Doll Designer Joan Greene Presents a Gallery Showing of Rare Prototype Dolls in Nashville on April 2

On April 2, 2011, well-known doll artist and designer Joan Greene will present a Gallery Showing of Rare Prototype Dolls at the historic Hardaway House in Nashville, Tennessee during the first-ever Nashville Fashion Week. Greene has had a long and illustrious career in the fashion doll collecting world. As reported in Interview with Joan Greene, Developer of Ashton Drake's Princess Diana Doll Line, Joan Greene was the developer of Ashton-Drake's (AD) Gene Marshall line of dolls before being asked to take on the Princess Diana doll line for AD. The Gene doll is credited with changing the shape and quality of dolls for adult collectors by introducing couture style, fine fabrics, special closures, linings, and hand-sewn trims to make clothing for dolls that real women would want to wear.

Not Your Average Barbie Dolls

Joan Greene says when she was a little girl, "I found my bliss in Barbie - not as a doll in the way that most girls play with dolls, but as a mannequin for my designs and to grace the imaginary store windows that I designed. I love the details from designing the embroidery pattern on garment to making sure that the lining is correct so that everything lies just right. It is interesting, the better I know myself the more I gravitate toward what I called 'play' as a child."

Although Greene was inspired by Barbie, she is quick to point out her dolls are not Barbies. "Not all fashions are human size," says Greene. "In fact, there is an entire world out there of designers who design miniature couture for fashion dolls. These are not your average Barbie dolls."

Designing Woman

Commented on her love of fashion design, Greene states, "The great thing about design is that it is this amazing combination of who you are, the people and places that you have been, and the gift of nature. You know, the blue of an evening sky and how nature seems to know exactly which pink and yellow to paint the clouds so that it burns beauty into your heart and mind. Then, again when I am designing, I can just see my grandmother's hands as she taught me how to make tiny French seams and thread loops."

Greene & Lam Design Studios

From playing with Barbie dolls to developing the Gene and Princess Diana dolls for Ashton-Drake, Greene honed her skills and made friends and contacts around the world in the doll collecting community. One of those relationships led to the development of Greene & Lam Design Studios, a meeting point for doll design and production. Recently, Greene & Lam announced the release of their first two lines of dolls, the Cordelia Shumaker line and The Beautiful Vault line of 16" dolls designed by Joan Greene. The two new doll lines were recently introduced at the 2011 IDEX, International Doll Expo, in Orlando, Florida.

Gallery Showing of Rare Prototype Doll

Now Joan Greene and Cathy Hardaway are hosting an intimate Gallery Showing of these rare prototype dolls that will launch the two new fashion doll lines. Held at the beautiful Victorian Hardaway House in Nashville, fashion doll collectors and fashion enthusiasts are invited to come meet the artist and check out the beautiful dolls and fashion while enjoying tea and a tour of the historic Hardaway House. The open house will take place from 2 - 6 PM on Saturday afternoon, April 2. Hardaway House is located at 516 Russell Street in Nashville.

More information on Greene & Lam Design Studios can be found at www.greeneandlam.com. Nashville Fashion Week takes place March 29 - April 2. Visit nashvillefashionweek.com for more information.

Sources:

Interview with Joan Greene, Developer of Ashton Drake's Princess Diana Doll Line, Associated Content
Exclusive: Joan Greene & Honny Lam announce Greene & Lam Design Studios & dolls, Doll Examiner
Exclusive: Doll developer Joan Greene on designing Ashton Drake Princess Diana tribute doll, Doll Examiner
Gene doll developer and art director Joan Greene inspired by Barbie, Barbie Examiner
First Nashville Fashion Week to showcase Music City fashion & design, Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner