Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Another Surprising Thrift Store Find

After a quick trip to the post office on Friday, October 11, 2013, I decided to visit my local thrift store.  The week prior, a potential articulated body donor had been there, bagged with another doll I did not need.  I returned on the 11th to see if the articulated doll was still there in hopes that her color tag was the 50% off color for the week.  It wasn't, but she was still there along with a separately bagged, even better articulated doll.  I decided to purchase the better of the two.

Articulated Barbie (one of the Fashionistas I think) and a Lovely Patsy doll with red hair

I rummaged through the other fashion dolls hanging on the racks and there she was, Top Model Nikki!  What?  I couldn't believe it.  Less than two months ago I rescued another Top Model Nikki from this store, and this one is in better condition and appears to have part of her original fashion.

Top Model Nikki as she was when found at the thrift store

Some may call it luck, but I claim it as favor. 

To the counter I headed with both baggies of dolls, stopping at the scarf section first, hoping to find silk ones in earth tone colors, but none interested me; so I paid for my finds.

At home, I dropped the thrift store bag of dolls on top of the washing machine before putting up a few groceries I had purchased before visiting the thrift store.  Later that evening, I gave Nikki a thorough inspection and took some before and after photos of our doll play that lasted probably an hour, an hour and a half max.  The before photo is shown above.  The after photos with captions follow.

Nikki's hair after finger combing
I spent approximately 10 minutes or less, finger combing Nikki's hair and shaping it into a curly style that closely resembles her original style.  I did not wash it, I just used my fingers to remove the tangles, separate coils, and fluff it into shape.  She still wears one of her original gold tone hoop earrings, which I incorporated into her new look. 

One word describes her:  stunning!


Feeling and looking all model-like, Nikki strikes a top-model pose.

I dressed Nikki in the already-on-hand sequined gold tank top, black satin blazer, and gold booties from Barbie Basics accessory pack Look No. 02 Collection 2.5.  Her winter white leggings were also already here, having arrived almost a year ago to date from atelier ni Shasha

Nikki tried on black ankle boots for size.

Before meeting her long lost sisters, Nikki, tried on the black ankle boots with her new fashion after first discovering that her arched feet cannot fit into the full-length black boots of the Barbie accessory pack.  We both prefer the gold booties.

Nikki poses with her three sisters.

One final headshot illustrates their similarities and differences.

We were equally amazed, yes, the dolls and I, at their similarities and differences.  The original, mint Nikki (far right) and the center Nikki, look almost identical.  Nikki #2, on the far left, appears to be the older and  wiser of the triplets.  She is the one the others go to for encouragement, advice, or assistance in making decisions.  Good sisters, whether biological or spiritual, are like that - they encourage, advise, and assist.

~*~*~*~*~*
As a side note, my original Top Model Nikki was purchased the year of release (approximately 2008 since the box year is 2007).  At one point, I contemplated selling her and even listed her on Amazon.com for more than people were willing to pay because subconsciously, I don't think I really wanted to see her go.  I eventually removed the listing.  In September of last year, at the suggestion of another blogger, I deboxed the original doll AND discarded her box.  Nikki and I are shown below in a photo taken after her emancipation.

An orb floats between recently freed Top Model Nikki and me. 

With Top Model Nikki, September 15, 2012 -- I needed a silk scarf/headband to cover my gray, but I decided to embrace it and have been embracing it intermittently ever since.  I can go for extended periods between dyeing my hair until I decide the dreadful gray needs concealing temporarily.  One day, I don't know when, I'll embrace it fully and let go of the need for black hair dye and/or silk scarves except for protecting my hair while I sleep.


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16 comments:

  1. Debbie!!
    I'm so glad to read this! I love your style writing and love what you often have to share with us about our doll passion and about our way to see the life through this little creatures always putting by this vision, drops of knowledge and sensibility in watching life.
    I'm also glad to deserve once again a mention in some of your great postings, and to see that you and Nikki has truly something really special. I'm sure she is your AVATAR DOLL. And I'm so happy I could have some little influence in your decision to keep her...Did you see? Nikki is often saying how good was your decision. Debbie my friend: I LOVE YOU!!!

