Convention Report - CandiChat

11 Jun 2002


      HI All,
   I am back from Convention, and am finally catching up on sleep.  Doesn't
seem to be an option while you are there!
Got in about noon on Wednesday ( after a grueling one hour drive LOL)
managed to find our room ( not an easy feat, as the hotel is HUGE) and got
to our first workshop on time.  The workshop was great, and I heard that
the other ones were fun as well.  First night was the Go Go Gathering.  It
was mostly standing around talking etc.  Stayed for while, and then hurried
up to the room to get set up for some room sales.  Stayed open till
midnight, but had some nice sales.
Thursday morning the souvenier room opened early, but had quite a line,
and a little problem, as the bank had not shown up with their change, and
the credit card machine wasn't working.  Did get one of the great T-shirts
and some cool mod patches though.  We then attended the first timers
orientation.  Well worth the time, as we had some extra info for several
events.  After that it was time to dress for the Fashion show luncheon.
Came to the table to find it loaded with gifts.  The club gave us the first
of 3 super mod outfits, the mod Francie book, and a doll fashion manequin.
Our delightful table hosts had also given us a goodie bag packed with
edible goodies from Maine, and some really cute doll things.  We could
hardly stager back to the room with the loot!   The fashion show was
terrific, and the kids from the Charity Angels Unaware participated, and
were the hit of the show.
     That evening we had a dinner at a local restaurant with members of the
Custom doll list that I am on.  Got back in time to do a quick check on the
silent auction dolls, and go get ready for the Mattel program.  The room
was decorated beautifully, and the table had some lovely deserts on it.
Mattel program had a live Malibu Barbie and Ken ( Ken was brunette?), but
it was cute.  Then they had a really obnoxious band play.  Many people were
unhappy with that.  I could have handled it better had they turned down the
volume.  We finally found a Kleenex, and split it up for ear plugs, and
then it was bearable!  Had to sit through it thought to get the Mattel gift
of a Malibu Barbie with a special patch on her beach towel, a cup, pen, and
camera all with the Malibu logo on them.  Then back to room for more room
sales.
    Friday morning I got up and placed my dolls in the competition room.
We had time after that, so we walked to the Molly Brown house, and cruised
a great used book store.  Came home by way of the Brown palace hotel, and
gawked at the lobby there.  Came back, and had a picnic lunch in our room.
After lunch I went down to see how the competition went.  My poor Black
Francie didn't win a thing ( she is still sulking.  You can see her pic on
the Mattel site though.  She is the one in the middle in the yellow dress),
http://barbiecollectibles.com/ponytail/events_RockyMountainConvention_060720
02.asp
but my Baby Doe OOAK doll took first in her category.  Got a gift
certificate that had to be spent in the sales room.  Aw rats, had to shop!
Then had to change and get ready for the dance.  Came in to find another
table loaded with gifts.  Grand Entrance Barbie from KB, another cool mod
outfit, a darling beanie bear, more goodies from our table mates etc.  Had
a terrific Lasagne for dinner, and then there was a darling program by Joe
Blitman on mod Barbie.  For the dance we were supposed to go accross the
street to a bar, but from what I heard, it was pretty loud and smokey, so
not a lot of people went.  Room sales were more fun anyway.
    Saturday morning was fairly open, but we needed to pack and get our
things down to the car, as we were checking out that day, and had to do it
by noon.  Just too cheap to pay for another night!  Got all our stuff
schlepped to the car, and put our stuff for the evening in a friends room.
Checked on the silent auction dolls again ( my doll ended up bringing $100
by the way)  Walked down the 16th street mall for fun.  Had another picnic
lunch and basically killed time trying not to room shop some more ( failed
in that, but oh well)  Went in to the final night dinner to find everyone
looking really sharp.  Another table loaded with gifts ( do you see a theme
here?)  the last of the cool mod outfits, a cutie of a doll from our table
hosts, a sweet set of pins from the club, and a couple of more cute items
from table mates.  I presented my OOAK doll to my table host, and passed
out the last of my gifts.  Had another lovely dinner, then sat through all
the thankyous that must go with an event like this.  They announced the
site for the 2005 convention ( Boston) and then had the silent auction.
Some lovely dolls, but prices were a little lower than in past years.
Melissa Windhams doll brought $6000 ( she was at our table, by the way,
that was fun)  the doll from Katianna Jimenez ( a mattel designer) brought
$6300, I think.  Something like that.  And finally it was time for the
unveiling.  They passed out the convention dolls, still wrapped in tissue,
and we had to wait to open it.  Worth every minute of the wait though.
Cute as can be doll in black and white.  Dorinda Balienkie (sp?) was there
and graciously offered to sign all the dolls, so we waited in line for
that.  For pics of the doll, again see the Mattel website.
http://barbiecollectibles.com/ponytail/events_RockyMountainConvention_060820
02.asp
Hopped in the car ( ok, by then there was not much hopping!) and made
it home by 1 a.m.  Been trying to catch up on sleep ever since.  It was a
grand time, and I urge anyone who can to attend at least one.  Especially,
if they are in your area.  Will try and post just a little more tomorrow,
mostly about room sales, and purchases.  Hope this didn't bore anyone to
death.
Kathy M.
Frivolities Antiques
 Ft. Collins, CO