A Pink Box Barbie

Pink box Barbie in Barbie logo dress

We were at Walmart, walking from a back corner of the store toward the front. As we approached the toy section, I looked to my right in the direction of the toy aisles. My husband said, "I see you looking for dolls." I said, "No, I'm looking for the car aisle for you, and then I'm going to the doll aisle." He entered the model car aisle, and I proceeded to the Barbie and other fashion dolls aisle. I briefly looked at the dolls and accessories shelved on both sides, hoping I wouldn't see anything I wanted. I walked and browsed swiftly because I wanted to finish before my husband, so that I could return to the car aisle before he left the aisle to look for me.

This close-up picture was taken while she was still in the box.

I noticed this $5.97 pink box Barbie, picked up the box, and examined her. She uses the Shani face and her complexion is similar to Nichelle's. I like her Barbie logo dress, I tell myself. I put the box back on the shelf. I stood there a couple of seconds before I grabbed the box from the shelf—similar to the way Denzel Washington's (temporarily sober) character, Whip, contemplates drinking alcohol after discovering the hotel minibar and succumbing to his addiction by grabbing a bottle in the movie, Flight. 

I hurried back to the model car aisle, holding my guilty pleasure before easing it into the basket, where my husband stood holding two model cars. "You didn't find anything?" he asked after looking up. Pointing to the doll lying flat in the cart, I answered, "Yes. There she is." 

Because he has more willpower, he placed the two cars back on the shelf. I wish I could have purchased them for him as part of his upcoming birthday present without him knowing, but I later found a 1969 Dodge model car online that I don't think he has. It will be one of his birthday gifts.

Freed from the box

See the Denzel comparison mentioned above at the link: https://youtu.be/bf2Fd5wdUOM?si=NTQHJ7eX7raa1hb-

These two lovely dolls use the Shani head sculpt.

Revelation. After editing the photos of the new doll and later, while editing photos of another Barbie, I discovered they both share the Shani head sculpt. Fashionista #206 (the Barbie with moles) was redressed in a Five and Below's Glam Squad ensemble earlier this year. I have not decided to redress the new girl. 

The fraternal twins pose for a full-view photo.

Related Post

Glam Squad Fashions Modeled

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©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

Taking a Break

I am taking a break from this blog. I'll be back in December. 

DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum is still active at the website, on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. Please follow those sites. Thank you. ✌🏾☮️
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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

Saving Baby Nancy

This is how Baby Nancy arrived.

Baby Nancy's shattered condition upon arrival prompted me to devise a plan to make her whole. Initially, I was going to use a form of papier-maché to repair the vinyl body, but I had to piece it together like a puzzle first.

The video below describes the repair process using micropore tape, Mod Podge, plastic, felt, and paint.*

 

*After placement of the felt mentioned in the video, it was covered with layers of micropore tape and Mod Podge and allowed to harden sufficiently before the body was painted. 

 A Before-and-After Collage

Once shattered, Baby Nancy is now whole

Thank you again to the doll friend who allowed me to rehome Baby Nancy.

Related Post
A Thoughtful Gift
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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

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Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

A Thoughtful Gift

A lovely gift of dolls

The best thing someone can give me is a nice thought, whether I know about it or not. Couple the nice thought with a doll or two, and I'll think I've hit the lottery. 

I was asked by a Facebook doll friend if I wanted the above-pictured dolls, specifically Baby Nancy. I did! Five dolls plus a bonus doll arrived a few days after I accepted them. Unfortunately, the star doll, Baby Nancy, didn't tolerate the trip very well.

I removed each carefully-wrapped doll from the shipping box. When I reached for Baby Nancy, I could feel her lower body crumble into pieces!* Her head, arms, and legs were okay. The upper torso, while still intact, had several long cracks in it. I removed all pieces of the bottom torso from the shipping box and placed them in a plastic bag. "I need to save her," I thought. The other five dolls were in great condition. I made some minor changes to three. The dolls and any changes made are described next.

Teeny Tiny Tumbles Surprise 

Teeny Tiny Tumbles Surprise really tumbles!

With a copyright year of  1996 by Toy Biz, Teeny Tiny Tumbles Surprise is a 4-inch doll that actually tumbles. When placed in the seated position on a flat surface, she makes a forward flip and lands on her back. If something obstructs the full tumble, however, she does a headstand. Too cute!

