Posted on

How I Finally Got My Hands on a 1962 Ken: A Frustrating Adventure

Introduction:

Embarking on a thrilling adventure is always an exciting prospect. Finding my 1962 Ken doll was not really what I expected at first but he got me into in an adventure. However, not all adventures are smooth sailing, as I discovered a few weeks ago. In this blog post, I will recount the ups and downs of my journey to find this elusive doll and how I eventually managed to add it to my collection. Somehow this time it was a frustrating adventure to get my hands on this 1962 Ken.

The Initial Encounter of the 1962 Ken:

My adventure began when I stumbled upon what seemed to be a promising lead on a 1962 Ken doll in Austria. Filled with excitement, I eagerly contacted the seller to discuss the details. At first, everything seemed to be going well, and I was thrilled at the prospect of acquiring this rare piece. However, my enthusiasm was short-lived.

Ken 1961This Ken is from 1961

The Initial Encounter of the 1962 Ken:

My adventure began when I stumbled upon what seemed to be a promising lead on a 1962 Ken doll in Austria. Filled with excitement, I eagerly contacted the seller to discuss the details. At first, everything seemed to be going well, and I was thrilled at the prospect of acquiring this rare piece. However, my enthusiasm was short-lived.

The Disappointing Turn:

Suddenly, without any warning, the seller ceased all communication. I found myself in a state of confusion and frustration, as the possibility of owning the 1962 Ken doll slipped away. It was an unsatisfying situation, particularly since I had plans to continue my video series featuring this doll. Determined to salvage the situation, I sought advice from fellow collectors. I know it’s not always easy since there are a lot of competitors who also want to buy this or that doll.

Seeking Guidance:

Desperate for answers, I reached out to a fellow collector who had previously purchased another doll from her. To my dismay, he revealed that the doll he bought from the same seller was damaged upon arrival. This information left me feeling disheartened, but it also served as a valuable lesson in navigating the world of vintage doll collecting. For more information about Vintage Ken I can recommend you this page https://somethingabouttheboy.com/

Turning to eBay:

With my dream of owning a 1962 Ken doll still burning strong, I decided to explore alternative avenues. It was then that I turned to the popular online marketplace, eBay. Armed with caution and a discerning eye, I meticulously searched through the listings for a while until I found a Ken doll that met my expectations. The 1962 Ken is harder to find than his 1961 Ken brother.

dark brown flocked haired ken from 1962 in red swimming trunks with red white beach shirt and thinner eyebrows
My 1962 Ken with narrower eyebrows

The Final Triumph:

After careful consideration and thorough research, I finally found the perfect 1962 Ken doll on eBay. Although the journey was filled with unexpected twists and turns, the joy and satisfaction of finally acquiring this rare gem outweighed the initial disappointments. With my newly purchased doll in hand, I was able to continue my video series and share the excitement with my audience.

Conclusion:

Adventures, as enticing as they may seem, can sometimes present unforeseen challenges. My quest for a 1962 Ken doll was no exception. From the initial excitement to the disappointment of a lost opportunity, I learned the importance of perseverance and exploring alternative options. In the end, my determination paid off, and I was rewarded with a treasured addition to my collection. This adventure served as a reminder that even in the face of setbacks, the thrill of the chase is what makes the journey worthwhile.

Posted on

Introducing the Colorful Riley Blake Barbie Malibu Fabrics Collection

Introduction: Seeing the colorful Riley Blake Barbie Malibu fabrics collection

Yesterday, while browsing through Instagram, I stumbled upon some exciting news for all the Barbie enthusiasts out there. Riley Blake, the renowned fabric company, is launching a brand new fabric collection dedicated to none other than the iconic Barbie herself. Named “Malibu Barbie,” this collection is set to captivate us with its vibrant and eye-catching designs.

The colorful Malibu Barbie fabric collection takes inspiration from the classic Barbie dolls of the 1980s, bringing back fond memories of our childhood. What sets this collection apart is its unique feature – hand-painted drawings reminiscent of the vintage Barbie doll boxes. These drawings have been skillfully incorporated into the fabric designs, adding a touch of nostalgia and charm. Sadly these boxes disappeared in the late 1980s and are only known to those who were children back then, those who got them from older relatives or those who are collectors.

