Sometimes it's difficult to get started discussing a convention. There is so much one sees and does. The food, the people, the displays, and finally the dolls all contributed to a fun and fast-moving final event.
The Dinner Event began at 7:30 PM. The room looked lovely. Our places at the tables were piled high with gifts from other attendees.
Marishka aka Moriarty was on display in a lighted showcase and we believed she was going to be a centerpiece doll.
It turned out that there was a doll for everyone who wished to purchase her for $1500. Most of us did not know. We put our names on strips of card and put them in a bowl. I entered myself as Terri Moriarty. (I have tried to be normal but it escapes me.) Once the number of names called reached 18, we knew there would be one for all who put their names in.
Not only did that please all who wanted Moriarty, but it was also a smart financial act on Kingdom Doll's part to sell many more dolls that evening. It does not hurt the possible resale value of the doll as I can see many collectors are posting to purchase one. Her fashion fit very well and was made carefully. The photo above does not show her rhinestone star headband. I had a 'little' problem. After I had her all dressed, I went to put her dragon-lady hands on. When I change hands, I lift the arm vertically and secure the doll between my knees. Then I pull the hand or changing hand out far enough to hook the new hand onto the elastic. Sometimes the arm pulls a bit from the shoulder which normally doesn't cause an issue. Unfortunately, the slim strip of elastic through which her arms go to secure the fur, got caught inside the body. There was no way I could get it out without damaging something so I snipped the jacket elastic. That's why she's not wearing it in my photos below.
In the Sherlock books, Moriarty, (a man and a master criminal,) does appear to have superior powers. Is he magical? What were the dark rumors? I'm not sure that was ever resolved by Doyle; however, several books have been written about Moriarty.
"Here is how Holmes describes Moriarty in The Adventure of the Final Problem:"
“His career has been an extraordinary one. He is a man of good birth and excellent education, endowed by nature with a phenomenal mathematical faculty. At the age of twenty-one he wrote a treatise upon the Binomial Theorem, which has had a European vogue. On the strength of it he won the Mathematical Chair at one of our smaller universities, and had, to all appearance, a most brilliant career before him. But the man had hereditary tendencies of the most diabolical kind. A criminal strain ran in his blood, which, instead of being modified, was increased and rendered infinitely more dangerous by his extraordinary mental powers. Dark rumours gathered round him in the university town, and eventually he was compelled to resign his chair and to come down to London, where he set up as an army coach. So much is known to the world, but what I am telling you now is what I have myself discovered.”
https://www.arthurconandoyle.com/professormoriarty.html
There were two OOAK dolls, both of which were makeovers of previously released sculpts and had fashion items redone/remixed just for them. One was a silent auction and the other could be entered by anyone who didn't get Realm during Monarchy. That doll was a fixed price. In addition, I have only one photo but another may be on the way with more information about the OOAKs.
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| The Realm sculpt was used for this OOAK. She is an enhanced version of the Realm doll all of the Monarchy attendees received as a convention gift. (I still can't believe that!) This doll is dressed in the Red Queen's silk gown. Anyone who didn't get Realm at Monarchy was entitled to enter and would pay a set price for her, possibly $1250. |
The other OOAK called Constantine, uses Churchill's sculpt and is wearing Morgana's fashion although the silver top is enhanced beautifully. Perhaps if Alex posts a photo, I'll be able to use it here.
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There were two competitions held this year. The title of one was "Tea and Arsenic" and the other was called "Baskerville Ball." We voted for our favorites as did Amanda and Alex. There were three winners in each category.
Here are the competition dolls:
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| Photo and doll by Anthony el Muneco |
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| Photo by Anthony el Muneco (Monique's Doll Entry #4) |
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| This was entry #5 and is Sue Townson's entry and photo. |
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