The Witches Come Out to Play

Halloween was last week, so yesterday I packed up the Halloween decorations. Since I already had about half of my witch dolls out for the display, I thought I would get the rest of the witches out and do a group shot.

The Annalee witches got packed up with the rest of the decorations, so they are not in the grouping.

To qualify as a witch, the doll had to have a conical witch hat, or a broom, or have witch in their name or description.

First up is Pop Goes Oz - Wicked Witch of the West.

Next are Jill Wilson's Scary Godmother and Maru Mini-Pal Fire Witch,

Madame Alexander's Wicked Witch of the West, My Friend Jenny in an OOAK witch costume, and Bratzillaz Witchy Princesses - Carolina Past.

Licca in an Azone witch costume, Happy Meal Wicked Witch by Madame Alexander, and Trick and Treat Cissette.

Hiding in the back is Moonlight Halloween Barbie.

The last doll is another Bratzillaz - Yasmina Clairvoya.

Not a bad group of witches, if I do say so myself.

I have posted most of these dolls before, but never as one group. I hope you enjoy seeing them all together.

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.

Happy Holidays 2020

 Happy Holidays!

Be like Evi, and enjoy a sedate, socially distanced holiday season. (Alcohol optional.)

Wonder Women

I unboxed a Wonder Woman from my collection and decided to photograph all the Wonder Woman dolls in my collection (not counting the little action figures).

Wonder Woman dolls: Mattel - DC Wonder Woman - Diana Prince & Hidden Sword (2017); Mattel - Superman VS Batman: Dawn of Justice - Wonder Woman (2016); Tonner - Diana Prince - Princess of Paradise (redressed, 2014); Mattel - Wonder Woman Collector's Edition (1999); and Mattel - DC Superhero Girls - Wonder Woman (2016).

 

Diana Prince & Hidden Sword was the doll I unboxed today.

She is from the 2017 Wonder Woman movie.

Here she is with the doll from the 2016 Superman VS Batman: Dawn of Justice movie.

This Wonder Woman by Tonner shows off how she reflects bullets with her gauntlets.

This 1999 Wonder Woman was actually my second Wonder Woman doll, I used to have an 8" Mego Wonder Woman, but sold her with my other Mego Superheroes and villains in the early 2000s. 

I look forward to being able to add a Wonder Woman from the Wonder Woman: 1984 movie once it comes out.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins

I love Autumn and Halloween. For the past two weeks I have been crocheting pumpkins out of left over yarn.

Maudlynne helped me arrange them into a cute Fall display. I think they turned out well.

What is your favorite part of Halloween. 

Flower Power

Yesterday was my doll club's (Dollology) annual May Day luncheon. This year, the theme was Flower Power. Many of the attendees dressed up as flower children and hippies from the late 60s and early 70s. It was quite a site to see.

Even some travel dolls were dressed for the occasion.

While Licca doesn't have any hippie clothes, she chose a flower covered mini yukata dress. Julie, in front of her, is properly attired too.

Other travel dolls at my table were Maru (also looking period appropriate),

And this sweet Italian fashion doll in a stylish flower power mini.

There we photo stations with props for photos too.

And a display of Tonner dolls, in honor of Robert Tonner giving the program and making the souvenir dolls.

After lunch, Robert Tonner delivered a presentation of influential doll sculptors, Helper's were drawn, and the souvenir dolls were distributed.

A Nancy Ann doll named Flower Power.

She is a dark skinned Nancy Ann in flower embroidered bell bottoms and a psychedelic crocheted top. Her hair is long, wavy, and a bit unruly.

Here she is wearing her beaded necklace, leather sandals, and flower headband. She is totally groovy, if you can dig it.

Look at that adorable face. This may be one of the last Tonner Nancy Anns produced.

On a side note, I was the lucky winner of Celeste by Stephanie Blythe from the Helper Drawings.

The Flower Power luncheon was hip and happening and I look forward to next years event.