There are many reasons that you feel that you would want a Barbie doll house, this means what you want from your dolls house also varies!

Of course this type of collectable would make the perfect gift for many children and adults alike. Often these can make unforgettable and unexpected presents, meaning that the recipient is both shocked and delighted at the present you have given.

That said, maybe you are looking to buy a dolls house for yourself. It could be that you are looking to fulfill a life long dream of owning one or it could be that you collect them and you want to add to the ones you already own. Whatever your reason it is vital that you choose the right one.

There are a huge range of Barbie doll houses you can choose from. So many shapes, styles and colors. It is important that if you are buying for some one else you look at not only what they like now, but what they would like in the future. Don’t forget that these dolls houses quite often become family heirlooms and could be passed down to many generations.

There are a massive number of accessories that you can get for Barbie doll houses. Whether you want to add pictures to the dolls house walls or whether you want to additional furniture there is always something out there for you.

Quite often you can find unique, one of kind items – something personalized to add to your house. These even by themselves can make lovely gifts and keepsakes to some one interested in collecting Barbie doll houses and their accessories.

As with your own home, the décor of the Barbie house is just as important. You can easily choose your color scheme and lay out of your choice Barbie doll house. Quite often your Barbie doll house becomes a massive part of you. The exciting part of choosing your home can be looking at what decoration you want, where you want the rooms set out and the layout of the house in general. Whether you want the dolls house for yourself, or whether you want the Barbie dolls house for yourself choose what you want inside the house can be really fun.

Barbie doll houses also come in a huge range of sizes, some can be almost 6ft in height with very elegant, big rooms where as others are slightly smaller with perhaps more homely rooms, as long as you do your research right there is a dolls house out there to suit everyone!

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Barbie Doll Houses

In the 1950s a woman named Ruth Handler was visiting Switzerland when she came upon a beautiful doll named Lilli. This doll, modeled after a famous cartoon character, was 7 inches tall, had shoes molded to her feet, and earrings on her ears.

Lilli had a variety of outfits from which to choose. Inspired by the doll, Ruth returned home with the image of a doll in mind. She had already been thinking of creating a 3-D doll based off of paper dolls, and this image of Lilli solidified the idea in her mind. This image would soon be known the world over as Barbie.

In 1958, a patent was obtained for a doll known as "Barbie", a name inspired by Ruth's daughter Barbara. By 1959 Barbie hit the toy shelfs of New York. Investors believed the move was risky, as baby dolls were the popular toys of the day.

However, Ruth proved investors wrong. By 1960 Barbie was flying off the shelves; demand so high that Mattel could not keep up. By the end of the 1960s the public had spent $500 million on Barbie, her friends and accessories. Below you find a chronological history of Barbies, where to collect and find the best Barbies, and how to begin a collection that will last a lifetime.

Barbies: The 1960s

Barbie was, and still is, a woman of the times, portraying a picture of women in society. In the 1960s it was very important that Barbie reflect a positive image of women. As such, Barbie was often modeled off of great women in society. In the 60s, Jackie O influenced the look of Barbie with a pill box hat and bob hair cut, until Jackie started to stir controversy.

Also in the 1960s, older girls continued to keep or "collect" Barbies as symbols of what they dreamt to uphold and become. Seeing this trend, Mattel created Barbies geared for older girls. Instead of decking Barbie out in prom dresses, Barbie began to dawn ball gowns and debutante outfits. This was until the 60s took a turn of their own...

As the Beatles became popular and the mood in the nation changed, so did Barbie. Her skirt became shorter; her boots became longer. Now dawning a mini-skirt and go-go boots, Barbie represented a changed nation. Trying her best to become a symbol of fun and not of hippie-like behavior, Barbie continued to evolve with the rest of the country.

It is at this point in time that Barbie's "newest" feature, the bent leg, appeared. Anyone who has played with a Barbie knows the jerky movement of the legs when they bend, and how unnatural this looks. However, it was the 1960s that spawned this feature and started the "Twist & Turn" Barbie - a Barbie that was more "life-like."

