So Many Pretty Dolls in the Basement!

Working in the Barbie Basement today!  So many pretty dolls!!!

There is Rock Hudson and Friend...

My husband is obsessed with 007 movies...

Then there are 007 dolls all by themselves...

More classic stars!

And the multi-talented!

I Love Gabby, She Plays With Me

                           One day she just made pictures of dolls as she played with them!

My Barbies Have Arrived in Germany!

I am so HAPPY!

And finally the flooring has been completed in the basement
room I had planned as their home in Germany.

What wonderful ambassadors they will soon make!

They had to move to the living room during the renovations downstairs...

Just wait until you see the space I am creating for them!

Soon girls, very soon!

The Creativity of This Young Woman is Delightful

What ingenuity this young mother uses as she creates her little fantasy toys!

I just marvel as her toddler plays in the background!

She is an excellent designer.

The grand-daughters will love these videos!

 

          

More of That Great Artist and Collector!

One of my Barbies is waiting anxiously for me to make some of these...

She really needs them!

I am going to Texas, and Gabby and I will be making some with my grand-daughters!

Isn't this artist talented!

        

I Am a Fan of These Videos!

       Isn't this the coolest thing!
A boat ride is fun every once in awhile, but every Barbie Family needs a stroller!

I'm Getting Tired of Waiting for All the Barbies to Get Here!

I have been waiting and waiting for our shipment of household good to get here.  I will be assembling the Barbie Room downstairs to share with the little girls of Germany...

I packed them all so carefully... hundreds and hundreds of them!

I am inventorying and making pictures of my Barbie doll collection as we move to Germany, and the collection is extensive.  Sometimes work is so much fun!  This hobby gives me so much enjoyment, not to mention making me the favorite Nana!  In fact it makes friends of every child, or child at heart that I meet.  I love sharing my collection with children.  So perhaps I will make a friend of you too as I share my work/play!

Now who is this famous Barbie a representation of, certainly she is famous!

Do you recognize Erica Kane from the soap opera All My Children?

I own this doll in several costumes, she is lovely in all of them.

 

Perhaps you recognize her famous husband?

Frank Sinatra is of course easily recognized, and he came with a devoted fan!

I was lucky and was able to obtain two of these dolls 

representing Doris Day, and she is escorted by Mr. Rock Hudson.

This doll is a representation of the famous character Lois Lane, from the movie Superman.

Last but not least, one of a set of characters I know you will immediately recognize.  He is a beloved character from the movie The Wizard of Oz!

I can hear him singing now, If I Only Had a Brain!

New Posts are Coming As I Move Half My Barbies to Germany!

I will be setting up a little museum in Germany in my home where I can continue our ministry to the children of military families!  I am so excited to be making this move, and having the opportunity to recognize the sacrifices and service to out country of the military and their families!  Here is a picture of one of my favorite Barbies.  She is Mattel's Goddess of the Sun, created by designer Bob Mackie, and one of the favorites of my collection.

Planning Another Little Girl's Birthday Party

Our ranch is a place for children.  In planning our aim was to create a place where our grand-children and the children of military families could come and find a place to rest and refresh.  There is no better way for children to escape the stresses of life than in play and pretend.  Really,  that holds true for all of us.  We all need play. 

From the days of my own childhood came my love for Barbie dolls.  I will never forget the first one I ever saw.  She was in the basement playroom of my friend Joy Wease, who was the daughter of the pastor of our church.  Her Barbie was of the first doll design that Mattel ever made in the "Barbie" series, and had a pony tail, and curly bangs, along with that black and white stripped bathing suit, and black, "high heel" shoes.  I immediately fell in love with her, and the very next Christmas, there was  one under the tree for me.  My Barbie was a brunette, and she had a "bubble cut" hair do.  It was love at first sight, and there is no telling how many hours I spent in play with her and the Ken doll which followed on my birthday.  My sister received a blond Barbie with that same bubble cut, but ours had red one piece bathing suits.  We both dearly loved them, and only had one Barbie apiece in our childhoods.  Maybe that is why I have so many today.  At any rate, I knew exactly what to add to the ranch for little girls to play with to take them away from all of the cares of their lives, and my Doll Barn was born.
                                                                                                                                                      

One of the ways that Soldier's Heart Ranch ministers to the families of the military is to provide this place to view and play with dolls of all kinds, even the boys, because they really enjoy playing with the GI Joe collection. I am planning a little birthday party for Samara, the daughter of very good friends, and it is going to feature a fun "scavenger hunt" game.  The little girls will have to take their art sheets from room to room in the house, find the Barbies on the page, and get a sticker to add to their art page.   Then they will go to the  paint table and use markers to color their sheet.  Next they will go  to another art table and use a glue stick to add some glitter, finishing their art work which they will take home with them them!

There will be many dolls to see and many to play with, wonderful little games to play, and of course play time with the Barbies and other dolls.  I know they will have a great time at this special party.  I will be posting more pictures of the settings and the fun time we will all have at this beautiful little party.  So watch the blog, and if you would like to schedule your own "Barbie Doll Party,"  give us a call at 979-865-8919, or email me at debralecompte@gmail.com!  We are located in Sealy, Texas, about an hour from downtown Houston, Texas.

All the Girls Getting Ready for a Shopping Trip

This is so much fun.  I would love to have all my grand-daughters here for a shopping trip.  I think they would look cute dressed just like this!

Michaela Layne

I would like to introduce my  newest doll, Michaela Layne.  This grand-daughter has dark brown hair and eyes, (as soon as I perfect a hair dying technique, so will the doll.)  Michaela Layne is a very good student and loves school, and enjoys academic competitions.  She also loves music.  Camping and fishing with her dad, her brother, and her cousins is a another fun activity.  She also enjoys fashion, and shopping and hanging out with her mom!  Her little brother Maddox  is one of her favorite people!

Some of the Barbies at the Doll Barn are for Collectors!

 
One of my favorite collections at the Doll Barn is my I Love Lucy Dolls.  They are beautifully crafted, and dressed in matching costumes from some of the best episodes.  They are as collectors call them, NBRFB, (never been removed from the box.)   

These dolls have “real” eyelashes instead of the “painted on” kind, which add to their exquisiteness.    

These beautiful dolls remind me of times past, when television was different, and laughter at slapstick was highly entertaining.  The good old Rowdy Yates days.