The Final Curtain!

and so it ends......fantastically - just like it started. And we would not only like to applaud the winner of this final challenge, Dal Lowenbein, but it is also time to crown the overall winner, Emilia Nieminen, and to proclaim the People's Choice as Lori Lyon. What an achievement for each of these ladies!! But we also don't want to overlook all the talented designers who participated. We have seen an extreme amount of growth and the wonderful fortitude necessary to work through a tedious competition like this one! Congrats all 'round!!!

Now we must digress a bit and give you some information on our final ongoing judge, guest judge, and sponsor that was omitted during our holiday hiatus.

Our final ongoing judge is like many who love Barbie. She enjoyed Barbie during childhood, then reluctantly gave her up as the teen years approached. However, a gift from a friend brought her back! It wasn't Shayna's intention to get so hooked again, but her infatuation grew and so did her collection of dolls and doll clothing in 1:6 scale. Today Barbie is joined by lots of friends including Dollikins, Fashion Royalty, Monsieur Z, Momoko, and more.

In 2004 Shayna began to want to sew for her dolls. It only took buying a pattern and some fabric to get her going. Today she's totally obsessed with creating new wardrobe choices for her bevy of dolls, and sometimes even a customer or two. Shayna limits the saleable items she will make because she works full-time and sews for her dolls primarily as her creative outlet. Therefore, a maximum of two of one outfit is made - one for her girls, and one for sale to her mailing list.


Fit is key, and whether using a pattern she's bought or made herself, Shayna works on each pattern to make sure to get the most flawless fit possible. She works with the best quality fabrics, and washes and soaks many to ensure no staining on the doll. Lining garments or finishing seams is determined by what is needed to create the best and lasting garment. Shayna also makes complimentary jewelry and other accessories for her outfits, which may occasionally include a new pet. The overall appearance, quality of her garments, and limited availability have made her outfits so desireable that she now holds private auctions for her mailing list. If you're interested in seeing more of this artist's beautiful work, check her website.




For this final round we were happy to have Rudi Teruel from R&D Fashion Dolls. Rudi is a familiar face at doll conventions, and it was our pleasure to welcome him as a guest judge. R&D Fashion Dolls was the first shop of its kind in Taipei, Taiwan. It opened in May of 1999 and has been growing strong ever since. This international company is an internet success that specializes in many types of fashion dolls. Popular ones from the United States are Barbie, Adele & Veronique and Monsieur Z dolls; and from Japan: Petworks' Momoko, ANNZ, Jenny and her friends, Volks and other Anime dolls, Blythe, Pullip and RUNE dolls.

R& D Fashion Dolls are also the exclusive distributor of their own wonderful Susie doll that debuted in late 2003 and the Susie Deluxe that became available January 2007. Their ball-jointed dolls include their own Angel dolls line which includes a bevy of beauties that debuted in the fall of 2005, and their Mensjaro line, which are the male counterparts to the aforementioned Angels. R& D Fashion Dolls also carry a nice selection of wigs for some of their dolls. For more information on their dolls, you can check out the website.

For his part as guest judge of Challenge 8, we found Rudi's comments during the scoring very insightful. We hope his comments as well as those of all the judges will aid all who participated, in their future endeavors.

And now a word on our final sponsor......

The Azone Store and PBFactory are two online stores run by Denise Travers and Larraine Elcock. Denise is a stewardess and doll collector who flies to Japan frequently. During her travels to the Orient she became interested in Azone clothing and developed a desire to create an online store for these products. Also, last spring there was a movement of discontent against high eBay charges, and Denise approached Larraine Elcock, another avid doll collector, to start an online Auction aptly named Auction Fever. Here these ladies have developed the best of two worlds - a place to avoid high eBay fees, and a venue to showcase some of Denise's Japan-found items in auctions. Also, in the spirit of giving back to the community, these ladies have run several charity auctions.

After achieving success with their auction site Denise and Larraine met with Azone and PBFactory (a doll sewing notion manufacturer) at the International Fashion Doll Convention (IFDC) to present the idea of a North American online store for these company's products. Both companies agreed, and the stores became a reality. Today the stores and the auction site continue to be a success. So, it was a natural that both Denise and Larraine would want to sponsor Larraine's CDDC. Together they contributed gift certificates, and Larraine also contributed Antoinette dolls. Information is readily available about these venues on their websites: Auction Fever, Azone, and PBF.

As for CDDC...

It's been a fun ride for all of us who participated in CDDC whether we entered, watched, or cheered on our favorites. But will there be another competition? Well, at the moment that is not completely out of the picture, and it is up for consideration, according to Larraine. But, let me be clear here, she has only said NO final decision has been reached YET. You see, Larraine is part of what will be revealed below in our big announcement, and she'll be busy for awhile facilitating hosting for it. She also thinks our new winner, Emilia, should be allowed to enjoy her "reign" at least for a little while. So, be sure to follow the blog/newsletter noted below, because when and if we do have another CDDC, it will be posted there.

