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.

I wish i found rare items more often, but then they wouldn't be rare!

About once every five years I will find a rare Barbie or family item for just a few bucks.  Sometimes it is mixed in with a bag or case of a bunch of other stuff.  Yesterday I found the 1967 #1818 Barbie Velveteens jacket in with a bag of other clothing items at the Lawrenceburg antique show.  I am listing it for $100 on etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1758985069/rare-barbie-1967-1818-velveteens-red-or?click_key=7c26587c3303face9a54899f32408cc043f138cf%3A1758985069&click_sum=457c6447&ref=shop_home_active_1

I hope it sells quickly!  I have to get a cavity filled on Wednesday and I don't have dental insurance.  Even if it takes a little while to sell, it will help with the bill.

Tote bag found in the attic

 

This valise/suitcase belonged to my father, who was stationed in Germany in the 1950s.  He died in 1974.  My mother died in 2023.  She insisted for years that there was nothing in the attic.  Last year, I went through her dresser and chest of drawers, her closets, her cabinets, boxes, the basement and the garage, but I was unable to get into the attic.

I had someone go up there in 2024, mainly to see if there were any holes in the roof or siding.  He found this case, which I do not remember at all.  I have no idea how long it was in there.  All that it contained were those springs, which I believe are for a garage door opener track.  The valise leather was very hard and ripped and the zipper was broken, so there was no value to it and I eventually put it out for the trash.  There was nothing valuable inside, such as money or jewelry or stock certificates like you see in the movies.  We looked!  We even felt through the lining!

The luggage freaked me out, because I never knew it existed and there is no one left on my father's side of the family to ask about this.  I felt like I'd seen a ghost!