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The Secret Garden
Who doesn’t want to discover a secret garden? Fans at the annual Pullip and Dal Doll Lovers Event (PUDDLE) expressed their love for nature and its secrets on June 7, 2025. After 14 years at the same hotel, the event moved to the Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare-Rosemont, a beautiful hotel with friendly staff.
Over 100 attendees participated in contests, a workshop, shopping, and more. Each attendee received a gift bag filled with cute and colorful items, many reflecting the secret garden theme. Ten vendors sold dolls plus clothing and accessories for a variety of dolls, and the table captains did an amazing job decorating their guest tables to match the theme. Aracely Reyes-Kiernan provided the artwork for the name badges, gift bags, website banner, and buttons.
First time PUDDLE attendee Elizabeth Marco commented, “I loved the whole venue, from the thoughtfully decorated tables on theme, to the fun contests and clever additions (like the leave something/take something table). The freebies and vendors were tons of fun but mostly, I loved just connecting in person with doll lovers such as myself. My favorite part was meeting so many wonderful and interesting people, including a Facebook friend who I had chatted with multiple times but we had no idea that we knew each other until parts of our conversation started sounding familiar. The day made me feel happy to be a part of such a lovely community and free to love dolls and be passionately nerdy about them.”
CONTEST WINNERS
The Dress Like Your Doll contest was won by Caleb Reich, wearing a stunning modified jumpsuit and vest and accompanied by a Dal doll with a matching handmade outfit. Both wore matching updos, although the Dal declined to add a beard to her look. Jace Stovall took second in a cosplay of Nadja from What We Do in the Shadows with matching Pullip. Danette Parsons and her two Smart Dolls, all dressed in outfits made by Danette, took third.
Miranda Santamaria’s custom entry Little Dal, Made of Copper, Date Unknown won best in theme. She painted and aged a Dal doll to look like a garden statue.
Shelby Sawyer won first prize in the full custom category for Bog Witch, Doll Angel took second for Leaf, and Marci Stevenson was awarded third for Sakura Len. In the modified category, Betsy Carney won first for Fara and Ashley Sero second for Emma Swan. The mini doll category knocked it out of the park this year, with Melissa Sowers taking first for Ranma and Akane, Kathy Genaw taking second for Woodland Walk, and Jane Easterly third for Secret Garden Cosplay.
Elizabeth Thomas took first place in the Groove outfit category with The Garden That Goes With You. Chris Grapengeter was awarded second for Floral Fantasy and Stephanie Boesso for Floral Rhapsody. In the Smorgasbord (non-Groove family) category, Mars won with Isul Spring After Winter, Anna Hayley took second with Garden Wishes, and Ashley Sero took third with Children’s Garden. Elizabeth Thomas won Smorgasbord outfit with Floral Goth, Stephanie Boesso took second with Cascade of Blossoms, and Jodi L was awarded third for Baby the Stars Shine Bright Border Print.
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