Christmas Newsletter
Hello everyone and welcome to Decembers newsletter.
I would like to wish all our members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hannukah. A special thank-you to Elisabeth, Maryjo, Pat, Becky and Sue for all their hard work modding the forum this year. As the year draws to a close we still have so much happening on the forum, we always love to hear from our members so if you have yet to post since you signed up please get posting before your membership expires.Those with zero posts have till January 2nd. If you have any thoughts or ideas for DCC please let us know we'd love to hear them. 
Games & Contests: Well done to all those who entered Doll Chit Chats most grand competition, you all did so well. Thank-you Elisabeth for organising it and thank-you to those who donated prizes. We still have the Christmas gift exchange so get shopping and we look forward to seeing your gifts. In 2010 we'll have lots more games and competitions so look out for those.
Crafty Crafters: Hi crafty crafters remember to let us know of your progress on the holiday craft swap, get those posted out no later than December 15th. If you are unable to complete please let Elisabeth know asap. You can look forward to more craft alongs and our Easter craft swap in 2010.
Gift Thanks: Thank-you everyone for your imput on random acts of kindness. We're delighted to see so many cheered up with special gifts from our members. We hope being part of the all new RAK list will bring our members some brighter moments in 2010.
Doll Chit Chatter: We have lots of great threads in Doll Chit Chatter this month including a look at Susis wonderful dollroom along with the latest pics of Lesleys collection and pretty girls in pretty dresses. Join in discussions such as where are you with your dolls, cutting toddlers hair and many more including polls and picture threads. There's always something to interest you and if not start up a thread of your own.
The Meeting Place: If 2010 is your year to get out and about with doll friends then look no further than The Meeting Place. You'll find the latest meet ups and feel free to organise a few of your own.
It's Himmie Time: Thank-you himmie lovers for all your hard work this year in making our themed months a great success. Elisabeth has worked hard to bring something new to each month as well as organising mini competitions for you all. Thank-you Elisabeth. It's been great to hear from you all about what you'd like to see in your section. We now have Kleine World where you can show off your smaller Himstedts with stories, crafts for your minis and just showing them off. We hope to have a travelling Kleine soon too.
Forum Wide News: To ALL our wonderful caring members this year who have posted, shared their dolls with us, who have lent a sympathetic ear to those in need, who have helped members out, sent prayers to our unwell members, given to those who give so much back and who have made Doll Chit Chat what it is. And to all those who have given their time to be a part of this great doll community because they just enjoy their hobby. We love you all and appreciate all you've done to make Doll Chit Chat a very special family. A very big THANK-YOU to each and every one of you.
There are still many more doll shows and events this December so please check out our full listing on the DCC calendar.
Here are a few happening this month...........
Events for December:
Pleasanton Doll Show & Sale
Saturday, December 5th, 2009 ~ 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
City Pleasanton
Event Doll Show & Sale
Theme/Title Doll Show & Sale
Company Walk Through a Winter Wonderland
Location Four Points Sheraton Pleasanton
5115 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton
Contact Debi Ortega (925) 698-5997 debi@debisbears.com
Information: www.debisbears.com
International Black Doll & Gift Show
Saturday, December 5th, 2009 ~ 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
City New York City
Event: Doll Show & Sale
Title/Theme: International Black Doll and Gift Show
Business: Black Doll Shows
Location: Riverside Church
South Hall, 490 Riverside Drive, New York City
Contact: management@blackdollshows.com
Information: www.blackdollshows.com
Dollys Daydreams Doll Fair
Sunday 6th December 2009
Dolls House and Miniatures Fair, Higham Sports Hall, Watton Road, Hingham Nr Norwich (on B1108) Norfolk, NR7 4HB.
Open 10.00am - 3.00pm
Organiser: Dollys Daydreams
MM Fair
6th December.
The Town Hall, Upper Clifton Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.
Open: 11.00am - 4.00pm
Organiser: MM Fairs
Hatfield Doll Auction
Thurs., December 10, 2009 ~
City Hatfield
Event: Doll Auction
Title/Theme: Modern & Collectible Dolls
Business: Alderfer Auction & Appraisal
Location Alderfer Auction Center
501 Fairgrounds Rd.,Hatfield
Contact: (215) 393-3009, (800) 577-8846 ext. 3009
Email: joyce@alderferauction.com
Information: www.Alderfer Doll Auctions.com
Allentown Doll Show & Sale
Sat., December 12, 2009 ~ 10:00 AM ~ 3:00 PM
City Allentown
Event: Toy & Doll Show & Sale
Business: Location Merchants Square Mall
1901 South 12th St., Allentown
Admission: $5.00 Children 12 under FREE
Contact: Kevin Redcay-Valley Rail Promotions (610) 440-0487
Information: www.valleygoto.com
Browsers Collectors Fayre
13th December.
The Novotel Hotel, Southampton, West Quay Road, SO15 19A
Open: 10.00am - 4.00pm Last Admission 3.30pm
Organiser: Browsers Fayres
NEC Toy Collectors Fair
Date of Event : Sunday, 27th December 2009
Time : 10.30am - 3.30pm
Address : The National Exhibition Centre,
Birmingham
B40 1NT
Tel : 01604 846688
Fax : 01604 770375
Website : http://www.bpfairs.com/
Email : ellis@bpfairs.com
Decembers Blog: 
Doll of the cloth: a portrait of cloth dolls
August 31, 1:25 PM NY Doll Collecting Examiner Elizabeth de Almeida
When cloth dolls are thought of they may bring up the memories of the original Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, if there is not a familiarity to the total doll universe; red hair, big eyes, thick eyelashes made with bright threads and yarns, cotton dresses, overalls and sewn in shoes. Then there is the softness and cushiony cotton materials that give the doll a comforting texture and that there is an automatic feeling to give these adorable dolls a big hug. In addition there are story books; Story books that include the dolls’ adventures that are shared with young readers, and to then provide these young readers with the benefits of learning and enjoying reading at the same time. Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls are precious dolls, and continue to be so, as they are a classic in the category of cloth dolls.
But cloth dolls have reached beyond the cuddleable Raggedy and Ann and Andy dolls. The creation of cloth dolls have expanded its medium into the realm of art, making a profound artistic statement, as their fashion and vinyl doll counterparts have done. Cloth doll creations have paved the way to depicting the beauty and complexities of the world. Cloth dolls today are shaped not only into baby dolls, but into subjects, such as fashion dolls, dancers or the status of people in daily life.
Cloth dolls contoured to resemble human body forms can be made to exaggerate any form of the body to express an important and significant point using the back drop, of the art world. There is versatility in the use of cloth materials and a great amount of techniques that can be applied to whatever projects are to be accomplished. In addition to stitching with threads and yarns, cloth dolls can also be painted and sculpted using thread to make the indentations into the fabric to emphasize the face and body forms. Also cloth dolls can be combined with other materials, such as vinyl, wood, porcelain or even paper machè.
In reference, artists may call their medium soft doll sculptures, which describes the method of molding the doll into a human like body form. This gives cloth doll making a stake in a large doll universe. Enjoy the slideshow of the portrait of cloth dolls and cloth sculptures.
http://www.examiner.com/examinerslideshow.html?entryid=525121
Happy Holidays Everyone