GENE FAN APPRECIATION WEEKEND:  Its THIS weekend! Starts today, and runs from Nov 10 to 12.  Check your local Gene retailer for full details.  Available at the event will be a limited Lovely In Lace Gene doll, for $84.95, PLUS a Lovely In Lace Accessory pak which will ONLY be available at the Fan Appreciation Weekend--it includes a Velour Cape, Hood, and Holiday Greeting Cards sized for Gene, for $59.95. With purchase, you can receive Gene's Christmas Star ornament for free.    If you want the items but cannot attend the event, many retailers will ship them to you if you order them this weekend.  You can also order the items directly from Ashton Drake this weekend only, from their Fan Appreciation Page.

ARTICLE FROM MODERN DOLL COLLECTORS CONVENTION:  My article on the Modern Doll Collector Convention is not up yet, thanks to Mail Boxes Etc. in Las Vegas.  I shipped my dolls from Las Vegas because I had too much to carry back on the plane.  The convention graciously arranged to have MBE in the lobby area of the show to help with shipping.  Well, I paid $92 (!!) to ship the boxes via 2 to 3 day Federal Express Ground Delivery  They were supposed to be shipped on MONDAY with delivery hopefully WEDNESDAY and no later than THURSDAY.  Here I sit with 1/2 of Friday gone, and no dolls.  Via tracking, my dolls were located in my town yesterday, but they have not been delivered to me yet.  The moral of my story is to be careful when shipping items from convention...especially if you need the dolls and your show purchases for an article you are writing!! 

iDOLLS Buyer's Club SALE:   Today, November 10 ONLY, 30% off all in-stock items for all Buyer's Club members who were a member as of midnight last night (instead of the usual 15% off).   Go to iDolls.com.   

ELINOR PEACE BAILEY CHAT:  Michaels.com will be holding a special chat event with Elinor Peace Bailey at 8pm
Eastern on Monday, December 4 at Michaels.com. The url for the chat is http://forums.about.com/ichat/michaels.asp . I know that many of my community members are big fans of Elinor!

RANDOM GENE RUMOURS AND NEWS:  Since the Gene and MDC conventions, it has been reported that there may be an African American friend for Gene, a male companion doll, REAL shoes (better detailing, and NOT sandals!) and bendable elbows.  Stay tuned--we should know more at Toy Fair in February! 

BARBIE FASHION MODEL DISPLAY CASE:  Many of the Fashion Doll Display cases sent out by Mattel have an identical crack in the upper left-hand corner off of the front door.  Mattel has offered to repair these, IF you ship the cases back to them for repair.  Mattel has agreed to pay for shipping both ways, but that doesn't take away what I call "the hassle factor."   This is a HUGE item, and very cumbersome to pack and ship.  Considering the cost of these cases, it is very upsetting to be faced with the prospect of either taking on the hassle of shipping it back and forth (and, perhaps having it damaged again) OR being stuck with a nearly $400 defective case.  I would prefer it if Mattel would offer partial refunds for these cases (perhaps, at least, what it would cost to ship it back and forth and fix it?).  It turns out that ONLY 150 of these cases were produced for retailers, with another 150 to be released to collectors. 

VISIT THE CHAT ROOM!:   Its open 24 hours a day, and its free!  Just invite your friends in any time, or stop by to see who's there!  http://collectdolls.about.com/mpchat.htm. 

November 5, 2000:  Modern Doll Collector's Convention News; Basil St. John doll; Special Gene "Moments To Remember"
October 30, 2000:  ABOUT.com and Doll Reader parent companies to merge; Barbie Challenger Pro and Con, more!
October 23, 2000:  Eve arrives; American Girl Holiday Catalog; Joan Nerini Antique Costuming Seminar
October 19, 2000:  Halloween Kellys; Sothebys.com leaves Amazon; Doll Costuming Magazine Premieres, more! 
October 13, 2000:  Middle-Aged Barbie; KB Holiday Toys; Vintage Barbie by Mail Auction, more!
October 6, 2000:  TRU Big Barbie Event; Robert Tonner Showcase; Holiday Toys; Sad Toy Story
October 3, 2000:  New doll books; Barbie Volkswagen Beetle, Chuck E. Cheese Doll; Barbie Hallmark Ornaments
September 28, 2000:  Mattel Buy-out rumours; Elle dolls; Barbie Fashion Models
September 25, 2000:  Ginny and Vintage Barbie Auctions; Online Toy Store Wars
September 22, 2000:  Daisy and Willow Line In Turmoil; Olympic Dolls; Lee Middleton Showcase
September 18, 2000:  Top Holiday Toys List; Barbie Markets to Moms; Black Widow Released
September 13, 2000:  New American Girl Kit; $15,000 Gene Package; Robert Best; eBay and Featured Items
September 11, 2000:  $8,000 Fashion Model Barbie Doll; Lee Middleton Dolls; eBay tackles fraud; Encore Gene shipping
September 8, 2000:  eToys; The World's Biggest Toy Store; Some Alexs' Sold Out; No AA Fashion Model Barbie
September 6, 2000:  Doe Barbie Manipulate Children; Venus and Serena dolls; Baby Boomer Toys; Robert Tonner 18" dolls 
September 1, 2000:  Modern Doll Convention; New Barbies; John F. Kennedy Doll; ViewMaster 
August 30, 2000:  Reproduction Dawn; Electronic Toy Shortage; Theriaults Upcoming Online Auctions; Paper Dolls
August 28, 2000:  Auction-Site Shake-Out; Barbie in the New Millennium; New Links
August 25, 2000:  Ask the Editor Chat; AA Prince Ken; Doll Reviews

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Click HERE for the 2000 Doll News Archive from January through August

For all 1999 editions of "Dolls This Week" please go to the 1999 Dolls This Week Archives.