Dollism Plus US Sep 19-21, 2014, presented by Dollheart, Den of Angels & Mint on Card

Absolutely enthralled about this. I am already counting my pennies lol
a year in advance will really help me organise things. I will try my hardest to make it to this one. I cannot wait. Too bad online sites only let you book 9 months in advance

 

Very intriguing event. 2014 is far enough away to plan and save! Totally want to see how this pans out especially if the event gets a lot of traction from companies and artisans.

 

I think it makes perfect sense to have the convention near where the owner of DoA lives since she's going to be doing enormous amounts of work to make it happen for us. I am certainly willing to fly to wherever it ends up being, but to have it set in a location with so much natural beauty and places of interest for significant others who might be tagging along is far better than a cheap soulless hotel near a convenient airport. I have to say that there are a lot of conventions that I no longer attend for that reason, because it just makes me feel like I'm on a business trip.

 

This sounds so awesome - I need to hurry up and meet a bunch of dollie people that I like enough to road trip with :P

 

I and another friend hope to be able to come! It's so far in advance we can save up! (I just hope she can come, I hate going somewhere alone! I also know nothing about renting a car!)

 

This sounds amazing! My mom and I have a relative up in NY who lives about an hour from Niagara Falls and really wants us to come and visit so we most likely will try to make it there!

 

I AM SO THERE.

16 months to plan and saaave. \o/

 

Now that it's projected to be in September, I am definitely going. One way or another! Thank you armelia for helping organize this, and all other people involved to make this happen for us... I'm so excited and it's so far away~

I personally am happy it's not a huge city... if I can save on hotel money that means I can buy more dolls! n_n

 

This is awesome, as I'm from Ontario, Canada, and would gladly drive the 2.5 hrs to attend!!

 

I took it! I really want to come to this. Hoping I can.

 

It's so true, saving on the hotel/venue will totally mean more dollie spending, which is why I'm going. I can tell you, even for the one-day at PNW yesterday, I'd looked into things I might do in the area if/when things got dull, but honestly, it never happened. I am positive, if I am in the dolly-zone at this event, I will not be leaving it to go look at butterflies. I want to have panels on everything, wig-making, faceups, everything, I would love company panels--how many times have I gone to company panels at comicons or anime cons and dreamed of having a dolly panel?!

My sister would be going with me, if I can go. I admit the weekends of the 20th and 27th would work best for us, but we'll do our best to go earlier in the month. It's heavenly! This is something I wasn't sure we'd ever see in the US, so I feel both a great joy to try to attend, and a need to encouraging organizers and potential other organizers to see that the appetite for events like this exist in the US as well. The special guests at PNW (Ringdoll and Blue Fairy!) said they were encouraged by the response of the community, and for sure, I'd want to encourgage people coming here as well.

.hlp

 

How exciting! I hope I am able to go. I think I have plenty of time to save.

 

I'm not sure. We'll definitely invite them, though I'm not sure they'll come.

I know you're a world traveler and have a passport... but just as a reminder to other Americans who are thinking of crossing the border, you will need a valid passport. It used to be that a driver's license would get you there and back, but over the last few years they've tightened border security. Niagara Falls, Canada, is also lovely (and the American side of the Falls as viewed from Canada is actually a nicer view) and worth a visit if you have a little time while you're here.

This is something we're going to look into. Depending on how big of a venue we need, we may actually do the con AT a hotel, which would be lovely for having everyone in the same place with easy access to the con and minimal travel. If we do that, we'll probably look into blocks of rooms and see what we can do to get a good room rate to make it even easier for visitors.

We really want to have a lot of members able to come, so we'll be trying to make it as easy and inexpensive as possible. I would love to be able to meet a ton of people. And, well, we all want to spend money on dolly things and going out to dinner with lovely people, rather than our hotels or transit.

Also, just as an aside, you haven't had really good pizza and wings till you've been to Upstate New York. I'm not above dragging a bunch of you to Duff's (which has better wings than the Anchor Bar, even if the Anchor Bar is the supposed originator of the Buffalo Wing).

