Happy Spring, Everyone!
After the challenges of a
VERY cold and seemingly never ending winter, saying those words truly warms my
heart and brings "music to my ears"!
In spite of the crazy
weather, I’ve managed to fit in site visits and a couple of very special trips these
past few weeks to do research and source fabric for our August convention.
I couldn’t be more excited about our theme for
2015, all the convention plans, and how beautifully everything is coming
together – and I’m beyond thrilled to finally be able share a bit about it now…
But before continuing, I
want to thank each of you for your patience, understanding and never ending
enthusiasm during the roller coaster ride of a search for the 2015 Sandra
Stillwell Presents convention location!
I'm happy to say that my
diligence has been rewarded with what I consider to be the perfect setting for
our nostalgic weekend! I can't help but
believe this destination was "meant to be" and definitely well worth
waiting for! I hope once you read on, that you'll agree! (Please be sure to
read to the bottom)
And now... you have all
been patient long enough, so without further delay, the wait is over...
I'm very excited to
announce that the "The Scenic City" of Chattanooga, Tennessee will
play host to our 2015 convention...
Sandra
Stillwell Presents: Bellissima Italian Style!!
Heightening the
excitement, our "home" for this first class event, to be held August
20 - 23, is the Read
House Historic Inn and Suites, a stately Grande Dame in the heart of
downtown Chattanooga!
Listed on the National
Register of Historic Places in America, this Southern landmark has had the
honor of being host to many celebrities over its lifetime, including Tallulah
Bankhead, Gary Cooper, Bob Hope, Al Capone, Winston Churchill, Andrew Johnson,
and Ronald Reagan -- as well as other legendary "spirited" guests who
have been rumored to visit on occasion!
Rich with exquisite
architectural details, the crowing jewel of this vintage beauty is the majestic
Silver Ballroom. Lined with sparkling mirrors and adorned with gorgeous
original 1926 silver leaf moldings and glittering Waterford Crystal
chandeliers, this stunning ballroom has been the backdrop of illustrious social
gatherings for over eight decades.
And now it will have the
distinction of hosting the most glamorous, beautiful "dolls"
imaginable!
A magical scene such as
this is the tableau of which dreams are made…
So, take a deep breath to
soak in the grandeur… dream on… and let your fantasies sweep you far away, to another
spectacular setting in a more graceful space and time….
Our Theme --
July, 1951, Florence
Italy...
Imagine the magnificent
setting of a grand Italian Palace...with elaborately carved molding adorning surfaces
in every direction, and shimmering hand crafted crystal chandeliers which
beautifully illuminate the opulent backdrop of pure white.
Statuesque models,
costumed in elegant Italian couture strut down a catwalk carpeted in white.
Surrounding chairs are occupied by influential reporters and magazine editors,
buyers from elite American department stores, and chic socialites...
This is the legendary Sala
Bianca fashion show -- pure luxury, the hottest ticket in town --and you have a
front row seat! Bravissima!!
Bellissima Italian Style!! will celebrate the distinct essence of impeccable
Italian style, with a special focus on vintage Italian designers, their
creations from 1945 through the early 60's -- and their lasting legacies in the
glamorous world of fashion.
You’ll hear new
revelations about iconic Italian masters of couture, and discover the work of
less known, but equally fabulous couturiers.
We will explore the
essential role played by the United States in establishing Italy as a fashion
industry powerhouse, resulting from a special bond and cooperative effort that
continued between these allied nations after the end of the Second World War.
We'll learn about one
dedicated, tenacious visionary -- Giovanni Battista Giorgini -- who, in his
passion for promoting Italian craftsmanship, is solely responsible for the
"birth" of it all...
And we’ll pay tribute to
the direct link between fashion and films…
Strong relationships
developed between Italian fashion and Hollywood -- so much so, that Rome became
known as "Hollywood on the Tiber" when it became many American movie
directors' favorite city to make a film in.
Italian movie sirens, such
as Sophia Loren, became American sensations – and American movie stars, such as
Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn, became a paparazzi dream.
Several Italian fashion
ateliers also designed film costumes. Close friendships were made between
Hollywood stars, such as Ava Gardner and Linda Christian, and these Italian
designers, who often also designed a major part of the stars' personal
wardrobes.
Rome's Cinecitta Studios
became synonymous with extreme glamour in the post war years, with lavish sets
and scandalous affairs...
We delve into all these
fascinating tidbits and more… with Bellissima,
Italian Style!
Chattanooga attractions --
Nestled
between the mountains of Southwest Tennessee, along the beautiful Tennessee
River, Chattanooga is one America's most breathtaking cities!
