Sunday, March 16, 2014

A Girl And Her Barbie

When I was a young girl, I used to play Barbies all the time with a neighbor friend of mine.   We had a fun time dressing our dolls up with different clothes and accessories and imagining.  My friend had many more clothes for her doll than I did, but the ones I had I loved because they were made by my mom.  This was my favorite, a light blue satin ball gown.


This was a fun summer outfit that actually came with her.  Now, I'm just wondering....did I cut her bangs, thinking that they would grow back haha?  Oh, the imagination of a child.


I sewed a few outfits myself, which probably made my mom laugh.


My mom even made her fish net stockings.


"Our imaginations are strong as children.  Sometimes they get shoved aside, these imaginations.  They get dusty and mildewed with age.  The imagination is a muscle that has to be put to use or it shrivels."

~Julianna Baggott

This doll is one of the few things I have from my childhood and I'll keep it forever, along with her clothes that my mom patiently sewed for me.  Is there something in your childhood that means a lot to you and still have?


~Sheri

34 comments:

Mary Palumbo Collings said...

Sheri, how cute that you still have your barbie!!! I loved playing with barbies and decorating her "house" under a dining room chair. You brought that memory to life with this post. A sweet sentimental post… and I love her haircut, haha. Have a great weekend …
XOXO Mary

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What fun! I love the pretty blue dress, too and how nice to have handmade outfits for her that you've saved. I don't have much from my childhood but I do have a big story book that I treasure. No cover but lots of happy memories! Sweet hugs!

Susie said...

Sheri, I love your Barbie doll. Your mom was a good seamstress to make stockings.:) I make clothes for my girls' Barbie too. They cut their dolls hair also. FUNNY. My girls would get their Barbies and go sit on a blanket under the maple tree and play for hours. xoxo,Susie

hidden art of homemaking said...

Oh Sherri..
I immediately came to your blog when I saw the Barbie picture.. I still have my Barbie and Midge and all of their clothes. My daughter didn't like her so she never played with her. :-( But, all the clothes that I had are still in tact so..I have been thinking about doing a post about my Barbie and Midge..Maybe I will someday soon..Barbie fashion show...
Love your post..
Love, Mona

valerietilsten59.blogspot.com said...

So sweet Sheri,
I used to have a barbie..when they first came out.
I believe barbie became 60 ! last year..not too sure.
She looks as happy as ever. love the net stockings.

I do have some things from my mum that I cherish.
no dolls.
happy sunday
val xxx

Jemma@athomewithjemma said...

Good Morning Sheri~
Such a sweet and endearing post-
I love your Barbie and her outfits made by you and your Mom.
You know, I have some books, dolls and even a Barbie which my granddaughters now enjoy. They are treasures which I bring out and tell them stories of how I played with them-they love it and so do I because I get to use my imagination too!
Love,
Jemma

Tulla and Catie said...

I also had a Barbie doll and loved playing with it so much! My mum also sewed clothes by hand and I still have the things kept. My children had new Barbies, but they also played with the old ones! It is funny that you dedicated a post to them :). Furthermore, I have some teddy bears from my childhood and a lot of books, unfortunately my children did not play with them nor did they read the books.
Hugs,
Barbara

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Dear heart,

You have touched a very sensitive nerve today, but it's because of something foolish that I did when I was just a young woman of about 20.

I had the same Barbie. I used to play with my cousins and not only did we dress them, but I used to make plays and very dramatic situations happen with my dolls! I thought I was strange because no one else did this!

My mother also made my Barbies all of their clothes, stockings, jewels, bags, everything. But when I was trying to raise money to go on my first overseas trip to dance in a USO show, I sold all of my Barbies AND the clothes. How I wish I had them now, to touch them and remember my mother.

Our imaginations are like a muscle and they grow and help us grow young, I'm convinced of it.

HUGS TO YOU TODAY! Anita

White Lace and Promises said...

Oh how I remember cutting my Barbie's hair and doing surgery on my rubber baby dolls. My mama also made my Barbie's clothes. One Christmas, they couldn't afford the Barbie clothes so she made me several outfits from scraps. I hated this but all my friends were jealous that I had so many. Thanks for the memories.