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How to Collect Barbies

For get about having the real pets, if you are thinking about going to by virtual pets or animal doll that has special feature like children can feed the doll just like as if they have a real pet. Are you sad because you cannot own a real pet due to various restrictions? Worry no more! Get an online pet and enjoy the experience of owning and caring for your own new pet! At Animal doll shops, we not only have cute dogs and cats but an entire jungle with various animals you might never have had in real life! Does the gentle giant panda interest you? Do you think you could have the most fun with the naughty monkey? Or would you want a different kind of pet, like the tree frog? Choose! Get our code for your pet and you can now load it online. Lo! You have a new playmate.

Whether you are an adult or a kid, there is no reason why you should not have a pet of your own! So make one of these your own. We assure you that you will love it so much that you will want to add some more pets! But to remember only have virtual pets if you want to find challenging play.

These animal dolls can make cool gifts for the only kid next door as well. Away from the mad and violent video games, having an online pet also teaches kids to take on responsibility without too much burden. It is an innovative way of raising a pet without any extra expenses. So why wait? We say, simply get into the wild world at Animal doll shops and make your pick today.

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A Wild, Wild World Of Animal Dolls

Reborn baby dolls are fast becoming collectible items. People like collecting them for hobby’s sake. Even those foster mummies who buy such baby dolls for purely practical reasons, i-e. to learn to take care of a baby before they actually get one of their own human babies, like to keep these reborn baby dolls as collectibles. These dolls do not just come with a pair of clothes that they are attired in, a diaper, baby blanket in beautiful shades, but, accessories like bracelets and ear-rings, also.

The bracelets for reborn baby dolls vary in quality depending on their money value. They can be even made of faux diamonds which can give a very glamorous look. The doll wearing such a bracelet would attract not just admiring glances but comments also. The bracelets can also be made of plastic beads, etc. The manufacturers make it clear in their reborn baby dolls’ specifications whether such bracelets are completely hypoallergenic or not. Mostly accessories like every thing about the baby dolls are friendly to all sorts of people but one is well advised to check on it beforehand.

Some foster mummies are very particular about how their reborn baby dolls look. They can then go for a number of fancy bracelets to match the various outfits of the dolls. The bracelets can even complement mummy’s own jewelry or outfit.One can get custom made jewelry also according to one’s specifications .Some bracelets have the name of the reborn baby doll’s engraved on them which adds to their attraction. The most popular one’s are heart charm name bracelets.

Reborn baby doll’s bracelets do not harm any part of their bodies whether it’s the wrists or any other part. The hands contain fine glass granules therefore, need special care. Overall the doll’s body is made of soft material and vinyl. The wrist is of realistic width. As the reborn baby doll’s body is jointed, the bracelets look especially beautiful.

Popular websites which offer attractive and competitive bargain are eBay and Amazon among others. So go ahead and purchase a reborn baby doll alongwith it’s accessories like bracelets, etc .

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Bracelets for Reborn Baby Dolls

All dollhouse collectors wish that the collection of dollhouse that he or she has is rare and beautiful. They leave no stone unturned to make their collection special. It is the quality, availability and the uniqueness of the dollhouses that makes them beautiful.

Collectible dollhouse designs and trends

There are many styles and designs prevalent in the collectible dollhouse. These are the one that still match with the rare looking dollhouses.

There are many famous collectible dollhouse among the collectors. Some of them are Adora doll house, Barbie doll house, Lee Middleton doll house and more. The collectors of the doll house are gaga over them.

The Barbie doll house and Lee Middleton doll house are the number one choice of the doll house collectors. They are the collectible dollhouse that has just the right features and qualities that the collectors adore. Barbie is the biggest attraction of the era and is one of the most collectible dollhouse in 2006.

The hand made Americana style of collectible dollhouse made of wood are very popular. They have become more important after the industrial revolution. The idea remains that with the ongoing mass production and the world being almost full of them, the metal dollhouses were produced by many.

