Saturday, April 29, 2017

Day #3 of the Birthday celebration continue- Vintage Country Living Barbie foldup dollhouse arrival

So day #3 of the birthday bacchanalia of the loot continues....I should mention here that my birthday is not until May 1st, Monday, lol.  Today my vintage ebay find , the Barbie Country living fold up dollhouse arrived. I won this ebay 
Country Living Barbie foldup dollhouse for a song, and it only had one crack on the corner with all the furniture intact, and one crack on the bed! I have this same exact item, only mine has damage when a table fell on the roof and my kitchen table got damaged. I still have it in the attic somewhere. My mission has been to replace the vintage items I had as a kid.I have replaced my country camper, now my birthday present this year has been this dollhouse! Now I have both this dollhouse and the cardboard original Barbie 1959 foldup dream house my aunt had. 

So let's get started with some pics!


This is the kitchen and bedroom, together.
Graphics are bright and the vinyl walls are not bent or warped.





The living room. This house looks like it has hardly been played with. I remember my frustration with the house as a child, as the rooms were so very small and didn't accomadate the furniture and dolls very well. I didn't like the furniture spilling out of the house as a child and in order to play with the house , you had to put the furniture outside the floor plan perimeters, which spoiled it for me. Even as a kid I was a stickler for things being picture perfect/ scale correct. I remember putting my mother's placements  or towels underneath the furniture for 'carpet' so it would look right. 





Here is the living room/kitchen peopled with dolls. That is a vintage Skipper with sausage curls and Living Barbie, and my Pillow Talk Poppy Parker, since she is one of my most 'mod' dolls. You can see how cramped the dollhouse is in the living room. I remember the kitchen was my favorite room of this house. 









Mattel did some of the most in-depth graphics of all on this house in this room, I think. I took photos of the swinging doors, the doors to the bedroom, the back wall of the kitchen, the graphics of the fridge, it all blends with the orange country farmhouse table and chairs. As a child I loved playing with this set and as a grown woman, I am still drawn to it. Barbie in her vintage dress still brings back the nostalgia of the 70's. I might start making some 70's food for that table ! 






Ah, the mod- vintage bedroom. The bed arrived with a crack in it, but I knew about that when bidding on this piece. I might be able to pick up one later that isn't damaged. I did some furniture placement and had this orange office chair that seems to fit right in with the mod decor. 




The roof. The roof has one slight crack on the corner which was larger than originally in the photos, or probably the seller didn't take that great of photos of the crack. Otherwise, the roof is pretty much intact. I might be able to repair that roof. It is rare, very rare to find these houses without a crack in the roof and without the vinyl walls warped. I plan to store my house in a safe and dry place, since it is over forty+ years old. Hopefully I can get my other childhood one down from the attic and salvage it soon. 



And finally, the exterior.  The colors are equally bright and astonishing - most of all, this item is CLEAN. No dirt, ingrained dust, it looks like it might have been stored in its box and barely played with. I am wondering if the crack might be storage or from heat damage or something falling on it, versus a child playing with it. Someone has carefully taken care of it, which I'm grateful for. My vintage girls are going to love it. 

So far, I've had a great day unpacking this item, and watching my new DVD, 
Batman vs. Superman. What an awesome movie.  I have also ordered the new
giftset Wonder Woman Paradise Island giftset from Barbie Collector, which is on Backorder until June 1st. I can hardly wait for the new Wonder Woman movie to come out, as the dolls are amazing. 

More to come, and enjoy the pics! Lisa 

Friday, April 28, 2017

Birthday Celebrations...Loot! Day#2

Today started out normal enough, but then got hectic as the day wore on. Maybe because it got hot! Today was our first really hot day- it has rained all week. 

Day #2 of the Birthday week-end celebrations and some of my loot or booty has come home.  Champagne Poppy arrived and she is beautiful. I will try and de-box her tonight. 

First let's take a look at ALL of the loot assembled. 




Not the best picture of her...


Ever since I have seen clips of this movie, I have wanted it so bad. Now I want the dolls by Mattel. 


Have been waiting for this book to go on sale too...



And the Barbie Target sneakers!  Someone listed a link for them on theBarbie Collector board, so I just had to have a pair. Only now Target has them in the clearance aisle, but they are not on sale. They run $22.99

Target Barbie Sneakers   

You can order them online too. 

