June 2-4, Portland, Oregon

Secret Garden is the theme for this year’s Pacific Northwest BJD Expo, which will be held at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel in Portland, Oregon. In addition to the vendors room, the expo will offer a variety of meal events, contests and prizes, workshops, meet-ups, and panels for collectors to enjoy.

Expo owner and organizer Casie Brabham stands at her sales table offering customized Blythe dolls along with doll outfits and accessories.
Expo owner and organizer Casie Brabham at her sales table for her doll business BeBe Dolls.
A smiling man with a hotel staff name tag holds a BJD he's purchased posing with the woman who sold it to him.
At the 2022 expo, one of the hotel staff bought a doll for his daughter. “It was a very touching and sweet moment,” Brabham said.

Show owner and organizer Casie Brabham said that events are still being added to the show’s schedule, but confirmed highlights include a dessert social with entertainment and games on Friday evening, June 2; Saturday’s banquet; and Breakfast With the Artists Sunday morning, which will include a film screening. Meet-ups will include Smart Dolls and Guys & Dolls with Joe of Queens of the Doll Aisle. Confirmed workshops include Miniature Decoden Desserts with Jamie’s BJD Prop Shop; Doll Wigs: Making an Inexpensive, Versatile, Washable, Stylable Wig; and OB11 Dolls: What the Heck Are They?

Several women gathered around a table looking at tiny ball-jointed dolls (BJDs)
The OB11 workshop led by Kristen of Faithfully Made Dolls.
several BJDs on a table along with elastic, head caps, and other materials used for restringing.
Collectors got together last year for this restringing meet-up.

“Since the pandemic began, it has been difficult to rebuild in-person conventions and expos, but I believe that the most valuable part of any hobby is its community,” Brabham said. “My goal in taking over the PNW BJD Expo was to further my mission to create and grow friendships within the doll community. I want attendees of the expo to look forward to this yearly event not only to find amazing doll creations and accessories but also because they know they will see old friends as well as make many new ones, too. I want them to be entertained and delighted by every aspect of the event, because this is what has enriched my own life over the years. I can’t wait to see my friends in June!”

PNW BJD Expo

A table displaying room boxes and other doll accessories. A man sitting behind the table is giving a thumbs up for the camera.
“Last year, one exhibitor had to stay home with sick kiddos,” Brabham said. “Her husband stepped up to man the table and became a fan favorite.”
Two women at a convention sales booth. The woman behind the booth holds a doll and is the former owner of the convention.
The expo’s previous owner, Dorothy Drake (right), has fun as a vendor at the show.