National Doll Convention Kicks Off In Fashionable Style

The 56th annual United Federation of Doll Clubs Convention kicked off in grand style today in Philadelphia with dynamic doll dialogues, the Newcomer's Orientation, and much more.

Official registration for the convention commenced last night, with collectors and doll dealers from all over the United States and many foreign countries arriving yesterday and today. This morning a happy pandemonium reigned as registration continued, and people had their first chance to buy convention pins and t-shirts, sign up for additional convention tickets, and attend their first official event, the very educational yet informal Dynamic Doll Dialogues.

Besides official convention activites, doll collectors could also descend on several other concurrent doll events in Philadelphia, including two doll auctions held by world known auction house Theriaults, the ODACA sales room, and the large Rowbears doll show (the Rowbears show, actually, was in Cherry Hill New Jersey, a 20 minute bus ride away).

I arrived in Philadelphia late, late on Friday night after traveling all day from California. Funny, but I could pick out the doll collectors on their way to convention right at the Chicago airport (ok, ok, maybe the sequined "I Love Dolls" pins gave them away...). Saturday was actually spent sightseeing, because I never, ever hardly want to leave a UFDC convention hotel during a convention since there is so much to do! I got to see the birthplace of democracy at Independence Square, including the Liberty Bell and the location of the first US Congress.

In the afternoon, a local friend, Rene Mandel, who many of you many know from our Doll Collecting at About.com Doll Forum, and who lives locally here in Philadelphia, hosted several doll collectors at her house for homemade cheese blintzes (seriously delicious). We came from all over the United States--California, Louisisana, North Carolina, and all enjoyed meeting together, talking dolls, and seeing Rene's collection. You also may know Pat from Louisiana and Chris from North Carolina, also collectors from our Forum.

This morning started bright and early. I first got on line (not online, but on line at the convention offices) to see if I could pick up a ticket for another doll event. I thought I had gotten up early (I was on line by 8am for a 9am opening) but some ladies had been on line since 4am (!!) and I was waaaaay back there at 8am. Nevetheless, I picked up a ticket for The Making of the Flag luncheon. After getting that ticket, I found out that tickets were still available for Robert Tonner's seminar on 1950s fashion dolls. But, it was 1 event per customer, then back to the end of the line....very fair, but it was a very long line. I wanted to go to the Theriault's auction and it was getting late, so I crossed my fingers and toes and figured out I would come back in the afternoon to see if I could get a ticket for the seminar.

As always, I so enjoyed seeing all the antique dolls at the Theriault's preview. And, as always, I swore I would have incredible self control and would not buy a thing...and....and....sigh, I have no self control, and bought a very beautiful doll. By the way, the photo is of a lovely and rare, rare Model 217 Jumeau character with a unique expression (it sold at auction for $110,0000 against an estimate of $70,000/$90,000). I loved how the doll was posed at the preview with the hand-munching dog obviously "causing" the doll to be so expressive.

After bringing my dolly back to my room, I did check on the ticket line, which was now very short, and got my Tonner Seminar ticket (now sold out) and then went to two Dynamic Doll Dialogues on the later days of the Nancy Ann Storybook Doll Comnpany and on the Other Dolls by Mary Hoyer. Both were wonderful and I have more information to come.

Then..(are you tired yet? I was....) I went to the Rowbear show (officially called the National Doll Festival) and ran around for a few hours. Bought a few vintage items for doll costuming and two small all bisque dolls; I was with my roomate that is seriously considering a lovely character doll. There are dolls of all types at this show, from antique to modern.

Look for more blogs and information about the convention on this site tomorrow, probably in the early evening after the Tonner Seminar. In the morning, I'm teaching a Dynamic Doll Dialogue about About.com and other doll resources on the Internet. Tomorrow evening is the grand official opening gathering and then the opening of the official sales room, plus seminars, lectures, luncheons and a whole host of other activities