Ch-ch-changes

Today in the United States, it's the Labor Day holiday, and Mr. BTEG and the Dancer are doing some serious laboring today. As I write this, most of the Dancer's furniture is being unloaded at her new apartment! Pretty soon, Mr. BTEG and I will have a truly empty nest, which means we're going to be doing a lot of re-arranging and moving things around. In the meantime, posting might be a little light (not that it hasn't been for a while anyway.) Things have been pretty crowded and stressful here, but it's going to be great to spread out and have space to do things that I have wanted to for a long time.

To that end, Mr. BTEG and I took the two hour and fourteen minute drive to our nearest IKEA, to pick up some furniture for the new work spaces we're planning on. When we arrived, the power was out, and only backup generators were in use. The lights were on, the cash registers worked, but there was no air conditioning, and not only was the restaurant closed, but all the freezer sections too. So we wandered for almost three hours through a warm building, with only a lukewarm soda to sustain me. I'm excited about the new tables and storage that I bought, but I also picked up the IKEA Huset.

I bought the bedroom set several years back, but I never owned this iconic set until now. It's going to stay packed until we get my doll area in its final set-up.

This Saturday, I went to a few garage sales and an estate sale. At the estate sale, I found several American Girl sets, including Samantha Parkington's nightstand.

Long time readers may remember that I already owned the nightstand, but the drawer knobs weren't complete, and the towel rack was missing. This time, all the parts were there, and it came in its original box, too. For $15, it was a fantastic find. I also picked up a few other AG sets, which I'll share with you soon. Some of it I am keeping, and some of it I will try to sell. I will also sell the old nightstand that I own.

I hope my Northern Hemisphere readers are enjoying the weather as we move into autumn. To be honest, it's been quite hot here the past couple of days, but that will change soon enough. And to you guys down under, spring is coming!

Barbie, Christie and Teresa Model Fall Fashions

I've picked up some Fashion Avenue outfits the past couple of months, and I've been saving these three for when fall arrived. The weather is starting to feel just right here in NE Ohio!

Barbie models Gala in Chicago. This outfit includes the dress, of a stretchy material, a bolero jacket trimmed with fluffy material that does shed a little, a small purse, and purple shoes. I prefer the slightly thick heel over the stiletto ones that Mattel also makes. The slender heels tend to bend if you try to balance Barbie on them at all.

Next, we have Christie modeling Reception Roses. I especially like the small touches with this dress. This outfit includes the satin dress, a fashion scarf for the neck, matching nylons, a purse, and shoes.

The butterfly fabric is pretty, and I think having a strip at the bottom half of the skirt is just right. Adding too much more of that print would be overwhelming. I also like the pleated net trim at the sleeves and skirt hem.

I like the roses at the neck. I don't think this would work on a real woman. Maybe in a smaller proportion.

Barbie and Christie are ready to go out and have fun on a slightly crisp fall evening.

This next outfit is technically not Fashion Avenue, but I think it came out in the Fashion Avenue era. This outfit is part of the Seasons line. There were four separate outfits produced, for spring, summer, fall and winter. I've seen another fall outfit Mattel made that is very similar to this one. Barbie wears a long-sleeved orange top and brown vest in that one, plus I think an orange or plaid tam, and a plaid skirt. What signifies autumn, at least in the northern half of North America, more than the changing colors of the leaves? And shortly afterward comes the task of raking them up when they fall. I raked up many a pile of leaves in my day! At least there was the fun of jumping in a pile afterward. Sometimes my sisters and the girls down the street and I would make "houses" by raking up piles of leaves to make low walls.

I think this red suits Teresa very well. I was disappointed this sweater is not completely open at the back. It goes over her head.

At least Barbie gets sensible shoes for raking leaves. I think the other set had brown pumps.

A rake is included, with the ubiquitous B logo.

Also included, some cardboard leaves. Not ready to take them out of the plastic yet.

The outfit originally came with this skirt and head scarf. I think Teresa will be much more comfortable raking leaves in the jeans she's wearing.

Lastly, the set includes a basket of apples to enjoy after some hard work outside. Yum, a nice crisp apple.

Do you enjoy moving into warmer clothes for autumn weather? Are you putting your dolls into anything different? I don't own enough doll clothes for all of my dolls to change what they wear very often. But this outfits are nice additions.