Barbie Conventions, Dioramas, Clothing and Doll Collecting

This transcript was generated from the episode captions and lightly edited for readability. Names and product terms may occasionally be imperfect. Quoted dollar amounts retain the wording of the interview; the currency is not always specified.

0:00Hello dolls and accessories. I'm your host Kelly and this is Barbie Talk. [music] Barbie Talk with Kelly in Pink. Every once in a while you'll scroll across Barbie accounts and you'll actually stop scrolling. Not because of how the content looks, but how it makes you feel. That's exactly how I felt when I came across Barbie and Buddy and I knew I had to have her on the show to talk to us about how she makes it all come together because clearly it's more than just about dolls. Please welcome Beth. Hi Beth. Hello. Hello. Hello. Thank you for joining Barbie Talk. This is so much fun. Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. Absolutely. You are a legend in the Barbie community in my eyes. So and in a lot of people's eyes, I'm sure. So I want to get right to it. Tell everyone a little bit about yourself and how your relationship with Barbie started. Okay. So I actually looked at my calendar and realized that this Friday, April 3rd, is my 10th anniversary on Instagram. 10 years. I thought story.

1:06It started with this guy, which is why my name is Barbie and Buddy. I was I was taking my son was 11 at the time. I took him. I would put him all different kinds of situations and so somebody [snorts] said to me, you know, Instagram might really like that, but he needs a friend so you can do it year-round. So then I was gifted my very first Barbie. Wow. So I was going to ask you where Buddy came from. There we go. This is Buddy. This is This is Barbie, the the very first and she was a mess. You know, a friend bought her from Savers and it was a joke. But it [laughter] I started at the time when the Fashionistas, this is 2016, the Fashionistas were really big. The Barbie community was really small and everyone had what was called a mini me.

1:55Some a Barbie that that looked like you. So I brought my mini me too. So the people A lot of people will remember this was my original mini me, the Raquel face mold. That's right. She's so sweet and she has morphed into looking a little bit more like me with the gray hair. Same face mold, same glasses. So it it's been a it's been a wild ride actually because Instagram has really changed. I am recently retired opera singer. I teach voice and acting and performing at Berkeley College of Music in Boston. And these things all kind of come together with what I say in my bio which is I want to spread joy and love through Barbie. So what began as this cute little, you know, Christmas elf has morphed into this and a lot of really wonderful memories and amazing people and just wonderful experiences along the way. Amazing. You're definitely 10 year if like I mean 10 years a whole decade on Instagram. I'm sure you've seen the doll community grow.

3:07I mean this is pre-COVID, right? Like this feels like, you know, ages ago. Like the world has just changed so much. The doll community has changed so much. It really has and with the advent of reels things became a lot different. Because of my career as an opera singer I actually welcomed the turn to video because as much as I enjoyed the dioramas and the miniature and all of those things I really wanted to connect with people more and I think that, you know, face is is helpful for that. But it was a learning curve. You know, it was a learning curve at first. So yeah, the changes I try to just always remember why I'm here which is to connect with people through this incredible doll, which I've learned so much about in the process, right? And gotten to know people at Mattel and just expanded my my world completely. It's amazing. It is amazing and I think you if you don't know this, I think you definitely have a very positive effect on the doll community.

4:10I wanted to say kind. Yeah, it's it's 100% true. I wanted to you just showed your mini me. Here's my mini me. Oh, cool. Oh, hello. Her bangs need to be a little fixed, but this is my mini me in her little like you. in her little Fashion Avenue. I mean I tried. [laughter] in her little Fashion Avenue outfit here from the 90s. Oh, her bangs need some pulling, but there's my mini me. So sweet. And I love your speaking of the Christmas dioramas, I've never I mean I was predominantly a box collector. I know you pride yourself on not being and we're going to talk about that in just a second. Okay. [laughter] Okay. So yeah, I did my first diorama this Christmas and I have to say you were my inspiration. I'm not very I'm not very crafty. So a lot of stuff was purchased, but I mean a couple things I tried to like make or take something and make it, you know, applicable to the the Christmas diorama, but you were my inspiration on that. So Thank you. You know, in the beginning it used to be all about that.

5:04When I first started here it was all about I would look back through my day and and think about what what can I talk about that would be positive and help other people by just talking about my day. So at that point people were accumulating dolls that look like their friends and it was really you know, the the use of hashtags. It was very small. Yeah. And so you know, parties used to happen often. The expansion of the community through COVID really burst everything open and of course everything's completely different. But the dioramas are such a joy. Once you start thinking in that miniature way, you almost can't go anywhere without seeing something that might work in a diorama. Yeah, you'll be at the dollar store and you'll be like that could work. [laughter] Is that a 160 Is that a 160 scale? Exactly. Or you know, little stud earrings that I buy and I'm like, could that work for my dolls? Could that be a ring? It's so true, but that's I think Beth you have the skill of like taking the simplest everyday things and using your imagination to you know, bring it to life and that's something I've noticed about your content is you do a lot of the dioramas and photography, but you make it like your dolls are

6:24not just a doll, but they have a personality and a life. You know, you bring that sort of realness to it. Well, that's lovely. I appreciate you saying that. It's funny because people will ask me, what do I name my dolls? Well, they all have a name and it's Barbie, right? I I don't do that and I don't have like running stories like a lot of people do, which I really appreciate because some of that is that's craft that I can't do. Yeah. But I I was reminded a couple of months ago because I found some artwork of mine from the third grade. So a long time ago. And in it it was talking about what I wanted to be when I grew up and what I said was that I wanted to be a writer. And here I am on Instagram every day, right? Writing, talking, just doing the things that make me happy. You know, I grew up in the 70s and 80s where you know, we were kind of let out at the beginning of the day and came back home a lot later. [laughter] And so we had to make a lot from nothing and I think like learning to sew at an early age and knitting and the the crafting things, that's just that's just fun for me and now it's it's helpful because you know, every every once in a while when I'm like, well, I have to go on a dolly diet cuz I'm saving for convention,

7:45right? So I haven't been able to buy I have not allowed myself to buy any of the newer dolls. But I decided, okay, so I have to get I have to get creative in some other way. So that's where I was like, I'm going to teach myself to sew again. I I used to know how to do it. You are so talented with this. I've been following this. I can't even I I wouldn't I wouldn't even be able I can't even glue two pieces of fabric together, Beth. I couldn't Well, there is a lot of glue involved. So that that's that's different than what I but you know, it can get tiny. Like this is a little tiny Tutti. Barbie's little sister. I love and you know what? I actually brought something here so I could show you cuz I know you're a fan of Tutti. So this is the only Tutti I own. I thrifted her. I brought her to show you because I know you're you love Tutti. I love her. I had two, but I gifted one to my friend Mike Dawson, Dawson Digs Dolls and and Mike is one of those people.

