This is what $200 in small press books looks like. While I had every intention in the world to hit another ATM machine and deplete my savings completely, I found myself inexorably drawn to a few items that I had to immediately purchase and take home with me for inspiration. I can’t feel guilty about spending such a large sum of money on art, because my heart is in the same place as these aspiring and inspired artists, and hope that someone will one day come along to my own MOCCA table and chat me up about artwork and drop a few bucks on me.

I had planned on purchasing a whole bunch of sketches and original art, but the only original art item that I purchased was this panel from Matt Kindt’s Super Spy. Very interestingly, Kindt originally published Super Spy in a digital format, and panel by panel. These panels could be viewed online or downloaded to a PSP for your viewing pleasure. The completed book assembled this huge collection of panels onto multi-panel pages, along with additional panels to adjust the comic’s pacing and format. All of the individual panels were for sale, though, in a small box on Kindt’s table and for only $30 each. I rifled eagerly through them as we discussed the differences between approaching a comic panel-by-panel as opposed to page-by-page, and I eventually settled on an image of three frog men riding an underwater missile, painted in black and sepia and wonderfully graceful and fun. I’d seen his work profiled in art magazines before, so it was a pleasure to speak with him about it and see it firsthand. Everything looks better in its original form.

In addition to the original painting, I purchased three sizeable anthologies from other tables. ‘The Annotated Wondermark,’ which is an online comic I’m fond of, uses royalty-free, turn-of-the-century styled clip art to tell its often hilarious tales in strip form. ‘Out Of The Woods’ is the School of Visual Arts’ 2006 cartooning class portfolio and features a great collection of student art. I’d spent some time at their table lamenting the fact that I didn’t go to a ‘real’ college and surely boring the pants off of them. ‘Muscles and Fights’ was being sold at Zander Cannon’s table, a man who has the coolest name in all of comicdom. The book presents a collection of artists working under the theme of, simply, ‘muscles and fights’, and prompted by a conversation with a comic fan which used the phrase disparagingly, again illustrating the strange crevasse between ‘mainstream’ and ‘indie’ comics.

‘Life Meter’ is a much smaller anthology of comics, again by a wide variety of artists and in many styles, all focused around the theme of video games. In the same vein as the annual I Am 8-Bit art show, artists deliver a single image or a few pages of an imagined narrative involving their favorite video game. After two issues, it sent my nostalgia into high gear, as the artists really picked up on the surreal video game quirks and logic - things that are nestled into my brain from those early years. Where DID Abobo go when you knocked him off of the conveyor belt? What does a Lakitu do all day? It’s great stuff.

My love of vinyl records was sated over at Jim Campbell’s table. In addition to various comics, he had the Numark PT-01 set up, playing his 45-sized records, which were actually recorded at 33 RPM speed (to maximize play time, no doubt). I purchased both Paper Fleet’s ‘Trapped Inside’, along with a split 7” between Ancient Justice and The Ottomen. These came with uniquely handprinted covers and xeroxed comics inside, relating to the songs on the album itself.

Such were the items of note that I managed to get my hands on. Along with some beautiful mini-comics by Nate Doyle, Rosemary Mosco, Mark Burrier, the team at Calavera Comics (who couldn’t make change of a $20, but gave me an awesome poster to make up the difference), and the countless other artists who took the time to talk to me even though I couldn’t buy anything. The MOCCA Fest was an inspiring, comfortable, and well-run success. It comes with my full endorsement, and if I’m lucky, I might even have a table set up there next year. Be sure to swing on by and shower me with adulation and dollar bills.

On Friday, June 8^th hubby and I went to the

wonderful Bead&Button Show. It was the first day ‘open to the public.’

It was held at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Called the “Biggest consumer bead show in the world”. The details were given on our earlier blog, so check it out.

We came across another silver craftsman who was at his first show in Milwaukee. He was actually just getting started in the business but had some very nice pieces. Prices were relatively low! The WorldRound is the name of Christopher Neal’s company. He plans to do other shows and hopes to get on the internet in the near future. Some nice, clean multi-metal pieces in silver and gold and with an “earthly” theme such as moons, Bali bells, and bamboo. To find examples go to http://www.theworldaround.com/. Good fun.