The wooden miniature dollhouse structures were assembled fast using the factory mechanization. They were in the store shelves at really affordable prices. Such collectible dollhouses were a craze among the children especially. However, they were the main cause behind the falling quality standards of the wooden dollhouses.

The two main choices before the dollhouse collectors are of wood collectible dollhouse or metal collectible dollhouse. This is the main question that the collectors of both types of dollhouses always have to face.

The dollhouse collectors have their own choices. Where some love the mass made metal dollhouses, the others be in the need of the simpleness and good craftsman skill in the classical wooden collectible dollhouse.

Talking about the prices of these two types of collectible dollhouse, the collectible metal dollhouse are available for just $50 to $150 these days. Wooden dollhouses hand made in American style can go to prices in thousands dollars. You may find the handmade wood dollhouses with original furniture having sky reaching prices.

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Collectible Dollhouse – Collectors’ Choice

For sure you have seen one in cars and in stores. Bobble head dolls are very popular among sports fans because most sporting events sell or give out these nodders as a souvenir or as a collectible item. These bobble head toys first made its popular appearance during the 1950’s during the release of the Beatles bobble head collection. Since then, these collectible toys have seemed to be crazed by sports and music fans all over the world. However, its popularity has died down for quite some time after the 1980’s. But it slowly became fashionable again when bobble head manufacturers found economical ways to produce it. These makers have already created nodders that were made of inexpensive materials such as plastic so the production of various bobble head dolls became alive once more.

Collectibles and bobble head toy series have been released for promotional and advertising purposes while some are produced for wobbler buffs to add to their collection. Aside from that, these bobble head toys and dolls are great gift ideas for men and for guy friends. Most nodder collectors look for these dolls depicting cartoon and movie characters, popular soccer players and even those in other sporting events. Some popular food chains even have their own bobble head toys of their mascots as a souvenir item for their customers. Aside from that, more and more wobbler manufacturers are into making customized nodders. If you want to have an actual toy figure of your own, you can simply give your photo and voila, in a matter of days you will a bobbing head doll version of yourself.

Most wobbler manufacturers are already accepting customized requests from clients so you can definitely have a nodder doll of your favorite star or your cherished dog. Want to know where to look for the best bobble head manufacturer? There are tons of sites on the internet where you will have a wide variety of choices. Custom bobbing head items may differ from one manufacturer to another so it is best if you do some canvassing first. The price also varies depending on the size, the intricacy, the design and the material to be used. Some plastics are much more durable than others and some are made of high-grade material. But for sure, custom bobble heads make a nice gift or souvenir suited for different occasions and events.

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Bobble Head Dolls Make Great Gifts

It is difficult to purchase antique dolls over the internet. The modern dolls like the Barbie collection are easily available that are painted in a standard way, with standard manufactured clothing. Where as the antique dolls are unique with respect to their clothing and looks. Thus, it becomes necessary to have a personal look on the dolls before purchasing them. If you are a novice in case of antique dolls, then you must follow certain tips as follows;

The first thing that strikes the mind while starting to collect antique dolls is its condition. It is obvious that the body of the dolls can be worn out, with some patching work done. Replacement of body parts such as the eyes, wigs and other parts can be expensive and finding the appropriate clothing. Reproduction of clothes and shoes are widely available if an undressed doll is purchased. It is just that it is cheaper than the others are. For this, study of antique dolls in necessary, to properly shop for its accessories. Antique Doll Collector is a good magazine that has all the concerned details regarding the dolls and their dealers.

The prices for antique dolls have a good range, i.e. it can be purchased by anyone as the prices are equal to or less than current artist made dolls. Many of the German made dolls are in the range of $200 to $500.

While selecting antique dolls one should be careful of the hairline cracks and other imperfections. They can tend to increase in magnitude as days pass. It should be considered mainly if you have an expectation of re-selling it. However, minute damages are not visible when the dolls are at display. Therefore, before purchasing them a thorough scrutiny should follow.

