In search of a find: Madison-Bouchville

   I had a chance to go to the Madison show for the first time this year, my sisters have been going for years.  I always knew when they where at Madison.  I would get many phone calls on do I want and is this too high of a price.
    I was surprised at how big it has gotten and so were they.  They had not been able to go last year.  In past years I have been told it was a lot smaller at the outside vendors and bigger in the inside area.  The idea of Madison is that there are vendors inside the show and outside.  The outside area has grown.   My sisters have always done both, this year we where only able to do the outside.  
     I did like the show.  I was very happy with the doll and toy dealers.  I only had one problem with a non Barbie dealer who thought the items she had where worth more than they were.  I like to look for items from dealers that do not deal in dolls, the price can be good.  While some charge to high, others want it gone so they deal.
    When I am at shows I always looking for Barbie, Tammy, Tressy and Penny Brite.  I was very happy with the amount of Barbie and Ken dealers.  I deal with fashion dolls and toys.  I was glad to see a wide variety of toys at the show from dolls to happy meals.  If you want it you could find it.  There were books, games, DVD, linen and dishes, and the real old antiques.  There was a large variety of food vendors and tables to eat at.
  Next years plan is for two days so we can make sure we do not miss anything. We will do the outside dealers one day and the inside the next.

Barbie shoes

Barbie shoes are a must have to complete her outfits.  They are also the most confusing item Barbie has for new collectors.  When I start collecting I did the unthinkable I threw out open toe split Barbie shoes.  I did not know then that Barbie open toe shoe can split if place on #1 Barbie.  This was because the first Barbie foot is a little longer then the rest.

Most non Barbie collector do not know that Barbie open toe shoes have left and right feet.  So often you will get a lot of shoes that only have left shoes or rights only.  This is why everyone is looking for shoes.  We buy outfits that are listed as complete, but that seller did not have the shoes correct.  So you get a outfit with two left shoes or two right shoes. 

Barbie vintages shoes are marked Japan, Korea and Taiwan.  To the best of my knowledge 

Japan shoes are for 1958 - 1969

Korea shoes are from 1969 to 1971

Taiwan shoes are from 1971 - 

there are over lap in the dates.

One of the most looked for shoe is the open toe green with pearl for Senior Prom.  What most people did not remember is Mattel would switch shoes if out.  I have seen a NRFP Senior Prom with green open toe with no pearl.   It was very common to switch shoes in the 1970's.  A outfit may have come with white Pilgrim shoes, but if they were out they could of come with t strap shoes or square toe.

Barbie labels

    Mattel placed fashion label in each Barbie outfit.  If the outfit comes with coat, skirt and top the label was in one item.  The tag is mostly likely the coat or top.  Mattel had many different labels over the years.
   

    They started with cloth labels.
Barbie TM  c. by Mattel       black & white        1958
Barbie  R    c. by Mattel      black & white        1959 - 1972
no label                                                               1973 - 1977
  

    The Genuine Barbie label is the first label to that is plastic.  It is a rectangle label.
A Genuine Barbie Fashion    black & white      1978 - early 80's
  

Mattel then completely changed the label.   It is now a square label and is still plastic.

Serif font

Genuine Barbie TM              purple & white    1990 -
Genuine Barbie R                 purple & white    

san serif font

Genuine Barbie TM              pink & white         1990 -
Genuine Barbie R                 pink & white        
Genuine Barbie R                 black & white    
    

    In the 90's Mattel start to do more Collectible doll and clothes.  So they brought back the cloth labels.  Reproduction clothes and doll have labels that are the style of the old label but just a little different.
Barbie tm                              black & white      1990 - now
Barbie tm Collectibles          black & white      1990 - now
Barbie Reproduction             black & white      1990 - now
    

    Barbie Fashion Avenue clothes brought back the rectangle label.  They are plastic.
Fashion Avenue 
Barbie R                               pink & white          1995
Fashion Avenue BarbieTM  pink & white          1995 - 2004          

If you know a label I missing are the date to any label please email me.

Peteena

After a weekend of garage sale and estate sale I have a unique find.  I brought a child suit full of doll clothes.  When I start looking thought it, I found clothes tagged Peteena.  So I went online to see who she was. 

           

Peteena's clothing is well designed and well made. At least one piece of each outfit is tagged.

• Surf's Up her original outfit. It consists of a lime green polka dotted bikini made from a synthetic knit material; matching cotton hat; yellow sandals; arm bracelet; hard plastic sunglasses. The bikini has two foam rubber pads to give a little shape to Peteena's flat-chested figure. 
• Ooh La La is a hot pink satin one-shoulder evening gown with matching rabbit fur-trimmed stole, both with pearl accents; nylon stockings; long white gloves; white shoes; gold clutch purse; pearl necklace, bracelet and drop earrings. 
• Campus Capers is a blue and burgundy synthetic knit striped top and matching tights; burgundy belt with metal closure; burgundy cotton jersey skirt and matching tam; burgundy Mary Jane shoes; State pennant with streamers; black vinyl book bag and book strap; 3 books.
• Slicker Set is a black plastic raincoat with horizontal yellow stripe; matching black hat; yellow boots; non-opening umbrella; flat yellow vinyl bag. 
• Zero Cool is a synthetic knit jumpsuit in aqua and lime; matching aqua jacket with back zipper and lime embroidered accent; skis; poles; black plastic boots; goggles; furry hat and mittens.
• Twinkle Toes is Peteena's ballet outfit, or rather two outfits. One is a black practice leotard and tights; the other is a pink velveteen ballet costume trimmed with lace and flowers; pink tights; blue ballet slippers with ties; floral headpiece.

After all the online research I find something from each outfit.  I now wish I had spent more time going thought the bins at this garage sale.  If I had known about her and her clothes I many have found all her items.  

Here are some of the outfits I have find NRFP. 

If you have a NRFB Peteena outfit of the missing clothes I would love a copy.  

Tammy Japanese Clothes

I recently come across the Tammy Japan clothes booklet on Ebay.  I was not the luck winner, but I did email the owner and ask for copy of the photo to place on my facebook page.  I want to share it here and some NRFP Tammy clothes I seen on the Internet.  Enjoy.

Here are two Japanese booklet that I would love the inside photo.  Does anyone have them?

This is one of my favorite Japanese outfits. Comes with compact and lipstick

In Search of a good find ...

     My sister has been saying that I need to do a blog.  A few years ago I did a newsletter about Barbie & fashion dolls.  So starting a blog seems the next step.  This blog will be about dolls and the things that go with them.  

My first find was with my sister at an Antique show when I was 16.  I found a vintage Skipper case with clothes and doll.  I just had to have.  I knew nothing of vintage Barbie at the time.  My sister had one when I was little and was not allowed to play with.   

After getting the Skipper case home, we had the time to really look in it.  We found a Skipper booklet that helped us identify the clothes.  We found that I had all of the first ten outfits, the doll and a case.  I still have them all, but she was just the beginning of a new love.  

     

       

I love Barbie and all the little pieces.  This is Skipper #1924 Tea Party it comes with Styrofoam cake(click on photo to enlarge).  One of the many hard to find pieces.