Last but not least

Last but not least: about the clothes rack.  I purchased this from a seller on etsy who had made it out of wood.  I've wanted a Barbie clothes rack for a very long time.  Everything but Lacey Charmer and Party Timer is from 1978; Skipper's blue gown is from 1977.  On the left are Skipper outfits, and Jimmy's and Ken's jumpsuits.  On the right are Barbie's clothes, with Kitty's, Cheryl's and Kate's original outfits on the front end.

1978 Barbie Dream the way it is supposed to be used, part 2

Here are what are now inside the 1978 Dream House.  All items are from 1978 unless otherwise noted.  The outfits that Barbie, Ken and Skipper are wearing are Best Buys that did not come with shoes.  Barbie's and Ken's clothes are from Korea, so their shoes are as well.  Skipper's outfit was made in the Philippines, so her gym shoes are as well.

There weren't any Jimmy Osmond-size outfits, so he has borrowed a shirt and pants from the 1993 Kevin doll.

Accessories/Furniture

Barbie 2302 Flowery Delight is Party Right theater program

Fashion Photo Barbie photographs

Ken 2459 Shoes and Cases felt bag

1981 Barbie jewelry box used as a chest of drawers

1983 1478 Dream Furniture Patio Barbecue, plus accessories

1983 1480 Dream Furniture Patio Recliner and Serving Cart, plus accessories

1983 2478 Dream Furniture Commode and Towel Rack, plus accessories

2024 handmade wooden rack which I purchased on etsy

Clothing

SuperStar Barbie original fuchsia glitter gown

SuperStar Ken original blue jumpsuit

Teenage TV Celebrity Jimmy Osmond silver jumpsuit

TV’s Star Woman Cheryl Ladd original red jumpsuit and cape

TV’s Star Woman Kate Jackson original red halter and pleated cream skirt

TV’s Star Woman Kitty O’Neil original yellow jumpsuit

Barbie Best Buy 2218 yellow dress

Barbie Best Buy 2219 red and blue star print long dress

Barbie Best Buy 2224 red print halter top, blue and print ruffled skirt

Barbie 2303 Lady in Blue, a Romantic View

Barbie 2483 Interview at Home

Barbie 2486 Season Premiere Party

Barbie Best Buy 2553 orange jumpsuit

Ken Best Buy 9700

Skipper Best Buy 2232 long yellow gown with black stripe print

Skipper Best Buy 2233 red and blue star print jumpsuit

Skipper Best Buy 2234 red and white flower print halter gown

Skipper Best Buy 2235 yellow dress

Skipper Best Buy 2236 pink halter gown

Skipper 2307 Flower Girl in a Party Whirl

1977 Skipper 1977 9746 Skipper Lacy Charmer and Party Timer

1993 High School Kevin 2471 splatter print shirt and gray and black slacks

Dolls

Rosebud Baby Bettina in her original blue gown

SunSet Malibu Skipper in Best Buy 2232

SuperStar Barbie in Best Buy 2553

SuperStar Ken in Best Buy 9700

Teenage TV Celebrity Jimmy Osmond in Kevin High School outfit

TV's Star Woman Cheryl Ladd in Interview at Home

TV’s Star Woman Kitty O’Neil in Best Buy 2224

TV's Star Woman Kate Jackson in Season Premiere Party

Baby Bettina is too young to attend the housewarming party.

It took only 16 years, but Barbie, whose first house was in 1962,
now has a bathroom in her house.

Note that Ken has the tongs to the grill in his pocket.

The horror!  Kitty O'Neil and Kate Jackson have shown up
wearing dresses made of the same fabric!

Cheryl Ladd is admiring the second floor, which Skipper is showing her.

Barbie is so proud to greet everyone at the front door.

The side of Jimmy's face resembles his real-life counterpart
much more so than from the front.

1978 Dream House the way it is supposed to be used, part 1

One can find umpteen articles on the Internet about restoring or remodeling or adding to the infamous red, white and yellow 1978 Dream House.  However, I haven't found any articles about using the house for what it actually was designed for, the late 70s dolls and accessories.

I want to show you the Dream House with period-appropriate Barbie and friends actually in the house.  Everyone calls it an A-frame, but I think it looks more like a California bungalow, 1 1/2 stories and long overhanging eaves.

I obtained the Dream House at a yard sale about 10 years ago.  I could barely fit it in the back seat of my car!  The house had its outer walls, roof and floors, but many of the smaller pieces, such as windows and doors and pieces to cover the corners, were missing.  I didn't care.  I paid only $20 for the house and some non-Barbie furniture, which I believe is the cheapest that this sold for in the past decade!

About five years ago, I was out driving one day when, at a corner near by Mom's house, the homeowner had left one side section of the Dream House out for the garbage.  I yelled, "Barbie stuff in garbage!" and pulled over suddenly, annoying the driver behind me.  I joked later that it was the car that yelled out and that it pulled over automatically, and that I had trained my car to do that.

Both the house and the section were put in the basement, but life intervened and I never got around to my plans of taking some of the pieces from the side section and putting them on the whole house.  Last summer, I had my nephew finally bring up the house and section from downstairs and set it on a table in the glassed-in patio.  Lots of daylight and room to move around.

I wiped off the house with a damp rag, and then I started taking the section apart.  I had gotten advice from a Dream House remodeler on how to remove and install parts--use a hot blow dryer on them to make them pliable!  It worked!

In the 1980s I had purchased some of the furniture for the house.  These were meant for the Dream Cottage or the later pink and white version of the house.  I got them out and placed them in the house, plus a 1981 Barbie jewelry box that was the perfect size for a chest of drawers in the bedroom.

