| Remember playing with dolls when you were a | | | | turning out beautiful creations. It came so naturally |
| child? If you were like me, you had a Barbie doll | | | | to me. Through the years I created clothing for |
| or two in your toy box. Barbie was introduced in | | | | myself and my family, window dressings, and |
| 1959 by a lady named Ruth Handler (co-founder | | | | decorative home decor items. I later spent about |
| of Mattel). Ruth named the doll after her own | | | | 5 years doing ready-to-wear clothing alterations |
| daughter, Barbara. In 1961, Ruth created Barbie's | | | | for the general public. Then, about 10 years ago, a |
| boyfriend, the Ken doll, named after her son. | | | | dear friend gave me the greatest birthday gift... a |
| Now, almost half a century later, Barbie is still in | | | | Barbie doll. Let me tell you, you are never too old |
| the hearts and toy boxes of children (and even | | | | to receive a Barbie doll! |
| adults) everywhere. | | | | While going through some old boxes during our |
| Our children today have more toys than ever. | | | | last move, I found a box with many of the Barbie |
| Electronic toys, video game systems, iPods, and | | | | dresses my grandmother had made. The finding |
| computers are just the beginning. So much has | | | | inspired me! I would make new clothes with |
| changed in the world of toys since we were | | | | today's fabrics for my Barbie doll. What could be |
| children but one thing that hasn't changed is the | | | | better than handmade doll clothes? They are hard |
| simple love of the Barbie doll. Barbie today has | | | | to find in this day and age because people don't |
| new friends, new clothes, a new house, and even | | | | have or make time to sew like they used to. As I |
| more new pets than she did 40 years ago. | | | | began creating beautiful dresses, everyone who |
| However, little girls today still enjoy dressing and | | | | saw them wanted to buy them so I added them |
| primping Barbie to act out her fantasy life during | | | | to my online craft store. I couldn't believe the |
| playtime. | | | | response. I have received so many emails from |
| My grandmother was a seamstress. She would | | | | people who told me beautiful stories of their |
| sew beautiful clothes and accessories for my | | | | mothers, aunts, and grandmothers who |
| Barbie doll collection. I had a suitcase full of her | | | | handmade their doll clothes when they were |
| handmade creations and the kids in the | | | | children. I then knew that bringing back handmade |
| neighborhood would come over so we could dress | | | | doll clothes for today's families would be the |
| the dolls. I loved selecting the fabrics and picking | | | | beginning of new traditions and would help create |
| out dress styles. Although I didn't realize it at the | | | | beautiful memories and gifts that could be passed |
| time, the clothes she made for my dolls were | | | | down through generations. In a world where |
| better quality than anything I could buy in a store. | | | | everything is so commercialized, going back to the |
| As a teenager I became interested in sewing. | | | | basics with Barbie has reminding me of a |
| Because my grandmother had passed, I was left | | | | wonderful time in my childhood. Now, to be able |
| to teach myself how to sew. I spent hours upon | | | | to provide that gift to others is a true joy. |
| hours in front of my Kenmore sewing machine | | | | |