I have to admit that I now have a soft spot for Ron Fong after he expressed his deep disappointment when he found out that I won't be able to attend next year's convention. The dates just won't work for me, as I am a kindergarten teacher, and next year's dates coincide with the first days of school. However, I'm sure Linda Ocasio will do a fabulous blog and I'll look forward to seeing many of you (hopefully) the following year. Until then:

GOOD BYE AND HAPPY PAPERDOLLING!!

Some convention attendees had fun dressing up as comic book characters for the Saturday night Banquet.

Mary Bolster, Diana Lax and I pose for this photo during the banquet on Saturday night.

Jan McKay gave a wonderful presentation on the "Artwork of Helen Page." She brought examples of Helen's published work and then MANY pieces of Helen's original artwork. She shared some very entertaining stories of how she had acquired some of the pieces. Helen and her husband also made puppets and you can see one of the marionettes in the photo above. Thank you so much, Jan, for going to the trouble of hauling all your treasures to Kansas City and sharing them with us. Also, thanks to Jan's "assitant," Sam McKay.

David Wolf is getting ready for his presentation, "A Star Paper Doll Book is Born." But after listening to his talk those in attendance learned that the "labor" can drag on and on and on before ANYTHING actually gets "born." Above, we see several of the many heads of Donna Reed that David drew trying to find one that would not only satisfy himself, but also satisfy Donna Reed's family. As of now, the book is still on hold. None of us had any idea of what might go on behind the scenes before a paper doll book actually IS born! Thanks David for sharing your process with us. Now we will appreciate your paper doll books even more!

One evening a group of us met in the hospitality room and had a show and tell. Elaine Price showed a very sweet book called, "Multi-Head Paper Dolls." Lettie Schwartz, who has obviously been collecting for many years, was thrilled to find the treasure above. Letty told us that she had a partially cut version of this book but was able to upgrade when she found this uncut copy which was in really nice shape. The cover still had a little shine to it!! Lettie said that she had been looking for an uncut version of this set for years. Which goes to show you that you never know when that one special paper doll you've been seeking for years just might show up!!

Here's a nice picture of "the guys." We were waiting for a workshop to begin, but I don't remember which workshop it was?? From left: Ron Fong, David Wolfe, Scott Jorgenson, and Jim Howard.

Bruce Patrick Jones shows some of the original artwork which will be included in his new Superheroes paper doll book being published by Dover. (I hope I got that right?) Bruce was very proud, as you can see in the photo.

Brenda Givens won a 2nd place ribbon in the category, "Commercial Greeting Card Paper Doll."

Louise Leek won a 3rd place ribbon in the category, "Commercial Greeting Card Paper Doll."

This was my entry in the "Original Art, Professional, Done by Competitor." Melody won an Honorable Mention ribbon :-).

An Audrey Hepburn book by Marilyn Henry won a second place ribbon in the "Celebrity, after 1950," category. This book is from the collection of Jan McKay.

This entry, from the collection of Deanna Williams, won a blue ribbon in the category, "Commercial Postcard Paper Doll."

This is a paper toy from the collection of Mary Young. The category was, "Paper Toys, after 1950."

I thought this was an interesting and unusual paper doll, entered in the category, "Original Art, not done by owner, after 1950." This is the original art by Rod Ruth who did the comic strip and also did these paper dolls of "The Toodle Twins, Penny and Pat." Mary Young won a 3rd place ribbon with this unique entry.

Louis XV of France, a pantin from the collection of Jan McKay, was a blue ribbon winner.

This is an original Art Nouveau paper doll done by Helen Page. It is from the collection of Margery Schaffer. It received a second place ribbon.

This was David Wolfe's entry in the category, "Original Art, Professional, Done by Competitor." This artwork was created as tribute to English designer, Alexander McQueen, and appeared on the cover of Paper Doll Circle earlier this year.

Another set from my collection called "Paper Dolls with Lace-on-Costumes." The category was "Babies and Children, uncut, after 1960." This set was published in 1969. Most of the things I entered are not particulary old but they are in excellent condition as you can see with this set. The dolls and clothing punch out of heavy cardboard and the clothes lace on with yarn, still intact. Even this box was in perfect condition.