And, finally, the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

As many of you know, CDDC was the brain child of Larraine and a few friends. But even before Larraine launched CDDC her friends had been working on another idea. They had decided to open a "multi-leveled" online Couture Doll Shop at couturedollshop.com. On the different "floors" of this shop each of these brainstormers would showcase their items for sale. Their plan involved power in numbers; and that power would be realized by the traffic they could drive to the site by working TOGETHER to promote the site.

However, when they began to see all the wonderful talent unveiled during CDDC, the group took their plan back to the drawing board, and came back with a new presentation for Larraine because she had already agreed to host the original doll shop idea. They had decided to throw open the doors to couturedollshop.com and give the wonderful designers from CDDC a chance to actually have their own doll shop there! And, they'd decided to also invite other doll merchants. Yes, shop owners would include couture doll designers to repaint artists and everything in between. They'd not only work together but they'd also work with the merchants who came on board. Yes, indeed, they wanted to create the only place a discerning doll collector would need to visit - a one-stop shopping experience like no other for doll collectors! And, their sales pitch prevailed - because Larraine agreed and is hosting the entrance to this venue through the Auction Fever website!!

If you'd like more information simply check out the Couture Doll Shop blog/newsletter. We'd love for you to be a part of this wonderful new endeavor, so take the plunge and get the information. For under $5 per month for premier shop owners, you can be a part of it! But, if you hesitate you won't be in time for the Grand Opeing - late February - or early March, so just click that link, request the information, and you'll ensure your spot in time!

Now, although I don't want to quit riding this particular merry-go-round, I'm afraid I must. Adieu, my doll friends...."maybe" for a little while. Don't be sad; Larraine is leaving you with a new doll project to work on - hope we'll all be there.........together!!!!!!! Take care and happy dolling!!

Anybody seen my bedazzler????

Challenge 3 may seem easy at first glance. Magalie Dawson is our guest judge this challenge. Our clue is Embellished - Our guest judge this week is known for her fabulous embellishments. Use your creative skills to create an outfit that is the epitome of perfect embellishment.

Well, let's see how easy it is. After all, the dictionary explains both of the keywords quite simply:

epitome = typical or ideal example

embellishment = a decorative or fanciful detail that makes something beautiful

So all we have to do is add a detail that is the ideal example of something that makes a garment beautiful - right?? Could it really be quite that easy?? Somehow the word challenge doesn't suggest easy to me!

You see, fashion has its own unique considerations when defining things. Also, people differ by taste on what they would consider the epitome of anything - especially in fashion. Therefore, when designing garments, a designer needs to be aware of what dictates the proper use of embellishments. From my research embellishments are not just defined as adding design interest, rather they specifically are also defined as items NOT necessarily required for the proper construction of a garment. Case in point could be the use of a fly in a woman's trousers; it has no function; it is simply an embellishment.

And, I've found nothing to indicate that all embellishments are created equal. Embellishments vary in that some can be very nice, others can be quite bold, and an overabundance can be downright gaudy. Embellishments are truly the bells and whistles of fashion, but careful attention must be paid to avoid staggering over into the gaudy category. Sometimes the less is more rule needs to be factored in!

Embellishments can also give off different vibes. Some may subtly enhance a creation, while others can serve to contrast -- some providing vivid and even sharp contrasts. In using them we can be over the top or patently mild, working ever so carefully to achieve what the judges will be looking for. And so it is whenever one chooses to enter into a design competition. Guidelines must be met and specific tastes satisfied. Frustrating though it can be at times, the essence of this challenge is to add an embellishment that is not necessarily required for the garmment's proper constuction while also being interesting. Not to pay attention to these guidelines can be fatal!

We can use embroidery, bows, cord, rhinestones, and even designs actually overprinted on fabric as embellishments...and so much more. Beads, appliqués, fur and lace all come to mind as being marvelous embellishments! But, again, what distinguishes the equality (desire) to use a certain embellishment really relies on what we want the embellishment to actually do, and that is what will also be judged in this challenge.

Also, when choosing our embellishments we might want to look to items that are normally not considered embellishments; rather, they are generally considered notions. One may not think notions would NOT act as embellishments because their reason for being is usually to add an easier way for garments to function. However, well-known items such as zippers, buttons, bias tape, interfacing, and the very thread that holds the garment together, can cross over into the category of embellishments! Think of that well-placed zipper that doesn't function - it has been put in a strategic position merely to tease us in a manner that will make our garment more interesting.

In the final analysis, what is important is that we always keep in mind -- for both designing and this challenge -- is that embellishments are NOT required for the proper fit or construction of a garment; they are that extra gem that enhances its quality! Are you up to this task??

Now, here's a little insight into our guest judge this week, Magalie Dawson.

It's hard to think of Magalie Dawson without MHD Designs immediately coming to mind. Her love of dolls and creating beautiful doll clothes has been apparent in every eBay ad or item shown on her web page to date. Here is the link: MHD Designs

On her web page you will also find a wonderful Q&A interview that will tell you her background and other information I would normally include in a bio - so I won't try to improve on perfection; just go here: About Magalie Dawson

What I will elaborate about, however, is the experience I have had as her customer. The care Magalie puts into her pattern descriptions is as great as the care demonstrated in her pattern pieces. For one thing, you get step-by-step illustrated instructions! You also get direct access to the designer should you find yourself still having a problem understanding any phase of her work!

But what sealed the deal for my admiration was the fact that these patterns actually fit the dolls they are intended for. IBelieve me, I know of what I speak, having struggled too much with commercially made patterns for doll clothes - both modern and vintage - that simply do NOT fit!! When using Magalie's patterns, I actually felt her with me every step of the way. She was teaching and encouraging me with her attention to detail!! She was inspiring me not to fail; rather that I needed to at least try new things!!


So, I would simply say to those designers who really wish to do well in this challenge: all you need to do is look! Look at the designs she has given the doll design world for your clue, because no one really designs things they don't like! No one manipulates fabric quite like Magalie Dawson, either! Perhaps you may find an embellishment she's used for her style that might fit in with yours; or perhaps you may find a clue in another judge's choice of embellishments!?! Just as long as what you see fits into YOUR design esthetic also, it should work - so I encourage you to do just that - Make it work!!

Blogmeister's Observation: From comments I've read on the CDDC Board, it's apparent some of you are 'fraidy cats when it comes to actually cutting beautiful fabric you've collected. To you I'd offer some sage advice from one of my elderly Aunts: "What are you waiting for?? If you save it tooooooo long it just may end up being used by your significant other's NEW spouse.....you know, after you are gone!" LOL Seriously, you don't have to pay attention to my Aunt; just listen to these words from Magalie:

"I always use the type of fabric I intend to use for the finished design so I can see how it will fall, thus creating my prototype."

" It doesn't take yards and yards of fabric to sew for dolls, so mistakes are not too expensive, and you learn a LOT from each effort. Besides, I truly believe that there is always a way to turn a 'mistake' into a 'success'."

Enough said??

****Now A Word About One Of Our Sponsors****

We are happy to have FDQ, Tonner Doll Company, PB Factory, and Jude Designs as sponsors. Here is an announcement and some information from one of them

What does a personal trainer and a couture doll designer have in common? They are both professions of the talented Tamara Casey, owner of Designs by Jude. This fitness guru came into the doll world after discovering the doll market on eBay where she was selling videos and exercise equipment. With the support of her family - two sons and a husband - she began doing OOAK dolls; balancing her time between painting, sewing and drafting doll clothes patterns. Never had she imagined she would have spent her days playing with dolls! But her continued flow of return customers over the past six years have soldified her role in the doll business!

Tamara works under the company name of Designs by Jude, and has maintained both a doll store on eBay and a website presence. Here are the links:

Designs by Jude

Doll Stuff by Designs by Jude eBay store


In December of 2008, she really expanded to a full fledged pattern and notion business by acquiring the intellectual property rights to what had been The Fletcher Pattern Company, developed originally by designer Gary Fletcher. How fortunate was the doll world to have had her step in when Mr. Fletcher decided to move his career in a different direction! Today her website is a blend of both companies, and also features other doll items including shoes, jewelry and accessories. And, she continues her personal goal of providing great service, variety and quality products.

CDDC is proud to welcome Tamara Casey/Designs by Jude as one of our valued sponsors. And we'd like to take this opportunity to reveal the part her company will play in this competition.

BREAKING NEWS!!

Tamara will be providing a pattern in pdf format for each of the 8 challenge winners. Whether the winner receives their first pattern from this talented designer's stores, or if it will add to their collection of her works, we are sure this new prize will be a delightful surprise - and, hopefully, an incentive to push the boundaries of each contestant's talents even further in each challenge!

Look for further details about this new development on the CDDC website.

Clearing the cobwebs

Ready...........set.....................

Being chosen to compete is one thing; being ready to compete is another! We might expect the contestants to be busy clearing their workspaces and finishing up any projects in progress while anticipating the first clue being announced September 6. But it will take a bit more preparation to get ready for this event. Let me elaborate.

“We are looking for the point between commerciality and creativity”

-El Delgado Buil

1. Some may want to take a few moments to consider what they will actually do with these 8 challenge items when this competition is over…besides the possibility of having them featured in FDQ magazine! And, it may lead some to feeling they must compromise their creativity if they choose to produce either saleable clothes, or clothes geared toward getting high points from the judges. However, in this competition, to do that is to go away from the reason for such challenges.

Remember, this competition, by its very name, requires couture designs. Couture is often used as an adjective by fashion reporters when they mean haute couture; i.e. an exclusive design. However, a more definitive explanation of couture, for this competition’s purposes, is high-quality, often custom-made piece(s) of clothing. And, I think, it could also be expanded to embrace clothes that give us a sense that a particular designer has breathed their unique style into their well-made garments. This is a criterion that blends commerciality with creativity successfully!

What one really needs to remember is YOU are the designer of any article of clothing that carries YOUR name. Putting your design sense in first, then considering other possibilities will always get you in it to win it!! Stay true to YOUR creativity and the commercial acclaim YOU desire will surely come.