I'm a little terrified of the work, but it will be ama-za-zing and I can't wait to get things really set up with dates and venues so we can start working on the really fun organizational parts. Pasu Lau from Dollheart and Jim Chan from Mint on Card are both really lovely gentlemen and I'm really excited to work with them.

 

I'm saving up already, so I'm hoping I can go to! My sister and her husband had been talking about going to Niagara Falls, too, so I already told them if this definitely happens they have to come along and split the hotel room with me! Depending on how long this lasts, we're talking about adding on an extra day or two for sightseeing, since I've never been there before. I definitely want to see the falls and go into Toronto.

 

Ahh, wouldn't that be nice for a change!

I didn't think I'd have much chance of going when I first saw the date, since I usually take a business trip around that time of year, but I realized that 2014 would actually be the perfect year since I might be able to arrange an alternative option earlier in the summer. So now I'm back to figuring out whether or not I can hold myself back from spending money on dolls long enough that I can afford to fly out and spend money on dolls.

Already looking up info for shuttle buses to get to Niagara Falls from the airport and hotel information. X3 Obviously way too early to count on any of that information, but it's fun to think and plan.

 

Well, I don't get paid until tomorrow, so I can start saving then! If anything I'd wanna come with you, since I know you, lol.

 

Ah, I so want to go! I think I can make it there if I fly (probably won't be driving). September is perfect because university won't be in overdrive mode, haha. I just wish I still lived in Ontario, only a few hours away from Niagara Falls.

Now then, which dolls to bring... mwuhaha!

 

I will be there unless it is absolutely impossible for me to get the days off work I won't know that until November or December of this year. By then, I'm sure there will be a solid date, too.

Niagara Falls is not a very long commute from where I am. It used to take me longer to get to college every day.

 

I'd love to go to this (but it's too far for a full-time university student who will have classes at that time)

 

I am SO excited for this. Some friends and I will definitely be driving down to NY for this. I'm really excited to hopefully meet some DoA friends for the first time, and to see some again.

 

This would be pretty sweet. Though I'd have to "come out" to my parents about my bjd hobby. B/c there's no way I could just say I'm going to upstate NY for the hell of it lol. But who knows maybe by then I'll be moved out. Glad they're planning this so far in advance.

Too bad it's not in St. Louis since it's like right in the middle of the country. Now that would be EPIC...for me lol.

 

I wonder when in September they plan on doing this :3

 

I can't wait to see Niagara Falls again! And I can't wait to meet and re-meet several hundred DOA peeps in one place! It's been so long.

(By next September I may have enough vacation time accrued to make a vacation out of it. If it turns out to be on a holiday weekend, so much the better.)

 

I will definitely be attending this. I am in school in NY state right now and I have a lot of family in Buffalo so this is incredibly accessible for me. My grandma in Buffalo might even want to come along as well, even though her type of dolls might be different, she has expressed a lot of interest in BJDs. And hopefully I will be able to save up a good amount of money by then! I would also love to see some of the doll artists who participate in Ldoll there as well, since I will probably never get time to go to France for many years....

 

Oof. That is a loooong flight, but I would love to go if possible!

 

I will be there if I have to walk from Portland Oregon. Glyndon and I will be traveling together. I've never been to the east coast so this will be especially exciting for me.

Sixteen months is a huge amount of time to start saving in. I'm so excited to get to meet so many DoA friends in the flesh for the first time and to see old friends again.

 

I'm actually really excited because usually everything is in the left half of the USA and I never get to go! But Niagara Falls is only a 4 hour drive from me which is something I can easily do!

@ DOA MOD - Any news on inviting DenverDoll Emporium? What about vendors from smaller companies such as Dust of Dolls or Lillycat Cerise Dolls? I'd love to see some smaller companies represented!

 

This is absolutely perfect. I'm so excited! I will be there for sure.