Well, you cannot be a glass ‘artiste’ without the necessary supplies. We came across the very large booth from Arrow Springs. “Everything for lampworking success – everything”, is on their catalog. And they meant it. They had tools, glass annealers, books, videos, etc.

Another incredible booth was that of Milon Townsend, artist, author and educator. He’s from Hilton, New York, http://www.milontownsend.com/. Not new to the field, he’s been in the business for many years! He was tied up with a lot of customers who were admiring his work and we chatted with his wife. She’s a big fan! She pointed out his latest and greatest – these beautiful ‘cast’ pieces with shells and other sea creatures, Aphrodite, etc. Wonderful colored glass with deep impressions in the back that make you feel like you are wearing a piece of art – and you are! You’ll love his work!

We found Jangles handmade ceramic beads next. The artist/owner is Jennifer Heynen and her work was a delight. In the business about 6 years, this was her fourth show in Milwaukee. You can find her at http://www.jangles.net/.

Andrew Brown at http://www.kbglassworks.com/ had some wonderful pieces too. These shells were beautiful and ‘priced to entice.’ Very tempting. Also had some very nice animal-themed hair barettes and such. In the same booth was Harold William Cooney. He’s been doing lampworking for 8 years, and this was his 5^th year at this Show. He recommended a website for all those who love glass beads and jewelry – called http://www.glassartists.com/. We’ll have to check that out soon.

Having granddaughters who love horses, it was only natural that we stopped at the booth with “the Horse Lady.” She was teaching a class and the lady in the shared booth told us she was an incredible teacher and well-respected artist. Lots of fun items!

While this show was advertised as the Bead&Button Show, we found only two vendors who specialized in the button part. One was with a customer and just could not take the time to share any information. Linda Wright from “My Mother’s Buttons” was able to share some time with us. She only uses antique buttons, some of them from the 1800’s. Her brooches are ‘one of a kind’ and quite distinctive. Real compliment magnets. She inherited her love of buttons from her mother who shared stories of their significance and their ‘history.’ Linda’s booklet on her company has some charming tales about buttons. One of the best is this one. Before sending her groom off to war, it was not uncommon for a new bride to place a drop of perfume oil on her most cherished fabric button, then stitch it beneath the collar of her soldier’s uniform. She hoped in doing this that he would always sense her near. How sweet! Linda has been in the button-business for 15 years and can be found on the web at http://www.mymothersbuttons.com/.

No show of this magnitude and importance would be complete without the ‘awards.’ The prestige of knowing you are top-in-your-class and that your work is truly appreciated, especially judged so by a group of your peers. We found these creations to be spectacular and hope you agree.

The Show was a wonderful experience and we are thankful to all the vendors for sharing their stories and ‘history’ with us. We’d also like to thank Matt at Kalmbach Publishing for ‘filling in the blanks.’

As you’ll recall, I met Krista while trying to identify my $6 worth of vintage Barbie dolls and fashion doll heads.

Krista’s been collecting and restoring dolls since 1995 when she discovered Mattel’s line of Reproduction Barbie dolls. (These dolls were brand new but designed to resemble the vintage dolls & fashions of the 1960s Barbies.) She fell in love with the vintage looks, and since she’s a product of a family of antique collectors and dealers, she started to hunt for the old Barbies, vintage clothing and accessories — and to restore the dolls themselves.

Krista, what doll started it all for you?

My very first vintage doll was a 1961 Blonde Bubblecut that I purchased at a local antique mall about twelve years ago.

Since I have a background in art and art history, it was natural for me to venture into restoration. Soon friends and family were encouraging me to help them with their Barbie restorations. I thought it would be fun to start a website that covered all aspects of collecting as well as restoring. My site, dollrestoration.com, has been online for over ten years now, and it just keeps on growing.

Do you specialize or focus on specific types of dolls?

Yes, my specialty is vintage Barbie (and her friends) by Mattel. I am often asked to restore other fashion dolls from the same era (Tammy by Ideal, Liddle Kiddles by Mattel, Cher by Mego, even G.I. Joe!), but my main focus has been the Barbies that were made in Japan from 1959 - 1969.

