tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.comments2024-02-24T18:38:19.148-05:00The One & Only Mattel Barbie 1978 A Frame DreamHouse Website For Devoted FansUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger510125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-13727586086377604152024-02-24T18:38:19.148-05:002024-02-24T18:38:19.148-05:00Congratulations on your A Frame anniversary! Becau...Congratulations on your A Frame anniversary! Because I was a boy & toys were SO gender-divided, I never knew this A frame house existed until this year! I LOVE 🥰 it, & restoring miniature houses. There are pretty much NO A Frame houses to be found anywhere on the Internet; just trickles of pieces here & there. So maybe one day I will collect all these orphaned pieces & build my own A Frame one day. The yellow & orange 💛🧡 is definitely my favourite; but your green & white creation 💚🤍 is wondrous too!<br />You’d think that Mattel would recreate more A Frames for all us avid fans… especially as 2028 will be the A Frame’s 40th Anniversary!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-53314275316472559362024-02-09T11:38:00.391-05:002024-02-09T11:38:00.391-05:00Regular spray paint from the hardware store. Just ...Regular spray paint from the hardware store. Just make sure it's perfectly clean first and practice spraying if you do not have that much experience to avoid unevenness or runny drops. For roof and floor color changes you may have to do coat 1 with a light colored primer so the old color won't show. Ken, Bloghostnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-29142563420249341892024-02-06T18:47:36.799-05:002024-02-06T18:47:36.799-05:00I just purchased A frame house it needs serious he...I just purchased A frame house it needs serious help what type of paint is best for painting the house ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-39149492400773132232024-02-01T13:46:16.498-05:002024-02-01T13:46:16.498-05:00Hello! I have made a special email address people ...Hello! I have made a special email address people can contact me through: AFrame1978Guy@yahoo.com <br />You are welcome to send me everything there if you like. If you scroll down through all the posts here I know I have detailed cleaning instructions someplace on this site. In short, the best thing for old dusty/dirty houses is to let them soak in hot, soapy water for the day, let everything get loosened up, lay out a large bath or beach towel on the floor and as you pull each piece out of the water, wipe it down with a toothbrush or sponge, let the water drip off then stand it upright so the rest of the water drains off while you do the rest of the pieces. With "glass" doors and windows: be very careful they scratch VERY easily, so do not use a brush, just a very soft hand towel or micro fiber towel and don't push too hard or they will scratch, for little crevices I use a few Q tips, then once everything is clean let it dry for the rest of the day. Keep the screws away from the water or they WILL RUST, they are not galvanized. I clean these up with steel wool and WD40 or mineral oil. Since you don't plan to paint the rest is easy, just assemble with the instructions I have posted on here, take your time especially with the brittle pot covers. You can take off the old tape and redo it using matte Scotch tape, on the inside edges if you can. You can embellish more flowers from the craft store. Missing patio triangles may be re created if you can find a firm material that can be painted yellow. I would look around craft and home improvement stores for very thin crafting plywood, or sturdy plastic (prime it first) and paint to match. If the post covers are too dark, you can leave them off, they aren't structural, or paint them or make new white ones from scored poster board using the old ones as a template to measure a perfect fit. This is also on here someplace with photos. Let me know what else you need help with. Thank you! Ken, Bloghostnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-55534280844571963422024-02-01T13:24:06.012-05:002024-02-01T13:24:06.012-05:00Hello, thanks so much! I picked up a Livin' Li...Hello, thanks so much! I picked up a Livin' Lively house a few years back because I liked how open it was and the vintage print backdrops intrigued me. I love the overall Groovy Mod design premise, yard tools, and all the little pieces to interact with. Ultimately, I sold it to refocus attention on the 1978 shed roof style 3 piece house. I'm glad these houses are still popping up at yard and rummage sales. I never see anything like that when I go, but I'm sure it was a great deal. They are getting more and more rare as collectors hold on to them for the long haul. Since mine is so refined (from 8 other houses) and there are custom post covers and plants, I can't see ever selling it as it is now pretty much one of a kind. I do think the designers who made the "World's Smallest" house yellow dishwasher sticker got the inspiration from my custom kitchen sink piece. I'll be posting more stuff soon, happy collecting! Ken, Bloghostnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-53529652642908953472024-02-01T13:17:47.429-05:002024-02-01T13:17:47.429-05:00Hi Betsy! Thanks for following the blog, glad you ...Hi Betsy! Thanks for following the blog, glad you enjoy it. Yup, things would be easier if our entire childhood were still in storage time capsules. Piecing things together from internet searches is an adventure. While I'm pretty familiar with the Dream Furniture line from '77, my expertise doesn't go too much into the 80's-90's time frame. You might look at vintage toy catalogues, pinterest or google and what is grouped together on ebay. Sometimes local sellers on facebook garage sale have what is needed in groupings that have been in storage for 40-50 years. What I do know is the pink version was available till the late 80's when other houses were starting to come out and it was finally discontinued for good. The 1977 Dream line that had a pink vanity also had a slightly modified green desk, the seat was the same piece just in different colors to match. Mattel was often remolding things in different colors