Fashion Dolls 101

In an earlier article I mentioned my first unsatisfactory attempts at sewing for the little Barbie Micro Mini figures  and said I had some ideas for improvement. Here is my first attempt at serious sewing for the minis.  Using delicate lace fabric and a very thin ribbon, I gathered my scrap of lace at the top before sewing it to this thin pink satin ribbon. Think thin. Think delicate. Think tiny.  In case you missed my very first attempts, they were just scraps of ribbon that looked like this: This skirt is better made, sturdier and will be able to be removed and put back on indefinitely while the previous skirts are basically held on with a wing and a prayer.    With the leftover tiny scrap of fabric, I made the apron it was crying out to become.  Don’t the girls look cute in their new duds? Yes, the apron cover Barbie’s hands but I just pretend it is in the apron or skirt pocket. So yes, it is possible to make relatively cute clothes for the Barbie Micro ...

  What is it about fall and corn husk dolls? There’s a reason they seem like a symbol of fall. They were traditionally made be Native Americans in the fall during the corn harvest season. Here is a little more AI information about them   These little cuties were a recent find, but I have had a slightly larger ones for decades that is hiding somewhere, so if kept dry in a past-free environment, they last a long time. Instructions say to store them in a cool, dark, dry place wrapped in acid-free tissue or cloth, but I just stored mine in the closet in an unsealed plastic bag   They are still relatively easy to find at fall craft festivals and specialty gift stores. 

Michael’s ad for the Lemax Christmas village is out and the village is up in stores! If you like minis, this may be the set for you! The little villages pieces are out and available to purchase, so head on in and grab yours before the selection gets picked over. They are already 30% off.  There are nine Michael’s exclusives, so it’s time to deck the halls with Lemax!   Michael’s also wants to remind you that as of September 17, there are 100 days left until Christmas!  Related: Barbie Extra Minis

~A look back at 2022’s Barbie Extra Minis by Mattel~ Barbie Extra Minis were on store shelves in October of 2022.  I didn’t buy any to pose for photos, but I did take pictures in the store. Since I have covered several minis lately, I thought it was time to pull out the photos.   At 5 1/2 inches tall, they aren’t that “mini,” but compared to an 11 1/2 or 12” Barbie, they are smallish.  It appears they were only in stores in 2022, with a few still available online in toy stores. Cute? Maybe, but my overall impression is, “meh.” Let me know what you think in the comments below . Related: Troll Dolls Enjoying the Last Days of Summer Cute Little Jesus Figures Carry a Big Message Little Disney Princess Minis Are Adorable Dolls Barbie ‘You Can Be Anything’ Potential Doll House Barbie ‘You Can Be Anything’ Minis Out   Barbie Micro Minis Celebrate Labor Day Barbie Micro Minis an Annual Tradition Barbie Micro Minis Enjoy Summer Break

  A group of colorful trolls got together to celebrate the end of summer with a troll party. They include a Russ troll, novelty trolls, sports trolls, an Applause troll, a Mattel troll, a mini troll and the Trump troll doll.  The Applause troll on the far right is the newest addition to the troll collection and was a thrift store find.  Related: Colorful Fall Trolls Dreamworld Trolls by Mattel Happy New Year, 2024! Send in the Trolls! Cute Little Jesus Figures Carry a Big Message  Gnome for the Fall Festivities  Barbie Micro Minis Celebrate Labor Day Barbie Micro Minis Enjoy Summer Break

 I started seeing these cute little Jesus figures a couple of years ago. People apparently leave them in retail stores like those little cruise ships ducks that show up in odd places on cruise ships. The small figures of Jesus  just randomly show up in stores and sometimes restaurants. I saw one behind the register of a Dollar Tree last week. I asked the clerk if someone gave it to him, and he said, “No. It just showed up.”  That was my experience at Michael’s twice. There was just one sitting on the counter. I asked the clerk about it and she told me people just leave them for others to find.  So far I have found two, and they are slightly different. One has a deep purple sash and one has a lighter purple with “Jesus ❤️ You” in it. In addition, the flesh tones are slightly different. Apparently they come with other variations. Oriental Trading Company has them in a variety of colors as does Walmart . I was hoping I could display them with the new mini “You Can Be A...