I will get more pics of Champagne Poppy later. I also purchased a cupcake pan, and some cake mixed with icing, as I am undecided what type of cake I want. I loved the strawberry cake at Easter, but might have both a cake and cupcakes this time around. We'll see.  More bacchanalia celebrations pics this weekend....
Lisa

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Kicking off my Birthday 'Week-End' .Celebration ...Day 1

Hey Dolls! It's been a while since I posted. I have been in a quandry with work and keeping up with all the dolls that both Mattel and Integrity have been literally pelting us with! Some I have had to pass on just because there were more dolls I want from Mattel- which is a first this year! Today the Wonder Woman dolls were released! My poor wallet. 

Today kicks off my 'Week' -End Celebration of my birthday. It's the first time in a long time my husband and I have had the time and funds on a weekend to do anything , with the weather cooperating. So I've been doing shopping for food, so we can grill, cook, etc. Haven't decided what kind of cake I want. Usually I just buy it, but I might make my own cake this year, since the Easter cake turned out so well! 

The other night I was browsing on Ebay and found this little lady. 
Wedding Day Barbie She just arrived today and she was so cheap. I made an offer on her which was accepted. In our fashion doll club we are going to need a swirl ponytail doll for a class so I figured getting the wedding gown and this doll for that price was too good to pass up. 
Here she is-


back of the box-



I will have another birthday present arriving soon- Champagne Poppy Parker, who I was expecting today but hasn't arrived, but another ebay find- the 1973 Barbie foldup Country Living house. I had this house and still do, only mine has a cracked roof and is somewhere in the attic. I found one with all the furniture and its roof is intact on ebay for $15, the shipping was what killed me. So that is my birthday present this year for me too. Shhh... don't tell on me. lol . I'm not counting the bride doll because I really need her for a future workshop and I got her cheap, lol. 
All for now- off to dinner with the girls at the Bass Pro shop restuarant!
Lisa

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

King of the Crystal Cave Ken

Well. He's finally here.  King of the Crystal Cave Ken, first male and fifth doll in the Faraway Forest series. (photos are not mine, downloaded from Barbie Collector)







King of the Crystal Cave Ken is available for order now HERE for $100 

Right now, he is on backorder until April 29, 2017. 

at BarbieCollector.com  There is a special going on right now with orders for $100 with free shipping. 

The controversy surrounding this doll has been a little upsetting to collectors of the series. Collectors were patiently waiting for news from the designer at convention, since usually, new dolls are usually unveiled at Convention. We expected this doll to come in time for Christmas, actually. Still no news or sneaks. 
This year, we finally got some sneaks of his boots, armor, sword, and a blackened out silhouette. I checked back on the forum literally for weeks & going into months waiting for any news when this doll would be released so I could plan. I literally browsed into the thread on the forum and saw that collectors had two days- the 18th and 19th, this was referring to the Barbie Collector members- to order him before he was released to the public. I had not received the email until later that afternoon. Luckily, I had browsed the forum that morning. So I went ahead and ordered him, after reading the news from members on the forum who said they ordered and he was already 'backordered'. 

Mattel is strange. Why they for the life of me cannot just admit they are taking pre-orders is beyond me when they do not have the doll in hand, but they prefer to call it 'backorder'.  What is great is they do not charge you until the date prescribed on the date , so now I have two dolls from Barbie collector- Black & white Tweed Silkstone, and King of the Crystal Cave Ken both backordered until April 29th. There must be something magical about this date. Either, way, I am glad I am getting this doll. He will be here in time for a late birthday present for me. 

King of the Crystal Cave Ken comes with these specs:

  • Body Type: Articulated Muscular
  • Facial sculpt: Tango
  • Fashion Sewn On: Yes
  • Fashion: Sculpted armor, faux leather belt accents, cape
  • Accessories: Sword, crown
  • Doll Stand: Yes
  • Package Dimensions (H/D/W): 15.5“ x 3.3“x 9.5“


Many people are disappointed that his fashion is sewn on and he has a clenched fist, as they want to redress him. I think he looks really great, myself. So much better than monster high water sprite. I love the fact that his hair is rooted instead of molded, big plus. If it is possible to get another one to re-body and re-dress, that would be terrific, but not necessary. 

Can't wait for this doll to arrive and get really great pics of him with the Dark Queen and the Lady of the White Woods!

Monday, April 17, 2017

Happy Easter !

I didn't get many photos of our Easter dinner yesterday, and I was frankly exhausted after the big day. We had a pulled pork roast, baked beans, cole slaw, rolls, strawberries, and and a homemade strawberry cake with strawberry icing. I was really proud of that cake. 







