Just wanted to post this picture and tell the story of these two Genes. My best friend/soul sister Deb introduced me to Gene back in 1999, when she and her students were chosen to participate in the Ashton Drake Young Designers project. One of her student's outfit, Golden Heart was produced as Symphony in G.
Deb died in last year and I inherited some of her dolls. One of them was the doll on the right. It was supposed to go to the winning student, but she never picked it up from Deb and it's been packed away for years. The doll on the left is one that I bought to commemorate the win. I was thrilled to inherit the original prize doll even though her dress has faded.
Under this picture I'm putting Deb's own account of the contest she wrote later for another doll forum - please read it to see the names of some of the other outfits her students designed that year, along with some brief descriptions. The pictures to go with the names unfortunately were in her now defunct Photobucket account, so they are lost, but you get a little idea of what they might have been like.

In Deb's own words -
"Way back when in 1999, I was lucky enough to become involved with the Ashton-Drake Young Designers project. My art students at Southside High in Atlanta were thrilled to be a part of this experience, even though few if any of them had ever threaded a needle.
My photography students documented the classroom work while several of my young men made furniture, props and backdrops. We watched films from the 40-50's (including their favorite, Marilyn Monroe); read vintage magazines culled from my collection and researched real vintage fashions. The kids really loved dressing up in my collection of gowns and hats!
Additionally, I was blessed to have a good group of friends who kindly donated their talents toward helping my students learn - jewelry making (Anne Choi) pattern-making and draping techniques (Jane Whiddon) furniture construction (Anne Bielowitz) and basic sewing skills (Mary Spencer and Joyce Brown.) Most of this was previously printed in Miller's Fashion Doll magazine. Not sure what the issue number was for it and Miller's has since gone out of business, I believe.

Hey There, Gorgeous Girl in changeable taffeta, hand-beaded buttons

Dark Peppermint in black and green silk satin
Secret Desire nude silk under black lace

Delilah blue satin with hand beaded details & Austrian crystal crown

Snow Valley knitted mohair, cashmere, silk and recycled mink. Jaycen made the skis and ski poles, too.

Golden Heart produced as Symphony in G detachable train, with hand-beading, embroidery and a hand-made feather fan. Designer Teresa said Gene owns a San Francisco casino in 1890. (Anne here interrupting - this was originally made in yellow sating with silver and gold bead embroidery.)

Mae West inspired Starry Night

Three suits - Sky's the Limit, Our Miss Davis, Order in the Court My young men loved making these tailored suits

Victory Garden

Roped In

Dance With Me Designer Susana Vega, loved Sabrina and patterned this gown after Audrey Hepburn's Paris gown. Changeable satin with velvet roses

Private Duty Nurse based on my mother's 1950's nurse's uniform with blue wool cape and red satin lining. My mom helped with this one!"

Anne again - I don't have the Miller's magazine, so if anyone by chance knows what issue it could be, I'd love to know so that I can hunt for one.
Deb's school was a bit unusual in that it was an inner city school with few resources, and art class (Deb was the art teacher) was not taken seriously by the administration at the time, so students with behavioral, learning or disciplinary issues, non-English speaking students, and students with disabilities were the majority of her students.
These kids loved Deb because she believed in them all, and when I visited their classes they were a great, enthusiastic group.
Everyone participated, and all of the students had a blast - even some you would think would have been scornful of dolls. I remember a couple of the football players gently arranging their Genes' hair and discussing possible story lines for costumes,
All of the materials and supplies for the project were donated by Deb's friends and we all donated our time to come in and do workshops with the kids on various aspects of fashion.