International Doll Makers Association held their 2009 Convention in Knoxville, Tennessee, July 8-11th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The theme this year was “Mountain Melody of Dolls” and over 65 members attended.

There was a special treat for the members at the Opening Night Dinner – a magnificent train ride to the Three Rivers crossings, for which the train was named. A buffet dinner was served as the train slowly wound its way out of the city into the beautiful countryside.

There were 16 workshops offered, plus a specialty 4-day workshop led by Karen Martinez, a top award winning Modern and Reproduction Artist, to make the “Country Gentleman”. Workshops such as “Mohair Wigmaking for a 12” French Fashion Doll, Asian BJD Face Up, Reborn Babies, Lakes Home Journal Work Bag, Humpty Dumpty, Mary Had a Little Lamb, F.G. Lady Doll Pull Toy, and Googly Half Doll Pincushion “ were among the many featured.

There was a specialty luncheon with Joyce Murch, who is known all over the world for her pioneer work in dollmaking and restoration of dolls. She presented each guest with her creation, a Heubach “Baby Stuart” to symbolize the East Tennessee mountains which were settled by the Irish, Scottish, and Germans and show their heritage of this region.

A competition was held for dolls of all kinds – many categories were represented this year and two top awards were presented. Some of the categories were:

* Antique Reproduction - Baby Dolls, French Children, Lady Dolls, All Bisque Dolls, Half Dolls, German Children

* Modern Reproduction -Children’s Dolls

* Reproduction with a Flair

*  Costuming & Accessories-Modern (prior to and after 1930)

An auction was held to benefit a local charity – the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Members donated many beautiful items, i.e. a French Hotte, gift baskets, framed pictures, doll bodies, etc.

The sales room this year offered the largest selection of fabrics, laces, dolls, molds, miniatures, and reborn, to name a few. At least twenty booths were featured and gave the attendees a chance to shop for just that right item they needed in their dollmaking, or to purchase dolls!!

On the last night, the Awards Banquet was held with a wonderful dinner and presentation of awards for the competition winners, newcomers, and appreciation for all the members responsible for such a successful convention. The Souvenir Doll, a Petite Bru Brevete, painted by Thu-Tam Freeman, costume by Mary Anderson, was presented to the President, Sue Mitchell, and then to each of the members. The doll was named Melody to keep with the Convention theme. Each member received a unique gift from their hostess at their tables. The centerpieces were beautiful hand-made dolls on a music box made by the North Georgia Dollmakers, and two members at each table received one.

IDMA is a “sharing and caring” group of doll makers. In 1972, a small group of enthusiastic doll makers formed an organization in order to share dreams and ideas with doll makers in other parts of the world. The president of IDMA is Sue Mitchell (wmmitch3@bellsough.net) and the website is www.idmadolls.com. The Broadcaster is the official publication of IDMA and is published four times a year for its members. Membership dues are $30 per year (USA and Canada), and $40 per year (outside USA).