Metrodolls Event "A Novel Romance" Benefiting The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind

It's not an easy choice to decide what to talk about first, the charity or the luncheon. So I'll reference the charity now.

The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind

Mrs. Linda Newton and her husband came to the event with Marchon, Linda's guide dog. I asked and was permitted to interact with Marchon. I got down to the dog's level and put my face near her. She gently sniffed my face all around from ear to ear and then I kissed her on the head. I felt like crying for some reason. She was so gentle and I felt the love flowing from her - or was it me? Doesn't matter. It was a wonderful experience.
Linda addressed the attendees with a talk about her own experiences as a blind person and with guide dogs. Marchon is her fourth. She teaches at the Foundation. In addition, Linda and her charming, sighted husband, have raised four sons! Wow. We were all moved by this delightful and powerful woman.

The Convention Doll
A Novel Romance refers to the Outlander series of books by Diana Gabaldon. If you haven't read the books, put aside a few months and dig in. You won't be sorry.
The souvenir doll is the first from Robert Tonner of his new Outlander line. She is "Garden Encounter Claire."
In the book, Claire and Jamie are in Paris visiting Versailles. Claire runs into her most hated foe, Captain Randall.

With Claire in this first photo above is her beloved Jamie. 

You can see how not thrilled she is in the next photo. 

Here is Robert Tonner's interpretation of the fashion and the character. I think he got the fashion perfectly; her face, not so much. I do hope it's possible to produce a better look for Claire as she is not as plain as the doll looks. 

The Centerpiece Doll's look was taken from a gown worn by a character in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.
Miriam Shephard O'Mahoney designed and created the gorgeous gowns.

The Auction Merchandise:
Beautiful and varied dolls, fashions, props and accessories were donated to Metrodolls for the benefit of the charity. There were 25 items for the open auction.
A good deal of money was donated outside of these items. Including other donations, the total is about $22,000. That is fantastic.

Here is the list and the amount that was raised by each item.

Here are most of the photos, not necessarily in the order as printed above. 

My absolute favorites were:

#4 A OOAK Mods Doll in a fashion designed and created by Tom Courtney. 

#7 Bashette's Day Bed with Accessories. I liked it so much, I bid and won it. 

#17 Kingdom Doll Helen in a Monaeglow gown. 

#12 Kadira. 

#19 Pidgin Doll. Amazing! 

I would have wanted to go home with #16 Michael Giunta's "Midas Touch" and #24 YumYum Couture's "Innocence." 

You can click on each photo to enlarge.

There were silent auctions (purple bags) and helper raffles (pink bags.) I was not lucky. :-(

Another wall was lined with dealers' goods for sale. Everything was a feast for the eyes!

Jeff Lega offered a mix of vintage and modern dolls from Lynn Fenstermacher's collection.

Sandra Stillwell displayed her beautiful products which caused a lot of mouth-watering gazing.

Could you just die?

Michelle Hodge accompanied Tonner's new Annora and a few other dolls.

 Jackie Cranston was selling fashions.

No event would be complete without Facet's Boutique by Marcia.

Ed Ferris displayed dolls to sell.

Finally, Metrodolls itself had a sales table. Manning it and looking very manly in his formal kilt uniform, was Eddie Haley.

Robert Tonner gave a talk and showed slides depicting his new method of designing dolls on the computer. I always look forward to and enjoy his talks. There have been a few times I heard the same talk more than once and still laughed at his jokes.

More photos for your viewing pleasure. The first photo was taken by someone other than myself.

Bryan Marsee, Eddie Haley and Michael Giunta

Marcia Friend and Bryan Marsee

Me with a terrible haircut and the ever handsome, Robert Tonner.

Some table mates with assorted characters in the background.

Len's Doll is dressed in period-appropriate garb.

A table gift from Metrodolls.

Every attendee also received a fashion inspired by Jane Austen's "Regency Park." You can see this outfit and read Marcia's run-down on Metrodoll's blog.