Still Having Fun with Basics Collection 2.0

Barbie Basics Collection 2
Originally uploaded by The Doll Cafe

I just recently went "Pro" on my Flickr account and have had tons of fun posting pictures of the Barbie Basics Collection 2. I was lucky enough to find all of them at Walmart and Target a few weeks ago and I just completed my collection with the Louboutin Model No. 14. This collection has something for everyone. With the variety of facemolds and the addition of the Ken Basics this collection is a real winner. Barbie Designer Bill Greening posted on the Barbie Collector board that there will be a collection 2.5 and this collection will have some articulation! The dolls in the collection have not yet been revealed. It seems like this will be a mini collection until there is another full collection! Exciting!

I'm Back and Ximena says hello!

Yes, The Doll Cafe Blog returns, actually we didn't go anywhere! Most of the activity here has taken place on several different platforms lately. Of course you can always participate at our super fun and informative Forum. For those of you on Facebook, I post there nearly every day, either some Barbie news stories or pictures of my fave dolls. Please join us there! For quick updates, news and stories, our Twitter page is also updated nearly every day! Be sure to follow us on Twitter since we will be live tweeting from the Barbie Convention once again! With less than a month until the National Barbie Doll Convention, you will not want to miss out on the fun!

We have been working quite a bit to update our Gallery. If you have not been there lately, please check it out. Most of our pictures are by members of the forum. They are amazing works of art. Please be sure to register and post comments and vote to make your favorite picture the most popular! On that note, today's featured photo is by forum member souverignofsilence. She is a beautiful Teresa doll named Ximena. Aren't the colors brilliant? If you like this pic see more here!

Thanks for your support and check back for more regular posts!

Barbie Doll and Fashion T-Shirt Giftsets

There are some new giftsets available featuring Barbie and a matching girls size t-shirt. Some of the forum members have found these dolls overseas. Now they are available at the Barbie Collector shop for the great deal of 3 for $25. The total is just over $30 with shipping. Please use the Barbie Collector links here on this page to order them. The first pictures are courtesy of member sayako1975 . She obtained the dolls in this packaging with the t-shirts in the Asian market. The second packaging is the UK packaging. The picture is courtesy of forum member Pinkis4passion. I'm not sure what the US packaging looks like but I will post pictures if they become available.

Barbie and The Diamond Castle: Alexa

Alexa is the second main character in the Barbie and The Diamond Castle Movie. Like Liana, Alexa sings two songs from the movie and wears a beautiful pink and purple gown with blue accents that magically transforms. Alexa also sings beautiful duets when paired with the Liana Barbie doll. Alexa has the current Teresa head mold and beautiful brunette hair.

Featured New Dolls: Barbie and The Diamond Castle

This week we will feature pictures of dolls from the Barbie and the Diamond Castle collection. The Diamond Castle DVD feature Barbie and Teresa telling the fairy tale story of Liana and Alexa, best friends who shared everything including their love of music. One day their simple lives change when they are given an enchanted mirror and befriend the girl trapped inside! To save their new friend, Liana and Alexa embark on a dangerous journey to the hidden Diamond Castle that will put their friendship to the test. But through the power of song and with the companionship of two adorable puppies, the girls face their challenges together and learn that friendship is the true treasure.


I had the opportunity to take a few pictures of these dolls on my last visit to TRU. Today we feature the Kelly muse dolls. These Beautiful Kelly dolls, as mini muses, or muses in training, from the Diamond Castle, sit nobly atop matching glitter horses and sparkle in their shimmering gowns, with tiaras adorned in flowers. They are named Melody (blond), Dori (titian) and Phedra (brunette). They retail about 9.99.

Rebelde Boys!

A new set of playline dolls featuring the "Rebelde" the fictional band from a Mexican soap opera have recently been released. There are three sets of dolls. One is Rebelde Diego. He is paired up with Roberta. The Roberta doll has a Drew/Lara mold and vivid make-up.

The next set features Giovanni and Lupita. Giovanni is paired up with Lupita who has a Teresa face mold.

The final set is Mia and Miguel. The Mia doll has the Summer face mold.

These photographs are courtesy of crystalbarbie.

Barbie for President Teresa

While at TRU I had the chance to see the new Barbie For President dolls that are TRU exclusives. These president dolls have been released every four years for the last several years. Here you can see the TRU web page for this Teresa President doll. She has a dog and different packaging than he one I took the picture of. There is also a Barbie, Nikki and an Asian doll. I have not seen Nikki in person, only in photographs. I haven't seen any pictures of the Asian doll so far but she is advertised on the TRU website without any pictures. Click here for the web page.

Fashion Fever Ken Winter Gear

This is the newest Fashion Fever Ken. He is part of a "Winter" set with Summer, Teresa and Barbie. I have not seen any of the other dolls in the Winter set so far. I picked up this Ken at Target.

Special Occasions Collection Barbie

While at Tuesday Morning I picked up this Barbie. The back of the box reads, "Barbie doll and friends love to dress up and celebrate special occasions," so I call Barbie and the other dolls in party dresses the Special Occasions collection. I also got her for 7.99 which is really great considering she is a brand new Fashion Fever doll.

Here is a picture of the entire collection that also includes Summer and Teresa.

New Fashion Fever Dolls

Some members of the forum are finding the new wave of Fashion Fever dolls. Typically, these dolls are released in Spring and Fall but it looks like this wave is slowly arriving in stores now. They have been spotted at Walmart, Target, and Tuesday morning for about $7.99. You can find them at some Kohl's stores but they are listed at $12.99! Ouch! Kohl's does have a 50% off toys sale in early October. Maybe I will just wait until then to pick up some of these dolls.

Here is a picture of the new Teresa still in her box. This picture is courtesy of forum member handsomeddie.

Gold Label Dolls at TRU

It's so nice to be able to pick out the dolls that you want directly in the store. I was at my local Toys R Us and noticed that they had Hello Kitty Apple Tree and Cha Cha Dance Off from Grease right on the shelf. I already had Hello Kitty and probably would have bought Cha Cha, but I held off. I also saw the Holiday 2008 doll. It's nice to see these collector dolls on the shelf and be able to pick out the best one. Mattel recently announced that a select number of Toys R Us stores in the U.S. will carry Gold Label Barbie dolls. The dolls will be displayed in beautiful in-store cases. There are none in my area but if I take a little drive I can visit one of these stores.

Today's close-up is another one of my favorite Fashion Fever dolls from Wave A. She is Teresa with the hat and white washed jeans. She has the super cute classic Teresa face. I think you can still find this girl on Ebay for a reasonable price.

You Never Know!

It's hard to know why things happen. I am here now because of a change, a momentous change! A major corporation took note of something I created online! Wow, I should be so proud! At first, I was shocked, horrified, angry! But then I realized, they are right. It's ok! I have a new opportunity for something bigger and better! That is how I arrived here! Through the help of internent savvy friends, graphic artists, and doll fans, I am back here.

I spent some time taking pictures last night. . . This is Lone Star Great the Barbie doll offered to club members who joined the 2005 Barbie Fan Club. She sat in her box quietly for almost three years. This weekend she was released, rebodied (with Top Model Hair Wear Teresa's body) and given fresh new Randall Craig clothes to wear. She looks rather pleased!