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.

SINFUL: Kingdom Doll 2017 Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana

The Kingdom Doll Convention was held this past weekend at a beautiful hotel in the Warehouse Arts District of New Orleans. My roommate, Juli Reidl, and I went out on two pre-reserved tours. One was a visit to the Mardi Gras Warehouse which was incredible and the other was a culinary tasting tour in the French Quarter. We also made sure to eat beignets at the Cafe du Monde. 

I'd go back to NOLA just for that alone. OMG. I could get addicted to those and the frozen coffee I had to go with them. Delicious!

On Friday evening, the event began.

We were treated to this amazing diorama at the cocktail party. Helen, on the right is wearing "Sloth," the second event outfit. Duchess (not a convention doll) is wearing and surrounded by items from "Lazy Poodles," an optional fashion/accessory set. The diorama wardrobe created by http://filmideco.com/ and the upholstered furniture was created by Julia Gartung.
The handmade felted poodles were the creation of Nancy Arnold of the House of Raifere.

The cloche server (a tableware cover) contained a selection of cakes and pastries. Yummy

Check out the poodle shoes!

I've been home for nearly one week and I'm still digesting the wonderful experience of the Kingdom Doll Convention.  Many photos of my city experience have already been posted on Facebook. This post will cover the dolls I took home, the event OOAK, the Limited Edition twins, the auction doll and a bit more.

I pre-ordered the companion doll, Helen, and was able to take her back to my room on Friday evening. Helen features the Carvetii head sculpt. What a beauty she is.

This is the Kinsman Doll crest. 

At the cocktail party on Friday evening we viewed the OOAK Auction Doll who ultimately went for  $15,750. Her name is Hera. The dolls were displayed in acrylic cases and better photos were not an option. I'm sure the winner will produce beautiful photos.

The first convention outfit was Lust. I photographed it on Chaucer. The black poodle shoes were not part of the ensemble. They came with the pink negligee. Lust came with other beautiful shoes.

Two lucky collectors got golden apples, (the rest of us got red apples,) and won the opportunity to purchase one of an edition of two Aphrodites.

Helen and Paris, an LE15 Kinsman, were displayed together.

At brunch on Saturday we received several table gifts including Sloth. I photographed the outfit on Draig.

Travel dolls were displayed and we voted for our favorites in three categories. Steven Prokop swept two categories with his creative entries and Monique Kordasiewicz won the third.
I believe their prizes were pink versions of the Bumble Bee outfit from a few months ago.

There was a quiz called Pride which tested attendees knowledge of all things Kingdom Doll. I didn't even submit an entry. (Don't ask.) Patrick Paul Gerhardt won a OOAK doll with Dauphine's sculpt.

On Saturday at the Gala Dinner we received Avarice, the event doll. She features a new head sculpt called Belgae.

Golden gloved hands were her additional set. 

The centerpiece on each of 6 tables was Envy. I am more than a little grateful that my roommate, whose name was one of those chosen, allowed me to purchase her.  Envy uses the Demetae sculpt. Her fashion and shoes have many Swarovski crystals which were hand applied by Alexandra herself. She came with a set of pink gloved hands, dragon lady nail hands and her standard hands. She is truly unique amongst prior Kingdom Dolls with her showgirl costume and her darker shade of resin which has not been used on this sculpt previously.

My table mates and other attendees were very generous with their table gifts. When I got to my table in the dining room, I couldn't make out the table or chairs as they were covered in boxes and packages! I'm not kidding. Back at the room, I had to leave behind my souvenir hurricane glasses from the cocktail party as I had no room at all in my carry-on or suitcase. I'm sad not to have them now.

Several of us traveling northeast left the hotel at the break of dawn. We had a little gathering at the airport. That was a special way to end a beautiful weekend.

I arrived to Philadelphia in rainy, bleak weather but I felt great as soon as I got out of the airport.  Once home I unpacked but didn't open my treasures because I went to sleep. Heavenly.
It was a joy meeting those "Sinners" I had been chatting with all year. After knowing him for so many years, I finally met Jose´ Luis Vasquez from Puerto Rico. Hola, Jose´.

Alexandra Forbes and Amanda Arnold along with their team of elves did a wonderful job creating and organizing this convention.

Next year, Sasenachs, Scotland!

PS: I won't be able to answer questions about next year's event as the information hasn't been released as of this writing. There will be a general release soon.