8:36You know, when you meet doll people in person and you just think this is this is my person, you know, we we get each other. Yeah. So he's the one who he's the one who gifted me with my mini me a couple of Christmases ago. He Let me take her out of the sand. Because she had to be re-rooted. This is That's right. The gray hair is not Raquel. That's right. He he did all of that and you know, then was like, well, she needs red glasses cuz you have red glass. People like that that think in the detail and and if you've ever seen any of his sewing work it's it's amazing. So having a friend who can help with all of that just makes it more fun, right? That's why we're That's why we're in it. That's right. 100%. I also brought my little Skipper cuz I know you're also a fan Skipper. She I There's a couple [laughter] in the case back here. I know you're I know you're a fan so I I brought a little bit of a of Kelly. Kelly. I also I'm going to show you a couple things cuz I also know that you're a fan of this little girl. Is it Kelly? Kelly dolls.

9:40And I had to bring a Kelly. I mean, come on, you know. Yeah. If we take a walk later, I'll show you that I have dolls. I have Kelly dolls. That was my goddaughter who was like you know, these are the dolls that I grew up with, Auntie Beth. So she gifted me this huge box of Kelly dolls that were, you know, played with, but one of the things that I had a lot of fun with is the hair. You know, when whenever you sing with an opera company, unless it's a really big opera company, you generally have to do your own hair. So, I wasn't afraid of styling the dolls' hair because I'd done it a lot on myself, but the little tight like the Kelly's and the two like this is crazy tiny and it's not real hair. [laughter] They were all different dolls. They were all dolls. Anyway, that started me on the on the Kelly adventure and then it wasn't long before Tutti came into play and I think I have a little I do. I have her little brother over here. Uh Todd, so You've got Todd You've got Todd in there, correct? Todd Todd's in there. He doesn't come out often cuz I don't have anything for him to wear. Yeah. You know, that's kind of it's a kind of unfortunate thinking about that. Like Todd really didn't get a lot of fashions. No. No. Like a Tutti and Todd or like lady later became Stacy or whatnot or even like Kelly fashions or how about Tommy fashions? I know. Look how cute. Look how He's just adorable. I have one that reminds me of my son, so I keep

11:02him dressed like in a in an apron with little flower on his nose for Christmas. So, he stays year-round like in his Christmas garb because, you know, the tow head he just My son always liked to help me make cookies at Christmas. The dolls have such a They can really tug at your heart. I am I would not call myself a vintage collector. Um in fact, I didn't have vintage dolls probably the first three or four years I think I was that I was collecting. But uh an older cousin of mine said, "I'm I cleaned out my house and look what I found in the attic." And it was cases of Barbie, Francie, [snorts] Skipper. Um there was a Tammy doll, which I I'm doing this cuz I keep I actually keep that out with the case cuz it's so fun. And I had to get books. I knew nothing Didn't have to get books, but I like books. Um so, I I learned about that and then Francie has a little bit of a a heart connection with me because my best friend that we've known each other since we were seven.

12:05And um she always had She always had the Barbie dolls, right? I didn't really have any when I was growing up and she had a Francie, which if you're a dark-haired girl was kind of a big deal. You know, all the Barbies were blonde and beautiful and then Francie, the mod cousin, like this was for 70s kids she was She was a big deal. So, definitely was and I think that that's something I actually really like about your content is because I'm seeing I'm not just seeing Barbie all the time, you right? You're showing a lot of the different dolls. I also mean I was born in the 80s. I'm a 90s kid. So, I don't know a lot about 70s mod. I don't know I still do like the vintage like the 60s. I have like, you know, a couple repros. I have, you know, a bubble cut like things of that nature. I have a number five like things like that, but that's about as far as it goes, but your content you show like the Skippers, the Tutti's, the Todds like everything else that I'm not familiar with. And that's what I think draws me to you is cuz it's not the same old, right? So, I actually want to do a little bit more show and tell. So, I know you showed some fashions there. Do you have anything else maybe you're working on right now that you want to share? Maybe some behind the scenes scoop that we could [laughter] No because I I'm actually trying to So, I'm loving the sewing right now and what I'm trying to do is to clean up at the end of like when I finish at night, I clean up because [snorts] I am not someone

13:31who does well when the creativity is a little overwhelming. It can be chaotic and overwhelming, yeah. Yeah, I I for me and that's because I've got a lot going on and I'm like I need to focus. Um but I can show you something that I made last night that I'm actually kind of proud of. So, look I learned to sew in the third grade where um because I was a brownie, you know, in Girl Scouts you're a little brownie. My mother was the brownie leader and I made my very first piece of clothing not for Barbie for myself. It was a little elastic waist skirt that had smiley faces on it. You know, it was like lime green with smiley faces. And then when I started back with Barbie 10 years ago, I made a a bunch of things actually, but they were more like poofy gowns that I might wear performing. So, this is actually something that I made last night from uh like the only Francie pattern, but it's so big that it actually fits you know, Barbie with with no problem. Oh my goodness, that's adorable. So, are you Is this fabric Are you buying like fabric cuz I think you recently posted that you made something out of a pillowcase? Yeah, I did. Well, all of these so So, let's see. Tutti and Odile I I don't have three hands or I'd hold up. it's fine. And Midge, they're all This is from I went thrifting with Mike and we went to a Savers where it was a pillow sham. So, it's it was big.

14:53And I've got I have still have more fabric. So, the three of them are all wearing this really like sweet the size of it is a good size for a good scale for Barbie and that really motivated motivated me to get better because I thought the the impetus for all of this was Barbie convention. Mhm. There are certain things that I give out at Barbie convention that I usually have other people make for me. I like to support small businesses and in the past I've done that, but this year I thought, "Okay, if if my year of, you know, budgeting and dolly loveliness is going to continue, then I should probably learn to make some of these things." So, I said, "Well, I have to get better to do it." So, um Yeah. So, I have I have little things that I'm working on. Um there's a pile of Trader Joe's bags over there. Have you heard about the little mini bags? I haven't until I saw your post and I went I mean I'm in Canada. We don't have Trader Joe's. So, it's like what's what's this hype about? Us Canadians are always in the dark. We're always last [laughter] You guys are always last. We're last to know. We're like the black sheep the black sheep over here. Oh well, these Trader Joe's bags are ridiculous cuz they're two $2.99. They are literally, you know, not a lot of money. Yeah. Um but people just go crazy for them and so what I tend to do is

16:17I buy them for some of my students. I have a lot of international students at Berkeley and they go home and so I buy these bags and put a little something about Boston or I'll write a card and I send them home with these bags, which they love. So, one of my students actually wrote one of my former students cuz she's graduated. She wrote to me and she said, "By the way, my mother is using" Her parents came for graduation, so I got to meet them. They didn't speak English at all. So, she translated. We had a beautiful time at dinner and I gave her this bag and she had no idea and then my student explained to mom, "Hey, these bags are kind of a big deal." They're a big deal. They're a big deal. So, I'm [laughter] I'm not selling them for $50,000, which is absolutely ridiculous, but I am trying to personalize them. So, for my table at at convention. So, And again, this is something that you're just it just speaks to your character, right? Like again, like I think people are drawn to you. Your content is fantastic, Beth, but it's the personality behind the screen.

