Woman collects more than 3000 Barbie dolls

A Florida woman who has been collecting Barbies for 23 years said her home is filled with more than 3,000 of the fashion dolls. Lori Birkeneder, 53, said her Plantation living room is filled with glass display cases for the dolls and one bedroom is completely filled with Barbies, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Tuesday. Birkeneder said she spends about $10,000 each year on Barbie dolls and accessories and another $5,000 is budgeted for visiting conventions for collectors of the toy line. She said she is attracted to the imaginative aspect of Barbie. "It's about the fun and fantasy and fashion of it all that reminds you of when you were a kid, and if you want to be philosophical about it, of simpler times," Birkeneder said. "For most collectors, that's what it is about."