Surprise! I am pregnant!

Surprise! I am pregnant! 

 It feels surreal to be writing these words to you, and I have wanted to write this email for a while. After all, you're my people. We have been through a lot together. 

After my Mom went to Heaven in April of last year, life changed completely for our family. I had a lot of space open in my life, which was quickly filled with grieving, renovating the doll shop, doll events, exciting doll releases, and navigating the day-to-day of my new life. What happened most, and what I found myself saying to friends and family, is that the "sparkle" felt gone. We have done such a good job sticking together, even though Mom was the glue. I have been proud of my Dad and two brothers, yet there was still that space, and that itch grew and grew. 

I had hoped it would happen at some point this year, so you can imagine my shock when I found out the day before the Shoot for the Stars Convention started. It's been a whirlwind adventure of navigating nausea and fatigue, wrapping my head around juggling everything, and taking the time to sit back in gratitude and thankfulness and enjoy this experience. 

There are no grandchildren in my family (or Derek's), which my Mom wanted so badly to experience. My throat catches, and tears fill my eyes every time I think about it, but I am still so grateful and know she is so excited for us. She hoped a lot for my future but hoped this more than anything. She was about my age when she was pregnant with me - running the same doll shop. She had just renovated our doll shop and had so many things to manage. She was figuring it out herself, and I marvel at what she was able to accomplish. 

I grew up in the doll shop. She brought me to work, and I ran wild, dressing up in doll clothes and wigs, learning about life and dolls and antiques, potty training, and watching her work and manage a team. Not a day goes by that I don't stop and marvel that it's now ME. I am doing that. Indeed, this will be my most incredible adventure in dolls, and I don't know exactly what it will look like, but I feel SO ready because I had the greatest teacher. 

I have taken many roles in the last several years that I wasn't prepared for or even wanted, but this one - I am so ready to be a Mama. 

I look forward to future doll releases, exciting videos, sharing our day-to-day adventures in the doll shop, and I am so happy I can let you into this next phase of our lives.  

More than anything, I never want you to feel forgotten when you're living with a broken heart when I write. I will always meet you right where you are without advice or next steps, but just to say, "I see you, and I am so sorry." I don't always have the answer or perfect words, but remember that I am somewhere out there, always hoping for the best for you. 

Thank you for being a part of this journey, thank you for cheering us on, and thank you for giving me a space to share our lives with you. My job, this platform, and what we have been able to accomplish and experience together in the last several years remains one of my greatest privileges. I am thankful to have you here with me, with our little family and this tiny human that is due to join us in November. 

Love, 

Rachel 

PS - we will let you know if it is a boy or girl soon. We already know and planning a cute reveal. 

Indiana Doll Collector Adventure Blog | Virtual Doll Convention

If anyone can swoop in, get the doll stories, and get back home within 72 hours, it is Erik and me, Rachel. Over this past week, we flew to Indianapolis, Indiana, to work on an appraisal project and film two significant private doll collections for the Shoot for the Stars Virtual Doll Convention. We stayed in a cute Air B&B in the heart of downtown. On the first day of our project, we arrived at Cindy Bailey’s house at 9 AM. I was amazed at her range of vintage dolls, modern dolls, and choice antique dolls.

Cindy is such a lovely person, and her friend Kathy joined us to watch the ‘show’ as we filmed room after room of dolls. Halfway through filming, Erik’s belt broke, and Cindy went into her belt collection and gave him a new one. What a fantastic person! We filmed a program for our convention with Cindy giving us stories about her dolls, where she purchased them, and why she loves them. Of course, I loved them all, but my personal favorite was her Izannah Walker. Check out a couple more peeks below.

Our next stop later that afternoon was the home of Nicole Randall. I could NOT believe my eyes as we stepped into her first room of dolls. To start, she has the most Ellowyne Wilde dolls that I have ever seen in my life. She has the very first Ellowyne to EVERY Ellowyne. My jaw dropped! We filmed a program just on these dolls for the Ellowyne Wilde Block Party happening at the convention. YOU GO, GIRL!!!

Nicole Randall and Erik Sandoval filming a program for the Ellowyne Wilde Block Party for the Shoot for the Stars Virtual Doll Convention

Here is a couple more peeks into Nicole's Ellowyne collection. Fun fact: Robert Tonner started following Nicole on Instagram yesterday. Can you blame him? Nicole's Robert Tonner collection is iconic. She has lots of other characters besides Ellowyne, and it was cool to see our Deluxe Grace in her collection, too!

