Kingdom Doll Morgana Cast A Spell on Me

In literature, Morgan le Fay is known by quite a few alternative names, one of which is Morgana. She is a powerful enchantress in the Arthurian legend.  Her role has changed over time from healer to goddess to sorceress and witch. Her name appears as far back as 1150 CE.

Morgan le Fay by Anthony Frederick Sandys (1864)

I was very lucky to win the chance to purchase Morgana, LE 8, at the Camelot 2016 event centerpiece.

She is the first doll to be released with the Demetae sculpt. The Demetae were a Celtic people of Iron Age Britain. Alexandra Forbes names her sculpts after early British tribes.

Morgana is dressed in a long, deep-wine colored skirt. It is fitted through her hips and fans out with a very broad sweep. The upper part of her fashion is pewter colored flexible resin. It ties in the back corset style.

Her wig is amazing. Perhaps photos can better describe this crowning glory.

The colors used are a blend of silver gray and platinum with either very dark gray or black.  (Ed. note: I've been told there's a touch of blue in there as well.) The fibers are crimped. There are a few tiny braids and one big braid falling from the top.

I have Morgana wearing one of her pairs of alternate hands...the one with dragon lady nails.

She cast a spell on me right from the start.

More information on the literary Morgana:
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_le_Fay and http://www.witchcraftandwitches.com/witches_morgan.html

Camelot: Kingdom Doll Event 2016

The Camelot event was scheduled to take place on Friday the 7th October through Saturday the 8th at The Castle Boutique Hotel in Orlando, Florida. As the final countdown to Friday progressed, dire weather predictions warning the entire east coast of the US, Haiti and Cuba filled the airwaves.  By Tuesday, there were reports of possible cancellations of flights and mandatory evacuations. I started to panic and after holding on for American Airlines for an hour, I was able to secure a seat on a flight for Wednesday. That gave me 12 hours to pack. OMG. I had never done anything like that in my life. Amazingly enough I packed and was even able to get five hours of sleep! Luckily I had already shipped my table gifts to the hotel to await my arrival which was supposed to be Friday, not Wednesday.
Anyway, I arrived in Orlando to sunny skies and 88° which belied indication of an approaching hurricane.

The first person I ran into in the lobby was a member of our fan club. She showed me around briefly and then I saw Alex. At least I knew I was in the right place.

The Castle Hotel is a quirky, small boutique location decorated in a uniquely flamboyant style. The best part was the size because one could find other people from the group easily. It was great.

Wednesday night, all day Thursday and right up to the cocktail reception on Friday were bonus days for me. The time was spent chatting and getting to know each other. That was 2 1/2 days of doll talk with lots of laughter.

I somehow (ha) managed to get in some room shopping from the three ladies who brought stuff. Here's my little haul.

We kept waiting for the hurricane to hit but Matthew was a dud in Orlando. We were all very sorry that 25% of the registrants could not travel due to airport closures and flight cancellations.

The Cocktail Reception was held in the Antler Lounge. Yes, there were antlers mounted on the walls.

We were gifted with this handsome Kinsman fashion, called Avalon.

There was a grab bag. I pulled the jacket from the "Back to Black" Kinsman outfit.

Kinsman Doll relaunch debuted Lancelot. All attendees and those whom the weather kept from attending were able to pre-order. This particular release will be exclusive to those at the event. The future open edition will differ. Details will be forthcoming.
This is a photo by Alex.

The new Kinsman, Lancelot on the left compared to the first Kinsman.

Len Ligotti organized a display of every KD to-date (not the OOAKs.) It was beautiful to see all the girls and both Kinsman Dolls lined up. Sadly, two of the slots were empty.

We got to see Igraine, a OOAK auction doll. Her sculpt is a new one and is called Icini. First photo by Alex. The winning bid was more than $12,000. (I am not posting the name of the winner here, please don't ask.)

There was so much to see at the Saturday Brunch. The fashion competition had three categories: Dressed for Shopping and brunch on International Drive, Dressed for Cocktails in the Antler Lounge and Dressed for an elegant gala evening in the Palace Ballroom. The entries were amazing. There was much creativity and even more beauty.
The winners were Patrick Paul Gerhardt for the gala evening, Mike Basala for cocktails and Steven Prokop for shopping.

Here's Steven's gal. She's got it all: phone, Starbucks, keys, Prada bag, big sunglasses. She was an incredibly appealing doll.

The next two images are place holders until I get better ones from the artists. First is Patrick's in a magnificent gown designed and crafted by Cholo.

This was Mike Basala's entry. So different and edgy!

There was another grab bag. We each got to pick two items from a box. It was fun as some of us traded for items we didn't have. I got flats and Orbit's jacket.

Excalibur was our convention fashion gift. In the left hand photo below (by Alex) the doll Guinevere is wearing the alternate gold version which was a helper gift. Nimue, the event Angel, is wearing the silver version we all received. Second and fourth photos are mine.

Pat Henry was one of the unlucky ones who could not travel to Orlando. She was to present a photo workshop. In her stead, Alex presented a few tips and tricks.

