DOLLS WEEK OF MAY 9, 1999

SHOW REVIEWS

Anaheim Doll Show--Review:

This show is held twice yearly, in May and and October, in Anaheim, California.  The show was formerly promoted by Bohler, and now it is promoted by KM Productions, and showcases both dolls and ceramics.  The show is mainly for dollmakers (not collectors) and it has a cornucopia of molds, fabrics, laces, gadgets, patterns, books, and instructions for dollmakers, offered by hundreds of vendors.   There are usually also classes in various dollmaking techniques and sculpting, plus a dollmaking competition where ribbons, awards and trophies are given out to honor the work of the entrants.  The show had vendors from all over the United States and other countries including Germany and the Netherlands.  If you are a dollmaker and you have never been to this show, I strongly recommend you try to attend at least once; the sources of inspiration (and the variety of items to buy) are amazing--a true overview of the entire hobby of dollmaking!  If you are a collector, there are many finished dolls for sale, plus the fascination of seeing HOW the dolls you collect are made.    The show is usually held at the Anaheim Convention Center, and the next show is  October 8, 9, and 10.

Have you recently attended a doll show, class, auction, or other doll event?  Have your report or review of the event appear in "Dolls This Week!." Just e-mail your report to me at collectdolls.guide@miningco.com; you will be credited for the report, you will have my undying gratitude (since I can't attend them all!), and your web site link (if you have one) will appear as well.

NEWS

Barbie Museum Finds a New Home

Many of you know that the Barbie Hall of Fame Museum in Palo Alto recently lost its lease, and was going to have to find a new home or close down. Good news--the entire 21,000 piece Barbie collection of owners Evelyn and Robert Burkhalter has been purchased by Mattel!  Mattel has plans to move the entire collection to El Segundo, and it is planning a permanent Barbie Museum. 

UPCOMING SHOWS, AUCTIONS AND OTHER EVENTS

Theriault's Duet Auction
San Francisco, Saturday and Sunday May 22-23, 1999, at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel (see events calendar for further details).  This is one of the new Theriault "Duet" Auctions, which appears to be an auction half-way between a cataloged auction (rare, mint, and otherwise choice dolls, with prior price estimates) and an uncatalogued "Discovery Day" auction (mix of dolls, buyer beware, no price estimates, but also no phone or mail bids).   Duets have no catalogs, but listings with condition descriptions and prices, and also no phone or mail bids.  It is an interesting concept, and I will be attending this auction, and will return with a full report!

Santa Monica Vintage and Collectible Extravaganza
Saturday and Sunday, May 29th and 30th, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (see events calendar for more details).  If you make dolls, this is a wonderful show for antique fabrics, buttons, beads, and laces.