Clothing, shoes and accessories are another section to concentrate. Try purchasing an original doll with its garments, shoes, hats and other stuffs. It can be expensive to look out for each accessory individually and it should suit the looks of the doll.

The inspection should cover all these tips along with some other important aspects such as
* Make use of lights and torch to inspect any cracks or damage. If possible, remove the wig and the pate and have a look at the head properly. Any dark patches may indicate restoration work, so avoid those dolls.
* Inspect the eyes if they have been reset. It should match the overall structure of the doll.
* See the integrity of the costumes, check for any moth holes on the fabric of the cloth.
* An important consideration for the overall value of the doll is, whether it has an appropriate body. The dealers very often keep changing the body parts to attract customers depending on their likings. So look out for it before buying the antique doll.
* Finally, just try to glance the overall doll and determine what its overall impression is. It can be considered by keeping the price tag in mind.

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Why Antique Dolls are Popular Collectible Items

The only difference being that these days there are so many articles and items available that virtually completes the imaginary world of a Barbie doll. The little girls would love and pamper their dolls as their mothers would pamper them. May be that’s how from the child hood a girl learns to love and take care of their loved once. She would provide every thing to her Barbie doll that she could, even if that calls for crying, fight with her parents.

The Barbie would have a wide range of collectable items. Any thing and every thing that you could think for getting your self to have a comfortable life. Small replicas of the same would be available for the most pampered little doll across the globe. There are online stores that could be browsed over the internet providing the entire variety of items for these dolls. Barbie doll is about a 40 year old concept.

She could rightly be said as the most riches dolls of all. Barbie has over 130 new ensembles ever year, not to mentions her over a billion shoe pairs. The popularity of the doll could be known by the act that it’s not only one of the most desired dolls in the US but across the globe. Every second, 2 such dolls are sold.

Over and above the actual stores that offers a rage of these dolls. The internet stores are more popular with these Barbie dolls collectors as it’s easier. One needs to search for the new or old Barbies or its accessories on line using search engines. A list of store would be listed. Just by a click one can know if there is some thing available that could add to the Barbie collection they had. When we talk of Barbie collection – though it starts when some one is very young, however, it’s found that some people just don’t grow out of it. They keep collecting and cherishing them for life and some pass that on to their generations.

There are families that would have the fist Barbie ever launched. Barbie sites are available; books about Barbies, price lists are there etc are available to locate Barbie’s collectables. Exclusive stores could be found online and otherwise offering Barbies and Barbie accessories.

There are Barbie communities available over the net which provides a platform to exchange ideas; to talk – providing chat options; has bulletin boards with news postings every day. The Barbie culture is much wider and huger than any once can imagine thinking it to be a child’s play. This clearly shows the impact the dolls have on the young girls that is carried through out their lives. The Barbie Company understands and cashes the same as well. These exclusive sites; Barbie’s communities & newsgroups are quite evident indicators.

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Locating Barbie collectables is not a baby job

Barbie is a best-selling fashion doll launched in 1959. The doll is produced by Mattel, Inc., and is a major source of revenue for the company. The American businesswoman Ruth Handler (1916-2002) is regarded as the creator of Barbie, and the doll's design was inspired by a German doll called Bild Lilli.

Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for nearly fifty years, and has been the subject of numerous controversies and lawsuits, often involving parody of the doll and her lifestyle.

Collecting:
Mattel estimates that there are well over 100,000 avid Barbie collectors. Ninety percent are women, at an average age of 40, purchasing more than twenty Barbie dolls each year. Forty-five percent of them spend upwards of $1000 a year.