Another entry from my own collection, "Amy Magic Doll" published in 1965. This was one of my all-time favorites as a child. I think I have four boxes of this set, some cut, some uncut, some in better shape than others. This isn't an easy set to find. I would have been 9 years old when I had this paper doll. The category was "Babies and Children, uncut, after 1960."

Another favorite set of mine, "Umbrella Girls" earned a 3rd place ribbon in the category, "U.S. Paper doll, after 1950."

"Best of Friends" was one of my entries in the category "Babies and Children, uncut, 1900-1950." This was a boxed set published by Gabriel. I actually bought this set from Marian Creamer at the Las Vegas convention.

Blue Bonnet Blue Bonnet was published in 1942. The category was "Babies and Children, Uncut, 1900-1960. This entry won a 2nd place ribbon and is from the collection of Jeri Kubicek.

Dorothy Dimple and Her Friends--"US Paper Doll 1900-1950"--received a second place ribbon. This paper doll is from the collection of Marian Creamer.

This original artwork by Peggy Jo Rosamond received a second place ribbon in the category, "Original Art, not done by Owner, after 1950."

An Honorable Mention ribbon for this Tuck paper doll from the collection of Jane E. Borg.

Lucy Lovelace won second place in the "Tuck" category. It is dated 1910. It was entered by Elaine Price.

Lordly Lionel won third place in the "Tuck Paper Dolls" category.

This is a magnetic paper doll of the Clintons!! The category was "Non-Royal Governing Officials." Another blue-ribbon winner by Peggy Ell!

Here you can get a better look at the original artwork for Kim Brecklein's fairy set. (If you click on the photo you can get an even closer look.) Even though Kim sold out of fairy sets at the convention I'm sure she will have more sets ready to sell soon.

This nursery rhyme book was entered in the category, "International Paper Doll, 1900-1950." The paper doll is British and it's from the '30s or '40's. It's from the collection of Marion Creamer.

This Queen Elizabeth I paper doll was done by Sandra Vanderpool for the category "Original Art, Professional, Done by Competitor." A well deserved blue ribbon winner!! Sandra's entry also won one of the two Popular Choice awards. This was the first time that an original artwork entry won one of the Popular Choice Awards at a convention. History was made!! :-)

This entry, by Cathy Yuska, depicts a singing group called, "Tapestry." The group was made up of three ladies and there are two pages of clothing for each. Cathy saw them in concert in 1991 at Silver Dollar City. The paper dolls were given out as souvenirs of the group. They were meant for the little girls in the audience but of course Cathy made sure she got one, too! The category was "Celebrity, after 1950." This is a very rare paper doll for sure!

Brenda S. Mattox won a blue ribbon for her fantastic set, Cleopatra. The category was "Original Art, Professional, Done by Competitor."

This is the original Helen Page artwork for her Beauty and the Beast set. This was entered in the category, "Original Art, not done by owner, after 1950." I'm pretty sure Carol Sullivan is the owner.

Jane Rasor received a blue ribbon for her entry, "Etta Kent Gets Some New Dresses." The category was "Newspaper Comic Strip paper Doll."

The category was "Newspaper Comic Strip Paper Doll" and the winner of this blue ribbon was Ruth Morrison.

I can't seem to find a photo of the dolls for this set. But the category is "US Paper Dolls Pre-1900." The winner of this blue ribbon was Jan McKay.

This paper doll is called, "Little Miss Brittle Bits" and she was an advertisement for the American Cereal Company circa 1901. The category was "Advertising Paper Dolls 1900-1950," and the winner of both a blue ribbon and a judges award was Jean Sullivan. I really like this one. Did you notice the outfit on the left....she has a set of GOLF CLUBS!!

It's hard to see this paper doll because of the glare on the frame, but it won a blue ribbon and a judges award so I wanted to include it. The category was "US Paper Doll Pre-1900" and the entry belongs to Norene Allen. You can enlarge the photo to get a better look.

This is an advertising paper doll published after 1950. It was an ad for Levis in 1970. Another blue ribbon for collector Peggy Ell!