Wow--the Sales Room is unbelievably busy today! I can hardly believe the amount of buyers--collectors coming back from the first two days making up their minds on purchases as well as collectors coming in on Public Day--gosh, why aren't all these collectors UFDC members?.
Arleen and I had a s-l-o-w wake up, after staying up way too late last night talking. We barely made it in time for the Sales Room opening. This is my first break--I wanted to blog a bit, and then I'm getting my dolls out of the competition room. As for what's selling, its a bit of everything--lots of vintage--vintage Barbie, Nancy Ann Storybook dolls, vintage Madame Alexander, plus "I Love Dolls" charms and small antique reproductions. Not too many large antique dolls (which is unfortunate, since I have to pack whatever doesn't sell to take home in my truck). Tiny all-bisques and dollhouse dolls do OK, and I also sell an antique wax doll. And...Cathy Hansen trades me, and I'm in heaven! I'm a huge collector of her dolls, and she trades me for two of my tiny antique dolls. I get a gorgeous tiny Creole Fashion Lady and an unbelievable tiny mini mini Huret (to go with my larger Huret reproduction by Cathy). I'm thrilled, as I haven't had any time to shop for myself!
Sunday April 6, 2003 6:00pm
Oh my....I'm tired! The late afternoon was a whirlwind. Final sales, and then packing up. I hate packing up. Worse part of being a doll dealer--you are exhausted, the show is over, then you have to pack up gobs of breakable antique dolls! Thank goodness for Arleen--she cuts my packing up time in half. I almost sell a beautiful Simon and Halbig 1030 right before the close of the show. The prospective purchaser takes all the clothes off the doll, gives her a once over. Then a twice over. Then...yes, another look or two. I offer her a great price. Then, she insists the doll is on the wrong size body, and doesn't make the purchase (the doll is NOT on the wrong sized body...). But all's well that ends well, and Arleen falls in love with the doll while redressing her...so I offer her an even better price (after all, she helped me all weekend and also put up with me!) and Arleen becomes the proud owner of the lovely lady!
Sunday April 6, 2003 10:00pm
WHAT a night! OK, so I drove all the poor ladies at my table crazy by jumping up and down like a jack-in-a-box to watch the Final Four NCAA game with Syracuse (my alma mater), but Syracuse WON handily, and the final banquet (what I saw of it) was lovely. There was a wonderful program on Ginny given by the Vogue Doll Company, and the convention souveneir was an adorable, very limited Just Me reproduction by Vogue. A truly great end to a great convention. Arleen and I are going to have a drink in the bar, and then finish packing tomorrow before our drive home. I can't wait until the New Orleans National UFDC convention this summer!
For More Information About UFDC
For more information about joining the United Federation of Doll Clubs, visit their web site: UFDC Online. You don't have to be a member of a doll club to join the UFDC--you can join as a "MAL," or Member At Large.