Rich
in Civil War history, "The Scenic City" has the distinction of being
named by the NY Times as one of the "Top 45 places to go" in the
world.
Interestingly,
this picturesque Tennessee town and the legendary cities of Italy share several
parallels that will be intriguing to explore -- such as sister and
"twinning" cities, bustling railways and beautiful waterways,
magnificent vistas and scenic mountain backdrops, colorful culture and awe-inspiring
architecture, a rich heritage and legendary "ghost stories",
historical battlefields and the pride of having risen from the ravishes of war!
Only
a few steps away from the Read House is the Tivoli Theatre, a Beaux Arts style
"picture palace" which opened in 1921 after over two years of construction -- and $1
million price tag -- a lavish sum in those days! It was reported that Italian
artisans traveled to Chattanooga to do the ornate plaster work for the
historical theatre, which was named for the Italian hill town of Tivoli. Known
as "The Jewel of the South", the Tivoli hosted live shows throughout
the 30's, including the Ziegfeld Follies and performances by Fanny Brice, Helen
Hayes, Ginger Rogers, and Ray Bolger, among others.
When
fans of 40's era music and movies hear "Chattanooga", perhaps the
first image that springs to mind is the Chattanooga Choo Choo, made famous by
The Glenn Miller Orchestra's #1 hit of the same name, performed in the 1941
movie "Sun Valley Serenade. The
certified gold hit, "Chattanooga Choo Choo", told the story of a
train trip from Track 29 in New York City to Chattanooga's historic Terminal
Station, where the steam engine is on display today!
And,
speaking of fabulous music...
Chattanooga’s
own "Empress of the Blues", Bessie Smith, is honored in a special
collection of memorabilia related to her life and career, on display at the
Bessie Smith Cultural Center. The center is also home to the Chattanooga
African American Museum, which tells the story of other well-known
Chattanoogans, and the contributions the African American community made to the
development of Chattanooga and to our nation.
Chattanooga
is also a city of art and culture...
Housed
in a grand Southern Mansion, the Hunter Museum of American Art is home to one
of the country's finest collection of American Art, focusing on the Colonial
period to today. Perched on an 80-ft bluff on the edge of the Tennessee River,
the Hunter Museum of American Art offers stunning views of the river and the
surrounding mountains.
On
view during August will be the special exhibition, Monet and American
Impressionism, which will feature several Monet paintings and highlight
twenty-five American artists who paint in the Impressionism style. Roughly
fifty paintings and twenty prints dating from 1880 - 1920 will be on display.
Nearby
Houston Museum of Decorative Arts, housed in a Victorian Mansion, is also home
to a beautiful antique glassware and decorative arts collection.
Convention Package –
Your "Bellissima Italian Style!!" souvenir package will be an
exclusive collection of chic "Italian Styled" fashions -- with just
the perfect twist of elegance, glamour
and fun you've come to expect from "Sandra
Stillwell Presents”.
Also included with your registration will be:
Thursday evening opening
dessert reception
One Lunch
Two Dinners
Interesting Programs and
Speakers
Room Shopping
Movie breaks, surprises,
raffles, and lots of fabulously fashionable fun!
A group tour of beautiful,
scenic Chattanooga and key historical sites
(More details to be
announced later)
And there will be celebrations!
This is a very special year, with much
to celebrate -- not only is it a milestone anniversary year for Gene, the doll
responsible for bringing so many of us together in years of fun and friendship
-- but it’s also a huge milestone
anniversary for our friends at Horsman Doll Company, who will be joining us
once again to celebrate their big year!
But there’s still more!
You’ll have the
opportunity to purchase or pre-order extremely limited fashions from the Sandra Stillwell Presents: “Bellissima Italian Style!!” convention
collection, many of which will be made of the finest Italian fabrics, direct
from Italy!
(Designed to
fit our favorite 16” star, some fashions will fit other doll bodies – please be
sure to ask if you have specific doll needs).
However… Though we make every attempt to have the souvenir fashions
available at convention, we are dependent on not only shipping, but also on
factories meeting deadlines and customs passing deliveries through. In the
event that any of the souvenirs are not delivered in time so that we can
present them at convention, they will be mailed as soon as possible. I very
much appreciate your understanding where this is concerned!
Registration Information –
More great news!!!
Registration is now open for Sandra Stillwell Presents: “Bellissima Italian Style!!”
Limited to only 50
attendees, this intimate soiree is the
not to be missed event of the summer!
Last year’s Sandra Stillwell Presents convention sold out in record time, and
we expect our 2015 convention to follow suit!
