Doll artist Pete Ballard meticulously researches the costumes for the dolls he creates. Standing tall above display cases, his unique dolls are made of papiermache with hand painted faces. A stunning life-size "Scarlett at Tara" fashion doll wears a white dress with rows and rows of ruffles. Another Scarlett is wearing the popular Bar-B-Que gown of white with green flowers. Several other large dolls created by Ballard are placed above the glass display cases. The museum houses quite a few one of-a-kind-dolls. Walter Plunkett was an acclaimed Hollywood costume designer and illustrator/artist. He designed the costumes for the Gone with the Wind film as well as over 150 other movies, including Singin' in the Rain. The museum collection includes several costume sketches and other original works by Plunkett. A large painting of Scarlett dressed in blue velvet hangs above a pedestal, upon which stands a Robert Tonner Scarlett doll dressed in the same blue velvet gown. Vicky actually watched the artist, Joseph Yakovetic, paint Scarlett's striking portrait. He is known for including shadows and images hidden within his works. For example, the folds of the blue velvet skirt reveal a likeness of Clark Gable as Rhett Butler. Memorabilia from the December 1939 opening of the film are on display in the museum. An original Original costume design sketches signed by Walter Plunkett that hang on the walls of the Gathering and Guest House, demonstrate the artist/illustrator's immense talent for costume design. Owner/Curator Vicky Rogers stands before a large painting of Scarlett O'Hara in a blue velvet dress, painted by artist Joseph Yakovetic. In the foreground is a beautiful matching Scarlett doll by Robert Tonner. This very special one-of-a-kind 8-inch "Bonnie Blue Butler" was made by the Madame Alexander Doll Co. for Vicky Rogers. DOLL NEWS * UFDC.ORG 77http://UFDC.org