Well, such a crazy summer. I got Covid at convention in July...despite wearing my mask, and commuting every day to home. (Hubby got it too.) We weren't deathly ill, but the after effects are still lingering : fatigue, muddlness and a general lack of energy and ambition.
Yesterday, I finally got down to the basement to deal with everything I brought home. Mai...or so she is named now, had a few things to say....as she attended many of the National Barbie Convention events.
Mai: Convention was amazing---the diorama I was in was successful, and I was dragged to all kinds of 'events'. I felt very in tune with the theme, Decade of Destiny...or the Fabulous 20's in my silver costume. Honestly I spanned almost 100 years from the Thief of Bagdad-1924 to Rosemont/Chicago 2022. Enough to make your headspin.
One of the highlights were the gifts from the convention. Get comfortable, it's a LONG LIST!
O Our first gifts were the welcome box and bag. A program, beverage glass, Destiny pin, a matching pen, donation give aways, and two Destiny masks, which were striking and quite comfortable.
I ended up with three, somehow. The welcome night event was a whirlwind. I had done the diorama, volunteered at the welcome desk for Windy City, helped with setting up the ballroom, helped with the giveaways and took down my diorama, and was exhausted.
The silent auction was the big event, and I confess I barely saw any of it. Standing in line was not my thing and we had to stand in lots of lines!
The next gift at the next event was this wonderful beverage cart and tray, with champagne, glasses and of course an ice bucket. SO COOL!
Maker on the box, they have lots of interesting items, and of course the box had the fabulous Logo applied!
But of course it is all about the DOLLS. And we were all ready for them.
This gal was from one of the dinners. Such a pretty face....now do we d-box her or save her in her gorgeous box.
Her pearls are askew, so I straightened them and noticed a dark blue smudge on her shoulder---UH OH!
We ripped off the black dress with all the ruffles and sequins...and there were smudges all over her body.
On her shoulders....and arms...
Here...
Even on the hips...sigh! We tried alcohol...and it did nothing at ALL!
She has such a pretty face---We aren't fond of the Muse body anyway...so her dress was bagged.
Is there ANYTHING to fix the dyes in a dress like that with all those sequins and all those ruffles???
Her gloves were still spotless. Maybe the stains were from the extreme heat and storage? We had brought everything straight home and into the house each night.
Loved the turban and she has a small beauty mark...maybe she can re-body and we could make a similar 20's outfit as a reminder of the glory of the convention. SIGH!
ME: The anticipation was so high on the final night---for the final doll from Mattel, by one of their new designers.
The Artist in me, was amazed at the bold choices of this doll, really way out there for Mattel and Strong lines in the hair and makeup. But about that peculiar skinny heart black lip treatment. ???
The dress was an amazing vinyl cut out cage with a cascade of ruffles over a body suit.
I loved the stockings...very cool material...I didn't look to see if there was any staining yet, on her. IF I keep this doll, she will be repainted on the face---maybe a red bow mouth. I'm sorry, I can't buy the almost 'Hitleresque' look.
Bold she is---and yes, the 20's was the beginning of Fascism, however that is really a bit over the top for a doll, IMOO...just saying.
Very bold choices on this doll.
All the themed boxes, bags and giveaways were sumptuous. They were ART in themselves!
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Another gift was this outfit (WARNING: the blue lining on the cape also leaves unremoveable smudges). The fabrics on everything were visually gorgeous---just apparently not color fast.
I had helped in packaging these up---! It took over 6 hours and at least 12 people just to box up 690 of these.
And we actually needed 950 of everything + a few extras.
When you think of all the giveaways and the woman/man hours to do a convention and all these gifts it is really a HUGE undertaking.
KUDOS to Janet and Lamanda for all their creativity, coordination and giving up their lives for three years for two conventions. All their hard work really showed and the coordination of the volunteers was amazing.
I was very proud to be part of Windy City Collectors...and to help sponsor this convention and volunteer.
Back to dolls: One of the dinner centerpieces were these two dolls on a red carpet with lights in front of a magnificent laser cut screen,
I'm showing it on the gold runner, as I forgot to pick up the red runner the night of the dinner. The two stands are on the side.
The dolls' dresses came in several different styles of gold, and the gentleman was very dashing in his 20's tuxedo. Both dolls are articulated and on what I call impossible stands for articulated dolls. My job was to stand them up along with many other volunteers. Guess what, I'm going to sell/give away the stands (3)---for people who use un-articulated dolls, where they would be great, but too balance sensitive for posing moveable dolls. The bases and stem need to wider and stronger for any articulated poses.