So don’t delay….Buy your
ticket, grab your dolly, and get aboard the ""Choo Choo” for a
weekend packed with phenomenal fun, glamorous fashions, incomparable elegance,
unforgettable memories, super surprises, and ... "Bellissima Italian Style!!”
If booked
within our “Sandra Stillwell Presents” group room block, and paid in full by
cash, check or money order by July 1st, the registration fee is $490. After July 1st,
the fee is $525.
An additional
$100 will be added to registrations booked outside of the “Sandra Stillwell
Presents” group room block.
A $20 service
fee will be added to payments other than cash, check, or money
order.
A
nonrefundable deposit of $100 will reserve your spot. Payment plans can be
arranged on request.
It is important that you
RSVP by email if you are planning to join us.
Once you have RSVP’d, your
space will be held for 1 week.
For anyone who has not
RSVP’d, registrations will be accepted according to postmark.
A $100 cancellation fee
applies to all cancellations prior to July 1stth. After that date,
no cancellations can be accepted.
Checks or Money Orders for registration should be made
payable to Sandra Stillwell, and mailed to:
Bellissima Italian Style!!
c/o Sandra Stillwell
8305 Blue Lick Rd
Louisville, KY 40219
(Please
contact me if you need to make special arrangements.)
Companion registrations
will be available if purchased with a full registration. Please contact me for
details.
At this time, there are no
absentee registrations -- however, we will have a wait list for those
interested. If absentee registrations become available, they will be offered to
those on RSVP list before being made available to the general public. Please
contact me as soon as possible if you’d like to be included.
Hotel
Information –
I will email our group reservation code
to attendees once it is established. Please do not contact the hotel before
then, as reservations will not be accepted without the code. If you have any
questions about the hotel or your reservation before receiving the code, please
contact me directly.
As mentioned earlier, our 2015
convention hotel is:
The
Read House Historic Inn and Suites
827 Broad St
Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37402.
For a preview of our beautiful spaces,
visit here…(Be sure to scroll through to the Silver Ballroom!)
I’m happy to report that we’ve secured
the following special group rates:
Single: $139
Double: $155
Please contact me directly for
information on Triple or Quad rates.
The above rates include breakfast
served in Porter’s Steak House on days other than Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
when we will have breakfast programs in the Silver Ballroom. The breakfasts on
our event days may include souvenirs and/or table gifts, for which you must to
be present to receive, unless previous arrangements are made.
In order for you to experience
everything Chattanooga has to offer, this special rate has been extended 3 days
before and after convention, based on availability. If you need to book outside
these dates, please contact me directly.
The Read House offers complimentary
Wi-Fi.
There is a full service Starbucks in the hotel lobby, as well as Porter’s Steakhouse for breakfast (as stated above), lunch and dinner. Several other dining options are very nearby.
The complimentary electric trolley to many tourist sites can be picked up in front of the hotel.
There is a full service Starbucks in the hotel lobby, as well as Porter’s Steakhouse for breakfast (as stated above), lunch and dinner. Several other dining options are very nearby.
The complimentary electric trolley to many tourist sites can be picked up in front of the hotel.
Valet parking is $15 per night. There
is also a self parking lot in front of the hotel for $11 daily, and other
parking options nearby. Free on street parking is available outside the hotel
from 4:30 Friday – 8AM Monday (please double check with the hotel to confirm
these times).
Our room block is very limited, so I
highly recommend you make hotel reservations as soon as possible after I send
out the group code.
If you have any problems making your
reservation or have questions, I’m happy to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact
me.
If you are planning to join us at convention
but are not yet ready to make your room reservation, it would be a big help if
you could please let me know what days you are planning to be there.
The cutoff date to make room
reservations in our group block is July 21st
I will be monitoring our room block
carefully until then to make additions as needed.
Please
remember that it is VERY important to book within our group block, as our room
and food rates are based on meeting a guaranteed minimum. Your room booking helps
defray meeting space rental fees and other costs. It’s crucial that I have your cooperation with
this…
Airport
Information –
Yes! Chattanooga has an airport!
Chattanooga airport is a small
convenient airport that offers lots of amenities available at airports of
larger size.
The following airlines offer flights to
Chattanooga – some are direct.
(For more information, see the links
below)
American Eagle
Allegiant
Delta
U S Airways Express
For those who prefer to fly into a
larger airport, both Atlanta and Nashville airports are approximately 130 miles
away.
Groome Transportation is offering our
group a special rate of only $42 each way, with drop off or pick up at the Read
House.
Return trips must be made at least 24
hrs in advance, and pickups are made at the hotel 45 minutes prior to the
normal shuttle departure times listed on the schedule.
Atlanta schedule:
Nashville schedule:
Book Groome
Transportation online at:
https://t9.surfnsecure.com/GroomeChattanooga/web-reserve.cgi
or call 423-954-1400, 800-896-9928
Be sure to mention either "Stillwell' or "Sandra Stillwell Presents" to receive the special rate.
or call 423-954-1400, 800-896-9928
Be sure to mention either "Stillwell' or "Sandra Stillwell Presents" to receive the special rate.
Raffle Donations:
A little
known fact about conventions is that registration fees never fully
cover expenses -- so we'll be having a raffle to help offset extra costs!
Dolls, fashions, accessories, repaints, dolly “spa” days or gift
certificates... donations of all types and sizes are welcomed and greatly
appreciated!!
We had such a
phenomenal raffle table last year – and SO much fun drawing for all the “loot”
-- let’s make it our goal to have a repeat performance this year!
If you
would like to contribute to the fun – and help convention at the same time -- please
email me!
Optional Tours... Pricing and more
details forthcoming soon.
Thursday, August 20th All Day Bus trip to Nashville – price and time to be determined
Our convention theme, “Bellissima Italian
Style!!” was chosen to coincide with the phenomenal “Italian Style:
Fashion since 1945” exhibition at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, in
Nashville.
A traveling exhibit from the Victoria and
Albert Museum in London, this not to be missed show has earned rave reviews in
both Minneapolis and Portland, its only other two stops in the USA. ( I can personally vouch for this, after having had the
wonderful opportunity to see it in Portland!)
Our Thursday visit to view “Italian Style” was
chosen to set the scene for our “Bellisima Italian Style!!” weekend -- the
ideal way to pique your interest and introduce you to some of the designers
we’ll be featuring in our programs!
Our day will be begin bright and early (time
TBD) for the beautiful, scenic drive to the “Music City”.
We have some fun things and entertainment
planned for our ride to and from Nashville – or you can take the time to catch
some ZZZZZ’s!
I’m still planning our day in Nashville, but
besides our time dedicated to the exhibit (and any related activities I may be
able to arrange), our time in the Music City is fairly flexible -- as long as
we leave in time to return to the hotel by about 6:30 (we can adjust this a
little if necessary).
Nashville is a compact city -- there are SO
many fun things to do in close proximity!
For some of you, this will be your first
visit to “Music City”. For others, it may be an opportunity to see things you
may have missed before – or there may be favorite places you’d like to see
again!
We can organize group activities, or be on
our own…if you have a preference about this, please do let me know.
Please also take a bit of time to think about
what YOU would like to do on this “Nashville day out” – and let me know if
there is anything you’d particularly enjoy!
So…for now…what is definite is that we will
have a day full of FUN, a FABULOUS Fashion exhibit, lots of great memories, and
a BEAUTIFUL souvenir fashion to commemorate
a wonderful day! What could be more perfect?
Sunday – TBD
Our Sunday tour has traditionally been sort
of a laid back, informal activity for those who want to stay over another night
for even more fun with friends!
I’m still researching options for our Sunday
outing – but I can promise you our activity will be worth the stay!
Some suggestions are:
Things in and around Chattanooga (train
excursions, a visit to civil war mansions, etc)
A day trip to Atlanta –
The Margaret Mitchell Museum and/or other
Gone With the Wind related activities. http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/mmh
(I am
also researching fashion museums, etc)
Another trip back to Nashville –
The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s home) http://thehermitage.com/
Or an opportunity to do something in Music
City that we missed on Thursday!
I welcome suggestions…Please let me know what
you would like to do!
It’s REALLY important to let me know if you are interested in joining us
on Sunday, so I can plan activities and transportation accordingly…
What we do may very well be dependent on how many participate.
As always, if there is enough interest, I am happy to plan something on
Wed, August 19th, or Monday August 24th.
In closing, I want to thank you all again for your ongoing support and
interest in Sandra Stillwell Presents: Bellissima Italian Style!!”
I know there are many other fun events planned
throughout the year, and that dolly dollars and time must be spent very
carefully! It means the world to me that you would consider spending yours to
be with us!
The English translation for
“Bellissima” means “most beautiful”…
I feel truly blessed that our shared
love of dolls and fashion has brought much beauty – in so many forms – into my
life!
And, no matter what our vision of
“beauty” may be, time with friends is always something “most beautiful” to be
celebrated!
I hope you can join
us in Chattanooga for our celebration of beautiful spaces, beautiful fashion,
beautiful dolls, beautiful friendships, beautiful memories, and…”Bellissima Italian Style!!”
Sincerely,
Sandra
502 3775153
