My New Year's wish

My favorite vintage Barbie/Francie/Skipper outfits
Originally uploaded by Gina2424

Oh wait. You mean I have to make a resolution, not a wish? Then I resolve to find as many of these vintage outfits as I can not only to recreate my childhood but to dress my Blythes fantastically! Happy New Year from Lilly, Maggy, Zena, Bunny and Daisy.

Francie! Skipper! Come back!

Wild Bunch. Fun Time. Daisy Crazy. Maybe it's just the names. Maybe it's nostalgia. Even deja vu'. I've been obsessing over the vintage Skipper and Francie fashions of my childhood. I prefer Skipper and Francie size, because of course that fits Blythe, and then I can enjoy looking at my vintage treasures.

After many (and I mean many many) hours on Ebay, I scored the great bargains pictured above. I know I looked at over 125 pages of 50 items each on-line into the wee hours last night. But it was FUN! I had so many of these outfits, dolls, cases, accessories, doll houses growing up, and then repeated Barbie in the early 1980s with my daughter.

It is just incredible that there are still outfit sets in the unopened, original packaging from 1964. And even the packaging was cool. Was there ever a better era than the Mod Era? It is also amazing what the price tags are for some of these vintage items in mint, complete condition. I saw Barbie outfits selling for more than $1,000 for a tiny little dress and shoes. And collectors are paying it. Obviously, those collectors have money to burn.

My goal was to find the items I wanted at affordable prices, and it can still be done, especially if you are not looking for complete sets in mint condition. I don't mind finding the outfit only, since I'm going to put them on Blythes, and I don't mind a little unnoticeable damage, especially if I can make a repair, or alter them in some way.

The blue set (next to last photo) is Skipper Fun Time, a croquet set. I had this as a child, and it was always one of my favorites. I just love the detailed, embroidered top. Can't wait to try it with my blue-haired Zena.

The clam diggers raincoat (bottom) will look great with some orange jelly boots I found on Etsy, as will the hairy Wild Bunch coat at top. I believe this coat is one of the older ones from the 1960s-1970s, although the entire outfit was reproduced with a Francie doll in 1996.

Also from Francie are the yellow shoes above (have no idea how they will fit Blythe), the red and navy striped vest and the yellow shirt dress with pink, white and yellow tweed skirt. That came with a pink knit vest- had all that as a kid, too.

The Daisy Crazy dress, also pink and yellow, was for Skipper, and came with a belt. But I think it will be just fine without. It and the yellow Skipper Tea Time dress will both look great with white go-go boots or chunky mary jane shoes, don't you think? Stay tuned for a great photo shoot!

My favorite Hipsters and their fashions

My favorite Hipsters and their fashions
Originally uploaded by Gina2424

Check out these gorgeous girls on Flickr. Click on picture to view larger size. 1. Arivis, 2. Mohair gnome felted Hat SOLD, 3. Perdita Up a Tree, 4. Toast, 5. daisy, 6. Arivis, 7. Flower power, 8. bella swan, 9. mabel morris, 10. Sunshiney Day 039:365 ADAD, 11. If you're going to San Francisco... be sure to wear some flowers in your hair..., 12. Nouveau Hippie, 13. Jonah Up a Tree, 14. Bluebell is glad that she isn't leaving, 15. Dottie, 16. New Maxi Dresses, 17. Rowan, 18. Bohemian Style Long Dress in Orchid, 19. Thora Kate, 20. Embroidered Caftan Top, 21. Rosy in the Garden, 22. blythe groovy guffey, 23. Vogue waves as she leaves for Glastonbury, 24. Adorable Aubrey, 25. Brigitte

Recent Fave Photos

recent fave photos
Originally uploaded by Gina2424

Love the color! Love the Blythes! Rock on. Find these on Flickr: 1. Josephine Bunny, 2. "Just can't get enough..., 3. petite zetti, 4. Untitled, 5. Untitled, 6. Preparadas para el frio, 7. Rowan, 8. Saffron, 9. HAPPY smile today !, 10. The Snow Queen, 11. Snow kitty, 12. Mischievous_Boys, 13. journalpg how r ya, 14. "Groovy baby", 15. about art and beauty, 16. Compare them on white, 17. dancing flowers pendant, 18. Avon Small World 1971, 19. Pink Cameo Aceo, 20. Fairy with Black Manx cat, 21. rubber duckies, 22. Vintage Avon Small World collection, 23. Whole World zetti skinny, 24. saturday at 3, 25. robot assemblage sculpture * CODGER

Happy Holidays!

Isn't she lovely? And I'll be needing a name!

The itch for a newbie and the itch for a custom intersected on Ebay last night. Oh my gosh- is she beautiful or what? The name Daisy keeps coming to mind, but I am still ruminating while she's in transit from Tokyo. I just love her skin! her hair! her eyes! her eyelashes! her dress! I guess it was love at first sight!

On the road again...

I merely mentioned to the Blythes that one of them might get to go to Indiana with me for the holidays, and there was a flurry of activity in the wardrobe box. All four of them were changing clothes so fast their heads were spinning. Lilly, a Star Dancer, (top and bottom), a girl after my own heart, changed clothes at least three times, from vintage Skipper Town Togs to a Chanel T by rlkataja on Etsy, with Barbie denim skirt and knee-high go-go boots and a white down ski jacket with fur-trimmed collar from the TIB shop.

Maggy, ADG Princess Parfait, chose green cords with fur-trimmed bell bottoms and borrowed Lilly's stock poncho and hat along with a Coach purse. Bunny Velvet (ADG Roaring Red) went for comfort in a TIB shop A-line corduroy dress and a Twinklies Hello Kitty helmet to keep her unruly hair in check. Where are those wigs I ordered?

Zena, my bue mohair custom, was looking demure in the other part of the Twinkies Hello Kitty set with the HK dress, and a red blouse of unknown origin- off the rack, I guess. Not sure who's going. There's only one Sew Pixie carrier to go around, and Lilly always packs too much and loses her earrings. Why did I even mention it? *sigh*

A friend for Blythe

This is Gladys, and although technically she has nothing to do with this Blythe blog, she's sort of in the same kitsch-y genre and she took many hours to construct this weekend since I am not a nimble or trained sew-er. So, I thought I'd post her here....back to Blythe soon. Have some cute outfits to show, and new hair coming for Miss Bunny Velvet-yay!