Barbie Doll in Beautiful Hand Crocheted Gown

Up for auction at Insider Auctions is a beautiful blond haired Barbie Doll with big blue eyes.  She is dressed in a spectacular green crocheted gown that has a pearl and lace bodice.  Her blond locks are covered with a wide brimmed hat trimmed in dark green, pearls and a delicate green feather.  Barbie carries a green crocheted parasol also trimmed in pearls and lace. 

This collectible Barbie is described as being in excellent condition and the starting bid is $10.00.  Don’t miss out on this, possibly once in a lifetime opportunity, to add this gorgeous doll to your collection.

Ups and Downs of Collectibles

I have been an avid collector since around 1990 when I first fell in love with Department 56.  Like most new collectors I went into the store and purchased a couple of pieces having no clue that certain pieces went with specific collections…I just bought what I liked.  Well, when the bug hit, it hit hard and I “had to have” every piece in the village collection.  No lengths were too great to find that elusive item.  When retirement would roll around collectors would be up all night waiting for the first USA Today paper to hit the newsstand.  Of course, some were fortunate enough to get an advance copy of the list and retirement day was a mad rush to the retail stores to purchase the piece doomed for retirement.  Of course, the dealers were the first to get the lists and the pieces would at least double instantly, but we the collector didn’t mind as long as we “had our full collection”. 

My, My how things have changed.  Now retirement comes and goes with barely a noteable mention on the internet.  Many a retail store has closed their doors since that time.  Does anyone recall when it all changed?  In my opinion it all started with 911; I think people started reassessing their lives and found out they could live without the full collection.  Now, many of the retired items can be found at retail or below and the excitement seems to be gone.  It doesn’t appear to be with just Department 56 but with most of the collectible market as a whole.  Has anyone else noticed this trend?  I would love to hear your comments on the subject of collectibles and to know if you think the enthusiasm will ever return.

Christmas Gift Ideas

You know I was browsing through some of the listings on insiderauctions.com earlier today and I noticed some wonderful Christmas gift ideas.  If you are like me I need all the help I can get!  Christmas seems to slip up on me even though it arrives at the same time every year.  Anyone else have this problem?

If anyone is still into collectibles, there is an adorable Cherished Teddies called Amanda “Here’s some cheer to last the year”that will be ending in about 3 days.  She is a 1995 dated ornament and would make a wonderful gift.  Get in on the bidding before it’s too late. 

Speaking of collectibles,  how many collectors do we still have out there?  I can remember the time when Department 56 was the hottest thing going.  People would get up at 4 o’clock in the morning to get out and get the first newspaper so they could find out what was going to retire.  It was hazardous to be on the road between then and the time their favorite collectible store opened because you were in danger of being run over or trampled on the streets as they raced to get the last piece from the retirement lists.  Now the comings and goings of Department 56 seem to pass without so much as a mention.  Does anyone besides me remember those wild days??  Is it the knock offs?  Did people just tire of trying to get “every piece”?  Perhaps after 911 people just re-evaluated their lives and what was really important to them.  I’d like to hear from you to see what you think.

Enough of my stroll down memory lane and back to gift ideas… if anyone is still looking for Department 56 items at reduced prices, be sure to check those out on insiderauctions as well.  Several items at listed there with no reserve and they would still make a wonderful gift. 

This adorable little guy from the Byers Choice collection is being offered for auction at www.insiderauctions.com and will be closing soon.

He is dressed for a cold day of play in his blue playsuit trimmed in white fur. Mom has wrapped his neck with a colorful scarf to make sure he doesn’t come home with a sore throat. The little boy is very optomistic he is going to be able to ride his red tricycle.

Understandably, the children are very sought after from the Byers Choice Collection. To place a bid, click on the picture and you will be taken directly to the auction.