17:14Yeah, and I I think that that's part of why I was excited about reels because as much as I do enjoy the um the storytelling and the taking of the photos and the making of the dioramas, I am also I like to keep moving and learning new things. Um and so, well, the dioramas are still here. They don't go anywhere. Um but there are times of the year where I use them more. Christmas, of course. So, 2 years ago when Barbie convention was in Palm Springs, I was not able to go. Oh. And so, yeah, and I was so disappointed about that because Palm Springs, right? It is And I don't want to interrupt, but how many times I one of the questions I'm going to ask you this is a great segue is I mean, you are a regular convention attendee. Yeah, but not like some of my friends. This will be my fourth This will be my fourth time. I mean, I know people that have been 18, 20 times. Ooh. I mean, listen to somebody like myself who's never been, that's an absolute dream. I want to hear everything about it. So, let's talk convention. Okay.

18:13We'll talk convention. So, convention um in Palm Springs that was two summers ago and I really wanted to go and I wasn't able to go. I had work and [snorts] I just couldn't get the time off. So, I decided I need The reason I love convention is the community. You know, it's 800 to 1,000 people. It's not a lot of people. It's all people that love Barbie, all kinds of Barbie, right? All kinds like, you know, superstar and fashionistas and vintage They just love They love it all. So, for me not to have that meant that I was really kind of heartsick about that and I thought, "Well, what can I do?" Cuz I'm not, you know, I'm not um helpless, right? So, what can what can I do to create that community? So, I actually reached out on Instagram and I said, "Is there anybody in the New England area who would like to join me and create a Barbie club?"

19:10And that's how I met all of these wonderful people. So, that is that is not about convention. That is about um creating that community, but that community has been just expanded my life in ways that So, a lot of people are ask me, "How can I join a Barbie club?" I'm like, "I belong to Barbie Club International, which, you know, I was one of the original members, but I like to meet people in person and talk in There is nothing like being with people who understand you that when you say, "Superstar, you know, that superstar era or Totally Hair is my favorite doll, right? And I collect everything that has to do with Totally Hair." The average person is like, "Uh-huh." [laughter] Whereas Barbie people really do get you. So, so convention was a dream. Was a dream for me, too. It's It's a beautiful week. It's not an inexpensive week.

20:04So, you know, you have to you have to factor that in. It's not something that everybody can do. And I feel really I save all year long. That's why I'm I'm in the dolly fast. Like, I would love to have some of these new basics dolls, but when I think about that, I think, "Okay, well, that $27 for that doll was now going to go into my convention fund, right?" To see what [snorts] I can find. Um So, convention is a week I I go a week. The convention itself actually starts They do some workshops Tuesday night, but generally it starts Wednesday. Our first event is Wednesday evening, and then it ends Saturday night. Um but I go I'll be there on Sunday of that week. I'll go Sunday to Sunday because there is something called room shopping. That is Yeah, this is the This is where I found my favorite Totally Hair.

20:57But she didn't she didn't look like this. She didn't look like this. Wait, I have two. Cuz I I bought two. So, these are two original Totally Hair dolls that I found at convention. They look great. They Well, I'm going to tell you I'm going to tell you how they look great. They look great because of a lot of friends, right? Cuz they their hair was matted, but they had they had all the clothes. They even had the shoes. You see that one. They had the shoes. Um they did not have like the little hair poofies. Somebody gave me that. Um but the hair was a nasty matted mess on both of them, but they're they're originals. So, I bought them for $60 each. I was like, "This is the one doll that I wanted to bring home." One. And I ended up with with two. So, but I was a little bit worried because I'd never crimp hair before. So, this is where the intersection comes of Barbie convention and my Barbie club. One of the members of Barbie club here It's called New England Doll Collectors Club. He used to work for Mattel and American Girl doing hair.

22:02So, when I brought her home, he said, "I'm going to helping you. We're going to we're going to do this together." So, one club meeting we crimp I mean, look how gorgeous that is. That looks original. It looks original. It really does. Yeah, she's it's beautiful. He did a great job. And he's like, "No brushing ever, right?" You know. So, smoothing, yes. Swinging, yes. But brushing, no. Anyway, so, at convention in room sales, people just um open their rooms, and a lot of people bring what they have of their collection. Some people are really professional about it. Flippin' Debbie Creations, they're on Etsy. They do a lot of mid-century modern. Um It's 3D printed. And so, if if you're into that, you're going to their room, and you're buying their their products. But people like me, like I love the Mackie face. So, I am I didn't There's not one close to me, but they're cuz they're so glorious, right? They're all They're so beautiful. All Christmas dolls. I've got two cases and three shelves of Christmas dolls. That That's they they feel like the closest to my heart because they look like a lot of costumes I wore in my upper life. Yeah. Anyway, so, going early and going to room sales allows you to

23:24have a a little bit more laid-back experience than the go go go of convention. When I am at convention, I try to go live every day, Kelly, because a lot of people are like, "I might never be able to go." It's big travel. You know, [snorts] it's big money, and it's just not something that I can that I can do. So, I like to go live every day so that people can see, "Yeah, this is what's happening today. This is what's happening at this lunch. This is what's happening when you open the doll." The convention doll is kind of the big deal, and everybody waits for that. Yep. I'll do that this year, too. It is I think I'm leaving um July 5th. Sunday, July 5th. So, I will for that entire week be there, and I go by myself cuz I like that second bed for the dolls. So, the dolls that I buy [laughter] Everything that I buy gets laid out.

24:18They get this They need to rest, too, Beth. Well, they need I like to look at them, first of all. You know, and because I am not a box collector, right? So, I don't mind buying dolls in the boxes cuz I'm like, "Y'all are coming out before you get in my suitcase. You're not You're not traveling." And last year I had two large trash bags full of dolls. Now, a lot of these dolls are like $20. The Dolls of the World I have a pretty extensive Dolls of the World collection. I love those. I must have brought back six or eight of those. A lot of Kelly's Kelly's I kept in the box cuz their boxes are so cute. So cute. Yeah, they're adorable. I've actually watched your lives when you're in your hotel room. [laughter] So, you've seen the bed. I mean, I'm still Listen, I'm still keeping my fingers and toes crossed that someone's going to cancel and I'm going to get that email.

25:04We never know. Okay. Okay. But I have watched you, and it's it's wonderful to just kind of almost makes you feel like you're there or like a little bit of a a taste of what it's like for people can get going. I think that's super That's so kind of you and uh you know, wonderful of you to take your time. You could be resting. It's a it's a very busy week, and you choose to do that. So, that's Yeah, it's a busy week because you don't want to miss anything. But now that I've been like the first year I really like I needed a vacation afterwards. After I came home, I was like, Um but now I've so like I volunteered every day. I do like to volunteer, and I've worked for nonprofits a lot of my life, so I get it. Volunteering is important. But I Now I'm like I volunteer two or three times. I don't volunteer every day. There are people that do that, and that's what convention means to them, and that is so darling, but I can't do that. I need to I need to go and like rest for a little bit, and you know, have a cup of tea, and then do my lives. That's right. Relax. That's right. You know what? It's it's it's it's got I'm I'm happy to hear that you've kind of have you've cut the groove of it, right? Like I think as a first-timer you're overwhelmed, and you want to be everywhere.