Bratz Big Babyz Felicia

Bratz Big Babyz Felicia

From 2006, Bratz Big Babyz Felicia by MGA Entertainment is my first Bratz Big Babyz doll. This 12-inch-tall, all-vinyl doll wears her original clothes and socks and still has her baby bottle necklace and stud earrings. (I washed her socks.) Her original hairbrush is missing. A former "little mommy" added three braids to the right front of the rooted brown hair (because that's what little girls do... style their dolls' hair). 

Felicia has a healthy head of hair.

Cloth Mammy Doll

Upon arrival, this cloth mammy doll had googly eyes.

Made by an elderly woman in New Orleans, who sold these handmade dolls at a tourist shop, is an 18-inch handmade cloth mammy with hand-painted facial features (except for its original googly eyes). It is very well made and was given to the former owner during the 1990s. She wears a beige and pink floral-print dress and a matching headscarf. A white shawl is pinned in place, and she wears a white apron.

Close-up of Mammy's face

My changes included hand-washing the apron and removing and replacing the googly eyes with a pair of brown buttons. 

She now has brown button eyes.

To avoid the tediousness of sewing the buttons onto the face, I placed several diagonal stitches using white thread into the four holes in each button to give the illusion of crisscross stitches. Next, I added a glue dot to the back of each button and pressed each over the glue residue where the googly eyes had been. The brown button eyes give her a more serious look rather than a surprised or startled appearance. 

Hand-Painted Artist Doll

This is Little E. by Shirley E. Banks of Kaity Dolls Collectible, circa 1990s.

Made by Shirley E. Banks of Kaity Dolls Collectible, this 14-inch cloth artist doll's hang tag identifies her as Little E. The former owner purchased her from the artist at a doll show several years ago. With time, Little E.'s facial paint faded. So, I painted over the original paint with every effort to preserve the doll's original appearance.

Little E.'s face is now freshly painted.

She holds a furry bunny.

Trixie

Trixie, a Flatsy doll by Ideal

The bonus doll in the package was Trixie, a Flatsy doll introduced in 1969 by Ideal. Trixie arrived with her cap stickpinned to her head. I removed the pins and added a glue dot to the inside front of the cap. I placed the cap on her head and pressed the front against her head to force the glue dot to stick. This is my second Trixie. My first Trixie, seen below, arrived in 2011 without her dress and shoes. I made a top for her using orange ponytail holders. 

This is my 1st Trixie. I am happy to now have a fully dressed version.

Baby Nancy

Baby Nancy in parts

I took this picture of Baby Nancy (Shindana's first doll, ©1968)  after gingerly removing her from the box, removing her clothes, and placing the broken torso pieces in a plastic bag. I've already begun repairing her. After the repair, another blog post will follow. 

*What happened to Baby Nancy is not the first time this has happened to a doll in my collection. I purchased three Baby Nancy dolls several years ago from someone who informed me beforehand that one of the dolls' bodies was broken inside its one-piece romper. The vinyl/plastic used by Shindana for some of their dolls' bodies can become brittle with age. Exposure to extreme temperature changes can also cause this breakdown. 

`*`*`*`*`*`*`

I truly appreciate my Facebook doll friend's thoughtfulness and desire for me to have these dolls, and I wish her well.

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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

P.S. I Ordered Two More

Ponytail Barbie clones are seen in an online picture. One has auburn hair; the other has black hair.

In my post about my second #1 Barbie clone, I wrote, "If it weren't a shame, I'd purchase several of these clones and redress them in vintage or reproduced vintage Barbie fashions." Well, before that post was published, I ordered two more, but these are ponytail Barbie clones. The first two are bubble cuts.

35th Anniversary Barbie Keepsake fashions and 1960s Wendy by Uneeda, a gift received in 2018

After I placed the order, I planned to dress the newest clones in the reproduction Barbie fashions included in the gift set shown above. (The Wendy doll replaces the repro Barbie that was originally sold with the gift set.)

The Easter Parade fashion was originally released in 1959. The reproduced version has a box date of 1993, but was probably released to the market in 1994.

Also, originally released in 1959, Roman Holiday is a reproduction of Barbie's original travel ensemble.

