KIRKLAND, Wash. — A Kirkland front yard is home to a stylish horde of zombies.
"The Girls," as they’re called, are Danielle Davis’ minor obsession – nearly 300 Barbie toys (and a few Kens) she’s “zombified” over the past six years.
"I love it so much, and that's why I'm continuing to make it grow and grow and grow,” Davis said.
The display blends two of her greatest passions – playing with Barbie toys during her childhood, and the spirit of Halloween.
“It's my absolute favorite (holiday),” Davis said. "It's the fun of it, it's being able to express yourself and be whoever you want to be for that day.”
All of the dolls were donated – and the more pre-loved they are, the better.
"They have to be used, they have to be played with, they have to have had a Barbie life,” Davis said.
Only then can they live their best afterlife.
Turning them takes several days and a lot of crafting patience.
Davis starts by spray painting the bodies grey and turning pretty dresses into ratty garments.
"All the clothes get tea dyed,” she said. “I boil them in tea water just dinging them up.”
Then comes the "makeup" part of their makeover. Davis paints each doll’s eyes yellow – and, once they dry, she adds a coat of glow-in-the-dark paint.
To make them look especially creepy – and, hungry – she uses toothpicks to smear red and black paint on their faces, arms and clothing.
The final step is left to Mother Nature.
"The rain, the wind, all of it just makes it even better,” Davis said. "When they go in the ground, they're secured as good as possible. And then however they move and adjust in the weather makes it even better, makes it perfect, because that's them migrating around the yard."
The display has lots of nods to Barbie culture from a congregation of brain-eating Ariels to a recreation of the “Barbie” movie's "do you ever think of dying" dance scene.
But Davis doesn't want her display to be just for fellow Barbie enthusiasts. It's for anyone with a sense of play and humor.
"I love it, I absolutely love doing it, seeing people experience it, kids seeing it, pointing out the different dolls, it truly is a labor of love,” Davis said.
The public is welcome to visit “The Girls” outside Davis’ home near 128th Avenue NE and NE 142nd Court in Kirkland.
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