Project Runway, Barbie style!

I spent much of my childhood with Annie.  From toddler-hood onward, we were inseparable.  We invented games, shared secrets, and grew up together.  We wanted to be artists when we grew up.  We loved our Barbie dolls, but we didn't play with them in the same way as many others. Our Barbie time was spent designing and making clothes for our beloved 1st generation Barbie dolls. 

Decades later, as adults, we live on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean.  When Annie told me she would be visiting stateside, we decided we needed to have an art-making play-date.  I had shared with her a video I found on Pinterest, showing ways to make some easy Barbie clothes.  I currently own two Barbie dolls; one is an art teacher Barbie I received as a retirement gift, and the other was sent to me on my birthday a year or two ago by Annie herself!  So I suggested we spent our play-date making Barbie clothes and she instantly agreed.  So, here we are, above, loaded up with fabric scraps, hot glue, ribbon, and balloons, in the midst of creating!  (What, balloons??? Yup. On the Pinterest link, balloons were cut to create sort of a leotard, and then an easy method was used to make a tutu.  So we started with balloons.) 

 As you can see above, evidently our balloons were either a different size than the ones in the video, or we did something desperately wrong.  They should have fit like Spanx or leotards, but they did not.  We used the cut-off top of the balloon to cinch in the waists. 

You should also note the difference between the two Barbies.  On the left above, in green, is friendly smiling Art Teacher Barbie, who I have nicknamed Babs, a 2002 version of the doll.  I picture her as being a loving and competent teacher.  On the right, the blonde, is vintage 1959 Original Barbie.  She wears much harsher makeup, and wears a snooty condescending facial expression.  We decided she wanted us to call her Barbara.  I am not sure Barbara and Babs would get along.  Besides their faces, their bodies are also different.  1959 Barbie has a larger, pointier chest, wider shoulders, and a narrower waist, but 2002 Barbie has a larger bottom, wider hips, and a slightly more natural tummy.   Hmmm.   

 Annie used a different balloon, and added ribbon trim to create this adorable look below.

We both tried making tutus the way showed in the video, but it didn't work well, and Annie ended up converting hers into a sort of peplum or poof over a longer elegant skirt.  I gave up on the tutu and the balloon and created a fancy dress with a circle skirt and simple top attached, worn with a sparkly stole. 

Then we each made a second outfit - I started out making a multicolored knit skirt, but it turned into the dress on the left when I couldn't make it fit right.  Annie made an elegant golden strapless gown, reminiscent of the sparkly black gowns we got with our childhood Barbies and their black and white striped bathing suits.  

Barbara is very elegant and this sophisticated look suits her, but Babs seems more casual. So I am attempting to make her an overall style dress, below.  However, we ran out of time, and the men were getting impatient for food.  Plus, with a drive of an hour and a half through the middle of nowhere, my husband and I wanted to be on our way before dark.  So Annie and I are already planning for another day making Barbie clothes next year!!  In the meantime, I'm thinking it would be fun to do Project Runway-style challenges making clothing for Barbie.  Wanna play??

 And finally, here we are, lifelong friends, then and now.  

I'm SO excited! Best gift. EVER.

It doesn't get any better than this.

So, here's the story. At my recent state art teachers' conference, I had a wonderful Saturday night. It all began at the before-dinner cocktail reception, when we started chatting with fellow blogger Jen. She introduced me to a coworker/friend, and she and I hit it off when we discovered that for a couple of years, a LONG time ago (early 1970's), we were both students at SUNY New Paltz. New Paltz, in those days, was a little slice of hippie heaven, and for those of us who were there at that time, it was a unique experience, something we'll remember forever. A hint of that era - these were my education texts: Teaching as a Subversive Activity (I'm not kidding); Sexism in American Education: And Jill Came Tumbling After ; The Open Classroom; and, of course, Viktor Lowenfeld's Creative and Mental Growth. And some strange little art crit book. Anyhow, we had a lot to reminisce about and share about our time in New Paltz.

Anyhow, after cocktails we headed to the award banquet, and the conversation continued. As the awards started, I recalled a time, probably 8 or 9 years ago, when the annual gift for the Art Teacher of the Year was an Art Teacher Barbie. I always wanted one, but I knew this was an award I'd never get. I drooled whenever they handed out the big prize. You see, I grew up playing Barbies, but it seems my mom had ditched them all (vintage Barbies!) when I was in college. At one point I even checked them out in a store and decided that, 1) I shouldn't buy it for myself, and 2) they always were blonde. I even tried telling my husband and son that I wanted one for a gift, but I think they thought I was kidding. I WAS NOT.

The conversation continued into the party AFTER the banquet, and it was a fabulous fun night, filled with laughter and in particular, one kindred spirit of a new friend. I shared that I was retiring, but that I expected to continue to attend the conference since it is always a highlight of my year. My new friend said she wanted to send me a gift, and asked for my address.

And there it was, in the mail today! Not a new purchase, but something she has had, evidently for years, not just Art Teacher Barbie, but Barbie AND her sister Kelly, still in the box, apparently never opened, both brunette, like I was until my hair turned silver. And my new friend wants ME to have this!! I'm honored, and humbled. I mean, she's had this wonderful thing all these years, and she met me ONE NIGHT and sent me this TREASURE?? I'm and totally thrilled, and can't imagine a more wonderful gift.

By the way, I've looked online, and it is apparently a 2002 version of the doll. A more recent version has Barbie in a smock with an easel and a palette. MY Barbie (in the picture at the top of this post) comes with a stool and a drawing desk and some art materials, and is dressed a little strangely for our messy job (what, no apron?!!), but, heck, she'll be coming out of the box and I promise I will make her some new clothes. Seriously.

I'll post again, I promise, and will show you my Barbie's new look when it is complete.