It's still October..., but Happy New Year!

If you are a member of the Barbie Fan Club on Barbie Collector mark your calendar for October 9th.  The next Holiday Hostess will be available for $75.00.  I'm excited about this doll.  I was able to see the doll in person at the 2013 Barbie Convention and I was able to snap a few pictures.  I love her vintage look and gold dress with blue accents with the crown, makeup and jewelry.  Bill Greening has done it again!

Happy New Year™ Barbie® Doll | Barbie Collector

See More pics on Flickr!

Haunted Beauty Vampire Barbie Doll by Barbie Collector

Now here is a Barbie I've been waiting for. If you were a fan of last year's Haunted Beauty, The Ghost Barbie, then here is another amazing gothy-looking Barbie. I was fortunate enough to see Bill Greening's OOAK from the 2013 Barbie Convention and we were told that the Haunted Beauty Vampire would be a similar doll. She really does not disappoint. I love dolls in all black but I love the red accents and the cape this doll comes with. Here is a first look from Barbie Collector.

Video: Barbie Collector Designer Interview with Bill Greening

Enjoy the latest video from Barbie Collector:  Designer Interview with Bill Greening!  Be sure to look for the sneaks of the 50th Anniversary Skipper and the next Holiday Hostess new year Barbie!

More updates, and more regular updates coming soon! 

Yes, Virginia, There Will Be a Hunger Games Barbie!

Yes, the rumors are true!  Mattel confirmed that there will be  Katniss Barbie for sale soon!  Bill Greening also confirmed the news on his Facebook page Friday.  Hopefully that means that Bill G is the designer!  The Reuters news release does not really give many details but I suspect the price point will be 29.99 to 34.99.  Hopefully Katniss will come with her own face mold modeled after actress Jennifer Lawrence, but I am not getting my hopes up.  The Tango mold might be a great choice but the Goddess or Kayla/Lea mold could also work as well for Katniss.  Take a look at the various molds.  What do you think?  Either way, Katniss Barbie would be a good way to make use of a mold other than the Mackie or Generation Girl molds used for Bella from Twilight and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.  The Hunger Games franchise looks like it will be worth millions.  It's no wonder that Mattel decided that a Hunger Games Barbie would be part of the action.  I have not read the books or seen the movie but if this is a Barbie doll that I like I would consider buying her.  With the legions of Hunger Games fans this doll may be a big hit!

In other news, I ran across this article today and must admit I don't think I've ever heard about Charlotte Buettenback Johnson and her role in Barbie history.  Enjoy!

Halloween Haunt Coming This Fall

Here is a doll I am excited about. I like the vintage look with the modern styling. She is much cuter than the upcoming Dracula Mackie doll.  I cannot post pictures but if you are a Barbie Fan Club member you can take a look at the recent sneaks.  This cutie is much more up my ally.  What do you think?  She is a Bill Greening Barbie.

 Halloween Haunt Barbie

I hope her production issue is similar to the prototype shown here.  I think she would look great paired with the vintage Bewitched Barbie.  I missed out on this one but there is always ebay!

Beautiful Pop Life Christie

Originally uploaded by *~. Mar .~*

I just received my beautiful Pop Life Barbie dolls. I found this beautiful picture of Christie and I hope you enjoy her!

Batgirl By Bill Greening

Many thanks forum member JerricaBenton for taking some pictures of the great new Batgirl doll. She is the creation of designer Bill Greening. Jerrica reports: For those of you looking to redress, please note her gloves (over the fingers) are painted on and she is sewn into her outfit. Her mask is also stuck to her face. It appears to be stuck with double stick tape. So far, this doll is widely available. She has been spotted at TRU and is available online. I wouldn't wait too long if you want this doll or any of the other Super Hero dolls set for release. They are always collector favorites.

New 2009 Dolls Announced

We interrupt our Barbie and The Diamond Castle coverage today to report on the new dolls announced by Mattel. They have announced the several new dolls in the Barbie Fashion Model Collection (Silkstone). What is interesting about the Silkstones for 2009 is that they will feature homages to vintage Barbies. There will also be an African American doll in the collection! There will also be a special 50th Anniversary doll designed by Robert Best. She will have a golden ball gown and is very regal. The My Favorite Barbie® Doll Collection will bring you the most beloved and iconic Barbies reproduced for her 50th anniversary. These dolls were designed by Bill Greening. The Dolls of the World Collection is back with four new offerings designed by Linda Kyaw. Other repro dolls to be produced will be Julia and Becky! That gift set features two extra outfits. A doll that was announced several months ago is the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Barbie. Photographs of her have finally been released. She has articulated arms and ballerina pointed feet. Finally for Model Muse lovers there is a set of 3 Corvette Barbie dolls with two straight arms and a Mackie face. There is a pink, yellow and red version with white painted on gloves. There are a few pictures and a lot more information at My Favorite Doll and Vogue 41.