2. Next, let’s consider the doll(s) you may want to use as your muse. Whoever is chosen, one big consideration is that your design needs to be balanced by your model – in other words, you need to make the model match the design so she melts into it rather than makes her own pronounced statement – be sure she clearly enhances YOUR creation.

Of course, there are many of you who will simply choose to use your tried and true friends – Barbie, Fashion Royalty, Ellowyne, and Tyler all come to mind. But, just in case you might want to explore new possibilities, we’ll be looking at a few of the newer “models” we’ve recently seen on the doll runways.

First of all, how could we overlook the new mannequin or regular

version of Antoinette, Tonner gave us?

Antoinette has 14 points of articulation, an all-new face and body sculpt, and newly engineered joints which allow her to beautifully show off modern and couture fashions; she was introduced at IDEX 2009. She may be preferred as a blank-faced hanger by some; while others will embrace her because she has the ability to be transformed into a mini-me of a top model! To each their own – what YOU feel is right for YOUR designs is the correct version!

Gene and her counterparts, Violet Waters and Madra, became fully articulated when Mel Odom merged with Integrity. Recently, Integrity delighted little doll collectors by developing a 12” version of Gene for their Hollywood Royalty line. Information I’ve read indicated there will be 3 versions, but I was only able to find 2 of these beauties, which may indicate that one might be a W Club exclusive.

Jakks Pacific’s recently released their
Juku Couture line. According to their promotional fact sheet, the dolls are inspired by "the limitless possibilities and fashionable combinations that mismatching and layering pieces offers girls to express themselves," Juku, or Harajuku style, originated with fashion trendsetters in Harajuku, Japan, and is now favored all over the world, There are four dolls being releasedc- Audrina (preppy), Hayley (sporty and sweet), Kana (artistic), and Jun (eclectic, girly) – and the dolls have multiple points of articulation.

Wilde Imagination continued to delight us with their Ellowyne offerings including their new basic dolls, a line of Wizard of Oz dolls, along with a wonderful new vinyl Evangeline Ghastly. Yes, this new version is vinyl and reasonably priced, and comes with either rooted hairl or with interchangeable wigs. Perhaps this haughty diva will spark someone’s interest!

Horsman brought us Urban Vita; the doll they feel is more poseable than any doll in her category. With 19 points of articulation, 16” Urban Vita is available in the buff or dressed versions, and comes with either blonde, brunette, or red hair. Horsman says, “Ball jointed dolls are strung with elastic which tend to spring back, whereas the Urban Vita dolls have mechanical ball joints to ensure that the joints hold their position.” Will her painted eyes, rooted hair, or dual feet that can wear flat or heeled shoes, tempt you?

The Ashton-Drake Galleries offers up a preppy teen in Delilah Noir. This 16" collectible doll features multiple rotating and articulated joints, so she can be easily posed in almost any lifelike position. She is a wigged doll, has inset eyes, and appears comfortable in either her flats or high heeled boots. Yes, this doll comes with her own wardrobe, but is always ready for a new fashion.

Okay, I could look at dolls all day; but I think you get the picture. Whether you select a newer model, use your older version, or incorporate some of both – it’s obvious you have plenty of choices!

3. The next item is drawing your sketch, and won’t apply if you don’t want to draw one. Some people simply prefer to let a garment flow out from their thoughts or to drape and play with fabric till their designs are revealed. These techniques aren’t something I can explain. But if you are interested in making a drawing, and don’t want to start from scratch each time or have limited drawing skills, perhaps you’d like to try using a croquis. The original definition of a croquis is a rough sketch; but modern designers have come to know them as the human form already drawn – a drawing they don’t have to do; literally just add fashion and you’re done. There are many wonderful sites that provide free ones. Just type croquis into your search engine of choice, and you’ll find yourself delightfully surprised at your choices!

4. Slopers and patterns would then be your next logical choice to conquer. This next stage would include you putting together a sloper. A sloper is the most basic of patterns, used by apparel manufacturers to both style a garment and ensure the same fit for each piece made. What you will do is measure your doll’s exact measurements, then draft out some basic pattern pieces. Some of the most obvious would be a blouse, a pair of pants, and perhaps a very simple sleeveless dress. From there you will be able to develop patterns for each of your designs by using these basic pieces and adding items such as collars, cuffs, and other embellishments that are suitable. If you are concise, this basic sloper can carry you through making any items you desire to draft for that particular doll. And, remember, we can use several dolls if we desire in this competition – so each one will need its own sloper!

5. Next, it’s fun time! Let’s revisit our fabric stash and make some decisions! Of course, we don’t know what each challenge will bring, but we can still set some guidelines for what we might want to design. Will your collection have a Mod or Mandarin flair? Will you be featuring pastels or jewel tones. And do you have appropriate thread for the fabrics you “might” use? Yes, it’s also time to review your trims, buttons, embroidery, paint sticks, dye, or whatever else you usually employ to get a job done! Of course, your choices may change from your initial preview as the challenges are revealed, but isn’t it fun to actually know what you have collected??

