Kish's Jimi and the UFDC Jambalaya Jubilee

Thousand's of conventioneers have converged in New Orleans, Louisiana to attend the 2012 United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC) Convention.  Their "Jambalaya Jubilee" commenced on July 24 and will end on July 27, 2012.

Seminars, workshops, competitive exhibits, junior collectors events, luncheons with souvenir dolls, today's public sales day in the doll room, and Joyce Stamps' "A Stitch in Time," black cloth doll exhibit are just a few of the wonderful activities collectors will experience at the UFDC convention this week.

A host of vendors -- doll shops and artists -- are there.  Helen Kish, of Kish and Company, the artist of the newest member of my Kish doll family, is there.


In June, after reading the most recent Kish Collectors Society (KCS) newsletter, I preordered Jimi 'Goin' Fishin', at the club price which included free shipping.  Jimi arrived this week.  He is #7 of an edition of only 80 dolls produced.  Remaining quantities are probably there with Helen at the UFDC Convention and possibly sold out by now. 

Jimi 'Goin' Fishin' by Helen Kish

Jimi is a 7-1/2-inch, all-vinyl tyke with jointed elbows and knees.  "Shirtless on purpose," he is dressed in his light blue shortalls that are enhanced with red stitching.  Jimi also wears a hand crocheted hat made of Japanese paper yarn.  His brown mohair yarn wig is also hand crocheted.  Individually hand painted by Kish, Jimi has brown eyes and a multicolored, cloth knapsack over which his tan sandals are slung.  Jimi's outfit would be incomplete without his handmade fishing pole that reportedly was made by Helen's husband, Tamas.

Isn't he just the cutest little thing? 

In 2007, I missed out on purchasing the first Jimi, a UFDC luncheon souvenir doll dressed in denim jacket and jeans that was inspired by Jimi Hendrix.  After learning about Jimi's return, I did not want to miss getting this one.

I may not be in "N'orleans" enjoying many of the aforementioned UFDC convention events, but I am enjoying Jimi 'Goin' Fishin'.


dbg

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Célébrations en Couleurs Exhibit, Images From

Doll-friend, Ruth M. attended the UFDC Convention in Anaheim, California during the week of July 25, 2011.  I blogged about this year's convention, specifically its Célébrations en Couleurs Exhibit (CECE) on June 3, 2011.

Ruth shared five separate image installments of different aspects of the convention.  I thoroughly enjoyed the images taken of the CECE. 

About the CECE, Ruth wrote:

Seeing the exhibit was the highlight for me. It's the only part of the convention that I went back to see many times. Floyd [Bell] gave a group of us a tour of everything in the exhibit and he talked about how he started with Africa, how he happened to make each doll, etc.

I was given permission to share this link to Ruth's images.  (Click the "View Album" link and enjoy!)

Thanks again, Ruth, for sharing the images with me and for allowing me to share.

dbg

Célébrations en Couleurs Exhibit - UFDC Convention July 2011

The United Federation of Doll Clubs will hold their 62nd national convention in Anaheim, California beginning July 25, 2011 through July 29, 2011.  The theme is Les Célébrations des Poupees. For those UFDC members who enjoy all types of dolls, their history, a multitude of workshops, doll buying (in convention sales rooms) and all things doll-related, the UFDC Convention should prove to be an enjoyable experience -- a true celebration of dolls!  Convention registration is restricted to UFDC members, family members and guests 18 years of age or older. 

As a several-year member-at-large of UFDC, I have attended one national convention, their 57th, which was held in my hometown in 2006.  I wanted to experience a doll convention of this magnitude where usually over 1000 doll enthusiasts (collectors and artists) are in attendance.  I commuted to downtown Dallas during three days of the week-long event.  It was an enjoyable experience, but there were not very many dolls that mirror those in my collection.  The highlight of my experience, however, was meeting the man behind his wooden dolls:  master doll artist/carver, Floyd Bell.  Floyd and I have maintained contact and collaborated on doll articles and held frequent written doll discussions since our memorable meeting in Dallas, Texas. 

Garrett and Bell at the 57th UFDC Convention, Dallas, Texas (2006)

While convention registration is restricted to UFDC members, family, and guests 18years of age or older, the convention is open to the public on Thursday, July 28, 2011, when non-UFDC members can enjoy the exhibit and sales rooms for a nominal entrance fee. If you are able to attend this year's UFDC Convention in Anaheim, California, stop by and say hello to Floyd for me.  Unlike the convention I attended in 2006, this year there will be a presence of Black dolls. 

Bell and his doll club, Crescent Bay Doll Fanciers, a Southern California organization, will sponsor UFDC's Modern Dolls of Color event (Célébrations en Couleurs) that I am sure will be spectacular!  The event is described by UFDC as follows:

'Celebrating the artists and artistry of modern dolls of color‛

Artistry, elegance, beauty, and dignity of purpose- this marvelous exhibit is a small slice of the world of dolls of color. A feast for the eye awaits visitors to this exhibit which celebrates the artistry of modern dolls of color as well as the artists who create them displayed in scenes celebrating both the special and every day moments in life. The exhibit is sponsored by Crescent Bay Doll Fanciers of Southern California. It includes the work of local, national, and international doll artists.

Stephanie Moore, the current president of the multicultural Crescent Bay Doll Fanciers added:

Célébrations en Couleurs is our chance to share the world of dolls of color from our perspective, with UFDC, (a respected and prominent organization with a long arm).  Since I have been in [Crescent Bay Doll Fanciers], I have been lamenting the preponderance of Gollywogs, Beloved Belindies, Mammies and other stereotypical-type dolls of color that I have seen at UFDC functions. Though loved by many even in our own community, and clearly worth much historically, I have long thought that it was time to bring a new perspective to the table and who better to do this than a primarily (at this time) club of color? We have so many wonderful modern artists who have not been as recognized and should be so I thought it was time we recognized them.

Célébrations en Couleurs is one of 6 special exhibits this year at the convention. The exhibit is curated by Mary Kimbrough. It is very encouraging that UFDC is beginning to incorporate Black-doll exhibits organized by those closely connected to the dolls we love.  I hope to see more of this at future conventions.

To view this year's tentative schedule of events, click here. To learn more about the UFDC organization, click here.

Crescent Bay Doll Fanciers' website can be accessed here.

dbg