Most of the accessories for each fashion were attached to the box liner, while some were in a plastic bag. 

The extra accessories included two pairs of white gloves, which are too small for the clones' larger hands; a comb, a handkerchief, an eyeglass case that held a pair of white cat eyeglasses, a third pair of black high-heels, a gold compact, and a 35th Anniversary Barbie Special Edition Booklet.*

Each ponytail clone arrived in a bubble-wrapped doll box that was inside a thin plastic mailer. One box panel reads LOOKS. The other side reads MODEL. A complimentary pair of sunglasses and doll care instructions were included with the clones.

This close-up photo illustrates their lovely faces.

Easter Parade

I redressed the black-haired doll in the Easter Parade fashion as illustrated below:

She wears the multicolored apple-print dress, pearl earrings, a graduated pearl necklace, black high-heeled shoes, and holds a black patent-leather clutch.

White sunglasses and a navy blue half hat are added in this photo.

The navy-blue swing coat completes the Easter Parade fashion.

The half hat is seen better in this close-up photo.

She strikes one final full-length pose.

Roman Holiday

I thought Roman Holiday would be a better fit for the auburn-haired doll as illustrated next.

Except for the full-length coat, this doll models all pieces of the Roman Holiday fashion: a red straw half hat, black-rimmed cat eyeglasses, a gold-tone chain necklace with a single pearl, the dress, a white patent-leather belt, a white patent-leather clutch, and black high-heeled shoes. I added pearl stud earrings.

I wrapped her hands with plastic wrap to prevent the stiletto fingernails from snagging the inside lining of the coat sleeves.

This full-length red and white striped coat with tiny gold bead buttons completes the Roman Holiday ensemble.

The Roman Holiday and Easter Parade Barbie fashions are modeled by ponytail Barbie clones in a full-length photo.

This is a close-up of this stunning pair.

 

The back of the 35th Anniversary Barbie Keepsake box illustrates two vintage Barbies wearing Roman Holiday (1959 #968) and Easter Parade (1959 #971).

~*~*~*~*~*

After redressing concluded, I placed the ponytail clones in the 35th Anniversary Barbie Keepsake box along with the (now dressed) 1960s Wendy by Uneeda.

In this photo, the ponytail dolls are not in the box on the sides that match the fashion names printed on the box cellophane (Easter Parade and Roman Holiday).

I removed the dolls from the box and repositioned them so that the fashions they wear match the fashion names printed on the box.

*The 35th Anniversary Barbie Special Edition Booklet includes a note from Ruth Handler, information about the redesigned 35th Anniversary Barbie (which my friend replaced with the 1960s Wendy), and photos of three Barbies that were available when this set was released: Evening Extravaganza (the white doll's photo and stock number and the black doll's stock number only), Bob Mackie Barbie, and 1850s Southern Belle Barbie. Barbie Trivia Q&A, and Barbie's 35th Anniversary Family Tree of Barbie and friends are also in the booklet.

__________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

Dolls Are No Longer Afraid of the Dark

Book cover, Dolls are No Longer Afraid of the Dark by Rosine Mondor

Guadeloupean-born Rosine Mondor, who lives in mainland France, is an audiovisual media professional, a black doll advocate and collector, and recently announced the publication of her book, "Dolls Are No Longer Afraid of the Doll."

After more than forty years of work in the audiovisual industry and a long commitment to the representation of Black people in the media, in society in general, and particularly in toys, I am pleased to announce the publication of my book, Dolls Are No Longer Afraid of the Dark.

This story combines personal memories, reflections on French society, and a clear-eyed look at the evolving visibility of Black people in our culture.

I also discuss my fight—through Black dolls—so that every child can recognize themselves, love themselves, and dream without limits.

📖 Available now to order online using the link below.

For more information about the book and to purchase, please visit this link. 

Congratulations, Rosine!
 

__________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

A Reimagined Portrait Doll

Prissy was redressed by Shawatha Kendrick.

In a Facebook group several years ago, a fellow collector shared a photo of a doll with a bubble cut hairstyle, dressed in a full-length dress. The doll's face was both striking and familiar. I asked the doll’s owner, Shawatha Kendrick, to identify the doll. Much to my surprise, the doll is  World Doll's 1989 Prissy, redressed! I could not believe it. 