 

I know that there is a small group on my end that are already THRILLED this is going to be taking place on the East coast. It will make for a nice road trip next year! I am looking forward to finding out more information and dates when they get worked out so I can request off from work!

 

Personally I don't know, but Mint on Card have posted this to Facebook;

 

I've been to Niagara falls. they are very pretty. But especially pretty from viewing from the Canada side. Everyone make sure they have your passport with you!

Also, the region around Niagara has some wonderful wines & ice wines and little villages and tours and all sorts of stuff. Loads to do.

 

Yes! Duff's has fantastic wings! I lived right down the street from them when I lived in Buffalo for four years while I went to Buff State.

I will do my absolute best to attend this con and I am so excited that it's going to be held in a city that's very accessible and relatively cheap! Thank you so much to everyone in advance for all the hard work that will go into making this happen! ^__^

 

Ok, about the passports...how long does it take to get one? I think you have to do it at a main branch of the post office, but I'm not sure. What about the passport picture? I know nothing about getting one.

 

This is fantastic! I never thought there'd be a bjd convention on the east coast! It's near me too :'D Best day ever. It's so far from now though haha!

 

Haha, I am as clueless about passports as you are Rynn007
Here's hoping you and I figure it out soon XD Thank goodness its 16mo away~

 

We haven't invited any vendors yet. We need to finalize the date and venue before we make up the official information to give to potential vendors... so it's going to be a bit before we have any information about which companies will be attending.

I know it's all really exciting, but we just don't have enough settled to throw out solid information yet.

When I checked on the department of state website, it says they're running about 4-6 weeks. I'd allot 2-3 months, though, and just be pleasantly surprised if they're fast. They last 10 years (5 if you're under 16 when you get it). Basic information on getting a passport is here:
http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

I believe you can start the process at the US post office. I think the fee is $135 for first-time applicants, $110 for a renewal. A passport card is also an option... it's cheaper, but less useful. You can only use it for Canada and Mexico border crossings and can't be used for air travel.

I need to renew mine. I can't go to Doll North because I let it expire in December!

 

It takes a few weeks to get passports, but you can expedite them for extra $$. This time of year is busy for that, but this far out there's plenty of time to get them! I think the first time I got one done I had to have the passport photos done ahead of time (some AAA offices do them, I think a few photo processing places might too, I think you can take your own but they're really picky about them) and when I renewed it they did the photos there. In any case you WILL need a copy of your birth certificate with you! You can get the forms for them online and have them already filled out, but last time they made me fill out THEIR copy so it didn't speed things up any. Locally - I know one of the guys going to Peru with me this summer went to York, SC to get his done, I got mine in Charlotte (on McDowell St.).

I hope we can have several people from our area go, it's fun to meet new people but reassuring to already know a few as well!

 

you can get a passport photo at any place that offers it - like any drug store/walmart/wherehouse outlet/etc that has a photo place. Just look and see if they offer 'passport photo' as something you can get.

The biggest hurdle might be an OFFICIAL copy of your birth certificate. NOT a hospital or baby book copy (D'oh, learned that the hard way). Has to have the state seal and all that on it. You might have to request an official copy (and pay for it). Make sure you have that first.

Give at least 6 months incase of any problems. It can go much faster, but just to be safe.

Also a passport 'card' is much cheaper if you only plan to visit Canada or Mexico. However, if you can afford it, a full passport is a good thing to have.

 

I'm very excited about this and will definitely be attending! September 2014 cannot come soon enough!

It will be a bit of a trip from Seattle, but it will be so worth it

 

I think the only copy I have is official as I'm adopted.

And I might be screwed. I was adopted, so my copy is official, with that raised seal...but filed in Jan 1977, and I was born in August 1975.

 

Ahh!!! I just took the survey. I'm so excited! It seems really fun!!!

 

I hope this becomes a huge success so we can end up having more major doll cons and mehhhhbeehhh something in the Midwest....*coughcough*..like Texas *cough cough*

 

Heck yeah!! Me and my friends are so going to this! Even if we are in Florida, don't even care! a 2014 date is great, plenty of time to save.