Sola Scriptura said...

What a great memento for you to have from your childhood! I think every little girl should have dolls to care for.

Geneva said...

What a sweet post Sheri ... I love that you still have your Barbie and all the memories that go along with her. I loved the clothes my Mom made for my dolls too, and appreciate her(my Mom)more every day!

Purple Flowers said...

I loved my Barbie doll and her clothes. I use to play with her and my friend from next door. Her name was/is Barbara. Oh, the hours we spent with our imaginations! One year for Christmas I received a Barbie doll case. And it was pink with glitter all over it. My excitement was over the top. Unfortunately I don't have her or the case anymore. :(

I do still have a leather pouch that my cousin gave to me. She made it in summer camp. I showed it to her a few years ago, and she was so pleasantly surprised that I still had it. It's a treasure of mine.
Sheri - this is a great post down memory lane.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Darling sister! Thank you for coming by to visit today...the more I learn about you, the more I see the sisterhood between us. Oh the joy of knowing we probably experienced so many of the same things. May your spring be filled with MORE WONDER than you ever imagined my friend. LOVE TO YOU! Anita

sweetvintageofmine said...

Hi Sheri, How precious is that Barbie doll!! I so wish I had my brunette Barbie when I was a child! I always wanted a blonde....everybody had a blonde, but Mother says No, you are a brunette so that's why you have a brunette Barbie. Oh, and also I had a redhead Midge. Remember her? Barbies cousin? What a treasure to have with the clothes your Mother made for her....that brought a tear to my eye. I actually think her hair is cute...isn't that look in right now? Sweet post~~~Blessings~~~Roxie

sweetvintageofmine said...

Yes Sheri, I do remember Skipper!! She kinda had red hair too! I wonder if anyone remembers Midge?? My memory may be off on this one..lol! Gonna have to look this up now! Roxie

TARYTERRE said...

I too have a Barbie doll that my Grandma made clothes for. I treasure the clothes more than the doll because they were made with love for me.

Patricia said...

Great minds think alike Sheri - I once made a pink satin ball gown for a Barbie - almost identical to yours! Lovely memories xx

Barbara said...

This post brings back my childhood memories. I remember that I had to beg for a long time before I got my first Barbie, with 6 children we had to wait our turn to get a new toy. Until this day I think she's the most beautiful doll in the world.

Love,
B.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I wish I still had my GI Joes from when I was a kid! Those were the equivalent of Barbies for us boys :)

Teresa said...

And how lovely it is to learn another lovely nook of an awesome heart <3

I don't have souvenirs from my playful childhood because I had my first doll when I was already 12 - my Aunts didn't believe in spoiling little girls who needed to learn things around the home so they would be great housewives ;) - and then through my teens I rebeled from the little I had had so I didn't want to keep anthing from it and when my mother - who is so detached from things that she looses everything around the home - suggested I should get rid of something I was all "go for it"... now I think I resent not keeping, I miss having those things and, above all, I regret ressenting.

But it is was what it is. :(

Dear Daughter cut the hair of all her (few) dolls... now it's a battle to have her own hair cut but back then no one - dolls included - was allowed to have long hair (I believe I showed you a pic of her cutting her own bangs before her 2nd birthday party :crazy:).

I love that you have that souvenir - it warms my heart - and that you shared it showing us, again, the way and inspiring.

Love,
Teresa

Antee Gurung said...

Omg wat a special post. I still remember my first barbie!!! aw!! memories refreshed. thank u for sharing this post!!!

btw do check out my new post
stay in touch
xoxo

Anonymous said...

Oh Sheri, I'm trying to limit my visits mostly to Fridays, but I just couldn't wait to read your post today. How I love a positive light on Barbie. Poor girl takes too many negative punches nowadays. I played with her for SO MANY YEARS, and together we certainly stretched my imagination's muscle. She always holds a very special place in my heart. I just read another lovely post about her this weekend via Beverly's Pink Saturday, where I learned that Barbie just turned 55 this year on March 9. To think that she was only four years older than me all this time. hahahaha
Yes, I have a couple of dolls from my childhood that mean a lot, one actually from Cuba.
Loved this today.
Happy St. Patrick's!
xoxo's

Susan said...

