Tips for Collecting Kellies

1. You couldn't possibly collect every piece of Kelly and/or Barbie stuff, so don't even try. Find an area that you really love and focus on that. Whether it be KELLIES (like myself!), or one of the eras. If vintage collecting is your thing (example: American Girls, Ponytails). If your preference is the newer dolls, stick with a series (example: Pop Culture, Bob Mackie).
   
   Some people love the clothes, others love the furniture, and then there are people, like me, who love second hand dolls. Garage sale and thrift store Kellies hold a special interest for me. I love finding odd shoes and then later finding the match! I love my little rescued Kellies!
   
   The big point is, collect what you love! Organize your collections. Get the history behind your treasures; which leads me to the next tip...
    
2. Read as much as you can about your collection. There are quite a few good books available that can be of a great help. Also, magazines such as Barbie Bazaar, help keep you up to date with what's going on in the fascinating world of Barbie.
    
3. Create a inventory of all your dolls. Keep track of things like;
    
   1. The date you bought it
   2. Where you bought it
   3. The name of your doll
   4. What series your belongs to (newer dolls)
   5. Look for body markings and record them (vintage dolls)
   6. How much you paid for your doll

   You may not think such a task is necessary, especially if you are a newbie collector (like myself!), but collections have a way of growing VERY FAST!
    

4. Join a Barbie group, either in your community or online. You can share ideas with other collectors and gain VALUABLE information. If there's no group in your area, why not look into starting one yourself??
    
5. STORAGE: Keep dolls out of direct sunlight to protect them from fading and/or discoloration. For optimum protection, store your dolls in a glass cabinet. They will be protected from smoke, dust and odor.
    
6. SECOND HAND DOLLS: Second hand dolls can be treasures too! Wash them gently with a mild liquid soap, using particular care when cleaning facial makeup, which can fade with too much washing. For tangled hair, I use dish soap, followed by a nice smelling liquid fabric softener. It works wonderfully!
    
7. Don't restore a Barbie if you think it might be vintage, rare or a collectible. Barbies are most valuable when they are in their original condition, or seek the services of a professional doll doctor.