How did you learn to restore and repair these dolls?

I learned my craft purely through experimentation and lots of practice! I have spent countless hours in hardware stores searching for products I could use to repair the dolls. I have a couple of ‘trade secrets’ using products that nobody else offers; one is to remove the ‘green ear’ caused by the original metal earrings having oxidized over time, and the other is to repair nose nips and other vinyl flaws.

My true specialty, however, is face painting. My goal is to restore the Barbies so they look ‘Christmas morning new,’ and yet maintain their originality. Nothing I do to the dolls permanently alters them in any way.

You admit that restoration isn’t for every doll — nor, for every collector.

Most collectors are not too concerned about re-selling, and want their dolls restored to their original beauty so they can be displayed and enjoyed once again (while leaving the doll as original as possible, which is my philosophy).

New collectors who still do not appreciate the dolls’ age and history will tend to focus on every little bump, spot and scratch (often to an excess), and I must gently remind them that these are in fact old toys that were once heavily played with and very ‘well-loved.’ It is amazing that these dolls have survived this long! Just like we do, they age with time, and this is perfectly OK! Even NRFB (Not Removed From Box) dolls age. I restore what I can and I don’t worry about that little dot on the arm, the darkened limbs, faded vinyl, or the shoe stain on the foot (all things that cannot be repaired or should not be tampered with).

I have also found some charming Mattel ‘factory flaws’ that I would never dream of altering. (My favorite is when I find that the hair was accidently rooted right through the ear lobe.)

Experienced collectors understand that less really is more when it comes to restoring the vintage dolls. After all, if we wanted everything to be new and shiny we would not be collecting vintage; we would only buy the brand new Barbies on the store shelves today.

Are there any other sorts of repairs do you feel are either unnecessary or like a car in an accident, when a doll is ‘totaled’ and the repairs are just not worth it?

Yes, for example, it is not worth restoring the doll with a chin which has been eaten away by a rodent; then it’s probably better to invest in a replacement head rather than a restoration.

And if I find that the cost of the restorations are more than the value of the doll, I will advise against restoration. Unless of course this is the person’s childhood doll and it has sentimental value.

***

Since these aren’t my childhood dolls, and the only sentimental value they’ve got at this point is of purchasing them and clumsily trying to identify them, the values are an important part of my decision making process. So first I need to know for sure who or what I have here…

After a long bit of rambling on my part about my complete idiocy regarding Barbie identification and the dolls and doll heads I now had, Krista graded my research. What I have is:

1 vintage Brunette bubblecut Barbie
1 vintage 1963+ body
1 blonde Hair Fair head
1 PJ head
1 Skipper Twist & Turn head
1 retro (not too special) Barbie head
1 unknown retro fashion doll head

What I can tell you from the identification process is that the old K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) applies: Just look at the photos and give your best guess.

When it comes to Barbie and her pals (and likely any Mattel dolls), the copyright information is what will tie you up in knots. The copyright dates are dates for the molds, not production; so looking for those years will drive you crazy. (And I mean crazy!) Follow Krista’s identification advice and look at the photos, and you’ll likely do fine.

That’s what I did and Krista told me my guesses were right on 4.5 of the 6 doll heads I was trying to ID. I count myself as only half-right on the Bubblecut as I was off a year — and that one blonde Hair Fair was a trick question because this ‘Mod era’ head was sold as a head only along with some little wiglets and clips and things. *wink*

(If I would have ignored the dates, I would have had the same answers — except that tricky Hair Fair head — in much less time.)

If you want to learn more about Barbie and her friends, Krista recommends The Ultimate Barbie Book, by Marcie Melillo. “It’s the best guide book I have found and probably the only one you need to study,” she says. I’ll sure take her word for it.

So, Krista, did I do OK for my $6 investment?

Yes, you did not do badly at all! In a sense, you got: one vintage brunette Bubblecut Barbie that needs some restoration, one vintage 1963+ body, one blonde Hair Fair head, and one PJ head (the other three heads have little to no value) I am guessing you could resell them for about $50+. A Hair Fair head alone (in excellent condition) would probably resell for more than the $6 you spent.

