I have SO many people to thank for helping to make this such a fabulous convention…but first, I want to share some highlights of all the fun we had!
Destination Atlanta! Home of Delta Airlines
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| Destination Atlanta! Home of Delta Airlines Miniature poster and pamphlets created by Patsy Fryberger. |
Rich’s Atlanta – where Atlanta’s society ladies shopped!
We initiated our new convention dates with Sunday’s curator’s tour of the Atlanta History Center’s fashion archives, where we viewed the gown and matching coat created by Georgia’s own Joanne Woodard, worn to the Academy Awards ceremony at which she won the Oscar for best actress in The Three Faces of Eve.
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| Patsy’s Mini posters of Joanne Woodward films, and paper dolls featuring the beloved actress from Georgia |
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| Joanne Woodward sewing her Oscar gown, from the collection of the Atlanta History Museum. |
We were also shown the embroidered velvet evening coat worn by the Gone With The Wind author, Margaret Mitchell, to the Atlanta premier of the film, amongst other garments worn by illustrious figures from Georgia.
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( L) Margaret Mitchell’s velvet evening coat, embroidered in silver and gold.
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Our second stop was Atlanta’s SCAD, where we were treated to a guided tour of the Madame Grès Art of Draping exhibition, with over 70 fashions, spanning the iconic designer’s prolific career.
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| An exhibition guide from the Madame Grès exhibit at SCAD Atlanta and with miniature sketches of Madame Grès designs, from Patsy Fryberger. |
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| A selection of fashions from the Madame Gres exhibit. |
Tours continued on Monday, with a special guided tour of the historic Fox Theatre, a magnificent 1929 Movie Palace, built in the opulent Far Eastern style.
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The Historic Fox Theatre, Atlanta |
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| Doll size Rockin’ record player and miniature Brenda Lee “All The Way” album created by Sue Connor. Mini Brenda Lee and Ray Charles’ “Georgia On My Mind” sheet music and Brenda Lee and Jane Withers paper dolls created by Patsy Fryberger. |
Following the Rockin’ fun centerpiece drawings, the action continued with our spirited helper drawings…
Big thanks go to all
the contributors who generously donated helper items, and the attendees who
purchased tickets – your support adds SO much fun to the festivities, and helps
make convention possible each year!
I also want to give
many thanks to our very generous silent auction donors, Charles and Desmond at
Superdoll, for their stunning Lucius, and Khoi for the gorgeous OOAK suit he
created!
Bidding was high-spirited, and the thrilled winner who went home with the phenomenal prizes turned out to be a first time owner of both!
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| Khoi created a beautiful pink brocade suit for our helper auction. |
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| The gorgeous Lucius, donated by Superdoll. |
Heartfelt thanks go to Aquatalis for this exclusive creation for SSP Peaches& Panache! Our Atlanta Memories collaboration will always be a special memory for me!
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| The debut of Atlanta Memories Trinh, a special collaboration between Sandra Stillwell Presents and Aquatalis! |
After bidding farewell to friends who were leaving, remaining guests met for our final Atlanta activity…a guided tour of the Gone With The Wind Museum! On display was an extensive collection of memorabilia related to the movie and book, featuring costumes and props. Included was an original painting from Gone With The Wind that hung in the lobby of Lowes Grand during the Atlanta premier of the iconic film.
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| Miniature Gone With The Wind movie poster, paper dolls, and souvenir booklet from the premier, by Patsy Fryberger. |
After bidding farewell to friends who were leaving, remaining guests met for our final Atlanta activity…a guided tour of the Gone With The Wind Museum! On display was an extensive collection of memorabilia related to the movie and book, featuring costumes and props. Included was an original painting from Gone With The Wind that hung in the lobby of Lowes Grand during the Atlanta premier of the iconic film.
I'm blessed to have
had the most dedicated volunteer teams one could ever hope for! My deepest
thanks go to our staff this year…Ryan Benitez, Christina Bougas, Sue Connor,
Linda Farnsworth, Patsy Fryberger, Helen Hall, Carla Hill, Florie Hirsch, Reba
Hood, Judy Richardson, Kay Stemnock, and Sherry Wisdom, with a special assist
from Louise Fecher -- a great group of friends who cheerfully and selflessly
worked behind the scenes to make our Atlanta convention outstanding, and a
fabulous experience for all!
Convention work really never ends -- so I am very fortunate
to have wonderful friends I can count on to help with many things throughout
the year! Great appreciation goes to Dee Dee Healy, Florie Hirsch, Sherlyn
Lovell, Judy Richardson, and Sherry Wisdom, for always being there for me when
I call!
Speaking of
challenges and wonderful people…Just weeks before convention, I got unsettling
news that one of my factories could not do any fashions planned for this year,
which meant almost half my samples wouldn’t be shown at convention. Thankfully, I was rescued by the compassionate,
incredibly talented designers David Escobedo, Janie Hunt, Becky Unger, Diane
Wagner, and Nancy Wichman, all of whom stepped in at short notice, creating
beautiful samples!
To all our attendees
– THANK YOU for your patience and understanding, your enthusiasm and sense of
fun, and so much more! I very much appreciate the time and expense you invest
to be with us each year!
I'd also like to
extend sincere thanks to the absentees and others who support convention
through purchases -- your patronage is essential to "Sandra Stillwell
Presents" events!
To dear friends who
helped with my SSP site and photography…and those who lent moral support when
needed…to those of you who posted photos and reported from convention or
afterwards…THANK YOU for helping to shine a spotlight on “Peaches &
Panache! Your contributions mean more than you could know!
Special thanks go to Sue Connor and Patsy Fryberger, two very generous artists who work for much of each year on miniature treasures, magnificent dioramas and amazing accessories to complement our convention themes! You can see their artistry throughout this page and in wrap ups of previous conventions!
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| A lovely boxed collection of Madame Gres miniature sketches, created by Patsy Fryberger. |
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| The striking, statuesque Fashion Designer Award, by Sue Connor, inspirited by the Coty Award. |
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| Full view Sue’s Theatre. |
Arriving at Lowes Grand Theater for the Atlanta Premier of Gone With The Wind, Gene, Madra and Zita pose on the red carpet , showing off their premier finery.
Sue Connor’s magnificent diorama even has working canopy lights!
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| Close up dresses Sue’s Theatre. |
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| Full original Lowes Theatre. |
And with this, another Sandra Stillwell Presents convention is wrapped! I thank you all for enabling me to do what I love…may I always do it with Panache!
