Golden Gate Gene Club
click on Gene to see Vera's meeting coverage.	click on Kitty to see more images by Joyce, Kristan, and Reba.

Happy Birthday Gene
April 29, 2001

A First Timers Impressions by Suanne Brady

..

Today was the first meeting of the GGGC for 2001, and my first doll meeting, it was held at Fresh Choice down in San Jose and the theme was Happy Birthday Gene. The meeting began at 11:00 and the kids and I got there just a little after. There were already many wonderful dolls out on display - not just Gene but Julia, Tyler, Brenda and Alex. A Kitty arrived later in the afternoon. I have to say that I was really nervous, as I always am meeting new people the first time but everyone was so nice and welcoming. We began by getting name tags (even the kids) and setting up the dolls we'd brought. Madra in Blue Goddess, Sarah's SG Redhead now repainted (I cringe saying that) to look like Lara Croft, and my SG Brunette with her new dress and apron. I'd done a set of birthday handouts (party invitations, party hat and boxes for Gene) so I displayed our dolls with a table setup with the various things made up (Madra wore a party hat).

It was really, really wonderful looking at all the beautiful dolls some of which I had seen pictures of (Reba's award winner for daytime costume and Deb's Gene Charity Auction). The Portland convention doll is wonderful in person, Holly Miner brought hers along with a Twilight Rumba she'd repainted (Wow!). William Stewart Jones had his competition entry for Barbie Bazaar in the bride category - "gorgeous" doesn't begin to describe the dress on the bride. We had a mini hat making demo with Kristan and Chris, introduced our dolls and ourselves, ate, chatted and had a yummy lemon birthday cake.

There was also a raffle with many wonderful things you could slip your tickets in for. I won a hat stand set and Jim Farone's 4th Book. Some of the other things were a set of the various goodies from the last convention, a gorgeous travel bag set for Gene which included a bunch of jewelry, cute leopard hat and pantyhose set, a black dress, dress form, easel and picture, a Destiny outfit, a Tiny Betsy and many other really nice things. Christine Quick of To the Nines gave out wonderful jewelry sets as favors she let us all choose which one we'd like to take home with us. She bends her earrings in a way that makes them sit closer to Gene's ear, I really like that and wouldn't have ever thought of it on my own. Another wonderful lady, Barbara, gave out Gene sized champagne bottles so the girls could celebrate. It was wonderful to meet so many people I've chatted with online, heard wonderful things about, so many whose work I've admired in photo's.

I don't know when I've been in the middle of a warmer group of people - doll people ARE special. The kids and I left around 2 and we were all smiling as we drove home discussing the beautiful dolls we'd seen and the people we'd chatted with. I wish I could remember the designers names for some of the really fabulous outfits - sorry. It was a wonderful gathering and I'm really looking forward to sharing, chatting and more with these wonderful people as time goes on.

Back to Summary page