Mammy and Prissy by World Doll, released in 1989 are portrait dolls of actresses Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen. These two women portrayed the roles of Mammy and Prissy in the 1939 movie, Gone with the Wind (GWTW), based on the 1936 book of the same name by Margaret Mitchell.

The 1989 release of portrait dolls featuring the main and supporting characters from the 1939 movie commemorates the film's 50th anniversary. During the 1990s, I purchased Mammy and Prissy and included both dolls in the "Dolls with Books" section of my 2nd book, Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion. Mammy and Prissy were also included in my Dolls with Books local museum, library, and school exhibitions that took place throughout the early to mid-2000s. 

After Shawatha identified her doll, I had subconsciously planned to purchase a duplicate World Doll Prissy to redress. That time finally presented itself. My duplicate Prissy is shown above wearing a different (but original) dress than my first doll. It is presumed that one of the two is a second release.

Redressing Prissy

I found a suitable yellow off-shoulder dress, a necklace, a purse, and a pair of shoes, but the purse and shoes were the wrong colors.

The necklace was a keeper.

The colors of the lavender purse and peachy-orange shoes clashed. The shoes could have been worn with the dress, but she'd need a purse to match.

This is a close-up of the purse and shoes. I've had the peachy-orange shoes (made by Mattel) for quite some time, but never found a doll with feet small enough to wear them until now. Determined to use them now, I decided to paint the shoes and the purse to match.

The purse and shoes after painting better match the yellow dress and the amber beaded necklace.

The painted purse close-up

The painted shoes close-up

Everything pulled together nicely.

I present to you my modern version of Prissy, renamed Caroline L---- after my paternal great-great-grandmother.

What I Discovered About My Paternal Great-Great-Grandmother

I recently joined the Ancestry website to trace my family lineage. Caroline L---- is listed on some Ancestry family trees as "Caroline (Slave) L----." I suppose the parenthetical term was to distinguish her from white women with the same name born during the same period in the early 1800s. She is also listed as the child of her enslaver in family trees created by others. I cannot document that the enslaver fathered her. I can document that he owned my great-great-grandmother and a host of other Black men, women, and children, who are listed only by their gender and age groups on the 1830 and 1840 U. S. Censuses. 

From the 1830 U.S. Census

The 1830 U.S. Census documents the household of the man determined to be the enslaver (possibly father) of my great-great-grandmother Caroline, who was born in 1830. The above snapshot is a section of his household of enslaved people. This man is listed as GG Caroline's father on family trees created by some of her other descendants and hinted at as her biological father by Ancestry.

From the 1840 U. S. Census

Additional people are listed as enslaved by the same man, as illustrated in this snapshot of the household he headed in the 1840 U.S. Census. GG Caroline was 10 in 1840.

Born in a Confederate state in February 1830, my great-great-grandmother, Caroline L----, remained enslaved for over 30 years of her life. Although the institution of slavery was abolished in Confederate states in the U.S. in 1863, I wonder if she was ever truly free. She did, however, live to be 85. So I will assume that for more than half her life, she was not bound by the extreme rigors of inhumane bondage. Life, however, for most formerly enslaved Black Americans in rural areas was not completely free. Some remained on white-owned plantations as sharecroppers with Black men listed as farmers, blacksmiths, and other laborers on U.S. Censuses post 1863, while others migrated to northern states and Canada seeking better lives. GG Caroline and her descendants remained in the southern states.

To keep track of the man listed as GG Caroline's father, I added him to my family tree. I did not include his wife as her mother, as suggested by Ancestry. I added the following comment on GG Caroline's profile:

Caroline L---- was enslaved by _____ Lewis. Some records and hints suggest he may have been her biological father, but there is no proof at this time. The relationship shown here is for historical context and further research.

Caroline L---- (30 years enslaved, now forever free)

This now transformed Prissy is in remembrance of my great-great-grandmother's life and the dignity she deserved. Great-great-grandmother married or jumped the broom with James L---- and gave birth to six children, four of whom were born enslaved. Her first child, Tilda or Tildy, was born in 1851. Tilda gave birth to my grandmother, Mollie L---- (born free in 1889), who gave birth to my father in 1922.

Great-great-grandmother Caroline, through Prissy (the doll I renamed after you), I honor your life and legacy, of which I am proud to be a part.

__________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls.