Hundreds of people made their way past tables loaded with dolls, teddy bears and other stuffed animals during the 21st Annual Teddy Bear and Doll Show and Sale at Marietta's Lafayette Hotel Sunday.
Twelve-year-old Marissa Simmons of Ravenswood, W.Va., was carrying a large box bearing a Middleton Doll across the hotel ballroom.
"This is my second Middleton Doll," she said. "I have a lot of Barbie dolls, too. I just like to dress them up."
Her grandmother, Sally Simmons, was carrying a couple of bags with dolls she'd bought at the show.
"This is my first time at this show, and I've bought three," she said. "I just love to collect dolls."
Jane Cameron of Stow, Ohio, has been collecting dolls for 18 years now and had several on display during Sunday's show.
"I collect, buy and sell dolls at shows in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan," she said. "It's more of a hobby. But this is a very nice show, and we love staying at the Lafayette Hotel."
Anna Vukovic, coordinator for the Teddy Bear and Doll Show, said between 30 and 40 vendors and collectors brought teddy bears, dolls, and other merchandise to this year's event.
"Some bring collectibes and some bring new items," she said. "Others bring doll clothing and accessories. We even have one lady who's selling cards this year."
Vukovic, director of volunteer services at Marietta Memorial Hospital, said proceeds from the show and sale go into the Marietta Teddy Bear Fund.
"The fund goes to wherever we can help," she said. "We've used it to help kids in the pediatrics department who sometimes need special equipment. We also have provided walkers for adults. We have a budget, but a lot of needs can pop up that we don't anticipate."
Of course the fund also helps provide teddy bears, dolls and stuffed animals to children and adults as well who have been hospitalized and may need a little boost.
"And this show seems to bring out the child in everyone," Vukovic said.
She said Sunday's event would probably bring in around $1,000 for the fund after expenses.
Near the ballroom entrance Sherida Ritterbeck of Caldwell and eight-year-old grandson Andrew Sheanshang sat behind a table full of unique hand-made teddy bears.
"They always tell you not to feed the bears, but I stuffed every one of these myself," Ritterbeck quipped.
She pointed to one bear made completely out of neckties, and another crafted from an old chenille bedspread.
"People will often bring me some kind of material that's a memento of a loved one, or it has some special meaning to them and I'll make a teddy bear out of it," Ritterbeck said.
Susan Sarver of Marietta was admiring a cloth doll at Marian Thrasher's Doll Showcase table.
"I just collect them for fun, and for the grandkids," Sarver said. "So I really look for the play value."
She said her fascination with dolls was passed down from her mother.
"My mom was an only child, and playing with dolls meant a lot to her," Sarver explained. "So when my sister and I were growing up, mom made sure we had plenty of dolls."
One unique set of teddy bears and stuffed animals at Sunday's event were made of alpaca wool from Margot Justice's Windswept Alpaca Farmstead in Little Hocking.
"I've been raising alpacas since 2003, and once a year I have a man come out and shear my animals," she said. "Then I send the wool out to a mill where they turn it into thread or whatever I want and send it back."
Justice uses the soft material to make a variety of stuffed toys, including ponies and teddy bears.
One popular table at Sunday's Teddy Bear and Doll Show belonged to collector, appraiser and author Ken Yenke from Strongsville, Ohio.
Yenke was kept busy helping people appraise some of their doll and teddy bear collectibles.
"Anything made within the last 50 years is designated a collectible," he explained. "Bears or dolls over 75 years old are considered vintage. If they're more than 100 years old they can be antiques."
Yenke has been part of the annual Teddy Bear and Doll Show for 20 years.
"It's a great event," he said. "I do these shows all over, but the people here really come out to support the community."