to go with different toy lines or reissuing it from time to time like with He Man, Big Jim and I know I saw a Barbie townhouse re designed into a super hero headquarters. Hope this helps, happy collecting! Ken, Bloghost Ken, Bloghostnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-83975108116155934972024-01-28T13:56:19.859-05:002024-01-28T13:56:19.859-05:00Congratulations! What a milestone! I found your ...Congratulations! What a milestone! I found your blog years ago and have revisited many times. The depth of knowledge and incredible detail are a delight. I got a Barbie Dreamhouse for my birthday around '72 or '73. It was the Lively Livin' house and I loved it. I did not know the A-Frame existed until I saw one at a church rummage sale and had to have it. I restored it using many of your tips and techniques. Thanks for this resource! I recommend it to people often.Gamble Acreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00815684748506427507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-14652913451229036292024-01-25T11:00:38.662-05:002024-01-25T11:00:38.662-05:00Hello! Your blog is awesome and I've really b...Hello! Your blog is awesome and I've really been enjoying it as I try to solve the mystery of my old A Frame! I just recently re-acquired my old pink A-frame dream house (after it floated around the families of my childhood friends) and have been trying to find the original furniture that came with it, and in the process stumbling across all sorts of research--especially your super cool blog! What furniture I still have from my dream house along with the various sets of things I have found online, and including an unboxing YouTube video of a never before opened box have me all sorts of confused as to what kind of Frankensteined set I actually received. <br /><br /> Here's what I know:<br /><br />I received my brand new house for Christmas of 1992 (I recently found a picture of my grandpa assembling it and my dad chain-smoking while he tried to decipher the instructions!)<br /><br />The house has the light pink translucent window, not the hot pink, and I don't think it has the hot pink roof either.<br /><br />It had the bed, weird phone/tv nightstand, the pink version of the old green vanity, a wicker looking couch, the sweet roses dining table, and the same pink stove and refrigerator that you find all over the place. The stove sticker had the 8:35 sticker decal with it. Also, there was no china hutch included--I definitely don't have a memory of that!<br /><br />The thing that is really throwing me for a loop are the cushions on the couch. The cushion looks like it went with a different sweet roses couch set (that maybe I had and completely forgot about), but not the original blue floral cushions that I see in pics on Ebay. I really have no memory of the blue cushions. <br /><br /> All of this has me wondering if by 1992 they were even still producing this dream house, and if so, were they just throwing in pieces from other sets?!<br /><br />Anyways, it's been a lot of fun playing with my old house again, especially with my 1 and 4-year-old daughters, and the historian in me is just dying to get to the bottom of things! Maybe you can help me with my questions, or maybe my memory/knowledge of my set can add to your knowledge of the timeline of the pink A-frame.<br /><br />Cheers!<br />Betsy<br />elubbers17https://www.blogger.com/profile/05591552549397153998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-54998798932430233262024-01-19T15:12:08.401-05:002024-01-19T15:12:08.401-05:00Anyway, the pics with the assembled house are the ...Anyway, the pics with the assembled house are the ones from the seller, but I picked it already in pieces. I chose this one because it has all the windows, glasses and other elements like the flower boxes, it only lacks the front doors, unfortunately I can't find them anywhere (I'm in Italy). Also, no outdoor triangles, of course. It needs a good wash for sure, I should have all the screws, it has all the post covers (which I learned about them from your posts), but you can see they're darker and some have been reinforced with tape... I don't want to reinvent it, just restore it in a good vintage look, no need for it to be squeaky extra bright white, but I'm not sure how to proceed, especially with the covers: do you think I can wash them and just paint them without any restore job? Also, can I wash the windows too in my tub or do I have to do it manually, one by one with, like, a damp cloth? I'm sure I have many more questions :Dtigrazzanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-81001787385769220462024-01-19T14:57:10.819-05:002024-01-19T14:57:10.819-05:00Ok, I linked the board, and it's private, you ...Ok, I linked the board, and it's private, you should now be able to view it... I don't want to annoy you, but wouldn't it be easier to chat via email? tigrazzahttps://pin.it/6XcxFs3Mjnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-34876670169299329562024-01-17T16:11:46.287-05:002024-01-17T16:11:46.287-05:00Bloghost: Sure, you can always start a dummy accou...Bloghost: Sure, you can always start a dummy account anonymously and also mark your Pinterest albums private. Is the house you got color faded, structurally damaged, incomplete, or a combo of all of the above? Are you looking to restore or reinvent the house? Ken Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-89712280600892910492024-01-11T16:39:54.913-05:002024-01-11T16:39:54.913-05:00Ok, it's me again, sorry :D I've managed t...Ok, it's me again, sorry :D I've managed to create a Pinterest board, but I'd prefer not to publish the link here...tigrazzanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-61935652856200957792024-01-11T15:17:19.634-05:002024-01-11T15:17:19.634-05:00Hello Ken, thank you so much for your reply! Unfor...Hello Ken, thank you so much for your reply! Unfortunately I don't have accounts on those sites, except Pinterest, but this project is something I'm not sharing publicly on my socials, any chance I can send the images to you? Let me know! - Robertatigrazzanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-16377814022050304372023-12-21T14:20:26.028-05:002023-12-21T14:20:26.028-05:00Just found this house at Goodwill, partly taken ap...Just found this house at Goodwill, partly taken apart. This will be a great help in rebuilding it.Jeaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07818874801077101324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-51511686797000545682023-12-01T10:48:14.397-05:002023-12-01T10:48:14.397-05:00Hi,
