UFDC "Fin du Millenaire" Convention 2000--A Fantastic Collecting Experience! The UFDC Doll Collecting Convention is the largest yearly convention for doll collectors with over 2,000 attendees. This year's convention in Chicago just wrapped up, and it was amazing! Special, limited edition souvenir dolls were given at many of the meal events (limited edition Tylers, Madame Alexanders, Cathy Hansen dolls....) and others were available for purchase (a limited Alex doll). The convention souvenir was a porcelain Father Time, which, when a mask is taken off, reveals a handsome younger man (Marcus) underneath. Find out all about this year's convention in the new "Diary Of A Mad Doll Collector."

Prices for UFDC Convention Dolls on eBay are Sky High: If you look for some of the most popular UFDC Convention dolls from this year's convention, you will be surprised at the prices! Windy City Chic Alex already has a bid of over $340 at this auction:
--One of the Chicago Sophisticate Tylers is at $595 at this auction:
--The little bend-knee Betsy McCall is over $225!
--These are not closing prices; they are ongoing auctions! Unfortunately, Marcus, the official convention doll, is not faring as well with most bids well under $100 (he probably will be very nice when redressed with some of the fantastic new UFDC patterns, but the white Father Time robes are not terribly flattering).

New Fashion Doll Magazine!: With the demise of Millers, many of you will be thrilled to find out that Vicky Lewis from Vicky's Home On The Net is starting a NEW Fashion Dolls magazine entitled "Dolls In Print" The magazine will cover fashion dolls including Barbie® dolls (vintage - modern), Disney®, Gene®, Madra®, Tyler ™, Daisy & Willow ™, Alex ™, Jenny ™, Franklin Mint ™. The magazine will be a quarterly.

Online Doll Clubs Voted In By UFDC: The UFDC has decided to allow online doll clubs to become UFDC clubs, at the annual business meeting held during the Chicago convention. This is a big step into the future for UFDC, and one that was passed overwhelmingly. It will take some time for rules governing these clubs and their admittance to UFDC to be formulated.

Barbie Collection To Be Auctioned by Sothebys Online: The Barbie Doll Collection of Ingelore Streng will be auctioned by www.sothebys.amazon.com from July 28 through August 16.

Antique Doll Bonnet Auction at Theriaults: Its wrapping up with only a few days left. Don't miss it--I saw the bonnets in person at the Theriaults auction in Chicago, and they are beautiful. www.theriaults.com

Mattel Profits Down: Mattel Inc. and Hasbro Inc., the top two U.S. toy makers, reported this week that their profits slumped in the second quarter as a strong US dollar hurt international revenues and a prospective shortage of electronic chips muddied the outlook for the rest of the year. Mattel reported a 64 percent decline in profits to $6 million, or a penny a share, after international sales dropped 9 percent, largely because of a weak euro. Hasbro was down even more, with a decline in profits of 80%. For more information visit Excite News

Antiques at About: Antiques Guide Pamela Wiggins explores the connection between doll collecting and fond childhood memories in her article Hello Dolly. .

Upcoming Doll Events

• Timeless Treasures: The Story of Dolls in Canada is on display now through March 30, 2003 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec. For more information on this huge (over 400 dolls) landmark exhibit, visit http://www.civilisations.ca/cmc/cmceng/pr113aeng.html
• National Gene Convention 2000 will be held Oct. 20-23 at the Arlington Heights Hilton in Arlington Heights, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). Registration is $325 and limited to 700. For more information, contact genecon99@aol.com
• Fashion Doll Convention 2000 San Diego, California August 12 to 14 2000 at the DoubleTree Hotel. Convention dolls are Daisy and Willow. For more information, http://members.aol.com/fashiondollsd or e-mal fashiondollsd@aol.com

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2000 Past Editions of Dolls This Week:

January
Madame Alexander 16" Fashion Doll; Mattel Execs Leave *
Doll Costumer Guild Announces New Publication; *
Barbie PC; Barbie Auction *
February
Jill Barad Resigns From Mattel *
All The Toy Fair News! *
Toy Fair Recap; Toy Fair Toys are Technological *
March
New Theriault's Auctions; Dorothy Coleman Dies *
TRU Big Event, Virginia Graves Carlson Dies *
April
New Doll Books; New Barbie Releases in Stores *
Jill-Neimrow Nelson Resigns; Americana 2000 Projects; Fashion Doll Convention *
Barbie for President, Sign Language Barbie; Betty Spagetty and eBay Antique Dealers *
Special Online Doll Auctions; Pleasant Co. Toys For Boys, Cool Collecting Barbie*
May
Pleasant Company Founder Retires/Doll Discounts/Harley Ken HOT! *
Who's Brave Enough to Run Mattel/Hello Kitty Barbie/Barbies in stores now *
Toysmart OUT of Business; Where are Asian Barbies; NEW Mattel CEO *
June
Barbie20001 line info; Gene News; Sailor Moon NEW USA Dolls! *
eBay users dislike advertisements; GI Joe in a Dress; new 16" Fashion Dolls *
Barbie Bazaar, ITCA, Simply Gene Platinum, Barbie Convention
July
New Doll Costuming Magazine; Harry Potter Mania; Dollmakers Convention *

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