First, let me say that Barbie dolls have absolutely nothing to do with this project. I am not a Barbie doll expert. This project is about creativity and the repurposing of objects.
Before I begin explaining my project, let's have a little history (or in this case, herstory). During the period of 1978,-1980, my best friend Candra and I would have sleepovers every Friday. We alternated so one week we'd be at her house and the next week we would be at mine. At Candra' house, we took over the basement. At mine, it was the living room. We would bring so much Barbie stuff that it probably would have rivaled Paris Hilton's weekend luggage. We brought in tow Barbie dolls, houses, cars, clothes, and the miniatures which would complete our tableau.
Before I begin explaining my project, let's have a little history (or in this case, herstory). During the period of 1978,-1980, my best friend Candra and I would have sleepovers every Friday. We alternated so one week we'd be at her house and the next week we would be at mine. At Candra' house, we took over the basement. At mine, it was the living room. We would bring so much Barbie stuff that it probably would have rivaled Paris Hilton's weekend luggage. We brought in tow Barbie dolls, houses, cars, clothes, and the miniatures which would complete our tableau.
As the night wore on (stopping only for green kool-aid) we woild take over the entire room turning each and every piece of furniture, stairs, and any other place in the room that was up for fair game. At my house my favorite object was an arts and crafts footstool that my grandfather built around 70 years ago. It made the best bunkbeds! My dad even remembers this transformation to this day.
The idea for this project has been floating around in my mind---many years after I'd put my Barbie dolls away but recent enough to still be inspired to give it a shot. Every time I'd look at a small item it would make me think that it would be so wonderful for a Barbie house.
My objective was to select a Barbie townhouse and to find one at a low price. I didn't think I needed a mint condition house still in the box. I selected the model made in 1973. Actually, I bought two. That way I'd have lots and lots of room. The items that follow are the guidelines I wanted to follow to really give the house a kind of DIY pizazz.
My objective was to select a Barbie townhouse and to find one at a low price. I didn't think I needed a mint condition house still in the box. I selected the model made in 1973. Actually, I bought two. That way I'd have lots and lots of room. The items that follow are the guidelines I wanted to follow to really give the house a kind of DIY pizazz.
- Items should, if at all possible, be found items. Look around your house. You’ll be surprised how many items you’ll find!
- If purchased, the item must not be used in the way it was intended like for in=stance, those little cedar boxes available in most tourist traps/gift shoppes make lovely hope chests.
- Items can be handmade by the creator of the house. Also, sea monkey habitats make wonderful aquariums!
- Items can be made from gifts. Be honor-bound and trustworthy. For instance, don’t give your boyfriend $100 asking him to go on such-and-such website and order some tricked-out piece of dollhouse furniture for you. It is ok, though, to accept a gift of a whole box of flotsam and jetsam and little gee-gaws from your grandma’s junk drawer.
- There will be extreme cases where it is incredibly difficult to substitute found items or to make items by hand (like toilets or stoves). In those cases it will be necessary to go out there in the world and purchase that item but set your monetary limit at $25. Try ebay and you just might get a sweet item for that 25 bucks. The objective of this experiment is to use your imagination and to repurpose items that would probably be thrown away.
