Toast of Manhattan Wrap-Up

To pick up where I left off...I loved the Winterthur trip and the Broadway show but, seriously, I could have made those optional excursions at any time because of where I live. That decision was on me. Luncheon at the DuPont hotel is probably something I'd never have experienced. It was a nice touch that could have been enhanced by a little background info or tour of the public rooms. The dining room was magnificent.

The Metropolitan Museum's Charles James exhibit was insanely wonderful. I learned so much about the artist and his work.

I was so looking forward to was George Sarofeen's presentation. Something went wrong and it was rescheduled to the next day at a time when I couldn't be there. :-(
His talks have been highlights of prior events for me.

My table mates were the best! (Go Table 6!) Luckily I was able to use credit card miles to pay for the hotel stay which was pretty pricey for a less than nice facility. Maybe I just got a crummy room. I know some people thought the hotel was fine. 

I thought I'd come home with some amazing stuff other than what I purchased and two of the convention gifts, (Tree Ball Gown and Coney Island Cutie.) The other fashions just did not do it for me.  The optional purchases were, for the most part, droolworthy. I purchased four extra fashions and wanted several more.  I have pre-ordered three additional items. During the event, as the cost went up and up, I erased my name from a few pre-order lists.

I am very fond of Sandra. She knows how to put an event together. If you have read any of my past experiences with her conventions, you will know how much I loved them. There is an incredible amount of work and planning that goes into a convention; however, I would like to see less attention focused on the optional sales and more care given to the "gifts" attendees go home with. In my opinion, the stuff given to attendees should be at least equal to the best of the lot.

I am very happy with these Charles James inspired fashions. The first three were optional purchases. 

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More in FDQ's next issue.

Player Slayer Tulabelle Doll

Why would I order a doll whose lip sculpt I detest? I love the outfit. Crazy, isn't it? I'll bet there are many out there who have done the same and it's not the first time for me either.

What I don't understand is why can't the Tonner Doll Company do this for $140.?

This doll may have a botoxed face...

I want to file off her upper lip. It's a damn shelf.

...but the rest of her is excellent from her hair to her feet. Her body is very articulated and easy to pose. Her hands and feet come off for those who wish to cripple their dolls for whatever purpose. The fashion is well constructed of nice fabrics. There's that tiny zipper at the fly which is so adorable. Belt loops and tiny gold buttons are little details that go into making a nice fashion. I added the sunglasses. I did try putting them over her lips but that didn't work.

She's got accessories and jewelry. You can't tell me they're not making money on this doll.

We don't get this quality in a $225. doll from Tonner now. We do get beautiful faces.  I'm going to switch a Tonner head onto this body...but it won't have eyelashes. Sigh.

12th Annual Facets BBQ - Sunday September 7, 2014

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Here's your invitation from Marcia:

I'm inviting area doll collectors (and any traveling ones) to come to my house in Matawan, NJ for a BBQ and doll party on Sunday September 7th starting at noon. 

Matawan is in central NJ, near exit 117a of the Garden State Parkway. It is easily accessible by NJ Transit trains from NYC or Newark.

It will be like the previous BBQ's with lots of people, food, dolls, sales, and more, but there are a few changes, so please read on...

I'll provide all of the food, and there is a cover charge of $13 per person and it must be paid in advance by PayPal (to applefrien@aol.com) or you can send me a check or give me cash if you see me beforehand. If you're going to do PayPal, I'd appreciate your waiting until a week or two before the BBQ so I have less chance of losing track of it :-) If you pay at the door, it is $15 cash - exact change required.

I'll have a sales area set up in my basement - space is on a first come basis and is limited. If you are planning to bring things to sell, please let me know so I can estimate how much space is needed per person and try to get enough shelving/tables to accommodate. If you've been here before, you know the set-up. If you haven't been here before and want to sell, email me for more info. Of course, Facets will be set up for shopping, too :-)

In addition to shopping, we'll have door prizes, the infamous "free table", and lots of dolls to look at.

The "free table" is a table of doll related items that are extras, slightly used, unwanted, etc... It's a good way to get rid of those items that you think someone might want and you don't feel like putting on Ebay. If you have some things you'd like to put in, bring them. However, if no one takes them, you have to take them back or throw them out - they can't stay here! If you want to mail donations, LMK and I'll give you the address. I've already gotten some amazing things mailed to me!

If you want to see what the Free Table is like, check out pictures and Paul's video from last year:

http://facetsbymarcia.com/BBQ2013.htm

Feel free to bring a doll for display. I don't have a theme - bring a favorite, a new acquisition, something you want to show off, whatever.

Contributions to the door prizes are appreciated.

