New contest from Tonner Doll Company!

A new contest is being offered by Tonner Doll Company. Check it out--from their latest email:

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In celebration of the 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz film, we are holding a creative contest sure to inspire!  You can enter the photo category or the story category.

Photography    
For the Photo Contest, the rules are simple:  photograph your favorite Wizard of Oz doll(s) from your personal collection, and send us your art!  JPEGS please.

Story
For the Story Contest, here's what we want you to do:  In 500 words or less, come up with an alternate ending to the Wizard of Oz!

We'll pick the top three photographs and the top three stories as finalists, and the winner will be chosen by....YOU!  The People.  There will be a People's Choice email survey sent out, where the public can vote for their favorite Photograph and their favorite alternate ending.

Prizes
Each of the 6 finalists (3 photos, 3 stories) will get their choice of Tonner's NEW 75th Anniversary Oz Collection Basic doll (Absolutely Glinda or Absolutely Wicked Witch).  There will be 2 Grand Prize Winners:  The People's Choice for Photography and The People's Choice for Storyline. Each will receive a 19" Wizard of Oz Artist's Proof and a signed and framed sketch by Robert Tonner.

Please send all entries to Contests@Tonnerdoll.com.  All entries must be received no later than Wednesday, February 19th, 2014.  For photography entries, JPEGS please.   Finalists will be announced shortly thereafter.

***By submitting an entry you grant Tonner Doll Company, Inc. (Tonner) all rights to use the work submitted in any manner Tonner wishes in perpetuity and allow Tonner to publish your name related to the artwork.  No remuneration for the artwork will be provided other than the prizes stipulated in the contest.

Are doll conventions worth attending?

Most definitely! I'm sure you wouldn't expect any other answer from the Fashion Doll Review. Why should you attend a convention, and which one should you attend? First and foremost:

Attend the convention of the company whose dolls you love the most.

There's no question. If you aren't a big Barbie fan, don't attend that convention, even if you think you might be able to make a profit. Even if the Integrity Toys convention is on the opposite coast, if those are your favorite dolls, attend! Have you heard that Tonner's convention dolls don't sell for double the price, unlike some convention dolls? That's OK--if Tonner is your favorite company, go anyway!

You'll be sure to find collectors of like mind, and you'll enjoy yourself and the dolls. That's the most important part of a convention, anyway.

What if you collect many types of dolls? I'd suggest a convention like IFDC or MDCC, where several different doll manufacturers are represented.

• Barbie convention usually registers close to 800 attendees. This is a fairly large convention. In addition to room shopping, count on the sales room--public day--being a bit crazy. If you like lots of people, this convention is for you. The shopping alone is worth it! Surprisingly to me, these are usually hosted by and put on by the local doll group, and sponsored by dealers, vendors, and Mattel, but not actually hosted by Mattel, so they are different and unique each year. It makes them fun, entertaining, and exciting!
• Tonner Doll convention is a bit more intimate - usually less than 300 attendees, and closer to 250. It's fun, and the pace is a little more reasonable. There seemed to be a lot of cliques at this convention--though it might just be where I was sitting (or that my hair was purple at the time). The staff is amazing. I really enjoyed getting to know them!
• Integrity Toys convention is usually limited to around 500 attendees--I found it way more low key than I expected, especially for the number of attendees. So many more people were just happy to spend time talking dolls rather than cutting in line. I was shocked and delighted. If you'd like to get to talk to some doll designers, come to this convention! The food was to die for at this event.
• IFDC is limited to 250 people, and it's the most affordable convention of them all. It's atmosphere is really fun and laid back. I really enjoy this convention because of how friendly the people who attend are--though again, since so many people already know each other, it can be off-putting at first. The raffle room is really amazing at this event, and the workshops are terrific. Dress up and put yourself out there!
• European doll conventions, such as the Paris Fashion Doll Festival, the Italian Doll Convention in Milan, and the Madrid Fashion Doll Show are amazing opportunities for shopping and have fantastic convention dolls. I would love to attend one of these someday. I've had a friend attend the convention in Milan, and it was one of the best doll experiences she's had so far. For me, it would be a dream come true! They are usually quite small--limited to around 100 attendees--which makes them quite intimate and wonderful, and you'll be able to find some amazing treasures.
• MDCC is limited to 200 and I haven't (yet) attended this event. It's very affordable, and what's really cool is that it changes locations every year, so sometime it's going to be close to you. Also, you know what is included in your registration fee, and now, you can "Bring a Buddy," which allows you to bring a friend who doesn't really want the convention doll. The breakout events feature amazing OOAK artists and exclusive dolls, and those are available on an individual basis. I've heard that you can usually see the doll before you buy it, also, which is a plus.
• Local BJD Conventions--If there is a BJD Convention on your coast or in your state, and you're at all interested in these amazing dolls, do whatever you can to attend. These are really great ways to see lots of dolls in person, plus you can save a lot of money on shipping if you plan to buy a doll. Of course, don't forget to save money up front, since you'll want to save in advance. Sometimes these conventions will have vendors who accept trades for their products as well, which you usually won't find anywhere else--I attended one convention where I saw this, and had never seen this before. It's fantastic!
• UFDC also puts on a yearly convention. 2014 will be in San Antonio, TX. I've never attended the convention, but I have been to the sales room, which was huge.

What if you're not overly fond of large groups of people? Start out small--and try IFDC or a local BJD Convention first. 

Touch of Teal

Touch of Teal, a photo by alington on Flickr.

My next project is well underway--a work about Daphne Dimples by Effanbee/Tonner Doll. She's currently my favorite Tonner sculpt. (Well, it's a toss-up between Daphne and the Duchess.)

Touch of Teal was surprisingly hard to find. She was limited to 300 when she was produced in 2007. I think she's one of the prettier Daphne dolls available, and many collectors like keep her in their collection. I can totally understand.

You can see a few additional photos on Flickr.

Wicked Style Aika

Wicked Style Aika, a photo by alington on Flickr.

Ack! I don't know what is happening to me, but these girls just keep showing up!

Worse, this one, Wicked Style Aika, included an extra body. (I found her used, but I'm not 100% sure she's original--can any reader help? Heather?? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?) (Doesn't that name look weird spelled out? I actually had to look it up!)

The dressed body looks like an original body, but the legs don't bend. I think it might be an Advance A-Type body, actually. The package included an Advance D-Type body (the one in the photo), nude and wrapped in tissue, in addition to both option sets A and B (which include tons of extra hands and a set of shoulder pieces).

In the photo above, I've dressed the sitting body in Chocolate Mint Ice Cream outfit (Sahras a la Mode), which is a nice fit--possibly a bit large in the bust, but still fine. Then, I simply popped Aika's head on the peg--no heat required, since the vinyl is so soft.

She's so cute and easy to redress. I'm afraid she won't be my last Azone addition!

You can see additional photos on Flickr.

Gold Glam ITBE

Gold Glam ITBE, a photo by alington on Flickr.

She's here already--so fast! (I also entered for Isha, and didn't win her.)

Gold Glam is the first lottery event of the year, or perhaps the last event of 2013 Integrity Toys W Club, and she is limited to 300 dolls, and uses the Adele sculpt in tan skin with red hair.