6. Do what YOU do to get inspired. I don't know what inspires YOU; each of YOU are such true individuals! Go through your stash, look at the latest items going down real runways, watch design shows, catch up with fashions from doll companies, and even watch movies that feature fabulous designs - and these can be old or new! It's okay to treat yourself to all the fashion you can stand while waiting for the first challenge. YOU never know when the flip of a hem, a well placed button, or some fabulous nuance might inspire YOU!

Go forward, Fashionistas -- be brave, and don't let anything deter you. Take this opportunity to be critiqued by professionals in your industry, and use it to better perfect your craft. CDDC, by its very name, is a challenge, and to win it you must embrace it as one. Be ready for all the fun creating something uniquely YOURS will bring. And, most of all enjoy the challenge!!!

Competitors and schedules, oh my!

CONGRATULATIONS FASHIONISTAS!

The fun challenges are almost here! But the wait is over to know WHO will participate! The competitors have been chosen!!

Here's the low-down....well at least what we know so far...from your blogmeister's point of view!! Here they are, in no particular order!!!

1. Sandra Walker - comes from Maine, and has been a doll collector since she was a teen. This woman not only restores and redresses dolls, she's long since moved on to designing and creating cloth dolls. Shall we call her a passionista, and will that passion push her to the top!?! Cissy and Ellowyne are among her favorite dolls to design for, but she was working on reproduction vintage MAs when we caught up with her. She's anxiously awaiting the competition and watching the rain; her town is experiencing the wettest summer on record!

2. Louisham Osman - goes by the name Louos in doll circles. He's always loved toys and dolls, and had a very active imagination. That's where the wonderment of his designs stem from, he believes. After graduating from design school, he began making doll clothes as a sideline from his regular job. Starting with Blythe and moving forward to Fashion Royalty dolls, his taste has varied and his direction changed with each season, because he feels fashion goes in full circles and is ever evolving. "With each change," he says, "there must always be a distinct individual taste to your design, something that makes others recognize it is your work - and this is his aim with every creation." But most of all, he loves the interaction with doll friends all over the world. Could he already have the popular vote in the bag??

3. Fay Popejoy - She began sewing for dolls in the late 1950s. She was delighted when Barbie patterns were available; now she could expand her dolly wardrobe! Although she had to sell all her dolls in the mid-1960's to help finance her college expenses, she later re-discovered her love of dolls in the mid-1990s, and started collecting Barbie dolls once again. Her taste then grew to include larger fashion dolls such as Gene and Alex, and even Blythe. Fashion design school was her dream, but not her reality, but she never lost her love of fashion. Her design interests lean toward goth, futuristic, and items that are wild and fun. Will Fay take us on a wild ride?!?

4. Denise Beaudin - is from Canada, and has been sewing since childhood. She began fashion designing for the 11.5” fashion dolls by creating hand-stitched outfits made from remnants of her mother’s fabrics. She is college trained as a Registered Medical Laboratory Technologist, but has continued her passion by teaching herself crocheting, knitting, and needlework. She has also taken evening courses on pattern alteration and creating garments, and has found the time to study pattern making, fabric selection, and new sewing techniques. Can we assume just when we think we know what she can do, she'll learn something new to compete with!?! She now creates outfits using a sewing machine, and has a nice range of dolls to sew for under her design name, Denidolldesigns, on ebay.

5. Aly Greaves - is a costume designer for the theater who likes to design for small scale girls on the side. Shall we dim the lights, pull the curtain, and watch her designs shine?!? She has been designing and selling her garments for a couple of years now. She's familiar with doll design competitions, having recently ben involved in another doll design competition she had to leave due to a death in the family. She loves to make her own patterns or experiment with draping designs on her dolls, and is quite anxious to join in this competition.

6. Joey Versaw - is from London City, Oregon, and found out about this contest through a fellow flickr friend. The first fashion he ever made was done completely by hand with no patterns. He now makes his own patterns because most commercial patterns never quite live up to his expectations. Hum, how high will he set the bar in this contest, anyway?? Ellowyne Wilde and the NuFace FR dolls will figure in his design plans, and he is truly excited for this competition to begin!

7. Emilia Nieminen - lives in Finland, and dreams of getting a doll fashion line of her own some day. She feels this challenge is a good way to test herself to see if she can handle the task. But this tomboy wouldn't be seen with a doll when she was young. Oh, how that has changed! Her interest in amateur theatre got her into doing makeup and costumes, and led her down the path that brought her here. Could we expect less than a production each challenge?!? Her career choices have always been geared to fashion, but her educational choices have been very different. She owned a small company where she designed and made wedding gowns for real people during the period she was studying for her bachelors degree in business. Today she studies, teaches and translates Mandarin Chinese, and hopes to get her Masters degree by Christmas. But she doesn't see herself as an academic, rather she finds designing most enjoyable to her, and has never though of using a pattern in her design work. Her dolls of choice are the smaller dolls including Fashion Royalty and Misaki dolls. Her method of design is what she refers to as sculpting rather than sewing, favoring the Fashion Royalty dress form for pinning and hand-stitching. All her creative impulses are channeled to her dolls; fashion, interior design, architecture, and painting. She's spent all summer building houses, making basic ready-to-wear collections for sale, and repainting and rerooting dolls as well as dressing and photographing them.

