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Showing posts with the label Barbie

Throwback Thursday - Sunshine Family Dolls

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Mattel's Sunshine Family Dolls were a popular fashion doll line in the 1970's. They were considered a bit of a hippy family and some even called them anti-Barbie because they were so wholesome and plain compared to her.   The Sunshine family cooked from scratch, made pottery and art and probably sang around a campfire.  The Baby was called Sweets, Mom Steffie, dad Steve, and Grandpa & Grandma Sunshine. The first video below from the Denver Miniature museum is a great visual explainer and shows the playsets.  I had the craft store when I was a kid. My mom made me tiny candles and fabric bolts for it. This commercial is from 1974 This is a cute video of one of the Sunshine craft booklets. Free Sunshine Family Clothes pattern   - From Chellywood doll blog 

Miniature Finds at the Dollar Store

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 Updated 3/16/22 This bamboo utensil tray/organizer is my favourite find.  It makes the perfect shelf for Barbie and it fits the Zuru Mini Brands very well.  I haven't tried it in a 1:12 setting yet but it does have possibilities.  Found these adorable little pinwheels at the dollar store in the party section. They are made by Wilton for cupcakes. So sweet but I think I might add some bright colours to some. They are a little too pale for me.  I remember getting these at the hardware store when I was a kid. It was always one of the first signs of #spring when pails of shiny #pinwheels went on display outside.  The bright colours caught your eye whirling in the wind. Found this toilet and the dog crate in the candy section. I have been trying to make a toilet out of clay but its not going so well. I'm going to try to spray paint it a nice shiny white.   The crate and the puppy is adorable. I don't remember if there were other breeds or colours so I'll check on my next vi

Happy 63rd Birthday Barbie!

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 Happy 63rd Birthday to Barbie. Born on March 9, 1959 ( the day she debuted at the International Toy Fair in NY City.) The first commercial aired the same year during The Mickey Mouse Club Click here to find out which Barbie was popular the year you were born . - From Good Housekeeping. Mine was Malibu Barbie :) 

Easter and Spring Miniature Printables and Tutorials

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Hello Friends!, I'm so happy that the first official day of spring is just over two weeks away.  This feels like its been the longest winter ever and I'm excited about getting back to gardening and more outdoor activities.  What is your favourite thing about spring? This is also the time I start thinking about outdoor Mini displays, Fairy Gardens and dollhouse spring cleaning and makeovers. I don't know about you but my dollhouses get just as messy as my real one.  I like to browse the internet and social media for new ideas and of course spring printables. Here are some of the ones I've come across so far.  Easter Printables in Half Scale - From Paper Crafts blog  Easter Printables -   From Blossom Friends   Easter House Printies - From Nwabisa's Little things  Petting Zoo Spring and Bunny party - From Mimi's Dollhouse 1:6 Scale Easter Printies - From Suni Doll - The bunny table setting is adorable!! An Easter Peddlers cart A mini Easter Box 5 Polymer clay

Popsicle Stick Floor in Barbie 1:6 scale

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I recently made my first miniature floor out of popsicle sticks.  A ton of mistakes were made and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Some of those tutorial videos make it look so easy. I used the larger size sticks, the ones that are more like the tongue depressors. I used regular craft scissors to cut the ends but I think heavy duty ones would have been better. Maybe ones to cut leather?  The sticks can break very easy when you cut them. I've seen videos where the whole pile of sticks is cut at once with a band saw. Maybe Santa will bring me one next year, Haha! I sanded the ends but not perfectly. The next floor I might take my time and do a nice job.  The large emery board/nail files make great sandpaper for minis if you don't already know. I find them so much easier to use than regular sandpaper and they are great for getting in tiny spots. I made the base from a piece of scrap wood that came as support packaging with a piece of furniture I had delivered. On th

Welcome

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 Welcome to my Mini blog.  My name is Suzy and I have been involved with miniatures off and on for more than 40 years. I make miniature food and sell them through my eBay store Redwood Retro but I also have a photo business and have recently discovered the awesome world of Doll and Diorama photography.