Subject: NEW Gathering Date!

Okay, here it is:

The Lawton Gathering
Turlock, California
October 10-12, 2003

Everyone get out your erasers and rewrite this NEW date on your calendar. We are going to have such fun!

Wendy

How fun is this? I snapped it while at the Turquoise Museum.

After flight cancellations and delays I finally made it to the hotel about seven hours after I was supposed to (who knew San Jose would get San Francisco type fog? LOL).

Since I got in late last night I haven't had alot of time to explore the hotel area, but in the lobby there is a Starbucks, a few gift shops and a bar, and a restaurant.

For those of you flying in, and getting a rental car, there is a free shuttle from the baggage claim area to the rental car area where you pick up the cars. The hotel is not far from the airport (about two to three exits off I-25 N. You can see it while you are driving, its one of the biggest-tallest things around. I usually get lost, and didn't. The parking garage is on the back side of the hotel (and its $11 a day for in and out priveleges).

I'm on the top floor (20th) and have a FABULOUS view of the city, this morning I even spied a hot air balloon going up. The local news said there is a slight chance of showers, but weather is supposed to be in the upper 60's, low 70's. Actually, the day looks quite gorgeous.

If you have any questions I can try to answer them just drop me a line.

Off to go explore!

From the Lawton Loop:

Subject: Lawton Gathering

As you know, we've been chewing on whether or not to put off our
Lawton Gathering until 2004 because of participation in a UFDC
luncheon next year and the fact that a planned Turlock hotel will not
be done in time for us.

I've finally decided. We will NOT put it off but will have it as
planned on October 17th - 19th, 2003. (Just about one year from now.)

Here are some of the reasons:

-- It seems like a long time since UFDC this past summer, doesn't it?
I'm already lonesome for those collectors I haven't seen since Denver.

--There's no telling that we won't do another UFDC luncheon in future years.

--Even though we won't have a new hotel, we've toyed with the idea of
reserving the entire Almond Tree Motel and having a HUGE slumber
party all by ourselves.

--Perhaps even more compelling, I have an exciting idea for the doll
that will allow us to "play" in a whole new way. I'm excited about
developing this and hate to wait.

--It's such fun to introduce the next Lawton Masterpiece edition at
the Gathering and it's definitely time to have a Masterpiece.

--We have such fun together and it's too hard to wait.

--Plus I have a number of people who've submitted exciting workshop
proposals for 2003.


So start making your plans now. We are going to have SUCH fun. (I'm
not sure we are going to use the ranch facility I described earlier.
We may just go ahead and do it the same way we've done it in the
past, using Lawtons for the workshops and my house for the barbecue.)
More details later.

Wendy
2003 Lawton Gathering
Oct. 17-19, 2003
Turlock,California

--
Wendy Lawton
Telling stories in porcelain; Painting pictures with words
http://www.LawtonDolls.com
Courage to Run (Moody Press 2002)
Tinker's Daughter (Moody Press 2002)
Almost Home (Moody Press January 2003)
Ransom's Mark (Moody Press July 2003)

From the October 11th, 2002 issue of Entertainment Weekly.

HOT TOY Bratz dolls, chic little moppets whose supermodel monikers (Yasmin, Cloe and Jade) and fashion accessories are making them "the new Barbie." FROM ABROAD Introduced last year in Spain, the Bratz are now the No. 1 toy in France, while here in the US, (bratzpack.com) they are outselling that chick from Malibu as the No. 1 fashion-doll assortment. DOLLED UP Pamela Anderson, Melissa Joan Hart, That 70's Show's Mila Kunis and I Am Sam's Dakota Fanning are among the toys' fans. BRATZ OFF Manufacturer MGA Entertainment recently introduced a line of Bratz Boyz, and is now preparing to take the dolls into the world of videogames and movies. Which may just be child's play. According to Fanning, the Jade doll already "looks like Lucy Liu." --William Keck

There are three new Bratz clothing packs! Yippee! I also spotted some other non doll like Bratz liscensed items at Target including a pencil case and a way cool planner.

And in case you haven't seen 'em, Mattel has jumped on the Bratz bandwagon and have come out with "My Scene" Barbie (thanks to my buddie Kim for the heads up on this one.) The new Barbies feature enlarged heads and a facial screening very reminiscent of the Bratz girls. Had I hadn't known about Bratz, I would love these dolls...their one redeeming quality is that they can wear the Barbie fashions.

Gene Convention is soon upon us!! I am leaving a week from Monday...early for some sightseeing. I will post here directly from Convention. I am sure it will be a blast! Watch for photo album links in the next few days for easy clicking. :o)

Two sites worth your time: First sneak peaks of the new Silk Stone line (including a male character!) at a FAO Signing with Robert Best.

And secondly, here's pictures from the September GGGC Meeting.

What would we do without Marcia? She's got the scoop from the recent Modern Doll Convention in Las Vegas. Check out her page, here for all the coverage. Highlights include a new 10" Kitty!