When I was a kid, I liked Barbie. I liked her a lot and I wanted the Dream House and the corvette and the airplane (I really had a thing for Barbie as stewardess, don’t ask me why.) I didn’t get the Dream House or the corvette or the airplane. My mom was soooo mean.
Except she wasn’t mean at all.
She made me tons of Barbie clothes — knitted or crocheted or on the sewing machine. And, while I didn’t have the Dream House, I did have a Barbie house/carrying case combo that I loved. It was the most awesome thing EVER, even though I still kind of coveted other girls’ Dream Houses.
Which is why when I had kids, they had the corvette. And the camper. And the plane. And some version of the Dream House.
They did not have homemade clothes because I was not that kind of mom. Obviously.
I think I had it better.
My house was portable, the Dream House is totally not portable.
I had just enough Barbie paraphernalia that it was fun to play with and easy to store inside of the special Barbie house/case combo. My girls had so much that the Barbie stuff was everywhere and it was hard to find the pieces you wanted, when you wanted them.
My mom was right. I was totally not right.
So when mom told me her granddaughter, Haley, wanted a Rapunzel Barbie for Christmas — I smiled.
When mom told me she was getting back into the Barbie clothes making “business” — I smiled. (And I laughed out loud when she kind of ranted about how many different patterns there are for Barbie clothes now. lol The internet is a glorious place that makes life very complicated for Barbie clothes-makers, and everyone else.)
When mom posted a photo of a Barbie with a handmade dress on her Facebook wall and said she had Barbie fever and needed shoes, and purses, and a stand and a case — I did more than smile and laugh. I went online and tracked down the Barbie house/case that I had (and loved) when I was a kid and sent it to her.
No Dream House for my mom, she deserves the best and the 1968 Mod Family House & Case is the best.
I had the camper but only because it was a hand-me-down from an older cousin. I honestly don’t remember if I had the Corvette or if a different cousin had it. I just remember it was pink.
Two corvettes (they sold them at the Dollar Store!), a camper, a swimming pool, and a fold-up dream house. As well as about a bajillion shoes and hairbrushes. I did actually have a few homemade Barbie clothes that we got at yard sales. I still walk by Barbie displays and gaze longingly at the new cool set!
I had the Barbie Rockstar Stage and it was the most exciting gift from all of my childhood. It was one of the first things that wasn’t a hand me down and was so much fun to play with my friends.
I was in trees more than I played with Barbies, but Nik was a Barbie kid and yeah she had the dream house which was a pain in the butt and hogged so much room in our little house! That is so cool that you found the case for your mom. YOu are awesome!
I had the Barbie Shopping Mall complete with all the accessories for the stores inside the Mall! Plus the swimming pool. My sister had the Barbie camping van.
My grandfather made me Barbie bedroom furniture which I still have. Plus Mom sewed clothes.
I’ve made Barbie clothes for my great-nieces and now will make them for my cousin’s little girl. I love sewing for Barbie!
I had this case: http://www.etsy.com/listing/90689183/vintage-1974-barbie-sleep-n-keep-case and I loved it for the same reasons you mentioned above.
Oh, and I had this awesome tall extremely thin not-Barbie. She looked like a 70’s lounge singer. Lessee… This one! http://vintagetoysandjoys.ecrater.com/p/8564608/vintage-afro-leggy-sue-black# In the same dress. She was my favorite even though I didn’t have any clothes to fit her.