Day 3 already? Since we stayed up way too late last night chatting, we slept in this morning. No breakfast events for us! We missed the Bring a Schoenhut to Breakfast event and the Fairy Tales/Nursery Rhymes Breakfast. Both started at 8--we got up at, ahem, 9. After all, we need the energy for the sales room, and after my program yesterday AND setting up the salesroom, we deserved the rest! In the later morning, we go to the open forum and regional meeting. We want more members (what organization doesn't?) so if you are reading this and you are NOT a member of UFDC I urge you to join!! Then, I spent time at the fantastic Special exhibits--one devoted to Nancy Ann Storybook dolls and some of her "sisters," another entitled "What I Want to Be When I Grow Up," featuring toys that taught children about the adult world, and an exhibit of all boy dolls! I also checked out the opening of the competitive exhibits, and...I WON ribbons!! I entered 4 dolls, and I won 2 blue ribbons (1st) one red ribbon (2nd) and a white (3rd). I was most proud of my Simon and Halbig lady doll in folklore wear who won a 1st, rather unexpectedly, I might add. Then, a trip to the Helper Room, where I make my traditional $20 donation. Its a straight donation, I figure, since I never, ever win a Helper.
Then...I checked out the competition, and went to the "satellite" doll show at a restaurant across the street. When I just go to conventions as a general citizen, I usually think "cool, fun, another doll show!!" This time, as a doll dealer as well, my thoughts were more along the lines of "hey what are all these people doing here spending money...they should be next DOOR spending money in the convention sales room!." This just goes to show you that perspective is everything. I'm off to the sales room now.
Friday April 4, 2003 12 Midnight
You know, its really hard to blog when you're busy every single second! The sales room was relaxing today. Sales room should never be relaxing when you're a dealer. So, we didn't sell much--everyone was either next door at the satellite show, or at somoe of the fantastic programs being offered (that I couldn't go to!!) including the Sasha dolls program "A Tribute and Fond Farewell to Sasha,' and the Bathing Beauty Workshop, and "The Mystique of Hitty." Also, Competitive Exhibit, Helpers, and Special Exhibits were all going on, so I think it was just all too much at one time. We still sold small things..I thought any UFDC convention would be a real antique dolls crowd, but so far, its much more a vintage and modern doll crowd!
Sales room closes at 5pm, and we just hang out until dinner. Tonight's event focuses on 8 inch dolls (bring your own 8 inch doll) and is "First Day In May" with May Poles as centerpieces. My 8 inch doll ends up locked up in the sales room, so I go doll-less. The tables are moved around tonight, so my group is right up front. An excellent program on playing with your dolls is given by Francesca Ontell, about Playing With Dolls. There are photos of Himstedt and other dolls across the USA doing everything from playing in a lake to mowing the grass! It makes me want to go and get the 2 Himstedt dolls I own and pose them all over my property and take photos!
After dinner, we have photo time in the competitive exhibits and sales room. This is wonderful time, and a wonderful opportunity to photograph so many dolls that its like having the vaults of a doll museum open and available for your camera. Now, we are back and about to collapse--we are exhausted. How can it be that we have only ONE more day left....and what a day...5 hours in the sales room (public day!), break down, and then the main banquet! Plus, Syracuse my Alma Mater, plays in the Final Four during the Banquet. I'm a crazy, mad Syracuse OrangeWoman, nearly as mad about them as I am about dolls....this will pose a dilemma for tomorrow night!