Reminded by the Riley Blake Malibu Barbie fabrics collection on own childhood

The colors used in the Malibu Barbie fabric collection are nothing short of stunning. With its bright and playful palette, this collection is sure to bring a burst of joy and energy to any project. From cheerful pinks and purples to vibrant blues and greens, these fabrics perfectly capture Barbie’s fun-loving spirit and her signature style. Almost a kind of art all by itself. I discovered the colorful Riley Blake Malibu Barbie fabrics by accident just after having seen the Barbie movie in Summer 2023. Barbie – the movie and tickets for a pre-premiere

Whether you’re a seasoned seamstress or a passionate crafter, the colorful Riley Blake Malibu Barbie fabrics collection is a must-have for every Barbie lover. The versatility of these fabrics allows for endless creative possibilities. Imagine designing trendy clothing pieces, adorable accessories, or even delightful home decor items inspired by the beloved Barbie dolls.

Wonderful idea to revive the comic Barbie style from the 1970s and 1980s in the Riley Blake Barbie Malibu fabrics collection

Not only are these fabrics visually appealing, but they also boast Riley Blake’s renowned quality. Crafted with utmost care and using premium materials, the Malibu Barbie fabrics are made to last. Their durability ensures that your creations will stay vibrant and beautiful for years to come. I’m convinced that I will buy at least a Jelly roll of the colorful Riley Blake Barbie Malibu fabrics collection. Unfortunately these farbrics are not available as single pieces but only as a Jelly roll via amazon. Since shipping from the USA is too expensive for a piece of fabric I hardly see any other chance than buying it there.

If you’re looking to add a touch of nostalgia and playfulness to your sewing projects, the colorful Riley Blake Malibu Barbie fabrics collection is the perfect choice. Get ready to dive into a world of vibrant colors and classic Barbie charm. Let your imagination run wild and create something truly special with these delightful fabrics.

https://www.pinterest.de/pin/55169164179547695/

Conclusion

In conclusion, the colorful Malibu Barbie fabric collection by Riley Blake is a true celebration of Barbie’s timeless appeal. It brings together the best of both worlds – the charm of the 1980s Barbie dolls and the high-quality craftsmanship that Riley Blake is known for. So, gather your sewing tools and unleash your creativity with these colorful and nostalgic fabrics. Let the Malibu Barbie collection inspire you to create something truly magical!

Posted on

What did Santa Clause bring?

I was already asked by other collectors if I got new Barbie dolls or Barbie family dolls for Christmas and I can say yes. I got some new dolls but I did not find as much as in 2020. I think that’s not so much of a problem as long as you really searched for them and wanted them for a long time.

I never expected for example to find an affordable Supersize Barbie. Supersize Barbies are hard to find in the meantime and they are really expensive. Something is always missing. No matter if it’s the dress, jewelry or shoes. Sometimes when they have a function the function is not working anymore. It’s what stopped me from buying the doll you see in my latest video with the hair function. Often the hair piece/ hair part is simply gone. I think one could repair the hair when you have a doll showing you how the mechanism works. That’s why this doll screamed “buy me” when I saw her.

The function of the hair will be covered in one of my next videos. It’s very easy but was not covered in any video yet. Let’s change this in 2022. She will also get some clothing. You know it’s not the problem to taylor something once you understand how to take the correct measurements.

Francie came along my way in November. We made an online doll convention online and there she was offered. So I bought the two of them you can see in my video.

You know I’m not the biggest fan of Fashionista Barbie but the one in the wheel chair somehow fascinated me since she’s black and she was available in Germany. I observed her the whole year but the price was too high for the quality so I had to wait until I found her for a good price.

Posted on

A quick update for my Windows 10 problem

In the meantime I consulted several forums to get the solution to my problem not being able to work with my lately updated Windows 10 version. Did I get answers? Yes, I did but they were not helpful. Why should I consult Nvidia for a problem with Windows 10? The latest driver is 3 years old. Sorry, I don’t get the point. Nvidia will say it’s a Windows problem. So the poor guy from India got a bad mark from me for his answer. It’s simply not helpful and it does not explain why Windows 10 forgets the driver any time I start my Windows 10. We had the problem 2 years ago too but it was fixable.

So we started to solve the problem with updating my Linux. Yes, I have more than one PC operating system on my PC. I have 3 on it and 2 of it accept the driver without problems. The next problem I had to focus was the problem to explain this. I know a bunch of people only use one operating system on their PC. The update was in general no problem. It only lasted several hours but being at work on a Wednesday and coming home and your PC got its update is a good feeling. Nevertheless we were not able to solve the DaVinci Resolve problem. I suppose my CPU is to old for making it run on my Linux desktop. My PC is from 2012. Graphic driver check, running but CPU not. Obviously the problem is that under Linux DaVinci Resolve is treated a bit like a neglected step-child. So what’s the solution to the problem? Guess what? Spending money and spending a lot of money to be more precise.

