Mattel's Mod Gang

Hey everybody! We're in Denver at the Rocky Mountain Mod^SM Barbie^® Doll Collector's Convention! Before we wrap up today's activities, I'd like to introduce to you the BarbieCollector.com team that's here covering it. If you followed the website's convention coverage last year, you'll know that I'm Lisa Steadman, the website's staff writer. I'm a Barbie collector myself, and LOVE coming to convention and meeting other collectors. Joining me this year is my producer Valerie Case, whom many of you met last year, and our graphic designer/photographer Negin Haghighi. She's new to the convention experience, but is already having a ball! Also here this year are Barbie Collector marketing representatives Liz Krenek and Sophia Ou. If you're at the convention, come say hi to us! We're all wearing Mattel badges. And if you're reading this from the comfort of your own home, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show ...

Day One at the Barbie Convention has been tons of fun! Today we saw old friends, went to some super fun workshops, and attended the Go-Go Gathering Welcome Reception.

Michael and Joe share their creative table gift

At the Mod Boot and Belt Making Workshop, Michael Chambers and Joseph Dunn showed collectors how to make marvelous mod accessories for their dolls using vinyl for the belts, and a stretchy, mesh-like material for the stockings. Collector Monica Pardy created a funk-a-delic new look for her doll, and the results were super sassy!

Monica Pardy with her mod boots and belt

After the workshop, Michael and Joe showed us the fabulous gifts they plan on giving their tablemates this year. If you're at their table, close your ears, cuz we're about to spill the beans on what you're getting! These creative gents have put together a collage of mod-themed accessories, complete with a miniature Marilyn Monroe shirt! So darling, and a great gift for the first official meal function! As Michael told us, the story behind the gifts is that Barbie travels to London and meets up with a groovy gang. She gets all this funky stuff for her stay in London. At the second meal function, Michael and Joe will present a go-go glamorous gown to dress Barbie in. While she wears this gown, Barbie meets a groovy guy! Which then leads to the third gift at the third meal function - a giftset of swanky, swingin' styles for Barbie to wear as she paints the town red with her groove-a-delic dude! They made twelve sets of fashions and accessories - one for each of their tablemates. Incredible!

April Schroer shows off her restored doll

How many of you have broken dolls in your collection that need to be restored? The Mod Restoration/Limb Reattachment Workshop was the place to be if you did and many collectors gathered with their battered and broken dolls in hopes of restoring them to their original glory. Workshop leaders Kris Peterson and Phyllis Belcher led collectors through the process of re-attaching limbs to Barbie doll's body using boiling water, glue, and a little patience. In the beginning of this workshop, we saw numerous doll casualties, and then miraculously witnessed their full recoveries in less than two hours! Collector April Schroer re-attached both legs to one of her mod dolls. She told us, "I've had this doll for five years in this condition. Both legs were completely off, but she was just too pretty to get rid of. So when I heard about this workshop, I was so excited! And now she's good as new."

Lucia Lancey and Cynthia Edge in Fabric Origami Workshop

Next we checked in to the Fabric Origami Workshop where Vicki Young, a member of this year's hosting club, walked collectors through the process of making a fabulous fashion doll stole. Using beautiful fabric and an easy to follow pattern, collectors stitched, beaded, and sewed together these darling floral designs which could then be attached to a doll's dress. So stunning!

Showing off our clay picnic lunch

Without a doubt, our favorite workshop of the day was the Polymer Clay Picnic Lunch presentation given by Jenn Scully. In this workshop we learned how to make Barbie-sized picnic food that can be used in a diorama using different colors of clay. We made the most delicious-looking hamburgers, hotdogs, grapes and some cheese, as well as pizza and a slice of watermelon. Once we were done making our fanciful feast, we baked our clay goodies in toaster ovens for ten minutes. The finished results looked good enough to eat and were so much fun to make!

Mod fashions galore

Go-Go gatherers