The next room in Nicole’s collection was a jam-packed adventure with modern fashion dolls from Integrity Toys, lots of Barbie (so many beautiful Silkstone dolls!) Smart Dolls, Poppy Parker, and SO much more. We filmed the room wall by wall for the Virtual Doll Convention, and Nicole is a wiz remembering the names of the dolls and their outfits.

Nicole’s house does not stop here. Her basement is full of American Girl dolls and their outstanding play accessories. My favorite was the Volkswagen bus with a working radio, working turn signals, and windshield wipers. Thank you so much, Nicole Randall, for inviting us to film at your home. Follow Nicole on Instagram today!

As you can imagine, we were tired. It was a 12 hour filming day with over 6 hours of footage, but we were also buzzing with excitement for all of the VDC Conventioneers who would love seeing what we filmed. We ordered pizza for dinner and tried to relax that evening because the next 48 hours would be just as busy. We had a 9 AM appointment with the family of Dolly Mama’s Museum of Dolls and Toys. I was hired to help them consult with the collection inside the building, and decide what to do with it. The doors have been locked for several years, and it is time to figure out the next steps. The family loved the idea of a Virtual Doll Convention and welcomed all the filming we wanted. I knew the Convention would love to see what the heck I was up to, and we filmed some entertaining and fun footage in here for you as I worked through all the items in the building, and consulted with the family. Can you find me in the photo?

Yes, it was epic. We called it an “off-roading” adventure in dolls, and it definitely was. No matter what you collect, this footage will be interesting and entertaining - we guarantee that! Here are a couple more photos and a beautiful video that we filmed for the family. Erik is an accomplished videographer and editor, and we are lucky to have him on our team.

We worked for two long days, and then went straight to the airport to come home before Colorado was supposed to have an epic snowstorm. I am thankfully home in my office right now, watching the snow come down, as I write this to you.

I hope you enjoyed this travel blog, and thank you so much for reading! We have FIVE beautiful programs for you coming to the Shoot for the Stars Virtual Doll Convention from our Indiana adventure, and I have never let you down when I have said, “you do not want to miss this.”

The Virtual Doll Convention is a completely virtual doll convention experience. Attendees experience the programs, seminars, and workshops through video either on Facebook or YouTube. There is a huge range of topics from early antique dolls through modern, and programming for teddy bears. We will have doll care and repair workshops from accomplished teachers, shopping from over 20 dealers with the BEST inventory in the land, exciting downloads, and loads of surprises. To really send you over the edge, we have the new collection of Ellowyne Wilde from Robert Tonner - exclusive to VDC to offer to collectors at the event to purchase.

To make our event as accessible as possible, we have a ‘tip jar’ registration so attendees can give us a tip from $5.00 to $50.00 to gain them access to the event, and help us offset the cost. There is no better place to be for a doll collector this month than the Virtual Doll Convention. We have been rewriting the rules for years, and this event is guaranteed to be an epic and unforgettable experience. REGISTER TODAY!

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Valentine's Day Date

When I wake up in the mornings, I am usually the first one to rustle around. I write to-do lists, drink water, make coffee, and take the Big Mamas, Dolly, and Remmie Lou (dogs) outside. I look at my Dad’s house behind me and wonder if he’s up yet. (I know he is.)

It's Valentine's Day today, and the only special thing I did was wear my red coat outside because, if there was a perfect day for it, it's today.

If the doorbell rang, I'd welcome you with open arms. I'd pour you some coffee (I always make too much) and ask if I could make you some breakfast. I would apologize for Remmie trying to jump in your lap, and we would sit and chat, and I would listen to you.

I would tell you all those hard things you are going through; oh sweet friend, it's tough, and I also know it will also make you so strong. And you will need to call on that strength one day and be so glad you know what you're made of. That resistance that you didn't want to learn but now know how to walk through the muddiest of gunk, that you.

You did that. You.

I would sit in awe of you as you sip your coffee and tell you that you are just as beautiful this morning as you are strong. Remmie would still be trying to french kiss you, so would you miss half of what I was trying to say, but you would walk away knowing one more person believed in you, and that would help YOU believe in yourself a little more that day.

By the time Remmie settled in to nap on the other side of the room with Dolly, it would be time for you to go. Keep that mug though, Derek made it for a special someone, he just didn’t know who.

As you stepped down the porch and turned around to wave goodbye, I would whisper just loud enough, "You are all those things." And you nod and smile, believing it for real today.

Have the best morning, Sweet one. Let's catch up next week about the next Virtual Convention. I think it's time for one, don't you?

Love you so much, and then some.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Rachel

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT, SO LET’S SHOOT FOR THE STARS! REGISTRATION COMING SOON FOR THE 2021 VIRTUAL DOLL CONVENTION HAPPENING MARCH 26-28, 2021.