Yep...me & Barbie. We have a connection. We both are turning 50 this month. Somehow Barbie has weathered the years a little more successfully than I have. She still has a fabulous figure. I guess she went the career path rather than settle down with Ken and have a family. Are they still together or did Barbie get the dream house and the 'vette in the settlement? I don't know...I lost touch with Barbie over the years.
As a young girl in the 60's I played with Barbies. My first Barbie was a hand me down from my older sister. She was one of the first molded plastic ones with legs that didn't bend. She had short dark hair (since my sister and I both are brunettes, I guess Mom thought we would relate better to a dark haired Barbie) I hated her at first. All my friends had cool Barbies with long blonde hair and the legs that bent. I really felt deprived at the time, but I'm over that now. I saved my money and bought a "cool" Barbie myself. I bought Midge too. Barbie taught me to sew, or at least she was the first customer I designed for. Barbie and a box of fabric scraps and I was entertained for hours.
Now there is a new generation of girls who still like to play with Barbie. My friend Celeste has a 9 year old granddaughter. One day they were shopping in a local junk store (that's all you can call Mike's...I would elaborate, but that's a whole 'nother post!) and Kaylee found a huge Barbie. We call her "Amazon Barbie". Anyway, Kaylee had to have her...the poor thing has a screw holding her arm on and asked her Grandma "Do you think aunt Mary would make her some clothes?" They actually have an aunt Mary (blood relative) in their family who does not sew at all, so Celeste was a little confused. She said "Honey, aunt Mary doesn't sew". Kaylee replied "Not that one...you know, aunt Mary and uncle Tom!" Then the light bulb went on! Well of course, how could I turn down an opportunity to sew for my first customer? Here she is for her initial consult:
Jo is not too certain about Amazon Barbie. She kind of freaked him out at first, but I think he is getting used to her now. We are going to work on a tattoo to cover up that unsightly screw. She's not FrankenBarbie for heavens sake! Kaylee loves Hannah Montana too, so I got the bright idea when I woke up at 2:00 a.m. that I could make her some Hannah Montana jammies and Barbie could have a matching set. She asked Celeste if she would sell her house to get her Hannah Montana tickets...isn't that cute??? (NOT!!!) I found some fabric on Ebay that was reasonably priced and got a yard of Camp Rock fabric too, because she also likes the Jonas Brothers. I am excited about this project and am off to make a sloper for Amazon Barbie so I don't have to keep her too long.Happy Birthday Barbie...let's go celebrate!
9 comments:
Oh Barbie! My Barbie had a blonde bubble hairstyle. Needless to say I related better to Midge, who I also had. And I also had Ken. Actually, I still have all three. No clothes though. My friend across the street had EVERYTHING that went with Barbie and her older sister made the most incredible clothes for her!!! Wow I was jealous. I made clothes for my daughters' Barbies.
I remember when I was a child, my mama used to buy be a Barbie every time I went to the dentist so that I would sit in the dentist chair and behave.
Your dog looks very interested in Barbie. I didn't have a Barbie-I'm a few years before her time. But, I did have another similar doll. I dessed her as if she were a queen!
Happy Birthday to you, and Barbie!
Fifty! I myself turned a young 49 on the 2nd! My ancient sister (54 last week) and I grew up with Barbie too. My sister had the dark haired, (stiff legged) version and me, the blonde (stiff legged) version. My sister had the cardboard boutique with hat and glove stands and I had the cardboard house. God knows how much these would be worth today if we still had them, but of course we don't. And I still remember how excited I was when finally, a bendy leg (complete with clicky noises) Barbie, was mine! Fifty years ago? It just can't be!!
I hit 50 a little later this year, too! I have been a bit pouty because Barbie has managed to maintain her youthful looks, while I....um, haven't...
Have a wonderful birthday!
50 and fab - you, me and Barbie. So what if we didn't maintain the waistline that girl has, at least we didn't change careers at the drop of a hat. I had a brunette one with the bubble hair and a blonde with the curly bangs and long pony tail. And tons of clothes of course :-)
Happy pre-50th birthday to you!
After 50 years Barbie is still in great shape; how does she do it?
Barbie sure does look terrific for 50! She must have a great dermatologist and plastic surgeon LOL. I used to play with my sister's Barbies. She had one of the original short-haired brunette ones with non-bendable legs. Would you believe my mother gave them away to Good Will when I was in high school? Unbelievable, huh.
Oh...and Happy Birthday!!!
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