Cheerful Chair - Yellow Peppercorn

Join us for a weekend filled with artists, exhibitors and all things designed to inspire and engage every kind of designer toy fan. Whether you're a seasoned collector, a budding artist, or simply curious about the world of designer toys, CollectedCon will offer something for everyone. Get up close and personal with some of the most talented designer toy artists in the world, and learn about their creative process, inspiration, and backgrounds. Discover new and rare toys, expand your collection, or simply marvel at the unique and captivating artistry that is designer toys. Our convention is not just about buying and selling toys — it's about fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and community. We are passionate about bringing people together to celebrate the art form that is designer toys, and we can't wait for you to join us. Plus, with Navy Pier as our backdrop, you'll have easy access to some of Chicago's most iconic landmarks, restaurants, and attractions. Create your own designer toy adventure, and experience all that Chicago has to offer. Self-produced art toys are designer collectibles created and manufactured independently by the artist or small teams without the backing of a large toy company or mass-market brand. These toys are often highly personal, artistic expressions and are usually made in limited runs. Key Characteristics include independent creation where the artist is in control of the entire process from concept, sculpting, and painting to production and packaging. These are usually made in small batches, often 10–100 pieces, which adds to their rarity, made using materials like resin, sofubi (Japanese soft vinyl), or 3D-printed components. Amanda Louise Spayd’s mixed-media work combines the textures and colors of antique domestic objects, the natural world, and an obsessive attention to detail. At once endearing and unsettling, her fabric creatures evoke ideas of cast-off children’s toys and ill-conceived taxidermy experiments with repurposed human teeth. Because of their aged, antique appearance, one is left to wonder about the origin, past experiences, and past lives of these creatures. Do they look like this because they were abandoned, or because they were literally loved to pieces? The idea of an unknown past story, combined with the possibilities of their future, is a central theme of her work. Her work is highly sought after by collectors around the globe, and she has exhibited her work in galleries, boutiques, and conventions across the United States.