Nothing says Easter and Barbie like pink cake, right? It was so delicious. 



I hope everyone had a happy & safe Easter. ~Lisa

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Easter Decorating...and Palm Sunday dinner

I haven't shown any photos of my Easter preparations and the girls are in their spring dresses in light pastels with Easter chicks and bunnies . 

I also decorated my white tree for Easter as well. This was a big tradition with my mother, who always had an 'Easter' tree, not a regular green tree, but a white branch tree that she put eggs on. She would also decorate an outside tree in the yard with eggs on colored ribbons way before Palm Sunday , usually one of the dogwoods. 


This year I haven't gone so far as Mom used to, but I did get Ellie Mae Poppy her tree and her critters - her chicks and bunnies. 


I used to love the Beverly Hillbillies as a kid, and this Poppy Parker reminds me of Ellie Mae Clampett. 

The dolls were all on my antique table in the dining room, holding chicks along with Beau, the elf on the shelf and Pokey, his reindeer sidekick








When I was young, Easter was a huge holiday at our house. As big as Christmas.  My mother and I shopped for Easter outfits, and about  one or two days before Easter Sunday, Mom would go and pick up the Easter orchids she and I would wear.  You didn't wear a white orchid unless your mother had passed away, she always made a big deal out of that, I remember when I wanted to wear a white one that I admired because it was pretty when I was about fifteen. As I got older, I also used to wear hats because they had come back into style because of Princess Diana had brought them back into vogue in the early 80's. 

We used to go to the sunrise service, in the nearby park, that had a cross landscaped in azalea bushes, and it was beautiful if it was warm enough and bloomed on Easter. Afterwards our family always met friends for breakfast- this was a tradition that continued even after us kids were grown with our own spouses , and children, even if we had our own Easter tradition, services we went to. It has died out now that the families have grown apart and are very scattered. We would then go to Sunday School and regular church, then finally home to dinner. 

My mother and stepdad (my dad died in 1969) would cook a ham like the way my stepdad's mother cooked it, and it took a couple of days since it was a Smithfield. You had to soak it to get the pepper and salt off, then slow boil it, then bake it. My dad would diamond slice it with pineapple and cherries and that wonderful syrup he poured over it. It was usually ready by Easter eve and allowed to sit in the oven cooling, we would have ham biscuits for a quick snack before going to sunrise service. 

Mom always made deviled eggs, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a pickle tray, and other items, like salad, maccaroni and cheese- my favorite, she varied her side dishes year to year.  Sometimes she just did homemade potato salad instead of mashed potatoes.  

This year for Palm Sunday dinner I fixed ham steaks with pineapple rings, dressing with onion, and scalloped corn, and cole slaw, with water and lemon , we also had peach iced tea. 




I tried to decorate the table Easter-ey, with the vintage table cloth, a big floral centerpiece, not real, the flowers are silk so they will last all week. My vintage bunnies.   

The main courses were too hot to bring and put on the table...

Ham steaks with pineapple rings. I made a syrup with brown sugar, the pineapple juice from the can, and a dash of ginger ale, and cooked or baked the steaks in the oven in that, covered with tin foil on 325 heat 


This is the pepperidge farm herb dressing, the whole bag. I used chicken broth, a whole Swanson 16 ounce box of broth to make mine in, then buttered the dish and sprinkled dice onion on it, and baked it for about 15-20 minutes. I usually put bacon on top, but forgot to pick it up this shopping trip. 

Scalloped corn. I made it from the recipe in the recipe book, but I might modify the recipe because it needed more kick . It contains 4 cups of corn, 1 tablespoon of diced onion, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 3 tablesppons of butter melted, 3 eggs, beat, 1 cup of milk, 30 crackers, divided (you put half in the mix and half on top for the crust, but they must be crushed) salt and pepper to taste mix it all together, then pour in a buttered baking dish, and bake for 1 hour at 325 until a knife testing it comes out clean. It should have a crispy crust and should have  a custard creamy texture. In my opinion it should have more onion and should have been made with canned milk or cream, to give it a richness. 

Am now planning my Easter menu which is going to be more pork as I have a shoulder and am going to do deviled eggs. I haven't done a lot of cooking but it is fun trying new recipes and my husband loved the scalloped corn. 

Hopefully I will have some new Easter photos for you of my old Easter basket all decorated too, soon! Happy decorating!