After the brunch was over a few of us went to the Florida Mall. Our driver introduced us "A Fat One."  https://www.facebook.com/fatonedogs/ It sounds very wrong until you see it.

  

We prowled the American Girl store. I enjoy looking at their set-ups. If only the furnishings were 1/4 scale. I want Maryellen's Living Room Set. It is so cute.  It would be perfect for period Gene doll settings. I just like it because of the spagetti poodle and the boomerang tables, the TV Guide and the lamp. That's pretty much everything. http://www.americangirl.com/shop/tables-chairs/maryellens-living-room-set-cmc54

As we entered the dining room for Saturday night's Gala, we were immediately drawn to the spectacular centerpiece, Morgana. Her sculpt is called 'Demetae.' We were introduced to this sculpt originally as Draig. The best photo of her that I have at this time is this one by Mike Austin.

At the end of the evening we were presented with a large styrofoam "rock" which had little swords sticking out. Each sword had a long ribbon attached. I knew immediately that I wanted the pink one and when the winning color was announced, I was stunned. It was pink.
I could have taken the doll home with me but I opted to have her shipped. She will be here very soon.

Our tables were loaded with gifts from KD, our table mates and other attendees. It felt like Christmas (or what I think Christmas must feel like.) Shoes, clothes, handbags, a castle candle, scarves, a stole, jewelry, a bound book of KD photos, coasters and on and on.

Winners of the competition were announced, the winning bid for the OOAK was announced and then the sword drawing. As a result of the missing attendees, there was a second drawing and two more lucky collectors were made very happy.

The convention doll, Guinevere, is everything a collector could hope for. She's absolutely gorgeous and her wig is perfection. The flexible resin 'cape' is unique.

Guinevere by Alexandra Forbes

Guinevere is the cover girl on Winter 's 2016 issue of Fashion Doll Quarterly.  We each got a copy of that, too.

We were able to purchase the gown and shoes in another color.

I'll be taking photos soon.
You can click on each photo to make it larger.

Blogging from Orlando

We arrived safely and that's the most important thing. But traveling is so difficult and tiring these days.
I ran into a few doll people today but nothing else is happening. The artists and dealers were busy setting up their booths and that was a closed affair.
The weather was beautiful today - sunny, warm and breezy. It felt so good after the extraordinarily long winter we had in Pennsylvania.
Since there were no dolls to photograph, I photographed a chair. Made sense to me.

Parting Shot

We're leaving for IDEX in the wee hours tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to the Mel Odom event and seeing other doll buddies without a computer between us.
The spousal unit and I will also play at Universal for a few days. It's going to be so much fun.

Here is a quick picture I took of Inro the other day. I've been trying out different wigs. I like her in the darker shades.  I did get a wonderful new wig from Ilaria yesterday and it will make it's appearance in FDQ soon.

TTYS

Mel Odom: A New Doll?

Very exciting news just out: Mel Odom has teamed up with Jamieshow Dolls and FDQ in a new venture. It will be a doll. Jamieshow dolls are resin. Mel does Gene. So will this be a resin Gene? One can only hope. Gene collectors are just now reviving from fainting at the news.

If you want to be one of the first to see the doll and hear more about the future line (?), you will have to go to Orlando, Florida in April. Perhaps I'll see you there.

When:

Saturday April 13, 2013 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT

Where:

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Universal
5780 Major Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819

Lunch with Mel Odom 

Come celebrate Gene's 18th Birthday with Mel Odom. Hosted by JAMIEshow Dolls and FDQ Magazine.  Join us for a two hour luncheon featuring guest of honor Mel Odom, as he talks about Gene Marshall and announces a new collaborative effort with JAMIEshow Dolls.  This is Mel's first public appearance since the retirement of Gene Marshall in 2010. Meet and greet Mel in person, and watch a history of the Gene through the eyes of Mr. Odom. We will be presenting a special new Ltd. Edition doll at the event, which will be available for purchase and to take home!

Mel Odom’s art first attained prominence in the mid-1970s with a series of exotic illustrations done for glossy magazines.  These pencil and watercolor drawings soon attracted assignments from art directors of other magazines, leading to a seventeen year, free-lance relationship with Playboy magazine, and covers for Time and Omni magazines as well as countless books. During this period, a successful line of posters and greeting cards using Mel’s iconic images was published by paper Moon Graphics.
In 1995 Mel retired from illustration and focused on a three-dimensional project, a fashion doll for adults named Gene Marshall.   Gene’s story of being a movie star during the 1940s and 50s was irresistible to collectors, and within a year of her 1995 launch at Toy Fair, Gene was in fact a star.  Bits of her story came with each doll and costume and in 2000 her lavishly illustrated biography: “Gene Marshall, Girl Star” was published by Hyperion Press.  Gene has been voted in Doll Reader the most influential doll since Barbie.

Note: A full sit down luncheon will be served with three meal options. Choose meal options at registration.  Click below to register.

Event Cost is $65.00

Event is limited to a Maximum 150 people.

We are sorry absentee packages are not available.

 

REGISTER