26:17You got to rest. Like cuz it is exhausting. It's exhausting. So, um I saw that you showed your Totally Hairs, which by the way, I crimped my Totally Hair because I did reach out to you and asked you for some guidance. That's kind of Thank you for your I don't know if you sent Did I Did I send you the link to the little tiny crimper? Yes, it was the crimper. Yeah, it was the crimper. She's up there. I could grab her, but um she's in the room because she's she's an iconic doll. I can see her. I can see her from here. I see her hair. Her she's there. And there's a skill to it because it's got to be a little damp, you know? Like her hair can't be fully dry. There's a bit of a skill to it. Um what would you say, and I don't know if you have it close by. Do you have like a favorite doll that you got at convention that you'd like to share? I mentioned that you get a convention doll at the end. And there's one in particular from Orlando. The convention was called A Doll for All Seasons. And it was designed by Angel Kent, the Odile face. And so, it's one of the very first Odile dolls. These dolls, they only make as many people as there are in convention. So, there's like less than a thousand of these of these dolls.

27:29Yeah, she's she's really really beautiful. The iridescence, you know, in the fabric. She's got a snap undone right there. So, she's wearing it's high-low, right? She's got her Can you see those shoes? Beautiful clear shoes. Yeah, they're like Look how gorgeous. Um her hair is in like the iconic ponytail, right? She's got lovely jewelry. Just in the that sparkle like snowflaky. It reminds me of It reminds me of Crystal Barbie's dress, that material. And that was that was he said his influence. And then she came with this gorgeous I'll take a look at Can you see that? There's little snowflakes on it. Snowflakes on both sides. On both sides.

28:15Now, if you have the I can't remember what line she's in. It's the pink the Odile in the pink I she's right over here. The pink gown with the The gala? The gala? Yes. That's kind of his thing, right? He he loves to do that. So, you can imagine when this doll the box was opened and people go, "This" Yes. So, this is a very special memory. I love all of the dolls because they remind me of convention, but there's just something really special about this one. And Angel was like an absolute rock star that night. They set up a table so they can sign the boxes. I waited more than 2 hours in line, and I never even got close to him, and I said, "Okay, I'm going to I know who she's designed by." Yeah. And because I'm not a box collector, I thought, "It's it's okay. I I went and had drinks with friends instead. I made memories." But anyway, she's one of my she's one of my favorite come home from convention dolls because she's just so so sweet.

29:19And they usually make an African American skin tone, so you have you know, you have the option. Okay. Um and there's only one per person, so I do know husband and wife or whatever partner partner that will come to convention, buy one, you know, get one, sell the other, or get two. That happens. Um whatever floats your boat. But anyway, she's she's one of my favorites. I love love Odile, too. Odile's beautiful. And this would have been the first time, right? You would have seen this face mold. Well, actually, no, because I have the Do you remember was it Christmas '23 where the redhead Walmart exclusive? Yeah. Yeah, that was the first time. We didn't have it in Canada.

30:06But yes, I love the swoop of her bang, too. Yeah, she's she's quite dramatic. You know, she's quite dramatic. I I um you know, the hair is really done. You know, like this is This is hard. Yeah. And I I feel like these convention dolls, you know, these are works of art. Yeah. The This is so I would never touch this one. I am I absolutely love to work with the hair and, you know, customize. I I don't paint. I am not a fine artist, but I I have like curled straight hair and, you know, I can do all of that. But these dolls I don't touch because for me they really do feel like the the heart of the designer is is here and I want to keep that. Yeah. Work of art, you know? So So sometimes you it might be a piece that you like. The very first convention I went to was Chicago and that was a fairly um that was that doll was one that people I love it. Actually, it's designed by Carlyle NuEra, but um but a lot of people did not like it. So it's [snorts] it comes and goes, right? Whatever you like. I I think she's gorgeous. You pride yourself on a lot about like being an out of box collector.

31:18I really appreciate I really adore that because I was primarily a box collector. So until I didn't have mom and dad's house anymore to store my box dolls and into a smaller space and went, "Man, these boxes take up a lot of space." So I do have dolls that I continue to keep in box and then I've started opening because I I got older and I kind of you know, a lot of people in the doll community, primarily yourself, with you want to enjoy them. You want to be able to touch them. Brush the hair. [laughter] Yeah. And I also have also I've always loved to keep my dolls in like original clothing, but now I'm starting to try and get into um not re-rooting yet, but you know, changing faces, changing body, popping heads off, you know, doing all that thing. And that was primarily also because there is a Toronto doll club that I'm a part of, so I can understand your um when you were discussing about being part of a club. Um completely understand, there's no judgment there, right? That's the thing. You can speak openly Yeah. judging you. Unfortunately, episode two I did speak to my guest about judgment in the doll community, whether it's within the community or with family and friends. Um so that's definitely something I really uh respect about you that, you know, you're very like I keep them in a box or I

32:38take them out. There's no rhyme or reason. I don't have to explain why I keep them in the box or don't. So I know you you both agree about that. So uh I know What's funny is that there seems to be there seems to be if you are a newer collector or, you know, say you were not born in the 1900s like me, right? Mostly the and I hate to generalize cuz that's that's never it's never 100%, but um mostly the thought is I buy this for my for my own pleasure. [snorts] If you go back um about 10 days ago, I I you know, I posted one of those reels that you think, "Oh, it's just a throwaway, right?" Well, like thousands of people commented on this reel literally being like, "I buy it for myself. Why should I Why should I keep it in the box?" But there is a generation of people that were, you know, from the '80s and the '90s where the big, you know, the Christmas dolls, "Oh, I got a doll every Christmas and I had to keep it in the box because my parents told me that it would be more, you know, I'd be able to sell it for later." And that's just not the [clears throat] way life is anymore, right? I mean, as we've seen. Unless you have a doll that is fairly rare. I mean, for all that this is the best-selling doll of all time, right? They're still hard to find. Um

34:07if you get pleasure out of seeing it in the box, one of my dearest friends is a inbox collector. If that makes your heart happy, then I want that for you. But if you're like me and you're you don't you really want to touch it. I've always been that way. You know, my mother would take me shopping and I'd be like running my hands over the fabrics on the you know, I want to touch it. I want to customize it. I want to redress it. So I think there's it feels like there's a schism, but I don't really think there is. I think most really sweet doll collectors would just be like, "Hey, whatever makes you happy is what you're supposed to do." 100%. I agree. 100%. And I think you just you said something that really related to me about when I got like my first collector doll as a child. So my first collector doll that I got was the 1992 Holiday Barbie. Oh, yes. And my mother was like, "Don't take her out." And that I mean, let's be honest, those late '80s, early '90s boxes, as much as they were huge, they were beautiful. They had a story on the back. The photograph was beautiful. Like the the you know, the backgrounds would glimmer and I was just like, "But I want to take her out." My mom's like, "No, you can't do that." And I did because I cried and I cried and we took it out. Well, as an adult I went out and got a box version because I just have her in the box. But yeah, now I'm getting to the point where I'm like, "Man, these boxes

