2005 Doll Dreamers Guild Event at the IDEA Convetion

This year at the Independence Doll Extravaganza in Independence,
Missouri Dianna Effner hosted the first get together for the  Doll  Dreamers
Guild.  The weekend was packed with fun and adventure.  Many guild
members met each other there for the first time as they worked and
played together at the various activities that were offered.   
Participants were invited to display dolls in the Guild?s Showcase
Challenge booth.  There was an eye painting seminar and a workshop in
heirloom dressmaking. There was also a workshop introducing new press
molds to be used with an exciting new product, Hearty Clay.  About
thirty Guild members attended this year?s event.


Certified guild instructor, Connie Zink taught the eye painting
workshop with assistance from other guild instructors, Lana Dobbs and
Pat Green, Those who signed up for this DEEP seminar were among the
first to see and make Dianna?s new creation, ?Little Lou.? Little Lou
has incised eyes to help beginning eye-painters, and was designed to
fit on Expressions 10? all porcelain body.  Little Lou is brought to
life in a story introducing her and her Great Grandmother as they share
adventures in the Great Grandma?s Grand Old House.

Another guild instructor, Nedra Newson, taught the heirloom dressmaking
workshop. Nedra designed the little dress especially for Little Lou.  
Some history regarding the dress is included in the story.

Also featured in the story is the little doll that Little Lou is
pictured holding from her Great Grandmothers wonderful doll collection.
In the Hearty Clay workshop participants made the little doll with the
new clay that requires neither a kiln nor an oven. Dianna Effner taught
this workshop with the assistance of the other Guild instructors.



Dianna?s Showcase Challenge this year featured an array of exciting and
interesting entries.   Apprentice level members were invited to bring
one or more dolls to display and be critiqued by Dianna and the other
certified instructors. These dolls were put on display in the main
sales area of the show.

The highest scoring entries in three categories were awarded rosettes:
Sharon Clifton from Everett Washington for the portrait category; Linda
Reel from Shawnee Kansas for best interpretation; and Clara Pelfrey
from Wheelersburg, Ohio in the fantasy category. The best of show
trophy was awarded to Tillie Drake of Oklahoma City, OK.
Congratulations to these doll makers for some very creative work!

Dianna and several of the artisan level instructors also displayed some
of their work in the main sales room.

Dianna Effner wishes to express her gratitude to all the guild
instructors who helped to make this event possible. All of the
presently certified painting instructors were in attendance.  They are
as follows:  Connie Zink from Savannah Ill., Lana Dobbs of Fairview,
OK, Pat Green from Mustang, OK; Sandra Schoenroth of White City,
Saskatchewan, Canada, and Nelly Valentino of Miami Fl.  Special thanks
goes to guild member and instructor Helen Skinner of Oviedo, Florida
for her assistance in the Hearty Clay workshop.

This event was such a success that it is bound to become a yearly
tradition.  Other similar events will also be planned throughout the
year.  There will be a similar event in Oklahoma City in September of
this year. Click here for info



The Images for the Article

1 Little Lou Full
2 Cloth Doll Full
3 Little Lou close
4 S. Clifton
5 L. Reel
6 C. Pelfrey
7 T. Drake
8 L.D. Portrait Close
9 L.D. April Close
10 L.D. Jenny Close
11 Feed Time Full
12 Feed Time Close
13 Stylin?
14 Stylin? Close

Description of Images

The 10 inch Little Lou wearing the Heirloom dress designed by Nedra
Newson and holding the ?Cloth Doll? from her Great Grandmother?s
collection The little 31/2 inch doll made of Hearty Clay using
Expressions new press molds. A close up of Little Lou?s face.  She has
incised eyes, a new development for teaching eye painting at the
beginner level. This pair of dolls was inspired by a photograph of 2
children. Sharon Clifton of Everett, Washington received the Rosette
for best entry in the Portrait Category.  Linda Reel of Shawnee, Kansas
made the 24 inch Molly and received a Rosette in the Interpretation
category. Clara Pelfrey entered Joanna as this ethereal little fairy.  
She receive the rosette for the best entry in the Fantasy Category.
Tillie Drake was awarded the Trophy for best of Show.  The entry with
the highest score was her little  10 inch Jessica in Pink. Lana Dobbs,
one of the guild artisans and instructors displayed some of her recent
work in the Doll Dreamers Showcase.   This doll was a rendition of
Portrait 7 in the 14 inch size. Another doll by Lana was this 14?
April.  April is available either as a mold or through the guild as a
ready to paint doll.  She is the first in a series of dolls designed to
aid in the introductory painting technique seminars. 10.  This is a 10
inch version of  Smiling Jenny also made and painted by Lana Dobbs. 11.
This interpretation of the Elder Elf as the was made by guild artisan
Geri Uribe of Jamestown Missouri. 12.  Here is the Close up of Geri
Uribe's "Feeding Time" 13. One of the dolls displayed in the showcase
was this version of Madeline by Dianna Effner and Londie Phillips who
is a guild artisan specializing in Costume design.  Londie is thinking
of teaching her unique approach to costume design to guild members.

1 Dianna Effner's Little Lou Full