Vintage Barbie dolls from the early years are the most valuable at auction, and while the original Barbie was sold for $3.00 in 1959, a mint boxed Barbie from 1959 sold for $3552.50 on eBay in October 2004. On September 26, 2006, a Barbie doll set a world record at auction of £9,000 sterling (US $17,000) at Christie's in London. The doll was a Barbie in Midnight Red from 1965 and was part of a private collection of 4,000 Barbie dolls being sold by two Dutch women, Ietje Raebel and her daughter Marina
In recent years Mattel has sold a wide range of Barbie dolls aimed specifically at collectors, including porcelain versions and depictions of Barbie as a range of characters from television series such as The Munsters and Star Trek There are also collector's edition dolls depicting Barbie dolls with a range of different ethnic identities. In 2004 Mattel introduced the Color Tier system for its collector's edition Barbie dolls, ranging through pink, silver, gold and platinum depending on how many of the dolls are produced.

collectible barbie dolls , retro barbie , vintage mattel dolls at www.vintagebarbieandken.com

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Collectible Barbie Dolls

Ruth Handler was the lady who designed and gave life to the original Barbie doll in her striped bathing suit, in March 1959. Barbie also known by the name Barbara Millicent Roberts, has been loved by millions over the years. She is a doll with an adolescent face, but adult characteristics.

Barbie, who now celebrates her 50th birthday, appears to have been originally popularized by a Yale-educated man. Jack Ryan was a swinger from the 70's, but he had a deep dark secret. He was driven by an insatiable sexual appetite.

Ryan's wives included such beauties as the delightful Zsa Zsa Gabor. A close friend and confidant of Ryan, Stephen Gnass, said to hear Ryan talk about Barbie, was to feel Ryan was talking about something sexual. Ryan is said to have paid high-class call girls and it was not unknown for Ryan to hold sex-orgies at his expensive Bel-air mansion. It was also reported that Ryan was a sufferer of the disease gonorrhea.

Barbie was portrayed to embrace a 'normal' kind of opulent lifestyle, with her pink mansions and extravagant cars. In 2004 Barbie even separated from her long time boyfriend, Ken Carson, as many couples were doing in real life. However, in February 2006 the couple were reunited.

About the only thing missing in Barbie's life were children. Barbie represented the up and coming professional women, who decided against a family. Instead, Barbie has owned over forty pets, from a panda, lion cub, cats, dogs, horses, to a zebra. She was employed as a flight attendant, held a pilots' license, become an astronaut and a doctor, to mention just a few of her many occupations. An Islamic Barbie, called Fulla, was created, alongside an African and Hispanic Barbie.

By the late 1990's, the term 'Barbie' however, came to symbolize any woman who is considered, by the majority, to be frivolous and empty headed. Perhaps this was an unconscious flow-on from the 'blondes have all the fun’ syndrome of the 1980's. The harshest and most realistic criticism thrown at Barbie, was her out-of-reach body shape. This presented the ever present and very real danger of promoting anorexia in the young girls. According to the University Central Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, any girl striving for a shape like Barbie, would be missing 17 – 22% body fat, which is needed for her to menstruate. The Barbie mould was eventually given a new design in 1997, when a few inches were added to her waist. In keeping with the signs of the time, in 1997 there also came a friend of Barbie, in a pink wheelchair.

A 2005 survey revealed that in an effort to rid themselves of their 'Barbie Days', some girls would go through a 'hate Barbie' stage. Barbie would end up decapitated, or melted down in a microwave oven. Yet it is claimed that 90% of fanatical Barbie doll collectors, of well over 100,000 women, are over the age of 40. They buy more than 20 Barbie dolls each year, with over 45% of them spending an average of over $1000 a year.

The original Barbie sold for $3 in 1959. In October 2004 the same Barbie, in a mint-condition box was sold for $3552 on eBay. The highest price ever to be paid for a Barbie was at Christies in London, for nine thousand pounds sterling. This was a Barbie dressed in Midnight Red from 1965, which had been part of a private collection of 4,000 Barbie dolls. She was sold by two Dutch women, Ietje Raebel and her daughter Marina.

To celebrate her 50th birthday, the original striped bathing suit Barbie, from 1959, has been reproduced.

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Barbie Doll Publicist With Manic Sexual History