2000-Oct 01, Edmonton doll show

Once more I was being in Edmonton doll show.

During this time Hubby and I  visited  West Edmonton Mall (WEM), we knew the place indeed pretty well, WEM  was the world's largest mall (until 2004) it's huge with over 800 stores and services. So each time we went to the "Capital" it was a must to go back to the WEM. This day wandering around the 570,000 m²  we entered a doll collector shop and, I missed a heart beat!

  I was in front of a gorgeous young fashion doll, dressed in simple black skirt and crisp clean white shirt. her name? Tyler, Tyler Wentworth. fashion designer, created by Robert Tonner.

She was and still is as today my favorite doll and my muse. I could not wait to have her.

But still I was in Edmonton for the show.

  the show was going well

the sales went well

the coffee was ..as usual...warm

back home I was happy for the day, but I came back with Tyler in my mind

Time period: Calgary Ab. 1999-2007

1999, Oct 03, Edmonton still in my heart

We were then living in Calgary, three hours south of Edmonton, but I still had lot of friends there, so when the Edmonton doll club called for exhibitors I was in.
I was since a while familiar with the place, the environment, the peoples, and lot of customers were then faithful friends. I was very happy to participate.

 there was always a huge attendance in this show. I discovered lot of new dolls, paper dolls artists, and even if I was to too much attracted by Artist dolls or baby-dolls, I was under the charm and passion of the creators who were surrounding me.

Time period: Calgary Ab. 1999-2007

1998, Nov 21-22, Still the most important time of the year

The Ideas 4 Craft, was a huge show more than 250 tables were set for us to show and sell.On those 2 days November 21-22 1998, the traffic was very impressing, thousand of potential customers passing the doors.

2 days of intense fun, telling  stories of princesses and mermaid rescued by princes, to the kids who where surrounding my table. I was in heaven. The customers where eager to buy for Christmas gifts, or for they own collection. those were two wonderful days.

See that little yellow arrow? this is where I was...and not even scared!! hee hee

-

Time period 1996-99 Edmonton Ab. Canada

1997- New stores for my ladies

I did several smaller shows around Edmonton. I was still sewing and buying Barbie dolls.
I bought brand news Babies from the basic playing doll series, and as well I bought them in second hand store (Barbie only). I chose dolls that were indeed played with, but still in very good conditions, no stain, no shewing, no broken neck or dismantled arms.Coming home I spent timeless hours cleaning them, shampooing, curling, to give my dolls a new life and with a nice OoaK, hoping to give them a new home.
Time period: 1996-99

I was looking more often at the smile and sweet eyes of the "big girl" in the special doll collector boutique.
Gene Marshal was growing in my heart!

 My ladies at home were more and more numerous on the shelves. I never brought all of them together, they were taking turn at each shows, as the customers were basically always the same passionate. I was glad to meet the collectors whom became friends, and was happy to see them discovering a new doll at my table even if I had met them a couple of weeks before.
When window shopping in Edmonton, I passed in front of a new kind of store (at least new for me)

 Treasure Barrel was a very nice little store that smelled soap and perfumed candles. the monthly fee to rent a booth was affordable and allows me to show my dolls (and bagged outfits ) everyday all year long.

when the store closed I moved on with Crafter's Marketplace, that sold craft & thing under the same principle. I rented a booth and brought my dolls in.

 I made more bagged clothes, as lot of customers were looking for Barbie/Ken casual outfit for kids to play with. It was not as much fun but the booth fee had to be payed right?. I sold here almost all my none Barbie dolls, I still had time and imagination for one of a kind though, and I kept my home shelves ready for the next show. Those shoppes, were convenient, nice and well organized but lack from what I loved most, the contact with my customers. I loved to talk with them, listening to their observations, and often constructive criticism, and above all, I loved learning about new dolls.