection of US Highway 50 and Lawrenceburg Road.  In the background is Interstate 275.

Hooven as I shot from the airplane in September 1985.   It's easy to identify the old Gulf Oil tanks.
This is the intersection of US Highway 50 and State Route 128.  Upper left is the Kilby Road exit of Interstate 275.

Western Hills Academy of Beauty Culture.  Mother of Mercy High School 1977 yearbook ad.
Now Main Lines Family Hair Care.

Centennial Savings & Loan Co.  Mother of Mercy High School 1977 yearbook ad.  Now Auto Zone.

Cable Electric Co.  Mother of Mercy High School 1977 yearbook ad.

Kemper's Drugs at Harrison and Kling avenues.  Mother of Mercy High School 1977 yearbook ad.

Turf Lane in Bridgetown, looking west, on Jan. 27, 1978, the day after THE BLIZZARD.
Many of those piles are not shoveled snow but rather snowdrifts.

Summer 1967, our back yard on Turf Lane, looking west toward Westwood-Northern Boulevard.
We had moved in on May 1.  Left to right are Larry Snyder (back of head),
my sister Joan (you can see her backside), my sister Barb, Ronda Snyder and me.
The Snyders and we had two of the first houses on the street.

A blow-up of the view of Westwood-Northern.

My First Communion, April 13, 1969, the back yard of our house on the south side of Turf Lane, looking west.
As usual, I am squinting.

This next topic isn't doll-related.  I'm posting some photos here for someone else to look at.  You can laugh if you want--I'm quite aware I was homely and geeky even as a little girl.

What I've found from the library's database

The earliest ad I've yet found for Barbie.
The Los Angeles Times, Oct. 29, 1959

Doll history article page 1
The Los Angeles Times, Nov. 28, 1965

Love the photos in this 1965 article!

The Business Front, July 18, 1967, mentions SPP and TNT

The Business Front, page 2

The Business Front, page 3

The Los Angeles Times, Aug. 18, 1973,
about the current Barbie playsets.

With my Cincinnati Public Library card, I can access the various research databases to which the library  has subscribed.  My favorite site is ProQuest, which has access to old newspapers and magazines.  I can search any topic I wish.  Since I research Barbie, I choose to look for both ads and articles.
Here are some articles I've found about either Mattel or Barbie from the 1960s or 1970s.

US 50 sale update

All you need to go with this
is a red checked cotton bodysuit
and a pair of capri-length skinny jeans,
and you'll have your own Barbie Picnic Set outfit!

Who knew there was such a thing as a Barbie fishing rod?
That was one of my purchases during the US 50 sale.  I know the sale was 6 weeks ago, but I'm finally ready to write my summary.  Shopping was a little different this year, since I cheated and also went to stores, two antique malls and a used bookstore.
On Saturday, May 16, I drove east on US 50, starting in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and then going to Hillsboro, Ohio.  I'd never been on 50 past Clermont County.  Unlike 50 in Indiana, the highway in Ohio is narrow and windy and at times deserted.  There were even flat stretches with no farmhouses and few trees, and I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone.
I've gone east for the sale only one other time years ago.  One household along the way then had a bunch of early 60s Barbie stuff (it's where I bought the Barbie and Francie Dressing Room Case I wrote about a few weeks ago) and she STILL had Barbie stuff for sale this year.  She's a little pricey, but I did buy the Cruise Stripe dress and shoes.
I spent Saturday night in Hillsboro, 70 miles east of Cincinnati, and Sunday night in Chillicothe, 30 miles past Hillsboro.  From Chillicothe I drove on US 35 northwest to Premier Outlet Mall in Jeffersonville and spent two nights there.  Four days of shopping!
My most unusual purchase?  I went to the Tru-Valu Hardware Store in Hillsboro.  It was there I found the fishing pole.  It was made by a company called Shakespeare (what does Shakespeare have to do with fishing?) and was dated 2013.  It's fuchsia and comes with a lighted reel that flickers.
Here is my list of purchases:

Old:
1.  A 1973 Barbie Sew Magic kit, which I write about yesterday.  http://skippercollector.blogspot.com/2015/06/sew-magic-pretty-and-ugly-at-same-time.html
2.  Rocky Mountain Holiday, a VHS tape of a John Denver special which, unbelievably, I did not own already
3.  Naked Tutti, Jazzie, Christie, Skipper, Barbie and Ken, plus pieces of a few '90s outfits
4.  Primrose Day, a novel by Carolyn Haywood, my favorite childhood author
5.  some other children's books, including Lauren Brooke's first Heartland novel
6.  a pretty sweatshirt that looked wintery, not Christmas-y (Do you know how hard it is to find winter-themed clothing that isn't for the holidays?)
7.  a white long-sleeved Oxford collar blouse (Again, long-sleeved, button-down, 100 percent cotton collared blouses are hard to find since they aren't in style at the moment).
8.  miscellaneous small items

New:
1.  Chillicothe has an Elder-Beerman store!  I didn't know that chain still existed!  I bought myself two pairs of shoes and have been wearing them constantly ever since.
2.  A pair of red Keds like I had as a little girl and a blue tank top at the outlet mall.
3.  The aforementioned fishing pole, plus an item I am saving for my cat for Christmas, at Tru-Valu.   (Sshhhh!  Don't tell her!)