I had the opportunity to see some of these dolls in the production stage several months ago. You will not be disappointed by the beauty and variety in the 2009 line! Go Barbie, 50 more very happy birthdays!

Tarina is just so fab!

I got to see this doll in person in April (that's another long story) but I just don't remember her being this beautiful. Tarina arrived on Tuesday but I was so busy to open her. She came wrapped beautifully in pink from Pink Ponytail! This was one doll I immediately de-boxed. Usually that's a big chore for me but I couldn't help it. This is one beautiful, classy, and super precious Barbie. I don't think I could buy just one . . .

Brunette Cowgirl

The last doll in our Convention Week spectacular is brunette Dallas Darlin. I've really had to restrain myself from de-boxing this gal. I could just picture her dressed in amazing vintage outfits or mod like clothes. Every so often I scan ebay for a cheap one so I can have an extra to redress. Until then, I must enjoy her in all her boxed glory!

Convention Helpers' Special Gift

For the first time in 2006 Mattel produced three dolls for the Barbie Collector Convention. Each convention goer typically gets to pick either an African American doll or a Caucasian doll. In 2006 there was a special blond version of the convention doll. The blond version was available to purchase if you won the lottery at the table. Each member at the table picked a number between one and ten. I picked two. The number two was announced. I couldn't believe it! I won the opportunity to purchase the blond Film Noir convention doll (see picture below). If the person with the number two did not want to purchase her a second number was called and that person won the opportunity to purchase the doll.

In 2007 there were also three dolls produced. The difference in 2007 was that the blond Dallas Darlin was given out as a gift to convention helpers. I believe that these dolls were given out to the convention committee and possibly table hostesses. I purchased mine later on ebay!

Denim to Diamonds - 2007 Barbie Convention

The 2007 Barbie Convention was a grand affair held in Dallas, Texas. I travelled to Dallas once and I found it a super amazing cosmopolitan city with a great down home feel. I'm sure all the attendees had a wonderful time. There are many great pictures of this convention online. You should take the time to look them up. The convention doll for 2007 was designed by Mattel designer Bill Greening (yay Bill). I became very enamoured by these dolls for a few reasons. They are the first convention dolls with the model muse sculpt. They also feature the TNT head mold. Additionally, these dolls have a sassy red gown with a cowboy hat. Perfect for a Texas style soiree.

Here is the African American version of the convention doll. She was limited to only 250 dolls and is a Platinum Level collector doll.

Back to Business!

Thanks to all the members that have returned to the forum. I still have to email several more people but I left my flash drive at work and don't have access to the email list for now. I hope to alert everyone by email soon of the forum opening.

I got some of the dolls I ordered today. Kate Spade is so incredible. I just can't bring myself to de-box her for now. I've admired her for so long that it's strange to actually have her in my hands. She was worth every penny. I also stopped by Walmart to pick up the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader AA doll. I really like her deep chocolate skin tone. Very nice contrast to her white outfit. I'll have to de-box all three girls soon for a photo shoot.

Bill Greening, Barbie Collector line designer, reported on the BC.com BB that the Vidal Sassoon Barbies were very much under wraps. They were not part of the collector design team but were designed by a Fashion Fever designer! Mattel is still working out plans for the 09 collection and dolls of this type will definitely be considered. Count me in! I'll take two of each please!

Sale Alert: Toys R Us in the US has all their Barbies marked down. Click here for the playline dolls and here for the Collector Dolls. I cancelled my Hello Kitty Apple Tree pre-order and picked one up at the sale price. I also ordered E! Live on the Red Carpet, The Interview, and Tout De Suite. The new Silkstone Preferably Pink Barbie Doll is on sale but I really don't need another blond girl in a suit so even though she's on sale I'm passing. There are many other bargains like the Dolls of the World and Vintage Repros. Check them out!