Hey look, I came out a-head! Heh Heh.

I guess Barbie isn’t that intimidating after all.

Like Krista said, “As with anything, when one has a passion for the subject, one is motivated to learn. The quest for knowledge becomes exciting and enjoyable (not intimidating).”

I smell another addiction collection starting… Oh, wait; too late. I’ve got more than three, so I guess I’ve already started. Now I need to find out about the repairs and restoration.

Are my dolls worth it? Are yours? That’s for next time.

All photos courtesy of Krista’s Doll Restoration.

This past weekend was a significant one for New York comic nerds of all ilks, from those exclusively into spandex and punching to those collectors who prefer their comics brooding and embarrassingly autobiographical. Not only was the seven millionth annual Big Apple Comic Con happening across the street from Madison Square Garden in the decrepit Hotel Pennsylvania, but the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art was having their amazing annual Festival. It would seem that I had a big weekend ahead of me.

On Saturday, June 23rd, I attended the MOCCA Festival, located at the Puck Building (in the ridiculously trendy NoHo / SoHo area of NYC). The Puck Building, or at least the areas that we were allowed to access, was comprised of a series of large, interconnected ballrooms. In each one, artists and small publishers had set up simple 6-foot folding tables to display their works. There was no ridiculous fanfare, no corvettes decked out with TVs and people blasting out Guitar Hero tunes, no Marvel Comics shilling their latest galaxy-spanning, glossy-covered saga. The deceptively subtle, unadorned ballrooms were the perfect quiet atmosphere for artists to practice their art and explore each others’ works, without the constraints of ‘the industry’ telling them what was and was not appropriate. It would seem that a large portion of the overhead lighting wasn’t completely functional, but no one seemed to mind too much.

‘DIY’ or ‘do-it-yourself’ culture has recently found a significant foothold among the 30-and-younger crowd, as evidenced by such sites as Etsy and the vast collection of artists who choose self-publishing as a viable option for dispersing their artworks to the world. Xeroxed copies of small, hand-stapled books weren’t an uncommon sight, whereas that kind of presentation would have once been viewed as unprofessional. Now, the xerox machine has become an integral part of ‘zine and comic culture, as it’s become abundantly clear that the insights that you find in a professionally published book are the same insights that can be found in a cheaply mass-produced work. DIY, at least in a material sense, sprung out of the need for economy, after all - the trendiness was just a coincidence that came along later.

Because of this, the variety of artists and approaches covered the entire scope of the comic industry. From artists who had a few small piles of photocopies, artists who’d handmade books on a printing press, artists who had books professionally bound and printed in color or black and white, and even artists who took the ‘comic’ format and stretched it to its limits by presenting piles of individual panels in small boxes, packaged with 45s, and even as original paintings. Some were published by indie labels, while others were simply there to share their own amateur (and often impressive) creations.

I had my own mission, though, and that was to once again get my Bizarro Comics book signed by Tom Hart, Nick Bertozzi and Jessica Abel, to add to my collection of artist signatures I’ve been accumulating since 2002. By the end of the convention, I’d found everyone but the elusive Tom Hart, and even had a great conversation with Mr. Bertozzi about Jack Kirby and the recent release of the second volume of the DC Archive Edition of Kamandi. With my recent appreciation of Jack Kirby just being explored in earnest, it was enlightening to see the invisible barrier between ‘hero’ comics and ‘indie’ comics being broken down, as they often exist in two very different worlds, and are not always at ease with each other. He signed my Bizarro book right next to his own drawing of Kamandi.

Jessica Abel didn’t seem quite as receptive to my appreciations, but added the seventh signature to my Bizarro book anyhow.

Other attendees included Gary Panter, who was recently profiled in Juxtapoz Magazine for his influence on current ‘pop surrealist’ art culture, as well as his role as designer on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse (which was integral in my mental development, probably to no surprise). On the other end of his row of tables was the seven year old daughter of Denis Kitchen (founder of the notable Kitchen Sink Press), Alexa, perhaps with the most elaborate display of all, including a banner heralding her arrival and title of ‘the youngest artist in comics!’, with stacks of pink books overwhelming the table around her, while she continued to draw and her mother looked on proudly. All of this convinced me to come home to my own seven year old niece, make her a pot of coffee and let her burn through a ream of printer paper at high speeds… though this is something that she does fairly regularly anyhow without the aid of caffeine or goading. Coffee would probably blur her to a white-hot light speed from which we’d never recover.

