Mood:
brightNow Playing: Dearest Son, talking to a herd of toy animals
We're almost out of July. I can't help but feel I should go buy some more, so we don't run out. I like to keep my pantry full of July, if I can !
The traveling flea market that sets up at the county fairgrounds is here this weekend. I go about every second or third go-round, although I rarely find anything. It's good for a walk. Didn't go yesterday, because I was consumed with finishing the pattern catalog (YES !!), but it's usually a Friday-Saturday-Sunday event, so I figured I'd go today. I think I'm a bit 'down' now that the Summer Big Project is done. It happens sometimes. When I saw there were only four cars in the parking lot, I knew something was amiss. The signs were still up, though...
Turns out, the few folk who were there were packing up. Despite the large banner signs, the flea market is only on Friday and Saturday now. There were maybe five shoppers and four vendors, storing their unsold misc. One of the few sellers there had dozens of Barbies. But I didn't buy a one. For one thing, most were boxed up, and I didn't wanna prowl through them if I didn't have serious intentions to buy. For the second, they'll be back in two weeks. I guess they have a circuit or something. For the third, she was waaaay too expensive. While most weren't more than five years old, they were all tangled hair and bland cheap clothes, with the occasional inked-up face for fun.
Not one was worth the $4. each she wanted. I can only assume she yard-sales ‘em for pocket change, ‘cause these wouldn't even make me ask 'how much ?' much less reach for the wallet, unless I wanted to get into serious customizing - by starting with a bare, no-paint face ! Even with that, once a Bic ballpoint pen gets into the vinyl, you can darn near forget it. All the acne-treatment work isn't worth it for a doll you can still find brand-new for $5. at most Family Dollar stores. You'd think she'd at least brush their hair while she's standing her booth, but nope.
Of course, her biggest ‘value' was the special car sets. She'd arranged two random dolls in various Barbie or knockoff vehicles, no trading allowed. I saw Family Dollar thin plastic sedans, a one-side-faded Sea Doo jet ski, and several remote control Mattel Jeeps that'd seen better days. If the floor of my Studio looks like a used car lot, her sales table looked like a junkyard. A vehicular Point of No Return. Plastic roll-bars broke free of their moorings. Cars with missing tires hid behind other cars. Remotes leaned forlornly against wheels that no amount of batteries would ever move again, and broken ‘pop-up picnic sets' in the back of mini-vans were denuded of stickers and folded at bizarre angles that weren't part of original Mattel designs. Whoo.
She had two VW Beetles - complete with a blonde Mackie face Barbie and a blah Ken, she expected $14. Or $10. for just the car. Wow. I thought the $5. at GoodWill for each of the two I bought was a bit much. One unfortunate Beetle had its hood inexpertly painted with nail polish by its previous owner. Yikes. It really looked *bad*. Of course, no seat belts, side mirrors, or rear view mirrors existed on either of them. The other Beetle, packed in a box, was the same virulent pink featured on a Barbie case I had as a kid, and I nearly got sick just looking at it.
I found a freckled Steffie-faced Midge among the rabble, but again, $4. was a bit much, and she was hiding her white-spotted legs (fairly common on late 80s dolls) under a long red skirt. She may well be California Dream Midge, her eye paint was especially vivid, and her freckles were happily evident. I'd consider getting her in two weeks, but I'd have to find a replacement body...grrr. Hate to pay $4. for a doll who needs work, then more for supplies ! I think I'll think about it. After all, I have two weeks.
Found a yard sale, but not much there. Dearest Son gained a nice Urban Outfitters shirt and a baby monkey in a blanket puppet, as well as a free half-bottle of Cars bubble bath. I got a strip of gold sequin-edged white tulle, ruffled and sewn to elastic. It'll probably become a ballet tutu for Baby Ariel, it's about the right length and size. Also a jute tie-belt that'll fit the My Size Barbie girls. Not bad for a buck and a half.
I think I'll give the ReAnne doll a pass. I've gained four new or new-to-me dolls this month alone, so I need to slow it down. At least wait until August to get her ! 
By then, I'll know if it's another ‘oooh, new doll buzz !' or if I really want her. I mean, heck, I haven't even measured Baby Ariel in DSD yet !
