Originality is highly valued at the Wairarapa Doll and Bear Fair, best doll winner Debbie Pointon, of Raumati South, said at the Masterton Town Hall event at the weekend.
"It's the only show that & really acknowledges the original work," Ms Pointon said. "In other shows you can only do this,
and you can't do that; here there is a lot of free reign.
"You don't have to be worried 'Is the prop bigger than the doll?', you just go for it."
Organiser Anne Styles agreed the show has a philosophy of avoiding too many rules, and the major prize which Ms Pointon has won so many times she has "a wardrobe full of sewing machines" is for Original Doll of the Year.
This year Ms Pointon's creation is a butterfly fairy, glorious blue wings above a modestly-crouched nude female form.
Carterton dollmaker Gloria Young took out the Best Realistic Original Doll with a redheaded girl whose wide face also had an indefinable faerie quality, and who held a butterfly on her finger.
Traditional and modern reproductions also featured in the contest. The Masterton Doll Club, led by Mrs Styles, had a competition of its own with the chance for public participation. A tall Father Christmas doll was repainted, redressed, relocated and given several new identities for visitors to vote on.
Club member Donna Gray, whose lavishly attired Pirate King was a popular choice, reveals that needle and thread are not the only tools of the trade when it comes to dressing and getting props for the dolls.
"I'm not great at sewing; give me a glue gun," she said.
"You go to the Sallies (and buy items) you get a can of spray & the chair's made out of polystyrene."
Besides competition entries, commercial bear and doll-makers displayed their wares for sale, and at the entrance the charity St Vincent de Paul had bears for sale for a gold coin donation.
A children's-only area on stage provided a place for children to enter a colouring contest and to buy soft toys from stalls also managed by children. On her way in, one little girl spotted an old friend and reminded us that some traditions never go out of fashion.
"I see Pooh Bear, the Winnie the Pooh! I got Winnie the Pooh too."