35:27are really big." And I think it's you know, where I am now in my doll collecting stage is, you know, you want something to feed your soul. Your life there's a lot going on in the world. It's a very time. It's you know, so you want to try if it's anything that's going to bring you a little bit of nostalgia, a little bit of joy. Like what are we doing? We're It's cardboard. Like just take get rid of it, right? Well, there there is also another thought. The that the plastic, of course, changed over time. The plastic of the dolls, the plastic that we put the dolls in. And it There was a whole sort of like mini lecture at convention about how it is actually bad for the dolls to stay in the box unless the box is one of the very early cardboard boxes because paper is porous and air gets in and out. Whereas plastic not. So that's why you might take some of those dolls out and the legs are sweating or the hair feels tacky. That's not the same glue issue that was like, you know, the the teens the Yeah, that was a big deal. Like my very first Raquel came and, you know, her hair was totally the glue seepage. So I had to spend a lot of time with Goo Gone and Dawn soap and making her pretty again, but um

36:48yeah, those boxes take up a lot of space and but if it makes you happy, that's that's what you do. I keep a few sort of just in case, you know, like right up here is the um Scottish Barbie that my I'm Scottish. My dad was Scottish and I I really wanted that doll with the bagpipes and she's in the box. I've [snorts] had her a couple of years, still in the box. Every once in a while I look at her and I think, "Not quite ready." Yeah. [snorts] Maybe I'll get there someday, um but for me, yeah, primarily. And the Francie that you can actually see on the shelf behind me um that I talked about a couple days ago. She's in the box only because it said 4,000 only 4,000 made worldwide. Well, I had like five people on the video comment and say, "Hey, I have one.

37:36I have [laughter] Okay, was it really 4,000 worldwide or were they only here in America or Maybe. Yeah. Maybe maybe geography geographically it was, right? Which I'd love to see that Francie again, but before we get there, you talked about a Scottish doll that you have. Yes. So I don't think I'm going to drop I'm going to drop some some news here for everyone. You and I actually share something in common. You and I actually have some Portuguese roots. Yes. We do. My mother. [laughter] Yes. So I feel the same about my Portuguese Empire doll. She doesn't She's just in a in a empress dress. She's nothing you know, I don't think she's have her out here. Yeah. But I don't think we're out of the box, either. So I'm curious to know has, you know, your Scottish roots, your Portuguese roots, Mhm. does that has that does that play a role in in any of your crafting, whether it's in material or in the dolls you collect? How does you know, how does that does it play a role in your craft and in your content? Well, the um Okay, the the tartan for my my maiden name is MacLeod. It's now my middle name cuz I I sing under MacLeod. Okay. Um that tartan is yellow with black and red shooting through it. So not attract When I had dark hair, I actually really couldn't wear it near my face because it it gave me a sort of a greenish tint. [laughter] Not very Not very pleasant to look at. Um but I really wanted some of it for

38:59my doll. So I have accumulated over time several pieces um that and and Mike Dathan made me last year for one of my repros a beautiful sheath made out of with a little belt and a head scarf made out of the tartan. So that's lovely. Um in terms of the Portuguese, no, she but she was that that doll, the Portuguese princess, Yeah, Empire. was the first of the um doll dolls of and princesses of dolls that I bought. My mother found it for me at a yard sale. She was like, "It's a Portuguese doll. You need that." [laughter] Okay. All right. So she's the one who started it all off. So, those are the two Those are the two ways. Um you know, I think I I grew up in a very uh tight-knit family. There were five of us, but then, you know, cousins, aunts, grandparents, Portuguese festivals, right? All All of that. Um so, I try to I try to uh simulate some of that in the Barbie world. And more when I was doing the dioramas, for sure. Sure. Sure. For sure. Awesome. So, I was just sitting here in front of this white case, and right over here, in front of my closet, I put the table. We move the light so it's not directly in my face. Um so, you can see my husband bought me

40:26hot pink. It's beautiful. Of course. Great hot pink. And so, you know, it's like every crafter, it's a bit of a mess. My iron is over there. Um I have this beautiful I don't know if you can see that. Yes. He's been which what few fabric things I have are are in there, but it's cheek by jowl with one of my original dioramas. Oh, a little kitchen. I love that. Well, this was originally built as a bathroom diorama. Um and so, then I kind of made it into a studio. I said, "Okay, well, I have the mini fridge. It I wanted that in there." Um I'm very fortunate that I keep up my Barbie Not my ring light, but my Barbie Christmas tree? behind there. She stays up all year round. Love it. Christmas year round. Um so, this space is I'm I'm just Part of the reason that we fell in love with this house was that it had space for me. And my husband's a recording engineer, so he's got a studio next door.

41:26Um [snorts] we don't usually have an issue with that, but every once in a while, I'd like, "I need to close the door." There's a lot of music in your life, too. There's a lot of in my life. Yes. So, so in order to get to this Barbie space, we have to walk through what is Well, walk backwards so you can see it. Um is more of a long corridor. So, on this side, I have shelves that have my Kelly collection. Beautiful. Is here, right? The movie stuff. For some reason, the movie stuff needs to stay in the box for me. And I don't know why. I feel the same. I'm not ready yet. Yeah, I'm I'm go I'm I'm going with that, you know. Um And yeah, the the Kellys, all the way down. Beautiful. I do have some of the like um inspiring women. Really like those. I have a few of the Rewind dolls that I dolls. You know, I need to play with them more cuz I the '80s were [snorts] a blur. I was in college through most of it. I just they don't remind me. I didn't dress like that. I don't know anything about that. Right. So, so I need to spend a little more time. Um I see Ella Fitzgerald on your on your Well, of I've actually had several of her. I have I have given her away to students when they um when they graduate.

42:46Um where is it? So, Mattel sent me I think I'm hiding it. Mattel sent me the career of the year last year, which was women in music. Can you see that? Oh, the two-pack. The two Yes. Yep, the two-pack. Women in music, which I thought was really cool. So, I've gifted a couple of my students that because, you know, they're women in music. Yes. music. Um behind me, there are a couple of glass cases. Now, more Kelly up top. Oh, the bathtub. I got And these are These are primarily the Fashionistas. You know, the thing to do was to put them on a Made to Move body, right? That's right. That's right. I have cases I have these two cases, which are This [snorts] one in particular is I love this one.

43:34I don't know if you remember this. I made her into a I was a bride for something. I'm not sure what, but there she is. Was this the the blue hair, the curvy? She Yes. She was a very pale skin, you know. Yes. Yes. Yes. She's lovely. So, these are all composite dolls. Um This is was meant to be my friend Julia, Midge in State Barbie. There's something about Midge, and every time you post Midge, I just fall in love with her more. I've always been a Midge fan, and every time I'm like, "Oh my gosh, you just make her look even more beautiful." I love Midge. Well, Midge is lovely, and I do have a bunch of others on a shelf, but this one um Julia gifted us the glasses Oh, yeah. so that it would really it would really look like her. Yeah. Um I do have a bunch of Raquels on the top shelf because that's my That's my She thinks you're That's you. That's in my face.