Interestingly, there were a few artists who normally attend the Big Apple Comic Con who opted to lend their support to the MOCCA Fest instead this year, since odd planning had both events on the same days. I can see this as an active support towards the ‘art’ side of things over the ‘industry’ side, so Kyle Baker and Evan Dorkin be praised. You guys made the right choice.

Also of note was Dr. Cube from Kaiju Big Battel, a being of unspeakable evil and megalomania. From behind his table, he grasped at my friend’s complimentary Wizard Magazine and tore it open in order to sign it. When he handed it back to my friend, it read ‘Wizard Magazine is for sucker MCs! Dr. Cube!’. Shortly after that, he snatched someone’s water bottle and wrote ‘WATER!’ on it, and it all became clear. Dr. Cube and Los Plantanos were the only costumed folks at MOCCA. This was a good thing.

The MOCCA Fest spread through four or five ballrooms on the first floor, as well as a large room on the seventh floor. Table spacing was fair, and allowed foot traffic easy passage, which was a bonus as I have limited patience for crowded convention floors. As the day wore on a bit, the ballrooms filled up to ‘crowded’ levels, but the mood remained calm and unfrustrated - which is not something that can be said for the purely ‘BUY AND SELL’ atmosphere of the traditional comic convention.

Another added bonus? Art chicks are HOT. Unfailingly. So… there’s that, too.

By the end of the day, I’d spend $200 in limited edition, small run books, original paintings and records. As I purchased them, I had the opportunity to talk to an inspiring collection of genuine artists, half of whom seemed a bit surprised that I wanted them to sign their works for me, unpretentious and unassuming as most of them were. Stay tuned for an exploration of just what $200 in small press books looks like.

The Bead&Button Show was held Milwaukee, Wisconsin from June 3-10, 2007. The Show opens ‘to the public’ on June 8th, the earlier dates are for classes and receptions for the numerous vendors.

On Friday, June 8^th hubby and I went to the wonderful Bead&Button Show.

It was held at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Called the “Biggest consumer bead show in the world”, we were really looking forward to it! We patiently waited until Friday afternoon in order to beat some of the rush. We wanted to be able to meet with some of the vendors and understood that the opening hours would be their busiest time.

Some basic details follow:

More than 14,000 enthusiasts attended the 2007 Show!

There were 500 classes and workshops for all skill levels. These ran for 8 days. Attendees numbered 2,800.

This is the 7^th year the show has been held in Milwaukee.

370 vendors from around the world packed the marketplace floor.

There was 120,000 square feet in the exhibit hall.

The Show Manager is Marlene Vail.

We verified this information with Matt Quandt of Kalmbach Publishing. They are publishers of various collector’s magazines including Bead & Button, and Beadstyle, and Art Jewelry. They were also the publishers of the program for this show. For information on Kalmbach, go to http://www.kalmbach.com/.

Here is the beautiful Midwest Airlines Center and some happy customers!

We were overwhelmed by the variety we found. Ropes of glass and crystal (including Swarovski), ceramic beads, loose beads of all colors and materials, semi-precious stones, and lampwork, fused and dichroic glass by true artisans.

The vendors were very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. And passionate about their products!

We stopped at ECLECTICA (http://www.eclecticabeads.com/) which was a real treat. They had 14 spaces – a wonderful array of ‘beads from around the world. In addition to their stores in Brookfield and Mequon (Wisconsin), they sell on the internet. They’ve got beads, kits, ‘repro’ glass and cabochons. They are real pros – having been in business for 14 years. Their next big show is in Tucson, Arizona.

Another delightful stop was meeting Kelly Wiese of the Bead Parlor (http://www.beadparlor.com/.) Kelly has been in business for about 10 years, and specializes in classes and original bead kits. Beautiful work!