Hello Sheri...

You know what? I don't have a single thing from my childhood except memories of loving dolls (which I still do) and dollhouses (which I still love.)

Enjoyed your story about Barbies.

I have a follower from Spain whose entire BLOG is on Barbies. She creates the most incredible scenes using the dolls. Very imaginative!

Take care and enjoy each moment. Susan

It's me said...

I must found out if i have my barbies yet ???..i really don't know it....lovely week...love Ria...x !

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Sheri, what happy memories of your Barbie days with your friend. I too played Barbies with my neighbor friend. We had hours of fun and imagination. She had the blonde ponytail and I had the brunette bubble hair style Barbie. My friends name was Barbie too.
Love the blue gown your mother made and the little outfit you created too. Such fun!!

Thank you for stopping by and your kind comment. Wishing you a Happy evening of St. Patrick's Day.
Love to you my friend.
Hugs

Deserae said...

How fun that you still have your Barbie!!!! My grandma made me some clothes for my Barbie..... I never realized until I was older just how talented she was! I am in awe that your mom made those stockings!!!!! Have a great week :o)
~Des

romance-of-roses said...

Sheri, I love your doll with the cut bangs, she is a treasure that will always bring you childhood memories. I have a teddy bear that my Godmother gave me one month before I was born and I love him so much. He sits in my studio on a heart shaped corner shelf, so I enjoy him every day. Irish Blessings to you my friend...Lu

Riitta Sinikka said...

♥ ooo, so sweet! Love her! Happy day for you, my friend!

Imogen said...

What an adorable nostaglic post. I loved Barbies so much and get many memories when I see the add one at my parent's house now. I used to cut their hair all the time and I have no idea why I thought it was a good idea and often came to regret it!

Maria said...

Hello, Sheri,
A very nostalgic post, bringing sweet memories back to us all..I never owned a Barbie,I did fall in love with Pippa's and had quite a jolly collection of them...and of course very often trimmed their hair, much to the 'horror' of it never ever growing back..Thank you for popping in on mine and leaving the kindest comment...It's always lovely to fall upon a pretty new blog, ~ almost like finding a new and exciting novel to cosy on down with and enjoy..
Take time to dream...With hugs..
Maria x

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Dear Sheri,
Barbie! I wonder sometimes how many children have played with these dolls.. Dressing, un dressing, misplacing the clothes, I think that happens a lot, teehee

Thank you so much for your heartfelt words.. You are so very kind.. I will have to come back to see the photo of your squirrel!
blessings dear friend,
So happy you enjoyed the sounds of the ocean.
Penny

hi-d said...

Sheri,
I adore this post! So much! What sweet, sweet, memories. I am so sentimental...(I'm sure you would have never guessed...haha). So, I really appreciate this. How awesome that your mama sewed your Barbie outfits. The haircut cracked me up. :)

Great quote. Thanks so much for sharing. I've been meaning to tell you that you inspired me so much the other day with that quote from Abraham Lincoln and the photo of that tree. Soon after I saw that post, I looked through some old photos on my computer and typed up that quote in photoshop and posted it to my facebook wall. It was such an inspiring quote. Thanks so much for sharing that. I think I'll even post it on my blog soon. :)

Love to you!
Heidi

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Sheri,

Such a sweet post and brought back happy memories for me. Love that your Mother made some outfits - very elegant with the fish net stockings.
I used to enjoy playing with my dolls and making them clothes.
Mine was a Cindy doll.
Oh and some of my dolls had the haircut by me too - funny!

Happy week
hugs
Carolyn

Unknown said...

Sheri dear-I loved my Barbies too. They got into all kinds of fun situations (like Anita said). I was up there in Loomis playing with the Barbies back in the 70's. My younger sister out grew them sooner than I did. Oh well! ;) Your photos and outfits are swoon worthy. These are indeed treasures.
xx, H