Much volunteer time was wasted struggling with tippy dolls. And when a table was bumped during the dinner they sadly toppled over.
Little lights were amazing---laser and lit up the glass look backdrop. I was so lucky to win this couple
perfect for my stories--and definitely you will see them again.
The Mattel giveaway which you had to stand in line for????-why in the HECK! She was one of three (no choice) of these dolls. She is the 80's exercise queen updated. She's articulated and I may unbox her. She has a cute face and that fabulous hair.
Mai : Colette was also at the convention, and a few of my friends are modeling some of the gifts, here. Emily in a gifted sundress from one of our table mates, and Eloise in a fab 20's fashion another table gift, and of course Colette who attended the final banquet on Saturday in her slinkiest gown...and her favorite fur. (Sandi gifted a Chicago travel case for surviving the convention for the dolls, with a map of 20's Chicago, a postcard brochure of all the 1920's sights, a jar of bathtub Gin, gem studded martini glass, sunglasses, and something else, I've totally forgotten (Covid brain), as well as a 'Colette's' fur for each of the gals at my table.
Colette: That was quite the night, and then we brought all those dolls home. That guy in the tux---SO FINE>..um, I also placed DIBS on the gold closet and hangers which was another convention gift. I'm worried it won't fit in the bedroom I share with my cousin, Opal...but maybe she will finally leave and I can have this closet to myself.(praying motions and Colette eyeroll).
Eloise : Well, Don't you love this gifted outfit...so hip for the 1920's. But----Honestly whoever gets this closet, psst (whispering) I think BMR has designs on it. She has always wanted to move into the Grand View and have her own floor....we will see if that happens?
Colette will have to....ummmmm.....Adjust. Now I have to show you some of the other ----table gifts.
How about this for 20's luxury. One of the gals at our table made all this and it comes apart for traveling---so ingenious.
The floor is hand-painted on some pebble finish bathroom panel pieces, (light weight) and then moldings were glued on to hold up the back wall made of black foamcore.
The whole thing was in flat pieces except for the table which stuck out a bit. The mirror is amazing. Everything is new but aged...to look very 20's.
We added a small leg covered in black vinyl to add extra support and stabilize the table.
The table was glued in place, it's a plaque that has been gilded.
"Who is that taking photos???"
I really love the floor! So-o-o-o much work, and such a strong Art Deco design in the convention theme colors of Gold, Black and White.
The chair has been sprayed black/gold and jazzed up with fringe...perfect 1920's mood. (We are going to steal this idea for BMR's digs)
Add some plants (one was included) and ...me!!!
ALSO: Some cute perfume bottles that were included, and well, I have moved in! The dresser set was in a bag of miscellaneous purchased at one of the room sales.
We met so many talented people at the convention...and it doesn't end here. Table Gifts were out of sight.
Emily models a gift dress...so adorable on her. She found a hat while room shopping and it's perfect for this.
Fully lined, the dress is from Cathy's Creations.
Eloise: My outfit was made with this great fabric in a perfect 1920's pattern. Wonderful accessories all hand done. The hat is so slouchy and adjustable.
I've added a necklace but there were several gifts one from another friend below, that would work with this outfit.
So many talented people. Custom cocktails, and jewels and a fab straw purse.
The adorable pen came from two gals in South America who were dressed as the Des Mortes dolls for the Barbie Fashion Show. I took their photo and sent them a copy on my phone---2020's technology and they gave me this cute pen they had made up with their theme and were gifting.
Another table gift were these great Barbie scale floats for the pool.
More: A reproduction of an original piece of artwork, framed, a luggage/key holder, more gorgeous jewelry,
An adorable Barbie cosmetic bag, and a WARM cozy Barbie throw,We have come along way from the 1920's...to careers as an Astronaut. I personally love all the careers the Barbie dolls have inspired young girls to "BE" whatever they want to "BE!"
Another creative gift, headband, shoes, purse and tote in a Barbie embellished box.
Some fun Barbie accessories, too! We all felt so lucky to have such wonderful friends and tablemates.
Thank YOU to all!
I hope you have enjoyed this little visit to the convention.
Coming NEXT: A Few purchases from Convention and ROOM SHOPPING!
OMG...there was so much to choose from.
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