Comments on: Friday Barbie Blogging

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:45:24 +0000

Knitting Clio

Try E-Bay for vintage Barbie patterns.

By: Historiann

Historiann — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:26:31 +0000

No–I don’t, and I don’t even know who might. They weren’t made by a family member, and I’ve never seen anything like them anywhere else. I wonder if knitting the Barbie clothes was just this woman’s particular hobby?

By: Knitting Clio

Knitting Clio — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:45:57 +0000

Fabulous examples of fiber art! Do you have the patterns?

By: Historiann

Historiann — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:50:18 +0000

Well, that is quite the compliment, GayProf! Thanks! (And perhaps a little revealing of Historiann’s health worries, she having had a few too many really bad sunburns back in Malibu B.’s heyday–when she had both legs!)

Vance–you’re right about the resale potential other “action figures” made for children–it’s not a strictly gendered thing, although I think it’s odd to fetishize the pristine quality of the toy in the box. That old song by Aqua back in 1996 keeps going through my head, though: “I’m just a Barbie Girl, in my Barbie world/Wrapped in plastic, it’s fantastic!”

By: GayProf

GayProf — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:47:14 +0000

Malibu B. has other health problems–like the creeping melanomas that she’ll surely suffer now that she’s in her 40s and still sporting that kind of a tan.

This wins the prize for the most amusing thing that I have seen on any blog all week.

By: Vance Maverick

Vance Maverick — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:27:36 +0000

Hi Historiann — collectors prefer untouched Star Wars merchandise, too, not just Barbies. It’s creepy, all right, but I don’t think it has to do specifically with gender and sexuality.

By: Mother of ALL

Mother of ALL — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:28:58 +0000

If Historiann is a really good girl (playing well with others, etc.) she just may get a gander at another collection just remembered by Mother of ALL. I had a collection of Ginny Dolls which I belive still reside with my sister. The mention of a fur stole for the Madam Alexander dolls recalled this useless bit of info in my too-full head. (Where is the delete key when you need it.) Keep up the good and eclectic work.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:36:18 +0000

Love the outfits — that blue is to die for. My grandmother made clothing for my sister’s and my Princess Alexandra dolls. I still have them — a fur stole, “new look” dresses, etc. It’s terrific. If she’s really lucky I let my granddaughter play with them.

By: Baudrillard's Bastard

Baudrillard's Bastard — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:17:51 +0000

more new books

A couple of days ago I received a little book catalog from the University of Georgia Press. Normally I skim this type of catalog and post a list of books that I find of interest. I do this so I will not forget the book titles. However, this time, I wil…

By: Historiann

Historiann — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:02:58 +0000

Hi, Sis! My favorite Barbie re-model was a punk Barbie I made, but which has long since been lost or destroyed. (And, I don’t think she was a Barbie (TM), but rather a cheap knock-off. Because she was a knock-off, it was easier to cut her hair into a Mohawk because her hair was rooted only down the center part and on top only, not all over the head like real Barbies.)

Don’t despair that your re-models have deprived you of the E-Bay cash-in potential; Barbies who were actually played with (or out of the box at all, in fact) have little if any value for collectors. I think that’s a disturbing comment on contemporary gender, sexuality, and commercial value: the most sought-after Barbies are those still preserved in their original boxes, as though embalmed, never touched by children’s hands.