Dolly & Me By the Sea: UFDC 72nd Annual Convention 2021 - Baltimore, MD - Part 8

 Friday, July 23rd.

Those who have followed my convention coverage know that I really enjoy volunteering for the Helper drawing. So I was up early and headed down to the Helper Room at 6:30AM. We quickly moved the Helper buckets to the main ballroom site and proceeded to set them up for the drawing. This involves lining them up on tables, stacked 2 deep, and removing the lids and labels and putting them in the buckets.There were about 400 buckets to to do this to this year, so we worked quickly and efficiently, to be done before 9AM.

While some of us were working on the buckets, other volunteers were setting up the tables where attendees could match up their tickets and pick up their notice that they won an item. A couple volunteers were ready to type the winners in a database. 

And we were ready. I was at the spot labeled N-Q - where I would line up the winning tags alphabetically so that attendees could match their tickets up quickly. The winners were called quickly and by the end of the drawings, I had one 3 items! 

Merlot, a doll by Rustie. I think she has an interesting look.

A 25" Japanese Nippon doll.

And a Tonner Fashion Model - Olivia.

There were a lot of happy convention goers when all the tickets were drawn.

The rest of the early part of the day was spent taking a last peek at the salesroom and the UFDC Boutique. While in the Boutique, I noticed that they had some of the lunch and dinner event souvenir dolls in stock.

Yo Ho Ho Maties by Jennie Sykes and Sophie Pearson

Under the Sea by Judy Porter (the doll in gold and the silver mermaid), Love on the High Seas by Ruby Red Galleria, Chesapeake Bay Cuties by Pat Moulton.

And Seaworthy Suits by Elizabeth Cooper.

My room mate and I then spent about an hour relaxing in the bar, before heading to the Ballroom area. We found some comfy, plush chairs and waited for people to arrive for the cocktail hour. And arrive they did! I was even social, LOL. I probably talked for close to an hour about K Dramas (and other Asian shows) with another Dollology club member.

When the doors opened, we all made our ways to our assigned tables. They were decorated with light house centerpieces.

Those who brought table favors, passed them around. I passed out some of the sweaters I had made all Spring.

Gifts from other tablemates included and rubber teddy bear,

Chocolate,

And Paper Dolls. (Shown in the photo below with other items I received during the week.)

Dinner was steak and a crab cake, and a slide show of the week was shared on the large screens.

At the end of the banquet, attendees who had purchased the optional convention doll by R. John Wright, opened them up. She is adorable, and even holds her own little doll.

And that was that, the banquet was over, the convention was officially over, and it was time to leave.

My take-aways from this year's convention: I was surprised at how few attendees were consistently masked up - probably less than 10%; those attending were so happy to be doing something "normal" that they missed out on last year; and I really missed the people that I did not see this year that have usually been at convention. 

I hope that the pandemic is a thing of the past next year.

Star Struck: UFDC 70th Annual Convention - Nashville TN, 2019, Part 8 - The End

Saturday was finally here! I was up bright and early and down to the Helper Room by 6:30AM to help with the set-up of the Helper Drawing. This is one of my favorite events of convention. Love it when people win items and are happy with their wins. Sadly, I did not win any Helpers this year. Not even the Effanbee John Wayne doll. Sad face. Good news, it meant I did not have to use my extra collapsible suitcase.

After all the tickets were pulled, I took a quick peek at the Publishers' Preview and had lunch with a friend at the Jack Daniel's restaurant. I was really impressed with their hamburger and BBQ sauce. It was probably the most well cooked meal I had at the hotel.

We then headed down to the sales room for a last look.

We stopped by the Turn of the Century Antiques booth for a photo with the Virtual Doll Convention mascot doll.

There were two more programs available to see that afternoon, but I only went to one, Chatty Cathy: America's Favorite Talking Doll by Brian Taggerty. I was just too tired to sit through the next one. Instead, I went back to the room for a much needed and well-deserved nap.

Then it was time to get dressed up all pretty, pack my table favors, and head on down to set up for the Banquet. But first, I needed to photograph my table favors. For my first convention in 2012, I made cute little mouse and lion Kewpies as table favors. Since I had a few left, I decided to make some more and get rid of them all at this convention. 

Ta daaaa! They turned out pretty well.

The Banquet tables were simply decorated.

After a delicious dinner with old friends and new, and tribute payed to Ray Baker who was stepping down from running the Banana Crew after 37 years, it was time to open our souvenir dolls.

Meet Little Miss Star Struck by R. John Wright.

She was the perfect end to a stressful, but fun convention.

Star Struck: UFDC 70th Annual Convention - Nashville TN, 2019, Part 7 - The Gardens

After a lite dinner at the Falls, I took a walk and explored the Garden and Delta areas.

Couples were being photographed in front of the falls, so while I waited for the path to clear, I decided to get some photos of Licca.

Yup, more Smurfs.

I stopped to watch the fountain show. The child in the blue shirt absolutely loved the show. He ran up to the edge of the area and was dancing and oohing and ahhing through the whole thing.

I then went to the Tennessee Ballroom area and talked to other convention goers while we waited for the open bar to open up before the "An Evening with R. John and Susan Wright" event. The bar line was chaotic, but I eventually procured a libation and found a seat in the ballroom. During the event, after an introduction by the outgoing president, the Wrights answered questions submitted by the audience.

Click here for Part 8.