COMPLIMENTARY ARTICLE BY VIRTUALDOLLS.COM~
A great time was had by all at the first annual International Fashion Doll Convention! Three days of fashion doll excitement was a terrific success,  hosted by renown author Jim Faraone and Katy's Collectibles owner, Katy Love. 

Convention Doll "Midnight in Monaco" Fashion Royalty By Jason Wu of Integrity Toys

Jim Faraone, author of the series of books "Fashion Doll Makeovers, Learn from the Artists" and "Ultimate Fashion Doll Makeovers, Tips from the Experts" and Katy Love, owner of Katy's Kollectibles, co-chaired the first  ever International Fashion Doll Convention, garnering participation from Tonner Doll Company and Fashion Boulevard Doll Company along with the official sponsor, Integrity Toys. 

Jim Faraone in the Artists Gallery

Registration began at 3:00pm and everyone attending received a brightly colored bag filled with goodies, trinkets and catalogues from those participating doll companies. The goody bags also included a jewelry set, a special booklet featuring the Charity Silent Auction dolls and even several paper doll sets from various contributing artists. It was fun for all to mix and mingle, visit with old friends and make new friends.

Opening Reception began at 7:00pm with hot and cold finger foods and cash bar for everyone to enjoy. As everyone chatted and got to know one another, a short welcome announcement was the precursor to an unbelievable surprise.   Right before everyone's eyes, fifteen 6-foot tables were unveiled featuring dolls, fabrics, laces, tulles, furs, beads, sequins, trims, hair, accessories, etc. and the announcement was made that everyone could shop at these tables for FREE!

What a way to start off a convention with free shopping for everyone and all were perfect ladies and gentlemen while doing their "shopping". Also, hidden amongst the freebies of treats, were special gift certificates and if found, redeemable for a gift at the next event. Now, if that wasn't enough, after the Opening Reception everyone moved on to the Artist's Gallery/Exhibit where the fashion doll makeovers artists and the doll companies displayed their latest creations and lines.

Raffle Dolls

The Artist's Gallery/Exhibit was such a success, with the crowds wanting
to enter at once, due to fire laws only a few could enter in at a time.  Viewing the companies' new lines and seeing some of the best creations of the artists excited and inspired everyone. A special booklet created with bios of the participating artists and doll companies, allowed everyone to learn about each artist and company and offered a chance to collect autographs. Those with gift certificates received a set of special paper doll books created by Jim Faraone and various paper doll artists. PLUS, at this event, were 4 "raffle" boxes which you could enter your name for special prizes that would not be revealed until the Saturday Night Banquet.

Joe Bourland Competition Entry

	Durelle Brown's Competition Entry

Friday was the Fashion Doll Makeover competition with 12 categories,  each broken down to a size of doll, so the larger dolls did not compete against the smaller dolls.

There fantastic dolls  in this competition, plus as a fun gag for everyone, Jim Faraone snuck in some dolls he had created as a joke and they won gag ribbons such as "Try Again Next Year" and "You've Got To Be Kidding"!   When viewing these particular winning dolls, everyone got a laugh, or some weren't sure if it was a joke or not, but got a good chuckle over these 'snuck in' dolls.

Friday was also a day of workshops for everyone. There were workshops by Bill Jones (Painting Faces), Renee Coughlan (Making Fairy Wings), Bruce Nygren (Making Beaded Purses), Judy Frank (Making Feathered Fans), Homer Young-Kennedy III (Making A Fur Coat) and Vicki Young (Beaded Accessories).

The Raffle Room and Charity Silent Auction Room was open and within one hour, 8,000 raffle tickets were gone! Nearly 100 raffle prizes had been donated and the Tonner Company donated outstanding and gorgeous dolls, outfits, gift sets, jewelry sets and more.  During this time attendees could place their bids on the Silent Auction dolls. Out of the Silent Auction,  ten dolls were selected to be included in the live auction for the Saturday Night Banquet.

There was also a luncheon for everyone on Friday which excited everyone as they saw not just one centerpiece doll on each table, but 2 - 3 centerpiece dolls dressed as if they were going to a luncheon. These dolls were all donated by the fabulous fashion doll makeover artists.

A special slide program was give by Fashion Royalty designer Jason Wu on the making of the Fashion Royalty doll and future designs. It was an
excellent program and interesting to seeing the steps from start to finish. Then Integrity Toys even surprised the co-chairs of this convention when they gave all attendees their new "Official Integrity Designer Kit" which includes an articulated doll body, doll head (no manufacturer's paint on it, in a variety of hair colors), spool of doll hair fiber, a basic dress pattern and instruction sheet! 

Trish Forte in Salesroom

The Salesroom was open on Friday night, so everyone could shop. The huge salesroom took up 3 sections of the large ballroom and included fashion doll dealers (such as Diamonds and Dolls, Katy's Kollectibles, Suzanne Walshire's Dolls and Cuddly Things, Wendy Tobias' Class Act Collectibles, Natalie's Dolls and Accessories), artists and more. There was something for everyone. When the salesroom ended at 11:00pm it was off to the lobby bar for everyone where all enjoyed relaxing after a busy day and sharing their finds.

Saturday was public day for the salesroom. At 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Jason Wu had a special signing of his dolls for anyone who wanted any of their dolls by him autographed.

The Saturday night banquet was another beautiful night with centerpiece
dolls (2 - 3 per table) dressed as they were attending the Academy
Awards in the colors of red/black and gold. After the meal, it was time
to give out the "Fashion Doll Makeovers Awards". This is a new annual
contest and the awards are presented at this event. It was done like the
Academy Awards where little black envelopes were opened revealing the
winners. Another surprise is that the second and thrid place winners
didn't receive ribbons, but also received engraved trophies for their
wins. Everyone is now anticipating the categories for the 2004 Fashion
Doll Makeovers Contest.

Then it was time to pull the names for those "Surprise" gifts they put
their names in at the Artist's Gallery. The winners received...glass
champagne sets from the Fashion Boulevard Doll Company....a Faraone
Original doll....a Trish Forte' doll/fish creation (which was done as
the state fish of Texas)....and a free registration for next year's
convention.

One of a Kind Charity Fashion Doll by Jason Wu of Integrity Toys

The Live Charity Auction and the charity for this event was the "Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. Even Jason Wu created a one-of-a-kind creation for this auction and his doll was won by Katy Love for $4,000. The total raised for this wonderful charity was about $10,000.

The table centerpiece dolls were then awarded to lucky winners and everyone received a special souvenir of the convention, a paper doll book created by Jim Faraone in honor of Bill Woggon (the creator of Katy Keene), Katy Keene and Barb Rausch which featured two dolls of Katy Keene done by Bill and Barb and with every single outfit and accessory from this event to dress them up. The book also featured photos of the centerpiece dolls and bios of the artists who created them.

The Convention's Souvenir Doll and Jason Wu/Integrity Toys didn't let the attendees down. Each received his "Midnight in Monaco" Fashion Royalty, Veronique in a peach gown, embroidered and seqinned and with accessories. Everyone seemed to be very pleased with their souvenir doll and the whole 3 day event!

The 2004 International Fashion Doll Convention will be June 9 - 12, 2004
in Irving, Texas. The theme will be "Winter Wonderland" A Celebration of
All Fashion Dolls.  If you are interested in attending this event or entering the Fashion Doll Makeovers Contest, contact Jim Faraone at
jimfaraone@erols.com for more information.   To see all the convention photos submitted by Jim Faraone for this article, click International Fashion Doll Convention Photo Gallery. FREEBIE