Each year when we go to visit my husband’s family for the holidays, the girls and I have to make a special visit to see Aunt Kay. Kay has one of the largest collections of Barbie that I have ever seen in person. She knows everything about every doll in her collection, displays them in and out of the box, and changes up her displays frequently, too. Natalie and I like to call it “Barbie Heaven.”
This year when we went, just Natalie and I went to visit Kay which meant we could take our time, ask a bazillion questions, and really enjoy the time we had with this amazing lady. Here are a few of the photos I took. I will be featuring more of the individual photos and information on some of my favorites from her collection in upcoming posts.
Welcome to Barbie Land!! The original pink Barbie Christmas tree and “life-size” Barbie stay up year round to welcome visitors.
It didn’t take Natalie long to get to work checking out her favorite Barbie accessories. This is a photo of just one corner of the room. You can see we had taken dolls out to really look at closely.
This is the case that holds the vintage Barbies. Some of these were Kay’s daughter’s Barbies from when she was a little girl in the 1970′s and others are even older. Midge – the doll on the far left is original although her dress is a reproduction.
Natalie was fascinated by the Barbie ornaments and accessories case. She spent quite a bit of time quizzing Kay on what everything was, where she got it and what was in it. Kay loved to see that Natalie was so genuinely interested and even gave her a few of her duplicates like the black Barbie lunchbox keychain that even has a Barbie thermos and banana in it.
Kay’s collection spans two whole rooms of her house with one room just dedicated to the little Kelly-size dolls. Natalie couldn’t help but to keep going back in that room to find something she hadn’t seen before. Kay decided that Natalie needed to start her own Kelly doll collection so the two of them sat on the floor going through boxes and drawers as Kay filled up a bag for Natalie with nine Kelly and friends dolls.
I am convinced there is a Barbie for every type of collector!! Megan loves the Holiday Barbies and the designer Barbies (like Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Lily Pullitzer, etc). I personally love the Silkstone Barbies, and Natalie – let’s just say, she loves them all.
I took more than 100 photos on Saturday alone – needless to say… more to come!!
I love that life-sized Barbie doll in the first picture! I also love the Kelly dolls… they are BEYOND CUTE!!!
So cool, Barbies are definitely my first love. I have one that looks similar to the vintage red head with bangs in the third picture (wearing sparkly green) that used to be my mom’s when she was little, except her hair has been cut short and she’s a little worn from play!
wow! that is alot of barbies! my favorite of all are the skipper dolls
WOW!!! that is alot of barbies!!!! i sill have barbie stuff that my mom had when she was little! ( like when she was 8 or 9 ) and i have a house, camper, air plane, and kichen!! and some her barbies all from when she was little!
-Megan
I’m not much of a Barbie Collector, but I did get a replica of a Malibu Barbie like the one I had when I was little. Those are great pics, Char.
Sharry – wait until I post the photo of the Disco Barbie – I know you will love her!
I spy The Wizirds of Oz! i have an unopened 2000 holiday barbie, well she instent mie, but shes in my clostet/
SHE IS SO PRETTY! i sould send a pic
Sure – if you want.
How wonderful! My favorite pic is the last one, with the two of them going through the Kellys. DISCOVERY!
Oh yeah! Disco Barbie! If she had a John Travolta doll, they could team up! LOLOLOL!
Sharry, I did the same with a Francie I had when I was a dust mite–I got first a vintage one (in good shape), and then a replica. There was something about Francie I could relate to.
@ CC Riley I do have a classic Colorforms deluxe set w/ Malibu Barbie, Skipper and Francie.
I really want a aunt like that like my heaven I love the life sized barbie!!
I love the Wizard of Oz Barbies the best because I am a die hard Wizard of Oz fan. Someday I hope to collect Dorothy, the tin man, the scarecrow, the cowardly lion, Glenda the good witch, and the Wiched Witch of the West (a.k.a. Elphaba).
Cool! I have my mum’s Safari Skipper and one of her Ken dolls. She has this awesome motor home, it was the one with the bunks. I <3 Kelly, Skipper and Stacie's better than Barbie's however. I have 4 Skipper's, 5 Stacie's and too many Kelly's to count! I have around 11-13 Barbie's (two Ken's). I also have 2 Holiday Barbie's (2008 and 2009) and 1 Black Basics (no. 7). If, however, your in Australia like me, the most BRILLIANT Barbie place to go is http://www.toyandrailwaymuseum.com.au/ . I have been there 4 times and it never failed to amaze me!
Anastasia me too! Watched that movie 4 times a day when I was little. Love the barbies cool she has the original Ken doll. My mom had some that were handmedown barbies when she was a kid. I think she had the Malibu barbie. Who was her first barbie that was just her Barbie not a hand me down. I loved barbie when I was little. Now I hate the new barbie. Spoiled movie star princess barbie
Ps I have those wizard of oz barbies except the Winkie one.
I was never much of a Barbie fan. More of a Bratz, Polly Pockets(not the original, original though) and MyScene. I’m not into collecting either but I still like to keep my Polly Pockets. I might send in some pics of my somewhat of a collection.
This collection is HUGE however!!
Wow that’s a collection I love the holiday barbies
Nice! I have that pink jeep that one of the Kelly dolls is riding in. You guys are right. That is Barbie Heaven.
did you know that if barbie was a real person, she would have to walk on all fours because of her body? sorry if i offended all you barbie collectors, but i cant imagine someone so pretty walking so wierd-like.
Tina – she is not real, and neither are Monster High Dolls, Littlest Pet Shop or Blythe dolls. It’s ok.