We also found the Pema Art Tibetan Beads booth fascinating! The owner is Pema Gurung and her sister told us that she has been working with beads for 28 years, starting out when she was a very young girl! She lived in Tibet and sells unusual beads from the Himalayas and antique ethnic tribal arts jewelry. She sells wholesale and retail and does shows – heading to Denver for the next one. She is at http://www.tibetanbeads.com/. There was a wide variety of product in her booth.

And who could ever pass up the Gita Maria booth? Once you saw the bold colored, unique items, you were hooked. She is celebrating over 25 years of designing handmade enameled embellishments and they were ‘to die for.’ She sells on the net at http://www.gitamaria.com/. We picked up a large commemorative catalog which was bright and colorful but seeing them in person was the real treat! She makes things called ‘Hugs’(made of glass enamel fired over silver plate.) These are designed to lay flat on all types of fibres and in your hair and have a ‘stick’ to secure them. She also makes all sorts of brooches and pins, charms, bars and pendants, bails, knit sticks. She does a lot of pendants with ‘flying fairies and flower sprites!’ Gita herself was off instructing a class. The lady in her booth was one of her biggest fans and told us you can wear rather plain, unimaginative clothing and put on a few of her creations and ‘oila’, you are a star! Be sure to check her out!

Another delightful stop was at Glow Glass LLC. We met with Moraine, one of the owners. They are “Specialty Color Suppliers” and their glass is made in 7 Glow-in-the-dark colors. These are made from “rare earth minerals’, a new technology. They make beads and pendants. The light green is like the ‘vaseline glass’ of the olden days! From the “Bay Area”, they sell at trade shows and local art shows and can be found at http://www.glowglass.com/. Moraine started in the business about 8 years ago, but has been selling for the past 5 years. Very personal and enthusiastic – loves what she’s doing and proud of what the company has to offer. (Just could not pass up a few of those beads that glowed.)

We came across a large gathering of craftsmen from Australia, very friendly and with incredible offerings. Wendy Hearn, Glass Artist from Guru Creations, did beautiful fused glass! The pieces were large and ‘layered’, very bold! It was her first show in the USA but from the reception given her, she was confident it would not be her last one! She was very complimentary about the city of Milwaukee too, which we were glad to hear. She has been doing shows for 8 years. We do not believe she is on the internet but had an email of wendu@gurucreations.com. You will not be disappointed.

Being ‘silver lovers’, we just had to stop at “Designs by Mary Poineal.” She is a top-notch silversmith and has been enjoying it for 9 years. Mary sells internationally, and at the big shows in Chicago and Minnesota, etc. Her latest creation is an absolute must-have for the bead lovers out there. She calls it the “Revolution” and it is a combination of attachments that can fit on or be taken off a silver necklace. The photo does not do it justice, it has so many variations and is reasonably priced. You can change a ‘ho-hum’ outfit into a ‘zowee’ with the addition of this ‘system.’ She can be found at http://www.mcduckcreations.com/. Incredible silver work!

For a change of pace, we stopped at C.A. Therien – Polymer Clay Arts. “Cat” Therien was teaching a class but her husband was very knowledgeable and helpful. He showed us some of her creations and also the millefiore canes she uses for them. She sells a lot of these canes and is well-respected for her offerings. Lovely butterflies – they’re some of her favorites. It was her first show in Milwaukee and he said they were very pleased with their response. She’s been in the business for over 7 years. She sells a lot on ebay too, http://www.catherienarts.com/. Check her out!

Gold & Glass Designs by Joy Thomas was our next stop and it was fantastic! The two ‘workers’ in the booth were decked out in her creations and had wonderful things to say about Joy and her work. She is into teaching ‘big-time’ and was doing just that when we were at the booth. She does not sell on the net, only does shows. Very highly respected as a craftsman, she recently was interviewed on PBS! She does fine art fairs and home shows too. Once you see her work in person, you’ll have to have some. Look for more at http://www.joythomas.com/.

Boy, this is getting harder and harder to pass things up. Maybe I can find just a few more open spots in the old jewelry cabinet! These are top-quality pieces and one must sparkle!

To be Continued – check back for more on this marvelous show!