If you need a place to stay in this area, I recommend the Woodbridge Hilton. It's about 20 minutes north of here and is more reasonably priced and nicer than the few hotels in the immediate area. If you are looking for travel mates or roommates, LMK and I'll try to help.

I hope you can make it to the party - it's a day of great fun, great dolls and great people :-) Email me to RSVP or ask questions. When you email me, I would appreciate it if you could put "BBQ" somewhere in the subject so I can sort out those emails.

Marcia

www.facetsbymarcia.com

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We will not be eating roasted dolls - not to worry. The food is good and plentiful. The atmosphere is like a mini convention and you will get to see Rudy, possibly for the last time. :-(

On top of everything you will get to see Marcia's TDF doll collection.

Definitely bring stuff for the free table. Bring some cash to buy stuff. Bring some nice stuff to sell if you care to. Just come!

Toast of Manhattan - One Favorite Fashion

Of all the convention souvenirs we attendees received, one of my favorites was "Coney Island Cutie." This fashion consisted of a big, wonderful flowered straw hat, earrings, shoes, a reversible top, shorts, a reversible skirt and a very short reversible skirt (not shown.)

There are, in fact, several other pieces but they were an optional purchase.
This is a photo by Jeff Lega but he shows a different hat.  It's labeled "Gal About Town."

I took these pictures at the event.

The extra pieces will be the handbag, sweater, cropped pants, coat, slim skirt, long skirt, sash/belt, necklace...I think. The sweater doesn't look very appealing as the shoulders are too wide but the rest of the items look cute.

The Leading Ladies of The Wizard of Oz

I've been MIA for a while attending convention and a family holiday which were just a few days apart. I'm exhausted!
I'm currently occupied getting a submission ready for FDQ.

There is an interesting, charitable function in the works and the best way to describe it is to copy here a letter from Joanne Canapini who handles PR at the Tonner Doll Company.

Hi there Terri!

My name is Joanne and I handle PR at the Tonner Doll Company.  We’ve met at many an event at the Tonner Company Store and Factory Sales over the years – I’m the gal with short dark hair :D  We are big fans of your blog, and you’ve been a great supporter of what we do, so I wanted to take the time and reach out to you because we have some super exciting stuff going on that you might want to cover! 

We’re currently in the middle of a major partnership with Warner Bros. and Habitat for Humanity on a thrilling design program called The Leading Ladies of The Wizard of Oz, in celebration of the 75^th anniversary (the anniversary of the actual premiere is actually this Friday, though we have been celebrating all year long!).  Here’s a little background:

Twenty of the world’s top fashion, costume and accessories designers have reinterpreted

doll-sized couture versions for “The Leading Ladies of The Wizard of Oz” design program in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the classic film and in support of Warner Bros. and Habitat for Humanity’s “There’s No Place Like Home” campaign, supporting Habitat for Humanity’s work to create decent, safe and affordable housing in partnership with low-income families.

Each designer has created a unique makeover from head to toe, featuring hand-crafted outfits, dramatic hairstyles and makeup, and perfectly petite footwear for “The Leading Ladies of The Wizard of Oz.” The full collection of Tonner Dolls, starring Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch, and The Wicked Witch of the West will be unveiled at The Museum at FIT in New York, September 4-10, after which the collection will be showcased at the flagship Bloomingdales location on 59th and Lexington from September 12 - October 9.

The Tonner dolls that the designers have used for their creations are the 22” American Models – and they are stunning!

Top: Betsy Johnson

Bottom: Chris Benz

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Stay tuned for more pictures of the dolls along with some of the backstory.

A Very Brief "Toast of Manhattan" Convention Post

Returned home Monday, unpacked, did laundry...looked at dolls, dressed dolls and took a few quickie iPad and iPhone pictures. I have no time as we're about to leave town to join our family for a holiday and a reunion. When I return I'll be busy for a few days getting a piece ready for the next issue of FDQ. When that's done...I'll post my recap of the convention.

What I've posted here are some very quick iPad shots of the 6 fashion ensembles we received as part of the convention package.  Some of the accessories have been changed by me or left out entirely. I just don't have patience for putting gloves on dolls.

The last photo is my travel doll wearing a Retros sweater I got in a room sale.  She's carrying some of the little goodies we received as table favors. A doll has to shop!

Here is a link to the nearly 200 iPhone photos I have uploaded to Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.842777405740687.1073741827.148849285133506&type=1

For more information on the names of the fashions, you can check Sandra Stillwell's blog where the fashions and names are listed with photos by Jeff Lega. In addition, fashions that may still be available will be posted there along with fashions available to pre-order (just in case you don't have enough clothes for your dolls. Heh.)