Sure, thank you so much! Blogspot has been gl...Hi,<br /> Sure, thank you so much! Blogspot has been glitchy lately, so just reply with your social media handle wherever you can post pictures of your house (on Pinterest, Flickr, your own blogspot URL, etc) and I'll take a look see. Also, let me know what your goals are for the renovation and if I missed anything in the posts here about each step of the restoration process. Chat soon! Ken, Blog Host Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-9199501057424156362023-11-19T06:15:32.416-05:002023-11-19T06:15:32.416-05:00I'm writing here, since I can't directly e...I'm writing here, since I can't directly email you, but I just wanted to let you know that few days ago I discovered your blog (because I was tempted to buy this house form an eBay auction), and read it to the very last (first) post: it's incredible the work you put in it, also about the outer references, the real ife examples, the world around this toy, I appreciate all of it. I'd like to send you some pics of the house I bought just yesterday, is it possible in some way? Just to have your expert eye opinion about it!tigrazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11874421142979952610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-37387928150124055492023-10-30T10:44:57.278-04:002023-10-30T10:44:57.278-04:00Great question! Personally, I would try Michael...Great question! Personally, I would try Michael's white foam board using the wall you do have as a template to cut to correct size, sanding the edges with a light grit sand paper and then modify as needed for doors and detail. Or if you wanted something more permanent get a piece of their frosted plastic board, same aisle, and do the same to that one with the added step of spray painting it white. These should be sturdy enough with the rest of the structure and screws in place. Once everything else is in it should look fine. =-) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-90123554932189276772023-10-07T17:16:43.767-04:002023-10-07T17:16:43.767-04:00I need a back wall piece for the 1982 Dream Cottag...I need a back wall piece for the 1982 Dream Cottage. It's the only piece missing from mine. Any suggestions?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-11960843070299585262023-09-21T10:56:32.045-04:002023-09-21T10:56:32.045-04:00Would be awesome if someone could loan theirs out ...Would be awesome if someone could loan theirs out to get 3d printed...I have been searching Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-5163503798944448352023-09-11T19:03:37.726-04:002023-09-11T19:03:37.726-04:00LOVE this build! Any videos of it?
LOVE this build! Any videos of it?<br />Fawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01046351769346404193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-685252463754971432023-09-11T18:49:13.341-04:002023-09-11T18:49:13.341-04:00What was the exact brand and color of purple did t...What was the exact brand and color of purple did they use for the top one? Did they happen to do a video of it?Fawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01046351769346404193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-38953835522746297552023-08-28T09:16:31.249-04:002023-08-28T09:16:31.249-04:00Hi, thanks so much. I haven't been as active s...Hi, thanks so much. I haven't been as active since earlier posts, but I took some pictures of the screws I have since I dont keep them in place in my house. I'll post the pictures here on the blog. I dont have the exact sizes, so my best recommendation for you is to do trial and error, maybe there are some random size bolts around the house so you can narrow down what the incorrect sizes are to pinpoint the exact right size. You'll need 26 long bolts total (blunt edge bolt not a pointy end wood screw), the length is just over 1 inch, the head width is 1 cm. For restoration projects I would buy a small bag at the hardware store, matching the flat head rounded head of the screw as much as possible to keep it vintage looking and return the sizes that didn't fit, just be sure you dont try to force a screw that is a tiny bit too large or it will crack the plastic surround, get a great fit and then coat with a tiny dab of wd 40 oil to keep them smooth and rust free for the long haul, good luck with it and thanks for checking out the blog. =-) Ken, blog hostnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-59465453139242961022023-08-23T21:23:25.379-04:002023-08-23T21:23:25.379-04:00Hi. I currently have the red and yellow one still ...Hi. I currently have the red and yellow one still in the original box. Pretty good condition. I'm looking to sell it. And will send pictures. Please email me.jamieericsson21@gmail.com<br /><br />I'm also in possestionof the barbie original still in box stay traveler motor home as well. Will email pictures. Please contact the email above thank touAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-23447635641124041522023-08-21T00:07:14.667-04:002023-08-21T00:07:14.667-04:00Hi! Thank you so much for your great blog! I just ...Hi! Thank you so much for your great blog! I just happened to score an A frame this week on FB. It is in great shape and nearly complete. I think it’s missing a brace. I really appreciate access to the directions! I don’t have any screws. Do you happen to know the size. I read in your blog that you didn’t remember. Hoping since you have flipped many since, you might know. Thanks again! I really loved all your posts!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549792645791827531.post-29730714278224927882023-07-26T20:32:50.639-04:002023-07-26T20:32:50.639-04:00I'm looking to buy....Anyone sellling?I'm looking to buy....Anyone sellling?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com