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There are two things that I'm most thankful for adding to my collection this year.

The first is the blue Chromatic Couture. An unexpected gift from my late mom allowed me to purchase her. My mom was still alive when the doll first debuted at the Paris convention and we both agreed she was spectacular but probably not obtainable, at least this year. Then, earlier this month, circumstances changed and I was able to get her. I view her as the last Christmas present from my mom.






The second item I'm most thankful for is the 2004 souviner convention bracelet from Chicago. Originally $45 in 2004, my mom and I went in together to buy this charm bracelet that replicated vintage wrist tags. We both loved it and would take turns wearing it. Around 2010-2011, I wore it to a Barbie event in my area and the clasp broke. I was able to locate the bracelet once I noticed it was missing, but a local politician's "princess" daughter had picked it up. Instead of doing the right thing and returning it, the politician father kicked up a fuss and accused me of stealing it from his precious angel. If I wanted to keep my career, I had to let it go.

This bracelet is nearly impossible to find these days and I've been looking for a replacement ever since. Even John helped me look since he went to estate sales in Michigan.

This summer while I was functioning as my mom's voice and guardian while she was in the hospital, a Facebook group I'm in was preparing for their first ever online sale. There was a thread devoted to your "wish list" items, so as always, I posted that I was looking for the bracelet. For the first time ever, someone asked me to give a better description so I did and then sent the potential seller a photo of me wearing the bracelet years ago.

To my amazement, the seller not only had the bracelet but was willing to sell it for the same price it would have gone for in 2004 even though she could have asked for so much more. I couldn't send that payment fast enough!

The bracelet arrived before my mom passed away so, once I had it, I made sure my mom saw it. Some of her last words to anyone were "You got it back. I knew you would." Shortly after that, things with her went, well, in a not so good direction, but at least she was able to see the bracelet before she passed and know that I had been able to replace it.


Sorry for the bad photo. I've never photographed it properly.