*REVIEW* Vintage 1979 Barbie Super 'Vette

*SCORE*

Feeling lucky....grabbed this vette for $3 at Savers.
It's perfect for my vintage Ken doll! 

RMC runs on batteries. No windshield, but it's still a cool ride!

Restored Bubble Cut Barbie + Boy Dolls Repaint

In a previous post I said I was sending my Bubble Cut Barbie to be restored. She had a terrible neck split on the right side and Mardie at VintageBarbieHeartwhisper.com helped this poor girl out!

The neck split was very bad! During the restoration process, Mardie kept me updated via email.

She cut off some of the neck post to prevent another split. 

She cleaned her hair, gave her new earrings and a factory manicure/pedicure.

Because I was so pleased with the results, I sent both Ken and Allan for hair touch ups.

Allan needed a little more work.

His hair looks fabulous now, but he also got a touch up on his face paint.

Looking good boys!
Thanks Mardie!

Vintage T-Bird for Ken Carson

At a local retro diner in town, they sell kids meals in cardboard vintage cars - I JUST HAD TO HAVE ONE!

I didn't want the meal so we were able to buy the car separately.

These are way cute and can accommodate two fashion dolls.

Immediately I could imagine Ken owning this red T-Bird.

Here he is on his way to pick up Barbie...

There are no seats (of course) but the dolls can sit fine and extend their legs under the dashboard.

Not exactly to scale, but still fun none the less!

Ken and Allan - Vintage Heart Throbs

My vintage boy Mattel dolls are in great condition. 

Ken is in near perfect condition, he just has a small skuff to his hair (paint)

Allan is unfortunately going "bald" in spots and needs his hair re-painted.

Otherwise he is in great condition.

Allan was Midge Hadley boyfriend, sometime in 1966 the original Allan doll was discontinued.  

Minor Changes - Barbie's House

My Barbie house needs more attention, unfortunately I haven't had the time to devote to this project. I have been making the most out of small moments here and there to add a feature or two. I am actively searching for furniture and plants on my shopping trips to antique stores and  scour ebay.

The bookcase house isn't that deep - 12" to be exact - and that means large furniture pieces are not an option. I found a backdrop of a fireplace and printed it out. It's too short to extend the height of the wall, I will need to print another copy and use a solid piece of the brick to fill in the lower portion.

Temporarily the dolls are using a crate for a coffee table. It is difficult to find vintage furniture and it takes more time than I currently have available to begin making furniture for this living room/kitchen.

 

Ken has no dresser or nightstand, space is limited in his bedroom too. I made a SIMPLE wall unit using large craft sticks. I have yet to paint and accessorize it. I think it's a good alternative to large bulky furniture piece.

Ah the kitchen! I have no space whatsoever for bulky boxy appliances. I colored then printed out an old appliance ad. The refrigerator is 11" and doesn't hit to the floor. Once I have a table in place, I'm hoping the lower areas will be covered. It is the height of the appliances I am most concerned with. When the dolls stand near them, the scale needs to be right.

More updates as time allows.

*Opening* Vintage Barbie Clothes

Yay!

A trip to the re-sale shop and I SCORED a bag of vintage Barbie clothes.

And a plastic Barbie bed!
 

50% of the clothing is handmade! (BONUS) 80% is very dirty, stained and in need of minor repair. *Boo hoo*

I used Spray' n Wash and worked hard at getting out the stains. Once clean, the clothes looked more vibrant and of course regained their shape after being crammed in a plastic bag!

And Ken got something too! A blazer. 
*Whistles*

Ken's Bachelor Pad - Reveal

Progress has been S L O W on Ken's place. I feel terrible, my vintage Barbie's have been very ignored lately. With all of the AG Beforever news and the scurry to buy what's currently available, I've been pre-occupied with those projects.

 My friend Shelly sent this really cool border paper for the walls; very retro, very masculine and the colors were exact to his color scheme. I have his place "set-up", but it still needs the little details.

Of course just like a BFF, we see that Alan is right at home visiting the small bachelor pad. 

The amazing .99c leather chair Shelly found at Goodwill !!

I made all of the furniture except for Ken's nightstand.

Still needed: lamps, plants, books, wall art, etc.

Vintage Ken's Digs *Diorama*

When I saw this diorama I couldn't breathe!

It's STUNNING!!!

Detailed. True to period. A must have!

Created by Welcome Home

 

I really love the colors.

 

 

 

I'm definitely making this bedroom for my Ken. The teal corduroy fabric bedspread along with the striped pillow and curtains are perfect.

What is your favorite part of Ken's Bachelor pad?

Ken's Bachelor Pad *Dioramas*

I love Dioramas. I'd like to take time to spotlight Ken and the idea of a special diorama all his own.
Ken's Bachelor Pad

• It's a New York City bachelor pad. The sofa was created from three pencil boxes, two computer wrist pillows, a zen garden frame, and four computer keyboard erasers (for feet) from the back to school section at the Dollar Tree Store. (and some remnant fabric and glue) 
• The textured modern art above the sofa was created from a plastic notebook and picture frames purchased from Dollar Tree. 
• The modern lamps on either end of the sofa were created by inverting clear lip gloss tubes with iridescent shimmer and gluing a sequin to the upside down top to give the impression of a light switch. 
• The end table closest to the window was created from a clear glass cube, small picture frame and several tile erasers from Dollar Tree. 
• The coffee table was created from four clear plastic cubes that housed puzzles from the toy section and the table top is a piece of beveled mirror purchased from Dollar Tree. 
• The candle holders on the fireplace mantle and coffee table are upside down thumbtacks from the back to school section at Dollar Tree. 
• The bar was created from two locker door pencil caddies which were inserted into each other. Four computer keyboard erasers were used to create the 'feet'. And a piece of vinyl tile was cut and stuck together to create the bar top. Again, all pieces purchased from Dollar Tree. 
• The television was created from a magnetized photo frame and the 'speakers' on either side began their life as pencil sharpeners from the back to school section at Dollar Tree. 
• The exterior room walls, and floor as well as the fireplace walls started out as pieces of foam core board purchased from Dollar Tree and were covered with scrapbook paper and spray paint.

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My Life in Plastic