8. Vicky Lujan - started collecting and sewing for dolls 9 years ago, and mostly collected and sewed for Barbies. But now she's grown to love 16" dolls; especially Ellowyne. She started out using patterns, but has slowly learned how to design without them. She has also met some very nice designers who have helped her design without patterns and to develop her own patterns. Have these designers given her the winning formula?? She says she is entering this competition to learn from seasoned designers and the judges; to improve her designs; to learn further information on designing without a pattern; and to have fun designing! She is very excited about being in this competition

9. V.L. Snead - better known to us as Vickie, hails from rural Virginia. She's lived there all her life except when she managed to "escape" when traveling with her Marine hubby. She's been back in Virginia for over 20 years now and loves the rural life. She has 2 grown sons, 1 daughter-in-law, 1 granddaughter, and a brand new grandson.....they'll just be calling her Grammy! Will her built-in cheering section give her an edge!?! Since she's alone in her home quite a bit, she depends on her dolls for company. She says she's been sewing since she was 9 and has sewn forover 40 years since then!! She's been making her own patterns for both her granddaughter and her dolls, and is looking forward to the challenges.

10. Deborah Robertson - has three cats and way too many dolls. She discovered Tonner dolls, and a newly found world (the internet) where adult doll collectors play - and she joined right in! She confesses a love for Barbie, but prefers to sew for the 16" gang; and has somehow developed a large fabric stash for her work! The whimsy of Ellowyne and Prudence currently inspire her, although she still loves to sew for Tyler and her friends as well. She says, "It all depends on what the piece of fabric in my hands wants me to do with it." Will her stash will her to create a winning design?!? She sells some of her designs, but mostly they just end up belonging to her dolls.

11. Irina Koroleva - is from Moscow, Russia, and says playing dolls makes her feel young. Her childhood dream was to become a fashion designer, but life took her in a different direction, and she has worked for about 10 years in IT/Telecom before taking a small pause to be a Desperate Housewife. She actually confessed to liking housework...along with cooking, sewing, knitting and embroidering! She's fashion doll crazy, and her collection includes FR, Nippon, Momoko, Susie, Tonner, Sybarite and BJD. She wishes all the competitors good luck. Could her niceness see her through the challenges??

12. Dot Festeu - lives near Houston, Texas. She's a wife, mother of 2 boys and a grandson, and was never interested in playing with dolls as a girl. Today she has an extensive collection that includes entries from the antique, vintage, and fashion lines. She began repainting making OOAKS after attending a doll convention. When she wasn't working for the medical profession, she has made a living selling her painted goods and teaching ceramic painting, even though she is a business major. About 2 years ago she began concentrating on learning proper doll clothing construction, and confesses to sewing all her garments by hand...so far. This sewing newcomer says she will approach the challenges armed with determination and a borrowed sewing machine. Could she have already revealed her secret weapons?!?

13. Kathrin Eseryel - is known as Kathi, and is from Germany. Rescuing makeover flea market Barbies brought her to the design world, but her love of the Fashion Royalty dolls made her stay - she finds them perfect models. She only owns the smaller fashion dolls, and it's often the pleasure her sewing for dolls brings that infects people. Will we catch her fashion bug!?! She was the March 2009 featured artist on the Doll Divas doll board, and says she's here to play with her modern day wear!

14. Dan Lee - lives in California, but is originally from England. He has been creating OOAK fashion dolls for over 10 years, and it is his full-time passion. He loves working with strong color coordination, natural fabrics such as silk and cotton, and man-made fabrics that include PVC and plastics. His OOAKS are often styled to make Mod, Japanese, or High Fashion statement. They include rerooted hair and repaints, and are sold under his Wide Eyed Girls entity. Will he paint an exciting new design picture!?!

15. Sylvia Christianson - is from Kansas, and secretly wanted to be a fashion designer. But there was a problem - no money for New York! So, still wanting to fuel her creative juices, she attended the Cleveland Institute of Art and majored in Graphic Design where she achieved a double minor in photography and painting. She is an empty-nester since her daughter left for college, but has good company in her husband, two cats, and her dolls. She learned valuable lessons from her Aunt, a professional tailor, when she was a teenager. Will she have the designs that just suit each challenge?!? She's been sewing for a whopping 43 years, and is happy her passion for dolls and fashion brought her to CDDC.

