It's MEET A MODERATOR MONDAY. Introducing myself...Gwenevere!..>>>
Posted by Doll Divas on March 3, 2008, 11:10 am Board Administrator
Many of you already know me from past exclusive features but since we have so many new people on the board I will refresh!
I am known on the board as Gwen, Gwenevere, and Gwendolyns Treasures. I’m a ‘work at home’ Mom and look after my 2 daughters Samantha, our Bohemian 12 year old (a chip off the old block...and Mom is very proud!) Mallorie our 9 year old who keeps us laughing and on our toes and a 40 year old hubby, Kirby (the worst of the bunch LOL!) He tells me I am 44 so I will have to take his word for it as I’ve conveniently lost count! We also have a very fat cat named Molly that we have nicknamed 'the Badger'.
My girls: Mallorie (L) and Samantha (R)
and a more typical photo of Mallorie that says it all!!
DH and I
and chubby Molly
I was born and raised in Saskatchewan and met my husband in Saskatoon 17 years ago. (we’ve been married for 15 years) We immediately moved to Vancouver to be close to my family but DH was transferred to Calgary Alberta 8 years ago and we have been here ever since. I still consider Vancouver home tho and would love to move back. It’s just too darn cold here!!!!
I majored in Graphic Arts many many MANY years ago (back in the age of dinosaur computers when one filled a whole room! I still have nightmares!!!)and was in the advertising business as an artist for about 15 years. I also painted landscapes in my spare time and sold numerous commissions. I decided to work from home when my youngest was born turning my hobby into a business, creating Bridal Accessories and crafts, supplying to stores across Western Canada and dealing with stressed out brides in my home. Then around 2000 I decided to search Ebay (which intimidated the heck out of of me!) to price out a childhood Velvet doll and discovered people were sewing and selling clothes for DOLLS!!!!! Next thing I knew the Bridal business was closing and I was sewing and selling for Crissy, Velvet and Tiffany Taylor. (They weren’t so stressed out) Then it was on to Kitty Collier, Miss Revlon, Gene and Tyler. I also pulled out my childhood TNT Barbies for models and began sewing for them as well. That’s when I discovered Barbie all over again and slowly the bigger girls were left behind. Then came the world of Silkstone and I was hooked!!!!!
Some of my early creations....
I discovered Doll Divas 2 years ago when I was contacted by Laure and Scribs to do an exclusive. I had so much fun I decided to stay! Laure and I have even been able to get together a couple of times as she only lives about 6 hours away. Since then I have helped out a bit with the contests and parties and filled in with the Q of the Day when Heidi was away. Last December I stepped into Val in Cal’s shoes when she stepped down and am having so much fun!!! Now I’m on mornings changing Spotlight Photos and Themes of the Week (can always use new ideas for the weekly themes!!) and frantically searching for birthday cakes to post Happy Birthdays! I am also in charge of finding Featured Designers for Exclusives so if any designers out there are interested LMK!! Along with the other moderators I also help out with planning parties and fun days for y’all and TRY to help Laure answer DD emails.
My doll collection is a mish mash of everything but I am a Barbie girl at heart! I don’t collect any doll in particular, just buying what I like.....playlines, Vintage Repros, Silkstones and of course the model muse for those fabulous sweater dress bodies! I do own a few Fashion Royalties (Doll Divas fault!) and am also in love with those cartoony Monsieur Z gals. There are also a few Lollipops. Genes, Tylers, Daisys, Willows and Bleeding Edge Goth girls fighting for space in my cabinet. Anything fun, funky...strange?? Makes it into my collection. I also broke down and just ordered a Dynamite Girl for my mods! I don’t have much room for display tho so my girls rotate on a regular basis and spend most of their time nude or modelling my latest offer.
My dolls have taken over my bedroom...
and my living room....
My piano...These change weekly. It was goth last week!!
Gwendolyns Treasures has become a full time business for me. You can usually find me at my sewing machine creating Mods, Retros and commissions .
Some of my favorites....
and a sneak peek of an upcoming sale LOL!!
I am also able to follow my other passion...graphic arts, preparing photos for my sales pages or just showing off my gals on Doll Divas LOL! Yes, I’m a photoshop fanatic! I’m also a computer nut so if I have free time I’m usually on DD, surfing the web or shopping! I am also an avid reader and love my Historical and Vampire novels!
I just had to share these again! My girls photoshop'd....
About a year ago I became an executive member of the Barbie Collector Club of Alberta. Our doll club meets about once every 6 weeks and we are responsible for planning the Barbie Conventions in Calgary so if there are any Alberta lurkers out there looking for some dolly fun!!... I was also commissioned by the club to create last year’s club doll and Mod convention Fashion as well as this year’s club doll and the doll for 2009.... I’m also designing the fashion for our upcoming Autumn in Paris Barbie Convention in September...so Gwen is busy!!!
Last year's club doll...
and the Barbie A Go Go Convention fashion.
So that’s me in a nutshell. I want to thank everyone for making Doll Divas such a wonderful, creative and friendly place to visit and thank you to my fellow DD moderators for putting up with me. It has become a second home for me and I have made so many fabulous doll friends. I would also like to thank all my great customers for supporting my business (and dolly habit!) and enabling me to indulge my creative streak! Ana last but not least thanks to our Moderator Joey for coming up with this fun idea for MEET THE MODS!!! Hugs. Gwen