44:22Um let's see. Okay. Um these are the Mackies that we were talking about about earlier. Can you see? I do. Um the birthday, but You got the birthday doll there, and look who I've got right there. There you go. Classic. That's fab. Isn't that fabulous? The light behind me is not great. Um so, this is the diorama that started it all. This is my Christmas diorama. Yep. All the little tiny pieces. Um and I don't know if I can get you in there cuz I really can't see what I'm doing. But this is a picture of my mini and Buddy. Buddy. That's the OG picture right there. That's how it all started. Isn't that pretty silly? That's awesome. And then, um the the porch, which, you know, I change for the seasons. This came My husband put it together. It came as a kit [snorts] from a seller in Russia before COVID. It came without instructions.

45:20Packed flat. So, I actually learned about it from Katie, who has an account called Wolverine Land. Katie is an incredible crafter and artist, and she literally on a FaceTime [laughter] walked us through how to put this together. I don't know how She just She's one of those people that can like see LEGOs kits and just do it without instructions, and that's not me. Wow. And so, you know, over time, like it's I have cute little things like my [snorts] my late father was a macrame artist, and he made me macrame holders. That reminds me of all the I had those in my home growing up. Like my parents had a lot of plants around, and they had the This is our dog Lucy, who passed in 2021. Lucy. said, "Okay, we Yeah, there's an artist on Etsy who I sent a picture to." And she said, "I think I mean, she's not quite fat enough."

46:13Lucy had quite the belly [laughter] when she died. But it makes me so happy to you know, and I just change her ribbon. It makes me so happy to see her cute little face there. Um But this is what I mean, you take things and you make it like it's not just dolls. It's it's a a story, whether it's your It becomes a part of my life. Yeah. Yeah, or whether it's a makeup story for like it just you make it like they're not just dolls. They have a personality and a life of their own. It's fantastic. These two um dioramas are are ones that change kind of with the seasons. This was This was one of the first It was the second diorama, I think, that we made because I remember doing the tile, and I was really bad at it. But it's um it weighs a ton. So, when we were moving, that was an issue. Um but, you know, I put some smaller things in there.

47:01This piano was a gift this Christmas. How cute is that? That is so adorable. You've got so many little Even that Andy Warhol picture there you've got on the wall of Barbie. Like that small like just the miniatures you have is is fantastic. Well, that was a That was a gift at convention from my friend Holly. And this was a This bar cart was actually a convention gift from convention. Let me see if I can get a better picture. There you go. Um Ooh. So, it's got a tray that says Barbie. Uh I keep the little Christmas tree on there cuz I forgot to put it away, but it's actually really solidly built. The casters work. Like some of these convention gifts are outstanding. Really beautiful. And I like to find a place to put it because it's so it's so charming, you know. You don't Anyway, and it's Barbie. It's Barbie. It is.

47:55My Some of my favorite dolls I'm going to open the cabinet are here. Our son is a Chinese language and culture major. And so, to honor that, I started collecting all of the Chinese dolls that Well, hi. She's the only one. I was just going to say we uh we just had Chinese New Year, but that was actually a month ago at this point. Right. The Lunar New Year. Yes. Yeah, that That was a while ago. This is the This is the new doll from It's beautiful. from that. But, you know, over the years, I've just kind of tried to find I mean, I don't know if anybody remembers this from a few years ago. Look at the quality of that. I love the blue color. Like it's just I'm not saying like red is obviously, you know, expected, but the blue with the gold, beautiful. Yeah, it was it was stunning. And um one of the last times I think where we got really quality fabric. You know, the fabric is really brocaded, and um instead of printed on.

48:54Yes. You know, which which is which is what we have now. Uh this one is um is probably my favorite because she comes with the red envelope. Ooh. So sweet, and her hair is absolutely stunning. Oh my god, that is beautiful. All these little tiny pieces that Yeah. So, it helps um I I like being able to if I'm going to collect them and keep them in a case, it's kind of nice that they they mean something. The rest of the dolls down here are my Dolls of the World. Yeah, I see them. And over here are some more of my vintage dolls. Oh, this is the doll I was talking about earlier with the McCloud tartan. Beautiful. Yeah. Wow. Yeah, Mike does an amazing job.

49:42And I miss America. I I think I saw a a Hudson's Bay Barbie, so let's go to Canada. There she is. That was a convention. That was a convention find. Um Okay. And also there is a There is a woman, uh Demeatha does dolls, who is a furrier. And when my mother-in-law died, I had her black llama mink coat. And I reached out to Demeatha and I said her name is Stacey and I said, Stacey, would you would you like this? I'd like to donate it to you because I'd like to think that dolls other dolls may be able to wear it. And so she took the coat. She made me this incredible full length version with a hat and a muff and um those are the kind of connections that you make on Instagram that I that I really love. And you're also honoring a bit of your mother-in-law there, right? The the the lining in the coat has her um has her monogram on it. More of the Christmas dolls because, you know, I know. I just love I just love them. I see the redhead. I see that beautiful redhead.

50:52This one? Let me see. I can't see anymore. Okay, sorry. Yes, right there next to Mariah to the Mariah's right unless it's flipped. Yep. So this is the doll from two Christmases ago that I love the tartan is so beautiful. I also have her here in two other ways. Uh Wow. Isn't that funny? And I one of the few dolls that I have in the box. She's gorgeous. I've been I've got my eye on her on eBay, but she's expensive and the shipping to Canada is just us poor Canadians. I don't want to I know. I know. I'm always like sobbing like us Canadians, but she's beautiful. That's a beautiful collection, Beth. So I wanted to talk a little bit about like trends in collecting. How would you describe the Barbie community and maybe over the last few years or I mean you're talking 10 years on Instagram in terms of if there's any like if from a positive perspective, but there's also there's the negative side of it. How do you find or how do you handle any sort of negative feedback you may be getting from the Barbie community or anybody in your personal life? Yeah, okay. So I have never had anyone in my in my personal life say, ew. [laughter] I think um I think they want me to be happy and the fact that it's a positive thing that, you know,

52:13is good for my mental health. There there's never been an issue with that. There are some trends though that I'm seeing in the community that I that I really don't like because I don't think it's part of of who we are. With the advent of content creators has come um a lot of negativity which I find just really distressing because I I don't That's not why I'm here. Um every once in a while I'll get a negative comment on an account and everybody curates their account. Like we you know, we understand that. Everybody gets to get rid of what they don't like, right? You can you can erase it from your account and never see it again. Um But I like to use those as learning opportunities because I think that there are a lot of young people that are on Instagram now who don't necessarily understand that when they say things that are negative, it is inappropriate.

53:18I It It makes me very unhappy to see a lot of the negativity that's happening. So I try when those things happen to to reach out to the person in person and say, hey, that's not the way we talk to here and if you're new here, you you should know that. And if you're not new here, then you should also know that this is not an acceptable way to talk to another person. Sometimes I get somebody who writes back one time I got a write back that said, I'm sorry, I'm 10 years old. Maybe you weren't, maybe they weren't. I don't know, but I I'm a teacher, so it's really hard for me to just Yeah, that makes sense.