16. Breck Sullivan-Carpenter - is from Connecticut, and began sewing and playing with dolls when she was 5. Her creations for Barbie, made from Mom's scraps, often featured a Southern Belle theme. She spent hours fitting those huge belle skirts to the doll's tiny waist. In high school she was introducted to theatre, and became involved in both acting and costumes. In fact, she has spent over 25 years designing, and has even worked on Broadway where she was a draper/first hand in the early 80's. She holds a degree in both theatre and psychology. Will we be in more danger of her upholstering us than analyzing us if we get on her couch!?! She says she's really a closet doll and fabric lover who likes to have fun - and is really looking forward to the challenges!

17. Lori Lyon - is from California, and is the designer of Madeleine Rose Couture and Angel Rose Couture for BJDs. Although she's slimmed down her collection, she likes to keep at least one body type for each doll she designs for. Her primary focus is on Sybarites, Tylers and 60 cm BJDs right now. This savvy designer is slow to mention that she's been featured in both the online magazine, High Maintenance, and the print magazine Haute Doll! Could hiding her assets be part of her winning strategy??

18. Cassandra Coleman - lives outside Houston - in HOT DRY Texas! She's a dollaholic who played with dolls when very young but grew out of it when she discovered horses. Since she began playing with dolls again she has learned to combine her passion for painting, sewing, and costuming both when doing her doll work and when making items for the Texas Renaissance Festival. Will the Wizard give her a winning potion?? Dolls she favors are Tyler, Ella, Gene, Elise and the Flava girls(Bigheads). Although she loves to make bridal dolls and favors detailed beadwork, some of her work is not high fashion. In fact, her favorite redos are Old World Santas made from GI Joe type dolls who get rooted beards, painted details, and outfits that include robes, staffs, bags, and toys.

19. Amy Nardone - has been a fashion doll artist for over 13 years, and creates her dolls with a Gothic feel to them. In Gothic Illusions Wanda Kinnie is her is partner.s It's rumored she is very excited to try this competition, as it will get her off of reality TV and Facebook. Could she favor this kind of challenge where she cannot be voted off!?! She's rarin' to get started!

20. Wanda Kinnie - also known as Wyked Wanda, is the other half of Gothic Illusions with her BFF, Amy Nardone. Could she have an unpleasant apple tucked in her sewing basket!?! She didn’t play with dolls growing up, but now collects Barbie, Integrity dolls (Dynamites, Fashion Royalty, Avant Guards), Susie, Momoko, and OOAK dolls. Also, you can sometimes find her playing dress up as a Pirate Wench for Renaissance Faires. This will be her first attempt at anything like this, and she is really excited and hopes to do a good job. She has been sewing for a long time, just not clothing for dolls! She is married and has 3 furrkids, and volunteers for a local Animal Rescue Group. Her real life job is working as a Certified Pharmacy Technician.

21. Kelly Uphold - has been making clothing for dolls most of her life. She started around the time she was 8 with Barbie & Dawn. Her first designs may have been crudely hand sewn, but she made up for it with her choice of fabrics. You see, she gathered "scraps" for sewing from clothing belonging to her older sister and her Mom, much to their dismay! Should the other designers put a lock on their fabric cabinets!?! Her collecting and sewing for Barbie continued until she discover Gene, and since then she's made hundreds of fashions for various sized fashion dolls. She also likes to make clothes for vintage Mod-oriented fashon dolls such as Tiffany Taylor. She has always made her own patterns, and often develops a garment by cutting at a piece of fabric until it looks like it will work. She confesses to loving dolls and designing for them, and is excited to have this opportunity.

22. Anita Stoklosa - is from Poland, and is known to doll collectors as Anicetta. She loves hanging out at the Polish doll discussion forum, Dollplaza, when she's not busy stitching tiny outfits. Stitching such outfits is the passion of her life that she dedicates each spare moment to. She loves creating new patterns and observing fashion novelties. Does that mean her outfits will be fashion forward!?! She considers creating these miniature outfits to be OOAK art, so she never makes copies of her outfits. All of her dolls receive new makeup, hand postures, hairstyles, and, of course, unique handmade outfits. Her collection of miniature models consists of nearly 200 dolls manufactured mainly by Mattel, but does include some Tonner and Fashion Royalty dolls as well.

23. Jen Eugley - is a Calgary, Alberta, Canada native who now lives in San Diego, California with her husband, Chris. She has many interests including fashion design, sewing, reading, sketching, and trying not to burn everything she cooks! Whew, could her designs be sizzling?? As a child she used scraps from her mother’s sewing projects to design for her first muses, Barbie dolls. But as she grew up, she left Barbie dolls behind to design for real, life-size women, and is currently working on her Associate of Science Degree in Fashion Design. Last year her friend, Alison, introduced her to the world of doll collecting and designing, and she began making miniature clothes for Tyler dolls as well as the Barbie dolls that reemerged from her past. Today, when the intellectual part of her brain needs a rest, the creative part leads her to her sewing machine and miniature wardrobes materialize.