 

I wish I could go back and change my survey. I thought there would be no way for me to go, but turns out I will most likely be able to!

 

Are you guys planning to have it around Labor day weekend possibly? I know one of the biggest obstacles my husband and I will have is trying to get out of classes. My husband works and will be hopefully be entering into his Master program then XD. I hope we can come.

AmyAngel- That's a good idea of splitting the room with your sis and her hubby to keep down the cost. ^_^

 

I'm very interested but nervous that it will be during the Jewish High Holidays since they tend to be in September and I can't miss Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur for a doll event. ^_^;; I'm also curious about the policy of the event towards children.

 

Oh I really want to go~ road trip! I'm glad for the way in advance notice~

 

That sounds like something I would do, lol!

Yeah why does it seem like it takes them like a million years to make people's birth certificates? @.@
Well don't give up, I know that it's like a huge process to get some certain personal records if you're
missing even the slightest information. Everyone keeps saying how cool it looks on Canada's side, now
I'm worried about not having a passport for the first time ever, lol!

 

I'm sure there's a way to get it figured out, it just might take slightly longer. I know a lady (in her 70's) who recently got her first passport and her birth certificate didn't have her actual name on it because her parents waited a while to name her. She had more paperwork and hassle but it worked out fine in the end.

Also, when I renewed my passport I didn't realize I needed my birth certificate since I had the other passport. Luckily there was an office just down the street where I could get it, and it only took about 15 minutes!

 

I live in MD, I think it might be easier to fly up there, but cheaper to drive, decisions decisions... I guess I should talk to the one who would be driving.

Hey at least Texas gets something

http://bjdctexas.com/

 

Please don't be Labor Day Weekend, Please don't be Labor Day Weekend, Please don't be Labor Day Weekend, Please don't be Labor Day Weekend...

I work at PAX Prime in Seattle every year and can't get that weekend off. **curls into a fetal position rocking silently at the thought of a conflict**

We have the Enhanced Drivers License here in Washington State. They allow you to go into Canada/Mexico without a passport. I had to bring my birth certificate to get it and they asked me a ton of questions. They then asked me my middle name. I said "Michelle". Nope. Turns out I do not legally have a middle name so they took it off my Drivers License. Funny thing is my expired Passport has what I thought for 40 years was my middle name...

Oh! Suggestion:

Can we please have a sanctioned swap meet? I don't want to have to get a huge suite just for hosting this

 

Yes, my sis and me would both be going, and for sure, the best weekends for us in September are 20th and 27th. In case we're voting. Labor Day weekend is PAX, and noooo, not good! But of course we don't know when things may be able to be booked either, so now we'll sit in our corner.

Would it be possible to have a list, sometime in the next year or so, for people who have dietary needs, GF, things like that? PNW was simply outstanding in that regard (there was a vegetarian and GF option at the dinner), so I'd like to give another huge shout-out their way and say that would be amazing. I vote on a swap meet being a formal part as well. I would adore an Artist's Alley.

I'm also hoping, probably dreaming...I would love to see doll companies, but I know some doll conventions in Asia attract more high-end clothes designers as well. I'm sure most of them financially and logistically couldn't come, but I would adore it if they were asked.

Basically, I'm nervous that my dreams for this are already becoming elaborate, ROTFLOL!

.hlp

 

I hate to say this but the middle of the month tends to work for me anywhere from the 8-20 is best but no later than that I believe that any date given I'll try to work with though. Just adding my two cents here. ^^;

 

It sounds super exciting!!! It's too far for making any promises but I would love to attend! And if I can we would be there for sure! ^^

 

As long as that is an official copy, you should be fine. Birth certificates aren't always filed exactly on the day of your birth. I was able to get my valid passport expedited using my third birth certificate. The joys of being adopted twice and having had three different last names on three different birth certificates issued.

You have plenty of time to get a passport sorted out, especially if you start the process now as they are good for 10 years.