~ Cute seasonal gnomes are taking over for fall & Halloween decorating ~   Gnome for the Fall Festivities A few days ago I wrote about some of the cute new fall and Halloween gnomes showing up at Dollar Tree .  They have had quite the variety on their shelves this season. and each Dollar Tree I have visited has had a different group of gnomes.  I mentioned that I wanted to go back for the little trick-or-treating dog, and I did! But when I got there, they had added this handsome fellow to the assortment.  Of course I got both, so the little dog has a friend. See photo at top.  Which ones do you like best? Let me know in the comments below.  Related: Autumn Gnomes on Shelves at Walgreens, Dollar General  Halloween Gnomes & Critters at Dollar Tree Patriotic Gnomes at Walgreens A Very Minecraft Fall Michael’s: 4th of July & Pumpkins!  Patriotic Gnomes Celebrate July 4 with Groovy Girls Vanessa   Summer Gnomes

~ Comparing the new 3” Disney Princess Toddler dolls to Liddle Kiddles from 1965. ~   In my recent article about the new 3” mini Disney Princess Toddler dolls , I compared them to Liddle Kiddles from the 1960s. While I mentioned the Disney princesses were significantly larger, I decided a photo comparison was in order. On the left is Shirley Strawberry Cola Kiddle and on the right is Disney Princess Anna. Both are redheads with big blue eyes, and their heads are of a similar size, which is what reminded me of the Kiddles. But there the similarities end.  Shirley has fiber hair while Anna has plastic hair. Anna is roughly 1 1/2 times as tall as Shirley Kiddle and her dress is plastic whereas Shirley’s strawberry costume is made of fabric. Liddle Kiddles were first produced by  Mattel  in 1965  The little Disney Toddler princesses were released with a box date of  2024.  Both are cute as can be. Which do you prefer? Let me know in the comments....

  These little Princess figurines from Disney are just too adorable. The detail of the costumes is quite exceptional, and I never say that about plastic dolls. Here is a closeup of Anna, Aurora and Belle to give you an idea what I am talking about.  I thought they were all precious, but I especially like the costuming of the Frozen dolls. Here are three different versions of Anna. The are only a couple of inches tall. I wish I had snapped them up, but they were almost $9 each at the Dollar store.  Something about them reminded me of the Little Kiddles dolls made by Mattel in the 1960s although the Kiddles were significantly smaller.  Related: Barbie ‘You Can Be Anything’ Potential Doll House Barbie ‘You Can Be Anything’ Minis Out   Barbie Micro Minis Celebrate Labor Day Barbie Micro Minis an Annual Tradition Barbie Micro Minis Enjoy Summer Break Barbie Minis Celebrate Veterans Appreciation Month, Flag Day and July 4    

  Ok, I’ll be the first to admit this house is on the small size, but I think it will be suitable for dioramas for the tiny “You Can Be Anything “ minis from Mattel. Best of all, it is found at Dollar Tree where the little minis are found. It’s too bad the price on all the Dollar Tree toys has almost doubled in the past month, but for $1.75, they are still more or less a good price.  I still prefer the more elegant Barbie Macro Collection, but these little minis are growing on me. The more little props I find for them, the more I enjoy them! Related: Barbie ‘You Can Be Anything’ Minis Out   Barbie Micro Minis Celebrate Labor Day Barbie Micro Minis an Annual Tradition Barbie Micro Minis Enjoy Summer Break Barbie Minis Celebrate Veterans Appreciation Month, Flag Day and July 4   Micro Sports Barbies Are Having a Bal l

  The new Barbie “You Can Be Anything” minis are out on the shelves at various Dollar-type stores, and I must say they are cute but underwhelming. I hope these are not the replacement for the Micro Collection, because they are not as tall, shapely or collectible. These tiny little figurines are designed for ages three and up—definitely don’t get them if you have younger kids, because these small dolls have “choking hazard” written all over them. However, the blind packaging is child proof and requires scissors to open. The display box says there are 16 career figures available and lists 8 of them on each side.  The blind packaging shows all 16. I purchased 3 blind bags and got two identical cooks/homemakers and a skateboarder, the last two figures shown on the bottom right of the packaging. The receipt calls the minis “Barbie Blind Bag in Display.” At $1.75, they aren’t a terribly expensive addition to your collection, and if you like cute little minis, these might be for you....