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  2. Thank you, Jorge! I am so glad you inspired me to debox and enjoy Nikki last year. I guess now that our hair is similar, she could be my avatar, especially now that I have three. :-) But her facial features and complexion remind me so much of my sister-in-law who passed away about the same time TM Nikki was released. I should name the first doll after her.

    Anyway, I am glad I did not sell her and even happier that I found her two sisters. Thanks again for encouraging me.

    I love your enthusiasm and spirit!

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    1. I remeber the lovely CELBRATE DISCO DOLL that was the reason of our first contact by the web.Are you enjoying her??She is also one of my beloved dolls...I forgot to say I love the style of all of your Nikki girls.And believe me:three is very special number.Keep the sisters in a good vibe!!Thank You!

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    2. Yes, your Tammy is what brought us together, Jorge. I enjoyed the way you enjoyed your doll, which encouraged me to debox my Celebration Barbie. I enjoyed her until last month (September) when she was sent to the Caribbean with other fashion dolls. Hopefully a little Haitian girl is enjoying her now. I posted a blog about their then travel plans.

      Thanks for the compliment on the three Nikki's style. I love using items on hand to pull my girls together. :-)

      I am beginning to believe that 3 is a very special number. I already knew that 2 was special for me (among other numbers), but 2 has been special throughout my life.

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    3. Jorge,

      I forgot to mention that I deboxed the 1st TM Nikki on September 15, 2012. I have mentioned to you that she looks a lot like my late-sister in law who passed away in the late 1990s of breast cancer. She was born on September 15th! What a coincidence! I really should name her Stine.

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  3. Hola, que agradable conocerte junto a tus barbies, excelente hallazgo.♡♥♡

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    1. Muchas gracias, Lindaivette! Me tomรณ un aรฑo para compartir esta foto en mi blog.☺

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  4. What gorgeous dolls - you included! Is Nikki a Mattel doll? I've never seen one in person, just in photos, but because you called her "Top Model" I wondered if the was a Mattel.

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    1. Thanks, Muff. Yes, Top Model Nikki is by Mattel. My dolls are the first version with an original box date of 2007. I am not sure when Tyra Bank's ANTM show began airing, but I suppose it was prior to Nikki's release with Mattel capitalizing off the success of the show.

      Mattel released a 2nd TM Nikki a year later.

      TM Nikki uses the same head sculpt as the darker complected Hard Rock Cafe Barbie.
      . I don't own her -- passed her up when I had the opportunity to buy at retail because I didn't really like her then. Things have changed now, but her secondary market price exceeds what I am willing to pay.


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  5. Your Nikki sisters are all lovely and I love how you styled them. Lucky you on owning three. : )

    P.S. That is a very nice picture of you and Nikki #1.

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    1. Thanks, GG. These thrift store finds have influenced my return to thrift store doll hunts!

      Thanks for the compliment on my picture.

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  6. These are some great thrift store finds! Your 3 Nikki dolls are beautiful. I love the photos of you with the doll. Your hair is really pretty.

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    1. I love these girls!

      Except for the exposed gray, that was a decent hair day for me. (I usually cover the gray with a headband scarf.)

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  7. Wow, what luck! Two Nikkis from the thrift store. Your thrift store Nikki's hair looks much better than my original Nikki. I just can't seem to do a thing with it. You styled the new one very nicely, too.

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    1. The key is to finger comb hair that is tightly coiled. A regular comb is detrimental to the coils.

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  8. Thank You for sharing, as usual I learned something new. Muff ask the question I wanted to ask.

    Was there a Tyra Banks doll created by Mattel? By the way, I still want that Hard Rock Cafe Doll. One of my favorites

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