2004 Happy Family Talking Home

A belated present from my Aunt the Happy Family Talking Home with African American Pictures, finally found where the batteries go and low and behold it still works, fridge, phone, tub, lullaby.  A nice addition, still want to get the Malibu Beach House from the 80's I always wanted but money was tight back then.  Lucky for us creativeness was past down from our parents (particularly our mother) my sister came up with the idea to use the books especially the state books as walls, Hawaii and California where good for beach rooms and the desert states weren't too bad either.   I also used the inside of one of my dresser little did I know I was ahead of my time, now people are using old solid wood dressers as barbie dollhouses.   I also used the cabinets that flanked the fire place we had at one time in the living room.  Then in my early teens I used the curio cabinet that we where storing for a cousin.   I had been wanting to display my collection once I got my own place but I kept putting it off, as I got my career started, then the cancer hit and juggling cancer and work took up a lot of time.  

I have now realized that I need an escape from the stress of the two and why not immerse myself into one of my loves, Barbie/Fashion Doll Diorama's and collectibles, I also have several 1/12 dollhouse and one I believe is 1/18, and lets not forget my HO train that my father I got me for me when I was 7.   When I retire which is looking like it will be sooner than anyone thought I plan to put everything back together so I can play with my train in the morning, dollhouses early afternoon and my barbies at night.

Weekend Projects

Tomorrow project is to work on finishing the interior of the RV.  Also plan to make some "flying" brooms for my School of Witchcraft, add some handles to the plastic cauldrons I got on clearance from last Halloween.  Also need to take measurements of all the walls I need to set up my different diorama's so much to do but only have 1 day this weekend since I have to due a project at work on Sunday.  

But next week I am going to the coast so I plan on taking some of the dolls to take some pictures in the woods and maybe the creek.  I also got to figure out my retirement master plan 1/6th town I am going to build, it I can't have the ewok village and zip line damn it my dolls will...lol  I can also see a launch pad, downtown, beach front, castle and lets not forget a workshop. 

Remodeling the Star Traveler

Slowly progressing on my remodel of the 1970's Barbie RV, for the most part have the color scheme planned out at least of the wall, cabinets and counter top.  We know the color of the cushions but not exactly how the chairs, bed and sofa will be painted.  Another idea hit me since this is going to be a California Surfer/Skater bus with a 70/80/90 color screen that I would have wood paneling on the outside like the VW Woody.  Now I just got to figure out whether it will be a strip all the way around (Carrie's vote) or the bottom half both sides and back only.  I am using contact paper as for the paneling on the interior and exterior of the vehicle that way I can easily change if needed.   I decided to keep the yellow color since that was one of the color's avaiblable back then, and I want to keep the theme in the late 70's and 80's.

You don't understand how great it is to be able to think clearly and have my creativeness back.  I have also found that it is a great stress reliever, which is something I need to help in my battle with both cancer and an autoimmune disorder.  It is a creative, productive and fun activity to escape the real world.   It could also possibly be something I can do on the side whenever I go on disability.  We will learn this fall if my body can still hang, crossing my fingers and toes.  Now if I can just get my multitasking ability back and get rid of this forgetfulness than all will be good. 

Flea Market Finds

The one great thing about living in the capital of the state is the State Fairgrounds that has a big flea market year around on the weekends and you can find sometime both days. I was able to get some nice furniture/set pieces, some parts where missing but after looking them up online I would have taken them off anyways for $10.

I also picked up a couple of barbies, had to fix the hair on three and some of them will be getting new bodies. I was able to get a fancy bathtub, a jacuzzi that still works just missing railing and back wall.   Also got a bed and computer/8 track player/night stand, it was missing the bottom part.  I will be redo all the pieces to fit in my dioramas, I already took all the stickers off and cleaned all of them, was really surprises the bubbling jacuzzi still worked.

Spring Cleaning and Organizing

Finally went thru all my doll clothes and separated the ones my sister and I will have to repair.  I finally got the sewing machine set up and a workstation for us to work.  I seperated the clothes into individual bags and seperated them into containers, this way I can better see what I got.

I went window shopping and saw some storage possibility that I also happens to see on facebook, using the over the door clear jewelery holder.  I may get two of these for $10 to put my accessories in, the shoes are fine in the small storage containers.   With the clothes I am debating on some how hanging the individual bags in the spare closet.

                                                                                     

Also found some good buys over the weekend I will post picks of them shortly some new dolls and pieces of furniture.   My plan is too get everything orginiased and begin building my diorama, taking pics and writing stories.  I still have to get a camera so a cool waterproof one and I also need to get some photo software. 

Weekend Photo

Barbie RV Star Traveller

An early birthday present from my sister, we found the elusive RV at a doll shop in Chapel Hill called The Swell, I just so happened to run across the doll shop on google after reading a forum that talked about doll shops.  Knowing the area I lived in I wonder and hit the search engine and BAM not only was there a doll shop but in the place I spend a lot of time due to my Cancer.   Now I have a happy place to visit when I go on my appointments.

We decided to give what we have termed the Party Bus/Surf Bus we would sup up the RV.  At first we were going to paint it, but after research we will not, we are keeping the color but will be refreshing the stripes and changing the barbie decal with a surf themed logo.   I will also be adding reflective red tape to replace the stickers of the break lights, the bumper will be painter or duct taped silver, some mesh for the grille on the front, possible working heading lights, plexiglass for the windows, silver trim accent, felt carpet for floor, dark paneling (aka contact paper) for walls and cabinets, vinyl seats covers for seating (aka duct tape), and many other enhancements.  I may look on ebay for the few items that I am missing like the ladders or I will make them my self and the roof part.  Although I want to cover the entire roof, the back part will be luggage storage and the front part seating.