Trash to treasure

Saturday I was running errands when, for some reason, I found myself at a resale shop in the Heights. I was shooting pictures for another web site and found a few stocking stuffers (be afraid; you know who you are). A couple of little boys digging through some bins of toys were having such a noisy great time that I started watching them. And that’s when I realized that tossed into those bins were all kinds of goodies for me.

Of course I’m not planning to share them all today. Today you get my latest Mystery Barbie. I’ve put her in my Mystery Doll set on Flickr, where other doll collectors have been enormously helpful identifying dolls I don’t recognize.

Someone had been chopping at her hair. She was dirty and naked. I gave her a bath and shampoo. I dried her hair, cut a few random wisps, and added some product. This afternoon I made her a Little Black Dress of her very own. One thing I like about Barbies is that unlike the Top Models, they can wear the original Barbie shoes. I think when a doll has some bite marks on her ankles, that’s the least she deserves.

So here she is:
Model by Mattel
Fashion by Becks
Art by Timothy J. Lambert


From $1.50 to a million bucks.

14 thoughts on “Trash to treasure”

  1. Isn’t it a requirement that the Barbies in resale shops be naked? 🙂
    I would have no idea who she is, but you do great work as her stylist.

    1. There were a TON of Barbies in this place–and their hair was wrecked. It was everything I could do not to buy them all and clean them up. The problem is, once I’ve done that, I’m attached. If only I could sell half these dolls on eBay… But I won’t. I know myself.

      Eventually, someone will haul me away to the “home” (sometimes known as Timmy’s attic), and Tom will get rid of the zillion dolls before the ceiling collapses.

      It’s like being Crazy Cat Lady, but without the odor.

      1. I’m always on the lookout for a godawful 70’s picnic blanket/tie that can I send you someday. I just haven’t found one worthy yet.

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