Most of you have read about Dorothy Drake in my articles, and know that she is a well known doll show promoter here in the Northwest, and chances are that you’ve attended one or more of her Crossroads Doll & Teddy Bear Show & Sales, maybe even the June 26th show in Puyallup, Washington. A glance at her schedule of shows for this year indicates that she has thirteen shows planned in Washington, Oregon, California, and Utah, so she’s definitely keeping busy!
We attended that recent Puyallup show and were pleased to see a number of vendors there who were first timers and they were offering quality products. And not only does she seek out these new folks and encourage them to be there, but she is great to work with to get interesting events scheduled during show times as well. It’s always more fun when we can spend a good part of a day poking around the sales floor seeing what we can find for our doll projects, and then, when we need to sit awhile, hooking up with our friends to enjoy these events together. This time Jean Nordquist was present with a good supply of her doll accessory kits, and conducted a FREE make n’ take. A bit later, Deb Marstellar conducted a seminar on vintage Barbie, and Deana Ellis got people started on needle felting. Bev Smith and Robin Jones sponsored a Jr. Collector punch and cookie break, and Bearzabout added to the fun by providing a free gift bag to the first 200 customers!
Doll shows can be about so much more than just a place to try to sell the doll items that you don’t have room for any more. It’s a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your daughters or granddaughters, meet old friends, and make new ones. And for those of you who actually make your own dolls, it’s a chance to figure out in advance what supplies you’ll be needing and contact your supplier so you can pick them up at the show and save postage, which is really a major consideration these days.
Besides finding great dealers, making sure the booths are up to snuff in appearance as well in items offered, and helping with special events to keep us doll people happy and coming back for more, Dorothy takes flyers listing local doll classes and doll repair places with her as she goes from state to state and puts them on the literature tables to help new folks wanting to learn the craft find a class near them, and vouches for us as we haunt her shows, taking pictures for articles for our blog. We hope the literature and the articles find those of you who are new to the doll community and help you get involved.
Thank you, Dorothy, for all your hard work. Let’s take advantage of what she is trying to do to promote dolls and attend these shows and special events and seminars, and be sure to bring along a couple of friends!
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I just attended the October Crossroads Doll & Teddy Bear Show & Sales in Puyallup, WA. I had not been to a doll show in many years and was very pleased with the vendors and selection of wares. I think Dorothy did a great job and it is well worth attending for doll & teddy bear makers and collectors. I look forward to her next show in the spring at this location.
I’m glad you had a chance to attend the show and that you enjoyed it so much. Maybe we’ll get a chance to meet one another at the next doll show.