Holidays are Here

I have been under the weather for over a month, so my holiday decorating and playing with dolls has taken a back burner to cuddling under blankets and being surrounded by used tissues.

Feeling a bit better this week, I went shopping and found a cute (and dirt cheap) wine bottle sweater that looked like it would fit Merry, the Region 11 Conference souvenir doll by Dianna Effner.

So I brought it home, took Merry out of her original outfit and slid her into a dress that was a present from one of my tablemates at the conference. To get the sweater on her I had to cut it open in the back and slice the sleeves open. And then, the sweater fit her. To top off the outfit, I added a scarf and hat I had crocheted for another doll a few years ago. And ... TaDaa! She is ready for the holiday season.

Happy Hanukkah to all those who celebrate it.

Autumn Dolls

It is finally November. The Halloween decorations are put away and the Autumn themed decorations are up.

This year I did a simple display, utilizing the cornucopia and two dolls I haven't showcased before.

On the right is a Trendon Sasha Doll - #108 "White Dress". She is my first Sasha doll. I had been coveting the Sasha dolls my entire childhood, and when I got my first well-paying job as a teenager, I took my first paycheck to the toy stores. Unfortunately, the dolls were no longer being sold, and I was out of luck. This Sasha joined my collection in the last year, and I am very happy to have her.

The other doll is a cute, little vinyl doll by Linda Rick, called Apple Annie. She is a doll that I won in the helper drawings at the Region 11 Conference. As a child my mom would some times call me Apple Annie as a nickname, after the Betty Davis character in one of our favorite movies, Pocketful of Miracles, 1961. Seeing her name, I couldn't resist dropping a couple of tickets into her bucket. (Though she doesn't look anything like Betty Davis.)

Here is a photo of Apple Annie in the movie. No resemblance. LOL

Duckpins!

One of the many ways doll collectors show their creativity is by costuming their dolls for competition. For the Region 11 conference, I dressed Crystal (BUtiful Maya) as a Duckpin Bowler. Duckpin Bowling is a little known version of bowling that is popular in Baltimore.

Crytstal's team is the Old Baybs, a play on Old Bay, the crab seasoning.

Her belt and hair ties are printed with the Maryland state flag, and she holds a pin in her blue jean shorts' pocket.

I even found cute bowling shoes for her (the rules stated that the shoes did not have to be handmade, thank goodness).

I actually made the shorts almost 3 times, I kept messing up and forgetting how to make pants. In the end, I had a good pair and had sewn pockets for the first time in my life. I also discovered that my too old, beat up sewing machine does not do well with thin, knit material. The shirt was almost impossible to finish with my machine. 

All in all, I think I did a good job on her outfit and got to exercise a bit of creativity with it. And I am now looking for a much better sewing machine, before I start my next sewing project.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Halloween.

90 Years of Magic

I couldn't resist buying a mystery box today. The package is shaped like Mickey Mouse ears and shorts.

Inside the package are two Mickey Mouse figures in celebration of 90 Years of Mickey Mouse.

I got Mickey Mouse Shorts (short films) Mickey and Mouseketeer Mickey.

M-I-C-See ya'll soon-K-E-Y-Why? Because we like you. M-O-U-S-E.

Maryland, A Merry Land : UFDC Region 11 Conference - Day 3

On Saturday, I rushed down to the competition room to retrieve my dolls from competition and then hurried to my morning workshop, A High-heeled Sandra Sue With Her Summer Wardrobe, taught by Margaret Kincaid.

Each participant received a high-heeled Sandra Sue doll, a book about Sandra Sue, shoes, instructions, and all the materials needed to create a dress, hat, and shrug for the doll.

The instructor gave a brief history of Sandra Sue and showed us how to assemble the outfit.

There was not time in the class to complete the shrug, but most were able to finish the rest of the outfit in the time allotted.

I think it turned out quite well.

Immediately after the workshop, was the ticketed luncheon, A Taste of Maryland.

The centerpiece was filled with food and drinks from Maryland and a cute companion doll by Lutsdoll. 

My travel doll, Licca, and Zoe from the Helen Kish event, came to lunch with me, since they wanted to meet new friends.

Lunch itself was a taste of Maryland, with delicious Blue crab crab cakes and Smith Island Cake for dessert.

The souvenir doll was a cute, little Lutsdoll dressed in a red and white outfit decorated with an embroidered crab. Totally kawaii.

Afterwards, I had time to relax in my room and pre-pack my bags, so I would be ready to check out the next morning. 

And then, finally, it was time for the big event, the Black-eyed Susan Ball.

The tables were covered in table gifts and lovely bouquets of Black-eyed Susans, the state flower.

Entertainment was a 1950s themed dance troupe who showed off many of the dances of the day.

Then the audience was invited onto the dance floor to boogie the night away.

It was great seeing everyone out on the floor, and dancing until we were about to drop.

After everyone returned to their tables, the souvenir dolls were handed out.

Meet Merry, by Dianna Effner.

Back in the room for the night, Merry met the other dolls from the conference.

There were other ticket events, workshops, seminars, and programs I did not get to attend, since there is always so much to do at Regionals and Conventions, that one must pick and choose. I hope my little glimpse of the UFDC Region 11 Conference was informative and entertaining.

Maryland, A Merry Land : UFDC Region 11 Conference - Day 2, Afternoon

Friday afternoon started with me attending the ticketed luncheon: Hi Hon! Welcome to Our Dance Party Bawlmer Style!

The tables were covered with gifts from the hosting club and everyone at the table.

The centerpiece was a replica record player with the companion doll by Helen Kish on it.

My travel doll, Licca, found a seat on the vintage Thunderbird on the table.

I even tried on a pair of red cat eye sunglasses.

The start of our entertainment was some of the members of the Lady Baltimore Doll Club dancing the Madison.

Click the video below to see them dance.

Lunch was served, and a program on big hair, on humans and dolls, was given.

After much laughter, it was time to open up our souvenir doll, Zoe, by Helen Kish.

Then it was time for the Regional Meeting and Open Forum. Zoe came with me to the meeting.

I then attended the programs: In Service: Dolls of the Sanitary Fairs 1863-1865 by Elizabeth Ann Coleman, and A China Doll Puzzle (Who's Your Daddy?) by Kathy Turner.

Then up to my room to dump my table favor loot.

After dinner, I spent the rest of the evening as a monitor in the competition room, and then headed back to the room for some much deserved rest.