I haven't been to Chillicothe in decades.  The old way to get there was to go up Interstate 71, get off at the Jeffersonville exit, and drive southeast for miles on Highway 35, which was then another lonely two-laner.  Well, Chillicothe has doubled in size, and Highway 35 is now a four-lane, divided straight freeway, and it took about 45 minutes less time to get from one city to the other.

Sew Magic: Pretty and ugly at the same time

Mattel introduced Sew Magic in 1973.

Follow the instructions to make
your own clothes for Barbie!

I wonder what would happen if I sent in the order form now?!

Pattern pieces could be reused to make other items.

The solid pink and blue brushed cotton squares

The fabric with the circular daisy pattern

The original owner of the Sew Magic kit that I recently purchased didn't follow the kit's instructions.  And so, this month, neither did I.

Sew Magic, and its sister set Knit Magic, was Mattel's attempt at craft projects for little girls in the mid-1970s.  The sewing machine, rather than using thread, used a glue called Miracle Stitch.  I don't know what Miracle Stitch actually was--it might have been a form of rubber resin.

Frankly, I like the pink top better with the short skirt anyway!

My sister had a Sew Magic.  The clothes were cute enough, but the brown glue was sticky and soaked through the fabric, leaving caramel-colored stains on the clothes that could not be washed out.  Over time the Miracle Stitch cartridges dried up.  We eventually sold the sewing machine and its supplies at a garage sale.  The clothes hung around for a while longer, but because they were so cheap looking compared to my mother's sewn creations that they, too, were eventually tossed.

I took apart the rose print skirt and resewed it.
Note the brown stains from the Miracle Stitch.

I found a Sew Magic set in the box, with most of its accessories, not including the cartridges, at an antique mall.  It was only $20, even though it came with the box, clothing and even some of the tiny pieces.  Many collectors, even though they consider the 1960s Sew Free and Color Magic clothing as official Barbie products, do not feel the same way about Mattel's Sew Magic outfits.  That may be why the resale prices for these kits are so low.

One unusual detail about #8670 Sew Magic Fashion Set is that the date on the box is the year it was sold.  Ninety-nine percent of Mattel products are sold the year AFTER the item is copyrighted or patented.  In the back of the instruction booklet is a form to send away for other kits, and they seemed kind of costly at $4 each.  The box also came with a rather complicated warranty card, and I was briefly tempted to send both of these Mattel to see what kind of answer I might get!  Then there are two plastic waistband guides with a 1972 date on them.

So what is included with the Barbie Sew Magic Fashion Set?  Four fabric pieces of a fuzzy cotton that seems almost like a very lightweight felt--two have different flower prints, then there are pink and yellow solid squares.  A headless, armless, legless mannequin; two strips of satin ribbon and two belt buckles, among other items.  If you ever find a light plastic belt buckle by itself in a bunch of used Barbie items, it is likely one of these buckles.

The instructions say for you to use the rose print fabric for the long skirt and the dark pink fabric for a sleeveless top and simple purse.  The original owner of the kit I bought STARTED to do this.  She finished the skirt with the Miracle Stitch, but only cut out the blouse and purse.  The instructions then said to use the orange and pink flowered fabric for a cap-sleeve blouse and the yellow for the skirt.  However, she used the yellow fabric to cut out another purse and the flowered fabric for the mini skirt, but left both unfinished.
I "unstuck" the long skirt and attempted to wash the glue out of it, but without any luck.  I then hand-sewed the long and short skirts, the top and the two purses.  Just like other mid-70s Barbie items, I did not hem the armholes of the top and purses!

I redressed my 1973 Quick Curl Barbie in the shirt and short skirt and added one of the satin belts.  As you can see, the outfit is actually very becoming!
You will see mentioned in reference books and websites that the basic Sew Magic kit came with two blouses, two skirts, a purse, a mini dress and a set of baby dolls.  That's only partially true.  The basic kit came with the fabric for the skirts, tops and purse, but you could have easily used the cloth for other creations.  You had to use your own fabric to make them to sew the dress and nightie.

Empire camper always misadvertised

From left to right are Adam, Music, Bonnie Breck,
Love, Flower, Peace and Soul.
The Hasbro dolls fit the flower child theme of the Volkswagen Camper.

