Check out this Shani and Friends Video Installation

Doll-friend Julius M. shared a link to a Shani and Friends video that includes information about the Shani line and other Black Barbies and friends of Barbie. I  embedded the video in DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum as part of a three-day installation about the Marvelous World of Shani and Friends. Check it out here.

Thank you again, Julius, I thoroughly enjoyed the video.

dbg


There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
Thank you for reading. To contact me, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

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Another Black Doll Beauty by Sarah Niemela

A lovely polymer clay doll by Sarah Niemela

I am a member of the private Facebook group, Sarah Niemela's Black Doll Beauties. Last week, Sarah posted photos of the doll shown above. The black-doll enthusiast in me had to have her. I thought she would display well with Aisha whose clothing scheme is the same. 

Sarah's description of the doll in the Facebook post reads:

She is 8” tall... she is fully sculpted with Cernit...a strong beautiful polymer clay. She stands on a round base and is affixed to the base. She has a sculpted bodice and a silk chiffon skirt. Her hair is fleece..a natural fiber from sheep. I molded her face and hands from one of my sculpted molds.

Additionally, she has light brown eyes. The bodice of the dress is sculpted and painted clay. Ribbons with beads accent the shoulders of the dress. The headband, waist of the dress, and the base are trimmed with decorative ribbon.

A thank you card from Sarah

A lovely handwritten "thank you" card accompanied this beautiful doll. (A "thank you" card was included in Aisha's package, and I've modified that post to include an image of the card). 

I love the doll images on the front and inside of the card!

In this doll's card, after thanking me for the purchase, Sarah wrote that she can't wait to see what I name her.

After recently watching Coming 2 America (I loved the costumes in that movie), I remember intently listening to Prince Akeem speak his daughters' names during the opening scene: Meeka, Oma, and Tinashe. Meeka, the oldest was gorgeous. Oma (Eddie Murphy's daughter in real life is gorgeous, too); she was the middle daughter. Tinashe (pronounced tee-naa-shai, or change the "i" in shai to a "y" to visualize the pronunciation better, tee-naa-shay) was the youngest princess. Since this doll represents a little girl who looks like a princess to me, I have named her Princess Tinashe! In the Shona language spoken in Zimbabwe, Tinashe means "God is with us." The name is perfect for my doll.

In the movie, Princess Tinashe was played by young actress Akiley Love. I almost named the doll Akiley, but I decided Tinashe and its meaning are more suitable. 

Enjoy the following pictures I took of my little princess alone and with her sister, Aisha. (By the way, Aisha is a Swahili name that means "living prosperously.") 

Gorgeous!

I love the natural fibers of her hair.

In the back of the dress, a pearl and rhinestone button accents the ribbon at the waist. Sarah's signature strip is attached to the waist.

Tinashe's shoes are painted. The permanently attached base has decorative ribbon trim. The bottom of the base is lined with teal felt.

Tinashe poses with her sister, Aisha, in these two final photographs.

Aren't they lovely?

They are a precious pair (or trio if you count Aisha's dolly).

dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
Thank you for reading. To contact me, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

Check out what I am selling here. 
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!

Happy Birthday Barbie! (Updated)

Childhood dolls (all except the one on the far left, which was given to me by my niece)

Dear Barbie,

You and your friends gave me several hours of enjoyable play during my childhood. By the time I was 13, I shunned you. Boys were more interesting and, after all, in my 13-year-old mind, I was too old to play with dolls.

Even as an adult collector, I paid you no mind. My desire was to incorporate Black dolls made during my childhood into my novice adult collection of a mixture of porcelain cookie cutters (beginner's dolls) and higher-end artist vinyl dolls. Eventually, I shunned the cookie cutters and artist vinyl dolls and began to chase after vintage Black Barbies and friends. Alas, you had your hooks in me again. 

I still continued to fight the Barbie collector label by telling others emphatically that "I am not a Barbie collector." I still say this from time to time, but you and Mattel know that when they release you in a melanated doll that becomes a must-have in my eyes, I don't fight the feeling and bring you home.

Happy birthday, girl. You and your friends still look good. You remain the most popular fashion doll among collectors and children to date. No other fashion doll company has met or surpassed your success and doll-icon status.

***

According to Barbiemedia.com and other online sources, "Barbie's official birthday is March 9, 1959, the day she was unveiled to the toy industry during New York Toy Fair. Barbie first appeared in her iconic black-and-white striped swimsuit. Barbie was joined by Ken in 1961."

                                    ***

Below are photos of current gatherings of Barbie's Black friends (girls and guys) along with a few of my favorite Black friend-of-Barbie photos from the past. The final photo is a link to a preorder that might interest other Barbie enthusiasts.

Girl Gathering

This is a variety of Barbies on display in the doll room that illustrates the diversity in complexion, hair texture, height, and body size in today's Barbies.

This is a closer view of the same dolls shown in the previous photo.

A Small Gathering of Guys

Mattel is beginning to diversify the African American male doll offerings. This is a small example of Ken and other Barbie male friends that are on display in the doll room.  (A couple of these are customized.)

This is a closeup of the guys.

Some of My Favorite Barbie and Friends Photos From the Past

Three Top Model Nikki dolls

Redressed dolls: Princess of South Africa; Barbie Basics Model 4, Collection 1 (wigged), and Model of the Moment Nichelle

A closeup of the dolls in the photograph immediately above this one

Redressed Travel Nikki, Fashionista #80, and rebodied Fashionista #93.

So in Style Marisa and Grace and Princess of South Africa (all are redressed, Marisa wears a wig, and Grace has received a boil perm).

Poplife Christie and Halle Berry "Die Another Day" in Poplife Barbie's fashion

A closeup of the Christie and Halle

So in Style Kara and Chandra, Barbie Basics Model 4, and Glam 'n Groom Christie wear hats.

2014 So in Style Fan Club Exclusive Chandra

So in Style Darren is wigged and dressed in Ken's 1970s Playing It Cool Fashion

In this final favorite Barbie and friends photo, Darren wears another wig and models Ken's Fashion Avenue #13567 brown and tan suit.

New Barbie Extra to Preorder

Rush over to Amazon where, as of this writing, a new Barbie Extra doll is currently available to preorder with planned shipping of May 1, 2021. A preliminary picture was posted illustrating a medium complexioned Black Barbie that uses an articulated Curvy Barbie body. Wearing round silver shades, her black hair is styled in two long thick side ponytails that are colorfully banded. A lavender polka dot blouse is worn with dark colored short pants. The preliminary photo has since been removed. To preorder, click/or tap here.

Reference:

Barbiemedia.com

dbg

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

__________

Thank you for reading. To contact me, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

Check out what I am selling here. 

Check out my eBay listings here.

Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.

*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum

Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!