Fashion Dolls 101

 Deb’s Fantastical Frames had a display set up at the 10th Annual Handmade Nashville Holiday Market craft fair in Bellevue, TN today. Unfortunately, a storm was rolling in and people were packing up early.  I caught Deb on her way to her vehicle and snapped three photos to share of the beautiful 3-D fairy displays she makes from frames and boxes. Each mixed-media display is complete, but if you know me, you know I love the Barbie micro minis and the “You Can Be Anything” Barbie minis, so I was just itching to drop a couple of minis in each display for fun. Note to self:  keep a Barbie mini on hand at all times for moments like these.  “ I just feel like my frames are a window into a magical fairy world where each frame tells a story of its own,” Deb says about her creative work.  Frames average   $125 for an ornate or large frame and $85 for ones like the little boy fishing. Deb can be reached by email at debsfantasticalframes@gmail.com for more info about...

 ~ The Little Barbie “You Can Be Anything” Minis Celebrate Thanksgiving & the End of Fall ~ The tiny Barbie “You Can Be Anything” mini figures had a nice Thanksgiving gathering at the Pumpkin Patch Farm and the Black Cat Diner. It’s the end of pumpkin season as Thanksgiving celebrates the bountiful harvest and the last of the fall colors   Various professions were represented: coach, hairdresser, astronaut, skateboarder, director, veterinarian, homemaker, chemist and more.  The Black Cat Cafe served traditional turkey and dressing Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings for lunch and dinner.   Now the girls are busy getting ready for Christmas and winter. Stay tuned for more adventures with the Barbie “You Can Be Anything” minis!

Pumpkin Patch Village The little Barbie Micro Minis are hosting a Halloween Party. Pumpkin Patch Village was decorated for fall with pumpkins everywhere.  Pop Star Barbie (back right) Performs for the Micro Minis Pop Star Barbie was on hand to perform for the crowd, and Black Cat Cafe hosted a costume party. You can see the costumes guests starting to arrive on the left while others enjoy entertainment from Pop Star Barbie   Black Cat Cafe Hosts a Costume Party Pumpkin Patch Pumpkins Other guests just enjoyed the Pumpkin Patch autumn pumpkins.  2025 Figures & Buildings  Barbie Micro Minis can still be found in Dollar Tree stores. The Pumpkin Patch Village pieces and mini accessories all came from Michael’s.  Related: Barbie “You Can Be Anything” Minis Celebrate Fall Publix Cloth Doll for Fall Día de Los Muertos 2025 Figures at Michaels  Dollar Stores Have Cute Thanksgiving Gnomes Fall Corn Husk Dolls Halloween 2025: Articles, Poems, Events & More ! ...

My local Publix apparently carried these little cloth and “straw” (rafia) dolls this year, because I received one as a gift. Not quite a gnome, she fits in well with my fall gnome collection, and for only $2.99, her price tag also fits in well with gnome prices!  Gnomes for fall Here she is with her new eclectic fall gnome family, and she can stay there with them until Thanksgiving because I went with a fall theme instead of overtly Halloween.  Cloth dolls and straw dolls, much like corn husk dolls , are so sweet and old-fashioned and lend themselves very well to autumn decor. So head over to Publix and see if any of these sweet cloth dolls are still on the shelves! You might “fall” in love with one! Related: Barbie “You Can Be Anything” Minis Celebrate Fall Día de Los Muertos 2025 Figures at Michaels Halloween 2025: Articles, Poems, Events & More A Very Minecraft Fall

Elf Knee Huggers at Walmart Elves are already showing up in stores all over the place. Walmart has them, Dollar Tree has them, Michael has them— and they are showing up more places every day! Walmart has a cute assortment of Elf Knee Huggers from Mr. Christmas   ElfMates at Dollar General Dollar General Store has the ElfMates collection of working elves with several different professions  and slightly different costumes   Elf on the Shelf at Walmart Of course, the Big Dog among elves is Elf on the Shelf, and Walmart has a HUGE selection: elves, costumes, pets, books, accessories and more.   Did you know it’s the 20th anniversary of Elf on the Shelf? Now a new Scout comes with extra posing power   PlusheePals at Michael’s  Michael’s also carries a nice assortment of Elf on the Shelf, including the little PlusheePals minis, great for clipping on a backpack or purse. Yes, the winked face girl is going on my purse for the holidays. So get your elf on for t...

 Various Dollar stores offer a variety of gnome figures, and I have already shared some of my finds on this blog.  These two figures came from Dollar Tree. I added a cute little gnome I found at a Dollar store and thought my little fall gnome family was complete… and then this week I found this sweet little thanksgiving gnome at a Dollar General store. What a cute little autumn gnome grouping! Happy fall from the Dollar store gnomes!  Related: Día de Los Muertos 2025 Figures at Michaels Halloween 2025: Articles, Poems, Events & More Barbie “You Can Be Anything” Minis Celebrate Fall

  The little Barbie “You Can Be Anything” career minis are ready for fall and all things autumn. They are celebrating fall in their pumpkin patch with cute miniature buildings found at Michael’s. The little pumpkin house lights up! Both buildings are suitable to stand alone, but I like them as props for the minis.  The Barbie  “You Can Be Anything” figures are cute in their little mini world and looking forward to a cool and colorful fall.  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  

 ~ It’s time for Día de Los Muertos 2025 Figures at Michaels ~ They’re back— those colorful, whimsical Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) figures at Michael’s. Female skeletons and male skeletons dressed in Hispanic costumes are ready to dance and play guitar for Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos.  Día de los Muertos, is a traditional, multi-day Mexican holiday that  involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died .  Day of the Dead takes place on  November 2 , 2025. The colorful figures are already marked down 50%, so pick them up while they are available!  Related: What’s the Spiritual Reality Behind Halloween? A Very Minecraft Fall Autumn Gnomes on Shelves at Walgreens, Dollar General  Halloween Gnomes & Critters at Dollar Tree Halloween 2025: Articles, Poems, Events & More

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.  Related: What’s the Spiritual Reality Behind Halloween? A Very Minecraft Fall Autumn Gnomes on Shelves at Walgreens, Dollar General  Halloween Gnomes & Critters at Dollar Tree Halloween 2025: Articles, Poems, Events & More

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: What’s the Spiritual Reality Behind Halloween? Autumn Gnomes on Shelves at Walgreens, Dollar General  Halloween Gnomes & Critters at Dollar Tree Patriotic Gnomes at Walgreens 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....