This is my fiftieth post and Barbie turns fifty this year so I have combined the two things in one place! I have never owned a Barbie. Her competitor Sindy was my doll of choice in the seventies and I also had a Pippa doll who I absolutely loved. She was tiny-about 6 inches high. Considering my doll obsession now though, I wasn't really into dolls. I had four that I can remember-Julie(a big doll who had a record in her tummy-you pressed her belly button to work her), Betty-a baby doll who looked like an old lady (hence the name maybe?), Sindy and Pippa. I read a very interesting article here on Sunday about Barbie's history.
Here are a few things from there that you may not know about Barbara Millicent Roberts:
1. She brings in $3.3 million dollars a year for Mattel.
2. Three Barbies are sold every second.
3. Twelve hairdressers are employed for Barbie
4. Mattel toys was started by Ruth Handler and her husband Elliot who had come from Poland to the States after the first world war.
5. Barbie's body shape and measurements are based on a German doll that the Handlers saw in Switzerland whilst on holiday. She was called Bild Lilli and was a prostitute from an adult cartoon. She was being sold as a novelty to men I might add-not children.
6. Barbie has had over 100 careers, including Marine Corps Sergeant and, my favourite, a T.V. chef. (Barbie Oliver?)
7. There is an altered Barbie exhibition every year in San Francisco.
8. There has never been a Barbie nun.
Well, there still isn't I'm afraid. But there is a Simba toys Steffi Love nun, dressed by me. (Steffi comes from Deptford market, was meant to go to school but never got there)
I was informing my colleagues at work today of the interesting 'never a nun' fact and Marianne so rightly pointed out that a Barbie nun would have a pink habit. Of course, why didn't I think of that last night?! So I posed her with some pink accessories to make up for her sober habit. The pink lamp was a present from Marianne actually, I think she has a thing for pink!
Steffi before her transformation.
And afterwards...
THE PART OF THE POST BELOW WILL MAKE NO SENSE AT THE MOMENT AS I CANNOT UPLOAD THE RELEVANT PHOTO DUE TO AN 'INTERNAL ERROR' I HAVE BEEN GETTING QUITE CROSS AND FINALLY GOOGLED IT AND IT SEEMS IT IS NOT JUST ME. WHEN IT IS SORTED I WILL PUT UP THE LOVELY BALL PICTURE! THE BALL PICTURE IS THERE NOW.
Here are a few things from there that you may not know about Barbara Millicent Roberts:
1. She brings in $3.3 million dollars a year for Mattel.
2. Three Barbies are sold every second.
3. Twelve hairdressers are employed for Barbie
4. Mattel toys was started by Ruth Handler and her husband Elliot who had come from Poland to the States after the first world war.
5. Barbie's body shape and measurements are based on a German doll that the Handlers saw in Switzerland whilst on holiday. She was called Bild Lilli and was a prostitute from an adult cartoon. She was being sold as a novelty to men I might add-not children.
6. Barbie has had over 100 careers, including Marine Corps Sergeant and, my favourite, a T.V. chef. (Barbie Oliver?)
7. There is an altered Barbie exhibition every year in San Francisco.
8. There has never been a Barbie nun.
Well, there still isn't I'm afraid. But there is a Simba toys Steffi Love nun, dressed by me. (Steffi comes from Deptford market, was meant to go to school but never got there)
I was informing my colleagues at work today of the interesting 'never a nun' fact and Marianne so rightly pointed out that a Barbie nun would have a pink habit. Of course, why didn't I think of that last night?! So I posed her with some pink accessories to make up for her sober habit. The pink lamp was a present from Marianne actually, I think she has a thing for pink!
Steffi before her transformation.
And afterwards...
THE PART OF THE POST BELOW WILL MAKE NO SENSE AT THE MOMENT AS I CANNOT UPLOAD THE RELEVANT PHOTO DUE TO AN 'INTERNAL ERROR' I HAVE BEEN GETTING QUITE CROSS AND FINALLY GOOGLED IT AND IT SEEMS IT IS NOT JUST ME. WHEN IT IS SORTED I WILL PUT UP THE LOVELY BALL PICTURE! THE BALL PICTURE IS THERE NOW.In the interests of reaearch I popped into a toyshop on the way home tonight to have a look at some actual Barbies. I was disappointed with the selection but I did come away with this rather amazing ball thing. I wish I could blog texture-it feels great-soft, rubbery and squeezy. Forget those tiny stress balls, this is the baby. And when you drop it on the floor, a tiny ball inside it lights up in different neon colours. It is also destined for school and I think I had better take it as my cats do not approve. Tiger is what I would call highly suspicious and Lily is petrified!