25. Pauline Lyngard - is the designer behind B/W Designs. She is a forty-something married lady with no children who loves to spoil her three Italian Greyhounds and one diva of a Lilac Point Siamese cat. Her main job is working as a payroll technician, but she has done several jobs including being a licensed Esthetician, and has even worked in the fashion/modeling industry. Her doll "job" is as a fabric artist that uses dolls as her "canvas". Will her design elements be more like Rembrant than Picasso?!? In her opinion, "Texture is more important than color, and my work focuses on that concept." She recently had the pleasure of designing for and acting as chairperson for her doll club’s mini-conference held March 2009. She is excited to participate in this online competition because it allows her to stretch her designing skills in a public forum.

26. Dal Lowenbein - is from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband, 3 children, and 2 chihuahuas. After graduating from the High School of Art & Design in Manhattan, she studied at Pratt Institute and went right to work in NYC as an art director. Today in real life she has her own design studio. She collects vintage and new dolls such as FR, Ellowyne Wilde, Momoko, Pullip, and Japanese dolls from the late sixties and seventies. When she began re-collecting her own vintage Barbies, her interest turned to Bild Lilli dolls and her retro fashions. She decided to re-create them with vintage fabrics. Subsequently she sold many of her Bild Lilli designs, and was featured in some of the early Barbie magazines. Will she take us on a trip down memory lane!?!

27. Cheryl Sorenson - is from Houston, Texas, and is the newest inductee into the doll fashion world. Although she has been sewing all her life, she is a real novice with dolls. She was only recently introduced to Ellowyne by a fellow designer - and the rest has been history! Now she is totally stoked about being involved in this challenge. Could a newbie totally smoke the competition?!? She's a confirmed fabricaholic who is looking forward to digging through her stash to find just the right goody to work with in each challenge. She's also confessed that she looks forward to learning from all the talented designers here.

28. Durelle Brown - is from Houston, Texas, and is very glad to get to play dolls with so many fun people. She loves to unwind from her job by stretching her brain with fun challenges. Will we need surgery after competing with her?!? She has been sewing all her life but has only sewn for dolls for about 8 years. As a girl she was a Barbie collector, and has all her dolls from childhood. After a few years as an OOAK artist of smaller dolls, she moved up to the big girls. Her passion is Ellowyne, who she adores sewing for her; but she does have some other new girls who are hoping to get new clothes from this. She is thrilled to be able to change dolls to suit each challenge. Her Steampunk outfit is featured in the current issue of Doll Reader; it is the 2nd one featured from her Chic Indulgence collections!!

29. Jill Vine - is her design name, and she didn't begin as a doll fan. Even though she has been exposed to her mother's Barbies since childhood, she and they just didn't click! But, a trip to a fashion doll convention changed all that. She came home with a suitcase full of dolls and a head swirling with design ideas! Could her youth and enthusiam put her in the finals?? In the last four years she has made dozens of outfits, and is delighted she actually won awards on some! This young aficianado is very much looking forward to putting her creative spin on the challenges of this new venue!

30. Meg Hunt - creates patterns from scratch and does everything herself for her designs. She considers herself an amateur designer although she has sewn through all phases of her life; kid, teen, and adult. She does admit to reteaching some things to herself when she started sewing and collecting dolls in 2000. As a day job, she a lawyer involved in federal public policy by profession. Will she impress us with an incredible opening statement??

31. Deborah Evans - has been a doll lover practically since birth; she remembers her father cutting out Betsy McCall paper dolls before she was five, and her first "important" doll being a Chatty Cathy with a wardrobe that matched her own. Her mother taught her to sew when she was 7 or 8 and she started making her own clothes in High School. In college she discovered costume design, and ended up working in the Costume Shop. Regional Theater called her name, and she was able to work her way up to Assistant Draper. But, since the birth of her first daughter, she has only worked as an Assistant Designer for a short time as a first sample maker for Coleco's Cabbage Patch line. Today she works as an Office Manager for a wholesale dress company, but still enjoys collecting dolls and making clothes for them, knitting, spinning, gardening, and cooking. Could this Domestic Goddess step up to the plate as this competition's winner?!?


32. Peggy Burney - is from Tenessee. When she was a child, she learned to sew some from her mother. Then she began to look at things she'd like to sew, and just figure out how to do them. She's married, has three children, and one grandson. One daughter has cerebral palsy, so she is caretaker for both her and her elderly parents and an aunt. She deals mainly with making brides, and replicas of the bride's actual dress - veil, hair,and bouquet - the total doll. She is also open to making other things on all size dolls from Barbie to Cissy, and does do commissions Her real time jobs include teaching Special Education, and running her own catering and cake decorating business. Is she Wonder Woman, able to leap tall buildings.......oh, that's another blog - will her work ethic ensure the stamina and talent necessary to conquer these challenges?

Quite a line-up, eh?? But what's up with the bios that have no pictures - is this another strategy ploy?? Or have they merely been so busy designing they haven't had time to send one in? Check back to see...I'm sure these divas will have more information coming.

The balance of the information for spectators and competitors alike, including the official dates when each of the challenges will be given, is on the CDDC webpage.

Now this blog entry has given us the who, when, and where of things! It's also nicely teased the competitors - but just for fun, because fun is what this competition is all about! And now we're ready for the how - so stay tuned for the next blog entry!