Now the dolls could move in.  All of the dolls I put in the house were sold in 1978, the second year of SuperStar Barbie and the first year of SuperStar Ken.  I redressed all but one of the dolls. I own the Barbie celebrity dolls from 1978 and a Rosebud, plus a Malibu Skipper, but I don't own either a PJ or Christie from 1978, the only Barbie friends that were sold that year.

Here is the first photo of the house.  I know wall sections, windows, doors, flowers and covers for the frame pieces are missing.  And I haven't tried to restore the house's original white pieces that have yellowed.

The furnishings that I have for the 1978 Dream House are a bed and its covers,
the toilet and towel stand plus towels, the stove and oven, a refrigerator, a rolling cart and a grill.

1970s Francies have problems too

Not even sealing tape will hold Francie's arms on.
On the left is 1970's Francie with Growin' Pretty Hair
and on the right is 1973 Quick Curl Francie.

I've long since given up trying to keep Francie's arms in place.

The problem with limbs falling off isn't just with Barbie-size dolls.  The situation also extends to cousin Francie.

I have two 1970 Francies with Growin' Pretty Hair dolls.  The one seen in the photo is actually my sister's, who received the doll as a Christmas gift that year.  I have another Gro Hair Francie that I acquired recently, and she does not have the problem with the arms breaking off.  Gro Hair Francies were made in Japan.

The other doll in the yellow dress is Quick Curl Francie from 1973.  Out of all the Barbie dolls ever made, the Quick Curls are the worst when it comes to arms and legs.  I've read many times about Talking Barbies whose legs have come off while still in the box, but no one has ever mentioned how bad the Quick Curl dolls are.  Quick Curl Francies were made in Taiwan.

One detail I have figured out, though, is this: If you have a doll with disabled legs, make sure it is wearing underpants or a swimsuit before you dress it.  As for the arms, the doll must wear a form-fitting shirt or dress with sleeves.

1971 talking dolls breakage continues

I have two talking dolls from 1971 that are falling apart, both Talking PJs.  

The Talking PJs were made in Hong Kong and like the Talking Barbies, have broken hips and the only way I know to repair them is to use sealing tape to tape them on.  Fortunately, you can't see the tape when the doll is dressed.  The doll not wearing sunglasses also has a broken neck knob and I had to super-glue her head to her neck.

I still believe that the reason the talking dolls were sold with vinyl underpants or cotton shorts is because Mattel already knew in the late 1960s that the joints that attached the legs to the hips would break off easily.  The pants were there not just for modesty or style, but also to keep the legs on!

Two notes about PJ: (1) The Twist N Turn versions and the early Malibus are indestructible.  (2) Talking PJ is not wearing a minidress or long tunic with shorts underneath.  The outfit is a baby doll nightgown, hence the lace on the shorts.  And wearing night clothes matches her name.  However, I cannot explain why she needs sunglasses at night!  The nightgown is tagged, "PJ™/©1969 MATTEL, INC/HONG KONG".

1971 Talking dolls still have 29 holes
on their backs for their speakers.

I hope to sell 1/6 scale items at doll show

I am setting up a sale table at the doll show at EnterTrainment Junction this Saturday, Aug. 17. I am doing something different this time. I am bringing 1/6 size items that aren't toys but that Barbies and same size dolls can use. I have two couches that are actually jewelry boxes, a Christmas tree and a bunch of ornaments and a bookend that looks like a bookcase. I am also bringing a number of doll storybooks. 

This will be the last doll show at EnterTrainment Junction,
as the property has been sold.
The club is looking for a new venue.

Barbie's first dog is suspicious of her!

The box says "1000" but I counted, and there are 984 pieces.

For the first time ever, I completed a 1,000-piece puzzle by myself.  (Well, my nephew's wife put in one piece, but I did the other 999.)  In the past, I've always worked on large puzzles with someone else.

I had received a Barbie puzzle for Christmas, and put it together last week.  It took me a week to complete.  I have three of the dolls and outfits pictured.  

The puzzle was by Ravensburger and made in Germany.  It is 26 inches wide by 20 inches high, and fits on the card table very well.  The puzzle pictures seven haute couture Barbies and one Ken. There are 36 pieces horizontally and 28 pieces vertically, for a total of 984 pieces.

You will notice that the blonde Barbie on the left has a bit of a smirk for her smile, like she knows something we don't know.  What I find amusing is that her dog--the poodle from 1613 Dog N Duds from 1964--is looking up at her like he doesn't entirely trust her.  I think that the dog is thinking, "she's up to something!"

Also in the picture is the orange Irwin Austin Healy from 1962.  Look closely:  Barbie is driving, not Ken, and they are both wearing their shoulder belts, which weren't included in cars until 1968.

Yes, I have the boater hat from Ken's Dreamboat,
but I don't know where it is.

The Barbie Learns to Cook dress in the puzzle has the flower print,
but not the Barbie logo.

From left to right are: blonde sidepart bubblecut in 1606 Garden Tea Party from 1964,
redhead bend leg in 1634 Barbie Learns to Cook from 1965,
blonde bend leg in 1668 Riding in the Park from 1966,
light brunette bend leg in 1650 Outdoor Art Show from 1966,
blonde ponytail in her zebra swimsuit from 1959,
straight leg brunette Ken in 785 Dreamboat from 1961,
blonde bend leg in 0957 in Knitting Pretty from 1964,
and blonde ponytail in 989 Ballerina from 1961.

The storage box isn't very big, and when I opened it,
it was filled to the top with puzzle pieces.