We hope to solve this stupid graphic driver problem with a new PC but not just a PC but a really high performance PC with a fast and up-to-date graphic card from Nvidia with hopefully a working driver under Windows 10. I guess it’s exactly what they industry wanted to hear but it’s sad somehow that this problem can only be solved with money and not with a quick fix.

Posted on

New Barbie repair adventures ahead

I know I haven’t posted anything for two weeks but now I can tell you something new. I’m going to get a parcel this week with lots of Barbie dolls for repair and the best thing is I haven’t to pay for them. They are a gift from another collector who likes my idea to get repair without paying the repair itself only the shipping and handling costs and material costs.

She asked me to test a new glue for broken necks and I said I’d be glad to test and do a video, although I don’t know if this stuff is available outside from Germany. I’m curious to do the test. I heard a lot. Now I get the chance to do a test.

What else happened in the meantime?

Well I had to work only three days last week and had a long weekend that I used for Barbie, not for doing videos but to continue to develop my sewing and pattern making skills for Francie. I started on May 1rst I think with a pattern for Francie and had problem to make it fit to her size. I had too many wrinkles at the wrong places but this weekend I had an idea how to make it probably work. I tried it and had success with my idea. It’s not perfect yet but I think I’m on the right way to find the pattern. I did a second project yesterday and designed my very first sleeve. The sleeve is definitely something for the next weekend. I saw some progress in my Francie “Let’s Dance” sewing project. It feels good to see some progress.

Posted on

The biggest annual Barbie Convention in the USA took place

I think by the end of the last week I saw the first pics from the biggest annual Barbie Convention that took place in Kansas City, Missouri this year. I wish I could go to one of these big Barbie USA Conventions too but at the moment it’s way too expensive to fly over the Atlantic Ocean, stay there for a week ( a longer trip would probably be cheaper) and buy Barbie dolls. Even the smaller Barbie Conventions in Germany are not cheap. At least that was my experience when I visited the Barbie Convention in Hamburg, Germany in 2010. It was nice but the dolls were very expensive but to come back to our point the big annual Barbie Convention in the USA … here are some pics that are amazing and we can even enjoy them without spending money.

I hope you like them. The conventions take place every year in another place in the USA. A doll club is every year the host of this event. There is of course more than one convention every year. We also have some smaller ones here in Europe but special Barbie dolls are not made for them anymore. In the 1990s there were several special Barbie dolls even made for these events. Sometimes you see them here and there on ebay or in shops.

Posted on

A very dissatisfying adventure with DHL

I bought two Barbie dolls from the USA by the end of May. I awaited the arrival of my dolls in these days. Last Friday I got an e-Mail from a big auction house stating that my parcel would have arrived. Unfortunately I got no notification from any postal service in the last weeks. You can only get your parcel when you have a notification. In my case I never got one and I wasn’t able to pick up any parcel, It was indeed the case that the parcel landed in Germany but it was stored in a DHL hub somewhere in another state than I live in. Obviously my parcel layed somewhere several hundred of kilometers.

Nobody felt any responsibility for sending it at least to the city I live in. So my parcel was in a hub somewhere but nobody shipped it to my city and shipped back after 3 weeks with the statement “unclaimed” the USA. I couldn’t even stop it because the shipping status hadn’t changed for weeks and I couldn’t locate my pacel. Suddenly the seller answered my e-Mail and was not very helpful. I wanted to know why my parcel shipped back without being delivered but instead I got my money back. That was definitive not what I wanted….

Posted on

Rumors about the bancrupcy of Mattel?

In the last weeks there were rumors about a predicted bancrupcy of Mattel within one year. It was predicted by a guy named Isaac Larian. I had to google the name because I never heard of him. He has a toy company of his own and made Mattel obviously an offer for a fusion.

This is what I found about the topic online https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/13/mga-ceo-isaac-larian-says-mattel-will-be-bankrupt-within-a-year-or-so-after-takeover-bid-is-rejected.html

Is the rumor true? Only time will tell… let’s keep our eyes open.

Posted on

Working on my youtube channel

I ‘ve done lots of videos in the last years but I only got very few clicks for my videos. For a long time I had no idea how important thumbnails, keywords and the rest of the stuff was. I had simply no idea where to look at. I did a course for social media in 2017 but I hardly learned anything about how to find the important keywords. This week I had a bit time at work to do an extended search. I found very interesting new insights that I can use for my improvements. It’s very clear that you can’t change your whole channel in one day. I have way too much videos and way too much pics and keywords to tag. This is going to last a while and of course next to that is my normal making video stuff with new projects that need lots of time and research. I have no idea if I can do it in one month or if I’ll need more time.