Soul and Bonnie Breck go for a drive
in the Empire Volkswagen Camper.

Empire's Volkswagen Camper from 1975
is the perfect size for the Sunshine Family.

Why is Skipper, not yet a teenager, driving a van?

Oh, does Skipper's outfit hurt my eyes!

Two Stevies (left and right), Stephie,
baby boy with freckles and Little Sweets
are setting up a campsight on the beach.

Despite long-running assumptions in resale information, and even the box's liner notes (DESIGNED TO FIT BARBIE, SKIPPER & ALL OTHER ACTION DOLLS), the 1975 Volkswagen Camper sold by Empire is not for Barbie dolls.

The Camper is pictured in the 1975 Sears Wish Book.  Malibu Barbie stands next to it, and she is clearly taller than the van.  Notice that even the front of the box (my photo, although the glare from the flash is blocking the text) has the names Barbie and Skipper on it.

Instead, the vehicle is sized for 8-inch dolls, but which ones?  The photos on the box are just bizarre.  The girl is 1972 Pose N Play Skipper in her original swimsuit and her skirt is Barbie's Best Buy 7748 Lace and Ruffles from 1974.  I have no idea who the guy is.

Its accessories are very nice.  I especially like the card table, which really looks like one with that checker top!

Mattel's Sunshine Family dolls fit in the Camper perfectly!  But the Volkswagen is a little brightly colored for these earth-toned, eco-friendly little dolls.

The van seems more suited to the groovy hippie Hasbro Love dolls, but they were sold only between 1970 and 1972.  And no action figure would be caught dead in such a gaudy, flower-decaled vehicle!

I have to wonder if Empire already had a van like this made for action figures, and then decided to make a similar version for little girl customers.

Houses et al 1980 to 1984

Honey is one of the few horses
that the dolls can actually sit astride.

A large dog such as Beauty takes Christie for a walk,
not the other way around!

I don't know which set of dishes goes with the Bubbling Spa,
so Skipper and Barbie are using both.

There's a very slight difference between the brown shades
of the accessories of the cart and the grill.

The battery-operated Electronic Piano allows us humans
to play simple tunes such as "Alouette."

Very scary--the toilet actually flushes.
Also, Barbie's name is imprinted on the top of the tank.

Note the early mobile phone that was included with the Dream 'Vette!

Note the Yale pennant, the birthday card and the "Forever" Valentine
on the wall of Starr's bedroom.

The exterior of the Fashion Doll Bedroom Case

1981 (dated 1980) #10900

Fashion Doll Bedroom Case

Made by Tara Toys

Although not mentioned as such, the case was designed for the 1980 Springfield High Starr dolls.

Pictured are the 1980 Starr wearing #3321 Slumber Number from 1981 and 1980 Kelley in a generic jeans and blouse.

My dolls are the 1980 Starr in #3321 Slumber Number and 1980 Kelley in #1388  Casual Living.

1982 (dated 1981) #5019
Beauty and Puppies
Made by Mattel
Fur Afghan hound and plastic pups, but all I own is Beauty herself.

My doll is Pink N Pretty Christie in #3676 Sun Top and Shorts.

1981 (dated 1980) #3299

Dream Vette

Made by Mattel

Pink Corvette Stingray.  For Golden Dream dolls

My doll is Golden Dream Barbie in Fashion Collectible #3688 from 1982 and her original overskirt.



1982 (dated 1981) #5085
Barbie Electronic Piano.  Cream-colored, battery-operated grand piano with stool.  For bent-arm, dressier dolls such as Pink N Pretty Barbie (who is pictured on the box)

My doll is Pink N Pretty Barbie in #3800 Fun N Fancy, both from 1982.



1983 Dream House (dated 1982) accessories.  For the Dream Date dolls
Made by Mattel

#1045 Dream House Commode

Playset with orange toilet and white towel rack.

My doll is Dream Date Barbie in #5610 My First Slumber Party.



#1478 Dream House Patio Barbecue

Playset with burnt orange grill
#1480 Dream House Patio Recliner

Playset with burnt orange patio furniture
Both made by Mattel

My dolls are Hawaiian Barbie in #5703 Fancy Pants, Dream Date PJ in #5703 Fancy Pants (the Kmart version) and Bride Tracy in #5701 Garden Party.

1983 (dated 1982) #5880

Honey, Skipper’s Show Pony

Made by Mattel

Dark brown horse playset.  For Horse Lovin’ Skipper

My doll is Horse Lovin' Skipper in her original outfit.

1984 (dated 1983) #7145

Bubbling Spa

Pink exterior.  Sun Gold Malibu dolls

My dolls are Sun Gold Malibu Barbie in Fashion Extras #4917 halter top and #4914 shorts and visor, and Sun Gold Malibu Skipper in #4876 Pool Party.