54:03That makes sense especially as you're a teacher. And there are people for whom content creation is their job. So you know, that's that's what they need to do and I I fully support that. Um you know, I've been really fortunate that Mattel has invited me to toy fair that there have been opportunities where they've sent me what's called PR, you know, the the all the things that they send. It's really lovely, but this is not how I make my living. So I want to continue to have it be a space that is kind and loving. And I think that's what Barbie would want. Yes, and you do a fantastic job of it and like I've always just been like someone who just says like, you know, this is our our accounts are Barbie accounts. If you're not a Barbie fan, then you have the option to not That's the beauty of social media. Like if you're not a fan of a specific politician or actor, then don't follow their stuff. Like it's that simple, right? Keep going. Just keep going. If it's cringe for you, I'm I am sorry, but just keep going. You know, it It seems like Well, I just I'm not going to indulge that that behavior, so so I don't.

55:13As a frequent convention attendee, I'm going to I know you said you've been four times, but that's frequent in my books. Any feedback on the latest Dream Fest event? Oh. I'm going to be honest, me and a actually a good friend of mine, 80s Barbie Girl, we were going to go. We were planning on going and something happened where we're like, you know what? It's kind of It's the first year. Maybe let's just see how this goes. Yeah. And I'm not here I'm not here to talk negatively about anything, but I've seen the Dream Fest in Amsterdam and it was like, wow, I want to go to something like that. Yeah, that was not what this is. So So actually two members of the doll club that I run here went and and it was very disappointing for them and I'm sure that Mattel wasn't happy about it either. Of course Barbie want we everybody wants Barbie to be a wonderful experience. Um So I think it's a great idea that they are refunding people's tickets. If people are really feeling uncomfortable or negative about it, that's the best.

56:15And of course these two women are fantastic, so they were like, well, we're in Florida, you know, from Massachusetts where it's cold and rainy. And so they went to the pool and they did the Barbie things that they could and they both won Somebody answered a trivia question. One of them answered a trivia question and they had a good time meeting other people. So there were a lot of positives. But I think in a time in the world where not everyone has a lot of spare money laying around that something like this that was very expensive, they could have done better. So I and I think they're acknowledging that, too. So So who knows whether there will be a next one. Um You know, I do think it's a great idea to reach out to a another generation of Barbie, right?

57:05If you go to convention, you'll see that a lot of the people are are my age or even a lot older, right? There are not a lot of younger collectors. Something like this where there were children, I think, okay, that's not bad. We we need everybody in the Barbie community. It's just a shame that it wasn't that it wasn't done better. And personally, I think the venue was just really oversized for what what was there and so of course that makes it look worse and horrible. You know, I did see a lot of people make you know, they're going to make the best of it. They're in Florida and they're going to people were being positive about it. I do feel like the venue I was like, wow, that's a great space. Just it wasn't being used, [laughter] right? It was a beautiful space and I do someone like myself who has never been to convention, I thought, you know, this is still expensive, but it's I could maybe afford this. So this is my way to go, right? And so I think they're handling it very well in terms of the refunds. They're being you know, they're doing the right thing and I would love to see them still try. You know, maybe let's maybe put some more effort maybe two, three years down the line try it again and and and like cuz I think there there could be potential. Yeah, we'll we'll see what Mattel has to say about that after after this, yeah. Yeah, I I thought about it. I thought, well, if I couldn't go to convention this year,

58:25this would be another thing that would be fun, but but I am fortunate to be able to see because we have monthly club meetings in person. I am able to see people that I really love. So it's less of a need and more more of a want. So we'll see. We will see. Time will tell, right? You're very humble, but I actually want to ask you, what do you think it is about your account or your content that makes people feel like connected to you? [snorts] Oh, wow. I got a lot of questions, [laughter] Sherbet. Well, yeah, some of it right now I think is I've always promised to be real on the account. And so while I do keep it positive, I am not toxically positive. I think that, you know, acknowledging that the world is hard right now.

59:15If you were following me last summer, you saw me growing food and canning food and going through you know, I had an issue with my singing voice and like I bring my life into the doll and right now I think people need that kind of realness. I think we're getting away from you know life of lifestyles of the rich and famous and more about you know what are people like like me doing and I do actually think that Barbie is a place of love and joy and I do want to remind remind people of that because I too find that doom scrolling can um take over my life. So I do try to bring a positive spin and sometimes have fun with it. Like some of these reels are silly.

1:00:03They're just silly cuz that's what's fun and if I feel like taking photos I'll take photos and if I don't then I I won't. It is a space that I get to control. That's right. And and so um so I'm not sure that that's what it is but in the beginning like I would actually I would write the date Tuesday January 21st and you know here's what I'm thinking about today. So it really was like a diary and then with convention that opened it up to even more people that are that just want to experience that and then when Mattel took notice and started sending things that was something else. I just really try to I do try to be humble because I think I'm I love what I do and I I really do want to whenever I forget why I'm here on Instagram I I go back and I read my bio and then I remind myself okay right I am not a content creator. I am somebody who is here to enjoy and to have fun and and and spread that. So I'm hoping that's what it is.

1:01:11If it's something else let me know. No I was just going to say you hit the nail on the head there. I mean you're very raw with your content you get [clears throat] personal you poke fun at yourself sometimes right and you just kind of have a laugh about it and that's what makes it that's exactly it and it doesn't feel like your content creating it just feels like you're sharing your life. Yeah. As someone who's been on Instagram years now what advice would you give to someone who's starting a Barbie account today? Well I would suggest that you figure out what you want to do who you want to be you know are you like me are you somebody who wants to just share their love of Barbie then state that are you somebody who really wants to connect with people who also love Barbie state that are you somebody who's interested in only collecting from 1959 to 1970 state that right like just know who you are and then don't be afraid to change if you are exposed to other things.

1:02:06It is not at all another job for me. All along through my whole 10 years people have said why don't you write a book? How about a calendar? Like for a while there was some one person in particular who was like every year where's the calendar cuz you post every day you could do a where is the calendar? Nope. How come you don't sell the clothes that you make? Nope because I it's not a job for me. It is a joy and it is when you put money on that it becomes something else. So I would just suggest you be really honest with yourself and if it's because you want to become a content creator then you have to know that that's a lot of work you know cuz it's a job. It's a job editing all the stuff and you know what I feel like we need to quote that. This is a Beth quote that when it comes to Barbie and Barbie love it's not a job it's a joy. I like that. Okay I'll put that in my bio when I revise my bio. You got to do that you got to trademark that so nobody takes it. You heard it here on Barbie Talk first. [laughter] So I'd love to end off with maybe another doll that's really near and dear to you you know something that or maybe a one of a kind or I know you've showed us a lot. I don't have a any one of a kind isn't that lovely but I do have something that's really special which is

1:03:26my number five right and I she came So this is how I know that I'm Barbie is meant to be in my life you know because I I know a lot of people I have a lot of students and their families. This was somebody who reached out to me on Facebook and said I have my mother's dolls and I don't know what to do with them and they were in a bag and on top was this was this doll and I didn't even know because I wasn't collecting vintage at that time so I reached out to Mike Dawson and I'm like do I want this doll and he's like you want that doll get that doll home. [laughter] So she was but she was in kind of rough shape right so I had her repainted so that she looks closer to her original including her little like fingernails and at the last doll show I was at a couple of months ago January I found the outfit which is complete right and I said okay so so she is you know she is special because she kind of started the look at the quality of this right I was looking at the clothing in a different way and so so she's these are my this is my case of like lovely's my Bob Mackie dolls are here.

