May 16, 2021 Treasure Hunt "The Rolling Heads Lot"
Secondhand shopping can be very hit or miss. Sometimes people have very unrealistic expectations--like you'll get lucky and find boatloads of awesome stuff every time you go shopping. In the past few weeks, we didn't have much luck at the flea market. One weekend got rained out, the next Sunday was BEAUTIFUL...but we came home without a single thing in hand (literally, there was nothing despite how packed the flea market was). The weekend after that, Colleen found just two dolls. This Sunday seemed like it would be another bust. As we were wandering down one of the aisles, I spotted a large container on the ground. I seriously think I have doll "spidey" senses, because somehow I knew there was good stuff in the container. Sure enough, there was a cluster of dolls and some random furniture. Initially, I didn't think we'd buy the lot despite the fact that Colleen was intrigued by Dance Club Devon and I was fixated on Jewel Secrets Whitney. The seller wanted $20 for the group, which seemed a little steep. There were tons of random body parts, practically no clothes, and a few newer dolls/furniture pieces mixed in the bunch. So we walked away to mull it over, figuring we'd return if there was nothing else to buy. Secretly, I had this feeling we'd come home with this lot. I felt terrible about the number of decapitated dolls. Surely they would get thrown out if someone didn't eventually buy them. Plus, how many people could properly fix some of these dolls when there were missing neck articulations, broken necks, and scary looking heads with matted hair?!! Sometimes, Colleen and I will adopt "special needs" dolls because we know if we don't, they will end up in a landfill somewhere. These dolls especially pulled at my heart strings since the 80s is my favorite decade of Barbie.
Sunday was a great day for this sort of lot to turn up, because there wasn't anything else of interest to purchase. When we doubled back, the seller bartered with us and knocked off two dollars from the lot. Of course, he wanted to keep the green container the dolls were in. That's why we always take a stash of reusable shopping bags with us whenever we go. Seriously, men ALWAYS are more interested in their valuable plastic containers than the dolls inside them (I've literally saved $5 off lots before by letting the seller keep the container the dolls were in).
The seller gave us a little back story on these dolls, which is a rare treat when you purchase secondhand items. Apparently, he and his wife tried selling them at a yard sale a few years ago (I'm guessing that the 80s Barbies were probably from their children growing up). The reason there were practically no clothes on the dolls was because a little girl with special needs undressed them all at the yard sale. His wife let her have all the clothes for just $3. Apparently, the little girl was fascinated by the clothes, but not with the dolls. I don't blame her, because dolls from this era can look intimidating if you didn't grow up with them. As a kid from the 90s, I was always a little shocked by secondhand 80s Barbies we got growing up (although I did warm up to them obviously). Although it's disappointing that the dolls were mostly naked, I'm glad that their outfits made someone else so happy.
We did get some really awesome furniture pieces. We even saved a few random odds and ends (like the store racks) that were made for other toys. They'd be handy for photos! Colleen and I dubbed this group the "Rolling Heads Lot." Normally I'd have denoted it by our favorite doll (like Jewel Secrets Whitney or Dance Club Devon). But the decapitation was so rampant with this group, that it makes this lot memorable. I should also note that two of the bodies were just as they are--no heads at ALL! The Skipper body had a head with a pixie cut. It turns out Tropical Barbie also had a mangled haircut, so she couldn't be saved. Luckily I have oodles of her already, and this body will go to use (bodies are like gold). At first I thought poor Rocker Derek didn't have a head...it was buried at the bottom of the container.
Everyone else is already doing much better, even though I'm currently not done their makeovers (I'm presently at the dressing, hair styling, and head reattaching phase....plus Diva needs another zillion boil washes).
Dolls in photo from left to right:
-1986 Jewel Secrets Whitney
-1989 Dance Club Devon
-1998 Spice Girls Concert Collection Scary Spice/Mel B.