1:04:42See that. I mean they're just all so they're so glorious. The first one of his that I got was goddess of the moon Goddess of the moon yeah I noticed that. Yeah she's so beautiful and my my goddaughter the same one that got me here on Instagram was at an estate sale and she wrote me and she's like Auntie Beth this doll is 50 bucks do you want it? You were like yes. Yes [laughter] yes yes I do and you know if you've never seen one like when people whenever people come up here for the first time and I show them these dolls they're like what? What? You know that these are hand beaded and you know everything is just exquisite it sparkles in the light like these are the dolls that if your mother had said leave it in the box you probably be like yeah yeah you're right leave it in the box. Like this these are almost they feel they have the feel of one of a kind dolls now. Yes yes. Well they just don't make them like they used to Beth right? [laughter] I know I didn't want to say that but it but it's true. I said it for you it's all good. Yeah they are and these are the dolls that I'm looking for at on Facebook Marketplace at doll shows. People are not collecting these dolls right now. So so this doll that in you know 1997 sold for $200

1:06:02I bought for $50. You know it's it's a shame but I'm again not buying it to sell just buying it so So those are my two loves and and it's amazing the reaction of people um so you know we have we live in a historic home and the town we live in is having its 300th anniversary in October and so I had a committee from come and take a look at the house and make sure we were they wanted us to be on the historic home tour but you know the historical society has to come and check you out. Okay so they came and well we're not going to show the upstairs that's where all the personal things are when I brought these women into this room they were all like [groaning] [laughter] They just literally could not even breathe seeing that you know the beauty that that we just need [laughter] we just need right now. They were they were so kind and of course you know we're we're just caretakers of this house. A house that's been here 300 years will live another 300 years if you if you take care of it and so having these beautiful dolls up here makes sense to me and whenever people see them they're just like how is it that we're able to own something so gorgeous.

1:07:18So Yeah. She's one of my faves. So this is the first is the Francie repro that I put on a petite made to move body and made her this cute little dress right and she's wearing the Francie shoes and you know she has beautiful soft hair you know really really charming. Um again when when the Barbie movie came out you know everyone had to have a mini me right when they went and I went with my bestie and I bought her one of these Francie repros and then I made sweater t-shirts one for me that was and for her that said Barbie the movie right but then I I had them made for the doll. Oh that's So we just have you know like when we both die that's going to be one of the pictures [laughter] cuz we had so much fun it was so that's so that's the repro this is this is my original Francie. Let me take take a well this is this is because again you know Mike Dawson is the hair guru as well as the sewing guru but he's the one who redid her hair for me. Now because I'm lucky and I have really wonderful friends at convention last year Debbie Jones who is Jones for Dolly's she grabbed my hand and she said I found your Francie.

1:08:33We got to here here she is. So this is this is Mike's contraption for keeping her flip in in pristine in pristine order but um Oh look at that flip. Right I mean the flip is the flip is flipping. This this little piece right here there we go that's better. Oh my goodness. She's darling in a in a mommy made dress not by me. Okay I was just going to say that dress is adorable too. So she's she's an original. I have another that has green face and and that's why I bought this one my cousin that I told you gave me the doll had the green face and I worked so hard to try to get the green face off and it was from the earrings bleeding but I couldn't do it and so Debbie Jones said we're going to find you a doll at convention you can never fix really fix the green face I'm going to find it for you. So the minute the sales room opened she grabbed my hand and she's like I found your Francie doll. And here she is. Okay, so there's that and here let me take the plastic off so we can really see it. Here is the uh 50th anniversary Francie. I know, she's she's glorious.

1:09:41You know, she is beautiful and all these little details like the little tiara there. Sophie The little loving cup, right? Her um I think she's got on blue shoes, yes. Look at that. Oh my goodness, those are precious. Isn't that sweet? No, yeah. And um you just always get me with something cuz I was never really like a vintage collector. I'm not really into Francie and now I'm like, oh damn that's cute. She's cute. You know, and there's something about those There's something about those vintage fashions like you were saying like they just they don't Again, they don't make them like they used to. Like the clasps and the buttons and the zippers. Oh, yeah. Yeah. On a in another time, I I will show you the pieces that came in the case from my from my cousin. The little tiny zippers, the the tights. These are These are original tights.

1:10:30And shoes. Just um you know, they they they kind of don't make them like they used to. Anyway, this is the Francie 50th anniversary that apparently there are only 4,000 made worldwide although now I have four friends who who have them. It says made What's that though? No more than 4,000 made worldwide. Anyway, the the box is a mess but we don't care cuz we we love her and at some point I'll have a really desperate day and I'll take her out. And it's like you said, you don't need a reason. Like the box is damaged, that's usually somebody's excuse to be like, oh I'm going to take her out of the box cuz the box is in poor condition. Well, and also she's not this was not a deluxe background, you know? She she does look like she's tied in if you look at her feet, you know? So, I think you know, probably there were only 4,000 made worldwide and and why should she sit in the box? She's going to get played with but not today.

1:11:25And she can still be displayed, right? You can like you said, you can open her up. She's still on the shelf. [laughter] She's not you know, covered or anything by that nature. First of all, thank you so much You're welcome. It was an absolute honor to have you here. fun. Uh I look up to you in terms of everything you do for the doll community. Thank you for your contribution, everything that you do. Um I hope you know that that you really do play a big role in the doll community at least in you know, I think in a lot of people's eyes. And what I just love about the Barbie community is how differently everyone expresses their creativity. Yes. You are a perfect example of that. You really are. I think that's why so many people not don't just adore your content but you. You really do shine. You're always smiling. You're encouraging [laughter] You're constantly spewing kindness and like I said, even poking some fun at yourself.

1:12:10Uh your creativity is great but I think it's the personality behind the screen like I said before. Um so, I'm going to steal your line for a second. Okay. Those of you who don't know and are living under a rock, but Beth will always end with stay safe and know that you are loved. So, since this is my podcast, I'm going to say to you Beth [laughter] stay safe and know that you are loved. That's lovely. Thank you so much. This was such a joy to be able to share my small corner of Barbie land with other people. I really enjoy sharing that and spreading that love. So, I appreciate you giving me the opportunity. Absolutely. Kisses from Canada. Thank you so much. All the best. Yay! Bye. Bye. It's amazing how one doll can tell so many stories and bring a little bit of imagination back into everyday life. Make sure to like, subscribe and hit that notification bell if you love all things Barbie. [music] Thanks for watching.