-1987Makin' Waves Maxie
-1986 Jewel Secrets Skipper
-1990 "2nd Edition" Ariel (Tyco)
-1985 Barbie and the Rockers Derek
Front row:
-1985 Barbie and the Rockers Diva
-2014 Sisters' Fun Day! "Concert" Barbie #CGF36
-2013 "Basic" Barbie #BFW14
-2002 Diva Collection Red Hot Barbie
-1987 California Barbie
-1986 Super Hair Barbie
-1986 My First Barbie
-1985 Barbie and the Rockers
-1985 Tropical Barbie
-1984 "1st Edition" Heart Family Mom
May 16, 2021 Treasure Hunt "The Rolling Heads Lot"
Secondhand shopping can be very hit or miss. Sometimes people have very unrealistic expectations--like you'll get lucky and find boatloads of awesome stuff every time you go shopping. In the past few weeks, we didn't have much luck at the flea market. One weekend got rained out, the next Sunday was BEAUTIFUL...but we came home without a single thing in hand (literally, there was nothing despite how packed the flea market was). The weekend after that, Colleen found just two dolls. This Sunday seemed like it would be another bust. As we were wandering down one of the aisles, I spotted a large container on the ground. I seriously think I have doll "spidey" senses, because somehow I knew there was good stuff in the container. Sure enough, there was a cluster of dolls and some random furniture. Initially, I didn't think we'd buy the lot despite the fact that Colleen was intrigued by Dance Club Devon and I was fixated on Jewel Secrets Whitney. The seller wanted $20 for the group, which seemed a little steep. There were tons of random body parts, practically no clothes, and a few newer dolls/furniture pieces mixed in the bunch. So we walked away to mull it over, figuring we'd return if there was nothing else to buy. Secretly, I had this feeling we'd come home with this lot. I felt terrible about the number of decapitated dolls. Surely they would get thrown out if someone didn't eventually buy them. Plus, how many people could properly fix some of these dolls when there were missing neck articulations, broken necks, and scary looking heads with matted hair?!! Sometimes, Colleen and I will adopt "special needs" dolls because we know if we don't, they will end up in a landfill somewhere. These dolls especially pulled at my heart strings since the 80s is my favorite decade of Barbie.
Sunday was a great day for this sort of lot to turn up, because there wasn't anything else of interest to purchase. When we doubled back, the seller bartered with us and knocked off two dollars from the lot. Of course, he wanted to keep the green container the dolls were in. That's why we always take a stash of reusable shopping bags with us whenever we go. Seriously, men ALWAYS are more interested in their valuable plastic containers than the dolls inside them (I've literally saved $5 off lots before by letting the seller keep the container the dolls were in).
The seller gave us a little back story on these dolls, which is a rare treat when you purchase secondhand items. Apparently, he and his wife tried selling them at a yard sale a few years ago (I'm guessing that the 80s Barbies were probably from their children growing up). The reason there were practically no clothes on the dolls was because a little girl with special needs undressed them all at the yard sale. His wife let her have all the clothes for just $3. Apparently, the little girl was fascinated by the clothes, but not with the dolls. I don't blame her, because dolls from this era can look intimidating if you didn't grow up with them. As a kid from the 90s, I was always a little shocked by secondhand 80s Barbies we got growing up (although I did warm up to them obviously). Although it's disappointing that the dolls were mostly naked, I'm glad that their outfits made someone else so happy.
We did get some really awesome furniture pieces. We even saved a few random odds and ends (like the store racks) that were made for other toys. They'd be handy for photos! Colleen and I dubbed this group the "Rolling Heads Lot." Normally I'd have denoted it by our favorite doll (like Jewel Secrets Whitney or Dance Club Devon). But the decapitation was so rampant with this group, that it makes this lot memorable. I should also note that two of the bodies were just as they are--no heads at ALL! The Skipper body had a head with a pixie cut. It turns out Tropical Barbie also had a mangled haircut, so she couldn't be saved. Luckily I have oodles of her already, and this body will go to use (bodies are like gold). At first I thought poor Rocker Derek didn't have a head...it was buried at the bottom of the container.
Everyone else is already doing much better, even though I'm currently not done their makeovers (I'm presently at the dressing, hair styling, and head reattaching phase....plus Diva needs another zillion boil washes).
Dolls in photo from left to right:
-1986 Jewel Secrets Whitney
-1989 Dance Club Devon
-1998 Spice Girls Concert Collection Scary Spice/Mel B.
-1987Makin' Waves Maxie
-1986 Jewel Secrets Skipper
-1990 "2nd Edition" Ariel (Tyco)
-1985 Barbie and the Rockers Derek
Front row:
-1985 Barbie and the Rockers Diva
-2014 Sisters' Fun Day! "Concert" Barbie #CGF36
-2013 "Basic" Barbie #BFW14
-2002 Diva Collection Red Hot Barbie
-1987 California Barbie
-1986 Super Hair Barbie
-1986 My First Barbie
-1985 Barbie and the Rockers
-1985 Tropical Barbie
-1984 "1st Edition" Heart Family Mom